Salish Sea News and Weather: February 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

2/28 Earthworm, Whatcom carbon, biosolids, sapsucker housing, lichen, Nisqually quake, wildlife release, truth trust news, Human Elements

Earthworm [European Scientist]

Earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. They occur worldwide where soil, water, and temperature allow. (Wikipedia)

These six Whatcom businesses eligible for climate change allowance auction Tuesday
There are six locations in Whatcom County that emitted more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2021, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. They are BP Cherry Point, Phillips 66 oil refinery, PSE Ferndale generating station, the Encogen generating station, Puget Sound Energy across various locations and the Northwest Pipeline in Sumas. Jack Belcher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Discussions with Nanaimo about CRD biosolids only starting
Plans to send the Capital Regional District’s unwanted biosolids to the Nanaimo area are a lot less firm than was earlier believed. CRD board members approved the proposal on Feb. 8 after staff mistakenly said that the CRD had been in touch with the Regional District of Nanaimo, chief administrative officer Ted Robbins said Monday. (Times Colonist)

Sapsucker housing crisis: endangered woodpecker ‘condos’ are being clear cut
Almost two decades after the Williamson’s sapsucker was listed as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act, the B.C. government continues to sanction logging in the bird’s old-growth forest critical habitat. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Worried about Sea Level Rise? Look for the Lichens.
One of the great infrastructure challenges of the next few decades is to figure out which coastal sites should be abandoned and which can be saved. Lichens can help. Ian Rose reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Tuesday marks 22 years since the Nisqually earthquake. Here’s what WA residents remember
It was the strongest quake to rattle the region since a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in 1965. Over two decades after the Nisqually earthquake, Washingtonians still remember precisely where they were and what happened when the earth rumbled beneath their feet for nearly a minute. Shaun Goodwin and Jared Gendron report. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Returning wildlife to the wild is a one-by-one effort
From whales to baby songbirds, rehabilitation and release efforts play out daily for wild animals separated from their natural worlds. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Truth, Trust and the News: "Calling Bullshit"
How do YOU decide what's true? An evening with authors Carl Bergstrom and Kevin West. April 13, Heiner Auditorium, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. FREE, registration required. Sponsored by Salish Current, Western Washington University’s Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education and Whatcom Community College, in partnership with Village Books.

Documenting the front lines of environmentalism in the PNW
A new season of the short-form series Human Elements takes viewers from a 1,000-degree glass kiln on the San Juan Islands to a range with wild wolves. Sarah Hoffman writes. (Crosscut)

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- 502 AM PST Tue Feb 28 2023
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds subsiding to 7 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. Showers likely this morning.
TONIGHT NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.

--
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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Monday, February 27, 2023

2/27 Nemertean, extinction risk, GasLink data, where's the ferry?, carbon pricing, Mount Fisher Bluffs, Middle May cut, reforestation, genetic diversity, whale tagging, fish farm ban, truth trust news

Orange Nemertean [Dave Cowles]

Orange Nemertean Tubulanus polymorphous
Nemertea is a phylum of animals also known as ribbon worms or proboscis worms, consisting of 1300 known species. Most ribbon worms are very slim, usually only a few millimeters wide, although a few have relatively short but wide bodies. Many have patterns of yellow, orange, red and green coloration. (Wikipedia)

Hundreds of WA plants, animals at risk of extinction
Over a third of species and ecosystems in the United States are at risk of disappearing, including hundreds of plants and animals in Washington. In a newly released report, conservation research group NatureServe analyzed data from its network of more than 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada. The group said the report is its most comprehensive yet, synthesizing more than 50 years of biodiversity information and highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation. Vonnair Phair reports. (Seattle Times)

One fish, two fish, red fish, dead fish? Feds fail to disclose Coastal GasLink data on salmon eggs, habitat
Pipeline contractors estimated there were at least 273,000 salmon eggs in a Wet’suwet’en river crossing. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it was ‘impossible to confirm.’ Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Where's the ferry?
Riders on Washington State Ferries runs serving Anacortes and the San Juan Islands can continue to expect delays and cancellations, for now. For the future, 16 years out, new funding for hybrid vessels, full staffing and improved terminals could bring improvements. WSF, part of the state highway system, has faced challenges with its aging fleet, shrinking crew and decreased funding since 2000. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Emitting greenhouse gases in WA? Here’s who will need to pay up to pollute
Washington state last month launched its complex carbon-pricing scheme, in which most of the state’s biggest emitters of climate-warming greenhouse gases can buy and sell carbon allowances — permits to pollute. On Tuesday, the allowances for the first time will go up for sale in an online auction. This new market is only the second of its kind in the United States and is a major test of state lawmakers’ grand ambitions to rein in climate pollution. Even before the first bids have been placed, it has unleashed a political tug of war over potential impacts for consumers. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Conservation group purchases 31.2 hectares on Saturna Island
The Nature Trust of British Columbia bought 31.2 hectares of land on the southwest corner of the island, , known as Mount Fisher Bluffs, to protect it from development. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

After controversial cutting, Middle May managers look to the future
The Middle May site has been the center of controversy for over a decade. Local residents protested what they said amounted to a clearcut of valuable natural resources, long treasured by hikers and off-roaders. The state Department of Natural Resources, which manages the land, said the sale would bring in funds for schools and hospitals without compromising the forest’s value for future generations. After several false starts, Sierra Pacific Industries bought the timber at auction for $3.17 million in 2020. With the timber harvest now complete and restoration efforts underway, forest managers say Middle May has a lot of life left in it. But those opposed to the sale still think it should have been done differently. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

