Salish Sea News and Weather: March 2023

Friday, March 31, 2023

3/31 Western tanager, Tokitae return, GasLink arrests, MV Schiedyk cleanup, murder hornets, swimming wolf, shared strategy

Western tanager

Western tanager Piranga ludoviciana
A clear look at a male Western Tanager is like looking at a flame: an orange-red head, brilliant yellow body, and coal-black wings, back and tail. Females and immatures are a somewhat dimmer yellow-green and blackish. These birds live in open woods all over the West, particularly among evergreens, where they often stay hidden in the canopy. (All About Birds)

Miami Seaquarium announces new effort to return last captive Puget Sound orca
The new leaders of the Miami Seaquarium announced Thursday an effort to release orca Tokitae, also known as Lolita, to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest after she has lived in a small tank for more than five decades. The company said in a statement it is working toward relocating the orca, a likely member of the L pod of the endangered southern residents, in the next 18 to 24 months. Details of Tokitae's return home remain sparse, but the Miami Seaquarium has secured financial support from Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

RCMP arrest five land defenders on Wet’suwet’en territory as Coastal GasLink construction continues
Police enforcement of a search warrant for theft under $5,000 led to five arrests for obstruction, including the arrest of the daughter of a Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

After 55 Years, B.C. Cleans Up the Wreck of the MV Schiedyk
More than half a century after the cargo ship MV Schiedyk sank on Canada’s west coast, 21st century technology and teamwork with First Nations helped to remove an oily hazard from the environment. (Marine Executive)

Do you want a job murdering ‘murder hornets’? Washington state is hiring
The state Department of Agriculture is looking to hire a giant hornet and wood boring insect trapper. Translation: Sherlock Holmes the heck out of the so-called “murder hornet” and terminate with extreme prejudice. Murder hornet is the name the news media has given to the invasive northern giant hornet from Japan that first appeared in Washington in 2019. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Wolf caught swimming off remote part of Vancouver Island
A B.C. woman was on a boat at the right time and managed to see a wolf swimming near Kyuquot Sound off the coast of Vancouver Island. Alanna Kelly reports. (Times Colonist)

Opinion: Protect Salish Sea with shared strategy between B.C. and WA
On March 8, the High Seas Treaty was agreed upon and signed by United Nations member nations, after nearly 20 years of negotiation. The historic treaty will provide a legal platform for establishing large areas of the high seas as marine protected areas. The intention is to gain stronger protection for marine life and biodiversity for the planet beyond national jurisdictions. This phenomenal agreement gives rise to the question: Can we also reach such an agreement between Canada and the United States to protect marine life and biodiversity of the Salish Sea? Given our history, it would seem more than achievable. Christianne Wilhelmson and Ginny Broadhurst write. (Seattle Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/31/23: César Chávez Friday, kelp forests, bad BNSF, orca prey, herring spawn, BC mining, Tokitae return.

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- 228 AM PDT Fri Mar 31 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY S wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.
SAT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 7 seconds and N 3 ft at 8 seconds building to 8 ft at 9 seconds in the afternoon. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.

--
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Thursday, March 30, 2023

3/30 Wilson's warbler, herring spawn, crypto mining, frog song, Seattle sewer, BC mining

Wilson's warbler
[Brad Imhoff/All About Birds]

Wilson's warbler Cardellina pusilla
Wilson's warbler is a small New World warbler. It is greenish above and yellow below, with rounded wings and a long, slim tail. The male has a black crown patch; depending on the subspecies, that mark is reduced or absent in the female. (Wikipedia)

Herring spawn off northern Vancouver Island dazzles residents and animals alike
Just off the coast of northern Vancouver Island, the ocean waters have turned a vibrant shade of turquoise as herring spawn in an area where they've never been recorded before. Port McNeill resident Jackie Hildering, who works with the Marine Education and Research Society, says the spawn has given her and her neighbours a "front-row seat to the importance of herring." Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC) See also: B.C. photos capture fantastic images of herring spawning (Times Colonist)

Where the PNW — and the rest of the U.S. — stands on crypto mining
As cryptocurrency mining draws increased scrutiny on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., some state legislatures are considering proposals to restrict the industry over growing concerns about its energy use. Other states, though, are advancing bills to protect cryptocurrency miners from such crackdowns, citing the economic potential of hosting mining operations. Alex Brown reports. (Stateline/Crosscut)

It’s ‘Ribbit, ribbit’ season in Washington. Just what are those frogs trying to say?
It’s spring — when a young frog’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. OK, we can’t say for sure if frogs have the same emotions as humans, but the chorus of croaks coming from the swampier areas of Pierce and Thurston counties are definitely mating calls. So says Max Lambert, an aquatic habitat research scientist with the state Department of Natural Resources. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Work underway to ensure wastewater treatment plant can function even during 'disruptive events'
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks' Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) has begun the next step of a process to ensure backup power at its West Point Treatment Plant in Magnolia near Seattle. This week trucks are delivering and crews are pouring more than 1,600 tons of concrete as the agency builds a structure to house a massive battery that will provide power reliability for the plant, preventing wastewater and stormwater from being discharged into Puget Sound during disruptive events. Erica Zucco reports. (KING)

