Salish Sea News and Weather: May 2023

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

5/31 Painted turtle, PFAS makers sued, BC marine restoration, Poor Farm, BC biosolids, pteropod shells, Orca Action Month

Painted turtle [Susan Elliot/iNaturalist]

Painted turtle Chrysemys picta
The painted turtle is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They have been shown to prefer large wetlands with long periods of inundation and emergent vegetation. (Wikipedia)

B.C. woman fined after caught trying to sell at-risk turtle
A Kelowna woman whose nickname is “Turtle” was fined Friday morning after she was caught in a B.C. Conservation Officer Service sting operation trying to sell an “at-risk” Western Painted Turtle on the Castanet classifieds. Nicholas Johansen reports. (Castanet)

WA AG sues PFAS manufacturers, seeks money for cleanup of drinking water
The state attorney general’s office has filed a lawsuit against nearly two dozen manufacturers of so-called “forever chemicals,” asserting the companies knew about their risks to the environment and humans for decades but lied and kept that knowledge hidden from the government and public to protect their businesses. The chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have been found in fish tissue, human breast milk and about 200 of the state’s water sources so far as new statewide drinking-water testing requirements roll out. PFAS have been linked to several health problems, including cancer, and are emerging as one of the most pervasive sources of pollution on the planet. sabella Breda and Manuel Villa report. (Seattle Times)

B.C. government to provide additional $25M for marine restoration projects
British Columbia's Environment Ministry has announced another $25 million in funding for coastal cleanup and restoration of the marine environment. This brings its total investment for the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund to about $50 million. (Canadian Press)

Office stack planned to replace historic building on onetime Poor Farm site
Whatcom County’s process to demolish a past work farm and nursing home site to build government offices is underway. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Biosolids could be sent to Richmond and Nanaimo quarry
LaFarge Canada says it may be ready to resume taking biosolids as fuel for its cement manufacturing facility in Richmond, while a new site has turned up at an old quarry near Nanaimo. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

UVic sea butterfly study challenges their ocean acidification indicator role
Pteropod shells could be more resilient to, but still face risks from, increasingly acidic waters. Jake Romphf reports. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Orca Action Month
Orca Action Month kicks off June 4 with events in Seattle from 1 to 4 pm, San Juan Island from 1 to 5 pm, Whidbey Island from 3 to 5 pm, and Sidney, British Columbia from 11 am to 3 pm.

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- 256 AM PDT Wed May 31 2023 TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds. Patchy drizzle in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 14 seconds.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

5/30 Gartersnake, Friday Harbor biz, WA water quality, Ksi Lisims LNG, microplastics, lamprey, RICO, Canada biodiversity, Skagit map & spray, bat fungus, quarry sale

Puget Sound Gartersnake [Crowley]

Puget Sound Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis pickeringii
The Puget Sound Gartersnake is dark grey to black with three yellow or bluish-grey stripes: one narrow stripe down the back (dorsal stripe) and one on each side (lateral stripes). The lateral stripes are confined to the second and third scale row. Unlike the other subspecies of the Common Gartersnake that occur in B.C., the red bars on the sides between the dorsal and side stripes are often very faint or absent. Individuals can grow to just over a metre in length. (Canadian Herpetological Society)

Can small businesses survive in Friday Harbor?
Friday Harbor small businesses struggling to stay afloat cite rent prices, failing infrastructure and workforce shortage — and, some say, difficult landlord relationships. Kathryn Wheeler reports. (Salish Current)

EPA announces Washington state's water quality standards fail to protect salmon and Puget Sound orcas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took an unusual step today in issuing a determination that Washington State’s water quality standards for nine toxic pollutants fail to adequately protect fish and other aquatic life. The formal determination triggers a legal requirement for EPA to put federal rules in place...EPA found that new or updated standards are needed for nine toxic pollutants—including acrolein, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, copper, cyanide, mercury, nickel, and selenium—to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. (NWEA News Release 5/26/23)

Environmental groups seek to delay $10 billion B.C. LNG project
Groups seek delay for B.C.’s Ksi Lisims LNG project, citing emission caps concerns. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Microplastics are harming gut health of seabirds: study
Scientists involved in the study say the research also has implications for human health. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Nature sanctuary provides security to ancient fish species
An ancient and unusual fish, first identified by a Nanaimo scientist, has a secure home now that the Morrison Creek headwaters, near Cumberland, have become a nature sanctuary. Lamprey have survived for 360 million years, thanks to being able to change when life becomes stressful. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

The laws that took down mobsters are now being turned against Big Oil
Cities in New Jersey and Puerto Rico claim oil companies are behind a conspiracy to deceive the public. Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

Provinces and territories commit to national biodiversity strategy — here’s what it means for nature
Five months after COP15, governments in Canada agree to work together to protect the country’s lands and waters, but progress is slow. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Fish and Wildlife mapping and spraying invasive plants in Skagit Wildlife Area
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is using drones to first map parts of the Skagit Wildlife Area then to spray several species of invasive plants. According to a department news release, 2,765 acres of public land across the Milltown Island, Island, Headquarters, and Skagit Bay Estuary units of the Skagit Wildlife Area will be mapped and sprayed through June 20. Emily Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Nose for trouble: B.C. scientists brace for a deadly bat fungus
White-nose syndrome, with up to a 95 per cent mortality rate, has killed millions of bats in North America. Recently, the fungus was found in a bat guano sample in B.C., prompting scientists to ramp up surveillance programs. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Environmental group questions quarry operator sale
Coast Mountain Resources — the company that has been operating the quarry — has been sold to California-based Granite. Andrew A. Duffy 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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PDT Tue May 30 2023 TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 14 seconds building to 4 ft at 11 seconds after midnight.