Planting the seeds for Washington's forest restoration efforts
Reforestation starts with sufficient seed supply. The state Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to restock it. Alex Brown reports. (Stateline)

For Marine Species, Hidden Divisions Abound
The little sand lance is unexpectedly split in two, revealing a breadth of genetic diversity that could help it survive. Brian Owens reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Tagging Whales Tells Researchers ‘The Story Of The Whole Ocean’
In the waters off Maui, scientists are gathering data on whales to learn how each piece fits in a delicate marine ecosystem. Marina Starleaf Riker reports. (Civil Beat)

Alexandra Morton on New Hopes for ‘Fat And Sassy’ Salmon
Opting not to renew Discovery Island fish farm licences will ‘instantly affect’ millions of young fish, she says. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Truth, Trust and the News: "Calling Bullshit"
How do YOU decide what's true? An evening with authors Carl Bergstrom and Kevin West. April 13, Heiner Auditorium, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. FREE, registration required. Sponsored by Salish Current, Western Washington University’s Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education and Whatcom Community College, in partnership with Village Books.

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 Mon Feb 27 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning then showers likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds. Showers likely in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Friday, February 24, 2023

2/24 Crocus, BC spotted owls, WA hydropower, tree talk, Fraser spill, what's true?, week in review

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.

Environmental groups push for protection of B.C.'s at-risk spotted owls
Only 3 of the tiny owls known to be in the wild in B.C., with a 4th recovering at a rehabilitation centre. (Canadian Press)

Hydropower in western U.S. resurges after hitting 20-year low
A long-lasting drought has been reducing the flow of water over dams, and the energy they produce, in much of the West. With 145 large federal dams, Washington state is the nation’s leading producer of hydropower. More snow and rain in 2022 fueled a 17% surge in power production in Washington, including a 19% increase at Grand Coulee Dam, the nation’s largest producer of hydropower. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard's research says trees talk to each other. Now she's having to defend her work
A renowned forest ecologist from B.C. is defending her research on how trees communicate after a citation review claims there is insufficient evidence to support her work. Suzanne Simard, a forest ecology professor from the University of British Columbia, gained international recognition for her research into forest communication networks. Her findings say trees in a forest are interconnected and communicate with each other through underground fungal networks — colloquially dubbed as the "wood wide web." Ali Pitargue reports. (CBC)

Coast Guard Responds To Oil Spill From Partially Submerged Fishing Vessel In Fraser River
The Canadian Coast Guard has reportedly activated a pollution response following a partially submerged 65-foot fishing boat leaking fuel and oil discovered on Sunday, off Deas Island’s north end, in the waters of Fraser River close to Richmond. (Marine Insight)

Truth, Trust and the News: "Calling Bullshit"
How do YOU decide what's true? An evening with authors Carl Bergstrom and Kevin West. April 13, Heiner Auditorium, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. FREE, registration required. Sponsored by Salish Current, Western Washington University’s Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education and Whatcom Community College, in partnership with Village Books.

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/24/23: Twin Peaks Friday, Pollution cap, Denman Is terminal, PSE renewables, starving orcas, BC fish farms, salmon lipids, forever chemicals, biosolids, Melanie Mark, WA hydro.

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- 238 AM PST Fri Feb 24 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. NW swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. NW swell 4 ft at 14 seconds.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 14 seconds.
SUN W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 12 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

2/23 Hellebores, sunk tug, Melanie Mark, Victoria biosolids, DNR forest sale, sea lice science

Hellebores [The Spruce/Evgeniya Vlasova]

Hellebores
The common name hellebore is assigned to several species of plants in the Helleborus genus of the Ranunculaceae family, which also includes monkshood, delphinium, and anemone. Hellebore foliage is thick, evergreen, and forms a low lying clump with leaves that are lobed and palm-like. Hellebores are among the earliest perennial flowers to bloom, welcoming spring with their rose-like blossoms. (The Spruce)

Tugboat partially sinks off Lopez ferry terminal
A 45’ tugboat partially sank off the Lopez ferry terminal Wednesday morning, with an estimated 400 gallons of diesel fuel onboard. Initial reports indicate the semi-submerged tug sank in the vicinity of a larger barge operation that is onsite to repair the Lopez ferry dock. Kelly Balcomb-Bartok reports. (San Juan Journal)

Melanie Mark, 1st First Nations woman to serve in B.C. Legislature, delivers tearful resignation
Melanie Mark, the first First Nations woman to serve in the British Columbia Legislature and as a cabinet minister, has resigned. Holding an eagle feather and wearing her grandfather's beaded mooseskin coat, Mark, MLA for Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, broke into tears and pulled no punches about her experiences in provincial politics, saying that "institutions fundamentally resist change ... particularly colonial institutions like this Legislative Assembly and government at large." Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Biosolids to be shipped to Nanaimo as tree fertilizer
The finished product of sewage treatment produced in the capital region will soon be on its way to the Nanaimo area to fertilize trees and jump-start other vegetation...Land application of the biosolids is something the Capital Regional District vowed it would never do since the early stages of the $775-million wastewater treatment plant. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

