Salish Sea News and Weather: January 2023

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

1/31 Black rockfish, Pebble Mine, Tongass NF, War in the Woods, Boundary Bay, Makah AF Station, crypto mining, Duwamish R

Black rockfish [Monterey Bay Aquarium]

Black rockfish Sebastes melanops
Black Rockfish range from Amchitka Island (in the Aleutian Islands) and Kodiak Island, Alaska, to northern Baja, California. They have been found at water depths up to 366 m (1,200 ft), but are most commonly found in waters shallower than 73 m (240 ft). This species is known to form large schools in and around rocks and kelp. Black Rockfish can grow up to 69 cm (27.6 in) in length, and 6 kg (13.3 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 56 years old. (WDFW)

EPA blocks Alaska Pebble Mine in salmon-rich Bristol Bay region
The Environmental Protection Agency has blocked development of the Pebble Mine project in a corner of the Bristol Bay watershed, a vast and pristine swath of southwest Alaska that sustains the greatest sockeye salmon runs on the planet. The EPA decision made public Tuesday placed a key portion of land surrounding the Pebble deposit off-limits for use as a disposal site. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

The U.S. reinstates road and logging restrictions on the largest national forest
A federal agency said Wednesday it is reinstating restrictions on road-building and logging on the country's largest national forest in southeast Alaska, the latest move in a long-running fight over the Tongass National Forest. (Associated Press) See: Why new protections don’t eliminate threats to the Tongass National Forest Neveena Sadasivam reports. (Grist)

B.C.’s War in the Woods is entering a new phase. Will it be the last?
More than two years after the province promised to implement recommendations set out in the old-growth strategic review, big trees continue to fall. Review author Garry Merkel says changing B.C.'s forestry culture isn't easy. Arno Kopecky writes. (The Narwhal)

Ducks Unlimited project to boost Boundary Bay's climate resilience
King tides and rising sea levels have helped wash logs ashore in sensitive salt marshes in the shadow of the Boundary Bay Airport. There, the loose logs can crush vegetation “like rolling pins” to smother the delicate foreshore. Starting this week, Ducks Unlimited is hauling them out along the dike in Delta to help restore a larger area of salt marsh. Work on the project began this week, with excavators contracted to conduct the removal over the next several weeks. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Air Force to clean up station
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment by Feb. 13 on a proposed corrective action plan from the U.S. Air Force for cleaning up soil and groundwater contaminated by underground fuel storage tanks at the former Makah Air Force Station in Neah Bay...Public notice of the corrective action plan is also on EPA’s website, www.epa.gov/publicnotices, which also provides an executive summary. Brian Gawley reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Washington and Oregon may regulate the wild West of crypto mining
The targets for Oregon’s and Washington’s ambitious clean-air laws, which seek to phase out nonrenewable energy sources from the states’ power grid in the next couple of decades, are growing closer. In response, lobbyists and policymakers have begun to focus on ensuring crypto mining’s high electricity use doesn’t wind up contributing to fossil fuel emissions after the deadlines pass. Kaylee Tornay reports. (Investigate West/Crosscut)

The Duwamish River Restoration Efforts Are Really Coming Along
....The natural habitat that formed the landscape of the Duwamish for centuries before colonizers arrived has started to regrow, revealing a face of Seattle that hasn’t been seen in over a hundred years. And you’re invited to watch. Matt Baume writes. (The Stranger)

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- 217 AM PST Tue Jan 31 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming S 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 16 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft after midnight. W swell 4 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain.

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Monday, January 30, 2023

1/30 Black turnstone, island spill risk, Navy drydocks, Jeld-Wen cleanup, smaller salmon, abalone, PSE heat pumps, indigenous climate change, shared waters, Skagit Valley Herald

Black Turnstone [Brian Sullivan]

Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala
A dapper shorebird the color of wet rocks and surf spray, the Black Turnstone neatly matches its Pacific Coast wintering habitat. Look for them on rocky coasts or amid piles of kelp at the high-tide line, where they flip over rocks, shells, and seaweed to grab flies and fish eggs or hammer open shellfish. (All About Birds)

San Juan waters remain at risk from oil spills
The August 2022 oil spill off San Juan Island was called a ‘wake-up call’ for more prevention and response. Was it? Kathryn Wheeler reports. (Salish Current)

U.S. Navy Closes Four Drydocks at Puget Sound Shipyard Over Quake Risk
The U.S. Navy is temporarily idling four submarine repair drydocks in Washington due to earthquake risk, the service announced Sunday...[T]hree drydocks at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and one drydock at the Trident Refit Facility in Bangor will be kept empty until the conclusion of further investigations. (Marine Executive)

Port acquisition marks next step in toxic cleanup on Everett waterfront
The Port of Everett voted earlier this month to accept a donation of private land adjacent to the contaminated former Jeld-Wen site — a donation port managers say will ensure environmental fallout from the site is properly managed when cleanup efforts begin, possibly by the end of 2023. The 9.6 acres of bayside, mostly submerged land, referred to in port documents as Wicks Tide Flats, sit just north of the former Jeld-Wen property at 300 West Marine View Drive. The Oregon-based door manufacturer operated out of the Port Gardner plant since purchasing the former E.A. Nord Co. in 1986. The Everett location closed in 2005. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

Pacific salmon seem to be getting smaller. Here’s what that might mean for the future
The number of salmon returning to Bristol Bay Alaska from the Pacific Ocean last year was higher than it’s been in at least 20 years. But the fish themselves are smaller. And that seems to be true for other salmon across the region. Science and nature writer Miranda Weiss talked to scientists and fishermen about why the fish might be getting smaller, and what impacts that will have in the Pacific Northwest. Paul Marshall reports. (OPB)