Friday, May 26, 2023

5/26 Gopher, Clean Water Act, Fairy Cr old-growth, cottonwood fluff, Puget Sound model, illegal fishing, BC mines, Ginny Broadhurst

Mazama (Western) pocket gopher [Rod Gilbert]

Mazama pocket gopher Thomomys mazama
The Mazama (Western) pocket gopher is the only pocket gopher in most of western Washington, with several subspecies ranging from the Olympic Peninsula to the southern Puget Sound area. Adults measure 8 inches in length, including their 2½-inch tail. (WDFW)

As Supreme Court weakens Clean Water Act, what does it mean for WA?
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday that eroded longstanding water protections might have little effect in Washington because of the state’s more stringent laws safeguarding wetlands, but it could have implications for endangered species and tribal lands. In an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, the court ruled that water protections apply to wetlands “indistinguishable” from nearby bodies of water and are only protected if they are close to a bigger waterway and wet enough that it’s hard to determine where the water ends and the wetland begins. That significantly differs from state wetland protections, which will remain intact. Waters that are no longer considered “waters of the U.S.” under the ruling will retain protections as waters of the state, said Colleen Keltz, a state Department of Ecology spokesperson. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Birders, not blockaders, ask B.C.to protect old-growth in Fairy Creek to save marbled murrelets
Birders and biologists are banding together to urge the B.C. government to protect ancient forests on southwestern Vancouver Island in a bid to save threatened marbled murrelet nesting sites. Around a dozen citizen scientists are documenting the rare robin-sized seabird, which raises its young in old-growth forest found in tree farm licence (TFL) 46, which includes the Fairy Creek region near Port Renfrew. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Have you noticed all the cotton fluff in the air?
The cotton we see floating in the air is the release of the seeds from black poplar and black cottonwood trees, which fly off their branches when they are mature, and the pod is dried. A good wind can whisk them away. On years when it’s mistier this time of year, we may not see as many fluff puffs floating about, or it might just take longer for the seeds to disband. This year, warm weather + wind + maturity of seed indicates a quicker process. Kyle Norris reports. (KUOW)

Before supercomputers, a structural model helped scientists predict currents in Puget Sound
One of the first working models of Puget Sound was a scaled-down concrete reproduction of the regional topography, with actual water running through channels, around islands and into bays, inlets, and harbors. Motors, pumps and timing gears are part of an elaborate mechanism that replicates tides and river flows in the still-functioning model. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

A boat went dark. Finding it could help save the world’s fish.
Researchers and government official use gaps in transponder data can be used to track illegal fishing— and to fight back. (Washington Post interactive)

These are 11 of B.C.’s most ‘polluting and risky’ mines
Mining is big business in B.C. and it’s an industry that produces a lot of waste. A new report highlights 11 mines of concern and what’s stopping the province from getting them to clean up their acts. Francesca Fionda reports. (The Narwhal)

Governor appoints WWU's Salish Sea Institute Director to NW Straits Commission
Ginny Broadhurst, Director of the Salish Sea Institute at Western Washington University, has been recently appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Northwest Straits Commission. (WWU News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/26/23: Buddha birthday, clam cancer, Canada oil spill response, kelp forests, kelp seed bank, Native gasoline, Delta port suit, Seattle tree rules, Skagit R., CWA weakened.

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 weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 241 AM PDT Fri May 26 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 ft after midnight. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds building to 8 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 8 seconds.
SUN W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 5 ft at 7 seconds.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

5/25 Pacific mole, Skagit R, beach safety, Noctiluca, 'Lolita,' spot prawns, devil's club

Pacific mole [World Life Expectancy]

Pacific mole Scapanus orarius
The Pacific mole, also known as the coast mole, is similar in appearance to the Townsend mole, and ranges from 6 to 7 inches in total length. It inhabits drier, brushier, and more wooded habitats than the Townsend mole, including interior sagebrush areas.

On This Disputed River, Progress May Mean a Return to the Past
Winding through British Columbia and Washington, the Skagit has a history that reflects competing conceptions of advancement. Adam M. Sowards writes. (Smithsonian)

Headed to the beach?
You might be heading to a beach soon to dip your toes in or splash in cool refreshing water. A day at the beach is relaxing and fun; however, there is a small chance visiting the beach could make you sick from fecal (poop) bacteria. We want to help you have a safe and memorable day at the beach. (WA Dept of Ecology)

Ocean water turns bright orange off B.C. shore
“It was thick. You couldn’t even see the water, like under the water. It was just straight orange.” Roxanne Egan-Elliott and Alanna Kelly report. (Times Colonist) Why was the water orange in West Seattle? Scientists explain why Noctiluca is naturally occurring and blooms have been observed and recorded in Puget Sound since the 1940s, according to the agency. But the state agency said it is more concerned that human-caused nutrient over-enrichment is increasing the bloom's intensity, changing its timing and increasing the distribution of Noctiluca blooms. Quixem Ramirez reports. (KING)