WA auctions off more ‘old’ forest in $2.8 million sale
...A western red cedar towers on the slopes above Cannonball Creek. Its scorched core tells of passing flames, and its size suggests it narrowly missed the teeth of loggers’ saws a century ago. The giant will be felled in the coming months as part of the over 100 acre McCannon timber sale, auctioned off for $2.8 million in January by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR)...This timber sale in Southwest Washington is a common one. But it is also an example of a state forest some conservationists want to preserve. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

How the science behind salmon farms and sea lice became so contentious
A federal decision to shut down 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms around B.C.'s Discovery Islands is being lauded as a win for protecting wild salmon, and a significant blow to the fish-farm industry — all while reigniting a decades-old debate between industry and scientists...The science establishing the link between salmon farms and increased sea lice infestations has been an issue of fierce debate for years, with industry representatives, academics, DFO scientists, and environmental activists citing conflicting data sets. Michelle Ghoussoub reports. (CBC)

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- 232 AM PST Thu Feb 23 2023
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY E wind 30 to 35 kt becoming 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 7 to 8 ft with a dominant period of 11 seconds.
TONIGHT NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 7 to 8 ft with a dominant period of 11 seconds.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

2/22 Snowdrops, horseshoe crab, toxic chemicals, BC natural disasters, octopus farms, Edmund C. Fitzhugh

Snowdrops

Snowdrop Galanthus
Galanthus is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The plants have two linear leaves and a single small white drooping bell-shaped flower with six petal-like tepals in two circles. The smaller inner petals have green markings. Wikipedia

B.C. diver finds horseshoe crab in False Creek
A scuba diver cleaning part of the sea floor in False Creek came across an animal that an expert says is a long way from home. The unusual find has been identified as a horseshoe crab, native to the Atlantic Ocean along the North American coastline. Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

How widespread are these toxic chemicals? They’re everywhere.
While concern about PFAS compounds, also known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly, has largely focused on people, the pollutants have also been detected in wildlife. Now, a review of research made public Wednesday by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization that focuses on environmental safety, shows PFAS turning up in hundreds of wild animal species around the world. Catrin Einhorn reports. (NY Times) See: State scores $33 million to fight 'forever chemicals' Funds will help combat PFAS in Washington drinking water. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

B.C. adds $180M to help prepare for natural disasters
Premier David Eby says he’s introducing more supports to better prepare British Columbia communities for natural disasters related to climate change before they happen. The New Democrat government will almost double the current funding of its Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, adding $180 million to support projects that help communities and First Nations prepare for and mitigate the effects of natural disasters, he said. Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

As Hawaii takes action against octopus farm, WA looks to impose its own ban
The owner of a controversial octopus “farm” on Hawaii’s Big Island was ordered to “cease and desist” nonpermitted operations in January after a clamor over the small outfit, which charges visitors $60 for the opportunity to touch a wild-caught day octopus....Representative Strom Peterson, a legislator in Washington state, D-Edmonds, has introduced legislation that would ban octopus farming. Susanne Rust reports. (LA Times)

Who was Edmund C. Fitzhugh?
"A thoroughly complex and weird man," influential in early Washington Territory politics and the development of industry around Bellingham Bay, is the subject of a new book. Candace Wellman provides a portrait of a complex man who put Bellingham Bay on the economic and political map. (Salish Current)

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 Feb 22 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT
TODAY NE wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 16 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of snow.
TONIGHT NE wind 15 to 25 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt after midnight. Combined seas 11 to 13 ft with a dominant period of 13 seconds. A chance of snow.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

2/21 Caspian Tern, closing fish farms, salmon parks, totem return, BC forest loss, View Royal stream. starving orcas, lipids in salmon, crab cost, wastewater test, seed collection

Caspian Terns [Tony Angell]

Determined Flight
One of the larger terns-- the Caspian-- migrates throughout the world and now resides in the Salish Sea. Tony Angell writes. (Salish Current)

Fisheries Department says it will shut 15 salmon farms off B.C.'s coast to protect wild fish
Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray has announced the federal government will not renew licences for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms around British Columbia's Discovery Islands. Murray says in a news release the Discovery Islands area is a key migration route for wild salmon where narrow passages bring migrating juvenile salmon into close contact with the farms. She says recent science indicates uncertainty over the risks posed by the farms to wild salmon, and the government is committed to developing a responsible plan to transition away from open-net farming in coastal B.C. waters. Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

Salmon Parks
The tiny Nuchatlaht Nation, with fewer than 200 enrolled members, in 2017 filed suit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, to reassert their right and title to the territory on northern Nootka Island they had never ceded. The case went to trial in March 2022 and a decision is pending. The litigation is closely watched in a province where First Nations see the lands and waters that have always sustained them threatened by industrial development. Leaders of the Nuchatlaht Tribe and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations want to heal and protect their territory with salmon parks, a new, Indigenous-led conservation initiative. By Lynda V. Mapes, Erika Schultz and Lauren Frohne report. (Seattle Times)

Celebration marks repatriation of B.C. totem to Nuxalk Nation after century-long wait
Carved in the mid-1800s as an entrance pole to a long house, the Snow family pole was later used as a marker for a family grave but was taken without permission in 1913 and added to a collection of the Royal B.C. Museum. (Canadian Press)

