4/30 Earthworm, TM oil pipe, ecotourism, BC heat dome, toxic tires

 

Earthworm [TES]

Earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. They occur worldwide where soil, water, and temperature allow. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local border waters are on the cusp of a major rise in oil tanker traffic

The new Trans Mountain pipeline will soon carry oil. Could an Indigenous Rights case impact operations?
Trans Mountain’s decision last summer to trench through an Indigenous sacred site kicked off more dissent. The decision ‘undermines Secwépemc law’ according to the nation, which is boosting title claim efforts to protect its sacred spaces. Ayesha Habib reports.(The Narwhal)

Like It or Not, Even Wildlife-Focused Ecotourism Affects Wild Animals
Under the watchful gaze of ecotourists, British Columbia’s grizzly bears become skittish and avoid prime hunting spots. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

B.C.'s heat dome made worse by climate change
A new study shows the deadly heat dome that ravaged B.C. three years ago and left more than 600 people dead, was fueled by climate change. The report, https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01346-2 which was published in Communications Earth & Environment this week, confirms global warming also played a role in the record-breaking wildfire season in 2021. Sonia Aslam reports. (Vancouver City News)

Tire toxicity faces fresh scrutiny after salmon die-offs
....At the top of the list of worries is a chemical called 6PPD, which is added to rubber tires to help them last longer. When tires wear on pavement, 6PPD is released. It reacts with ozone to become a different chemical, 6PPD-q, which can be extremely toxic — so much so that it has been linked to repeated fish kills in Washington state...Tires are made primarily of natural rubber and synthetic rubber, but they contain hundreds of other ingredients, often including steel and heavy metals such as copper, lead, cadmium, and zinc. Jim Robbins reports. (KFF Health News)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  258 AM PDT Tue Apr 30 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 10 seconds.

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"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.



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4/29 Scotch broom, more oil tankers, SRKW extinction, orca calf escape, Children of the Setting Sun, 'ghost bird'

 

Scotch broom [Noxious Weed Control Board]

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom is a perennial, many-branched, shrub ranging in height from 3 to 10 feet tall. Scotch broom can be found on roadsides, pastures, grasslands, open areas and areas of recent soil disturbance. Scotch broom is toxic to livestock and is on the Washington State quarantine list. (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current: A love of theaters and volunteering

Local border waters are on the cusp of a major rise in oil tanker traffic
Are we ready? Completion of a Canadian pipeline expansion means more crude-carrying vessels passing through the Salish Sea en route to the Pacific, amplifying spill fears. Tom Banse reports. (Salish Current)

Southern resident killer whales face extinction in 75-100 years, study predicts
If more changes aren’t made, prospects appear dim for the survival of the southern resident killer whale. This population of around 75 individuals is heading toward extinction at a rate of one-to-two per cent annually, according to a study published Tuesday  by researchers with B.C.-based Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Nick Laba reports. (North Shore News)

The great escape: Orphaned orca swims to freedom, begins search for family
The young orca's bid for freedom occurred at a high tide early Friday and involved swimming through a swift-moving, narrow channel and underneath a bridge, with Esperanza Inlet in the near distance. Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

Children of the Setting Sun shares Indigenous stories with an eye to the future
....Sharing oral histories, gatherings and events through film, podcasts, live events — and soon a digital library — Children of the Setting Sun defies the traditional categories of a “media” group. The cadre of Coast Salish youth, Indigenous artists and creators from across the region and beyond are guided in the projects they pursue by a sounding board of local elders and others. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C. photographer captures snapshot of rare 'ghost bird' magpie
With their white chest and grey wings, leucistic magpies are often referred to as ghost birds. (Aaron Sousa reports. (CBC)

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-  216 AM PDT Mon Apr 29 2024    
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to  3 to 6 ft at 10 seconds in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.

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"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.



