Salish Sea News and Weather: April 2023

Friday, April 28, 2023

4/28 American bullfrog, Duwamish cleanup, green crabs, Iona sewage plant, week in review

American bullfrog [Wes Deyton]

American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
An invasive species most likely introduced through frog farming, the American Bullfrog is predominantly aquatic and seldom leaves the marshes, ponds, and ditches in which it is commonly found. American Bullfrogs pose a threat to native frogs due to their impressive size, which enables them to outcompete and prey on native species. (Save The Frogs)

EPA proposal starts a new chapter in Duwamish Superfund cleanup
The Environmental Protection Agency released a long-awaited proposed cleanup plan last week for the East Waterway in Seattle. It runs along the east side of Harbor Island, at the mouth of the Lower Duwamish River, which empties into Elliot Bay and Puget Sound. A 60-day public comment period on the plan begins on Friday. It’s part of the larger Harbor Island Superfund site, which was placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List in 1983. High levels of PCBs, mercury and 25 other pollutants from more than a century of industry and urbanization have contaminated the sediment in the river and its food web. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

WA Fish and Wildlife: European green crab continues to cause issues
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says European green crabs are continuing to cause problems, despite significant efforts by the federal government to stop the invasive species. Across 28,000 miles of Washington shoreline, all those participating in the European green crab emergency response are busy preparing for the spring through fall field season. (KIRO)

Vancouver taxpayers' cost for $9.9B Iona treatment plant still unknown
City council heard Wednesday that it will cost $9.9 billion to build the new Iona Island wastewater treatment plant on land near the airport but the share Vancouver taxpayers will pay is still unknown. Jerry Dobrovolny, the chief administration officer for Metro Vancouver, said Vancouver taxpayers can expect to pay the bulk of municipalities’ costs because the city sends 95 per cent of its wastewater to the current plant. Mike Howell reports. (Vancouver Is Awesome)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/28/23: Roberts Bank, WA budget, Office of Enviro Justice, Elwha fishing, Coast Salish youth, SRKW protection, BC Hydro contacts, Duwamish cleanup.

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Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 304 AM PDT Fri Apr 28 2023
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 12 seconds.
SAT NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds building to 6 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon.

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Thursday, April 27, 2023

4/27 Western toad, SRKW protection, BC Hydro contracts, sunk fuel truck, First Nations suit, marbled murrelet protection, superbloom

Western toad [Andrew Nydam]

Western Toad Anaxyrus boreas
The Western Toad has all the qualities of a typical toad: warty skin, a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle, and a large toxin-exuding parotid gland just posterior to each eye. Breeding takes place in the spring when female Western Toads deposit long strings of eggs in shallow ponds that are then fertilized by the male. Western Toads are active for most of the year, depending on the weather, and can be out of hibernation from January through October. (Save The Frogs)

Protected areas, fishery closures announced to help protect B.C.'s threatened southern resident killer whales
The federal departments of fisheries, environment and transport have issued a joint news release outlining what is described as a fifth consecutive year of strong action to protect and restore the southern resident population. There are 10 measures this year, including mandatory 10-knot speed zones in two areas near Swiftsure Bank, northwest of Victoria, a rich feeding ground for the salmon that the resident whales like to eat. But a scientist says the measures need to go much further to help the animals thrive. Ashley Joannou reports. (Canadian Press)

‘Deeply troubling’: BC Hydro secretly handed out $430 million in Site C dam contracts
Beleaguered engineering firm SNC-Lavalin was among the big winners of no-bid contracts for the over-budget hydro project on B.C.’s Peace River, according to documents obtained by The Narwhal. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

A Time Bomb under BC Coastal Waters
A mission is under way to recover a fuel truck holding 17,000 litres of diesel oil that rolled off a barge and sank off Vancouver Island last week. The Canadian Coast Guard and other responders are trying to raise the truck that sank in the Chancellor Channel about 55 kilometres north of Campbell River...The department says it and First Nations and a marine pollution response company are now trying to extract the truck within the next three days. They believe it is between 27 and 37 metres below the surface. Zak Vescera reports. (The Tyee)

10 First Nations sue Ontario and Canada over resource extraction and broken Treaty 9 promises
Arguing that resource extraction has violated Indigenous jurisdiction for over a century, the case could stall the Ontario government’s plans to mine the Ring of Fire. Emma McIntosh reports. (The Narwhal)

Marbled murrelet advocates seek court order
Advocates for the marbled murrelet have launched a court case seeking to halt old-growth logging on southwest Vancouver Island. The Friends of Fairy Creek Society filed its petition in the B.C. Supreme Court registry in Victoria. The society is seeking a judicial order that the Migratory Birds Act 2022 does not allow “indiscriminate destruction” of nests of these seabirds through logging old growth in tree farm licence 46 which includes Fairy Creek. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Superbloom - Seattle Style
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist celebrates Spring: "The great Linnaeus was the first to provide a scientific name for skunk cabbage (albeit one native to Japan and the Kamchatka Peninsula). He named it Dracontium foliis lanceolatis, or roughly “little lance leaved dragon,” if my Latin still serves me. Our species is now known as Lysichiton americanus, a reference to the spathe, or large yellow bract, that surrounds the flower spike." (Street Smart Naturalist) https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/p/superbloom-seattle-style?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 252 AM PDT Thu Apr 27 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt becoming E 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