B.C.’s forest loss can be seen from space
B.C. has lost so much tree cover over the past 20-plus years that you can see it from space. It has lost more tree canopy since 2000 than any other province, driven largely by wildfires and forestry practices. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Fish showing up in View Royal stream once choked with weeds
It was just a ditch two years ago, clogged with fill from highway construction and choked by blackberries and weeds. But now, a small stream around the new site of B.C. Transit’s HandyDART facility at Burnside Road and Watkiss Way in View Royal is a salmon-bearing tributary of Craigflower Creek. Remediation efforts by B.C. Transit and legions of volunteers have transformed the seasonal waterway into a salmon habitat by changing its course and riparian areas. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Puget Sound Orcas are Starving. Is the Solution Shutting Down Alaskan Chinook Fisheries?
An estimated 97 percent of the Chinook caught by that Alaskan fishery spawn outside Alaska. Many of those fish might normally nourish the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) – our Puget Sound orcas. These orcas have been listed as endangered since 2005 and are generally thought to be starving. So what has the federal government done? It has tried to give the Alaskan fishery legal cover. Dan Chasan writes. (Post Alley)

Lipid Content of Fraser River Chinook Salmon Is Lipid-rich and Energy Dense, Which Is Important for Killer Whales’ Diet
Not all Chinook salmon are created equal, which has a significant impact on the energy levels of southern resident killer whales. A recent study quantified the lipid content in Fraser River Chinook salmon, the preferred meal of southern residents, and discovered that spring-run Chinook salmon, the first to arrive in the Salish Sea, is lipid-rich and energy-dense, which is important for the killer whales that prey on them. Later-season Fraser River Chinook salmon have a lower energy density. Paw Mozter reports. (Nature World News)

Dungeness crab at $5.99/lb. Nice! But crab fishers get $2/lb. Tough deal.
You’ve seen the flyers. QFC, Fred Meyer, Safeway and others: “Love local. Fresh wild-caught whole cooked Dungeness crab. $5.99 lb with card.” ... For the Dungeness crab fishers — a number of them small operators — it’s tough days. They’re getting $2 a pound, maybe $2.25 a pound wholesale for the crab. In last winter’s boom times they were getting $5.50 a pound from processors. Erik Lacitis reports. (Seattle Times)

Wastewater testing isn’t just for COVID: WA expands efforts
...Epidemiology teams started sampling wastewater in October 2021 — at first at three sites in two counties, with the intention of building an early warning system that could predict COVID-19 surges. Now, the team has expanded to 28 sites in 16 counties, and is talking about beginning to monitor for other viruses, like influenza and RSV. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times)

PSE pushes to control new renewable energy projects in WA
Puget Sound Energy is pushing for legislation that would help it secure a large ownership stake in new renewable projects in the state. The new projects would replace the fossil-fueled power plants the private utility is expected to gradually shutter in the next two decades because of Washington laws that seek to slash greenhouse gas emissions. Companion bills in both chambers of the state Legislature would ensure that PSE owns 60% of new solar, wind and other renewable energy projects that supply power to the state’s largest private utility. The investor-owned utility would be required to stop offering new commercial or residential natural gas hookups by June and file a decarbonization plan every four years starting in 2026. Isabella Breda and Hal Bernton report. (Seattle Times)

Climate equity working group 'disappointed' after Vancouver city council rejects climate justice charter
For more than two years, Navdeep Chhina and 15 other members of the City of Vancouver's Climate Equity Working Group worked to create a Climate Justice Charter to help guide city staff around efforts to address climate- and equity-related issues. On Wednesday, city council rejected that charter. Priya Bhat reports. (CBC)

Mass seed collection in Oregon designed to protect native trees from invasive species
Oregon forestry officials have collected over 900,000 seeds from a native tree species, in an effort to protect against an invasive insect. Nathan Wilk reports. (KLCC)

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- 257 AM PST Tue Feb 21 2023 GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY W wind 25 to 35 kt. Combined seas 17 to 19 ft with a dominant period of 13 seconds. A chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NE 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 17 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.

Friday, February 17, 2023

2/17 Shrimp plant, Denman Is protest, rights of SRKW, BC old-growth, grizzlies, quarry review, capping pollutants, batteries, Raven Skyriver, week in review

Shrimp plant [Doreen Wynja)

Shrimp plant Justicia brandegeeana
The Mexican shrimp plant, shrimp plant or false hop is an evergreen shrub in the genus Justicia of the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to Mexico, and also naturalized in Florida. It grows to 1 m tall with spindly limbs. The leaves are oval, green, 3–7.5 cm long. (Wikipedia)

Denman Island ferry-terminal expansion on hold
Protesters had been blocking the project at Gravelly Bay, which involved cutting down more than 100 trees. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Council acknowledge inherent rights of SRKW
The San Juan County Council joined a growing number of cities and counties throughout the Puget Sound region to acknowledge the inherent rights of Southern Resident Killer Whales that frequent the waters surrounding this county. During a regular meeting of the Council on Feb. 7 council members read aloud a proclamation acknowledging the cultural, spiritual, and economic importance of the SRKW to the people of San Juan County, the Salish Sea, the State of Washington, and the world. Kelly Balcomb-Bartok reports. (San Juan Journal)

The right direction’: new B.C. plan could actually protect old-growth forests
A shift in how the province manages forests — taking into account biodiversity, climate change and Indigenous partnership — signals a long-awaited change in what Premier David Eby calls ‘decades of short-term and transactional thinking.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal) Is BC Actually Putting Forest Health Ahead of Industry Needs? Advocates applaud a key legislative change, but call for faster action to protect biodiversity. Zoe Yunker reports. (The Tyee)