Chance of survival is looking good for Washington's only abalone
....Over the years, restoration work has expanded. Conservation organizations around the Salish Sea are working together to sample and monitor populations, in addition to raising juvenile abalone and outplanting them at different sites. The Puget Sound Restoration Fund leads the captive breeding project, which began about 15 years ago. Based at the Chew Center at the Center for Shellfish Restoration and Research, the project takes abalone that are unlikely to spawn at their current locations and uses them to produce juvenile abalone. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Puget Sound Energy rethinks pilot program to move people off natural gas
After drawing criticism from environmental and clean power advocates, Puget Sound Energy is rethinking the structure of a $15 million pilot program that could help boost the use of heat pumps and other electric appliances. The pilot program targets some 10,000 customers, and would include a mix of financial incentives, home energy evaluations and education under a settlement agreement reached last year as PSE sought approval of rate increases. PSE is supposed to engage those customers through “at least two” of these measures, according to the settlement. Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Indigenous input is key to tackling climate change
Indigenous issues took center stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this month. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp told world leaders that Indigenous knowledge and lands are key elements in a global climate change strategy. Mark Trahant reports. (Indian Country Today/Crosscut)

Shared waters of the Salish Sea need a shared response between B.C. and Washington
As partners in the region, we know the Salish Sea is under mounting pressure and understand the urgency to work together to manage the system. Ginny Broadhurst and Christianne Wilhelmson write. (The Province)

Changes coming for the Skagit Valley Herald
The Skagit Valley Herald will be delivered by mail beginning March 1 and, given that there is no Sunday mail delivery, its Sunday paper will be incorporated into its Saturday paper as a weekend edition. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Have you read the Salish Current? -News from around the region.
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 Mon Jan 30 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 14 seconds.
TONIGHT S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of rain after midnight.

Friday, January 27, 2023

1/27 Moon jelly, port noise, Hinman Glacier, WSF funds, bunnies, SeaDoc proposals, catching seagulls, marine sanctuaries, week in review

Moon jelly

Moon jelly Aurelia aurita
The name ‘moon jelly’ can refer to any of several jellies in the genus Aurelia that are round with a shallow bell and relatively short tentacles. In this case, we mean moon jelly to refer to the species that is common throughout both sides of the north Atlantic Ocean. Like all true jellies, the moon jelly’s tentacles are covered with specialized stinging cells, called cnidocytes. The moon jelly uses these stinging cells to hunt small pelagic invertebrates and occasionally fishes and to capture other food particles with which it might come in contact. The cnidocytes are also the source of the sting that people feel when we come in contact with a moon jelly. (Oceana)

Port promises to dampen loading noise in wake of complaints
Port of Bellingham officials responded to neighborhood complaints with promises to lower the noise level related to a new work contract. Riley Weeks reports. (Salish Current)

Correction: Yesterday's posting ‘Rarest of the rare’: B.C’s newest conservancy protects globally imperilled rainforest had an incorrect url and is corrected here.
The move will permanently protect at-risk species and biodiversity — including rare lichens, grizzly bear and wolverine — in an area Premier David Eby describes as ‘one of B.C.’s greatest treasures.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

RIP Washington’s Hinman Glacier, gone after thousands of years
The largest glacier between the high peaks of Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak has melted away after a long battle with global warming. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

What new federal money will mean for WA ferries
The federal government has awarded Washington State Ferries $4.9 million to help build an electric-ferry charging station for the busy Mukilteo-Clinton line, and $5 million for dock improvements to improve transit and pedestrian connections at Southworth. Those grants, along with $1.7 million for WSF to buy modern ferry-payment software and systems that make credit-card transactions quicker, were announced Thursday morning by the Federal Transit Administration. Mike Lindblom reports. (Seattle Times)

Overrun with Buns
Feral rabbits abound across Metro Vancouver. They’re cute. But can they be contained? Christopher Cheung reports. (The Tyee)

SeaDoc Society calls for proposals
The transboundary SeaDoc Society is once again calling for proposals that will support improved Salish Sea health or management. This year there are two grant opportunities: an Open RFP with an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) step, and a second RFP for Tribes & First Nations that does not require an LOI (deadline . The ceiling for all awards is $50K. Open RFP LOIs due Feb 1; the full proposal deadline for both RFPs is March 15. (SeaDoc Society)

Photos: Here's why you might see people catching seagulls in Vancouver
Mark Hipfner and his crew are researchers with Environment Canada working on a study of glaucous-winged gulls on B.C.s south coast. They're the bigger seagulls seen essentially everywhere in Vancouver. The team is using the ubiquitous gull as an indicator of the health of the Salish Sea. Brendan Kergin reports. (Vancouver Is Awesome)

Proposed National Marine Sanctuaries Provide a Pathway Toward Indigenous-Led Ocean Conservation
The United States can move closer to its dual goals of increasing access to nature for all Americans and protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 by approving and completing the designation of five new Indigenous-led marine sanctuaries: Alaĝum Kanuux̂ National Marine Sanctuary; Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary; Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument sanctuary overlay; Mariana Trench National Marine Sanctuary; and Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary. (American Progress)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/27/23: Crapper Friday, WA 8, renewable hydrogen, Corvus Energy, EPA woes, sea lice, bad air effects, BP Cherry Point, BC rainforest, Hinman Glacier.

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- 240 AM PST Fri Jan 27 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING
TODAY W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds building to 7 ft at 9 seconds in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain. SAT NIGHT E wind 20 to 30 kt becoming NE after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

1/26 BP Cherry Point, BC rainforest, GasLink penalized again, quake alert, gray whales, BC forestry, Blueberry River First Nations

Moonglow anemone [Jordan Roderick/CC]

Moonglow anemone Anthopleura artemisia
Anthopleura artemisia is a species of sea anemone known by a number of common names, including burrowing anemone and moonglow anemone. It was first described to science in 1846 in a volume by James Dwight Dana, reporting on the animals found on the United States Exploring Expedition. Dana attributes the description to Charles Pickering, who was a naturalist on the expedition. (Wikipedia)

Federal government blocks BP Cherry Point north wing, limits crude oil volume
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will require BP to limit the volume of crude oil handled at its Cherry Point terminal to 191* million barrels per year and prohibit handling crude oil at its north wing dock unless authorized. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will modify its 1996 permit to comply with the Magnuson Amendment’s restrictions regarding the handling of crude oil at Puget Sound facilities, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other legal requirements, according to a January 23 Corps press release. The Corps are also requiring BP to report the number of vessel calls and the volume of crude oil handled at the terminal each year to ensure compliance. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Andrew Muñoz said BP will be required to report its vessel calls and crude oil volume annually. Ian Haupt reports. (The Northern Light) *Per Friends of the San Juans:"BP’s 2021 Atmospheric Crude Distillation Capacity (barrels per calendar day) is 242,000 – that’s 88,330,000 barrels/year."

