12/7 Wakame, Snoqualmie Falls, Snohomish flood, Skagit crest, WA 'forever chemicals,' Great Bear Sea, coast salmon recovery fund

 

Wakame [Wikipedia]

Wakame Undaria pinnatifida
Undaria pinnatifida is a brown seaweed that reaches an overall length of 1-3 m. Undaria is a native of the Japan Sea and the northwest Pacific coasts of Japan and Korea. In Japan, Undaria, known locally as 'wakame', is extensively cultivated as a food plant. Japanese consumption of the alga is around 200,000 tonnes of fresh or dried plant per annum. Undaria is regarded as a pest because it is highly invasive, grows rapidly and has the potential to overgrow and exclude native seaweeds. (Wikipedia)

Watch video of Snoqualmie Falls as the river hits Phase 3 flood alert
An atmospheric river brought up to 7 inches of rain in the Olympic and Cascade mountains, pushing the Snoqualmie River to a Phase 3 flood alert level on Tuesday. Erika Schultz and Ramon Dompor report. (Seattle Times)

Over a dozen rescues in Snohomish County after record flooding on Stilly
Meanwhile, the Snohomish River remained dangerously high near Snohomish, where one boater survived a dramatic rescue. Aina de Lapparent Alvarez, Jordan Hansen, Maya Tizon, and Jonathan Tall report. (Everett Herald)

Skagit River flooding begins to subside
Skagit River flooding hit its peak in Mount Vernon on Wednesday afternoon, but stopped short of reaching the floodwall that runs through downtown. In Mount Vernon, the river crested at 29.5 feet, several feet lower than expected earlier this week. In east Skagit County, residents are picking up the pieces in the aftermath of the flooding. Emma FletcherFrazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

WA proposes ban on ‘forever chemicals’ in clothes, other products
The Washington State Department of Ecology has proposed bans and new reporting requirements for toxic chemicals used to repel water, heat and fuel in some clothing, firefighting gear and cleaning products. In a draft report  to the state Legislature published Wednesday, the agency identified safer alternatives for some uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” for their pervasiveness. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Coastal First Nations get $60M boost from B.C. to protect Great Bear Sea
A $60-million surge in provincial funding will protect the “extraordinary beauty” of B.C.’s Great Bear Sea, said Premier David Eby on Tuesday. The Indigenous-led funding allows coastal First Nations to push forward with a vast marine conservation network in their traditional territories to protect marine ecosystems, create new jobs and economic opportunities, and foster sustainable fisheries and tourism, the premier said. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer) 

Biden-Harris Administration makes $106 million available for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund as part of Investing in America agenda
Wednesday, the Department of Commerce and NOAA are announcing the availability of up to $106 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) for Pacific salmon and steelhead recovery and conservation projects. This funding — which includes funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — will support state and tribal salmon restoration projects and activities to protect, conserve and restore these fish populations and their habitats. (NOAA)

Quiet Sound says more vessels joining Puget Sound slowdown
Organizers of Washington State’s Quiet Sound project say they have recruited more vessel operators to the second year of a voluntary, seasonal slowdown of shipping to help protected endangered killer whales in Puget Sound. Organized by Washington Maritime Blue, a broad cooperative effort by maritime businesses, environmental groups, tribes and shipping operators, Quiet Sound seeks voluntary speed limits when killer whales are on the move between Admiralty Inlet and Puget Sound.  (Workboat)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  809 AM PST Thu Dec 7 2023    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  SW wind to 10 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds. A slight chance of  showers in the morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. Showers likely.

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