4/26 Spotted frog, glass sponge reef, black cod, SRKW listing, SnoCo air, beavers

Oregon spotted frog
[Dr. Stephen Nyman]

Oregon Spotted Frog Rana pretiosa
Oregon Spotted Frogs are predominantly aquatic and can be found in and around permanent ponds and small lakes. Breeding occurs in late winter, as soon as the ice melts, through early spring. The Oregon Spotted Frog is active throughout the warm months of the year, late February through October and sometimes into November, and will hibernate in the mud when temperatures get too low. (Save The Frogs)

These Rare BC Reefs Are No Longer Threatened by Offshore Drilling
Glass sponge reefs, which are ancient living creatures only found in B.C.’s cold, deep waters are no longer threatened by future oil and gas drilling. Two multinational oil companies, ExxonMobil and Chevron Canada, have voluntarily given up offshore exploratory oil and gas permits they held in B.C. after the environmental law charity Ecojustice, on behalf of environmental organizations the David Suzuki Foundation and World Wildlife Fund Canada, challenged the legality of the permits. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Black Cod, the “Wagyu Beef” of the Sea — Soon Raised in Northwest Waters?
The question now is not whether black cod aquaculture can be done, but “the willingness of society and government” to allow it. Salt-water fish farming has its opponents. Bruce Ramsey reports. (Post Alley)

Oregon commission petitions to add southern resident orcas to the endangered species list
With Chinook salmon numbers dwindling along the Oregon Coast, the southern resident orcas who live in the Pacific Northwest increasingly face the risk of starvation. Oregon has listed the salmon as an endangered species, and now a state commission is petitioning to add the orcas to the same list. Brian Bull reports. (KLCC)

Snohomish County receives an F on air quality report card
The American Lung Association report lists smoke and ash from wildfires, wood stoves as big factors. Joy Borkholder reports. (Everett Herald)

Green effort taps inventiveness of beavers in B.C. wetland restoration
Conservation groups are aiming to be like beavers, restoring wetlands in 100 key locations by impeding streams with dams that mimic the engineering inventiveness of Castor canadensis in an initiative led by the B.C. Wildlife Federation. Derrick Penner 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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PDT Wed Apr 26 2023
TODAY NW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

4/25 Treefrog, Elwha salmon, baby crabs, Salish youth corps, Bill Ruckelshaus

Pacific treefrog [Lillian Crossman]

Pacific Treefrog Pseudacris regilla
The Pacific Treefrog (also known as the Pacific Chorus Frog) is the only treefrog found in the Pacific Northwest. Pacific Treefrogs are most commonly found in forested areas surrounding bodies of fresh, still water. Pacific Treefrogs are most active in the spring and summer, with breeding generally taking place in fish-free ponds in March through June. (Save The Frogs)

Tribe to fish for salmon on Elwha River a decade after dams fell
Nearly a decade after the last Elwha River dam came down, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe could see its first fishery on the river in years. The tribe, Olympic National Park and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday that the tribal ceremonial and subsistence fishery for coho salmon on the Elwha will open this fall. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Shining the Light on Baby Crabs
n British Columbia, a monitoring project with light traps may illuminate the future of the prized crustaceans. Spoorthy Raman reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Modern conservation corps meshes care for land, health for youths
Youth Conservation Corps in the Salish Sea region offer a prescription for youths’ mental, cultural and spiritual health — and a means to care for the land. Gretchen K. Wing reports. (Salish Current) Coast Salish youth reconnect with Indigenous lifeways, lands Children and teens from seven tribes gathered on Whidbey Island to explore the traditional food culture of their ancestors. Richard Arlin Walker (ICT/Crossscut)

Remembering Public Servant Bill Ruckelshaus
Bill Ruckelshaus recalibrated for all of us the standards by which statesmanship and citizenship should be judged and applied.  Martha Kongsgaard remembers her friend and collaborator on environmental projects. (Post Alley)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PDT Tue Apr 25 2023
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.

Monday, April 24, 2023

4/24 Red-legged frog, Roberts Bank, BC pollution, WA lege, US enviro justice, UN salmon, urban trees, BC emissions, truckers, Reginald Hill, GasLink fines, undersea spring, cat collars

Red-legged frog [Julia Kirby]

Northern red-legged frog Rana aurora
The Northern red-legged frog is active for most of the year from late February through October, with breeding occurring in late winter through early spring. These frogs are most commonly found in and around fish-free bodies of fresh, still water, especially those in more open areas exposed to sunlight. (Save The Frogs)

Port of Vancouver's Roberts Bank Terminal 2: 6 things to know about the contentious $3.5B proposal
Federal approval of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 grants environmental green light for $3.5 billion project heralded as critical step in expanding container trade, but is decried by conservationists. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Are B.C.’s pollution laws making a difference?
In 2013, there was a total of $241,000 in pollution penalties in B.C. By 2022, it was $3.86 million. But penalties have not replaced court convictions and still pale in comparison to billions in company profits. Gordon Hoekstra reports, (Vancouver Sun)

The bills that survived Washington's 2023 legislative session
From gun regulations to affordable housing and a new state dinosaur, these are the initiatives that passed — and some that were not so lucky. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Crosscut)

