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.

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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.

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