Lolita the whale may someday return to wild, Miami park says, but timeline uncertain
Caregivers at a South Florida ocean park are taking steps to prepare Lolita, an orca whale held captive for more than a half-century, for a possible return to her home waters in Washington's Puget Sound. But the move isn't a done deal, and veterinarians and trainers told WPLG in Miami this week that they're working with Lolita to make sure she's strong enough to survive the journey and to acclimate to her new home. (CBS Miami)

'Christmas of the fishing season': It's time for spot prawns
Spot prawns, with a season that often runs four to six weeks, have a “cult-like following.” Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Helpful Devil
David B. Williams, “an evangelist for the practice of paying attention,” writes: "Two weeks ago, I wrote about a particularly unwelcome and spiny plant: holly. Today, I want to highlight an equally prickly plant but one long favored by people of the region. Armed with spines up the main stem and out side stems to and under the maple-leaf shaped leaves, devil’s club is one of the more formidable and intimating plants of the understory. (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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 249 AM PDT Thu May 25 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 5 seconds building to NW 6 ft at 6 seconds after midnight.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

5/24 Earthworm, tree ordinance, saving trees, Delta port expansion, GasLink sediment, WA tribes gas, rail safety, tent caterpillars, kelp seed bank, wildfires, Hecate Is bogs

Earthworm [TES]

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

Seattle City Council passes new tree ordinance
The Seattle City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to pass an updated version of a city ordinance regulating trees on private property, which had not been adjusted since 2009. The legislation will fully overhaul the ordinance for the first time since the section of code protecting trees was adopted in 2001, years before the climate and housing crises came to dominate both city discourse and priorities. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

What We Owe Our Trees
Forests fed us, housed us, and made our way of life possible. But they can’t save us if we can’t save them. Jill Lepore writes. (The New Yorker)

Environmental alliance launches legal challenge against expansion of B.C. container port
A group of Canadian conservationists says it has launched a legal challenge against Ottawa's $2 billion plan for an expanded container terminal in Delta, B.C. The David Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Committee say they have filed an application for a judicial review in federal court under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. (CBC)

‘Heartbreaking’: an overhead view of Coastal GasLink sediment spills into Wet’suwet’en waters, wetlands
On an Indigenous-led monitoring flight over the Coastal GasLink pipeline, The Narwhal documented worksites overwhelmed by spring melt and numerous environmental infractions including slope failures, flooded worksites and sediment entering wetlands and waterways. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Tribes ramp up pressure on WA over gas prices as climate laws’ effects take hold
Leaders from at least a dozen Washington tribes may soon meet with Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration to raise concerns and ask questions about the effects of the state’s new carbon-cap system on gas prices and tribal sovereignty...The laws require major polluters like fuel suppliers to pay to release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and to reduce their emissions over time... But fuel suppliers are passing their new expenses down the line to distributors and customers, including Native American tribes, which are sovereign nations that shouldn’t have to pay, Lummi Nation's Henry Cagey said...Misty Napeahi, vice chair of the Tulalip Tribes, weighed in this week, saying fuel suppliers should be shouldering the new costs, rather than the tribes and other customers. Daniel Beckman and Isabella Breda report. (Seattle Times)

Rail workers call for safety improvements in Washington state
This week, Democratic Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said that lawmakers need to pass new safety rules to help prevent train derailments and prepare communities in case of railway emergencies. Proposed legislation would do that, and also increase penalties for companies that violate federal rail safety statutes. The bill would create new rules, such as requiring a two-person crew on certain freight trains. Some railways have proposed having one person operate some trains. Casey Martin reports. (KUOW)

March of the caterpillars is here, but don’t be alarmed
Tent caterpillar season is here and millions of the fuzzy creatures are emerging from their silky cocoons to feast on the foliage of trees. They’re in backyards and on fences and sidewalks and sometimes hitchhiking on your clothing or inching up your arm. Depending on the tree and your area, the caterpillars will be munching on leaves for the next few weeks and going to ground where they will turn into moths. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Preparing for the Worst with a Kelp Seed Bank
In Washington State, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s new preservation facility offers a back-up plan for an uncertain future. Natalia Mesa reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Rise in extreme wildfires linked directly to emissions from oil companies in new study
The peer-reviewed study, published last week in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that 37 per cent of the total burned forest area in Western Canada and the United States between 1986-2021 can be traced back to 88 major fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers. Benjamin Shingler reports. (CBC)

Weird, Rare, and Everywhere
In the bogs of Hecate Island, British Columbia, a writer and novice naturalist joins researchers for a glimpse of a multiyear biodiversity mission—and gets acquainted with some odd organisms. Arno Kopecky writes. (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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PDT Wed May 24 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 7 seconds.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

5/23 Tokul soil, gun laws, Samish kelp research, Seattle trees, wildfire risk, BC climate resilience

Tokul soil

Tokul soil
The Tokul soil became the Washington state soil because of its unique volcanic ash cap, and Washington was the first state to recognize Andisols as a state soil. There are many active and non-active volcanoes found in Washington and their eruptions and subsequent ash fall have formed rich, productive soils that are found throughout the state. The Tokul series was named after a small creek and community in King County. (Soil Science Society of America)

