1/26 Cormorant, rain, Boldt50, Brunaby refinery, glacier melt, Garry oak, Crofton mill, wind energy, week in review

Cormorant [Connie Gallant]

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Cormorants are aquatic birds that are known for their excellent diving and swimming abilities. They have long necks, hooked bills, and webbed feet, which make them well-adapted for catching fish underwater. Cormorants can often be seen perched on rocks or tree branches with their wings outstretched to dry after a dive. They winter along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from North Carolina to Belize, and inland in ice-free areas along large rivers and lakes.

Storm bringing rain to Whatcom mountains, raising flood fears (Bellingham Herald)
Atmospheric river to bring heavy rains to B.C.'s South Coast (CBC)

How an Indigenous rights battle in WA changed tribal law, from fishing to culverts
Fifty years ago, a landmark federal court case brought against Washington state reaffirmed the treaty rights of Native Americans to fish in traditional waters and shorelines. From culvert rehab to dam removal, 1974's "Boldt Decision" has expanded far beyond fishing to legally empower tribes' ability to protect natural resources. Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

Burnaby, B.C., fuel refinery to be shut for 4 weeks after smoke, odour
Parkland Corp. says it has temporarily shut down fuel processing operations at its Burnaby, B.C., refinery three days after an issue with one of its processing units led to a strong odour over Metro Vancouver. On Sunday, the refinery in north Burnaby experienced an issue that led to a "temporary increase in odour, smoke and a flame from the unit's chimney stack," prompting the Metro Vancouver Regional District to issue an air quality bulletin. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

As glaciers melt, potential salmon habitat collides with outdated mining laws
As human-caused climate change points a giant hair dryer at Western North America’s glaciers, melting them ever more rapidly, potential Pacific salmon habitat is opening up. New river systems are starting to flow, and rain and snowmelt will keep many running even after the ice disappears. In some, salmon are appearing for the first time. But mining companies are homing in, too. Maya L. Kapoor reports. (High Country News)
 
A rare urban Garry oak savannah brings biodiversity to suburban sprawl
Washington is home to only one species of native oak tree. Its habitat is increasingly rare. The flat and relatively open woodland prairies where they once thrived often attract development, against which they have no protection. Scientists estimate that only 3% of their original ecosystems still exist. But pockets of Garry oak – also known as Oregon white oak – still exist. And one of them, in Pierce County south of Tacoma, recently received a big grant from the state Department of Natural Resources for urban forestry. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

Paper operations indefinitely halted at Vancouver Island mill, company says
Pulp and paper giant Paper Excellence announced Thursday it will indefinitely halt paper-producing operations at the Catalyst Crofton facility on Vancouver Island. The announcement comes just over a year after the mill, located in Crofton in the North Cowichan region, received $18.8 million from the provincial and federal governments to resume pulp and paper operations. Approximately 75 employees are affected by the indefinite curtailment. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

How US Protectionism Is Hindering Offshore Wind Ambitions
The United States has big plans for wind energy—but a 1920s law is getting in the way of the rollout. David Jen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/26/24: Lego! cormorant disaster, salmon B1, Indigenous planning, pay to pollute, WA port pollution, ancient kelp, Cherry Point green hydrogen,  seal v octopus, Boldt50.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  227 AM PST Fri Jan 26 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft building to  6 to 8 ft in the afternoon. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance  of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming E 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after  midnight. Mixed swell W 4 ft at 12 seconds and NE 7 ft at  10 seconds. Rain.
SAT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. Mixed swell W  5 ft at 12 seconds and NE 4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain. 
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 8 ft at 15 seconds.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds.

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