Salish Sea News and Weather: October 2023

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

10/31 Jack'o'lantern, GasLink, AI salmon monitoring, regulating AI, wolf kill rules, North Cr protection, backcountry roads, WSF ferry loss

Pumpkinpedia

Jack'o'lantern
A jack-o'-lantern is a carved lantern, most commonly made from a pumpkin, or formerly a root vegetable such as a rutabaga or turnip. Jack-o'-lanterns are associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called jack-o'-lanterns. (Wikipedia)

Despite opposition and environmental violations, major B.C. pipeline project nearly complete
TC Energy says the 670-km Coastal GasLink pipeline has been fully installed from Dawson Creek to Kitimat. (CBC)

First Nations harness power of AI to monitor wild salmon stocks in B.C.
AI technology developed in partnership with conservation groups, Simon Fraser University, and First Nations on B.C.'s North and Central coasts is being used to sort through that footage to differentiate between species. The results of a pilot study, recently published in Frontiers in Marine Science, show that the computer vision deep learning model — which is being called 'Salmon Vision' — was about 90 per cent accurate when it came to detecting coho and 80 per cent accurate for sockeye after reviewing more than 500,000 video frames. (CBC)

Executive Order on A.I. Tries to Balance Technology’s Potential and Peril
Regulate A.I. too slowly and you might miss out on the chance to prevent potential hazards and dangerous misuses of the technology. React too quickly and you risk writing bad or harmful rules, stifling innovation or ending up in a position like the European Union’s. It first released its A.I. Act in 2021, just before a wave of new generative A.I. tools arrived, rendering much of the act obsolete. Kevin Roose reports. (NY Times)

Conservationists fail in push to tighten WA wolf killing rules
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission rejected a petition to update rules around when the state authorizes lethal action against wolves that attack livestock. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

$596,000 will help this Pierce County city finish preserving 50 acres of salmon habitat
The Pierce County Council recently approved funding for the fourth and final phase of the North Creek Salmon Heritage Site. The final 11.41 acres marks an incredible achievement for Gig Harbor by ensuring that more than 50 acres of connected land along North Creek is protected in perpetuity. Carly Vester reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Loved to death: the unpopular prospect of closing backcountry roads to save wildlife
Abandoned forest service roads provide great access to the outdoors but they leave species like caribou and grizzlies vulnerable. And efforts to get rid of them cause community uproar. Jimmy Thomson reports. (The Narwhal)

WA ferry fleet loses a Seattle to Bremerton boat; strain continues
Washington’s ferry system hit a low point over the weekend as yet another boat had to be taken out of service, leaving the fleet with just 14 working ships out of 21 owned by the state. The Chimacum ferry, among Washington State Ferries’ newer boats, was docked Saturday morning after a rod broke in one of its engines. David Kroman reports. (Seattle Times)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PDT Tue Oct 31 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft. SW swell 2 ft at 15 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 15 seconds.

--
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Monday, October 30, 2023

10/30 Deadman's Island, BP refinery, managing tourism, cigarette butts, snow crabs, wildfire rules, giant hornets, green ships

Deadman's Island
[J. Wood Laing/City of Vancouver Archives]

Deadman Island
Deadman Island is a 3.8 ha island to the south of Stanley Park in Coal Harbour in Vancouver. The indigenous Squamish name is "skwtsa7s", meaning simply "island." Officially designated Deadman Island by the Geographical Names Board of Canada in 1937, it is commonly referred to as Deadman's Island. One of Vancouver's first white settlers, John Morton, visited the island in 1862. Morton discovered hundreds of red cedar boxes lashed to the upper boughs of trees and one had evidently fallen and broken to reveal a jumble of bones and a tassel of black hair. The island was the tree-burial grounds of the Squamish people. (Wikipedia)

WA’s largest oil refinery ramps up cleaner fuels as climate laws take hold
BP’s Cherry Point facility, which belched more than 2 million metric tons of climate-warming gases into the atmosphere in 2021, is in a phase of transition as state laws and incentives push the oil giant away from fossil fuels. The oil company has goals of producing less carbon emissions than it removes from the atmosphere by 2050. It was among those advocating for a market-based approach to reduce carbon emissions from the state’s biggest polluters. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Managing tourism at core of destination plan controversy
Undocumented claims, local rants and raves are rolling in as the comment deadline nears for San Juan County’s Draft Destination Management Plan. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

Cigarette butts remain Vancouver's most littered item — and a seemingly unsolvable waste problem
As well as being unsightly, cigarette butts are a toxic scourge due to their composition, and, in coastal cities like Vancouver, easily end up polluting the ocean, where they become a serious threat to biodiversity loss and ecosystem health. Yet cigarette butts are still the No. 1 most littered item in Vancouver, where several education and mitigation programs over the years — including the threat of up to $10,000 in fines — have done little to make it socially unacceptable to discard them in the street. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Second snow crab season canceled as researchers pinpoint cause
The precipitous drop of Alaskan snow crab populations by 90% to only one billion currently is attributed to warming ocean temperatures caused by climate change. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