Biden and Trudeau agree to address mining pollution in B.C.’s Elk Valley — and it’s a big deal
Pollution from some of Canada’s largest coal mines has been getting worse for decades and is now spilling over into the U.S. As the two heads of state turn their attention to the growing conundrum of selenium in B.C.’s southeast corner, here’s what you need to know. Ainslie Cruickshank 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- 220 AM PDT Thu Mar 30 2023
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
TONIGHT SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening then showers likely after midnight.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

3/29 Swainson's thrush, 'Lolita,' Birds Connect Seattle, river otters, herring spawn, jet fuel center, 'hydrogen hub'

Swainson's thrush [Greg Lavaty/BirdWeb]

Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus
There are three species of spot-breasted thrushes found in Washington- the Swainson's Thrush, the Veery, and the Hermit Thrush. The Swainson's Thrush occupies forested habitat at low to mid-elevations, overlapping with the Veery below and the Hermit Thrush above. Although it is found mostly in dense hardwood and mixed forests, young conifer forests, and forest openings, the Swainson's Thrush does not require as dense an understory as does the Veery. They are attracted to salmonberry stands as nesting sites. (BirdWeb)

Miami Seaquarium, owner of NFL’s Colts tease announcement about last Puget Sound orca in captivity
The Miami Seaquarium set a news conference for Thursday to announce an initiative among the aquarium’s parent company, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts and a Florida nonprofit to “return beloved orca, Lolita,” to her home waters. It’s unclear if federal agencies have signed off on the proposal, or if the announcement is a promise to finally release the last surviving Puget Sound orca in captivity. Isabella Brreda reports. (Seattle Times)

Amid controversy, Seattle Audubon changes its name
The birding and conservation advocacy group formerly known as Seattle Audubon has renamed itself as Birds Connect Seattle. Like the National Audubon Society, the 107-year-old independent local chapter had taken its name from wildlife painter John James Audubon, revered for helping people appreciate the birds around us. But in recent years, more people have learned the organization’s namesake was also an enslaver and vocal racist who, the National Audubon Society says, “did despicable things even by the standards of his day.” Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Don’t Read Too Much into River Otters’ Return
Everyone knows about the canary in the coal mine. Well, river otters ain’t that. Carin Leong reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Herring spawn brings wildlife show to Port McNeill
Department of Fisheries and Oceans has no record of a spawn occurring in the location since it began keeping records in 1950, but the ‘Namgis First Nation’s history shows one in the area decades ago. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Paine Field unveils plan for new, more eco-friendly jet fuel center
A new research and development center focused on sustainable aviation fuel will be established at Paine Field by 2027. The center will collect sustainable aviation fuel samples from around the world and then test them for safety, performance and chemical similarity to conventional jet fuel. The facility, a joint venture between Snohomish County and Washington State University, will also be equipped to help manufacturers scale up SAF for commercial-scale production. Janice Podsada reports. (Everett Herald)

B.C. government to help turn Prince George into 'hydrogen hub'
The provincial government is hoping that turning the city into a hydrogen hub for central B.C. will help achieve its climate goals. Jack Moulton reports. (Prince George 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- 224 AM PDT Wed Mar 29 2023 TODAY E wind to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

3/28 Rufus hummer, Swinomish v BNSF, where orcas eat, hatcheries, Baikie Is restoration, WA budget, False Cr debris, frozen eggs

Rufus hummingbird [Spencer Follett/eBird]

Rufus hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
Although it is one of the smaller members in a family of very small birds, this species is notably pugnacious. The male Rufous, glowing like new copper penny, often defends a patch of flowers in a mountain meadow, vigorously chasing away all intruders (including larger birds). The Rufous also nests farther north than any other hummingbird: up to south-central Alaska. Of the various typically western hummingbirds, this is the one that wanders most often to eastern North America, with many now found east of the Mississippi every fall and winter. (Audubon Field Guide)

Judge rules BNSF intentionally violated terms of easement with Swinomish tribe
BNSF intentionally violated the terms of an easement agreement with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community when the railway company ran 100-car trains carrying crude oil over the reservation, a federal judge ruled Monday...In a written order Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik said the railway made a unilateral decision in increasing the number of trains and cars crossing the reservation without the tribe’s consent. Lasnik ruled that BNSF “willfully, consciously and knowingly exceeded the limitations on its right of access” from September 2012 to May 2021 “in pursuit of profits.” Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Southern Resident orcas spend less time near San Juan Islands because of salmon supply
Southern Resident orcas are spending less time in the San Jan Islands and the reason is likely connected to the whale's food supply, a new study found... The study found that over the past 17 years, as the Fraser River Chinook salmon population has dropped, the time spent by the orcas around the San Juan Islands has declined by more than 75%, according to Joshua Stewart, an assistant professor with Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute and the study's lead author. The findings were published Monday in the journal Marine Mammal Science. Alex Bartick reports. (KOMO)

Federal leaders finally increase money for hatcheries, but tribes say it’s nowhere near enough
Columbia River salmon hatcheries need billions of dollars’ worth of upgrades to withstand climate change. They’re getting $50 million. Tony Schick reports. (OPB)

Greenways Land Trust begins Baikie Island restoration project
The Raven Trail in the Baikie Island Nature reserve will be closed this week, as Greenways Land Trust is starting the initial stages of a large-scale restoration project in the area. (Campbell River Mirror)