Washington Legislature unveils $69.2B two-year state budget
Completed with less than 36 hours left in the 2023 session, the budget boosts funding for state worker wages, special education and climate issues. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Crosscut) WA Legislature sends $13.4 billion transportation budget to governor for signature Washington state lawmakers on Saturday passed a $13.4 billion transportation budget for the 2023-25 biennium, with major investments in the ferry system, transportation workforce, traffic safety and keeping projects on track that are already in the works. Shauna Sowersby reports. (McClatchy)

Biden to Create White House Office of Environmental Justice
A new executive order requires every federal agency to address the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate change on minority communities. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Can the United Nations help save Pacific salmon?
The U.N. High Seas Treaty is a historic agreement for marine conservation, but its impact on the plummeting fish population is still uncertain. Sarah Trent reports. (High Country News/Crosscut)

Historic investment in urban trees underway across the U.S.
Like many cities in the U.S., parts of Detroit are packed with large amounts of impervious surfaces and heat-absorbing infrastructure like roads and bridges. Coupled with low levels of cooling tree cover, or canopy, it can make them dangerously hotter than the suburbs. Such an inequity of tree cover is behind the historic $1.5 billion in President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act that's set aside for the federal Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program to fund tree-planting projects over the next decade. (Associated Press)

BC Lags Most Provinces in Cutting Emissions
Successive British Columbia governments have portrayed the province as a climate change leader, but since 2005 six other provinces have been more successful than B.C. at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While experts and the minister responsible say there are good explanations for B.C.’s middling performance, others are less sympathetic. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Short-haul truckers call for equitable distribution of Washington’s climate dollars
...Short-haul truck drivers are one group asking for help with the transition to cleaner options. They move containers full of retail goods and other freight after they arrive in local ports. Also known as drayage truckers, they provide a key connection between ships to warehouses and other modes of transit like rail or long-haul trucks. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

161-acre Salt Spring property sold to nature conservancy
Purchased for $9 million, the property on Reginald Hill at the south end of Salt Spring Island features a maturing coastal Douglas-fir forest, Garry oaks, rocky bluffs and multiple wetlands. Darron Kloster reports.(Times Colonist)

Coastal GasLink faces new fines for filing ‘false and misleading’ information
When B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office reviewed reports filed by the pipeline it found discrepancies; now it says the company should pay up for misleading the government. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Undersea ‘oasis’ sheds new light on plate tectonics
An underwater spring is gushing water into the ocean at unprecedented levels giving researchers additional insights into plate tectonics but not — despite some news reports — any indications of an impending earthquake. A seep of warm water about 50 miles off the coast of Newport, Ore., is spouting chemically distinct water into the ocean at rates not seen anywhere else in the world, but that doesn’t mean an earthquake is imminent, according to Evan Solomon, University of Washington oceanography professor. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Bright cat collars help protect birds, study finds
Colourful collar covers can provide an early warning system for birds against stealthy free-roaming house cats, which are being blamed for killing millions of birds each year in Canada. Experts say the bright fabric tubes that slip over cat collars — sold under various brands and looking a lot like a hair scrunchie — give birds a chance to escape a cat’s lethal pounce and work better than bells. (Times Colonist)

NEW NEWS—Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 210 AM PDT Mon Apr 24 2023
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.

Friday, April 21, 2023

4/21 Belgian hare, Roberts Bank port OK, salmon grants, DFO investigated, spirit bears, ship breaking regs, week in review

Belgian hare [WDFW]

Belgian hare Oryctolagus cuniculus
The Be[gian hare, also known as the European rabbit, is an introduced species. This single species is the ancestor of all domestic rabbits (about 80 varieties!). The domestic rabbit is considerably larger than other Washington rabbits, measuring 20 to 30 inches in length. It has black, white, brown, or multicolored fur, and is most frequently seen in the San Juan Islands where it was first introduced in 1900, although it is spreading into other areas where it has been released. (WDFW)

Feds approve major expansion B.C. container port despite environmental, labour opposition
The federal government has given the OK to a major new container terminal on Canada's West Coast. It says Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Delta will open up Canada's throttled marine supply chain and promises environmental concerns will be addressed. Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the expanded terminal will increase capacity by up to 60 per cent. Canada's largest port, the Port of Vancouver, is the lead agency. Liam Britten reports. (CBC) See also: Opinion: The feds just approved a massive Port of Vancouver expansion — and it’s a blow to biodiversity Arno Kopecky writes. (The Narwhal)

WA could get millions in federal salmon recovery dollars
More than $60 million in federal Climate-Ready Coasts initiative grants could soon be on the way to help Washington’s rivers, endangered salmon and native eelgrass. The money was secured under the Biden-Harris Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, and will benefit the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, as well as several nonprofits and state and local agencies. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive the most, with $12.1 million to roll out seven restoration projects aimed at Chinook salmon recovery totaling 1,200 acres in South Whidbey Basin, and another $11.6 million for north basin projects. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