How new gun laws might make a difference
New firearms laws addressing banning, waiting and training are aimed at aspects of safety and security. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Within the Salish Sea, Samish divers research kelp forests
Western science and traditional knowledge help them monitor seaweed health, vital to their culture and local ecosystems. Luna Reyna reports. (Crosscut)

Seattle tree protection ordinance, years in the making, is up for a vote
A sweeping tree ordinance up for a vote by the Seattle City Council on Tuesday will protect more of the city’s existing canopy and create new requirements for tree replacement...While rules for a specific tree depend on zoning, whether development is occurring and the tree’s size and species, if passed, the new ordinance will protect 88,100 trees, far more than the 17,7000 protected under the current code. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Wildfire risk goes up where trees and shrubs replace grasses
Across the United States over the past decade, an average of over 61,000 wildfires have burned some 7.2 million acres per year. Once a wildfire starts spreading, the firefighting task is exacerbated by issues like spot fires, where winds carry lofted sparks and start new fires outside of the original fire perimeter. The greater the potential spot fire distance, the more difficult wildfires are to monitor, control, and suppress. The new study finds that as woody plants like shrubs and trees replace herbaceous plants like grasses, spot fires can occur farther away from the original fire perimeter. Kirsten Romaguera reports. (Futurity)

Focus on climate resilience, panel tells B.C. government
The B.C. government needs to spend significantly more money to build climate resiliency and set targets and timelines while shifting its focus away from disaster relief, a provincially appointed advisory board recommends. Gordon Hoekstra 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- 211 AM PDT Tue May 23 2023 TODAY E wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds.

Monday, May 22, 2023

5/22 Nighthawk, neoplasia, Tokitae, BC spill response, climate protest, opossums, L. Washington bottom

Common nighthawk [Tony Angell]

Sky Cutter
The common nighthawk winters as far as the Amazon Basin and returns to this area to nest in summer. Ironically and contrary to its name, the common nighthawk's numbers are diminishing. Tony Angell writes. (Salish Current)

Researchers rush to find cause of contagious cancer in PNW clams
As Michael Metzger pressed his thumb against a ridged shell, the clam split in two. It was dead. Metzger and his research team in late April scoured the mucky sand for living basket cockles, a type of mollusk native to the Northwest, as wind whipped through Penn Cove. At Salish Sea beaches like this they’re collecting dozens of the shellfish, a traditional food for many Coast Salish people, studying a concerning increase of disease: a leukemia-like contagious cancer called disseminated neoplasia. The cancer, found in dozens of shellfish species around the globe, was first discovered in Salish Sea cockles during a 2018 health screening as the Suquamish Tribe began rolling out a hatchery program. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

'She will become a symbol': Inside the fight to bring Tokitae home
Miami locals, the Lummi Nation and many other advocates have fought for years to return the orca to the Salish Sea. PJ Randhawa reports. (KING)

Inside Canada’s first spill response organization on the west coast
The Western Canada Marine Response Corporation has been responding to oil spill emergencies for almost 50 years. James MacDonald reports. (Capital Daily)

UW students chain themselves to power plant, seeking climate action
As the temperature dropped overnight and ushered in a chilled, gray morning, four University of Washington students awoke chained to the campus’s power plant. Sunday marked nearly 36 hours and counting that a small group of student activists have used their bodies to protest the university’s continued use of fossil fuels. The demonstration followed a rally and march through the campus Friday evening. (Seattle Times)

Hornby Island's opossum problem persists but population on decline
Locals say they’re not seeing as many of the adorable chicken-killing, trash-can rummaging, garden eating invasive species as they once did. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

What's On The Bottom Of Lake Washington? Planes, Trains And …
Captain Mike Racine said, “What would you see?” You would see an underwater museum, a place where you can’t go more than a few feet without discovering something. And the thing you’d discover out here, just off the boat launch, is big. Really big. Sarah Waller reports. (KUOW)

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- 242 AM PDT Mon May 22 2023
TODAY W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds.

Friday, May 19, 2023

5/19 Wasp, tribal land returned, First Nations' consultations, 'Wood Wide Web,' aviation bio-fuel, picking up, Slater Museum, shipwreck

Common wasp [iNaturalist]

Common wasp Vespula vulgaris
The common wasp usually forms large colonies below ground, but occasionally nests may be made in wall cavities, hollow trees and attics. Queens emerge from hibernation during the spring, and they search for a suitable location in which to start a new colony. She then begins to build the nest with chewed up wood pulp, which dries to make a papery substance. A few eggs are laid, which develop into non-reproductive workers. These workers eventually take over the care of the nest, and the queen's life is then devoted solely to egg laying. At the end of autumn a number of eggs develop into new queens and males, which leave the nest and mate. The new queens seek out suitable places in which to hibernate, and the males and the old colony (including the old queen) die.

