Salish Sea News and Weather: November 2022

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

11/30 Potato, zero-emission, moving tribes, decaying whales, BC pipelines, police tactics, battery energy storage, reclaimed water

Potato
[International Potato Center]

Potato
The potato is a starchy tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United States to southern Chile. (Wikipedia)

Port of Vancouver's 'ambitious' zero-emissions plan praised, but critics say LNG stands in the way
Canada's largest port has committed to becoming a zero-carbon port by 2050, a transition still in its infancy but has been dubbed ambitious by clean shipping advocates, as calls to dramaticaly reduce the industry's carbon footprint by that time grow louder and more urgent. But some critics say the port's simultaneous commitment to liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion in its waters threaten to undermine its very own climate goals. The port is working with FortisBC to expand LNG bunkering in the region to meet growing demand from ships entering the port by 2030, which it says will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 per cent. Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC)

U. S. awards millions to move tribes, including Quinaults, threatened by climate change
The Biden administration will give three Native tribes $75 million to move away from coastal areas or rivers, one of the nation’s largest efforts to date to relocate communities that are facing an urgent threat from climate change. The three communities — two in Alaska, and one in Washington state — will each get $25 million to move their key buildings onto higher ground and away from rising waters, with the expectation that homes will follow. The federal government will give eight more tribes $5 million each to plan for relocation. Christopher Flavelle reports. (NY Times)

Decaying whales are 'islands of food' for aquatic organisms
As dead whales continue to wash up on B.C.’s shorelines, experts are still trying to determine what led to their deaths, but say their carcasses are contributing important nutrients back to the food web and environment. Alanna Kelly reports. (Times Colonist)

Will BC Support Future Pipeline Development?
Former premier John Horgan said CGL is ‘fully permitted’ and DRIPA is ‘forward looking.’ So what about the three other projects authorized for the North? Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

RCMP officer criticizes police tactics at Fairy Creek
Unnamed RCMP officer criticizes police behaviour at blockade, such as smashing vehicle windows, taking away personal possessions, joking with forestry company staff. Jen Osborne and Rochelle Baker report. (National Observer)

Three controversial battery energy storage facilities proposed in Skagit
Clean energy from wind and solar projects is not available at the flip of a switch the way traditional gas and oil products are, but companies like Puget Sound Energy and Tenaska are trying to change that through major energy storage projects, like the proposed Goldeneye Project in Sedro-Woolley. The facility, designed to be an "unobtrusive" battery storage complex across 14.14 acres of land in Skagit County, would “charge” using solar and wind power during periods of high production, and “discharge” when energy production is low. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

If you like to watch: Studying the issue of chemicals in water
The LOTT Clean Water Alliance has completed a multi-year scientific study about reclaimed water infiltration. The study is intended to answer community questions and concerns about residual chemicals that may remain in reclaimed water, and what happens to them when reclaimed water is infiltrated into the ground and used to replenish groundwater. Visit the study StoryMap or watch a video. (LOTT)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PST Wed Nov 30 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY W wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 11 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NE wind 15 to 25 kt rising to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 9 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 7 ft at 13 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain.

--
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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

11/29 GivingTuesday, Brussels sprout, green crab, 'underwater Amazon,' grizzlies, BC LNG, WA EVs, cardboard, Garry oaks, Dabob Days

GivingTuesday. Here's why: The League of Women Voters of Washington recently issued a study, The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy, that powerfully underscores the need for local journalism. On GivingTuesday Nov. 29 please show your support for the not-for-profit Salish Current's reporting of in-depth, fact-based community news that's free to read and free from advertising. Every dollar donated is doubled, whether a one-time donation, a monthly donation or a first-time small donation. Please donate to the 2X fundraising campaign or to GivingTuesday. Thank you for supporting not-for-profit local community news. Mike Sato.

Brussels sprout

Brussels sprout
The Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera cultivar group of cabbages, grown for its edible buds. The leaf vegetables are typically 1.5–4.0 cm in diameter and resemble miniature cabbages. The Brussels sprout has long been popular in Brussels, Belgium, from which it gained its name. (Wikipedia)

Invasive crab population keeps booming in Washington
Trappers have caught nearly a quarter million European green crabs in Washington waters so far in 2022. This year’s record-smashing tally of the invasive species—248,000 caught as of Oct. 31—is more than twice the total caught last year along Washington shorelines. 2021 had seen a massive increase in the unwanted crabs, with 103,000 turning up in traps in the state. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

What drives Puget Sound's 'underwater Amazon'?
What drives Puget Sound's 'underwater Amazon'? The interaction between fresh and salt water stokes an engine that drives water circulation throughout the entire basin, something intensely important to the understanding and management of Puget Sound. Jeff Rice reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Washington state considers options to reintroduce grizzlies in wilderness near Manning Park
Conservationists say a U.S. plan that could see grizzlies reintroduced in the North Cascades' region represents a "wonderful opportunity" for B.C. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun) Bear with us: Grizzlies may be coming back to the North Cascades How will the grizzlies get here? What will their arrival mean for local ecosystems? And will I run into them while I'm camping? Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Is B.C.’s $6 billion commitment to Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada still economically viable?
B.C. estimates it will earn $23 billion over 40 years once LNG Canada gets going, but net-zero pledges raise questions about whether global demand for gas will hold up over the project’s lifespan. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Gov. Inslee plans to ban gas-powered cars by 2035. Is it doable?
For Washington state drivers to fully embrace electric vehicles, they'll need more places to charge them. John Stang report. (Crosscut)