First Nations leaders in B.C. continue call to have decision-making at Fisheries and Oceans investigated
B.C. First Nations leaders have sent an open letter to sent an open letter to Justin Trudeau and DFO Minister Joyce Murray referring to a report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on science at DFO released in March, that examines how DFO develops scientific studies and advice for the department, how these results are communicated to the minister's office and the public, and how they're used in decision-making. It makes 48 recommendations to improve the department's science, six of which are directly related to working with Indigenous people and incorporating Indigenous knowledge. ckie McKay reports. (CBC)

If you like to watch: How the Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation is working to protect spirit bears
B.C.'s central coast is home to one of the rarest animals on earth: the spirit bear. The Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation has been trying to protect it at all costs for several decades, but the salmon stocks on which the bears feed is in decline. (CBC)

BC Greens Call for Provincial Ship Breaking Regulations
The BC Green Caucus wants the province to step up its game when it comes to regulating ship breaking, an industry that dismantles vessels and sorts materials into recycling or waste streams. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/21/23: Earth Day!, Tokitae, orca hunting, water pollution rules, Fairy Cr protest, airport pollution, US forest inventory, WA ferries, Site C dam, Roberts Bank expansion, salmon grants.

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- 236 AM PDT Fri Apr 21 2023
TODAY SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.
SAT SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.
SUN W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

4/20 Black-tailed deer, airport pollution, BC LNG, forest protections, climate change, WA shipbuilding, Site C debris, WA shellfish closures, dino Buster

Columbian black-tailed deer
[Tony Sirgedas/WDFW]

Columbian black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
Columbian black-tailed deer are our most common deer subspecies. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. Many of the physical characteristics of black-tailed deer are similar to those of the larger mule deer. The tail is broader and the backside of the tail is covered with dark brown hair that grades to black near the tip. When alarmed or fleeing from danger, the tail may be raised, displaying the broad, white underside. (WDFW)

Sea-Tac, Alaska and Delta accused of harming health of 300K residents
A potential class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges that the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Alaska Air Group and Delta Air Lines are polluting King County towns within a 5-mile radius of the airport. Consequences, the lawsuit alleges, include shorter life expectancy compared with other King County cities; premature births; over 100 excess deaths per year on average; and more deaths caused by cancer, heart disease and chronic lower respiratory disease...The pollution begins to accumulate where planes fly below 3,000 feet, emitting gases and heavy metals such as carbon monoxide and lead. There isn’t enough time for the wind to disperse the pollutants, according to the suit. Renata Geraldo reports. (Seattle Times)

Coastal GasLink, LNG Canada get $24-million break despite B.C.’s plans to shift away from subsidies
Coastal GasLink will pay almost $16 million less for its contentious pipeline over the next 25 years after the new BC Energy Regulator slashed a major charge for the project, The Narwhal has learned. In one of its first orders of business, the regulator, which recently replaced the BC Oil and Gas Commission, additionally granted LNG Canada — the consortium of fossil fuel companies behind the LNG export facility in Kitimat, B.C. — a financial break that adds up to savings of $8 million over the project’s anticipated 40-year lifespan. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

US plans new forest protections, issues old-growth inventory
The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles (453,000 square kilometers) of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government land and plans to craft a new rule to better protect the nation’s woodlands from fires, insects and other side effects of climate change, officials said Thursday. Matthew Brown reports. (Associated Press)

Legislation will require climate change planning for Skagit County
A bill mandating climate change planning for certain counties, including Skagit County, passed through the state Legislature this week and awaits Gov. Jay Inslee’s signature. Under the state’s Growth Management Act, 28 of the 39 counties in the state complete comprehensive plans that must consider issues such as housing and natural resources. House Bill 1181 adds climate change and resiliency to the list of issues that must be addressed within comprehensive plans and shoreline management plans in Skagit and 27 other counties. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Washington can now look to out-of-state shipbuilders for its next ferries
Washington state has charted a bipartisan course to overhaul its ferry procurement plans. Officials will now broaden their scope when seeking builders for the state's new ships...On Tuesday, the Washington Legislature gave final approval to HB 1846. It passed 94-3 and is now headed to the governor's desk for a signature. (KUOW/NW News Network)

Why Site C wants to leave construction debris at the bottom of the Peace River
When B.C. Hydro's Site C dam floods an 80 kilometre-long swathe of the Peace River valley to generate electricity, the company says it wants to leave behind 45 pieces of structural construction debris on the riverbed because, it says, it is better for fish. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

Fecal pollution restricts harvest in 3 WA shellfish growing areas
The Washington State Department of Health this week announced harvest restrictions in three of Washington’s 115 shellfish growing areas due to high bacteria levels. In March, 16,000 acres of Puget Sound shellfish beds were closed to harvest because of fecal pollution, such as water runoff from agricultural activities, pet waste, boater waste discharge and on-site sewage systems, according to the DOH. Vonnai Phair reports. (Seattle Times)

Exhibit features dinosaur unique to B.C.
The size of a sheep with a long lizard tail and big skull with a short, sharp beak, Buster is the star of the Royal B.C. Museum’s newest exhibit, Dinosaurs of B.C. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

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- 233 AM PDT Thu Apr 20 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM PDT EARLY THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt rising to 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds building to 6 ft at 9 seconds after midnight. A chance of showers.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

4/19 Mountain goat, Fairy Cr protest, Cedar R restoration, kelp, Walla Walla woes

Mountain goat [Andrea Nesbitt/WDFW]

Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus
The mountain goat, which occurs only in northwestern North America, is the only genus and species of its kind in the world. Its closest relatives are the chamois of Europe and the goral and serow of Asia. The domestic goat is not closely related to the mountain goat. Between 2,400 and 3,200 mountain goats are estimated to live in Washington. Mountain goats are native to the Cascade Range, and can be found from the Canadian border on the north to the Oregon border on the south. (WDFW)

Fairy Creek old-growth protesters celebrate as a slew of contempt charges are withdrawn
The B.C. Prosecution Service says it has withdrawn contempt charges against 11 old-growth logging protesters accused of breaching a court injunction during blockades at Fairy Creek on Vancouver Island...the Crown is reviewing the remaining cases that were impacted by the Henderson decision in February, which tossed out the charge of criminal contempt because of the RCMP's failure to properly read the injunction to people arrested during the protest. (CBC)

King County wraps up Cedar River restoration project
The clear, frigid waters, quenched with recent rains, have found their way back. A new side channel here meanders through land that once was behind a levee and the location of a mobile home park. King County recently wrapped up an $18 million effort to reopen this piece of a historic flood plain and offer some reprieve for the river’s threatened salmon. Seattle and King County leaders on Tuesday morning visited the Riverbend restoration project site spanning about 52 acres. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

A forgotten and neglected ecosystem covers a third of Earth's coastlines, with a collective value of $500 billion
Underwater forests known as kelp have been sustaining people and cultures for millennia. However, most of us are only vaguely aware of the vibrant masses of seaweed hugging the ocean shores around Earth...a new study published [April 18] in Nature Communications produced the first global estimate of the economic value of kelp forests – revealing they provide hundreds of billions of dollars in value to humans across the world. Aaron Eger writes. (YahooNews)

Several problems likely to blame in WA ferry grounding
When the ferry Walla Walla ran aground Saturday, the culprit, according to Washington State Ferries, was a failed generator. But while it appears a generator did fail, investigators will be looking for other, more systemic problems as well...The Walla Walla is 50 years old, although that alone may not explain the failure. The ship had just months earlier gone in for regularly scheduled maintenance and is viewed as a “workhorse” in the ferry’s fleet...Although the ferry system’s fleet is stretched thin and in need of an increasing level of maintenance, crew shortages are still sidelining more sailings than vessel issues. David Kroman reports. (Seattle Times)

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- 246 AM PDT Wed Apr 19 2023
TODAY S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the morning. A slight chance of tstms. Showers likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

4/18 Bighorn sheep, Capitol Lake, ocean garbage life, tidal power, Twitter pause

Bighorn sheep [WDFW]

Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis
Bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America. The Rocky Mountain bighorn (O. c. canadensis) is the only subspecies found in the Pacific Northwest. Bighorn inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain slopes, canyonlands, and foothill country near rugged rocky cliffs and bluffs. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife formally recognizes and manages 17 herds across central and eastern portions of Washington. Bighorn Sheep are herbivores. (WDFW)

Port commission votes 2-1 to add Capitol Lake discussion to upcoming agenda
The Port of Olympia commission voted 2-1 on Monday to add a discussion about Capitol Lake to its April 2 meeting agenda, and then next week they will vote on whether to officially support the state's plan to convert the man-made lake into an estuary. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

This floating ocean garbage is home to a surprising amount of life from the coasts
Scientists studying a giant collection of plastic trash floating in the middle of the open ocean have found some unexpected inhabitants: dozens of marine species that usually stick close to the coast. Among the plastic debris, the researchers found all kinds of nonnative species, from anemones to worms to little crustaceans. Nell Greenfieldboyce reports. (NPR)

Tidal Power’s Fickle Future
To pull power from the waves, you need a high tidal range or strong currents. Sea level rise threatens to mess with both. Doug Johnson reports. (Hakai Magazine)

CBC pauses Twitter activity after being labelled 'government-funded media'
CBC/Radio-Canada has paused activities on its corporate and news Twitter accounts, after the social media platform put a "government-funded media" label on its @CBC account, in its latest move to stamp public broadcasters with designations...National Public Radio in the U.S. announced earlier this month that it was leaving the platform after Twitter labelled its account as "state-affiliated media," saying that doing so undermines its credibility by "falsely implying that we are not editorially independent." U.S. public broadcaster PBS followed suit, also leaving Twitter after it received the "government-funded" stamp. (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- 228 AM PDT Tue Apr 18 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then showers likely and a chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers and a chance of tstms.