‘Rarest of the rare’: B.C’s newest conservancy protects globally imperilled rainforest
The move will permanently protect at-risk species and biodiversity — including rare lichens, grizzly bear and wolverine — in an area Premier David Eby describes as ‘one of B.C.’s greatest treasures.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Coastal GasLink fined a 3rd time for environmental violation
The company behind a contentious natural gas pipeline project in northern B.C. has been fined a third time for non-compliance with environmental orders, according to the provincial government. The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has fined Coastal GasLink (CGL) $213,600 for what the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy described as "continued deficiencies with erosion and sediment control measures" identified during inspections of pipeline construction in February 2022. (CBC)

Quake early-warning system coming next year
System could give coastal communities several minutes of warning of a mega-thrust earthquake that results in major shaking and damage. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

In Graphic Detail: Gray Whales in Flux
The number of gray whales in the eastern North Pacific Ocean was a cause for celebration a few years ago. What happened? Marina Wang reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Canfor shuts down operations in Chetwynd and Houston, B.C., cutting about 400 jobs
Canfor has announced the permanent closure of its Chetwynd, B.C. operations, as well as a temporary closure of its Houston sawmill, creating further challenges for forestry industry workers. Though the company did not say how many jobs would be cut, the union representing workers at both locations estimated at least 400 people would be out of a job. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

Blueberry River First Nations beat B.C. in court. Now everything’s changing
New agreements between the province and Treaty 8 nations are a first step towards healing land devastated by decades of heavy industrial activity. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

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- 231 AM PST Thu Jan 26 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft after midnight. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

1/25 Moon snail, king tides, sea lice, BC mills, Gitanyow forestry, bad air effects, Salish Landing, Lake Goodwin PCBs, Salish Sea Stewards, goose kill, green bin dump

Moon snail

Moon snail Euspira lewisii
The moon snail is one of the largest intertidal snails that can be found in the Northwest. Found in mud flats and sandy intertidal areas from Ketchikan, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico, their shell can get up to 5.5 inches and the extended body can be up to 12 inches long. Males are smaller than females and they can live up to an impressive 14 years, which is often attributed to their lifestyles as voracious predators and their ability to quickly protect themselves against predation. (Northeast Environmental Center)

King tides showcase future sea level rise
...Paying attention to naturally occurring king tides is important because they provide a glimpse at what local sea level rise will look like in the future. Since we’re still working to curb greenhouse gas emissions, sea level rise is among the more certain climate change impacts. Over the past century, for instance, sea levels have risen about eight inches in Seattle. The king tides of today will be our everyday high tides in the future. (WA Dept of Ecology)

Salmon farms not 'solely' to blame for growing B.C. sea lice infestations, claims DFO study
A government study claims fish farms aren't solely to blame for the growing prevalence of sea lice among wild salmon along the B.C. coast. The Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) report, based on data provided by fish farm operators, claims that there is no "statistically significant association" between sea lice infestations among wild juvenile Chum and Pink salmon and the fish farms they migrate past along the B.C. coast. However, the report still notes that there has been an upward trend of sea lice infestation in the studied areas, which include Clayoquot Sound and the Discovery Islands, since 2013. Jon Hernandez reports (CBC)

B.C. announces more forestry supports as mills extend layoffs
B.C.'s provincial government has announced further supports for the forest industry as several mills have said temporary layoffs will extend into February due to poor market conditions. In Delta today, Forests Minister Bruce Ralston unveiled the B.C. Timber Sales Value-Added Manufacturing Program which sets aside dedicated fibre supply to small- and medium-sized secondary manufacturers. Ralston says 10 per cent of the available timber supply in the province will now be dedicated to manufacturing companies that don't have direct access to their own fibre supplies to bid on. (CBC)

Some feared the Gitanyow’s plan would hurt forestry. But land is protected — and industry is thriving
Ten years on, the Gitanyow’s land-use plan has helped protect vital ecosystems and set the stage for partnerships with companies while inspiring other nations across the country. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Air pollution is changing how our brain functions, researchers at UBC, UVic find
Researchers at the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria have found that exposure to traffic pollution is changing the way our brain works.... exposure to diesel exhaust for just two hours led to changes in brain function connectivity, a measure of how different regions of the brain interact with each other. The most affected regions are linked to memory and attention. Arrthy Thayaparan reports. (CBC)

Cleanup and construction are underway for this Bellingham waterfront park
Plans for a waterfront park that have been under way for several years should be moving ahead more quickly, now that the location has a new name and cleanup and construction are underway, Bellingham officials said this week. Salish Landing will be the new name for the 17-acre site that stretches from the south end of Cornwall Avenue along Bellingham Bay toward Boulevard Park. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

County settles lawsuit over PCBs at former landfill near Lake Goodwin
Snohomish County’s insurer agreed in November to pay $415,000 for alleged contamination of land bought by a luxury homebuilder next to an old landfill near Lake Goodwin. In exchange, the county will retain the potentially contaminated land. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Everett Herald)