New rules to protect homes from wildfire ignite controversy
The requirements are set to take effect in March. Critics say they apply to too many areas, will drive up housing costs and result in trees getting needlessly cut down. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

All quiet on the Northwestern giant hornet front (so far)
No northern giant hornets have turned up in Washington state so far this year, according to Washington agriculture officials. Nearly 1,000 orange-juice-filled traps have been deployed since July, mostly in Whatcom County, near the Canada border, in hopes of detecting northern giant hornets before any of the unwelcome invaders can reproduce or spread to new territory. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Shipping Contributes Heavily to Climate Change. Are Green Ships the Solution?
The container shipping lines that carry the bulk of global trade are betting on greener technologies, but there are still reasons those wagers could fail. Ana Swanson reports. (NY Times)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 249 AM PDT Mon Oct 30 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 1 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.

Friday, October 27, 2023

10/27 Tunicate, Indigenous old-growth fund, port director fired, no BC grizzly hunt, mobile home parks, elasmosaur, kelp record, week in review

Star Tunicate
[Massimiliano De Martino/WikiMedia]

Star Tunicate Botryllus schlosseri
Tunicates, also called ascidians, are the “sea squirts” we find in marine environments. Tunicates are fixed in place, sessile filter-feeding animals that need water currents flowing around them to bring them food, carry away their wastes, and spread their reproductive efforts. When you come near one that has been exposed by the falling tide, it may squirt out a jet of water. When the tide recedes, the animals keep sea water bathing their respiratory organs to allow normal respiration. (Puget Sound Museum of Natural History)

‘The money that’s needed’: B.C. announces $300-million Indigenous conservation fund to protect old-growth forests
The new funding is welcomed by conservation groups that say the province has voiced support for old forest protections while continuing to allow clearcut logging in rare ecosystems and in the habitat of endangered species. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Worra fired as Port of Anacortes executive director
Citing “different ideas and different working styles,” Port of Anacortes commissioners voted to terminate employment of the Port’s executive director. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

No Plan to Reopen BC Grizzly Bear Hunt, Says Minister
As consultation period ends, the six-year-old ban on the trophy hunt looks set to stay in place. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Mobile home residents are seizing the opportunity to buy their parks
Mobile home parks are coming up for sale and there are signs that a new law giving residents a chance to buy them is working. Since mid-July, 11 properties have gone on the market in Washington and residents of seven are using tools from the three-month-old law to pursue ownership. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C.'s new fossil emblem an 80-million-year-old marine reptile
B.C. has officially designated a large, fierce-looking marine reptile that swam in waters off Vancouver Island 80 million years ago as the province’s official fossil emblem. The government adopted the long-necked, sharp-toothed 12-metre elasmosaur as the fossil emblem on Thursday, adding to the list of provincial symbols. (Canadian Press)

Kelp Keeps a Record of Environmental Calamity
By studying where kelp populations have been wiped out and replaced, scientists are developing a new way to understand historical environmental destruction. Bill Morris reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/27/23: Lemur Friday, BC disaster plan, WA drought, Haida Gwaii invasion, derelict vessels, BC cruise ship season, WA fire season, Nooksack flooding, BC water management, BC Indigenous old-growth fund.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 230 AM PDT Fri Oct 27 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT E wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

10/26 Gourds, WA firs season, 'most special place,' Nooksack flooding, BC food banks, BC water management, Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales

Gourds [Martha Stewart Living]

Gourds
Gourds play a pretty big part in the fall season. They tend to crop up as table decor for your Thanksgiving tablescape or in craft projects for your harvest-themed fall porch. But gourds are more than just ornamental fall decor. These hard-shelled fruits have also played host to musical instruments, sponges, and even bird houses over the centuries (yes, centuries!). (Martha Stewart)

WA lands chief: State just had one of its ‘most challenging’ fire seasons ever
Lands commissioner Hilary Franz says while responders kept most fires contained, the overall number of blazes was at a historic high, and more burned in western Washington. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

Lopez Island 'most special place' to be held in local control
Watmough Bay Higgins property management discussions raise issues of tribal, federal co-management. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

B.C., Wash. agree to address Nooksack River flooding, set no timeline
A recent agreement signed by B.C. and Washington State to come up with projects to address flooding from the Nooksack River does not lay out a timeline or funding obligations. While local government officials on both sides of the border welcomed the agreement, they stressed it is imperative to get on with solutions to complex problems, set priorities, and put up some money. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C. food banks struggle to keep up as demand across Canada soars
New data shows food bank visits are rising across Canada, and British Columbia is no exception. A new report from Food Banks Canada released Wednesday found that this year food bank usage rose to its highest level since the survey started in 1989. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