Monday, April 17, 2023

4/17 Elk, Tokitae return, Springer lessons, viewing distance, hunting prey, water rules suit, air pollution reforms, green fibs, living fossils, Walla Walla woes

Elk (Ginger Holserd/WDFW)

Elk Cervus canadensis
Elk are members of the deer family and share many physical traits with deer, moose, and caribou. They are much larger than deer, but not as large as a moose. Elk are found throughout Washington, with two seperate subspecies primarily occupying opposite sides of the Cascade Crest. Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) are found in the coastal ranges of the Olympic Peninsula, southwest Washington, and the western slopes of the Cascade Range including Western Washington river valleys. Olympic National Park and surrounding forests host the largest number of Roosevelt elk living anywhere -- about 5,000. (WDFW)

Confusion rises over plans to bring Tokitae back to Puget Sound
Over the weekend, plans to return an orca to the Pacific Northwest got a bit more confusing—with the benefactor footing the bill announcing details of a plan, while the CEO of the aquarium in charge responded online calling the statements a "misunderstanding." Matthew Smith reports. (Q13 Fox)

Opinion: Lessons for Lolita from the orca reunion of Springer
Donna Sandstorm writes: "The Miami Seaquarium, the Friends of Lolita and Jim Irsay, owner of the Baltimore Colts, recently announced a partnership to return Lolita, aka Tokitae, to Puget Sound. While at first glance this is good news, it’s way too soon to pop the Champagne. How will this decision actually be made, and what needs to be weighed and considered?" (Seattle Times)

Senate bill changing vessel-orca distance moves forward
Keeping our distance from the whales: 1,000-yard rule for all vessels passes both Washington houses. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Orca study shows up hunting differences
...Tracked in waters off Port Hardy, the best hunters among the northern resident whales were female. Females spent more time hunting, caught the most prey and, overall, were 68 per cent more efficient than the pod’s male whales, initial surveys found. While northern females dominated their pod’s hunt, females in the southern resident killer whales with a calf were among the least efficient hunters: Not once did the scientists observe a southern resident mother dive for salmon while caring for a calf...Compared with their female southern resident cousins, females from the northern resident group were 257 per cent more efficient at hunting, the study found. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Green groups sue EPA over decades-old water pollution rules
Industrial facilities produce millions of pounds of hazardous chemical waste every year and dump it directly into U.S. waterways. Environmental advocates say the government isn’t doing enough to stop them. A coalition of 13 green groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has violated federal law by repeatedly failing to update regulations on water pollution for seven industrial sectors. Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA is required to set limits on the amount of pollution companies can discharge based on the best available technologies, and to revise those limits every five years. For the industrial sectors highlighted in the lawsuit, however, pollution control standards haven’t been updated for an average of 34 years. Joseph Winters reports. (Grist)

EPA Proposes Air Pollution Reforms for Industrial Facilities
The EPA has proposed tougher air pollution rules for chemical plants and other industrial facilities after ProPublica found an estimated 74 million Americans near those sites faced an elevated risk of cancer. Lisa Song, Kiah Collier and Maya Miller report. (ProPublica)

Seattle to get garbage hauler to take down misleading green ads
Waste Management trucks in Seattle are plastered with advertisements on their sides: “Breathe Clean, Seattle: Powered by Renewable Natural Gas.” Despite the ads and despite a contractual requirement to run the trucks on renewable fuel, those garbage trucks run on regular fossil-fuel natural gas, with all of its climate and pollution impacts. After complaints from environmental activists, Seattle Public Utilities officials say they will get Waste Management to take down the ads. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

He's studied these ‘living fossils’ for over 50 years. They’re still a bit of a mystery
Pleontologist and University of Washington biology professor Peter Ward is an expert on one of the least understood and oldest animals on Earth. The nautilus is a cephalopod, a type of mollusk, and a distant cousin to squids, octopi, and cuttlefish. About 500 million years ago, before the time of dinosaurs, their ancestors were among the largest, most complex, most common animals on Earth. Ward calls them “living fossils. Kim Malcolm and John O'Brien report. (KUOW)

WA’s struggle to replace ferries may bring a gut punch for local shipbuilders
The image of the Walla Walla beached on Bainbridge Island was a reminder of the state’s aging ferry fleet, in need of ever more maintenance simply to keep them afloat. David Kroman reports. (Seattle Times)

ICYMI: Ferry carrying over 600 people runs aground near Seattle
A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people ran aground near Bainbridge Island west of Seattle on Saturday but there were no immediate reports of injuries or contamination, authorities said, and passengers were being evacuated from the ferry. The "Walla Walla" ran aground in Rich Passage around 4:30 p.m. as it was traveling from the city of Bremerton to Seattle, according to Washington State Ferries, a division of the state Department of Transportation. "Initial indications are the vessel suffered a generator failure," but investigators were still looking into what happened, the agency said. (CBS News)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 211 AM PDT Mon Apr 17 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers. A slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms.

Friday, April 14, 2023

4/14 Red octopus, tree equity, Verlot logging, quake, pickled lost orca, week in review

Red octopus [Kirt L. Onthank/WikiCommons]

Red octopus Octopus rubescens
The red octopus is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast, and a ubiquitous benthic predator in these habitats. Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California at least to the Gulf of Alaska, but may also occur in the western Pacific Ocean. (Wikipedia)

Washington launches new statewide tree-equity collaboration
The DNR is partnering with the nonprofit American Forests to bridge gaps in access to the lifesaving benefits of trees. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Forest Service wins Stillaguamish logging suit over conservation group
The 9th Circuit upheld a ruling allowing timber companies to log scattered plots east of Verlot. It’ll also bring trailhead updates. Jordan Hansen reports. (Everett Herald)

5.8-magnitude earthquake detected west of Vancouver Island
The quake was too far offshore to be felt and was not the type of fault that typically generates tsunamis, says an expert. Louise Dickson (Times Colonist)

Mossback's Northwest: How Portland pickled a lost orca
In 1931, a baby whale swam up the Columbia and wound up buried on a Washington mountain. Sound like Northwest lore? Well, it's true. Knute Berger reports. (Crosscut)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/14/23: Dolphin Friday, steelhead help, SCEA ends, carbon-cap, e-vehicles, hypoxia, Tacoma ship fire, orca protection.