Salish Sea Stewards to start volunteer training
After two years of mostly remote training, the Salish Sea Stewards are back in full force for in-person training this winter. The program, which is run through the Skagit Marine Resources Committee, aims to give locals tools to contribute to the health of the Salish Sea. This year’s training includes topics such as kelp monitoring, forage fish, European green crabs and local geology. It runs on Tuesdays from February through April. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Little opposition, so goose plan poised to fly
A goose-management plan that includes egg addling and bird culls needed to clear a process in which opponents were asked to step forward, but few did. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Waste dumped on Cultus Lake area farmland came from Surrey green bins
Some of the waste dumped on a farmer’s field near Cultus Lake over six months last year came from Surrey household green bins. The discovery by neighbours, who alerted officials to the dump site soon after trucks started rolling into Columbia Valley in early spring, raises questions about how B.C.’s green waste is managed and tracked after it arrives at local composting facilities. Glenda Luymes 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- 245 AM PST Wed Jan 25 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

1/24 Snowberry, Rena Priest, cold BC, lunar event, EPA trauma, WA cap'n'trade, Corvis Energy, Oly oysters, Bamberton quarry, fear the deer

Snowberry

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family native to North America. It is browsed by some animals and planted for ornamental and ecological purposes, but is poisonous to humans. (Wikipedia)

Watch and listen: "These Abundant and Generous Homelands"
Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest read "These Abundant and Generous Homelands" at the 2023 State of the State. Rena wrote the poem to the theme of 'A More Equitable 2023'. (Humanities Washington)

Intense cold coming to B.C. by this weekend will last for weeks
Minimum temperatures between minus six and minus 10 Celsius expected in Metro Vancouver, with clear skies. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

A historical lunar event is causing ‘King Tides’ in WA. Here’s how and potential impacts
The moon is closer to Earth than it’s been in nearly 1,000 years...King Tides, affected by the moon’s closeness, are making massive waves crash into the Washington coast and causing high tides from Monday. They will continue through Wednesday. Shaun Goodwin reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Depleted under Trump, a ‘traumatized’ EPA struggles with its mission
The nation’s top environmental agency is still reeling from the exodus of more than 1,200 scientists and policy experts during the Trump administration. The chemicals chief said her staff can’t keep up with a mounting workload. The enforcement unit is prosecuting fewer polluters than at any time in the past two decades. And now this: The stressed-out, stretched-thin Environmental Protection Agency is scrambling to write about a half-dozen highly complex rules and regulations that are central to President Joe Biden’s climate goals. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

How Washington's new carbon emission cap will work
Signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in 2021, the Climate Commitment Act works by setting a statewide “cap” on greenhouse-gas emissions that steadily lowers over time. Washington, like California, is establishing a market for businesses to buy pollution “allowances” that will become increasingly expensive — an incentive to cut emissions and a way to raise money to counter climate change. The first auction to sell off these allowances is scheduled for the end of February, and if all goes according to plan, Washington’s emissions will drop to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 — an even steeper cut than California’s, which aims for an 80% reduction by the same year. Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

New Fairhaven facility brings clean energy storage to marine vessels
Corvus Energy, a Norway-based energy storage company, celebrated the opening of its first U.S. production facility in Fairhaven Monday with informational tours, flowing champagne and a delegation of foreign dignitaries. The company, which produces “sustainable energy storage” for ships, ferries and commercial sea vessels, will launch operations in Fairhaven over the coming weeks, bringing in about 40 staffers to help create its battery storage products, including the Orca, the Blue Whale and the Dolphin battery packs. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Funds aim to restore oysters
The Marine Resource Committees for Clallam and Jefferson counties will use federal funding to replenish strata in Sequim Bay and Discovery Bay to help rejuvenate Olympia oyster populations depleted by the “heat dome” in September 2022. The shells will be placed on tidelands located at Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Tidelands on about 2 acres of current restoration area and 1 acre of new restoration area to expand the Olympia oyster population in Sequim Bay. Brian Gawley reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Preliminary report nixes Bamberton quarry expansion review
The preliminary Environmental Assessment Office report says the dock extension and soil deposit site could not be reviewed, as they are substantially underway, and recommended against reviewing the quarry. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

Fear the deer: Crash data illuminates America’s deadliest animal
Behold the deer, the deadliest beast in North America. Deer are responsible for the deaths of about 440 of the estimated 458 Americans killed in physical confrontations with wildlife in an average year, according to Utah State University biologist Mike Conover, employing some educated guesswork in the latest edition of “Human-Wildlife Interactions.” Those deer-inflicted fatalities are not, so far as we know, caused by deer-on-human predation. They’re the unfortunate result of more than 2 million people a year plowing into deer with their sedans and SUVs, usually on a two-lane road, often at high speeds. Andrew Van Dam reports. (Washington Post)

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- 246 AM PST Tue Jan 24 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 18 seconds building to 10 ft at 17 seconds in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 16 seconds.

Monday, January 23, 2023

1/23 Snowy owl, shoreline living, English Bay spill, Hylebos spill, seal kill, salmon egg to grave, BC Hydro, renewable hydrogen, WA's 8, enviro justice policies

Rise Above 2020
(Eve McCauley-Chomiak courtesy image)

Rise Above 2020
A snowy owl spotted on a wintry day in the Skagit Valley inspired "Rise Above 2020." Persistence paid off for Eve McCauley-Chomiak, when searching for a snowy owl amid snow-patched fields on the Skagit Flats. (Salish Current)

Rising seas, high tides, storm surges and waterfront homes: does value outweigh the risks?
Predicted sea-level rising along with extremely high tidal events and storm surges pose increasing risk to coastal waterfront homes. How much are today's intermittent flooding and expected future trends affecting waterfront homeowners and potential buyers? Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Container ship in English Bay has spilled fuel: Canadian Coast Guard
Government agencies and First Nations are working to contain a fuel spill from a container ship anchored in English Bay. The MV Europe is one of about a dozen container ships anchored in the bay waiting for an opening to dock. It began leaking fuel on Saturday. The coast guard estimates about 60 to 100 litres of fuel has formed a slick in the waters off Vancouver. John Ruttle reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Seafood processor fined after Tacoma ship fire leads to oil spill at Port of Tacoma
An all-night fire that destroyed a seafood processing ship in 2021 at the Port of Tacoma has resulted in a $25,000 fine against the boat’s owner. The state Department of Ecology (DOE) levied the penalty against Trident Seafoods Corporation, the vessel’s owner. On Feb. 17, 2021, a fire on the Aleutian Falcon led to a hydraulic oil spill in Tacoma’s Commencement Bay while it was docked for maintenance. The fire damaged the crane’s hydraulic hoses. As a result, an estimated 20-30 gallons of hydraulic oil along with firefighting water spilled into the Hylebos Waterway. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