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4/26 Woodchuck, 'blue park,' Nootka Island, bird flu milk, week in review

 

Woodchuck

Woodchuck
The Groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the Woodchuck, or the Whistlepig (particularly in the Southern United States), is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. In the West, it is found only in Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia and northern Washington. The name woodchuck has nothing etymologically to do with wood. It stems from an Algonquian name for the animal (possibly Narragansett), wuchak.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Orcas Island Fire and Rescue levy passes on third try

It’s the world’s first Indigenous-led ‘blue park.’ And Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation pulled it off without waiting on Canada.
Awarded for protecting sea life, Gitdisdzu Lugyeks Marine Protected Area is also the first ever ‘blue park’ in Canada. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

First Nation wins title to part of its traditional territory on Nootka Island
The decision allows the nation to decide what to do with the land and to benefit economically from its use, says a lawyer who represented the Nuchatlaht First Nation. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

One in Five Milk Samples Nationwide Shows Genetic Traces of Bird Flu
There is no evidence that the milk is unsafe to drink, scientists say. But the survey result strongly hints that the outbreak may be widespread. Emily Anthes and Noah Weiland report. (NY Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/26/24: Chernobyl Friday, bird flu, Suzanne Simard, free solar, tribal climate, basking sharks, WA EVs, TM oil start, farm drought, humpbacks.

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-  312 AM PDT Fri Apr 26 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 7 seconds.  
SAT  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft  at 7 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW after midnight. Wind  waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  SW wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.

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"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.



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4/25 Wood sorrel, Snoqualmie chinook, Haida agreement, farm drought, salmon teeth, first humpback, coal plats, TM oil shippers

Wood sorrel [David D. Taylor]

 

Common Yellow Wood Sorrel Oxalis stricta
Common yellow wood sorrel is a member of the Oxalidaceae, the Wood Sorrel family. Species in this family are small trees to small herbs. Other plants in the family include purple shamrocks (Oxalis triangularis) a common houseplant, and violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea). The family is mostly found in temperate regions. David Taylor (USDA)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Tribe, feds, state face off on stream water temperature in the Skagit

Scientists confine, study Chinook at restored Snoqualmie River habitat
In newly restored river channels on the Snoqualmie, baby Chinook salmon are confined in 19 enclosures about the size of large suitcases as they munch on little crustaceans and invertebrate insects floating or swimming by. What’s in the salmon’s stomachs, tracked by scientists, could hold clues about the species’ survival. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

What’s Next for the Historic Haida Agreement?
As an agreement to recognize the Haida Nation’s Aboriginal title throughout Haida Gwaii was celebrated in the B.C. legislature Monday, BC United cautioned that the party plans to carefully scrutinize and fully debate the bill. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

WA farmers brace for summer drought on heels of harvest shortfalls
Washington’s agriculture industry has been hit hard by climate change. Growers are working to develop crops that can thrive in shifting landscapes. Mai Hoang reports. (Crosscut)

Giant prehistoric salmon had tusk-like teeth for defence, building nests: study
Initial fossil discoveries of the 2.7-metre-long salmon in Oregon in the 1970s were incomplete and had led researchers to mistakenly suggest the fish had fang-like teeth. Discovery of two skulls in 2014 show the position of tusk-like teeth could not have been used for biting. The discovery has led to the renaming of the fish, previously called "the sabre-toothed salmon." Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

First humpback mom and calf return to Salish Sea
The first calf, likely about three months old, and its mother, “Black Pearl,” were spotted in Haro Strait last week by Eagle Wing Tours. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

E.P.A. Severely Limits Pollution From Coal Burning Power Plants
New regulations could spell the end for plants that burn coal, the fossil fuel that powered the country for more than a century. Lisa Friedman and Coral Davenport report. (NY Times)

Trans Mountain oil shippers raise concerns about risk of delay to full service
Some shippers on Canada's Trans Mountain expansion project are raising concerns that the long-delayed oil pipeline will not be fully in service by its projected start date of May 1, and that they will be subject to the expanded system's tolls and tariffs from that date. Nia Williams reports. (Reuters)

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  213 AM PDT Thu Apr 25 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

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"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.



