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.

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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.

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