8/11 Shaggy mouse, Seattle Chinook, Duwamish habitat, Fairy Cr protesters, BC dought, WSF fares, refinery safety, Columbia R treaty, bunny virus, Hwy 20, week in review

Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch [Zoe O’Toole]

Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch Aeolidia loui
Specimens in our area were formally recognized as A. papillosa but are now classified as a new species, Aeolidia loui. It is found on rocks, or may be on floats or docks.  Often it is found near its preferred prey, anemones like Anthopleura elegantissima. (Walla Walla U.)

Treaty tribes haul in Chinook bounty on Seattle’s Elliott Bay, Duwamish
As other fragile Chinook fisheries shutter this year to protect future runs, the salmon were a welcome sight. Surveys in July revealed what appear to be some of the best numbers of Chinook seen in nearly two decades. They still likely pale in comparison to the runs their ancestors harvested from, as the watershed continues to lose habitat to development. But it was a promising sign for fisheries managers who have gone to great lengths to rebuild the run. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

King County shows off salmon habitat where once stood a hotel
The project started as a rundown hotel in a sea of asphalt. Now Chinook Wind is a wetland, a restored salmon habitat and a hook-shaped estuary where waters rise and fall with the tides and native plants blanket the shore...A few feet upstream is Duwamish Gardens, another restored salmon habitat and reminder of how the Duwamish River used to look over 150 years ago, before industrialization. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Cases dropped against 146 Fairy Creek protesters over RCMP's failure to read full injunction at arrests
Prosecutors in B.C. have withdrawn cases against nearly 150 protesters who were arrested for participating in a blockade around old-growth logging on Vancouver Island after a judge this year found Mounties did not read the full text of a court order to the group. Rhianna Schmunk reports. (CBC)

Canada’s wettest province faces historic drought — and a precarious new future
From grasshopper infestations to water restrictions, B.C.’s drought is affecting all corners of the province in ways surprising and predictable. Is the government doing enough to lead? Arno Kopecky writes. (The Narwhal)

It will cost more to travel on a state ferry in Washington this fall
The Washington State Transportation Commission on Thursday voted to increase fares for Washington State Ferries this fall. Commissioners approved a 4.25% hike for vehicles and walk-on passengers on Oct. 1 and another 4.25% on Oct. 1, 2024. A March revenue forecast showed a fare hike of the magnitude approved Thursday would net an additional $28 million for operations. But the latest forecast in June showed ridership not rising as fast as expected. As a result, the higher fares will only net $19.3 million, leaving the agency with an $8.7 million hole to fill. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

State proposes tighter safety regulations for refinery workers years after tragedy
Regulations proposed by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries in June would update the 1992 “Process Safety Management” guidelines for thousands of workers at Washington’s five refineries, including the BP and Phillips 66 refineries at Cherry Point. Julia Lerner reports. (CDN)

Canada, U.S. negotiate future of Columbia River in Seattle this week
For 60 years, the Columbia River Treaty has guided how water from British Columbia flows downstream in Washington and Oregon, for flood control and hydropower. Parts of that agreement expire next year. And this week’s negotiations may be the best shot yet to hammer out a deal. Gregory Scruggs reports. (Seattle Times)

State vet says bunny killing virus is 'here to stay'
The town of Langley on Whidbey Island has a unique tourist attraction — wild bunnies. But now, those bunnies are in trouble. An outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease has led to mass die-offs of the small mammals on the island. Libby Denkmann and Noel Gasca report. (KUOW)

Still-creeping wildfire again closes key mountain pass in North Cascades National Park
“SR 20 North Cascades Highway is closed between Newhalem at milepost 120 and milepost 146 for aerial fire operations. No ETA for reopening. Updates will be sent as available,” the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/11/23: Elephant Day, BC drought, Columbia salmon recovery failure, WA carbon tax repeal, baby orcas, marine heat wave, TM pipe, Fairy Cr protest, refinery safety, Columbia R treaty.

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Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  217 AM PDT Fri Aug 11 2023   TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. 
SAT  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 7 seconds. 
SUN  Light wind. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning  becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 4 seconds.

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