Where Does All the Cardboard Come From? I Had to Know
Entire forests and enormous factories running 24/7 can barely keep up with demand. This is how the cardboard economy works. Matthew Shaer reports. (NY Times)

Fort Worden volunteers plant Garry oak trees at state park
The Friends of Fort Worden State Park have plans to plant Garry oak trees in December, as the group adds habitat restoration to its volunteer efforts...The Friends will plant 20 native Garry oaks along Mule Barn Road and in Chinese Gardens with the help of furniture maker Kevin Reiswig. Leah Leach reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Dabob Days volunteers protect trees at the Tarboo Wildlife Preserve
Volunteers are gathering monthly to maintain Northwest Watershed Institute habitat restoration efforts in Dabob Bay. During the kickoff on Nov. 19, a group of 14 volunteers installed more than 130 protective cages around Pacific crabapple and vine maples trees that had been planted in earlier projects. (Peninsula Daily News)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 243 AM PST Tue Nov 29 2022
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming E 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 6 to 8 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Combined seas 5 to 7 ft with a dominant period of 13 seconds. Rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

Monday, November 28, 2022

11/28 Maize, orcas, chinook threshold, at-risk fish, WA fish farming, Dungeness crab, BC logging, funding lag, new Salish Sea map, Esquimalt Harbour

The League of Women Voters of Washington recently issued a study, The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy, that powerfully underscores the need for local journalism. On Giving Tuesday Nov. 29 please show your support for the not-for-profit Salish Current's reporting of in-depth, fact-based community news that's free to read and free from advertising. Every dollar donated is doubled, whether a one-time donation, a monthly donation or a first-time small donation. Please donate to the 2X fundraising campaign or to Giving Tuesday. Thank you for supporting not-for-profit local community news.

Maize [Franz Eugen Köhler]

Maize
Maize also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by Indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences (or "tassels") and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that when fertilized yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits. The term maize is preferred in formal, scientific, and international usage as a common name because it refers specifically to this one grain, unlike corn, which has a complex variety of meanings that vary by context and geographic region. (Wikipedia)

‘A slumber party for orcas’: Incredible video shows endangered ‘superpod’ in Salish Sea
Steven Rice captured an incredible sight in the Salish Sea Wednesday afternoon as a large group of endangered southern resident killer whales stunned onlookers on shore near Seattle. April Lawrence reports. (CHEK)

Chinook threshold decreased for endangered orcas
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has decreased the number of chinook salmon it allocates each year to feed Southern Resident orca whales. The number is important because added conservation measures to ensure adequate food for the Southern Residents can only be put in place if that number is not reached. The council manages the commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries for about 119 species in federal waters off the West Coast. Racquel Muncy reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

The federal government is less likely to protect an at-risk fish if people like to eat it
When a fish is listed under the species at risk registry, federal protection measures kick in. But the vast majority of at-risk fish that are commercially valuable never get that designation, data shows. Jenn Thornhill Verma report. (The Narwhal)

Fish farming in WA goes back millennia — how will it survive?
....Traditional cultural ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest have long included forms of aquaculture, like clam gardens, where people create optimal habitat for the mollusks in hopes of boosting productivity. Today, it’s one piece of the complex, ever-evolving picture of fish farming in Washington state. But the commercial finfish farming of today shares little in common with the traditional Indigenous methods that long preceded it. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Here’s why the West Coast Dungeness crab season has been delayed
Oregon’s most valuable commercial fishery, Dungeness crab, will have its season delayed from its traditional Dec. 1 start date because of low meat yields. Testing shows the crabs in some ocean areas off the West Coast don’t have enough meat in them to satisfy the commercial market. In some areas, testing also showed elevated levels of the naturally occurring toxin domoic acid, which can make the crabs unsafe to eat. Cassandra Profita reports. (OPB)

BC Timber Sales plans to log old-growth rainforest, home to endangered caribou herd
The B.C. government has spent millions in efforts to save the imperilled herd, even as it prepares to log its critical habitat. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Giant trees continue to fall amid old growth funding lag for B.C. First Nations
British Columbia has asked First Nations if they want old-growth forests protected from logging, to allow time for long-term planning for conservation and sustainable development, but advocates say it has yet to fund the process on a large scale. In the meantime, some of the biggest and oldest trees in the province are being cut down. Breena Owen reports. (The Canadian Press)

Big picture view of the Salish Sea emerges in richly detailed map
Jeff Clark thought the existing maps of the Salish Sea didn’t have enough detail. So he set out to make a much more detailed map, “to increase the geographic literacy of the area.” This meant not only showing the natural features, but also the human-made ones. And not just cities — he thought it was important to include details like the traditional lands of coastal First Nations. The result is The Essential Geography of The Salish Sea, a wall-sized map that gives viewers a “big picture view” of the Salish Sea bioregion, which stretches from Puget Sound near Seattle to the Pantheon Mountain Range, 300 kilometres up the coast from Vancouver. John Mackie reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Esquimalt Harbour among the most expensive cleanups in Canada's history
More than $2 billion has been spent on Canada's five most contaminated sites so far, and it's anticipated they will cost taxpayers billions more in the coming years. Emily Blake reports. (The Canadian Press)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 207 AM PST Mon Nov 28 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT E wind 15 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

11/23 Great horned owl, killer whale calf, low rainfall effects, prescribed burns, BC fish farm ban

Salish Sea News and Weather is thankful for its readers and all those engaged in protecting and restoring the Salish Sea. A happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday; be back next week. Aloha.