North Cascades grizzlies could gain habitat as the climate warms
Grizzly bears in Washington’s North Cascades could gain habitat as the climate warms, according to a study that looked at how climate change could affect the reintroduction of grizzly bears. The study, published in the journal Science Direct, found potential high quality grizzly bear habitat in the North Cascades Ecosystem will expand as the climate changes. The study looked at climate scenarios through the 2080s. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Controversial Island Quarry Expansion May Get Environmental Assessment
Minister says no final decision has been made on Saanich Inlet waterfront project. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Washington state starts capping climate pollution from its biggest sources
A new cap on industrial emissions took effect on Jan. 1, a decade after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee started pushing for economy-wide reductions of climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions. The state is now gearing up for its first auction of pollution allowances, which will force some major polluters to pay for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit, on Feb. 28. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

What to do with dead batteries? Washington lawmakers consider plan to energize recycling
Batteries power all kinds of consumer goods, and their use is rapidly expanding. Seattle plans to ban gas-powered leaf blowers in favor of clean fuel devices. By 2035, all new cars sold in Washington will be electric. But batteries, even rechargeable ones, don’t last forever. If they’re tossed in the trash, they can start fires and leak toxic chemicals into the water and soil. There’s also increasing demand for the valuable metals and minerals in batteries, such as lithium and cobalt. Washington state lawmakers are considering rules for keeping these fuel cells out of landfills. Senate Bill 5144 would require producers of batteries and battery-containing products to fund a state-approved stewardship program for collecting and recycling batteries. Lisa Stiffler reports. (GeekWire)

Glass creations inspired by PNW marine life
Based on Lopez Island, artist and environmentalist Raven Skyriver breathes endangered Salish Sea animals into fragile glass. Sarah Hoffman reports. (Crosscut)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/17/23: Cabbage Friday, green crabs, 'rights of nature," totem pole return, RCMP sued, GasLink pipeline, logging deferral, Denman Is protest.

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- 246 AM PST Fri Feb 17 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 15 seconds.
TONIGHT SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.
SAT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT NW wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

2/16 Sunflower sea star, logging deferral, Denman Is protest, Skagit water, Bamberton guarry, NW forests, Seattle geology

Sunflower sea star [Janna Nichols]

Sunflower sea star Pycnopodia helianthoides
Sunflower sea stars are marine invertebrates that belong to the same family as as sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sand dollars. Sunflower sea stars play a critical role in our marine ecosystem because they are natural predators of sea urchins, which are notorious for destroying kelp forests. However, sunflower sea star populations have declined to critically low levels from a disease called Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. This disease has killed 99.2% of the overall population of Pycnopodia spp. in Washington state. (SeaDoc Society)

B.C. expands old-growth logging deferral to 2.1 million hectares, promises greater First Nations collaboration
The British Columbia government announced new measures Wednesday it says will better protect old growth by working with First Nations while it ramps up investments to encourage innovation in an industry that has been plagued by job losses. The province says it's expanding the logging deferral of old-growth forests to 2.1 million hectares, up from 1.7 million reported last spring, while bringing in new innovations to better care for forests. (CBC)

Denman Island protesters block ferry terminal expansion
On Monday, B.C. Ferries’ contractor from Campbell River was prevented from cutting down trees to make way for the expanded Gravelly Bay B.C. Ferries terminal. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Snowpack, precipitation lower than normal in Skagit River watershed
While the state experienced decent snowfall in December, the amount of snow in January plummeted to 63% of the normal total mountain precipitation, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Washington Water Supply Outlook Report released at the beginning of February. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Inlet protection society holds its own forum on quarry
Group opposing Malahat First Nation plan to expand Bamberton aggregate quarry says few questions were answered at a recent Environmental Assessment office forum. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

Thousand-Year Wonders: The Majesty of Northwest Forests
Left alone, these forests will last thousands of years and rise to immense heights. Can we live in such close proximity? The Duwamish did. David Buerge writes. (Post Alley)

Geology Did That
More than happens in most cities in the United States, Seattleites regularly feel the influence of geology. Driving our glacially carved hills; worrying about an earthquake from one of the three tectonic zones of weakness that underlie the region; paying for a new seawall and SR-99; or enjoying the views of the surrounding mountains: as my wife tells me, geology did that. And, yet, unlike cities such as Portland, New York, and Denver, Seattle has very limited rock at the surface. I am okay with this. David B. Williams writes. (Street Smart Naturalist)

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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- 242 AM PST Thu Feb 16 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 14 seconds building to 8 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. Rain in the evening.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

2/15 Ostracode, buying farmlands and forests ban, beyond carbon taxes, Coastal GasLink, heat waves

Ostracode [Anna Syme]

Ostracode
Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea, sometimes known as seed shrimp. Some 70,000 species have been identified, grouped into several orders. They are small crustaceans, typically around 1 mm in size, but varying from 0.2 to 30 mm in the case of Gigantocypris. (Wikipedia)

Ban foreign entities from buying Washington forest and farmland, lawmaker urges
Legislators in Washington state are joining more than a dozen other states that are considering whether to restrict or ban foreign entities from buying farmland. The initial hearing on Olympia's version of the foreign ownership restrictions however drew more criticism than support on Tuesday. The bill sponsor, state Rep. Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor), represents part of the fertile Skagit Valley. He asserted that foreign ownership of agricultural land threatens water supplies and the state’s food security. To Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Beyond Carbon Taxes: Even Better Climate Solutions for Government
BC’s groundbreaking carbon tax is working. But some less controversial measures were even more effective. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