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 PDT Fri Apr 14 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT
TODAY 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 5 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT NE wind to 10 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.
SAT SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 5 ft at 9 seconds in the afternoon. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.
SUN SE wind 15 to 20 kt becoming SW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

4/13 Brittle star, ship fire, river otters, hypoxia, orca protection, underwater noise, BC cruise ships, fish kill, goose story

Painted brittle star
Dave Cowles/Walla Walla University]

Painted brittle star Ophiopholis aculeata
This is the main species common on rocky shores in our area. Others can be found in gravelly areas or in areas with boulders interspersed with sand. They feed by capturing food with their tube feet, by picking up detritus, or by mucus secreted by the rays. Predators include fish and harlequin ducks. Ovaries are red and testes are white. In our area they may spawn in Jan-March, July, October, or November. (Walla Walla University)

Tacoma ship fire worse for climate than burning a million gallons of gasoline
...The fire on the Kodiak Enterprise released tons of one of the most dangerous substances for the global climate and the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Firefighters attempted to keep tanks containing nearly 10 tons of the coolant Freon from overheating and releasing their contents to the atmosphere. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

River otters return to the Duwamish despite toxic contamination
Is their presence a harbinger of environmental recovery? Don't assume so. Carin Leong reports. (Hakai Magazine/Crosscut)

Oxygen for life: The biological impacts of low dissolved oxygen
“Hypoxia,” a word used to describe oxygen deficiency, first came into use in the medical field during studies of metabolic function in the 1940s. Hypoxia was seen as something occurring within the body of a human or animal that was not getting enough oxygen for normal function. During the 1970s, “hypoxia” also came to be widely used to describe bodies of water so depleted of oxygen that they were harming or even killing the aquatic species that lived there. Chris Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

State House passes bill to protect endangered southern resident orcas
The Washington State House passed a bill to protect the Salish Sea endangered orcas on Tuesday. Senate Bill 5371 protects southern resident orcas by establishing a 1,000-yard setback for recreational vessels. This will bring recreational boats under the same law as commercial whale-watching boats. Julia Dallas reports. (KIRO)

Salish Sea Institute publishes new paper on how much noise is too much for Southern Resident killer whales
The Salish Sea Institute has published the second paper in its Emerging Issues in the Salish Sea series: "How much is too much noise for Southern Resident killer whales?" (Western Washington University)

BC braces for busy cruise season after record year in 2022
British Columbia Port Authority expects 2023 to be a banner year for cruises. The Port of Vancouver expects 331 cruise ships to visit between April and October, an increase of approximately 8% from 2022. Up to 1.3 million passengers are expected to visit downtown from Vancouver. The Port Authority of Greater Victoria expects 330 ships during the season with at least 850,000 passengers in the capital of British Columbia. In Prince Rupert, 43 ships and 80,000 passengers are expected from May to early October. (The Saxon)

International engineering firm fined $1M over B.C. spill linked to 85 trout deaths
A British Columbia court has ordered an international engineering firm to pay a $1-million fine for releasing a harmful substance that flowed into a Metro Vancouver creek, after an investigation into the deaths of dozens of fish. (Canadian Press)

Operation Mother Goose
David B. Williams in Street Smart Naturalist writes: "The 1960s was time of change in Seattle. For most of the decade no Canada geese called our waterways home. But in April 1968, the story of the big black and gray birds began to be rewritten." (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- 245 AM PDT Thu Apr 13 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 4 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers in the morning then showers likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

4/12 Kingfisher, single-use plastics, BC beavers, e-cars and trucks

Belted Kingfisher [All About Birds]

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfishers are common along streams and shorelines across North America. You’ll probably hear a loud, rattling call before you see the kingfisher. Its large head and hefty bill give it a distinctive profile as it patrols its territory, using the open space above the water as a flyway. They also perch on riverside branches and telephone wires. (All About Birds)

WA Legislature passes bill aimed at reducing single-use plastics
The Washington State Legislature passed a bill Friday that will require hotels with 50 units or more to phase out single-use plastics, which are often used for personal care products by January 1, 2027. Lodging establishments with fewer than 50 units must meet the requirement by January 1, 2028. Some hotels plan on switching to bulk dispensers for toiletries. Ruby de Luna reports. (KUOW)

Beavers could wind up replacing artificial dams being decommissioned on Vancouver Island
Members of a Canadian conservation organization are working on a project to increase biodiversity and healthy wetlands in British Columbia with the help of beavers. Ducks Unlimited Canada is mapping areas in the province where beavers can replace artificial dams once they've been decommissioned. Maryam Gamar reports. (CBC)

E.P.A. Lays Out Rules to Turbocharge Sales of Electric Cars and Trucks
The Biden administration is proposing rules to ensure that two-thirds of new cars and a quarter of new heavy trucks sold in the U.S. by 2032 are all-electric. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

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- 239 AM PDT Wed Apr 12 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY NE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