BC Overhauls Water Management as Scarcity Looms
Mopping up British Columbia’s water management mess is now the responsibility of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen. Cullen takes on the water file, along with several other new duties, in a significant transfer of responsibilities from the Ministry of Forests. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales
David B. Williams, “an evangelist for the practice of paying attention,” introduces the book "Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State" he co-authored with Elizabeth Nesbit. The book highlights the stories of the half billion years of plants and animals that have lived in the state (or what is now the state). (Street Smart Naturalist)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 243 AM PDT Thu Oct 26 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

10/25 Cauliflower mushroom, weather, Vancouver port record, First Nations partnership, young voters, saving redwoods

Cauliflower mushroom [Wikipedia]

Cauliflower mushroom Sparassis crispa
Sparassis crispa is a species of fungus in the family Sparassidaceae. It is sometimes called cauliflower fungus. This species is a brown rot fungus, found growing at the base of conifer trunks, often pines, but also spruce, cedar, larch and others. When young they are tough and rubbery but later they become soft. The odour is pleasant and the taste of the flesh mild. (Wikipedia)

B.C. Hydro scrambles to restore power to tens of thousands of South Coast customers
Wind and heavy rain across the South Coast of British Columbia have resulted in tens of thousands of residents losing power. (CBC) Meanwhile: The Fraser Outflow Wind, our cold air conduit, is alive and well over Whatcom County, transporting modified arctic air from the interior reaches of British Columbia into the western Washington lowlands. That winter feel is evident, especially over the next few nights as lows dip into the 30s. (KOMO)

Port of Vancouver posts record-breaking cruise ship season
The Port of Vancouver staff knew they would welcome a record 332 cruise ship visits at its Canada Place terminal before the season started, but the cruise lines still managed to outdo themselves on the number of passengers they carried. Those vessels reached a 90 per cent occupancy rate to close out Vancouver’s cruise season Tuesday with the departure of the Holland America Line’s Koningsdam at a record 1.25 million passengers. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Vancouver Island First Nations enter partnership with forest company
The Campbell River area First Nations are acquiring a 34 per cent ownership stake in the new partnership with Western Forest Products Inc. for $35.9 million. (Canadian Press)

Minimum wage increases, renter protections high priority among young voters
Initiatives on Bellingham’s general election ballot to raise the minimum wage and strengthen renter protections are personal for many young voters in the city, and they intend to show it when ballots drop on Oct. 20. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

Can We Save the Redwoods by Helping Them Move?
The largest trees on the planet can’t easily ‘migrate’ — but in a warming world, some humans are helping them try to find new homes. Moises Velasquez-Manoff reports. (NY Times)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Wed Oct 25 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

10/24 Giant sea cuke, Haida Gwaii invasion, derelict vessels, stormwater, clean energy growth, island annual fee, port director leave, Texas carbon storage

Giant sea cucumber [Sea Grant]

Giant sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus
The California sea cucumber, also known as the giant California sea cucumber, is a sea cucumber that can be found from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California. It is found from the low intertidal zone to a depth of 250 m. They are most abundant in areas with moderate current with cobbles, boulders or bedrock. (Wikipedia)

‘Crabs everywhere’: off Canada’s Pacific coast, Indigenous Haida fight a host of invasive species
The unique wildlife of Haida Gwaii’s 150 islands is under attack by invasive crabs, rats and deer – echoing how local people also became vulnerable to outside forces. Leyland Cecco reports. (The Guardian)

Northwest sinks millions into derelict vessel removal on region’s waterways
Leaking fuel and other toxins from hundreds of abandoned ships in Oregon and Washington pose serious environmental risks. Tom Banse reports.(Washington State Standard)

Stormwater volunteers find success in hunt for pollution
Small groups of volunteers wielding plastic tubes and water testing devices are on the hunt for stormwater pollution. Three years after the start of a small monitoring program based in Anacortes, the project’s data has propelled several investigations and cleanups of pollutants. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

With growth in clean energy 'unstoppable,' fossil fuels will peak by 2030, energy agency says
IEA says nearly half of world's electricity supply will come from renewable energy by decade's end. Benjamin Shingler reports. (CBC)

San Juan Islands consider annual tourism fee for residents, visitors
San Juan County is seeking public feedback through the end of October on a proposal to implement an annual fee of $10-$15 for bikes, boats and cars. Residents and visitors would be required to purchase the passes, which would fund management and infrastructure improvements needed to address the impacts of more people on the islands, the county said. Vonnai Phair reports. (Seattle Times)

