11/29 Geoduck, whitebark pine, America the Beautiful Challenge, BC wilfires, WA heat pumps

 

Geoduck [BBC]

Geoduck Panopea generosa
The Pacific geoduck is a species of very large saltwater clam in the family Hiatellidae. The common name is derived from the Lushootseed name, gʷidəq. The geoduck is native to the coastal waters of the eastern North Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Baja California. The geoduck is the largest burrowing clam in the world. It is also one of the longest-living animals of any type, with a typical lifespan of 140 years; the oldest has been recorded at 179 years old. (Wikipedia)

The unlikely love story of an endangered tree and the little bird who eats its seeds
The balance of an ecosystem hangs on the survival of a scraggly mountain tree. In northwest B.C., ecologists are facing climate change, droughts and wildfires as they work to protect whitebark pine and the species that rely on it. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

U.S. government invests $11M in Washington conservation efforts
The U.S. Interior Department announced this week $11 million in grants for conservation projects in Washington state. The federal grants are part of the “America the Beautiful Challenge” to restore land and water across the nation. The 74 grants announced Tuesday total $140 million and will pay for conservation projects in 46 states, three U.S. territories and 21 tribal nations. Donna Gordon Blankinship reports. (Crosscut)

Rural Communities Want In on Wildfire Response. Is BC on Board?
As wildfires worsen, locals are taking matters into their own hands, leading to clashes. And opportunities. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Washington makes another run at heat pump rules
Legal challenges could be on the horizon as critics say the new regulations, like a set scrapped in May, still don’t comply with federal law. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  219 AM PST Wed Nov 29 2023    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds. Rain  after midnight.

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