Great horned owl [in oil, Tony Angell]

Moonlight
Artist and naturalist Tony Angell writes: "While exploring a local Cascade forest one night in early spring, I could hear a pair of great horned owls exchanging calls back and forth through the woods. Like any curious naturalist, I headed in their direction to investigate the conversation..." Read more and help support not-for-profit, in-depth community reporting. (Salish Current)

Killer whale calf seen swimming near San Juan Islands
A killer whale calf, who whale researchers said is no more than a few weeks old, was seen swimming with Bigg's killer whale T37B Harald over the weekend. Alex Bartick reports. (KOMO)

Low rainfall leads to an odd and changing year for salmon, killer whales and people
Chris Dunagan writes: "It has been an interesting year for observing the behavior of Southern Resident killer whales, chum salmon and humans in the Puget Sound region. Weather played a significant role. Two weeks ago, all three pods of endangered orcas spent four days together in Puget Sound, something we have not seen in years. Chum salmon, which the whales feed upon in the fall, appeared to be on a stop-and-go migration schedule because of the unusual rainfall pattern. And, as always, the activities of people must be noted within this ecological context." (Puget Sound Institute)

Studies show prescribed burns key to forest resiliency
Scientists discovered one type of treatment is key to forest resiliency: prescribed burns. They also said forest managers can harness wildfire to do the work of prescribed burns for them. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Will B.C. be next to ban open-net fish farms?
A UBC study published Friday found 7O per cent of samples taken from salmon waste from fish farms in B.C. and the U.S. showed genetic traces of a virus that can harm wild salmon. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PST Wed Nov 23 2022
TODAY S wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 5 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of drizzle in the morning. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

11./22 Cranberry, paper price, salmon toxins, fish farm ban, Canada biodiversity, giant hornet

Thanks to many of you who donated to Salish Current and not-for-profit, in-depth local news. If you haven't and wish to support this effort, please donate and have your donation doubled before the end of the year. Mahalo. Mike Sato.

Cranberry

Cranberry
In Washington State, you can find two species of cranberry. One is native to the area and one—the commercial one, from northeast North America—has escaped from cultivation. The cultivated, or large, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) grows wild in various areas near the coast and in the Puget Trough, west of the Cascades. The native one, known variously as wild cranberry, swamp cranberry, bog cranberry, or small cranberry (V. oxycoccos) grows worldwide in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere....To see the cultivated cranberry, head for the Washington coast, mainly Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties, with some farms in Whatcom County too. In Long Beach, you could visit the Pacific Coast Cranberry Research Foundation Museum or go on their walking tour. To see the native cranberry, you'll have to find yourself a peaty area and look carefully for the plants, as Pojar and Mackinnon describe, "half buried in Sphagnum hummocks of bogs at low to middle elevations, and wet subalpine meadows." Sarah Gage writes. (WA Native Plants Society)

The Price of Paper
Coastal communities around the world contend with the toxic legacies of pulp and paper mills. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Unchecked pollution is contaminating the salmon that Pacific Northwest tribes eat
For decades, the U.S. government has failed to test for dangerous chemicals and metals in fish. So, we did. What we found was alarming for tribes. Tony Schick and Maya Miller report. (OPB and ProPublica) Also: How we tested Columbia River salmon for contaminant OPB and ProPublica collected 50 salmon and followed standard methods for fish tissue testing (OPB and ProPublica)

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe decries DNR banning fish farming in Washington waters
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on Monday blasted Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz’s Friday decision to end net pen fish farming in state waters managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Brett Davis (Center Square)

Canada is hosting the largest biodiversity conference in the world. Here’s what’s at stake
Thousands of people will soon converge on Montreal for the United Nations’ biodiversity conference, the world’s big chance to agree on a path forward to save nature — and ourselves. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

To outwit a giant hornet, scientists try speaking its language
Even the biggest insects’ brains are very small, though not so small they can’t communicate with each other—or, to an extent, with human beings. Researchers in Washington state, Japan, and South Korea aim to tell world’s largest hornets where to go by speaking the insects’ language: the potent, wafting substances known as pheromones. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 238 AM PST Tue Nov 22 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. W swell 9 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.

Monday, November 21, 2022

11/21 Wild turkey, Ghost river Part 2, citizens for herring, oceans protection, dolphins, drought, NW gas pipeline, beavers, rising seas, Pt Hudson jetty

Editor's Note: Over the past 10 years people have offered to donate to support this weekday compilation of news and weather and I've said, no thanks, it's a part of my giving back to the environmental community. Two years ago, I helped launch Salish Current, a not-for-profit newsroom serving Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties — a volunteer effort with paid freelance reporters, free to read, free from advertising and independent. We work to do in-depth reporting and while all local stories may not be of regional interest, stories like Eric Scigliano's multipart series on the Fraser River (see below) are good reads, and our weekly newsletter is a quick read of curated local news items. My ask: We'd like to do more in-depth reporting like Eric's and your donation before the end of the year will be doubled in a match challenge campaign. Would you donate what you can — a one-time donation, a monthly donation, even a small, first-time donation — to help build Salish Current's reporting capacity and keep it free to read, free from advertising and community based? Thank you! Mike Sato.