Developer gives former village site to Nanaimo First Nation
Lands lost in the 1800s — including an ancient village site — were restored to Snuneymuxw First Nation Thursday when a Vancouver-based developer signed over 102 acres of its property south of Nanaimo. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

‘When is it going to stop?’ Claims made on First Nations’ territories even as they fight century-old mining laws
In the B.C. Supreme Court, Gitxaała Nation and Ehattesaht First Nation argue the mineral rights process sidesteps the duty to consult. Francesca Fionda reports. (The Narwhal)

Detangling the Debate on the ‘Wood Wide Web’
When should we encourage stories that make us fall in love with the forest and when should we stick to tested, proven science? This is the debate unfolding between scientists as they explore what’s happening beneath the surface of the forest. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

New $800M sustainable aviation fuel plant planned for Washington state
Dutch company SkyNRG has chosen Washington state to locate a major new biogas plant that will produce sustainable aviation fuel — a key part of the airline world’s push to decarbonize flying. SkyNRG CEO Philippe Lacamp said he expects the plant to be operational by 2028 or 2029. Dominic Gates reports. (Seattle Times)

Seattle crowned as dog poop capital, pet owners among worst in nation
Seattle’s pet parents ranked among the worst in the country, according to the website Dog Advisory Council’s newest study. Among the 25 major metro areas they deemed to be “in the doghouse,” Seattle ranked third, behind only Pittsburgh and Newark. Heather Bosch reports. (KIRO)

University of Puget Sound to remove name of eugenics professor from museum
The University of Puget Sound will remove the name of a former professor and eugenicist from the college’s museum of natural history. On May 12, the university’s board of trustees unanimously approved President Isiaah Crawford’s recommendation to remove James R. Slater’s name from the museum’s physical space, and its website and social media accounts...The museum will revert to its original name when it was founded in 1930, Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks reports. (Seattle Times)

Shipwreck
In a heavy fog, the tugboat Lorne and the barge America (formerly a sailing bark) founder on the rocks on the west side of San Juan Island and sink on August 30, 1914. No lives are lost, but the cargo cannot be retrieved. The Lorne is eventually raised and repaired, but the America cannot be saved and still lies where she sank. Lynn Weber writes. (History Link)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/19/23: Endangered species Friday, woolly dogs, TM debt, city trees, Snoqualmie Tribe, 'forever chemicals.'

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 weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PDT Fri May 19 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. SW swell 1 ft at 6 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. NW swell 1 ft at 7 seconds.
SAT W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. SW swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SUN W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

5/18 Sweat bees, AI, 'forever chemicals,' last caribou, Similk estuary, wildfire smoke, city trees

Sweat bee

Sweat bees
Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees with nearly 4,500 species. They are commonly called sweat bees, as they are often attracted to perspiration. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. (Wikipedia)

Assistant ... or replacement? AI, in real life
The future is already here for users of artificial intelligence technology. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

WA launches dashboard tracking ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
With growing public awareness of the prevalence of toxic “forever chemicals” in drinking water and new testing requirements rolling out this year, Washington state communities are faced with little option but to shut down wells, find alternative water sources and seek funding for costly filtration systems. On Wednesday, the Department of Health unveiled a public-facing dashboard sharing data from drinking water wells in the state that have been tested for the presence of these toxic chemicals. Isabella Breda and Manuel Villa report. (Seattle Times)

Washington passes law to cut ‘forever chemicals’ in makeup
Starting in 2025, the Toxics-Free Cosmetics Act will be among the country’s strongest legislation against hazardous products. Joseph Winters reports. (Grist)

The last 33 caribou: fighting for the survival of a Wet’suwet’en herd
Surrounded by industrial development and human habitation, less than three dozen caribou remain on Wet’suwet’en territory. As government biologists fight to keep the herd alive, recovery efforts will need to look to the past to plan for the future. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Federal grant to help support restoration of Similk estuary
Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $11.6 million for a set of projects focused on large-scale restoration of the north Whidbey basin of the Skagit River estuary. The restoration of estuary marsh and floodplain habitat will help add habitat for salmon recovery. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Wildfire smoke from Canada impacting Seattle skies
It may only be the middle of May, but wildfire season is already impacting the Seattle region with smoke from Canada. Wildfires have been burning in northern Alberta for over a week. Smoke from those wildfires has now drifted south and arrived in western Washington, creating hazy skies. The smoke is above 10,000 feet and not in the lower levels, so there are no worries about declining air quality. Ted Buehner reports. (KIRO)

Trees and Politics
David B. Williams, "an evangelist for the practice of paying attention," writes: "We have reached a point in the city’s history where two key issues—climate change and housing—intersect. We cannot work on one without considering the other. Working on the sustainability of the natural world can take place, and I would argue, is essential, to sustainability of our human communities. We can save our trees and help people. It will not be easy." (Street Smart Naturalist) See also: City seeks balance: housing needs and forest benefits Bellingham faces the challenge of building homes to meet housing needs while preserving trees for public and environmental health. (Salish Current)

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

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 235 AM PDT Thu May 18 2023
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 8 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 9 seconds.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

5/17 Bumblebee, planning permit woes, wildfire smoke, Snoqualimie Tribe, Extinction Rebellion, Tom Banse

Bumblebee [Peter Pearsall/USFWS]

Tricoloured bumblebee Bombus mixtus
Bombus mixtus is a species of bumblebee. It is native to western North America, where it occurs in western Canada and the United States. It is also disjunct in the Great Lakes region. It is known commonly as the fuzzy-horned bumblebee, tricoloured bumblebee, orange-belted bumblebee, and mixed bumblebee. (Wikipedia)