WA's $70B budget proposals boost state worker raises, special ed
Democratic budget writers in the Washington Legislature want to plow billions of new dollars into climate-change projects, K-12 schools, and substance-use and mental-health programs, according to their budget proposals for the next two fiscal years. But perhaps the most notable focus of the proposed two-year operating budgets released by House and Senate leaders in recent days: They put billions into raises for state employees and provide more money to pay workers like home-care providers and employees of assisted living facilities, adult-family homes and care facilities. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Crosscut)

Diving for Debris in the Depths of False Creek
On a recent cloudy day, volunteers hauled 846 pounds of garbage out of the water. There’s much more left to remove. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Vancouver hopes freezing eggs will help control Canada goose population
Canada geese have an inefficient digestive system, prompting them to defecate about every 12 minutes, presenting "a significant challenge" to clean...The park board wants the public to report nest sightings, so staff can replace the eggs with ones that have been frozen to help control the population. The board says replacing eggs, in a process known as addling, is one of the most humane ways to control the birds’ population, and staff have federal government approval for the practice. (Canadian Press)

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- 225 AM PDT Tue Mar 28 2023
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY NE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming E 20 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 3 to 6 ft with a dominant period of 10 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Monday, March 27, 2023

3/27 Chickadee, kelp forests, Chinook ban, island farming, beekeeping, Snake R dams, pink snow, BC ferries, Monarch butterflies

Black-capped chickadee [All About Birds]

Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus
A bird almost universally considered “cute” thanks to its oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. The chickadee’s black cap and bib; white cheeks; gray back, wings, and tail; and whitish underside with buffy sides are distinctive. Its habit of investigating people and everything else in its home territory, and quickness to discover bird feeders, make it one of the first birds most people learn. (All About Birds)

The race to understand how kelp forests dampen ocean noise — before it’s too late
As kelp forests decline, scientists worry sensitive sea creatures are losing a sanctuary from sonic overload. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Much of West Coast faces ban to fish salmon amid low stocks
Ocean salmon fishing season is set to be prohibited this year off California and much of Oregon for the second time in 15 years after adult fall-run Chinook, often known as king salmon, returned to California's rivers in near record-low numbers in 2022. (Associated Press)

Back to the land in the islands — Part 1: Locally growing
Can there be more than tourism in the San Juan Islands? Kathryn Wheeler writes. (Salish Current)

Island beekeepers stung by fear of imported bees
Early reports suggest Vancouver Island bees will continue to have a high mortality rate, says provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp. Louise Dickson reports. (Times Colonist)

WA bills unveiled to save Snake River dams
Washington U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dan Newhouse introduced legislation Thursday to protect the four lower Snake River dams. The move comes a few days after President Joe Biden said he is committed to working with Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, and Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, both Democrats, to save Columbia and Snake river salmon. Biden did not say he supports dam breaching and of the politicians he mentioned, only Simpson has publicly backed the idea. Eric Barker reports. (Lewiston Tribune)

Pink snow is alive in the mountains and it’s causing climate change
It’s not a trick of the light and you are not going crazy, pink snow does exist. In the spring and summer months, snow in Whatcom County’s mountains can turn pink. The color comes from an algae that can be found in alpine regions across the globe, and is more common than people think, said Robin Kodner, associate professor of environmental science at Western Washington University. Pink snow is more than interesting, it can be dangerous for the climate. Jack Belcher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

B.C. Ferries cancelled 19 sailings over past week, majority due to lack of crew
B.C. Ferries said in a statement to CBC News that the cancelled sailings were a tiny percentage of all scheduled trips for the week. It said it completed 4570 sailings during the eight-day period. "As a percentage B.C. Ferries delivered on 99.6 per cent of scheduled sailings," it said. "Crew challenges impacted about 0.37 per cent of sailings and mechanical impacted about 0.04 per cent of sailings." On social media, however, travellers caught by the cancelled trips vented their frustrations. (CBC)

Monarch butterflies lose sanctuary in Mexico as climate changes
...Monarch butterflies are considered one of the world’s oldest and most resilient species. Their life cycles depend on optimal conditions: temperatures between 55 and the low 70s when they migrate, an abundance of milkweed when they mate, and some rain during the winters. But climate change has scrambled the consistent weather patterns they rely on, and more butterflies are dying. Naomi Schanen 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- 243 AM PDT Mon Mar 27 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 15 to 20 kt becoming 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft after midnight. NW swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.

Friday, March 24, 2023

3/24 Infant, hatchery salmon, steelhead, deep-sea volcano, native turtle, week in review

Infant

Infant
The term infant is typically applied to very young children under one year of age; however, definitions may vary and may include children up to two years of age. When a human child learns to walk, they are called a toddler instead. (Wikipedia)

Changing salmon hatchery release practices can improve survival rates
More than five billion juvenile salmon are released from hatcheries into the North Pacific Ocean each year, with about six per cent coming from B.C. and Yukon. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Steelhead fisheries to open on Skagit, Sauk rivers
Catch-and-release steelhead fisheries will open Saturday on the Skagit and Sauk rivers. The fisheries will remain open Saturdays through Wednesdays through April 30. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Deep-sea volcano off the Oregon Coast helps scientists forecast eruptions
Scientists using the ROV Jason to study the Axial Seamount, an active deep-sea volcano 250 miles off the Oregon coast, hope to understand volcanic risk closer to home. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

Human Elements: Saving Washington's only native freshwater turtle
In Seattle, Woodland Park zookeeper Bill McDowell cares for the eggs of the endangered Western pond turtle before they are released into the wild. Sarah Hoffman reports. (Crosscut)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/24/23: Exxon Valdez, Filthy Four, inbred orcas, suspect science, Swinomish v BNSF, cruise ships, WA ferries, fish farm closure, train derailment.

