12/14 Bull trout, carbon auction, 'cap-and-trade' future, dock float pollution

Bull trout [Caleb Zurstadt]

Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus
The Bull trout is native to Canada and the United States. The geographic range of the bull trout is confined to northwestern North America from Alaska to northern California. These fish inhabit Artic waters, Pacific waters and are usually found in mountain or coastal streams. Bull trout have specific habitat requirements that are called the Four Cs; cold, clean, complex, and connected habitats. They are most common in high mountainous areas where snowfields and glaciers are present. They mainly occur in deep pools of large, cold, rivers and lakes. The bull trout is listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act throughout its range in the contiguous United States.

Washington raises $2B in first year of carbon pollution auctions
Washington raised another $373.6 million in its final carbon auction of 2023, bringing the total to slightly more than $2 billion in the first year of the state cap-and-invest program, the Ecology Department announced Wednesday. Carbon-emitting corporations bid every three months on state allowances for the pollution emitted by their facilities. The winning bidders all pay the same price on those allowances after the auction. The “settlement” prices in the first few Washington auctions were $48.50 for roughly one metric ton of carbon for the first quarter of 2023; $56.01 for the second quarter; $63.03 for the third; and $51.89 for the December auction. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

The future of ‘cap-and-trade’ carbon markets could hinge on Washington state
Some lawmakers across the country think the future of climate policy looks like this: A growing network of states forming a carbon market, forcing polluters to pay by the ton for the greenhouse gases they emit and reinvesting the revenues into clean energy and electrification projects. But less than a year into cap-and-trade, Washington state is facing backlash over the program’s perceived contribution to high gas prices. A voter initiative that’s likely to be on the ballot next year, stoked by anger over prices at the pump, threatens to repeal it altogether. Alex Brown reports. (Washington State Standard)

New protections to reduce plastic and foam pollution from dock floats
Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, Washington waters will harbor less pollution from the plastic foam used to support floating docks and walkways. New requirements mean that the expanded polystyrene used to float most overwater structures must be fully encased in concrete, aluminum, steel, or plastic to prevent it from breaking up and dispersing when the material becomes waterlogged or damaged. (Washington Dept. of Ecology)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  240 AM PST Thu Dec 14 2023    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH  FRIDAY MORNING    
TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft  at 12 seconds. Rain likely in the morning. TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain  likely after midnight.

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