TC Energy looking to complete Coastal GasLink pipeline by year end
Costs have more than doubled on the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline and could increase up to a further $1.2 billion if construction is not completed this year. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

How Will Creatures That Can Barely Move Handle Climate Change?
Lots of species are being forced to move to escape the heat. Some just can’t move very far. Michael Allen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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- 253 AM PST Wed Feb 15 2023
TODAY S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

2/14 Spot shrimp, RCMP sued, totem return, creosote removal, heat damage, La Conner flooding

Spot shrimp [Dave Cowles]

Spot shrimp Pandalus platyceros
Spot shrimp are the largest shrimp in Puget Sound, and may reach a length of more than nine inches (23 cm), excluding the antennae. Spot shrimp are most common in Hood Canal, the San Juan Islands, and northern and central Puget Sound. This is one of the most important shrimp species for both sport and commercial harvesters. (WDFW)

News outlet, journalist suing RCMP after 2021 arrest at B.C. pipeline protest camp
A freelance photojournalist who was arrested in November 2021 at a resistance camp established by opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline west of Prince George, B.C., announced Monday that she, along with the news outlet The Narwhal, have filed a lawsuit against the RCMP in the wake of the incident. During a press event outside B.C. Supreme Court in downtown Vancouver, Amber Bracken and editorial leaders from The Narwhal said that they are suing the Mounties for wrongful arrest, wrongful detention and violation of Charter rights. (CBC)

Nuxalk Nation celebrates return of totem pole from museum
Just over three years have passed since hereditary chiefs travelled to the RBCM to seek the return of the pole, a second one and other artifacts. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

To protect salmon, DNR pulls toxic pilings from Steamboat Slough
The agency removed creosote from critical habitat. Now, leaders are looking to the next steps in an ambitious “watershed-wide” plan. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

How extreme heat scorched Pacific Northwest’s evergreen trees
The tips of western red cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir limbs looked as if they were scorched by passing flames just a few days after the Pacific Northwest’s 2021 extreme heat wave. On June 28 that year, Seattle reached 108 degrees and Portland topped out at 116 degrees, both records. Several days of high overnight temperatures provided little respite. Now new research shows the extreme heat discolored, damaged and killed some of the region’s ubiquitous evergreens. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Surprising channel flood leaves La Conner planning for future
“Climate change is real” is a lesson from Dec. 27 flooding that damaged the La Conner downtown.va Ronning reports. (Salish Current)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 844 AM PST Tue Feb 14 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY N wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 13 ft at 13 seconds.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds.

Monday, February 13, 2023

2/13 Mysids, cat swim, 'rights of nature,' salmon pen, shipping risks, Big Oil profits, green crabs, cannabis, BC wool, ocean mining

Mysid [S. Pothoven]

Mysida
Mysida is an order of small, shrimp-like crustaceans in the malacostracan superorder Peracarida. Their common name opossum shrimps stems from the presence of a brood pouch or "marsupium" in females. The fact that the larvae are reared in this pouch and are not free-swimming characterises the order. (Wikipedia)

A cat gets his feet wet
Biologists are intrigued by the prospect of island-hopping cougars in the Salish Sea. Could swimming ability lead to improved genetic diversity among the big cats? Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

‘Rights of nature’ movement gains steam in Pacific Northwest. Can it help species on the brink?
Seattle City Light wants to extend its license for three dams on the Skagit River for another three to five decades, and tribes and other environmental groups have been pushing the utility to do more for salmon. The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe lost a suit in its own court it brought to recognize the rights of the salmon. Meanwhile, two cities have recognized the rights of endangered southern resident orcas, questioning how humans related to the ecosystem they take from. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Net pen ready for salmon
In what has become an annual event, volunteers from the Puget Sound Anglers Association Sno-King Chapter Saturday morning assembled a coho salmon net pen along the Edmonds waterfront, after which a Port of Edmonds work boat towed it to guest moorage. Next week, 30,000 coho salmon smolt from the Issaquah fish hatchery will be introduced to the pen. After spending a few months in Edmonds waters for imprinting, the salmon will be released to mature. When it comes time to spawn, the hope is that the survivors will return to the Edmonds area to lay eggs or be caught by local fishermen. Brent Tugby reports. (My Edmonds News)

A New Tool Allows BC’s Coastal Communities To Monitor The Risks Posed By Marine Shipping
Thanks to work done by marine policy researcher Rachel Stewart-Dziama and colleagues at Vancouver’s Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping, coastal residents can use a digital dashboard to overlay actual shipping movements with data on sensitive coastal habitats. On the Clear Sea maps, heavily-travelled marine shipping routes into the Strait of Juan de Fuca display the distinctive tracks of cruise ships, container ships, bulk carriers, cargo vessels, tugs and ferries, some veering close to very sensitive marine ecosystems. (West Coast Now)

Why are BP, Shell, and other oil giants making so much money right now?
The big oil companies - from the UK-based BP and Shell to international giants such as ExxonMobil and Norway’s Equinor - have been announcing astonishing profit figures. They are all benefitting from the surging price of oil and gas following the invasion of Ukraine. Ben King reports. (BBC)