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- 259 AM PDT Fri Mar 24 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT TODAY W wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 3 to 6 ft. W swell 13 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft. W swell 13 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.
SAT NW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 10 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely.
SAT NIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

3/23 Seal, Cherry Pt projects, Mt Garibaldi, ocean climate, train spill, Alki

Seal

Seal
Baby seals are born weighing about 25 pounds. They double their weight in the first month; their mother's milk is 40 percent fat. A mother leaves its pup after the first month to finish growing and fend for itself. Mothers do not teach pups to hunt; they learn on their own. (Harbor Seal Facts: SeaDoc Society)

BP selects Whatcom County for $1.5 billion investment for these projects
BP is investing $1.5 billion into its Cherry Point refinery to help the energy company meet its net-zero climate goal. Whatcom County is one of five locations worldwide where BP plans new low-carbon projects. A sustainable aviation fuel production facility and a green hydrogen production facility are planned for Whatcom County, Eric Zimpfer, BP vice president refining at Cherry Point, (said)... Construction of the projects will bring an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 jobs to the facility for approximately three years. Jack Belcher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Mt. Garibaldi volcano may pose threat to Squamish area, expert says
Mount Garibaldi represents the greatest volcanic threat to people living between Squamish and Whistler, according to volcanologist Catherine Hickson. Denise Ryan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Unchecked climate change puts Canada’s West Coast in hot water
[C]limate impacts on the ocean have localized and serious ripple effects along the B.C. coast, particularly in the Salish Sea, oceanographer Jennifer Jackson said...Increasing water temperatures, lower levels of oxygen and increasingly acidic oceans impact the survival of important marine species; Pacific salmon are a prime example, said Jackson, section head of ocean modelling for Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Pacific branch. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Safety device, human error derailed Anacortes train, federal officials say
The Federal Railroad Administration has confirmed KUOW reporting that a safety device meant to keep trains from plunging into Puget Sound knocked a train off the tracks and onto the Swinomish Reservation early Thursday morning. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

A Drowsy God and Parboiled Pease
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "On November 13, 1851, twenty-two people landed on a low, open prominence of land jutting into Puget Sound. They named the spot Alki, soon also to be called New York...Alki is the most sacred spot tied to Seattle’s origin. But the Denny contingent were not the first Europeans to land there, nor the first to examine it as a possible place to establish a community." (Street Smart Naturalist)

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- 251 AM PDT Thu Mar 23 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds building to 7 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon. Rain.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 12 ft at 11 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

3/22 Bunny, 'Build in Washington,' national monuments, fish farm closures, Stanley Park GBH

Bunny

Bunny
The female rabbit is called a doe, giving birth is called kindling and baby rabbits are called kittens. Rabbit kits are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut, and completely furless.

'Build in Washington' rule may be cast overboard to obtain new ferries affordably and quickly
Every new car ferry added to the Washington State Ferries fleet over the past fifty years was built at a Puget Sound shipyard. Now, state lawmakers are considering a break from past policy in order to obtain new vessels faster and cheaper for the troubled state ferry system. On Monday, state legislative committees heard mixed testimony on proposals to cast aside long-standing "Build in Washington" procurement rules for new ferries. Identical House and Senate bills with bipartisan support would allow shipyards nationally to bid on contracts to build five new plug-in hybrid electric car ferries. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

Biden To Create New Marine Sanctuary In Pacific
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he would expeditiously expand and increase environmental protections for a group of remote atolls and islands in the Central Pacific and the nearly 777,000 square miles of waters around them. Nathan Eagle reports (Civil Beat) Biden sets protections for a half-million acres in Texas and Nevada New national monument designations will protect Castner Range, a former military site, and Avi Kwa Ame, a sacred tribal area. Maxine Joselow and Timothy Puko report. (Washington Post)

Fish farmers launch legal challenge of fish farm closures
Three salmon farming companies and two First Nations that support fish farming are challenging federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray’s decision last month not to renew federal licences for 15 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. Nelson Bennett reports. (BIV)

Great blue herons are back in Stanley Park for 23rd straight year
Last year, the colony brought about 90 new heron chicks into the world, overcoming persistent eagle raids and a late nesting season. Joseph Ruttle 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- 254 AM PDT Wed Mar 22 2023
TODAY E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 5 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

3/21 Chick, orca inbreeding, oil spill, Swinomish v BNSF, 'suspect science,' cruise ships

Chick

Chick
As a term used to refer to a young woman, chick is slightly dated. Originally it was perceived as insulting because of the perception that it infantilized women. Now the word has been embraced by some women as a positive term of self-reference and an expression of camaraderie. When used as a modifier, as in chick flick and chick lit, its meaning is not restricted to young women and its use is not offensive. First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chike, variant of chiken. (Dictionary.com)

