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)

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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.

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