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4/24 Wood hyacinth, tribal climate summit, Haida Gwaii, basking sharks, plastic bag fee, shipping fuel, stormwater goldfish, WA EV rebates, oil tanker traffic

Wood hyacinths

 

Wood hyacinths Hyacinthoides hispanica
Wood hyacinths are called Spanish bluebells by some gardeners. These easy to grow, deer-resistant plants are hardy in USDA planting zones 3 to 8. he flowers are not very fragrant but are loved by pollinators, especially bees. Wood hyacinths are considered invasive in the Pacific northwestern area of the US. (Farmer's Garden)

Today's top story in Salish Current: When Theodore Roosevelt almost visited Anacortes, Bellingham and Roche Harbor

Tribal climate leaders come together to share pain, solutions and laughter
Indigenous people from around the U.S. and Canada convened in Auburn last week, for a summit meeting on tribal climate leadership. Hosted every other year by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the event also includes tribal partners such as environmental groups, researchers and energy developers. The summit aims to amplify and empower Indigenous leaders as they navigate the cultural, economic and social challenges of climate change. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

On Haida Gwaii, a colonial government is no longer lord of the land
British Columbia and the Haida Nation’s historic agreement recognizes Haida land ownership across the archipelago — and marks the first time a colonial government has recognized Indigenous Title outside the courts. Serena Renner reports. (The Narwhal)

Will these gentle giants return to the Salish Sea?
Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are the world's second-largest shark (and fish) species, and while they were once common in some parts of the Salish Sea, they are now so rare that several of the scientists working to better understand them and restore their numbers have never even seen one. Increasing public awareness of the species could be a key first step to recovering them, these scientists say. Sarah DeWeerdt writes. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Washington's plastic bag fee reduces waste — but not to the extent intended, report finds
Washington’s plastic bag fee was intended to change people’s habit of relying on single-use plastic bags and encourage them to bring reusable shopping sacks instead. But a new study, conducted by a coalition of conservation groups, found that while the policy has helped reduce pollution, the fee hasn’t changed shopper behavior that much. Ruby de Luna reports. (KUOW)

In the Rush to Decarbonize, the Shipping Industry Is Exploring Alternative Fuels
The shipping industry is finally embracing greener fuels, but which one, or ones, will they land on? Chris Baraniuk reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Campbell River tackles goldfish invasion in stormwater pond
Campbell River is trying to get ahead of a goldfish invasion in a stormwater collection pond. This summer, when the pond is low, the city plans to pump it out in an attempt to eradicate the fish. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Washington electric vehicle rebates up to $9,000 available beginning in August
Washington motorists will gain access this summer to new state rebates – up to $9,000 in some cases – to help cover the cost of leasing or purchasing electric vehicles. Single Washington residents earning up to $45,180 annually or a family of four with income up to $93,600, will be eligible for a rebate of up to $9,000 for a new electric vehicle lease of three years or more. They’d also qualify for up to $5,000 for a new EV purchase or two-year lease. Used electric vehicles are eligible for a $2,500 rebate on purchases and leases. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Start of Trans Mountain oil tanker traffic around Vancouver Island imminent
Trans Mountain has announced that it will commence operations on May 1, roughly one week out from Earth Day. That means tanker transportation of crude oil from its Burnaby terminal will begin to move through waters surrounding Vancouver Island. Tankers will be transporting diluted bitumen through the Burrard Inlet, into the Salish Sea and the Strait of Juan De Fuca. (Yahoo News)

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  334 AM PDT Wed Apr 24 2024    
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves  2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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"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.



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4/23 Woodpecker, hot weather, free solar, Climate Corps, wild vs hatchery salmon, Skagit spring Chinook

Pileated Woodpecker [John Piznuir]

 

Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
A big, dashing bird with a flaming crest, the largest woodpecker in North America (except the Ivory-bill, which is almost certainly extinct). Excavating deep into rotten wood to get at the nests of carpenter ants, the Pileated leaves characteristic rectangular holes in dead trees. This species became rare in eastern North America with clearing of forests in centuries past, but has gradually increased in numbers again since about the beginning of the 20th century. Where unmolested, it even lives in parks and woodlots around the edges of large cities. (Audubon)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Marine mammal network to the rescue!

Why this summer may be especially hot in the United States
A new outlook for summer from the National Weather Service is a toasty one: Hotter-than-normal conditions are favored almost everywhere, except for a small portion of the northern Plains. The highest odds for a hot summer stretch from Texas into the Pacific Northwest, as well as much of the Northeast. Ian Livingston reports. (Washington Post)  See: How hot is too hot? New weather forecasting tool can help figure that out. Alejandra Borunda reports. (NPR)