Inbreeding hinders population recovery among endangered Southern Resident killer whales
While a scarcity of Chinook salmon and other environmental factors may be pushing the Southern Resident killer whales toward extinction, a new genetics study has revealed that inbreeding has been exerting a powerful, overriding influence upon the small, genetically isolated population. The weakened genetic condition of the Southern Resident orcas, which frequent Puget Sound, could help explain why their numbers have generally declined over the past 25 years, while other orca populations in Alaska and British Columbia have been growing at remarkable rates. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Diesel fuel from derailment found in groundwater
Diesel fuel from the BNSF Railway train derailment Thursday on the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community reservation has made its way into the groundwater, according to a news release from a multiagency disaster response team. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

What to know about the Swinomish oil train suit as federal trial begins
Without permission from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, BNSF in 2012 began transporting 100-car trains of highly combustible crude oil through Swinomish land, court documents show. The tribe sued in 2015, alleging BNSF was running trains with four times the number of cars permitted under an easement agreement with the tribe. The civil trial began in a federal courtroom in Seattle on Monday to determine if BNSF willfully, consciously or knowingly trespassed over the reservation and whether it intentionally breached the 1991 easement agreement. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada faces deluge of calls to improve ‘suspect’ science
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is being flooded with calls for change after a parliamentary committee examined how the federal agency conducts, interprets and acts on its own science. The investigation ended with 49 recommendations to address concerns about how DFO science is presented to the fisheries minister and the public before important political decisions are made — particularly those involving B.C. salmon farms or commercial fisheries on either coast. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Cruise Ship Invasion
Take a typical Alaska cruise and see the damage in its wake. The evidence is clear: the industry needs an overhaul. Andrew Engelson 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- 250 AM PDT Tue Mar 21 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the morning.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Monday, March 20, 2023

3/20 Lamb, 'Filthy Four,' owl habitat, oil train derail, Isi Lisims LNG, 'carbon bomb,' women on water, Bowen Is park, Eva Shulte, ocean farming, ocean plastics

Lamb

Lamb
A baby sheep is called a lamb. A baby goat is called a kid. A ewe can have a single lamb or twins. Triplets sometimes occur. A nanny can have a single kid or twins. Triplets occur fairly often.

‘Filthy Four’ — state targets Tacoma site with 1,200 polluted pilings for cleanup
On Friday, state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and other dignitaries gathered at Dickman Mill Park on Ruston Way to announce support for two companion bills making their way through the Legislature that remove abandoned, human-made structures in state aquatic lands and restore habitat... The mill is one of the so-called “Filthy Four” that DNR has put on top of their clean-up to do list. The other three are Ray’s Boathouse pier in Seattle, the Triton-America pier in Anacortes and the High Tides Seafood pier in Neah Bay on the Makah reservation. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Canada’s Trans Mountain pipeline destroys spotted owl habitat feds have vowed to protect
Even as federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault recommends an emergency order to protect the spotted owl from Canadian extinction, the pipeline his government owns is destroying the owl’s habitat. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Oil train derailed to avoid plunging into Puget Sound, tribal leader says
Samish Nation tribal chief Tom Wooten said the incident commanders at the BNSF train derailment and oil spill site on the Swinomish Reservation told him how the train track derailer device had pushed the train off the rails to prevent it from going into the water at the Swinomish Slough. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

$10 billion Nisga'a-led LNG project gets greenlight to enter environmental review
The Nisga’a-led $10-billion Ksi Lisims LNG project has been given the greenlight to enter the province’s environmental review process. The decision on the export facility in northwest B.C. was announced by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office last week, just days after the B.C. government gave final approval to the $2.4-billion Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG project. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Canada is sitting on 12 'carbon bombs.' Here's where they are.
Just under the surface of B.C. and Alberta, in a rock formation known as the Montney Play, lies enough potential greenhouse gases to blow past Canada's 2030 emissions targets 30 times over. It's one of 12 fossil fuel reserves researchers in the journal Energy Policy have identified in Canada — called "carbon bombs" — that would each release a billion tonnes or more of carbon into the atmosphere if their resources were extracted and burned. But development in the Montney is set to ramp up in the next few years, and government subsidies for the natural gas industry mean many of these projects have been earmarked to make important contributions to the economy. Dexter McMillan and Tara Carman reports. (CBC)

Women on the Water
Women and non-binary fishers along the northwest coast are working toward a future of safety and resilience at sea. Madeline Sweet reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Bowen Island residents still waiting for answers on proposed $40M park
Eight months after Metro Vancouver announced plans to create a new, $40-million campground and park on Bowen Island, residents say concerns about traffic, overcrowding and gentrification as a result of the proposal remain unaddressed...A petition opposing the proposed park on change.org has generated more than 500 signatures as of Saturday and a Facebook group called Bowen Islanders Concerned About the Park has more than 300 members. Bowen Island has a population of about 4,300 people, according to government statistics. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun)

New Executive Director to lead Friends of the San Juans
Eva Schulte is the new executive director of Friends of the San Juans. She leaves her position at Executive Director for Whatcom Community College Foundation. She is an Executive Committee Board Director for the Sierra Club Foundation and chairs that Foundation’s national Grants Committee. (News Release)