Wild turkey [WDFW]

Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo
While native to parts of North America, wild turkeys were introduced to Washington beginning in the early twentieth century. Wild turkeys are one of the most charismatic and iconic bird species in North America. An eagerly sought game species, turkeys hold significant cultural value to recreationists and holiday celebrations...Small populations also occur sparsely in western Washington. (WDFW) See also: "Talking turkey in the San Juans: strutting the line between welcome wildlife and pest" Gretchen K. Wing reports. (Salish Current 12/10/21) And also: "The Return of the Wild Turkey" In New England, the birds were once hunted nearly to extinction; now they’re swarming the streets like they own the place. Jill Lepore writes. (The New Yorker)

Tacoutche Tesse, the Northwest’s great ghost river — Part 2: The flood and building back better
The great flood of 2021 brought massive destruction to the Fraser River Valley but also the opportunity to build back better. Eric Scigliano reports. (Salish Current)

A new generation of citizen scientists welcome Pacific herring back home
Herring all but disappeared from the shorelines around Sḵwx̱wú7mesh homelands in the past. Now volunteers are keeping careful tabs on the comeback efforts of a tiny fish with big cultural value. Lauren Kaljur reports. (The Narwhal)

Oceans Protection Plan gets $1.2-billion boost
Ottawa has committed another $1.2 billion to the Oceans Protection Plan, much of which is focused on enhancing protection of B.C. coastal waters, including better marine oil and fuel spill prevention and response. Nelson Bennett reports. (Times Colonist)

Hundreds of dolphins captured frolicking alongside B.C. Ferries vessel
Simone Thom has seen her share of orcas while working on B.C. Ferries, but one of her best wildlife experiences involved a large pod of dolphins swimming alongside the Salish Orca between Comox and Powell River. Thom, who works in catering, happened to be looking out to sea when the pod appeared and quickly began taking a video of the awe-inspiring sight on her cellphone. She estimated there were a couple of hundred bounding through the waves together. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

B.C.'s Sunshine Coast lifts state of emergency caused by drought
A state of local emergency in response to drought along British Columbia's Sunshine Coast has been lifted with water flow returning to a key water source. A statement from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD), the District of Sechelt and shíshálh Nation says levels in the watershed have risen slightly because of snowmelt with warmer-than-expected temperature. (Canadian Press)

Environmental groups oppose pipeline expansion in Pacific NW
The U.S. government has taken a step toward approving the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest — a move opposed by environmentalists and the attorneys general of Oregon, California and Washington state...A grassroots coalition of environmental groups said the analysis conflicts with climate goals of Pacific Northwest states and fails “to address upstream methane emissions from the harmful practice of fracking.” Andrew Selsky reports. (Associated Press)

For beavers, tall dams don’t always make good neighbors
The boat docks that normally offered fishing access for visitors to the Jim Creek Recreation Area were fully underwater...It wasn’t difficult for Alicia Higgs, the station’s natural resources manager, to determine the cause. A family of beavers had set up camp in the drainage between the two lakes and gotten as busy as, well, beavers in building a dam to call home...She reached out to the Tulalip Tribes. Since 2014, the Tulalip Beaver Project has relocated “nuisance” beavers to strategically chosen spots in the upper Snohomish watershed. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

Climate Changed: Rising oceans, storm surges 'disaster in slow motion' for Canada's coasts
Tides are rising, sands are shifting and coastlines are crumbling. As studies warn of rising seas and accelerated erosion resulting from climate change, coastal communities in Canada are wondering what the future holds...Communities on Canada’s east and west coasts face the risk of slipping below swelling tides as water levels inch up. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released last year said the rate of global sea level rise is accelerating, and seas have risen about 20 centimetres since the beginning of the 20th century. Hina Alam reports. (Canadian Press)

Port: Point Hudson jetty rebuild ahead of schedule
The rebuild of the jetty at Point Hudson that protects the marina from storms is ahead of schedule, say officials with the Port of Port Townsend. Capital Facilities Director Matt Klontz said last week that Orion Marine Contractors is a week or 10 days ahead of schedule and that the marina may be able to open earlier than Orion’s March 1 deadline, according to a press release. (Peninsula Daily News)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 229 AM PST Mon Nov 21 2022
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Friday, November 18, 2022

11/18 Poacher, Nooksack flood, Sumas Prairie drugs, David Eby, WA forest funding, Spanish Bank Cr salmon, BC quakes, Klamath dams

Northern spearnose poacher [Sara Thiebaud]

Northern spearnose poacher Agonopsis vulsa
Also known as the window-tailed sea-poacher or the windowtail poacher; a fish in the family Agonidae (poachers). It was described by David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert in 1880, originally under the genus Agonus. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling fish which is known from the eastern Pacific Ocean, including southeastern Alaska to southern California. (Wikipedia)

After the flood: still rebuilding amid uncertainty, anxiety—and community
A year after flooding devastated the Nooksack Valley, survivors continue working to recover from damages, prepare for future flooding—and wait for government funds and solutions. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

'Widespread' amounts of cocaine, painkillers found in fish habitat on Sumas Prairie after 2021 floods
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation said excessive nutrients, metals, fecal bacteria, hydrocarbons and pesticides — as well as cocaine and painkillers — were detected in 29 surface water samples from the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford, B.C., over a seven-week period after the flood. (CBC)

Tech writer, activist, premier: David Eby's ambitious road to the premier's office
Eby will be sworn in as premier on Friday at the Musqueam Community Centre in Vancouver
Rhianna Schmunk and Joel Ballard report. (CBC)

WA lands Commissioner Franz seeks funding boost for urban forestation, state seedling nursery
Wednesday morning, on the sidelines of an urban forestry conference in downtown Seattle, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz announced her plan to seek $15.8 million in additional funding during the next state legislative session. Details are forthcoming, but $8 million of that money would boost the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ urban forestry program, improve support for local community organizations involved in forestry work, fund a Tree Equity Score Map and establish a youth conservation corps to encourage young people to become involved. The remaining $7.8 million would be used to improve and expand the state’s Webster Forest Nursery, which produces 9 million seedlings a year, amid an ongoing seed shortage. Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle Times)