The worst house guests: European green crabs are invading B.C. waters
A monumental effort is underway to contain the spiny creatures, the bodies of which are flash frozen and dumped at landfills or churned into compost. But one First Nation is arguing that, given the price of groceries, we should rethink the way we eradicate invasive, but edible, species. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Retail — and illicit — cannabis markets endure; medical in ‘dire straits’
The illegal cannabis market still exists alongside Washington’s growing legal retail and struggling medical cannabis markets. Changes may be in store. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

BC wool piles up as prices tank, mills shut down
With wool selling for only 10 to 70 cents a pound, sheep farmers say it makes more financial sense to burn or compost it rather than pay to clean, bag and transport it to the Lower Mainland, then Alberta or Ontario for processing. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Imminent threat’: plans to mine the bottom of the ocean raise concerns as Canada announces moratorium
Underwater mining to make batteries could create ‘a massive deadzone’ on the ocean floor. Canada has issued a temporary domestic ban — but regulating international waters is trickier. Francesca Fionda reports. (The Narwhal)

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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- 216 AM PST Mon Feb 13 2023
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY W wind 20 to 25 kt becoming NW 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 10 to 11 ft with a dominant period of 15 seconds building to 14 ft with a dominant period of 15 seconds in the afternoon. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NW wind 30 to 40 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Combined seas 19 to 20 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds subsiding to 14 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain.

Friday, February 10, 2023

2/10 'Got lucky,' WA carbon credit market, marmots, Washaway Beach, Fairy Cr protest, racial reckoning

'Got lucky' [Ryan Miller/Times Colonist]

'I got lucky with this one': B.C. photographer captures breathtaking whale image
He took more than 2,000 photographs to get the perfect shot. Alanna Kelly reports. (Times Colonist)

DNR wants in on WA’s emerging carbon-credit market
The Washington state Department of Natural Resources wants to make land conservation and restoration more profitable. Two bills introduced in both chambers of the state Legislature would allow the agency to use state lands for carbon sequestration, habitat restoration or other projects benefiting ecosystems. In turn, carbon credits associated with those projects could be sold as offsets under the state’s ambitious 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which requires the state’s biggest polluters to pay for and reduce their emissions. Under Senate Bill 5688 and House Bill 1789, the Department of Natural Resources could generate money for trust beneficiaries, including rural counties and schools, through those carbon credits. The revenue could also fund additional conservation projects. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Vancouver Island marmots return to the wild
With only 358 of the endangered animals left, the Marmot Recovery Foundation is working to release captive marmots in mountain burrows. Sarah Hoffman reports. (Crosscut)

The WA cranberry farmer trying to turn the tides of Washaway Beach
David Cottrell of North Cove has thrown hay bales, stumps and $400 of rocks at the rising coastline. His experiment caught the eye of global experts. Sarah Trent reports. (High Country News)

RCMP failed to provide information to Fairy Creek protesters: judge
Supporters believe the decision is “likely to have far-reaching ramifications” for those protesters still facing charges of criminal contempt of court. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Community Voices / Ongoing racial reckoning in the post-George Floyd era
Three years after the Summer of Racial Reckoning, a divided populace still grapples with damaging and sometimes deadly effects of racism, and with how to talk about the issues. Vernon Damani Johnson writes. (Salish Current)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/10/23: Umbrella Friday! Woodfibre LNG, electricity import, Indigenous MPA, sea lice, pink urchins, Big Oil profits, BC LNG, BP Cherry Pt, salmon coalition.

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- 242 AM PST Fri Feb 10 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 12 ft at 13 seconds. Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 15 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 13 ft at 13 seconds after midnight. A chance of showers in the evening then a slight chance of showers after midnight.
SAT NW wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 8 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT NW wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Salmonberry, BC LNG, BP Cherry Pt, orca moms, killing geese, Black homesteaders, Lushootseed language, Teck Coal

Salmonberry [Native Plants PNW]

Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
Rubus, derived from ruber, a Latin word for red, is the genus of plants generally called brambles. The epithet spectabilis means spectacular due to Salmonberry’s showy flowers and fruits. The common name Salmonberry is thought to have come from the natives’ fondness for eating the berries with salmon roe, but it could also be due to the orangy-pink color of the berries. (Native Plants PNW)

‘We should avoid monitoring’: feds quietly backed off while Coastal GasLink pipeline work killed fish
For months, Fisheries and Oceans Canada wouldn’t say anything about its role in monitoring the Coastal GasLink pipeline and protecting fish habitat. Internal documents show the agency was keeping an eye on construction — until it wasn’t. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Corps’ BP Cherry Point limit no limit at all, environmental groups say
Environmental groups are unhappy with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ January 23 modification to its 1996 permit that limits the volume of crude oil BP can handle at its Cherry Point facility. They say the ceiling would allow the oil company to double its shipping capacity. The Corps will limit BP’s capacity to 191 million barrels per year. This limit will be enforced through requiring annual vessel call and crude oil volume reports. However, according to BP’s website, the Cherry Point terminal can process 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day, or slightly more than 91 million barrels per year. Ian Haupt reports. (The Northern Light)

Orca mothers make 'lifelong sacrifice' for sons
A study of orcas in the North Pacific has revealed that mothers make a "lifelong sacrifice" for their sons. Rearing a son significantly reduced a female killer whale's chance of reproducing in the future. The energy they need to feed sons appears to compromise their health, leaving them less able to reproduce and raise other young. Victoria Gill reports. (BBC)

