11/16 Kelp crab, carbon auction, climate report, fire and flood, Port Renfrew beach, WA capital gains tax, monitoring report, dead geese

 Kelp crab

Kelp Crab Pugettia producta
These crabs are in a large group of crabs called spider crabs. They generally have long legs with relatively small body, usually conspicuously pointed in front. Kelp crabs, as their name implies, are typically associated with species of kelp, and they are colored much like them. They are also common, especially younger individuals, in the low intertidal in beds of other algae and eelgrass. They are easily found under rocks and other objects at extreme low tides. Females can be seen carrying eggs throughout most of the year. Such females are absent for several summer months, and it is thought they move to deeper water then. A female may lay as many as 84,000 bright orange eggs, which change color to deep red as embryonic development ensues. The eggs take about a month to hatch into tiny zoea larvae. (University of Puget Sound)

WA raises $260 million in most-recent carbon-pricing auction
Washington’s latest auction of carbon-emission allowances raised an estimated $260 million. In all, about 31.9 million carbon allowances have been sold this year, hauling in more than $1.5 billion. Each allowance represents one metric ton of emissions from the state’s biggest greenhouse-gas polluters. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

What the new federal climate report says about the Northwest
On Tuesday, the federal government released an update to its most important report on how climate change is affecting the U.S. The congressionally-ordered Fifth National Climate Assessment is the effort of 13 federal agencies and a host of university, tribal and nonprofit experts. Rachel Cohen reports. (Boise State Public Radio)

Washington’s climate woes: First wildfires, then debris flow
....Wildfire survivors in Washington face a new threat: debris flows. Wildfires can lessen soil’s ability to absorb water, so when thunderstorms, rapid snowmelt, atmospheric rivers or rain falling on snow occur in a burned area, that can create a roaring earthen river. Debris flows can move quickly — 30 mph or more — sliding from the uplands to the valley floor in a matter of minutes. Kylie Mohr reports. (High Country News/Crosscut)

Port Renfrew-area beach returned to Pacheedaht First Nation
Middle Beach, a 2.64-hectare stretch of waterfront, has been part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve since 1988, dividing the nation’s main reserves. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

State hauls in nearly $900M from first year of capital gains tax
Washington’s new capital gains tax brought in $890 million in its first year, state officials said Wednesday.Those proceeds, garnered from the state’s wealthiest residents, will be funneled into early learning and child care programs, and to school districts in need of dollars for construction and renovation projects. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Report raises concerns about tracing water quality, salmon safety
The U.S. and Washington environmental agencies are not adequately tracking how high water temperatures and oxygen-depleting substances are harming Puget Sound’s salmon, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report.  John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Over 70 geese have died of suspected bird flu in Monroe park
An estimated 70 to 80 cackling geese have died since early November from suspected bird flu at Lake Tye Park, state officials said. Bird flu, or avian influenza, occurs naturally among wild aquatic birds, including geese, ducks, swans and gulls. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  226 AM PST Thu Nov 16 2023    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  3 ft at 10 seconds.

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