WA grapples with seals, sea lions preying on endangered salmon
A new state report prepared for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends selective killing of seals and sea lions, to learn more about the impact they have on endangered salmon runs. These experimental lethal removals would be the most effective way to move the science forward in a timely manner, according to a committee at the Washington State Academy of Sciences. Their report to the legislature came at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

If you like to watch: From egg to grave, B.C.’s salmon run is vital to this ecosystem
The B.C. salmon run is over, but that is not the end of the salmon's story. Connel Bradwell and Emily Robertson head down to the salmon stream in the Cowichan Valley to see how even after they’ve died, salmon continue to help the forest and its wildlife to thrive. (CBC)

‘Crush you like a bug’: BC Hydro’s Site C lawsuit targets farmers, First Nations
The suit brought against peaceful opponents of the most expensive hydro dam in Canadian history has the hallmarks of a strategic lawsuit meant to silence and intimidate critics, according to experts. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Billions in federal dollars could make the Pacific Northwest a hub for renewable hydrogen
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering $8 billion in funding to create a network of six to 10 sites across the nation to develop and commercialize hydrogen made from renewable energy such as wind and solar. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel, to generate electricity, or for industrial applications — including making fertilizer and refining petroleum. Most hydrogen today is produced using natural gas, a fossil fuel which is accelerating climate change. Lake Oswego-based Obsidian Renewables is one of the energy companies applying for funding from the Department of Energy’s regional clean hydrogen hubs program. It wants to build a pipeline connecting two facilities located in Hermiston and Moses Lake, Washington, to generate hydrogen primarily from wind and solar power. Sheraz Sadiq reports. (OPB)

The “Washington Eight”: Washington Women in Congress
First term U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, D-Wash., is getting an abnormal amount of attention in the “other” Washington, where she is carrying a message that Congress needs “more and more normal people” and talks of how the Portland auto repair shop she runs with her husband had its windows broken four times last year...With her unexpected victory over MAGA Republican Joe Kent last November – in which she received no help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – MGP became the eighth woman serving in Washington’s 12-person congressional delegation. Joel Connelly writes. (Post Alley)

Six Environmental Justice Policy Fights to Watch in 2023
These are the issues competing for priority this year as $60 billion earmarked in the Inflation Reduction Act for environmental justice efforts begins to flow into U.S. communities. Kristoffer Tigue, Aydali Campa and Darreonna Davis report. (Inside Climate 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- 235 AM PST Mon Jan 23 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds. A slight chance of rain after midnight.

Friday, January 20, 2023

1/20 Narcissus, king tides, clearcut, climate commitment, Storming the Sound, cruise season, Kinsey pix, week in review

Narcissus

Narcissus
Narcissusis a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus, and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus. Narcissus were well known in ancient civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally described by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum (1753). In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty. According to Tzetzes, he rejected all romantic advances, eventually falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, staring at it for the remainder of his life.

King tides are coming to Western WA. Here’s what to know
Communities across the Puget Sound area are preparing for high waters and potential flooding as king tides are forecast to raise waters in the early mornings of Jan. 23-25. Next week’s king tides, or the highest tides of the year, come less than a month after a king tide brought the worst flooding that Seattle’s South Park neighborhood had seen in years, leaving at least 13 homes flooded on Dec. 27. On a smaller scale, seawater swamped shoreside parks and homes in King, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. Vonnai Phair reports. (Seattle Times)

‘Once You've Clear Cut It, That's It’
Lemare Lake Logging Ltd., working on behalf of Kwakiutl First Nation band council, logged a tract of old-growth forest in Kwakiutl territory on northern Vancouver Island after receiving a cease-and-desist order from hereditary leaders. Zoe Yunker reports. (The Tyee) See also: Loggers warned to steer clear of newly mapped old-growth forest patches in central B.C. Mapped areas follow watchdog investigation that found biodiversity may be at ‘high risk’ in Prince George timber area. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Sierra Club BC Loses Lawsuit on Climate Commitment Reporting
A new ruling says the province only needs to update the public on shorter-term targets. Advocates say that’s not enough. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

La Conner hosts annual Storming the Sound conference
Environmental educators from throughout the North Puget Sound region gathered in La Conner on Thursday for the Storming the Sound Conference. Each year, environmental organizations, educators and students convene to share the projects on which they are working, as well as progress that has been made. Organizer Susan Wood said 125 participants registered for this year’s event — the 24th since its inception. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Cruise season expected to bring record number of passengers
Victoria expects a record number of passengers to pull into Ogden Point between April and October, as the cruise industry rebounds from the pandemic. An estimated 850,000 passengers are anticipated, up from last year’s record-setting 715,000. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Why Ken Burns and Ralph Lauren buy Kinsey photos from the Whatcom Museum
Thousands of images produced by Darius and Tabitha Kinsey reside at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham. The collection includes prints, plus glass, nitrate and stereoscope negatives. The museum’s photo archivist, Jeff Jewell, scans the images, and they sell to commercial clients for $1/megabyte. Ken Burns paid about $6,000 for their use in two of his documentaries. Ralph Lauren paid about the same for Kinsey images for its stores in London and Milan... John Harris writes. (Seattle Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/20/23: Penguin Friday! seal kill, toxic makeup, plastics, OPA 90, BC roe herring fishery, First Nation veto, orca rights, Petrogas penalty.