Anacortes port’s executive director placed on paid leave
Anacortes Port Executive Director Dan Worra was placed on administrative leave after a 4–0 at the Port Commission’s regular meeting Oct. 19. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

Texas Bets Big on Undersea Carbon Storage
The state is doling out offshore leases to oil and gas companies proposing to bury climate-warming carbon dioxide deep beneath the seafloor. But critics worry about leakage, pipeline safety, and the lackluster record of carbon capture technologies. Amal Ahmed reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 351 AM PDT Tue Oct 24 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds subsiding to 3 ft at 7 seconds. A slight chance of rain this morning then rain in the morning. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon. Patchy fog in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NE 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

Monday, October 23, 2023

10/23 Sunflower sea star, BC disaster response, WA drought, gas prices, BC Ferries crisis, tsunami maps, bird sanctuary, farming salmon

Sunflower Sea Star [NOAA]

These Starfish Face Extinction. Scientists Are Helping Them Mate.
Scientists estimate that more than 5 billion sunflower sea stars, once a mighty predator, have died in the Pacific Ocean because of warming waters. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography near San Diego successfully spawned three sunflower sea stars this month, the latest success story in a sprawling collaborative effort among institutions to help sea stars reproduce and eventually reintroduce them to the wild. Remy Tumin reports. (NY Times)

What will B.C. do when disaster strikes again?
As the climate crisis intensifies, experts weigh in on proposed changes to province's decades-old emergency legislation. Francesca Fionda reports. (The Narwhal)

WA still suffers from drought despite rain — and El Niño won’t help
Despite recent rainfall most of Washington still suffers from drought and climatologists say the months ahead aren’t likely to offer much relief. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Why are gas prices rising at stations unaffected by cap-and-trade?
Even oil companies not participating in the state's new carbon auction system are pumping up the cost to the consumer. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

The Crisis at BC Ferries
Why no reservations frequently means long waits on the main routes.
Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

WA’s new tsunami maps show how long it would take to walk to safety
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources released new evacuation maps that show residents of coastal communities how to walk to a safe spot if a tsunami hits — hoping to prepare for the aftermath of an earthquake experts say is coming. Lauren Rosenblatt reports. (Seattle Times) See: "Signs of a hidden threat: preparing for the really big one" Salish Current, Sept. 6, 2023)

Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary marks 100 years
Migratory bird sanctuaries were designed as a respite for millions of birds on their long migrations, serving as places to feed, nest and rear their young, but they have become about much more than migrating birds. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

The Salmon on Your Plate Has a Troubling Cost. These Farms Offer Hope.
A revolution in the way Americans eat salmon is quietly being fomented inside a former factory building on the industrial edges of Auburn, a small city in the Finger Lakes region of New York. At LocalCoho, one of the country’s few sustainable salmon farms, 50,000 silvery coho salmon glide through concrete tanks filled with freshwater that recirculates through biofilters every half-hour. Melissa Clark reports. (NY Times)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 308 AM PDT Mon Oct 23 2023
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM PDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY W wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the afternoon. W swell 7 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 9 seconds subsiding to 6 ft at 9 seconds after midnight. Rain likely after midnight.

Friday, October 20, 2023

10/20 Muskrat, Roberts Bank threats, El Nino, Cedar R sockeye, Osprey Park, Riverfront Park, week in review

Muskrat [WikiMedia]

Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
The muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. It has important effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans. (Wikipedia)

Myriad major threats to Salish Sea in proposed B.C. port terminal expansion
Commentary: It’s time for residents across the Salish Sea region to come together and holistically assess long-term implications of a historically significant infrastructure project proposed at Roberts Bank in Lower British Columbia. Derek Moscato writes. (Salish Current)

How El Niño is expected to impact Puget Sound this winter
In western Washington, NOAA forecasted a high probability of above-normal temperatures and equal chances of below, near or above-normal precipitation. (KING)

Sockeye salmon return to the Cedar River
These natural sockeye were born and grew up in this freshwater highway, heading for saltwater as year-old smolt, not much bigger than a pen cap. After three years in the ocean, these high-seas migrators return from as far as the Bering Sea and head back to this complicated river system they call home. After braving the Ballard Locks, half of them won’t survive the heat and disease of Lake Washington. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

In Osprey Park, salmon embrace Sultan River's newly restored channel
Snohomish County PUD promised in 2011 to create 10,000 feet of habitat in the Sultan. It has since established over 12,000. Ta'Leah Van Sistine (Everett Herald)

