3/22 Forsythia, Cascade grizzlies, bird flu, BC flood plan, Skagit Wildlife Area, siphonophore, week in review

Forsythia [The Spruce/Evgeniya Vlasova]

Forsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. Forsythia – also one of the plant's common names – is named after William Forsyth. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Restaurateurs in downtown Bellingham find a challenging path to success

Agencies release final environmental impact statement evaluating options for restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades
The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have announced a preferred alternative that would restore grizzlies to their historic homelands, where they are functionally extinct. The agencies recommend a 10(j) rule that would give wildlife managers additional flexibility under the Endangered Species Act to responsibly manage bears. (NPS)   See: Returning grizzly bears to the North Cascades (Salish Current, Nov. 3, 2023)

Bird flu is decimating seal colonies. Scientists don’t know how to stop it
Avian influenza is killing tens of thousands of seals and sea lions in different corners of the world, disrupting ecosystems and flummoxing scientists who don’t see a clear way to slow the devastating virus. Patrick Whittle reports. (Associated Press)

B.C. releases long-awaited flood protection plan with no price tag, project priorities or timelines
The plan, which was supposed to be delivered last year, has been viewed as a key step in how the province will increase flood protection in the face of expected more frequent and intense climate-fuelled flooding. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Fish and Wildlife taking comment on Skagit Wildlife Area plan
The plan includes goals such as developing research to understand the impact of invasive species in estuary habitats; discussing options about maintaining or increasing forage for waterfowl; evaluating the future of game reserves; restoring 270 acres of estuary at the Island Unit by 2030; repairing the Wiley Slough setback dike and transferring operations to Dike, Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District 22 by 2026; and completing a feasibility study with Skagit County on a potential DeBay’s Slough restoration project by 2025. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

If you like to watch: 2-foot long deep sea creature spotted off Victoria shores
Steph Brulot-Sawchyn snapped a pic of a siphonophore while snorkelling near Clover Point in Victoria on March 19 and later identified it using iNaturalist. Christine van Reeuwyk reports. (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadow News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/22/24: Seal Friday, Pebble Mine, Nisqually R, new orca population, wildfire season, herring fishery, Cooke Aquaculture, TM pipeline, earlier Spring, grizzlies

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  252 AM PDT Fri Mar 22 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 14 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  3 ft at 13 seconds.  
SAT  Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. SW swell 2 ft at  11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. SW swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  N wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told