9/6 Huckleberry, bird flu, BC Ferries, Growlers, oyster insomnia, pumped storage hydro, clown wedgefish, Whatcom book award

Huckleberry [Wikipedia]

Huckleberry
The name 'huckleberry' is a North American variation of the English dialectal name variously called 'hurtleberry' or 'whortleberry' (/ˈhwɜːrtəlbɛri/) for the bilberry. In North America, the name was applied to numerous plant variations, all bearing small berries with colors that may be red, blue, or black. In the Pacific Northwest and mountains of Montana and Idaho, this huckleberry species and several others, such as the black Vaccinium huckleberry (V. membranaceum) and blue (Cascade) huckleberry (V. deliciosum), grow in various habitats, such as mid-alpine regions up to 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) above sea level, mountain slopes, forests, or lake basins. (Wikipedia)

Bird flu outbreak in Washington possibly spreading to seals
A bird flu outbreak around Fort Flagler State Park near Port Townsend may be spreading to mammals, according to the state Department of Health. As of last week, an outbreak of a deadly strain of the avian influenza had likely killed 1,700 gulls and Caspian terns on Rat Island – a small wildlife preserve near the state park, and its adjacent shores. The island is currently closed due to the outbreak. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

Amid forecast of financial uncertainty, B.C. Ferries seeks to buy 4 new electric vessels
B.C. Ferries says it’s planning to order four new electric-powered Island-class vessels under an accelerated schedule. But it’s also facing financial uncertainties while it awaits a decision on passenger-fare increases during the next four years. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Judge: Growler flights continue
A U.S. District Judge has ruled that jet training flights over Whidbey Island can continue even as the Navy is ordered to redo its environmental impact statement concerning the impacts of noise and emissions on the area. In an order issued Friday in the Western District of Washington, Judge Richard Jones wrote that while the Navy underreported the true amount of fuel emissions from flights, failed to take a hard look at species-specific impact on birds and failed to analyze impacts on childhood learning, stopping the flights would pose a risk to national security. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Light Pollution Is Causing Oyster Insomnia
Even artificial light that’s dimmer than the full moon can knock oysters’ circadian rhythms out of sync. Hannah Seo reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Pumped storage hydropower is the greenest renewable energy technology, study says
Researchers with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said closed-loop pumped storage hydropower will have a lower carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of the technology, from construction to decommissioning, than other renewable energy storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Detective McDavitt and the Curious Case of the Clown Wedgefish
Scientists were writing an obituary for this species when a lawyer turned internet sleuth found evidence of its existence in an unlikely place. Brian Howey reports. (Hakai Magazine)

State book award finalists include four Whatcom authors
Rena Priest, Clyde Ford, Caitlin Scarano and Tom Crestodina have been named finalists from among 242 entries for Washington State Book Awards. Dean Kahn reports. (Salish Current)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  244 AM PDT Wed Sep 6 2023   
TODAY  Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. Patchy fog in the  morning. Showers likely. 
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 10 seconds.

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