Project to improve fish passage completed
Salmon now have a smoother route up an unnamed creek that empties into the Skagit River near Riverfront Park. The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group partnered with the city of Sedro-Woolley to remove an aging culvert in the creek and replace it with a footbridge in order to improve salmon passage. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/20/23: Happy birthday Calvin, megafires, climate math, L25, Lolita necropsy, Indigenous incarceration, BC spotted owl, plane fuel lead pollution.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 354 AM PDT Fri Oct 20 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming E to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT Light wind. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.
SAT NIGHT Light wind. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN NE wind to 10 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

10/19 River otter, ShakeOut Day, BC spotted owl, lead pollution, North Fork Stilliguamish restoration, BC Ferries, WA lands commissioner, cigarette butts

River otter [American Rivers]

River otter Lontra canadensis
The North American river otter, also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that only lives on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg. (Wikipedia)

Great ShakeOut Day
This year's International ShakeOut Day is October 19, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home! At 10:19 a.m. (local time) on 10/19, you can join millions of people across the world practicing earthquake safety. (ShakeOut)

‘It’s never too late’: Canada taken to court for near-extinction of spotted owls
As the species hangs on to survival in the country, the federal government will defend its role in delaying emergency measures that could have helped the raptor from disappearing in B.C.’s heavily logged forests. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Lead pollution from small planes threatens human health, EPA finds
Agency takes first step toward regulations aimed at reducing exposure to a dangerous neurotoxin, a potential health benefit for people who live near smaller airports. Timothy Puko and Lori Aratani report. (Washington Post)

Stillaguamish Tribe to ‘repair, restore’ river with salmon funding
Over $1 million in grants will help the tribe to restore the Trafton floodplain and plant trees along the North Fork Stillaguamish. Ta'Leah van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

B.C. Ferries faces criticism after more cancelled sailings
Earlier this month, B.C.'s transportation ministry released a statement on its plan to fine B.C. Ferries when it cancels "core service" sailings because of staffing shortages. B.C. Ferries says two sailings were cancelled Wednesday due to a crew shortage. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Wednesday that B.C. Ferries has been active in hiring and connecting with post-secondary programs, but is still falling short. (CBC)

No, it's not weird that so many people are running for WA lands commissioner
The pool of candidates vying to become Washington's next commissioner of public lands is getting crowded. As of mid-October, seven candidates are in the running for next year’s election, with five Democrats and two Republicans in the mix. Seven people also ran for the position in the 2016 primary. Jeanie Lindsay reports. (NW News Network)

In Graphic Detail: Cigarette Butt Research Is Lighting Up
As the world’s beaches and oceans have become one giant ashtray, research has accelerated on what many are calling a global crisis. Jude Isabella reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 233 AM PDT Thu Oct 19 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING
TODAY S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 11 ft at 15 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of rain.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

10/18 Sea otter, L25, Tokitae necropsy, Nelson’s checker-mallow, Indigenous incarceration

Sea otter [Marshall Hedin/WikiMedia]

Sea otter Enhydra lutris
The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg, making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. (Wikipedia)

The oldest Puget Sound orca: L25 may be approaching 100
L25 is the world’s oldest known living wild orca, the uncontested reigning matriarch of the southern resident orcas that frequent Puget Sound. She ascended to that post after the death of J2, in 2017 at an estimated age of 105. No one knows exactly how old L25 is, said Michael Weiss, research director of the nonprofit Center for Whale Research. But “our best estimate is she is approaching 100 years old right now,” Weiss said. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

What killed Lolita? Necropsy findings released for the Seaquarium’s beloved orca
The Seaquarium’s beloved performing killer whale, Lolita, appears to have died of old age and multiple chronic illnesses, according to the executive summary of her necropsy released Tuesday afternoon to the Miami Herald. Lolita, also known as Tokitae or Toki, died Aug. 18 at the age of 57. Her carcass was swiftly packed in ice and driven to the University of Georgia, where a necropsy was completed on Aug. 19. In initial reports, the Seaquarium cited kidney failure as the cause of death. That finding appears to be backed up by the documents released by the Seaquarium on Tuesday. Alex Harris and Linda Robertson report. (Miami Herald)

Wildflower in Oregon and southwest Washington removed from federal protection
A Northwest wildflower that was classified 30 years ago as threatened under the Endangered Species Act no longer needs that protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday that Nelson’s checker-mallow will be coming off the Endangered Species list 30 days after the upcoming notice appears in the Federal Register. Lynne Terry reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Indigenous people in WA incarcerated at higher rates than any other group, data show
Washington in recent years imprisoned Indigenous people at more than six times the rate of white people. That’s according to U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics data that the Prison Policy Initiative assembled and released last month. The 2021 figures posted by the advocacy group are the most recent information available. Native peoples make up about 2% of the state’s population and 5% of the state prison population. While Washington state incarcerates fewer people than most states, it also incarcerates a higher rate of Indigenous people than much of the nation. Grace Deng reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 207 AM PDT Wed Oct 18 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING TODAY S wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 11 ft at 11 seconds subsiding to 5 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the afternoon. Patchy fog in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds building to 12 ft at 15 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

