1/9 Nutria, western Canada glaciers, legislature, Cooke extension, Site C acid rock, Heart of the Fraser, bulkheads, Oak Bay salmon, Storming the Sound

Nutria [USGS]

Nutria Myocastor coypus
Nutria are semi-aquatic rodents native to southern parts of South America. In the 1930s, they were sold throughout North America to fur farmers and as a means of controlling unwanted aquatic vegetation. Various associations, magazine and newspaper articles, and demonstrations at county fairs promoted the sale of nutria in Washington. Adult nutria average 24 inches long from the nose to the base of the tail.Nutria are found in lakes, wetlands, sloughs, drainage ditches, and irrigation canals along the Columbia River and north to Skagit County. Cold temperatures seem to reduce the distribution of nutria, as they don’t live in areas where water surfaces freeze for long periods. (WDFW)

Most of Western Canada's glaciers will melt in 80 years, University of Northern B.C. study finds
A study by international researchers using a supercomputer at the University of Northern British Columbia has found that most of Western Canada's glaciers will disappear by the year 2100. The study, "Global Glacier Change in the 21st Century: Every Increase in Temperature Matters" was published Thursday in the journal Science. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

Why you should pay attention to the 2023 Washington Legislature
The legislative session kicks off today in Olympia, and state lawmakers have a full agenda: gun regulations, education, big budget questions and more. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Crosscut)  See also: Local legislators set housing, public safety, education and climate as priority. All-Democrat delegation from 42/40 legislative districts identifies top issues they will pursue when the legislative session begins on Jan. 9. (Salish Current)

Cooke wins extension on Washington State deadline
Cooke Aquaculture has been granted a preliminary injunction giving the company more time to harvest the fish and dismantle equipment at its last two sites in Washington State. The injunction was granted by the Superior Court of the State of Washington after Cooke filed a motion against the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) and Hilary Franz, the Commissioner of Public Lands. After announcing that Cooke’s leases at Rich Passage and Hope Island, in Puget Sound, would not be renewed, the DNR had ordered the company to dismantle the two fish farms by 14 April, and to harvest all remaining fish by 14 January. Robert Outram reports. (Fish Farmer Magazine)

BC Hydro, Site C dam contractor charged after acid rock drainage flows into Peace River
Four million litres of potentially contaminated water was discharged into the fish-bearing river. The incident was not reported ‘in a timely manner,’ according to BC Hydro’s latest Site C dam report. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

ICYMI: Tacoutche Tesse, the Northwest’s great ghost river — Part 5: The bleeding Heart of the Fraser
Gravel beds in the Heart of the Fraser — called one of the “most productive stretches of river on the planet" for spawning fish — are threatened with large-scale wetland destruction. Eric Scigliano reports. (Salish Current)

ICYMI: Bulkheads: protecting property at what cost to the environment?
Armoring the shoreline aims to protect property from high tides and erosion — the same natural forces that nourish shorelines for forage fish spawning and juvenile salmon rearing. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Volunteers clear smothering debris from Oak Bay creek to ready for 30K salmon eggs
Streamkeepers started 2023 strong in Oak Bay, spending Jan. 1 clearing Bowker Creek of last year’s backlog. Volunteers literally cleared space to make room for its second annual salmon egg installation in an Oak Bay section of the creek. Debris filled the area where last year the Friends of Bowker Creek Society and Peninsula Streams Society – with approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada – tucked about 30,000 eggs into the creek bed. Christine van Reeuwyk reports. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

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.

Salish Current Newsletter
Fact-based, independent community news free to read and free of ads. Jan. 6: Heart of the Fraser, bulkheads, Whatcom County Jail, San Juan council, 40/42 legislative priorities. Catch the Current here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  353 AM PST Mon Jan 9 2023   
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON 
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON  THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING   
TODAY  E wind 20 to 30 kt rising to 30 to 40 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 9 to 12 ft with a dominant period of  14 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then showers in the  afternoon. TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds.  Showers in the evening. A slight chance of tstms. Rain after  midnight.

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