New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Washington state will receive $156 million in federal funds for new programs to install rooftop solar on thousands of homes and apartment buildings, and to expand access to solar energy in tribal communities. The money is a slice of $7 billion in grants nationwide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday through its Solar For All program, which aims to make solar energy more available and affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Here's how to apply for Biden's Climate Corps jobs
President Biden marked Earth Day on Monday by launching a website for applications for his Climate Corps jobs and training program, a plan that has attracted a lot of interest from young Americans. Biden has been racing to push forward on initiatives that appeal to a generation that was a big part of his 2020 win — a demographic he has struggled with heading into his reelection bid this fall. Elena Moore and Franco Ordoñez report. (NPR)

OSU study explores breeding patterns of hatchery salmon and their wild-born offspring
Researchers at Oregon State University say new discoveries about how some Chinook salmon breed could help guide conservation efforts. When salmon from a hatchery breed in nature, they produce fewer adult offspring than their wild-born peers. And researchers aren’t certain why. Nathan Wilk reports. (KLCC)

Section of Skagit River opens for spring chinook
Fishing for spring hatchery chinook salmon will open Wednesday on a section of the Skagit River. The season will run through the month of May. Fishing will be allowed from the West Mount Vernon bridge to where Gilligan Creek enters the river east of Sedro-Woolley. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  222 AM PDT Tue Apr 23 2024    
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves less than 1 ft becoming 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. W  swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.

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"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.



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4/22 Earth Day, orca calf, Hoko R., bird flu, dam removal, tug oil spill, NW snails, invasive bass, Suzanne Simard, drones, John Brewer

(Walt Kelly image, 1970,

used under educational fair
use via the Smithsonian)

Earth Day at 53: Pogo’s truth still resonates (April 2023)
Behind Earth Day’s local actions, policies and global trends lies a questions: Does Earth Day matter to the Earth itself? Edward Wolf writes. (Salish Current)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Always-learning leadership steers small, diverse Nooksack schools

Whale experts confident orca calf will survive, find family if rescue plan succeeds
A second attempt to rescue the orca was put on hold Friday when the young whale ate an 18-kilogram portion of provided seal meat for what was believed to be the first time since getting stranded in the tidal lagoon in Little Espinosa Inlet near Zeballos, B.C.  Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

Hoko River project seeks salmon recovery and habitat restoration
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition is seeking to restore a half-mile of the Hoko River channel and floodplain for salmon recovery and wildlife habitat restoration and to prevent erosion of the Hoko-Ozette Road. The goal is to have 100 percent design and permitting finished by December 2026. No construction schedule has been proposed. The estimated design cost is $322,885. Brian Gawley reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for Us?
H5N1, an avian flu virus, has killed tens of thousands of marine mammals, and infiltrated American livestock for the first time. Scientists are working quickly to assess how it is evolving and how much of a risk it poses to humans. Apoorva Mandavilli and Emily Anthes report. (NY Times)

When dams come down, what happens to the ocean?
A long-term study of the Elwha River Delta reveals lasting change — and a healthier ecosystem. Natalia Mesa report. (High County News)

An uncontained tugboat oil spill fouls Seattle waterways
A tug towing a barge out of the Duwamish River toward Ballard polluted local waters this week. The state Department of Ecology says the tug spilled up to 150 gallons of hydraulic oil on Tuesday. A propeller shaft break may have been the cause. John O'Brien reports. (KUOW)

These Northwest snails might need stronger protection than just their tiny shells
Two tiny, freshwater snails that thrive in cold, clean, oxygen-rich water have been eliminated from most of the Columbia River Basin, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. These tiny snails, less than half an inch tall or wide, still cling to the bottom of a handful of rivers like the Methow in Washington and the Deschutes in Oregon. The activist group has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect these rare little mollusks. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Anglers urged to fish invasive bass from Campbell River lake
Fishers are asked to catch as many smallmouth bass as possible from Echo Lake, freeze their catches and report them to fisheries officials. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

UBC prof Suzanne Simard named in Time's 'most influential' list
University of B.C. forestry professor Suzanne Simard, author of Finding the Mother Tree, was named to Time magazine's 'most influential people' list on Wednesday. David P. Ball reports. (CBC)

Both sides in lawsuit over drone use claim success in court
A Union Bay woman who has been flying drones over an industrial operation where ships are dismantled is declaring a win, after the Supreme Court of B.C. dismissed parts of a counter-claim to her lawsuit against the company. Mary Reynolds has been using a 250-gram drone with a high-resolution camera to capture footage of Deep Water Recovery’s activities that she shares on her web page and on YouTube. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Longtime AP journalist, newspaper publisher John Brewer dies at age 76
John Brewer, whose coast-to-coast journalism career spanned 50 years, including nearly two decades at The Associated Press, has died. He was 76. Brewer and his longtime friend Randy Johnson were on their annual fly fishing trip in Montana on Friday when the boat Brewer was in hit a submerged log and flipped over, Johnson said. Two others were rescued, but Brewer drowned, he said. Brewer retired in 2015 after nearly 18 years as editor and publisher of the Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles. (Associated Press)

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  209 AM PDT Mon Apr 22 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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"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.