San Juan County permit woes result in director firing
Months of complaints of delays, discourtesy and interpretation led to a decision by the San Juan County council to “part ways” with the county’s Community Development director. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Wildfire smoke rated 'very high risk' in B.C.'s Interior drifting toward Vancouver: meteorologist
Wildfire smoke already blanketing much of B.C.'s north and Interior is headed toward Vancouver, forecasters are warning. But while an air quality advisory for the Metro Vancouver region was lifted Tuesday, the clear skies are unlikely to last, according to Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton. (CBC)

Snoqualmie Tribe enacts 2% land protection tax to help preserve ancestral lands
The Snoqualmie Tribe has instituted a new land protection tax that’s believed to be the first of its kind in North America. The new tax is being collected on various sales made at the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie and has been in effect since March 1. Snoqualmie Falls is one of the tribe’s most sacred sites and is also a popular tourist destination. The tribe says revenue from the 2% land protection tax will go towards projects and expenses associated with the tribe’s work to protect their ancestral lands. Diana Opong reports. (KUOW)

Extinction Rebellion Vancouver winds down, says new group will move away from public disruption
The co-founder of Extinction Rebellion Vancouver says a new approach is needed to build a broader, more effective movement to fight climate change. Environmental group hopes to organize large event that will bring 100,000 people to Vancouver's streets. (CBC)

KUOW salutes reporter Tom Banse
It's a bittersweet day at KUOW as we say goodbye to a legend — journalist Tom Banse. For the last 37 years, one reporter has brought listeners to every corner of the state as he’s broken news, covered politics, the environment, and told countless stories about the fascinating people around us. But after 37 years of diligent reporting, Banse is retiring. Libby Denkman reports. (KUOW)

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- 243 AM PDT Wed May 17 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 1 ft at 8 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 7 seconds.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

5/16 Honey bee, metal shredder, shade trees, pipeline trial, deep-sea drawing

Western honey bee [Andreas Trepte]

Western honey bee Apis mellifera
The western honey bee or European honey bee is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bees worldwide. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera is the Latin for "honey-bearing" or "honey carrying", referring to the species' production of honey. (Wikipedia)

B.C. metal recycler may site shredder on Bellingham Bay
A scrap metal recycling company which has been the subject of noise complaints from neighbors is reportedly looking to expand its operations along Bellingham Bay. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Washington slates $50M for trees to shade salmon streams
Gov. Jay Inslee and a bipartisan group of legislators are using a low-tech approach to combat deadly warming waters. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Trial begins for Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief accused of blocking Coastal GasLink pipeline
The trial of a Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief charged with criminal contempt for allegedly blocking construction on the Coastal GasLink pipeline opened Monday in B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers in northern B.C. The Crown alleges Chief Dtsa'hyl (Adam Gagnon), who is being tried by judge alone, seized and decommissioned pieces of Coastal GasLink's heavy equipment, publicly defying a court injunction to stay away from pipeline construction. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

Drawing the Deep Sea from a Seat on the Shore
n the 1930s, artist Else Bostelmann illuminated in art what scientist William Beebe dictated to her from his cramped seat in a spherical steel bathysphere as it explored the deep sea off Bermuda. She also set up an underwater studio. Brad Fox writes. (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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 247 AM PDT Tue May 16 2023
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds. Areas of fog in the morning.
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 10 seconds becoming S at 6 seconds after midnight.

Monday, May 15, 2023

5/15 Mason bee, 'No Mow May,' TM budget, Aboriginal title, Skagit mine, Ladysmith marina, woolly dog blankets, Oly big ship, Maritime Works

Red mason bees [André Karwath]

Mason bee
Mason bee is a name now commonly used for species of bees in the genus Osmia, of the family Megachilidae. Mason bees are named for their habit of using mud or other "masonry" products in constructing their nests, which are made in naturally occurring gaps such as between cracks in stones or other small dark cavities. When available, some species preferentially use hollow stems or holes in wood made by wood-boring insects. (Wikipedia)

‘No Mow May’ mindful of pollinators
Native plants and trees provide food for “workaholic” bees. Clifford Heberden reports. (Salish Current)

The overbudget Trans Mountain pipeline project is carrying $23B in debt — and needs to borrow more
The overbudget Trans Mountain expansion project owes its lenders at least $23 billion and is looking to take on more private debt as the federal government shuts its wallet and construction costs skyrocket. CBC News has reviewed newly released documents from Trans Mountain and another federal government entity. They show the expansion project is burning through cash and needs to borrow billions of dollars more to finish the work, which the company says was almost 80 per cent complete as of March. David Thurton reports. (CBC)

First Nation did not prove Aboriginal title for entire claim area: B.C. Supreme Court
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruling on a First Nations land title lawsuit says it did not prove it had rights to its entire claim area, although he suggested it may be time for the provincial government to rethink its current test for such titles. The Nuchatlaht First Nation, a community on Vancouver Island's northwest coast, wanted title over an area of Crown land that included a portion of Nootka Island and much of the surrounding coastline. Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