10/17 Harbor porpoise, archivist Jeff Jewell, Tidepoolers Club, Nisg̱a’a belongings, Green Lake

Harbor porpoise [NOAA]

Harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena
The harbor porpoise has increased in abundance in the Washington’s Salish Sea during the past 20 to 25 years. It is now considered common in this area and may be at historically high population levels. Two stocks are known to occur in Washington: Northern Oregon-Washington Coast Stock and Washington Inland Waters Stock. A variety of factors lead to the near extirpation of harbor porpoise from Puget Sound. The species’ interactions with fisheries and pollution are two threats that were a known problem in the inner marine waters during the period of harbor porpoise decline during the 1970s through 1990s. Changes have been made in recent decades to reduce the impact of these threats, allowing the Washington Inland Waters Stock of harbor porpoise to increase to its current level. (WDFW)

Keeper of archival treasures has ‘the coolest job’
One of the “coolest” jobs around is held by the keeper of the Whatcom Museum’s photography archive of 200,000 images — from the Kinseys, Carver and many more. John M. Harris writes. (Salish Current)

Tidepoolers Club
The tidepooler knows that beneath every barnacle-covered rock rests a potential world of wonder. (SeaDoc Society)

‘Welcome home, dear ancestor’: after nearly a century, a stolen totem pole returns to the Nisg̱a’a Nation
The long-awaited rematriation of the pst’aan offers a template for the return of Indigenous belongings. Cara McKenna and Matt Simmons report. (The Narwhal)

Seattle's Green Lake closed due to toxic algae
Stay out of Green Lake until further notice. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has closed the lake because toxic algae was found in the water. (KUOW)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 209 AM PDT Tue Oct 17 2023
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 20 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 12 seconds building to 7 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. Rain.

Monday, October 16, 2023

10/16 Orcas are back, whale songs, Vancouver wastewater strike, Skagit drought, carbon social cost, WA voters guide, megafires

J-38, Cookie, breaches the water with L-110, Midnight, nearby.
[Photo: Rachel Haight, Orca Network]

Shhh! The orcas are back in Puget Sound
At least 20 endangered orcas delighted Seattle-area whale watchers Thursday with their first visit of the fall to central Puget Sound...Beyond sparking joy in onlookers, the orcas’ return triggered a three-month-long voluntary slowdown for big ships motoring through Puget Sound...The slowdown area includes a 25-mile long stretch of Puget Sound from Edmonds to Admiralty Inlet near Port Townsend. Canada’s Port of Vancouver has been asking commercial vessels to reduce their speeds in some nearby areas since 2017, with seasonal voluntary slowdown zones at the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and in Haro Strait, west of the San Juan Islands. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

It’s a new season of whale song on B.C.'s West Coast
Autumn is the season of whale song on the Pacific Northwest Coast, says longtime researcher Janie Wray. Male humpbacks off the B.C. coast are beginning to get vocal practising and modifying a supernatural and intricate song that is transmitted and almost simultaneously adopted among themselves before and during their winter migration to warmer climes. (Vancouver Sun)

Hundreds of Metro Vancouver workers on strike at wastewater plants
Around 670 workers who operate Metro Vancouver's five waste water treatment plants stopped work Monday morning and are picketing as they seek a new collective agreement from their employer. (CBC)

Drought in Skagit County: Rains return in time for salmon; environment still seeing impact
Climate change will impact drought in Skagit County in two major ways. State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco said warmer winter temperatures will reduce the amount of water stored in snowpack that is usually released in spring, and less summer precipitation will mean there is less water in streams for fish and people. Rachel Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

The Supreme Court rejected a Republican challenge to Biden’s climate math
The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the “social cost of carbon,” one of the most important calculations in U.S. climate policy, on Tuesday. The controversial metric attempts to quantify the hidden price of emitting carbon dioxide, from flood damage to health effects. The court’s surprise decision sets the stage for the Biden administration to broaden the metric’s use across federal agencies when formulating climate-related regulations. Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

Washington State Voter Guide 2023
It won't tell you who to vote for but it will tell you everything else you need to know to be an informed voter in Bellingham, King County, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Yakima. (Crosscut)

How Megafires Are Remaking the World
Fire is a natural phenomenon; some species actually benefit from its effects and even those that don’t can be remarkably resilient in the face of flames. But as fires intensify, they are beginning to outstrip nature’s ability to bounce back. “Not all fires have the same impact,” said Morgan Tingley, an ecologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “These megafires are not good for ecosystems.” Emily Anthes reports. (NY Times)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 746 AM PDT Mon Oct 16 2023 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SW 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft. SE swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then showers and a chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. SW swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. Showers and a chance of tstms in the evening then showers likely after midnight.