The next frontier in farming? The ocean
Today, seaweed is suddenly a hot global commodity. It’s attracting new money and new purpose in all kinds of new places because of its potential to help tame some of the hazards of the modern age, not least climate change. Somini Sengupta reports. (New York Times)

Plastic Bags Are Leaving Their Mark on the Deep-Sea Floor
...In 2021, Alan Jamieson, a marine biologist at the University of Western Australia, Deo Florence L. Onda, a microbial oceanographer at the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, and their crew descended into the third-deepest trench in the world. The place was swarming with plastic bags... As the scientists watched, the deep-sea current was dragging plastic bags along the seafloor, scraping it with parallel lines like tire tracks. Jamieson and Onda named these tracks müllspuren. It’s a nod to a German word, lebensspuren, which refers to the trails left by seafloor life. Janine Peralta 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- 244 AM PDT Mon Mar 20 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT Light wind becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain.

Friday, March 17, 2023

3/17 Narcissus, Intalco, train derail, climate escape, renewable energy siting, Tla-o-qui-aht, dog detectives, Padden Cr

Narcissus

Narcissus
Narcissus is 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. Wikipedia

Idled Whatcom County Intalco smelter closure announced by Alcoa
The Intalco aluminum smelter west of Ferndale has been permanently closed, according to a news release Thursday, March 16, from Alcoa Corporation. Julie Shirley, Robert Mittendorf and Jack Belcher report. (Bellingham Herald)

Train derails near Anacortes, spills up to 3,100 gallons of diesel
A train derailed on the Swinomish Reservation, near Anacortes, Washington, just after midnight Thursday morning, spilling diesel fuel between the shore of Padilla Bay and an RV park next to the Swinomish Casino and Lodge. Dyer Oxley, John Ryan and Natalie Akane Newcomb report. (KUOW)

Species Are Seeking Higher Ground to Escape Climate Change
Species are heading up steep slopes on land and underwater to escape the effects of climate change. But there are hard limits on how far species can migrate upwards — mountains peak and eventually the water meets the shore, meaning plants and animals that are adapting now may not be able to do so in the future. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

WA bill could help ease renewable energy development tensions
In the Pacific Northwest, conversations about renewable energy can get pretty heated. Residents often raise concerns about fragmented wildlife habitats, disturbed cultural resources, and cluttered viewsheds... House Bill 1216 would set up a formal process for “least conflict siting” which would help identify the least controversial places to build – and avoid common issues with renewable developments. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

‘Legacy of bold resistance’: how the Tla-o-qui-aht are protecting 100% of their territory
Fighting American colonizers in the 1800s. Setting the foundation for Canada’s first major anti-logging action. Trailblazing tribal parks and sustainable logging practices. How the Tla-o-qui-aht continue to take stewardship of their territory back into their own hands. Steph Kwetásel'wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Dog detectives are helping endangered butterflies
On the Oregon coast, Rogue Detection Teams recruit four-legged friends to sniff out silverspot larvae. Sarah Hoffman reports. (Crosscut)

Shedding Daylight on Padden Creek
Restoration on Padden Creek in Bellingham seeks to improve salmon habitat, water quality and tie the broader community together. Connor Garrod reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/17/23: Sleep Friday, sunflower sea star, Kiska, seaweed, methane, orca hunting, 'forever chemicals,' Haisla LNG, Audubon name, BC LNG, TM pipe, Intalco.

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- 211 AM PDT Fri Mar 17 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT NIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

3/16 Skunk cabbage, San Juan Monument, herring, BC spotted owl habitat, BC LNG, sunflower star, downwind pollution, BC pipe, mountain goats, rights of orcas

Western skunk cabbage
[Martin Bravenboer/WikiMedia]

Western skunk cabbage Lysichiton americanus
Western skunk cabbage is found in wet areas along streams and in swamps. Its range extends from Cook Inlet, Alaska, south through British Colombia and the Pacific Northwest states to Santa Cruz county, California, with isolated populations in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. (US Dept. of Agriculture)

Management plan in place as San Juan Islands monument turns 10
Remember the Barack Obama era? When he was president 10 years ago, he signed a proclamation establishing the San Juan Islands (SJI) National Monument on March 25. A celebration of the San Juan Islands National Monument 10th anniversary by federal officials and locals is planned for March 25 at Friday Harbor Grange Hall. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Herring only live in Craigflower Bridge memories
The herring — once so abundant that the Gorge appeared black with them — are largely gone. Jack Knox reports. (Times Colonist)

Old-growth spotted owl habitat removed from federal maps after talks with B.C., docs reveal
Federal scientists mapped core critical habitat for the endangered spotted owl. Almost half of it, including old-growth, disappeared during negotiations with the B.C. government, internal documents reveal. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Is BC LNG Really Green?
Industry says exporting gas will cut emissions. Not true, say experts. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Pizza-sized predators to get federal protection
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed listing the sunflower star as a threatened species, which could lead federal agencies to block projects that would harm its habitats and unlock funding for research on how to save the species. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

The EPA's new 'good neighbor' rule targets downwind pollution by power plants
A new "good neighbor" rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency will restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution they can't control. Nearly two-dozen states will have to cut harmful industrial emissions of nitrogen oxide and other pollutants to improve air quality for millions of people living in downwind communities. (Associated Press)