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- 222 AM PST Fri Jan 20 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.
SAT S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 16 seconds in the morning. Rain in the morning then showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds.
SUN NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

1/19 Pussy willow, Petrogas, orca rights, elephant seals, moving species, WSF, BC bitcoin, news by AI

Pussy willow [Wild Seed Project]

Pussy willow Salix discolor
Native pussy willow features soft, fuzzy catkins in late winter, one of the first plants to bloom in northern climates, heralding the arrival of spring; upright and spreading habit, forms a small multi-stemmed tree; quite versatile and hardy.

This is why Petrogas will pay $4 million for unpermitted emissions
In the largest penalty settlement in the Northwest Clean Air Agency’s 56-year history, Petrogas West has agreed to pay $4 million and make operational changes to the company’s Cherry Point facility in Whatcom County. The plant’s issues began in October 2021 when the company started projects without permits, allegedly leading to increased emissions, which were not reported by Petrogas West. Jack Belcher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Following local cities, Jefferson County proclaims rights for ocras
Jefferson County is the latest local government to declare inherent rights for the region’s Southern Resident orca population, making it the first county in the state to issue such a proclamation. Three Puget Sound cities issued similar declarations in December — Port Townsend was the first —all of which recognize inherent rights for the orcas, including the right to life, autonomy and free and safe passage. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Race Rocks guardian films two elephant seal births
The group of small islands is sometimes called the Galapagos of the North because of its unique high tidal current that attracts marine mammals, sea birds, fish, algae and sea grass. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Moving species emerges as last resort as climate warms
In a desperate effort to save a seabird species in Hawaii from rising ocean waters, scientists are moving chicks to a new island hundreds of miles away. Moving species to save them — once considered taboo — is quickly gaining traction as climate change upends habitats. Similar relocations are being suggested for birds, lizards, butterflies and even flowers. Concerns persist that the novel practice could cause unintended harm the same way invasive plants and animals have wreaked havoc on native species. Christina Larson and Matthew Brown report. (Associated Press)

Submerged log just another obstacle to revival of WA ferries
...Washington State Ferries has funded a hiring binge to reduce chronic crew shortages, ridership is rising, and the Legislature is sending more money since the depths of fall 2021, when ferry leaders announced a skimpy “alternate service” schedule. Ridership statewide grew by 100,000 passengers, or 0.6%, to a total 17.4 million in 2022. Vehicle traffic reached 82% of pre-pandemic, full-service levels, total riders at 73%, but walk-on passengers only 49% as many continued to work from home. Mike Lindblom reports. (Seattle Times)

Gold Rush 2.0? Why BC Is Putting the Brakes on Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency operations have been taking up residence in forestry towns. Amidst a turbulent market, the province is hitting pause. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

A news site used AI to write articles. It was a journalistic disaster.
CNET scared some journalists when it tapped artificial intelligence to produce surprisingly lucid news stories. But there was a hitch. Paul Farhi reports. (Washington Post)

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- 209 AM PST Thu Jan 19 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain after midnight.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

1/18 Primrose, roe herring fishery, LNG Canada, wild pigs, First Nation veto, fixing ships

Primrose [WikiCommons]

Primrose Primula vulgaris
The common primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and parts of southwest Asia.The primrose is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring. Its name actually comes from the Latin word 'primus,' which means 'first.'. So, many believe that it has a meaning of youth, renewal and optimism.

Concerns resurface as roe herring fishery approaches in Strait of Georgia
The roe herring fishery is approaching, which concerns those who say the Strait of Georgia herring have been fished out south of Nanaimo and over-fished north of Nanaimo. Jim Shortreed, a Victoria-based herring enhancement volunteer, says that catch records from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) show that herring was fished out south of Nanaimo between 2017 and 2020. He also says research by DFO scientists has shown that a 20 per cent harvest rate has driven down stocks over the years. Scott Stanfield reports. (Peninsula News Review)

Natural gas, not electricity, to power Canada's first LNG plant, increasing carbon footprint
Shell PLC's LNG Canada export project in British Columbia plans to start building its proposed second phase with natural gas-powered turbines and switch to electricity as more renewable power becomes available, a top executive said, a decision that means the expansion project will initially generate high greenhouse gas emissions. LNG Canada, in which Japan's Mitsubishi Corp owns a 15 per cent stake, is set to be Canada's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal. The first phase is expected begin shipments around 2025. Rod Nickel and Nia Williams report. (Thomson Reuters)

‘They’re here! They’re here!’: wild pigs are trying to take over Canada
One of the planet’s worst invasive species, wild pigs can ruin natural habitats, eat crops, infect livestock and contaminate water. They’re all over the Prairies and trying to take hold in B.C. and Ontario, too. Faith Greco reports. (The Narwhal)

Humpback whale found in 'severe distress' in B.C. waters
A humpback whale tangled in hundreds of feet of rope and barely able to swim has been set free. On Sunday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada was alerted to a whale in distress, towing gear off Broughton Archipelago Marine Provincial Park. Alanna Kelly reports. (Times Colonist)

First Nation can veto proposed B.C. coal mine as part of unique deal with developer
A coal company and a British Columbia First Nation have struck a rare deal to give the community the power to veto a proposed mining project, which could set a precedent for how natural resources projects are developed in Canada. NWP Coal Canada and the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi'it (YQT), also known as the Tobacco Plains Indian Band, describe the agreement as one of a kind and say it will give the First Nation the power to act as a "regulator and reviewer" of the company's proposed $400-million Crown Mountain coal mine near Elkford, in the southeast part of the province. Kyle Bakx reports. (CBC)