Friday, October 13, 2023

10/13 Elephant seal, WA hydrogen, orca population status, Edmonds Marsh salmon, WA redistricting, week in review

Northern elephant seal [WikiMedia/Jan Roletto]

Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris
The northern elephant seal is the largest of the “true” seals in the Northern Hemisphere. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. The largest colonies of northern elephant seals are found off southern California in the Channel Islands. They have one of the longest migrations of any mammal; some have been recorded traveling over 13,000 miles roundtrip. (NOAA)

WA hydrogen production to get a boost from share of $1B in funding
Washington, Oregon and Montana will receive $1 billion from the federal Department of Energy to establish eight hydrogen production sites across the three states. The money, allocated to the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, comes from a new program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and makes the Pacific Northwest one of seven hydrogen hubs. The proposed sites include Bellingham, Centralia, East Wenatchee and Kennewick in Washington; Portland, Boardman and Baker City in Oregon; and St. Regis in Montana. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

A no-death census year for Puget Sound’s orcas, with observations about a recent shift to more female births
Christopher Dunagan writes: "For the first time since Census Year 1993, no deaths were reported this year among the Southern Resident killer whales, which frequent Puget Sound, according to the official census report. Two new births were reported among the whales, increasing the population from 73 to 75. I would also like to share some potentially hopeful information about what appears to be a shift in the male-to-female ratio at birth." (Puget Sound Institute)

Advocates of Edmonds Marsh want salmon back, but they disagree on how
Over a century ago, the Edmonds Marsh enveloped about 100 acres and featured tidal openings that welcomed salmon. Now, the brackish marsh is 22½ acres with no trace of the Chinook and coho salmon that once swam through its shallows. City officials and environmentalists are interested in about an adjacent 21 acres of possible marsh expansion. But city leaders disagree on who — the city or the state — should buy the property. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

How well did WA do with redistricting? New report grades the state's process
Washington’s framework for redrawing legislative and congressional districts is working OK but there’s room for improvement, particularly with transparency and keeping politicians away from the process. That’s according to a new report that looks at redistricting across the country. Washington scored B-minus. Ten states did better, receiving an A-minus or a B. But 35 were further down the list, with grades of C-plus or lower, including seven with F grades. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/13/23: Paddington Friday,Tacoma warehouse, Meadowdale Beach Park, hottest summer, Elwha fishing, wind power, wildfires, BC spotted owl, orcas status.

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Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 309 AM PDT Fri Oct 13 2023
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 4 ft at 10 seconds building to 10 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. Rain likely.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. SW swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft building to 4 to 6 ft after midnight. SW swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.
SUN SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. SW swell 9 ft at 13 seconds.

Thursday, October 12, 2023

10/12 Slippery Jack, Coastal GasLink, Stopps Award, wildfire impacts, BC spotted owl, BC grizzly management

Slippery Jack [Walt Sturgeon/Creative Commons]

Slippery Jack Suillus luteus
Slippery Jack is a most widespread summer and autumn fungus. It is the type species of the Suillus genus. The very slimy (when wet) cap surface is the origin of the common name, which in some countries is applied to several members of the genus Suillus. (First Nature)

‘Hard to believe it’s real’: B.C.’s energy regulator repeatedly gave Coastal GasLink a pass on alleged environmental infractions
The BC Energy Regulator was given sweeping powers over a suite of provincial laws designed to protect the environment and cultural heritage but documents reveal its compliance and enforcement officers rarely exercised those powers following inspections of Coastal GasLink construction sites. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Stopps award presented
Kevin Long, who has been the driving force in several major salmon habitat restoration projects in Jefferson and Clallam counties, is the 2023 recipient of the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. (Peninsula Daily News)

What impacts did wildfires have on the Northwest this summer?
In Washington, a total of 165,365 acres burned, according to Angie Lane, who works for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources in the wildland fire management division. The 10-year annual average for acres burned is 472,881. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

B.C.'s last spotted owl faces uncertain future
The federal government will not intervene to prevent logging in spotted owl habitat in southwestern B.C. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Conservationists worry B.C.'s draft plan for grizzly bear management could bring back trophy hunting
Fifty-five scientists, advocates and nature-based organizations have signed a joint letter, published by Pacific Wild on Oct. 6, opposing B.C.'s draft Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework, which they worry will lead to the return of grizzly bear trophy hunting. rrthy Thayaparan reports. (CBC)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 253 AM PDT Thu Oct 12 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 6 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

10/11 Lantern plant, Jaime Herrera Beutler, BC flood strategy, Snake R toxic algae, Fraser R park barge berth, offshore wind, 'freak of nature' tree

