9/7 Huckleberry Island, tsunami, WA cap-and-trade, BC old growth logging, BC groundwater, Tofino drought, gray squirrel status, ANWR drilling, mola mola

Huckleberry Island [WA Dept. of Ecology]

Huckleberry Island is situated in the center of the Samish Nation's traditional territory, and is approximately 4 miles south of Samish Island, the site of the tribe's largest historical village. The state agreed in 2010 to transfer ownership of Huckleberry Island, just east of Guemes Island, to the Samish Island Nation. As the steward of Huckleberry Island, the tribe is committed to maintaining public day use access to the island, which is frequently visited and explored by boaters and kayakers. The Samish Nation intends to develop an inventory of plant species on the island, and assess the impacts of invasive species. (Anacortes Now)

Signs of a hidden threat: preparing for the really big one
New signs around the Salish Sea raise awareness in areas that might be inundated by tsunami. Adam M. Sowards reports. (Salish Current)

Out of the smokestack, into the state budget
Washington’s cap-and-trade auctions are pulling in money faster than expected, spurring new ideas for spending, along with calls to rework the program to ease costs for consumers. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

A company was forced to reduce logging in Haida Gwaii’s old-growth forests. Now they’re suing for $75M
The Haida Gwaii Management Council’s decision to protect ancient trees meant Teal-Jones could no longer log them. Now, the B.C. Supreme Court will decide who pays when conservation cuts into corporate profit. Arno Kopecky reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. groundwater licensing delays abound, 7 years after requirement was introduced
According the provincial forestry ministry's website, there are about 20,000 non-domestic groundwater users in B.C. People who use groundwater for their household are not required to get a licence or pay fees. Mike Wei, a hydrogeologist who has worked with the provincial government on its groundwater program, believes as few as 7,000 businesses or organizations have applied for licences. (CBC)

Tofino remains vigilant as water reservoirs hit lowest level
Short-term rental operators, resorts and hotels asked to remove unnecessary linens and bathtub stoppers to discourage tub use. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to 'endangered' status
Washington’s Western gray squirrels are in trouble. So much so that state officials are considering uplisting the squirrels from threatened to endangered. The change comes after a periodic status review. Declining habitat is a big problem for the squirrels. Biologists said their habitat has changed because of timber harvests, wildfires, land conversion and climate change. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News)

The Biden administration is ending drilling leases in ANWR, at least for now
The Biden administration is canceling the only seven oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The leases were originally issued by the Trump administration over the protests of environmentalists and some Alaska Native groups who argue the region should be protected as a critical wildlife habitat. Ximena Bustillo reports. (NPR)

Video captures another sunfish spotted in the Puget Sound
An ocean sunfish called a Mola Mola was spotted while a couple was cruising south between McNeil and Anderson islands. Mola Molas can grow to 11 feet long and weigh more than a ton. This is the second sunfish spotted in recent weeks in our region. Last week, Jonah Zimmerman got a video of the big fish swimming near his boat not far from Tacoma. (KIRO)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  243 AM PDT Thu Sep 7 2023   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 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 9 seconds.

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