7/25 'Red tide,' WA drought, sue the dams, Mt Baker glacier, biodiversity, 'Tread,' orca moms, humpback

 'Red tide' [Encyclopedia of Puget Sound]

'Red tide'
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when hazardous phytoplankton or other algae quickly grow and accumulate in a particular aquatic location. Often, biotoxins from HABs move through the food chain when they are concentrated in filter-feeding bivalves or consumed by planktivorous fish. These prey are readily ingested by marine mammals, birds and humans. As a result, significant animal die-offs or food-borne human illnesses are commonly associated with these events. (Encyclopedia of Puget Sound)

Washington declares drought emergency in 12 counties
With much of Washington parched from a warm and dry spring, state officials on Monday announced a drought emergency for watersheds in a dozen counties. Counties with watersheds affected by the drought emergency are spread around the state. They include: Benton, Clallam, Columbia, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Groups plan to sue to remove Snake River dams over hot water troubles for salmon
The Columbia Riverkeeper, Idaho Rivers United, Idaho Conservation League and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association formally notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of their intent to sue because the Snake River dams are making the river too hot for sockeye salmon and the dams should be removed.  When water temperatures spike above 68 degrees, adult salmon start to run into real trouble. But dam advocates say the move will make climate change – and hot waters – worse. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Looking back: point-in-time climate effects on Mount Baker
As summer temperatures rise over time, Mount Baker's shrinking glaciers reveal the impact. Alan Fritzberg writes. (Salish Current)

Can the biodiversity crisis be reversed?
Wildlife numbers are plunging worldwide. From toxic waste to invasive species, deforestation to rising temperatures, threats to the survival of our planet’s millions of plants and animals are causing scientists to warn of a sixth extinction. It’s estimated that roughly a third of the world’s species have become endangered or gone extinct in the past 500 years. And as the climate crisis continues to escalate, many more will be forced to adapt. (Crosscut)

Researchers learn gender of 1-year-old killer whale in Puget Sound
Whale watchers aboard a Puget Sound Express whale watching vessel out of Edmonds got a surprise Monday in the form of an unexpected gender reveal. Kyla Bivens, a naturalist on board the "Swiftsure," was able to snap a photo of the underside of a 1-year-old Bigg's killer whale that showed the calf was a boy. That’s the first time the gender of "Tread" or TO46B1's second living child has been documented, said Erin Gless, the executive director of Pacific Whale Watch Association. Christine Clarridge reports. (Axios)

How does a male orca stay out of trouble? With a lot of help from mom
What do female orcas do when they're finished having babies? Protect their adult sons from ill-advised fights, for one. A new study has found that male southern resident killer whales are less likely to get scraped up by other whales when they have their post-menopausal mothers by their sides. Sheena Goodyear reports. (CBC)

Humpback nearly struck off Quadra Island
Jenefer Smalley and the 12 guests aboard her whale-watching boat held their collective breath as a speeding boater came within a few metres of colliding with a humpback whale last month. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  247 AM PDT Tue Jul 25 2023   
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 8 seconds building to 6 ft at 8 seconds in the afternoon.  A chance of showers. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 7 seconds. A slight  chance of showers.

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