Decision on controversial Skagit gravel mine proposal delayed
The fate of a controversial, 51-acre gravel mine in Skagit is still up in the air almost one year after the county hearing for the proposed site began. The mine, initially proposed in 2016 by Concrete Nor’west — a Washington-based gravel company managed by Miles Sand & Gravel — has been the subject of controversy over the years as neighbors in the Central Samish Valley Neighbors (CSVN) group called attention to environmental concerns, traffic and road safety issues, endangered species habitat destruction and public safety. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Talks stall in effort to keep open Ladysmith marina
Momentum appears to have stalled in talks between the city of Ladysmith and the Stz-uminus First Nation about the future of the Ladysmith Community Marina, operated by the non-profit Ladysmith Maritime Society. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Rare blankets made from fur of extinct woolly dog on display at North Vancouver museum
For thousands of years, the Salish woolly dog resided on B.C.'s southwest coast, providing their owners with companionship — and hair. Now, blankets woven from the fur of this extinct dog are on display at the Museum of North Vancouver until early July. The woolly dogs were a part of Coast Salish culture that was erased during colonization, says the museum's Indigenous cultural programmer Senaqwila Wyss. (CBC)

Port to take another run at bringing large ship to marine terminal. Will it work this time?
The Port of Olympia is again in talks to bring a large ship to the area that would tie up at the marine terminal and do little else. It’s called a layberth agreement and it’s one of the items set to be discussed at Monday afternoon’s port commission work session. Under consideration is an agreement in which the container ship “Maunalei,” which measures 680 feet, would tie up at the port for about six months. Rolf Boone reports. (Olympian)

Seattle Maritime Works Campaign Kicks Off
The Port of Seattle has announced that local maritime organizations, including the port, have kicked off a local “Maritime Works” campaign drawing awareness to local opportunities for young adults looking for a high-wage career based in Puget Sound. For the first time, essential maritime career information is consolidated on one website where multiple career paths are presented including contacts, wage scales, education requirements, and the necessary tools to get started today. (Cruise Industry 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- 242 AM PDT Mon May 15 2023
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. Isolated tstms after midnight.

Friday, May 12, 2023

5/12 Dogfish, seamount, AK fishery, Howe Sound herring, bat fungus, whale names, marine wonders, PT MSC, week in review

Pacific spiny dogfish [NOAA]

Pacific spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias
Pacific spiny dogfish are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California, and are common in inland seas, such as San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound, and in shallow bays from Alaska to central California. Spiny dogfish live a long time, sometimes more than 80 years, and aren’t able to reproduce until they’re older – females mature at an average age of 35, males mature at an average age of 19. Female spiny dogfish are internally fertilized, and pups are retained in utero for 18 to 22 months. (NOAA)

Scientists discover colossal underwater mountain off Vancouver Island
Measured by scientists aboard the U.S. research ship Okeanos Explorer, the seamount rivals Mount Baker and re-writes old nautical charts. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Shutdown looms for Alaska summer troll fishery; court order aims to provide more salmon for orcas
Southern Resident killer whales, which frequent Puget Sound, are expected to benefit from more Chinook salmon later this year, as expressed in a court order calling for the suspension of a major troll fishery in Southeast Alaska. Christopher Dunagan writes. (Puget Sound Institute)

Citizen science is helping restore herring populations in B.C.'s Howe Sound
The Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative citizen science project is in its fourth year tracking the herring (Slhawt' in) that return from the Pacific Ocean in February and begin spawning. (CBC)

B.C. scientists bracing for a deadly bat fungus
Scientists are racing to measure the health and abundance of B.C.'s bats before a deadly fungus makes it to the province. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) Tiny bats provide ‘glimmer of hope’ against a fungus that threatened entire species Wilson Ring reports. (Associated Press)

From Big Mama to Hy'Shqa, how Northwest whales get their names
There is a lot of variation in how we refer to our whale neighbors — from nicknames like Hydra to coded strings of letters and numbers like “Orca whale J14.” These names and IDs often tell us a lot about the whales, and just as much about our relationships with them. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Marine Wonders Explained
Find answers to some head-scratching marine science questions—from nudibranch sex to the misnomer red tides—in this series of five short videos. (Hakai Institute)

Port Townsend Marine Science Center changes leadership
The board of directors of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center has promoted Diane Quinn, program director of six years, to the position of executive director after Bee Redfield resigned. (Peninsula Daily News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/12/23: Public garden Friday, salmon migration, hatchery lawsuit, big quake, PFAS, coral reef seaweed, killing geese, Everett port stormwater, underwater mountain.

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 weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 234 AM PDT Fri May 12 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming NE to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT NIGHT N wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

5/11 Stickleback, Everett port stormwater, hot weather, Hilary Franz, 'dead boat' society, Ladore Dam, floating solar, nickel mining, holly

Three-spined Stickleback

Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
The five strategically located spines provide an excellent defense against many types of predators, particularly fishes. Nevertheless, they are primary food for many fishes, for example trout and pike. Not so effective against birds, there are records of a pair of loons consuming 50,000 sticklebacks during six months. Still, fish-eating birds are sometimes found dead or incapacitated, a stickleback with all fins erect stuck in their throat. (Slater Museum)

Port of Everett settles stormwater lawsuit for $2.5M
The Port of Everett agreed to settle a lawsuit about alleged excess stormwater discharge for over $2.5 million. In May 2022, water quality watchdog Puget Soundkeeper Alliance filed the lawsuit alleging water samples exceeded various pollution “benchmarks” — including for pH, copper, zinc and turbidity — set in the port’s state-issued permit over two dozen times between 2018 and early 2022. About $2 million of the settlement will pay for stormwater improvements at the port’s seaport along Everett’s waterfront. Additional payments will be made to an environmental and academic organization, and the port agreed to adopt some practices to bolster what it already had in place. The port is paying the alliance’s legal fees, estimated at $138,000. Ben Watanabe reports. (Everett Herald)