DFO says salmon not being blocked from entering Spanish Bank Creek
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says that salmon gathering at the entrance of a mostly blocked culvert underneath NW Marine Drive in Vancouver are not trying to get up Spanish Bank Creek and that they have already spawned. The 15-metre culvert links the 50-metre rehabilitated stretch of creek from Burrard Inlet to the one-kilometre creek that runs through a ravine in Pacific Spirit Park. The upstream culvert exit is completely open, while the upstream entrance is a just a few inches deep. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Significant back-to-back earthquakes in northern B.C. 'very likely' caused by fracking: federal expert
Two significant earthquakes within a week in northeast B.C. were probably triggered by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, according to preliminary information from federal scientists. On Nov. 11, Earthquakes Canada reported a 4.7-magnitude earthquake, 132 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John. That was followed four days later by a 4.6-magnitude quake recorded just a kilometre away from the first seismic event. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

‘Momentous’: Feds advance demolition of 4 Klamath River dams
U.S. regulators approved a plan on Thursday to demolish four dams on a California river and open up hundreds of miles of salmon habitat that would be the largest dam removal and river restoration project in the world when it goes forward. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s unanimous vote on the lower Klamath River dams is the last major regulatory hurdle and the biggest milestone for a $500 million demolition proposal championed by Native American tribes and environmentalists for years. The project would free hundreds of miles of the river, which flows from Southern Oregon into Northern California. Gillian Flaccus reports. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/18/22: Micky Mouse Friday! Boeing toxic risk, post-fire logging, Arctic salmon, BC build back better, fish farm ban, Nicola R, WA water standards, forest funds

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 230 AM PST Fri Nov 18 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. NW swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 20 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.
SAT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. SW swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.
SUN SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

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Thursday, November 17, 2022

11/17 Aspen, grizzlies, Indigenous voices, culturally modified trees, trout farm, struggling trees

Quaking Aspen [Native Plants PNW]

Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides
Quaking Aspen is sometimes called Trembling Aspen. All of its names refer to how the leaves will quiver with the slightest breeze. It is the most widely distributed tree in North America. It ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland and Labrador, southeast to Virginia. It is also found near the shores of Puget Sound and on southeastern Vancouver Island. Quaking Aspen is one of the most important timber trees in the east. It is used for making engineered lumber such as waferboard and oriented strandboard. The pulp makes fine paper. It is also used to make crates, pallets and furniture as well as excelsior (wood shavings used for packing or stuffing), matchsticks, tongue depressors, and pellets for fuel. (Native Plants of PNW]

Meeting held to talk about grizzlies in the North Cascades
Federal agencies have begun an outreach and education process that will eventually lead to a plan to bring grizzly bears back to the North Cascades. At the first of four planned informational meetings Tuesday, staff with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service updated the public on their plans, and fielded questions. Brandon Stone reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Community Voice: Listen, and support Indigenous voices
Knowledge and awareness of the challenges Indigenous peoples face are good; what matters is action. Terri Thayer writes. (Salish Current)

‘Removing the evidence of our existence’: logging of culturally important trees rampant in B.C.
Culturally modified trees are an important marker of Indigenous Peoples’ presence on and stewardship of the land — and not enough is being done to protect them, experts say. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal)

Cooke hits back at Washington State’s license decision
Cooke Aquaculture says the decision by the Washington Department of Natural Resources not to renew the company’s steelhead trout farming licenses is out of line with both science and judicial precedent. The company said that in 2018 Washington state had banned the farming of non-native fish such as Atlantic salmon but the state legislature had explicitly allowed for the farming of native species, including steelhead trout. The company said that in January 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously rejected the arguments of a group of environmental organizations and upheld a permit granted to Cooke Aquaculture Pacific by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for the farming of Pacific steelhead trout. (Fish Farmer)

As climate change progresses, trees in cities struggle
As the driest summer in Seattle’s record books ended, trees across the city were sounding silent alarms. It was the latest in a string of Seattle summers in the last decade, including a record-breaking heat dome in 2021, to feature drier conditions and hotter temperatures that have left many trees with premature brown leaves and needles, bald branches and excessive seeding –- all signs of stress. (Associated Press)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 309 AM PST Thu Nov 17 2022
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY E wind 20 to 35 kt. Wind waves 5 to 7 ft. W swell 4 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 20 to 25 kt becoming 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

11/16 Beach hopper, PA fish farm, Nicola R, dying newts, WA water standards, Native reps, whale deaths, Indigenous eats, darn wabbits

Beach hopper [Crystal Ernst]

Beach hopper Traskorchestia traskiana
Small (under 1 inch), drab gray-green. Hops around like flea in perpetual motion on wrack of seaweeds left stranded by tide or on upper levels of beach. As the seaweed dries out, beach hoppers retreat into the moist centers of the pile or dig into the sand. If you disturb the wrack, hundreds of beach hoppers will usually jump out. An important food for sanderlings and many other migrating shorebirds. (Marine Life of Puget Sound, the San Juans, and the Strait of Georgia)

Department of Natural Resources ruling may derail Port Angeles fish farms
A steelhead fish farm planned in Port Angeles Harbor may not be possible following a decision from the Washington Department of Natural Resources, but further details won’t be available until Friday. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

