12/12 Kokanee, PFAS in WA, pipeline leak, kids climate suit, oil over climate, Neah Bay dredging

 Kokanee [Wikipedia]

Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka
The kokanee salmon, also known as the kokanee trout, little redfish, silver trout, kikanning, Kennerly's salmon, Kennerly's trout, or Walla, is the non-anadromous form of the sockeye salmon (meaning that they do not migrate to the sea, instead living out their entire lives in freshwater). There is some debate as to whether the kokanee and its sea-going relative are separate species; geographic isolation, failure to interbreed, and genetic distinction point toward a recent divergence in the history of the two groups. The divergence most likely occurred around 15,000 years ago when a large ice melt created a series of freshwater lakes and rivers across the northern part of North America. Kokanee is a word from the Okanagan language referring to land-locked lake populations of sockeye salmon. (Wikipedia)

Military testing reveals hundreds of drinking water wells contaminated with PFAS in WA
Hundreds of drinking water wells near military bases or other facilities in Washington have been contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, according to a Seattle Times analysis of the past two years of test results published by the military.  So far, the military has confirmed the release of these “forever chemicals,” named for their pervasiveness in the environment, at 10 military installments in the state, many of them near the Salish Sea.  Manuel Villa and Isabella Breda report. (Seattle Times)

Olympic Pipeline leak released 25,000 gallons of gasoline
A small tube between the main portion of the Olympic Pipeline and a pressure-check valve failed Sunday in the Skagit Valley, spilling gasoline into nearby creeks not far from Mount Vernon. About 30,660 gallons were released when a tube — 3/8 of an inch in diameter — failed. About 5,000 gallons remained in a vault while the rest spilled out, according to a news release from agencies involved in the cleanup response. No gasoline or sheen has been spotted in the Skagit River, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Lauren Gorges reports. (Seattle Times)

8 California children are suing the EPA over climate change
Eighteen California children are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming it violated their constitutional rights by failing to protect them from the effects of climate change. This is the latest in a series of climate-related cases filed on behalf of children. Jeff Brady reports. (NPR)

Making oil is more profitable than saving the planet. These numbers tell the story
Oil companies have long been under pressure to invest more money into renewable energy to help fight climate change. Here's one simple reason why that's not happening: Right now, oil makes a lot more money. Energy companies spend a lot of money every year. Picture a giant Scrooge McDuck-style mountain of cash, to the tune of $800 billion. According to the International Energy Agency, the oil industry would need to spend 50% of that on clean energy by 2030 to be on track to meet global climate targets. But right now, oil companies are spending just 2.5% of their capital, collectively, on green power. Camila Domonoske reports. (NPR)

Dredging Neah Bay Entrance Channel will improve Strait of Juan de Fuca, Salish Sea oil spill response
Some of the most significant oil spills in Washington State's history happened in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Salish Sea. An Emergency Response Towing Vessel (ERTV) stands ready 24/7 on the northwestern Olympic Peninsula point in the Port of Neah Bay to quickly respond. However, challenging tides affect its readiness and the ability of this deep-draft vessel to navigate the channel. That’s about to change with a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to make navigation improvements by deepening the harbor entrance channel. A hydraulic pipeline dredge will deepen the 4,500-foot entrance channel to -21 feet from its current depth, allowing unrestricted access for ocean-going tugs, barges, and larger ships transiting Neah Bay during low tide. (US Army Corps of Engineers)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PST Tue Dec 12 2023    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 3 ft  at 10 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning. TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell  2 ft at 9 seconds.

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