Cargo ship leaves Ogden Point and another takes its place
The GSL Eleni container ship sailed out of its berth at Ogden Point on Tuesday morning, heading southeast off the west side of Whidbey Island. The 984-foot container ship was escorted by tug on Jan. 1 into Ogden Point after losing its rudder. Carrying containers stacked six deep, it had been originally heading for Japan, but lost its steering off Tofino. Six tugs escorted it to safety in Victoria. When the Eleni left, the 748-foot bulk carrier CSL Tecumseh moved into Ogden Point. It had been at Port McNeill and experienced a mechanical issue on Dec. 25. The Tecumseh, with a tug at its side, first moored off Royal Roads University, where it was met by the Hon. Henry Jackman, another bulk carrier. The Tecumseh’s cargo of gravel aggregate was loaded onto the Henry Jackman. By early evening Tuesday, the Henry Jackman was east of Santa Cruz Island off California. The Tecumseh will remain at Ogden Point until it can be moved to Victoria Shipyards. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

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Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 229 AM PST Wed Jan 18 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds building to 12 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. Rain likely in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

1/17 Crocus, kill seals, forecasts, Meadowdale Park, Olaf Strad Cr, cosmetic chemicals, plastics, stray logs, BC forestry, flooding, stone artifacts, port noise, Amtrak, OPA90, Storming the Sound

Crocus

Crocus
Crocus is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae (iris family) comprising about 100 species of perennials growing from corms. Crocus are among the very first flowers to bloom each spring. In cold climates, their cheery blossoms will often open when there's still snow on the ground. Crocus flowers come in Easter-egg colors of purple, yellow, lavender, cream and white.

Sea lions, seals might be hampering WA salmon recovery. What can be done?
...State officials are now exploring whether to kill sea lions and seals in the Salish Sea and outer coast in a desperate effort to save salmon species from extinction. A new report commissioned by the state Legislature and completed by the Washington Academy of the Sciences says seals and sea lions are likely impeding salmon recovery, and the full impacts of predation on salmon may not be fully understood without lethal intervention. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

A Murky Forecast on the Central Coast
Faulty weather stations are making it tricky for mariners to travel safely. Ironically, they’re hard to fix because of risky conditions. Josh Kozelj reports. (The Tyee)

Park near Edmonds gets makeover: Will the salmon return?
The nearly $20 million effort by Snohomish County, the Tulalip Tribes, BNSF and federal agencies to uproot 128 linear feet of two-track railroad and restore the area to its natural state is finally nearing completion... Biologists hope endangered juvenile Chinook will soon find their way back here, in Meadowdale Beach Park, and use it as a place of refuge as they fatten up for their adulthood in the mean straits of the Salish Sea. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

For the second time, salmon get a breather in Olaf Strad Creek
Olaf Strad Creek is not the thundering mountain river you might picture when you think of salmon runs. There are no rocky rapids with fish jumping their way upstream, no bears waiting nearby for dinner to fling itself from the water. The creek 5 miles south of downtown Arlington is 600 feet long and only a few feet across, shallow enough in places to walk right over to the other side without soaking too much of your pantlegs. It’s a relatively small chunk of the larger Quilceda Watershed that drains 38 square miles of land north of Everett, but don’t be fooled by its unassuming stature. Since it was built from nothing in 2021, Olaf Strad has provided a crucial rest stop as salmon make the long haul home from the ocean. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

New state study fuels renewed efforts to ban toxic chemicals from cosmetics in Washington
A new report from the Washington State Department of Ecology found formaldehyde in 26 of 30 body lotions tested in a study of products marketed to people of color. It found lead in two dark-powder foundations and one lipstick. One dark-tint foundation also contained arsenic. The findings are fueling renewed efforts to ban a list of hazardous chemicals from cosmetics and personal care items sold in Washington. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution
Everywhere they look, Pacific Northwest scientists find teeny-tiny plastic pollution. Broken down particles are in our water, falling out of the air, in salmon, shellfish and in our own bodies. Scientists, environmental advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Olympia and Salem have seen enough to make them seek more regulations. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

How stray logs in Puget Sound turn industrial shorelines green
...U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are on the water four days a week, tasked with keeping Puget Sound — and its shipping lanes, ferry routes, naval bases, ports and beaches — navigable and clear of debris. The logs enter the Sound on flooded rivers and king tides, washed off banks and shorelines by ever-rising and receding eddies and currents. Once gathered by the Puget crew, most will eventually return to riverbanks and shorelines. It’s a tidy little dance of intergovernmental holism. The logs will help restore tiny portions of our environmentally degraded waterways to their former splendor, nurturing plant life and providing valuable habitat and protection for migrating salmon. David Gutman reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C.'s forest industry faces a 'reckoning,' premier says, amid disagreement over who to blame
Union points to old-growth protection, conservation group blames industry mismanagement for job losses. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

The Storms Hitting California Start Near Hawaii. So Why Is It So Calm In The Islands?
Here at the starting point of “the Pineapple Express,” it’s a little hard to imagine being at one end of a 2,500-mile ribbon of moisture that in California fills rivers to overflowing, triggers mudslides and breaches levees. And yet, it’s right there on satellite maps: sometimes originating right over Hawaii, sometimes as much as hundreds of miles to the north, pointed like a dagger at the West Coast. Oddly, even as California copes with a seemingly endless parade of “atmospheric rivers,” Hawaii has been unusually calm and dry. John Hill reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

Ice jams, snow melt, king tide combine in Marietta flood deluge
A small community along Marine Drive in Whatcom County living mostly in RVs has braved seasonal inundation, ready to move at a moment’s notice — until caught by surprise. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Early stone artifacts found in Idaho push history of the Americas back another 3,000 years
Oregon State University anthropology professor Loren Davis, in coordination with the Nez Perce Tribe and with research students from OSU, found 14 stone projectile points – some fragments. Carbon dating of adjacent animal bones date back nearly 15,800 years. Anna King reports. (NW News Network)

Ship-loading noise tests Bellingham port’s neighborliness
Nighttime scrap metal activity at Port of Bellingham draws noise complaints from hillside residents. Riley Weeks reports. (Salish Current)

Amtrak to resume round-trip service between Vancouver and Portland starting March
Amtrak is set to reintroduce a second round-trip on its passenger train service, from Vancouver to Portland, Ore., meaning the service will now run at pre-pandemic schedules. According to a statement from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Committee of Transportation, the round-trip will resume on March 7. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

OPA 90 liability limits being adjusted for inflation
The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is adjusting the limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports and onshore facilities to reflect the increase in the Consumer Price Index since they were last adjusted in 2019. The regulatory inflation increases to the limits of liability are required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) and are necessary to preserve the deterrent effect and “polluter pays” principle embodied in the act. The final rule is effective on March 23. (Professional Mariner)

Storming the Sound.
The annual conference for environmental educators in the north Puget Sound region will be held on Jan. 19 at Maple Hall in LaConner— in person! Register here.