The Demon River
On the night of November 15, 2021, British Columbia’s Nicola River sounded like thunder. Boulders boomed beneath a raging current that was bursting its banks, taking out everything in its path. It was the costliest disaster in the province’s history, resulting in an estimated $13 billion worth of damage. J.B. MacKinnon writes. (Hakai Institute)

The case of the dying newts: an Olympic Peninsula mystery
Max Lambert is a research scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has been keeping an eye on a remote lake on the Olympic Peninsula, where a once-abundant amphibian has been turning up dead, littering the lakeshore with tiny carcasses. Something is killing the lake’s population of rough-skinned newts. John Ryan writes. (KUOW)

Feds restore WA water quality standards for chemical discharges
In a reversal of Trump administration policies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week reinstated federal water quality standards for chemicals discharged into Washington state waterways. The final rule signed Monday would ensure polluters stay within federally established levels of chemicals or conditions in a body of water that are not expected to cause adverse health effects. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Native representation to increase in Washington Legislature
Washington state is home to 29 federally recognized Native American Tribes, but only one Native person currently serves in the state Legislature. That will change next year. Three enrolled members of Native tribes are poised to win their elections this fall. David Hyde reports. (KUOW)

Could a 'silent killer' be behind B.C.'s recent whale deaths?
The public is being reminded to call DFO if they spot a whale in distress or if they suspect they've hit one with their boat. Alanna Kelly reports. (Times Colonist)

How Indigenous Restaurants Are Decolonizing Seattle’s Dining Scene, One Plate at a Time
Local Indigenous businesses like ʔálʔal Cafe, Off the Rez, and Native Soul work to educate and contextualize Native ingredients and customs while advocating for investment. Sabra Boyd reports.
(Seattle Eater)

Concrete Town Council sets plan to deal with rabbits
The Concrete Town Council authorized town code enforcement officer Karla Massingale on Monday to use an air rifle to help rid east Concrete of domesticated rabbits that were let loose last spring and continue to multiply. Rqcquel Muncy reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 404 AM PST Wed Nov 16 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft after midnight. W swell 3 ft at 13 seconds building to 5 ft at 13 seconds after midnight.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

11/15 Western larch, fish farms nixed, news casualty, Nov flood, tribe grants, island burial site, forest future

Western Larch [Native Plants PNW]

Western Larch Larix occidentalis
Unlike most conifers, Larches are deciduous; the needles turn a golden color in the fall before they are shed. Western Larch provides an ever-changing visual display. In spring, it is a verdant green with bright red new cones. As fall approaches the needles turn a bright golden yellow. In winter, its many cones create a polka dot pattern against the sky on its slender pyramidal form. Western Larch is a valuable lumber tree. It has the densest wood of the northwest conifers it is often used to make boxes and crates. Another important economic product is Larch gum; it is similar to gum arabic and is used as an emulsifier or stabilizer in foods and medicine. (Native Plants of the Pacific NW)

WA will not renew leases for Puget Sound fish farms, 5 years after spill
No more Cooke Aquaculture fish farms in Puget Sound. That’s the message the state Department of Natural Resources delivered Monday morning when the agency decided not to renew the last of the fish-farming company’s leases on net pens here. The company’s last net pens in Puget Sound are located in Rich Passage near Bainbridge Island and Hope Island in Skagit Bay. Cooke has until Dec. 14 to wrap up steelhead farming and begin deconstructing their equipment, according to DNR officials. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Trust in truth of news is a casualty of the information wars
A growing and divisive mistrust of the truthfulness of news media raises serious concerns for the local community and the wider society. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

1 year later, British Columbians who lost everything reflect on devastating floods
On Nov. 15, the relentless rain came via an atmospheric river — an airborne stream of water vapour across the Pacific that originated in the subtropics. It triggered fatal mudslides, damaged critical highway infrastructure and called into question responsibility for flood mitigation in a province repeatedly pummeled by the impacts of climate change. Bridgette Watson reports. (CBC)

Tribes receive grant funding
North Olympic Peninsula tribes are getting an injection of cash for climate resilience projects thanks to a program from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The funding is part of a $45 million program from DOI to support adaptation planning, climate implementation actions, ocean and coastal management planning, capacity building, relocation, managed retreat and protect-in-place planning for climate risks. DOI said it would award 124 grants across 76 tribes and eight tribal organizations a Nov. 2 news release. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Ancestral remains encountered on Ihos (Savary Island)
A significant site has been discovered during an archaeological study related to proposed residential developments on ʔayhos [Savary Island – pronounced: ay-hos], according to a Tla’amin Nation media release. An ancestral burial and related archaeological artifacts have been unearthed at an undisclosed location on the island. (Powell River Peak)

If you like to watch: Future of Forests
RE Sources and Center for Responsible Forestry presents a 10-minute film featuring Dr. Jerry Franklin addressing the need to move towards ecological forest management as a better alternative to today's industrial logging. (RE Sources)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 243 AM PST Tue Nov 15 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds.

