8/1 Creeping buttercup, veteran voters, Elwha timber, King County timber, drought, Fisheries & Oceans, Sidney deer cull, Site C dam

Creeping buttercup

Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens
Creeping buttercup is a low-growing perennial with creeping stolons that's found in pastures, farmlands, natural wetlands, city gardens, and lawns. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively via long, branching stolons that root at the nodes. Stolon growth starts in spring, peaks in late summer. This plant is extremely aggressive and toxic to grazing animals. (King County)

Does military experience influence the veteran vote?
Military veterans have served their country and reintegrated into civilian life. When it comes to local elections, do they vote? Kai Uyehara reports.(Salish Current)

Controversial WA timber sale near Elwha River rankles conservationists, Port Angeles leaders
The 126-acre Power Plant timber sale, a few hundred feet from the site of the former lower Elwha Dam, has rankled local leaders from Port Angeles, who had requested the state Department of Natural Resources reconsider its plans, and spurred conservationists to file a lawsuit to stop the sale. They say the loss of forests like this one in the watershed could further warm streams, reduce flows in the river, and threaten drinking water and salmon. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

102-acre King County timber sale paused as politicians air climate concerns
More than 100 acres managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources were scheduled to be auctioned for logging Tuesday with a $1.62 million minimum bid. But DNR hit pause at the last moment, shelving the Wishbone sale of 4.7 million board feet of timber Monday night after environmentalists sued and seven of nine Metropolitan King County Council members shared concerns. Daniel Beckman reports. (Seattle Times)

A parched summer is posing difficulties for Washington farmers and fish
The record-warm May that burned off a sizable chunk of the state’s snowpack has left flows in many of Washington’s rivers and streams depleted heading into late summer. It’s not the driest year the state has seen. But it’s still bad news for fish that depend on cool water and ample streamflows for survival and farmers who tap snow-fed waterways to irrigate crops. With weeks of summer left to go, there are signs of the stress the conditions are creating for people and wildlife. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Scientists Level New Critiques of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Scientific Rigor
Critics allege the federal department’s ability to provide vital scientific advice is weighed down by systematic industry and political interference. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Parks Canada seeks public input on Sidney Island deer cull
The fallow deer cull, which would involve marksmen on the ground and in a helicopter shooting as many deer as possible over up to 10 days, would also include native black-tailed deer. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Watch Site C workers build a massive dam using 16 million cubic metres of earth and rock
B.C. Hydro says it has completed an earth-fill dam made using material from the Site C dam construction site along the Peace River in northeastern B.C. It is 60 metres tall and used approximately 16 million cubic metres worth of dirt, rocks and other items from the area. (CBC)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 AM PDT Tue Aug 1 2023   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.

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