Canada goose management plan gets go-ahead from CRD
The plan, which includes egg addling, culls and education to reduce damage to farmers’ fields and sensitive ecosystems, was approved by Capital Regional District board members on Wednesday. Karla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Lawmakers consider banning octopus farms in Washington
Washington's lawmakers are making a push to ban an industry before it takes root. That industry is octopus farming, a controversial idea that has gathered interest globally. Legislators took public testimony on the issue in Olympia Wednesday during a House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources hearing. Jennifer Dowling reports. (KCPQ13)

First Nations, B.C. groups launch coalition to save Pacific salmon from extinction
A leader with the First Nations Fisheries Council of B.C. says collaboration, not politics, will be the only thing that saves dwindling Pacific salmon populations. Jordan Point says salmon runs in B.C. are collapsing and extinction is not an option. The council is joining with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, the First Nations Summit and the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance to find solutions. (The Canadian Press)

WA geographical sites renamed after Black homesteaders
A lake and a wetland in Washington state are soon to have new names in honor of two early Black settlers on the Kitsap Peninsula. A 10.5-acre acre lake near Tahuya, Wash. will soon be called "Nathaniel Sargent Lake." Sargent was a Black man born into slavery who homesteaded near Seabeck. He died in 1954. A nearby 18-acre wetland will now be known as Rodney White Slough. White was also born into slavery in Missouri. He began homesteading in Mason County in 1890, started an orchard, and lived there until his death in 1913. Both the geographical sites near where Sargent and White lived in Mason County previously had names which included a racial slur toward Black people. Kim Malcomb reports. (KUOW)

Lushootseed [Dxʷləšucid] is Awake
The staff of the Lushootseed Language Department is working to expand traditional language curriculum within the Tulalip Tribes and share Lushootseed with children from a young age to keep the language alive. Mikaela Keator reports. (The Planet Magazine)

B.C. fines Teck Coal $16 million for contaminating Kootenay waterways
A Canadian mining company has been fined more than $16 million for polluting waterways in B.C.'s East Kootenay. The B.C. Ministry of Environment has imposed three administrative penalties on Teck Coal Limited, a subsidiary of Teck Resources, citing the company's failure to have water treatment facilities ready by a required date to limit emissions of nitrate and selenium from its Fording River operations in the Elk Valley. Winston Szeto reports. (CBC)

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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- 247 AM PST Thu Feb 9 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON PST TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
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 12 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds building to 12 ft at 13 seconds after midnight. Rain.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

2/8 Blackmouth, Big Oil profits, BC LNG, SnoCo emissions, JeffCo forests, Hwy 20 repair, Storm the Octopus

Blackmouth salmon [WDFW)]

Blackmouth salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook that live out their entire lives in Puget Sound are known as “resident Chinook” or “blackmouth,” a nickname derived from their dark gums. Some fish hatcheries release their Chinook later than normal to increase the blackmouth population and provide for winter sport fisheries. (WDFW)

Big Oil walks back climate pledges as earnings show 2022 was their most profitable year ever
Financial results from the biggest energy companies in the world this week show that last year was their most profitable year ever, prompting many of them to scale back previous commitments to pivot more toward renewable energy. U.S. oil company Exxon revealed last week that it earned a profit of $56 billion US last year, the highest figure on record for any publicly traded oil company, ever. The eye-popping figure means that even after it paid all of its costs, from exploration, development, salaries, taxes and legal and regulatory costs, the Texas-based company earned a profit of more than $6 million per hour last year. Pete Evans writes. (CBC)

Alberta is on a blitz to promote B.C.’s LNG industry. Critics say it’s time to ‘keep out’
Alberta’s energy war room campaign to promote the carbon-intensive LNG industry comes as B.C. admits it will miss emissions targets, even without accounting for new LNG. Sarah Cox reports, (The Narwhal)

Snohomish County greenhouse emissions up, largely due to cars
A report released last month shows Snohomish County’s greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise, though lower than expected, following significant population growth in recent years. County sustainability leaders say the data will help them orchestrate bigger changes in years to come. A new report released shows greenhouse gases went up 7% over five years. Riley Haun reports. (Everett Herald)

Jefferson considering forest land transfers
Jefferson County officials should look into expanding the county’s land base to continue with its forest management program, according to the forestry company contracted to develop the county’s program. Speaking to Jefferson County commissioners on Monday, Malloree Weinheimer, principal and forester at Chickadee Forestry, LLC, said many of the county’s forest lands are small, non-contiguous parcels of 5 or 10 acres, which make forest management difficult. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

State aims to fix section of Highway 20, help salmon
The state Department of Transportation is in the midst of trying to fix a problematic section of Highway 20. At milepost 101 near Rockport, the SR 20 Skagit O’Brian Reach Feasibility Project aims to assess the issue and seek possible fixes while also helping salmon recovery. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Meet Storm: Sidney aquarium’s new resident is a giant Pacific octopus
The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea’s newest resident may be a staff favourite — a four-pound giant Pacific octopus that should be living thousands of kilometres away. The octopus was booked for a flight to Finland but was donated to the aquarium after a winter storm a week before Christmas stopped air traffic all over B.C. Mary Griffin reports. (CHEK)

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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- 242 AM PST Wed Feb 8 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 11 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely in the evening then rain after midnight.