Monday, November 14, 2022

11/14 Sea lemon, Boeing toxins, Anacortes dump, Gas Work Park, dikes, Arctic salmon, pricing nature, logging burns, island butterfly, fin whale, cedar poacher, carbon capture

Sea Lemon [Robin Agarwald/iNaturalist]

Sea Lemon Peltodoris nobilis
Peltodoris nobilis is part of a group of nudibranchs that frequently get lumped together as ‘sea lemons’. We have several very similar species on the Pacific Coast including in the state of Washington. The Sea Lemon smells like citrus thanks to the mucus chemicals they produce when disturbed. Their penis is unarmed, meaning there are no spines. They feed on sponges. (Kelly Brenner/Metro Field Guide)

Secret files reveal Boeing doctor warned of toxic risks, birth defects
In 1980, a doctor wrote factory chemicals would cause “life-long chronic illness, cancer and death.” Lawsuits claim his worst fears came true. Rachel Riley reports. (Everett Herald)

Anacortes toxic city dump one of hundreds dotting the state
A landfill for four decades, a site on the edge of a forest in Anacortes is the target of a cleanup plan being negotiated by the City and the Department of Ecology. Richard Walker reports. (Salish Current)

Gas Works Park enters new phase of cleanup: Shoreline and lake bed to be dredged, capped
Since the ‘70s, the city, Puget Sound Energy and the state have worked to clean up what’s beneath the surface. Earlier this month, state Department of Ecology officials hosted a public meeting to share tentative plans for the last round of cleanup: removing some of the remaining contaminants along the shoreline and in the water, and “capping” polluted soils, possibly with a few feet of clean sand. Isabelle Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

More dikes and bigger dams could be a multi-billion dollar mistake: here’s how B.C. could ‘build back better’
A year after catastrophic floods in B.C.'s Fraser Valley, some are concerned the recovery is too focused on trying to fight water with bigger engineering, instead of embracing a global movement to work with water and prioritize nature-based solutions. Erica Gies reports. (The Narwhal) Also: BC flood funding: A year after disaster, no protection upgrade answers Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Salmon’s Arctic Expansion Has Communities Worried
Inuvialuit fishers are adapting to rising numbers of Pacific salmon in the western Canadian Arctic, but fears remain about impacts on native species. Dustin Patar reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Putting a price on nature can help municipalities adapt to climate change
White Tower Park is not only a lovely place for a stroll, but through its ponds and culverts, it can soak up water, helping protect the town from flooding. In 2012, Gibsons changed the definition of infrastructure to include "natural assets." By putting a value on things like wetlands, forests and coastlines, a municipality like Gibsons can make a financial case to invest in, protect and restore these ecosystems while also benefitting from the services they provide. Molly Segal reports. (CBC)

BLM agrees to reverse Trump administration post-fire logging rule
The Bureau of Land Management has agreed to reverse a rule put in place during the Donald Trump presidency that allowed the agency to log large areas of forests after a wildfire without first doing an environmental review. The 2020 rules increased the maximum area for “categorical exclusions” from 250 to 3,000 acres. Roman Battaglia reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Will this rare butterfly found only on San Juan Island go extinct?
The endangered island marble butterfly's recovery is fought for in a captive rearing lab in a cabin at American Camp at the San Juan Island National Historical Park while its island habitat declines due to development, construction and human activity, plus threats from nonnative species. Nicholas Turner reports. (Seattle Times)

Expert fears fin-whale protection will be reduced just as risks rise
Climate change and projected LNG shipments from Kitimat pose risks for the sleek whale. Rochelle Baker reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Fine hiked dramatically for man who 'wantonly and flagrantly' poached cedar from First Nation territory
A man who illegally harvested cedar from an area of major cultural significance in B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest has seen his fine increased more than tenfold, in a decision the Wei Wai Kum First Nation's elected chief called a "game changer." Timothy Holland will now have to pay $131,759 for cutting and removing timber outside his legal tenure in Wei Wai Kum territory, following a recent decision from the Forest Appeals Commission. His original administrative penalty had amounted to $12,000. Bethany Lindsay reports. (CBC)

Public meeting set for carbon sequestration program
Jefferson County commissioners have questions about how inclusion in a proposed state carbon sequestration program would affect beneficiaries of state trust lands, among other concerns. A public meeting is planned from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 to allow county commissioners gather more information about the potential impacts of the program. It will be conducted at Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 244 AM PST Mon Nov 14 2022
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft at 15 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds.

Friday, November 11, 2022

11/11 Sunset, super pod, superport, grizzlies, salmon farms, Coquitlam hatchery, BC extinction, Jude Rubin, Native hotline, oil spill barges, birds, intertidal architects

Sunset at Wiley Slough [Thomas William Jones]

Sunset at Wiley Slough
“Be patient, the environment will speak to you!” As a watercolor artist painting in the Northwest for over 55 years, I can always find inspiration in the Skagit Valley region. If given the time and patience, our protected estuary areas will speak to you. Such was the case when visiting the Wiley Slough Wildlife Area during a late winter afternoon last year. Thomas William Jones writes. (Salish Current)

'Super pod' of orcas spotted four days in a row in western Washington
The orca pods are showing off in western Washington this week. Thursday marked four days in a row that a “super pod” of orcas was spotted. It even delayed a couple of ferries between Seattle and Vashon Island. Tess Wagner reports. (KING)

The Intensifying Push to Build a Fraser Delta Superport
As Canada prepares to host a global summit on biodiversity, a proposed $3.5 billion superport just south of Vancouver is testing the Trudeau government’s bold environmental commitments. Critics say approving the superport, which would be built in the Fraser estuary, one of Canada’s most endangered biodiversity hotspots, would run counter to several of the Liberal’s pronouncements about the need to better protect nature. Margaret Munro reports. (The Tyee)

Feds resume study of restoring grizzlies to North Cascades
The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they would jointly prepare an environmental impact statement on restoring the endangered bears to the North Cascades ecosystem. Nicholas K. Geranios reports. (Associated Press)