Why Canada likely won't need any more big new oil pipelines after Trans Mountain
Construction of the Trans Mountain expansion project is set to wrap up later this year, and it's likely the last new oil export pipeline the country will ever need. The pipeline has faced many obstacles over the years, including protests, court challenges and massive cost overruns. Last week, the cost of the federally owned project was updated to more than $30 billion. Kyle Bakx reports. (CBC)

An Enigmatic Beast
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "I have long been interested in names so it was with particular delight when I learned of the wonderful naming odyssey of mountain goats, one of the animals I am writing about for my book on the Cascades. They are known scientifically as Oreamnos americanus—from the Ancient Greek, óros, meaning mountain, and amnós, or lamb, plus americanus, in reference to their limited distribution to Alaska, Canada, Washington, Idaho, and Montana." (Street Smart Naturalist)

Rights of Orcas now protected by City of Des Moines
During the Feb. 23, 2023 City Council Meeting, Des Moines resident Lloyd Lytle asked Council to support a proclamation in honor of the rights of Southern Resident Orcas. Just two weeks later, an official proclamation was issued...Des Moines joins a growing number of cities and counties issuing such proclamations, in a movement that is working toward statewide protective action. Local resolutions and proclamations are an effective tool in the move to State action. Organizers hope to have a state bill addressing this issue by 2024. Mellow DeTray reports. (Waterline Blog)

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- 249 AM PDT Thu Mar 16 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft after midnight. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

3/15 Quince, 'forever chemicals,' sunflower sea star, Haisla LNG, derelict gear, Audubon name, Island Trust, Salish Sea wonders

Flowering quince [Monrovia]

Flowering quince
Flowering quince, (genus Chaenomeles), genus of three species of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to eastern Asia. Flowering quince is cultivated primarily as an ornamental for its showy flowers, though its astringent applelike fruit can be used in preserves and liqueurs and holds some potential as an alternate fruit crop. (Britannica)

EPA moves to limit toxic 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed limiting the amount of harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water to the lowest level that tests can detect, a long-awaited protection the agency said will save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses, including cancer. (Associated Press)

WA lab scrambles to save sunflower sea star, which may get listed as threatened
Once an ubiquitous delight of the Salish Sea, the sunflower star may soon be listed as threatened. A small lab at Friday Harbor could breed a new generation of the species. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

BC Approves New LNG Plant, Introduces Oil and Gas Emission Caps
Haisla Nation welcomes green light, but critics sound warning on threat to province’s climate plan. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Program searches for derelict crab pots, solutions
Throughout the Salish Sea, thousands of derelict crab pots still collect Dungeness crabs, leaving the creatures trapped and reducing the harvest. The Northwest Straits Foundation...is in the second year of a program to find and remove derelict crab pots. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

National Audubon Society, pressured to remove slave-owning naturalist’s name, keeps it
The prominent bird conservation group weighed — but decided against — shedding its ties to John James Audubon, a famed naturalist who was also an unabashed enslaver. Dino Grandoni reports. (Washington Post)

Islands conservancy receives funding to address biodiversity loss
The Island Trust Conservancy has received a $660,000 funding boost to address biodiversity loss in the Island Trust area. The money, from the federal government via Environment and Climate Change Canada, will ensure the conservancy’s species-at-risk program can continue over the next three years. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Islands Trust passes nearly $10 million budget for upcoming year
Islands Trust finalized the $9.7 million budget at their early March council meeting. It’s an approximate $600,000 increase from last year’s $9.1 million total. Most of this, $8.6 million, will go toward operations, with $651,296 designated for special projects and $134,300 to buy capital assets. Alex Kurial reports. (Bowen Island Undercurrent)

Wonders of the Salish Sea
Wonders of the Salish Sea is back for its 7th year. Join in to learn about magnificent marine mammals - and a dog, beaked creatures (including octopuses!), small fish that have a big impact, and giants - in the seaweed world that is, as well as the many stories that bring this wondrous ecosystem to life. March 27, April 3, 17 & 24, 7 to 9pm. Online via Zoom. Suggested $25.00, subsidies available. All welcome! (Wonders of the Salish Sea)

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- 244 AM PDT Wed Mar 15 2023
TODAY NW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 9 seconds building to W 7 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming N to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

3/14 Pussy willow, orcas, seaweed, methane, Quimper Corridor, hot forests, fed killers

Pussy willow [Brooklyn Botanic Garden]

Pussy willow
The species most commonly called pussy willow in the Northeast, Salix discolor, is a small, shrubby species of willow that can be found dotting wetlands and moist woods throughout much of North America. Most other willows make similar flowers, and since they’re among the very first to bloom, they’re especially delightful—they signal the last throes of winter and the brink of spring. (Brooklyn Botanic Garden)

What researchers learned studying PNW orcas hunting for salmon
In a first-of-its-kind study of the hunting behaviors of salmon-eating orcas, researchers found stark differences in two populations of killer whales that may have implications for their survival. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Tines)

Eavesdropping on orcas: love, grief, and family
Research has revealed that orcas have parts of their brains that are more physically developed that human brains - the parts that have to do with language, emotion and memory. What can we learn by eavesdropping on orcas? Chris Morgan and Lucy Souk report. (KUOW)

