11/20 Turkey, BC protected area, culvert cost, Makah whale hunt, BC avian flu, BC biodiversity health, forest climate cost, Power Plant harvest, quagga mussel, Tsolum R.

 

Turkey

Turkey
The turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris, native to North America. There are two extant turkey species: the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) of eastern and central North America and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Males of both turkey species have a distinctive fleshy wattle, called a snood, that hangs from the top of the beak. They are among the largest birds in their ranges. As with many large ground-feeding birds (order Galliformes), the male is bigger and much more colorful than the female. Native to North America, the wild species was bred as domesticated turkey by indigenous peoples. It was this domesticated turkey that later reached Eurasia, during the Columbian exchange. (Wikipedia)

‘From mountaintop to seafloor’: First Nation declares new 40,000-hectare protected area on B.C. coast
The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut'inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation’s Chief Rick Johnson says the move to take over stewardship of the region — once teeming with salmon and abundant old growth — is to ‘reclaim what is already ours.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Huge spike in costs to help salmon could derail WA transportation budget
Come January, lawmakers will face a surprise that will strain Washington’s transportation budget for years: an up to $4 billion increase in the cost of complying with a court order to improve salmon passage under state highways. It’s an eye-watering sum, doubling the size of current estimates, that could force difficult questions about the future of some transportation projects. But, facing a deadline imposed by a federal judge in a lawsuit brought by Washington tribes, the Legislature may have no choice but to act, and soon.  David Kroman and Mike Reicher report. (Seattle Times)

Federal agency recommends allowing Makah whale hunt
The decision on a proposed Makah whale hunt is getting closer. The federal government has issued its final environmental impact statement. It recommends a ceremonial hunt of up to two or three gray whales per year. But the final decision can’t come for at least another 30 days. The Makah tribe originally made this request in 2005. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

B.C. avian flu cases rise rapidly in unprecedented, deadly outbreak
Farm biosecurity measures that worked in past outbreaks don't seem to be working as well this time. It's unclear why. Glenda Luymes reports. (Vancouver Sun)
 
B.C. releases draft framework for safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem health
Conservationists are welcoming a years-in-the-making strategic plan that would prioritize the health and biodiversity of ecosystems in B.C. in provincial legislation. On Wednesday, the province publicly announced its draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework, which, once finalized, would provide direction to ensure the province delivers on a promise made in 2021 to maintain and enhance biodiversity and ecological integrity. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Climate change caused $11B drop in value of West Coast private forests, new study shows
An Oregon State University study has found climate change has led to an $11 billion decrease in the value of privately-owned West Coast forests over the last 20 years. Yuhan Wang, one of the study’s authors, said the team analyzed sales of privately held timberlands across Washington, Oregon and California. Their goal was to quantify economic impacts of climate disasters, such as wildfires. They found values of private forests dropped by around 10%, or $11 billion, over two decades. Rebecca Hansen-White reports. (KLCC/OPB)

Judge denies motion to stop Power Plant harvest
A Clallam County Superior Court judge denied a motion to halt logging operations in the controversial 126-acre Power Plant timber site near Port Angeles. In a ruling Friday, Judge Simon Barnhart found that although the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had failed to produce a record of the case within the 30-day deadline, there were insufficient grounds for the court to grant a sanction against the department. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Invasive mussels inching closer to the Columbia Basin, federal report says more could be done to stop them
Fast-spreading invasive aquatic mussels are hitching rides on boats, kayaks and jet skis. So, people are working to keep them out of the Columbia River Basin, the only major river basin in the U.S. without an established quagga mussel population. Courtney Flatt reports. (OPB)

Special teams help salmon on drought-affected rivers
First Nations and conservation groups dug escape channels for trapped fish, while on Courtenay’s Tsolum River, a special aeration system was used to give salmon some breathing room. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer) 

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  204 AM PST Mon Nov 20 2023    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 4 ft at  10 seconds in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.

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