'Serious weather event' likely to make B.C. wildfires worse, forecasters warn
Forecasters are worried unseasonably hot weather forecast for the weekend will exacerbate an already-unusual wildfire season in northeastern B.C. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the B.C. Interior that begins Friday and runs through Tuesday. (CBC)

Historic heat wave: earliest 90s on record possible this weekend, early next week
An early-season heat wave is expected for Seattle and western Washington late this week, which should continue into Mother's Day Weekend and into next week. Temperatures could be 15-25 degrees warmer than normal. Christopher Nunley reports. (KING)

Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz announces run for governor
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz announced her campaign for governor on Wednesday...Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched an exploratory campaign for governor on May 2, one day after Governor Jay Inslee announced he won’t run again. Ed Komenda reports. (Associated Press)

‘Dead Boat’ hunters gear up for new season
The not-for-profit Dead Boat Disposal Society seeks from the public location information on Salish Sea derelict vessels in advance of their application for federal funding for another season of derelict boat removal. Robb Manley reports. (Gulf Islands Driftwood)

B.C. Hydro seeking contractor for major work on Ladore Dam
B.C. Hydro is gearing up to start its Ladore Dam upgrading project next year, announcing Wednesday that it’s looking for a general contractor to lead the work. The request for proposals to upgrade the dam — near McIvor Lake west of Campbell River — and to supply and install spillway gates closes Aug. 30. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Long popular in Asia, floating solar catches on in US
Floating solar panel systems are beginning to boom in the United States after rapid growth in Asia. They’re attractive not just for their clean power and lack of a land footprint, but because they also conserve water by preventing evaporation. A study published in the journal Nature Sustainability in March found that thousands of cities — more than 6,000 in 124 countries — could generate an amount equal to all their electricity demand using floating solar, making it a climate solution to be taken seriously. In the process, they could save roughly enough water each year to fill 40 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. Isabella O'Malley reports. (Associated Press)

To meet EV demand, industry turns to technology long deemed hazardous
Indonesia is richly endowed with nickel, but refining this crucial mineral poses a daunting environmental challenge. Rebecca Tan, Dera Menra Sijabat and Joshua Irwandi report. (Washington Post)

Good Golly Miss Holly
David B. Williams, “an evangelist for the practice of paying attention,” writes: "Go to almost any park in Seattle and you will find a bright green plant with unpleasantly spiny leaves. Unfortunately, in most situations, the large shrubs are neither of our native spine bearers, devil’s club or Oregon grape. Instead, those-who-you-should-avoid will be the fourth most common, non-native plant by acreage in Seattle, the English holly, Ilex aquifolium." (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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 257 AM PDT Thu May 11 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

5/10 Sailfish sculpin, lumpsuckers, GasLink stop work, Tideflats train, killing geese, apex predator control

Sailfish sculpin [D.W. Gotshall]

Sailfish sculpin Nautichthys oculofasciatus
The sailfin sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Hemitripterinae of the family Agonidae. This sculpin is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska to San Miguel Island off southern California. (Wikipedia)

Pacific spiny lumpsuckers
Yesterday's profile brought forth reader comments: "Lumpsuckers are one of my favorites. Out of the water, they just look like a pile of goo." And "Rogue used to brew a Spiny Lumpsucker Ale. Just thought you should know." And, a last word: "Someone needs to make a spiny lumpsucker wine. I don't drink beer but I might buy a bottle of that and pour it out just for the label."

Coastal GasLink hit with more stop work orders over water pollution concerns
Coastal GasLink has been issued stop work orders on a stretch of pipeline construction for the second time in just over a week, the latest in a pattern of environmental violations for polluting sensitive waterways. The pipeline project crosses about 625 lakes, rivers, creeks, wetlands, and streams in northern B.C. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

Man arrested after causing oil-train derailment on the Tacoma Tideflats, police say
A 65-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in Tacoma after police said he tampered with railroad equipment, causing several train cars carrying oil to derail in the Tideflats industrial area. There was no oil spill as a result of the derailment. Peter Talbot reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Vancouver Park Board approves 'lethal removal' plan to control Canada goose population
On Monday, the board adopted the plan in an effort to get the city's growing goose population under control. The plan includes measures already employed by the board such as addling — switching out viable goose eggs from the nest for frozen duds — and also supports the "lethal removal" of geese if required. According to a staff report, there were a minimum of 2,200 geese in Vancouver in 2022 and the population is estimated to be growing by 18 per cent every year. (CBC)

To aid the killer whales, the real apex predator gets some pushback
Danny Westneat writes: "....I suggested in [a] column that we simply stop fishing for king (Chinook) salmon for a few years. During that time, the government could instead pay the various fishing interests not to fish, kind of like how we pay farmers to let fields lie fallow...Four years later, the federal courts are saying it’s such an emergency we ought to try this exact thing....Another recent environmental struggle followed a similar story arc. Seattle City Light, after decades of refusing to acknowledge the harm its three Skagit River hydroelectric dams had done to salmon, finally agreed to pass spawning salmon around the dams....The headline subjects of these latest cases were the endangered fish and whales, and the good news is, they won. The verdict’s out on a more hardheaded and unruly species. (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. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PDT Wed May 10 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.