Banking on the Seaweed Rush
Seaweed farmers promise to feed us, combat climate change, support coastal communities, provide wildlife habitat, and more. Can seaweed do it all? Nicola Jones reports. (Hakai Magazine)

An invisible climate killer is lurking behind B.C.’s LNG boom
Notoriously difficult to track, methane emissions disproportionately fuel the climate crisis. As B.C. prepares for an uptick in gas projects, stricter regulations and existing technologies could help the province stick to its reduction targets. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Parcels to be added to Quimper Wildlife Corridor
The Board of Jefferson County Commissioners voted Monday to purchase the two parcels of about 107 acres — known as Quimper West and Quimper East — from DNR and put them under the stewardship of the Jefferson County Land Trust. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Pacific Northwest forests are heating up and drying out
Extreme heat and drought present foresters and tree farmers with distinct challenges that require unique solutions. Sarah Trent reports. (High Country News) See also: Climate is changing too quickly for the Sierra Nevada's 'zombie forests' Some of the tall, stately trees that have grown up in California's Sierra Nevada are no longer compatible with the climate they live in, new research has shown. Joe Hernandez reports. (NPR)

‘Hired gun’ federal agency kills 100,000 animals in WA every year
They shot them down from the sky. It happened two winters ago in Adams County, but the federal government won’t say where. A pilot and gunner did it from a plane while flying low over wheat stubble on the Palouse or some desolate expanse in the Scablands...Exactly who wanted the animals dead and how much the killing cost is a mystery, but on Feb. 24, 2021, a little-known agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture killed 67 coyotes to protect cattlemen’s herds. Colin Tiernan reports. (Spokesman Review)

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- 238 AM PDT Tue Mar 14 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Monday, March 13, 2023

3/13 Hellebore, saving sea stars, WA lege, Kiska, NC beach erosion, sewage plant fix, forest initiative, California Cr, fentanyl disaster, Biden's AK oil

Hellebore [Myatt Nursery]

Hellebore
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)

Deadman Island
Friday's item describing the island as "uninhabited" drew the following comment: "Please be more thoughtful when using the term uninhabited as applied to an island such as Deadman. From dinning river otter to nesting oystercatchers and glaucous winged gulls, the island has a habitat and occupants that are very much present, some of which is year around." The person who commented identified himself as "used to dive for the pinto abalone that thrived there years ago and would frequently see an octopus or two amid the rocky intertidal areas of Deadman."

Oregon researchers develop new treatment for endangered sea stars
Oregon researchers have developed a new treatment for sea stars with a fatal disease. Courtney Klug is with the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport. For this new treatment, researchers at the aquarium place a sea star in cold water, feed it probiotics and provide medicated baths. According to Klug, they’ve saved 17 specimens so far. Nathan Wilk reports. (KLCC)

WA lawmakers pass housing, firearm bills ahead of cutoff, leave rent control, recycling bills behind
Wednesday marked the final day for legislators to pass bills from the chamber they originated in, meaning most bills that didn't receive a vote on the floor will no longer be considered this session. Jeanie Lindsay reports. (NW News Network)

Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died
The Ontario government says Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died. A spokesperson for the solicitor general says Marineland — the Niagara Falls, Ont., theme park where Kiska lived — told the province she died on Thursday. Kiska is believed to have been 47 years old and was captured in Icelandic waters in 1979. (Canadian Press)

Retreat in Rodanthe
Along three blocks in a North Carolina beach town, severe erosion is upending life, forcing hard choices and offering a glimpse of the dilemmas other coastal communities will face. Brady Dennis and Jahi Chikwendiu report. (Washington Post)

Fixing errors at North Shore sewage plant
Fixing errors at North Shore sewage plant to cost Metro Vancouver an extra $85 million. Previous errors and repairs could increase the cost of “early works construction” by $85 million on Metro Vancouver’s delayed and over-budget North Shore wastewater treatment plant. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Forest Initiative sets New Precedent in Nooksack River Basin
Counteracting the region’s previously unsustainable forestry habits, the Stewart Mountain Community Forest Initiative offers an approach to revive hydrologic function in the South Fork Nooksack River watershed and restore salmon populations. Kate Lincoln reports. (The Planet Magazine)

California Creek Estuary Park addition will protect shoreline
Blaine’s California Creek Estuary Park has a new addition: 12 acres of land for habitat preservation and recreation in waters vital for salmon and migratory bird populations. The addition, sold to the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 by the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT), will help protect roughly 900 feet of saltwater shoreline on Drayton Harbor and 1,800 feet of freshwater shoreline along California Creek. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Cascade River nominated to receive more water quality protections
The Cascade River may receive additional environmental protections later this year. Under the federal Clean Water Act, states can designate certain bodies of water as Outstanding Resource Waters, which gives them the highest level of water quality-based protection in the state. Three rivers, including the Cascade, and one lake are being considered. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

No easy answers to Whatcom fentanyl health disaster
Fentanyl is involved in an increasing number of deadly overdoses and getting treatment for addiction to the synthetic opioid is a complex process — creating a local health disaster. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Biden will approve Alaska oil project, alongside Arctic protections
The administration will approve three pads for the Willow drilling project, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes after announcing a new ban on U.S. oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Ocean. Maxine Joselow and Timothy Puko report. (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- 242 AM PDT Mon Mar 13 2023
TODAY W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.