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| Red-breasted Sapsucker [Grace Oliver] |
Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber
The Red-breasted Sapsucker cuts a dramatic profile with its brilliant
scarlet head and dapper checkerboard pattern on the back. Sapsuckers are
named for their habit of drilling rows of shallow wells in shrubs and
trees, and then lapping up the sap with their brush-tipped tongues.
Sapsuckers are important members of their ecosystems, because many
species of insects, birds, and mammals use the sapwells to supplement
their own diets. (All About Birds)
Work continues at site of gasoline spill near Conway
Work restarted last week to clean up the site of an Olympic Pipeline
gasoline spill near Conway. The work was halted for several days because
of below freezing temperatures. (Skagit Valley Herald) See: Update: Skagit gasoline pipeline spill cleanup still underway (Salish Current)
Cleaning up: Removing contaminated sediment at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal
Dredging of contaminated sediment is expected to begin later this month
at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. With federal funding, the Port of
Bellingham is making improvements to the terminal, including dredging
about 22,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment to restore water
depths for ship access. (WA Dept. of Ecology)
Learning to Plan for the Next 500 Years
A first-of-its-kind program at Vancouver Island University trains
students to steward Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Erin
Blondeau reports. (The Tyee)
Steelhead season to open on Skagit and Sauk rivers
Fisheries managers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and
area tribes have estimated that about 5,215 wild steelhead will return
this year to the Skagit River and its tributaries. Recreational
steelhead fishing will be allowed Saturdays through Wednesdays Feb. 3
through April 17 on portions of the Skagit and Sauk rivers under
catch-and-release regulations. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)
Washington’s wolf-killing policy gets fresh attention in Olympia
A new bill in the Legislature would make it easier for ranchers to take
lethal action against the endangered animals in response to attacks on
cattle. Meanwhile, environmentalists are pressing for tighter
restrictions on the practice. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)
Proposal would require oil handlers, transporters to prove ability to pay for spills
In 2022, the Washington Legislature directed Ecology to adopt rules
regarding financial responsibility requirements for oil handling
facilities and vessels. Financial responsibility for vessels would range
from $500,000 to $1 billion based on vessel type and size. Financial
responsibility for oil handling facilities – including refineries,
terminals, and pipelines – would range from $5 million to $300 million.
New regulations are now proposed by the Washington Department of
Ecology. (WA Dept. of Ecology)
2024 Legislative Tracker for Washington State
This year's Washington legislative session is scheduled to end on March
7. Feb. 13 is the deadline for this legislative session’s policy bills
to pass out of their house of origin. Feb. 26 is the deadline for bills
to pass out of the opposite house committee. March 1 is the deadline for
bills not related to the budget to pass out of both houses. (Crosscut)
Have you read the Salish Current?
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-
222 AM PST Tue Jan 23 2024
TODAY
SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft
at 12 seconds. Showers likely in the morning then a chance of
showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT
SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt after
midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 14 seconds. A
slight chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.
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