11/22 Chicken of the woods, pink salmon, WSF crisis, BC new ferries, reef netters, repeal climate law petitions, Electron Dam, octopus burrows

 Editor's note: News and Weather will take a break for a few days and return next week. Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe and thankful. Mike

Chicken of the Woods

Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus
Laetiporus sulphureus is a species of bracket fungus (fungi that grow on trees) found in Europe and North America. Its common names are crab-of-the-woods, sulphur polypore, sulphur shelf, and chicken-of-the-woods. Its fruit bodies grow as striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branches. Old fruitbodies fade to pale beige or pale grey. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills. (Wikipedia)

Surging numbers of pink salmon raise ecological concerns
An estimated 70% of all the salmon in the North Pacific are pink salmon. Scientists say the extreme abundance of pinks could be causing a "trophic cascade" that is harming species across the food web. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Strangled by ferry crisis, islanders demand actions
San Juan County, Town of Friday Harbor and Vashon Island identify impacts of disruptions and possible solutions to alleviate ferry service ills. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. Ferries planning for seven new hybrid ferries
Call for shipyards interested in designing and building the ferries closes Dec. 1, with the first vessel in the new ferry class expected to be ready for service in 2029. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Last of the reef netters: Decline of an Indigenous, sustainable salmon fishery
Reef net fishing is an ancient, sustainable salmon-harvesting technique created and perfected by the Lummi and other Coast Salish Indigenous people over a millennium. Today, only 12 reef net permits exist, with just one belonging to the Lummi Nation. Many tribal members hope to revive reef net fishing to restore their cultural identity and a sustainable salmon harvest but face difficulties balancing economic realities with preserving what the Lummi consider a sacred heritage. Liz Kimbrough reports. (Mongabay)

Petitions filed for initiative to erase Washington’s ambitious climate law
Backers say they turned in nearly 420,000 signatures. The measure seeks to end the cap-and-invest program that’s brought in nearly $1.6 billion this year for pollution-fighting efforts. Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard)

Electron Dam agrees to $1M fine for artificial turf spill on Puyallup River
Electron Hydro LLC and its chief operating officer Thom Fischer have agreed to be fined more than $1 million for major violations of the Clean Water Act as part of a consent decree federal officials announced Tuesday. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

In Graphic Detail: The Architecture of Octopus Burrows
Octopus burrows are more complicated than expected, with multiple breathing holes and even a lounge. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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Now, your Thanksgiving weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  200 AM PST Wed Nov 22 2023    
TODAY  NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 9 ft  at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  N wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.  
THU  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft  at 10 seconds.  
THU NIGHT  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  4 ft at 10 seconds.  
FRI  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft  at 15 seconds.  
FRI NIGHT  E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 14 seconds.  
SAT  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft.  SUN  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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