7/6 Lamb's quarters, air quality, El Nino, WA drought, Early Stuart sockeye, craft beer salmon, wolverines, gray whale plastics

Lamb's Quarters

Lamb's Quarters Chenopodium berlandieri
The species is widespread in North America, where it is found in every U.S. state except Hawaii. The fast-growing, upright plant can reach heights of more than 3 m. Although widely regarded as a weed, this species was once one of several plants cultivated by Native Americans in prehistoric North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex. (Wikipedia)

Western Washington air quality takes a dive
Western Washington air quality throughout the region took a dive into unhealthy territory July 5. You can blame the poor air quality on smoke from all of last night's fireworks shows and smoke coming in from local and Canadian wildfires. The National Weather Service in Seattle expects winds from the coast will move through the region starting on Thursday and into Friday, which could blow some of the smoke away and improve conditions. Dyer Oxley reports. (KUOW)

El Nino has started. What does that mean for B.C.?
The World Meteorological Organization expects the event to be of moderate strength, and says it will ‘greatly increase’ the likelihood of breaking temperature records around the world. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Statewide drought advisory issued for Washington
The warmest May on record coupled with an abnormally dry spring and early summer have resulted in quickly declining water supplies and have prompted the Department of Ecology to issue a statewide drought advisory. A drought advisory provides early warning of a possible drought. (WA Dept of Ecology)

This push to bring back salmon is about more than just fish
There is only one bridge in Takla Landing, and on this June day about three dozen people are gathered there around a blue plastic tub swimming with hundreds of baby salmon. They are preparing to transfer the fish into a nearby creek, hoping against all odds the fry will thrive and reboot the millennia-old migration of Early Stuart sockeye, once millions of fish strong, along the Fraser River from its headwaters to the sea and back again. It’s a last-ditch effort — the staple for the community has been nearly wiped out by habitat loss, climate change and a freak landslide in 2018. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson reports. (National Observer)

How Far Will Salmon Swim for a Craft Beer?
In Oregon, researchers hope a surprising aroma will lure stray salmon back to their home hatcheries. Ben Goldfarb reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Long-awaited decision looms for protection of wolverines
After a lengthy legal battle and years of conservation work, wolverines, including those in the North Cascades, may receive federal protection. Conservationists are now waiting for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision, which will come by the end of November. Emma Fletcher-Fraser reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Study shows Oregon Coast gray whales consume millions of harmful bits of plastic, clothing
Researchers from the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute analyzing the poop and prey of gray whales off the Oregon Coast estimate the mammals could be consuming millions of small bits of plastic, clothing fibers and other human debris each day that harm their health – and could hurt humans. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  245 AM PDT Thu Jul 6 2023   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 7 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 7 seconds.

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