Lantern plant

Lantern plant Alkekengi officinarum
The bladder cherry, Chinese lantern, Japanese-lantern, strawberry groundcherry, or winter cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is a popular ornamental plant, widely cultivated in temperate regions of the world, and very hardy to below −20 °C (−4 °F). The dried fruit is called the golden flower in the Unani system of medicine, and used as a diuretic, antiseptic, liver corrective, and sedative. (Wikipedia)

WA lands commissioner race heats up with former GOP congresswoman’s entry
Jaime Herrera Beutler, whose vote to impeach Trump cost her a House seat, buoys Republicans hopes of capturing the statewide office. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Adequate funding must underpin B.C. flood strategy, communities say
Southern B.C. and Interior communities were devastated by deadly 2021 flooding that caused billions of dollars in damage, displaced tens of thousands of people, ripped out bridges, and washed away homes and roads. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Large Snake River toxic algal bloom hasn’t happened before
From the air above Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, a green sheen spreads out over the water. That colorful sheen is actually a harmful algal bloom that’s covered around 30 miles of river. Whitman County Public Health said it hasn’t seen a harmful algal bloom like this on the Snake before. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News/KNKX)

Hundreds sign petition opposed to industrial barge berth at popular Fraser River park
A proposed industrial barge berth to help build upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant at Iona Beach Regional Park has drawn criticism from hundreds of people concerned about its impact on the area. The barge berth would support construction of the new Iona Island wastewater treatment plant, located at a popular recreational area in Richmond at the mouth of the Fraser River. The area is home to migratory birds and other wildlife. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC)

Inslee pushes for Washington to become offshore wind manufacturing hub
Generating energy from offshore wind turbines is part of a federal strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Biden administration has a goal of generating 30 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2030. Washington government and business leaders want manufacturers of offshore wind turbines to build equipment in the state. The Blue Wind Supply Chain Initiative is a partnership with public and private sector leaders, labor groups and research institutions. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

‘Freak of nature’ tree is the find of a lifetime for forest explorer
TJ Watt has spent half his life as a forest explorer, a self-described “tree hunter” in British Columbia. He wades deep into endangered forests to find pristine towering trees that are hundreds of years old and massively wide but have never been photographed or documented. He found the cedar in British Columbia standing 151 feet tall and about 17 feet in diameter. Cathy Free reports. (Washington Post)

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Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PDT Wed Oct 11 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 14 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 12 ft at 14 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 12 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 10 ft at 12 seconds after midnight. A slight chance of showers in the evening.

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

10/10 Russula, fishing the Elwha, food waste, Sunday's quake, new WA ferries

Russula emetica

Russula
Russula is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors. (Wikipedia)

Tribe catches coho salmon on free-flowing Elwha River, a first since dam removals
Two dams blocked nearly 90 miles of river and tributary habitat on the Elwha, or more than 90% of the river, since 1911. But both the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were gone by August 2014 after a couple of years of demolition in what was the largest dam removal project ever undertaken. And on Monday, the wait for a run of salmon healthy enough to be fished was over. A broad fishing moratorium on the river remains in place, but the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, in agreement with Olympic National Park and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, was able to fish for coho salmon for tribal and subsistence use. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Reducing food waste: part of the food insecurity solution
Food insecurity is a multifaceted issue with more than one cause — but managing food wastes may be part of the solution. Aria Nguyen reports. (Salish Current)

Mild quake shakes Western Washington. What should we do to prepare for something bigger?
Did you feel it Sunday night at 7:21? Some did, others had no idea. That's when Western Washington experienced a 4.3 magnitude earthquake. It was centered south of Port Townsend, near Marrowstone Island, about 35 miles below the Earth's surface. There was no tsunami risk, and there haven't been any reports of significant damage. So crisis averted, for now. Things were different 22 years ago when the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake hit, causing $4 billion in damage and injuring 400 people. The Nisqually quake originated from a shift in the same Juan de Fuca Plate and occurred at the same depth, but in a different location, 11 miles north of Olympia. John O'Brian reports. (KUOW)

Builder for new WA ferries to be chosen in summer 2024
As the state’s ferries age, Washington State Ferries expects it won’t find a builder for its new class of hybrid-electric boats until summer of 2024, kicking off a sprint to deliver two new vessels by its target date of late 2027. The protracted process is the result of an overhauled approach to ferry construction in Washington state that now allows for out-of-state builders to bid on contracts — a change from the in-state requirements of the previous decades. David Kroman reports. (Seattle Times)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PDT Tue Oct 10 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
TODAY E wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 10 ft at 10 seconds. Rain in the morning then showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 20 to 30 kt becoming 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 10 ft at 11 seconds building to 14 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. A slight chance of tstms in the evening. Showers.