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- 304 AM PST Tue Jan 17 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Friday, January 13, 2023

1/13 Pocket gopher, toxic orca, Oregon chinook ESA, Exxon climate, Fraser illegal waste, GasLink digging, beetles, electric BC ferries, Way of Whales, week in review

Mazama pocket gopher [Rod Gilbert/WDFW]

Mazama pocket gopher Thomomys mazama
The Mazama pocket gopher is one of the smallest of 35 species in the pocket gopher genus Thomomys. It ranges from 7 to 10 inches in length. It has reddish-brown fur with gray undersides. It has prominent incisors, large front claws, and cheek pouches (“pockets”). It differs from the similar-sized northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoides) of eastern Washington in fur color, tooth and skeletal characteristics, and a more conspicuous dark patch of fur behind their ears. In Washington, the Mazama pocket gopher is only found west of the Cascades -- in Thurston, Pierce, Mason, and Clallam counties. Four subspecies are listed as federally threatened (Roy Prairie, Olympia, Tenino, and Yelm); all subspecies are state threatened. Some subspecies are threatened by habitat loss from human development. Species existence is compatible with some levels of development, but high-density development likely leads to extirpation. (WDFW)

Toilet paper toxin found in endangered killer whales, B.C. researchers say
Chemicals used in the production of toilet paper have been found in the bodies of orcas around British Columbia, according to a new study. Scientists with the University of British Columbia, B.C.'s Ministry of Agriculture, and Oceans Canada analyzed tissue from six southern resident killer whales and six Bigg's whales, also known as transient killer whales, along B.C.'s coast from 2006 to 2018 and found that chemical pollutants are prevalent in killer whales.One of the most common pollutants found in killer whales' bodies was 4-nonylphenol or 4NP, which is often found in toilet paper. (CBC)

Oregon Coast’s Chinook salmon among populations under review for endangered-species listing
The National Marine Fisheries Service, also known as NOAA Fisheries, is considering a request from several environmental groups seeking to list two types of Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. One population lives along the Oregon Coast and the other further south along the Oregon-California border. Three environmental groups sent the petition last August showing that numerous threats have caused a sharp decline in spring-run Chinook salmon. Those groups are the Center for Biological Diversity, the Native Fish Society and Umpqua Watersheds. Roman Battaglia reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Exxon climate predictions were accurate decades ago. Still it sowed doubt
Decades of research by scientists at Exxon accurately predicted how much global warming would occur from burning fossil fuels, according to a new study in the journal Science. The findings clash with an enormously successful campaign that Exxon spearheaded and funded for more than 30 years that cast doubt on human-driven climate change and the science underpinning it. That narrative helped delay federal and international action on climate change, even as the impacts of climate change worsened. Jeff Brady reports. (NPR)

Illegal waste discharge on Fraser Valley farm stokes environmental worries among residents
Environmental concerns are mounting in the small community near Cultus Lake, B.C., about 101 kilometres southeast of Vancouver, after truckload after truckload of business waste was dropped at a farm without provincial approval, violating B.C.'s Environmental Management Act. The waste, which from a distance might look like compost, contains large amounts of plastics, wood, and other foreign materials, deeming it unsuitable for soil enhancement. It was discharged by the Abbotsford-based organic waste conversion company Fraser Valley Renewables (FVR). Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC)

Coastal GasLink accused of failing to prevent sediment from entering a Wet’suwet’en river
Wet’suwet’en chiefs and supporters allege the pipeline company violated provincial environmental regulations, operating excavators in a remote river without adequate mitigation measures in place. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

More than 20 years ago, a tiny insect changed B.C.'s forestry future. The fallout is still happening
Mountain pine beetles were not new to B.C. when they first started making news in the late 1990s. The insects, as small as a grain of rice, are native to western North America. But at the turn of the century, their population exploded — to devastating effect. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

B.C. Ferries can install infrastructure for battery power
B.C. Ferries has won approval to start preparation work to modify terminals in anticipation of installing on-shore charging systems for battery powered Island class ferries. Work would be undertaken on the routes linking Nanaimo Harbour and Gabriola Island and between Campbell River and Quadra Island. Island-class ferries are now operating as diesel-electric hybrids. There is room on board for them to be converted to fully electric power if the charging systems are installed. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Way of Whales Workshop
The Way of Whales Workshop will be held on Jan. 14 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Coupeville High School and online. Keynote speaker is Dr. John Ford with a panel discussion featuring Deborah Giles, Monika Weiland Shields, Michael Weiss, Joe Gaydos, Kim Parsons and Linda Rhodes. There will also be an update on the campaign to return Tokitae to local waters. $40, or $30 senior/student; lunch $20. Registration required.

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/13/23: MLK Day, glacier melt, hot Earth, Cooke fish farms, gas stove ban, climate cost, Strait weapons training, whale sightings, toilet paper toxins, Exxon climate.

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- 240 AM PST Fri Jan 13 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. Mixed swell W 12 ft at 18 seconds and S 13 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT E wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds and S 9 ft at 12 seconds. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft at 14 seconds and S 9 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely.
SAT NIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 15 seconds and S 9 ft at 13 seconds.
SUN E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. Mixed swell W 3 ft at 15 seconds and S 3 ft at 12 seconds.