4/11 Salamander, hatchery future, seabird return, Indigenous travel

Long-toed salamander [Burke Museum]

Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum
The long-old salamander is found throughout Washington, on both sides of the Cascades as well as within the mountainous regions of the Cascades. In lower elevations, the long-toed salamander will sometimes not hibernate at all. However in colder areas, they will hibernate in groups of up to 14. When attacked or disturbed, will wave tail while secreting an adhesive white poisonous liquid to deter predators. (Burke Museum)

Washington mulls future of salmon hatcheries
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering the future of hatchery management as wild salmon populations continue to struggle and hatchery-raised fish fail to meet the growing demand. Commissioners from across the state met for four days last week in Anacortes, where they hammered out planning and operations for the department for the next several months. During the meeting, commissioners discussed land management, wildlife populations and hatchery operations Saturday afternoon, April 8. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Calling in the Seabirds
A tiny Hawaiian island is finally free of invasive rats. Now scientists are trying to coax back lost seabird colonies. Tim Lydon reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Exploring History — A rough road to progress: The colorful, innovative history of local transportation
As Euro-Americans began arriving in the Stillaguamish Valley and neighboring Camano Island in the 1800s, the main way of getting from place to place was by vessel over the area’s many waterways. The Indigenous people had plied the region’s rivers and the Salish Sea by canoe for thousands of years. Mary Jennings writes. (Skagit Camano News)

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 Tue Apr 11 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM PDT EARLY THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds. Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the morning then showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SE to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds. Showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Monday, April 10, 2023

4/10 Rhody, orca rules, SCEA ends, carbon cap, Hood Canal salmon, tidal energy, offshore wind, Pitt R restoration, protest rights, anarchists

Pacific Rhododendron [Native Plants PNW]

Pacific Rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum
The rhododendron genus includes plants commonly known as azaleas. It is a very large genus with about 1200 described species. ..The Pacific Rhododendron is found west of the Cascades from southern British Columbia to Northern California. (Native Plants of the Pacific NW)

Latest bill version enforces orca boundary
An orca protection bill has come full circle, making 1,000-yard boater restrictions mandatory instead of voluntary. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5371 which had passed the Senate with a mandatory penalty was passed out of House Ag and Natural Resources as voluntary but was restored to mandatory by House Appropriations and moved to House Rules. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Skagit Conservation Education Alliance to dissolve after 22 years
After dealing with staffing and board issues, including illness, the Skagit Conservation Education Alliance has announced it will dissolve June 30...The alliance previously organized several other events such as the Bivalve Bash, the Low Tide Mud Run and the Drip and Drive Campaign...The alliance also organized the ECO Network, which connects local volunteers with environmental projects. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

How Washington plans to spend money from the new carbon-cap law
Lawmakers are looking to invest revenue from the Climate Commitment Act in electric buses, ferries and more clean-energy projects around the state. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Crosscut)

Fish get stuck at Hood Canal Bridge. Will this giant contraption save them from the seals?
...Salmon and steelhead like to stay in the top 3 feet of water and the fish struggle to figure out they can go under the floating bridge. Instead they hit it like a wall and swim back and forth until they discover how to go around the pontoons. There, seals can find a swim-through buffet of baby fish, often corralled in the corners, where longer pontoons jut out. That might soon become harder for seals after crews install a massive fish-guidance structure made of plastic pipes and sheets at the bridge this week. The aim is to direct steelhead around the bridge to safety. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Results from tidal-energy floating turbine, made to power remote BC
A tidal energy project on remote West Thurlow Island could help off-grid coastal communities wean themselves off diesel generators and switch to clean, renewable energy, researchers say... B.C. has one of the longest coastlines in the world, but more than 50 coastal communities still depend on fossil fuels for heat, light, transportation and industry. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

NW scientists study the promises and challenges of offshore wind
With the climate rapidly changing, researchers are trying to find ways to make clean energy developments less expensive and easier to build. For the Northwest, offshore wind power could play a critical role, but it also presents major challenges. One of the lead research groups in this area is Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This year, they received federal funding to build upon an earlier study that reviewed obstacles to fully developing offshore wind along the West Coast. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Restoration at Pitt River highlights work to meet biodiversity targets
Members of the Katzie First Nation have fished salmon for generations in the Pitt River but when the water turned an ominous rust-colour—a sign of low oxygen—and they found fish belly up, they knew they were in trouble. Now, with funding from the World Wildlife Fund, the community is successfully restoring the water flow in a branch of the Pitt River they call the Red Slough, which was cut off years ago by logging road construction. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Judge rules in favour of BC logging protesters
Granting such as order for information “would have a chilling effect” on a group’s activities in support of their political and social aims. John Boivin reports. (Times Colonist)

When anarchists attack
How police say a peaceful, Indigenous-led protest over a B.C. pipeline was hijacked by violent outsiders. Rob Brown, Anusha Kav and Mia Sheldon report. (CBC)

Ship with history of safety, pollution violations moored indefinitely in Tacoma
A 77-year-old fishing ship with a reputation of pollution and safety violations has been docked on the Foss Waterway in Tacoma since August after smashing into a private pier an raising concerns about its integrity. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

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- 234 AM PDT Mon Apr 10 2023
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.