Future of B.C. salmon farms up in the air, as deadline to phase out open-net pen farms looms
After years of uncertainty, the future of salmon farming on B.C.'s coast remains up in the air. Fish farms are a key part of the salmon industry on Vancouver Island and coastal B.C., employing up to 4,700 people, according to the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association. But open-net pen farms have also drawn criticism for the risks they pose to wild salmon stocks. Emily Vance reports. (CBC)

Work begins on building new Coquitlam salmon hatchery
A ground-breaking ceremony was held Thursday for a new sockeye hatchery being built near the Coquitlam Lake Dam in the hopes of reviving the native salmon population. The project is being led by the Kwikwetlem First Nation which has struggled to restore the native sockeye population since the hydro electric dam was first built across the Coquitlam river in 1913. (CBC)

‘Huge legal gaps’ are driving B.C. species to extinction, conservation groups say
The B.C. NDP campaigned on protecting species at risk. Years later, the province still doesn’t have stand-alone species at risk legislation. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Northwest Watershed Institute announces changes
The Northwest Watershed Institute is making staff changes in light of the resignation of Jude Rubin, the institute’s co-founder and longtime director of stewardship and public engagement. Both incoming Director of Stewardship Wesley Meyers and incoming Education Coordinator Megan Brookens are moving into management positions. (Peninsula Daily News)

Washington launches first of its kind Native American crisis hotline
The "Native and Strong Crisis Lifeline" is not only the first in the nation tailored for Native American people, it's also run by all Native American team. The hotline is staffed by 13 counselors from Washington and other states. PJ Randhawa reports. (KING)

Canada's New Oil Spill Response Barges Launched
Two new oil spill response barges to Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) by the end of 2022 and join WCMRC’s fleet of pollution response vessels stationed along the south coast of British Columbia. (MarineLink)

A Celebration of Birds
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "I am not a very good birder. I have no ear for bird songs and can only ID a handful of birds by their voice... But, dear reader, I am not here to crow about my incompetence. I write today to celebrate my past week of birding, when I was able to identify three birds, in a very sort of Paul Reveresque manner: One by ear, two by sight." (Street Smart Naturalist)

Ancient Architects of the Intertidal Landscape of Xwe’etay (Lasqueti Island)
One of the goals of the Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project (XLAP) is to map the temporal and spatial extent of all the ancient Indigenous settlements on Xwe’etay in relation to their surrounding land and seascape. Over the summer this involved timing our shoreline surveys for the lowest low tides in May – August so that we could record the fish traps, clam gardens, and other intertidal features associated with the many Indigenous settlements around the island. Dana Lepofsky writes. (Lasqueti Island Nature Conservancy Newsletter)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/11/22: Origami Friday, Fraser R, acid ocean, heat pumps, dying crabs, herring homecoming, BC old growth, climate killers, grizzlies, superport

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 214 AM PST Fri Nov 11 2022 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds building to 4 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening.
SAT E wind to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT NW wind to 10 kt becoming W after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN Light wind becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 14 seconds.

Thursday, November 10, 2022

11/10 Hooded nudibranch, ranked-choice voting, BC old growth, Nechako R, English Bay barge, Vancouver marmot, Le Merced, angry octopus

Hooded nudibranch [Robin Agarwal]

Hooded nudibranch Melibe leonina
The hooded nudibranch, also known as the lion's mane nudibranch, is a species of predatory nudibranch in the family Tethydidae and occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California. M. leonina are common on seagrass and blades of Macrocystis kelp within their range from the lower intertidal to approximately 37m. While most nudibranchs are predators of sessile benthic organisms, M. leonina is carnivorous and feeds on planktonic invertebrates. (Wikipedia)

San Juan County voters reject ranked choice voting, spending measures
Turnout plummeted, charter amendments failed and the challenger leads the incumbent sheriff in San Juan County’s midterm election. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. hasn’t taken $50 million federal offer for old-growth forest protections
Ottawa’s offer to fund the protection of B.C.’s vanishing old-growth forests is a ‘game-changer,’ but so far the provincial government hasn’t made a matching commitment. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

70 Years after the Flood: How a Dam Broke the Nechako River
First Nations want BC and Tinto Alcan to save the river. Is it too late? A Tyee series.Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

English Bay Barge shipping off soon, City of Vancouver says
Deconstruction of the English Bay Barge is nearing completion. The City of Vancouver says the hull of the barge is expected to be demolished by the end of next week. The barge washed up on the shore during destructive storms almost one year ago. (CBC)

Island marmot to grace U.S. stamp series featuring endangered species; Marmota vancouverensis has been having a tough year
The stamp series features creatures whose populations are critically low in the U.S. and its territories — and one that makes its home exclusively in the mountains of central Vancouver Island. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

An Abandoned, Tree-Lined Ship Can Be Found On The Banks Of Anacortes
La Merced is an old and abandoned ship in Anacortes, the largest city in Fidalgo Island of Washington State. This rugged and black wooden shipwreck rests on a rock and dredges spoil by the shores of Salish Sea waters that separate US and Canada. This historical relic has over the years, been colonized by plants and trees that grow on the sand inside what was the hull during its heydays. James Karuga reports. (The Travel)

Sometimes this octopus is so mad it just wants to throw something
It turns out that the urge to hurl something at an irritating neighbor is not confined to land animals. A study published on Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE shows that octopuses of at least one species throw silt and shells, sometimes at one another. It’s a rare behavior in the animal kingdom, and the study is the first time it has been documented in octopuses. Darren Incorvaia reports. (NY Times)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 218 AM PST Thu Nov 10 2022
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 5 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.