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4/19 Dowitcher, No on 2117, orca calf, Arctic road, PFAS polluter pays, build 'em in BC, BLM lease rule, Deepwater Horizon, grizzly restoration, week in review

 

Short-billed Dowitcher [Dorian Anderson]

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
In breeding plumage, Short-billed Dowitchers are lovely orange, brown, and golden shorebirds with chunky bodies and very long bills (despite the name). Look for them in wetlands across North America, from coastal mudflats to sewage ponds and flooded fields. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Climate change complicates the Nooksack adjudication

Campaign to defend Washington state's climate law raises $11 million, far outpacing opposition
A campaign focused on defending Washington’s Climate Commitment Act from repeal by voters launched Wednesday. The “No on 2117” campaign announced it has obtained more than $11 million in pledges from environmental groups, unions, tribes, and corporations...Some of the more surprising funders of the campaign to preserve the state regulatory scheme include companies with a carbon impact like Amazon, Microsoft, and the oil company BP, which operates the largest refinery in the Northwest at Cherry Point, north of Bellingham. Amy Radio reports. (KUOW)

Violinist tries to serenade B.C. orca calf to freedom, as others ready nets and boats
Carol Love watches the tides at a Vancouver Island lagoon, and when the time is right, she starts to play her violin. She plays for an audience of one, a killer whale calf that has been trapped alone in the lagoon for almost a month. Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press) 

Biden Shields Millions of Acres of Alaskan Wilderness From Drilling and Mining
The administration has blocked a proposed industrial road needed to mine copper in the middle of the state, and has banned oil drilling on 13 million acres in the North Slope. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)  See: Interior Department to Reject Road Through Arctic Preserve Joel Connelly writes. (Post Alley)

E.P.A. Will Make Polluters Pay to Clean Up Two PFAS Compounds
The Biden administration is designating two “forever chemicals,” man-made compounds that are linked to serious health risks, as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, shifting responsibility for their cleanup to polluters from taxpayers. The new rule announced on Friday empowers the government to force the many companies that manufacture or use perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, known as PFOS, to monitor any releases into the environment and be responsible for cleaning them up. Those companies could face billions of dollars in liabilities. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times)

Marine workers, unions want new ferries built in B.C.
Labour unions and marine workers in British Columbia are calling on B.C. Ferries to build its new hybrid vessels locally, bringing more jobs to the coast. B.C. Ferries says it plans to have seven new vessels built, the first of which could be ready for operation by 2029. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC)

The Deepwater Horizon’s Very Unhappy Anniversary
A recent scientific expedition to the Gulf of Mexico seafloor shows just how little things have improved near the broken well. Xander Peters reports. (Hakai Magazine)

BLM to finalize rule allowing federal leases targeted at protection of natural areas
The Bureau of Land Management will publish a final rule soon allowing the nation’s public lands to be leased for environmental protection. The rule, which both proponents and detractors say marks a shift in the agency’s focus toward conservation, directs land managers at the agency to identify landscapes in need of restoration and to create plans to fill those needs. Jacob Fischler reports. (Washington State Standard)

Federal agencies release final environmental impact statement on grizzly restoration
Two federal agencies released last month the final version of the environmental impact statement, or EIS, that details the options for restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades. The last time a grizzly bear was documented in the North Cascades was in 1996. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/19/24: Garlic Friday!, Haida Gwaii, Puyallup Tribe, PFAS limits, WA drought, carbon storage, wind farm halved, cattle flu, No on 2117.

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-  303 AM PDT Fri Apr 19 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft  at 11 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. E swell 4 ft at 4 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell  6 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at  10 seconds.

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"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.



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4/18 Threespine stickleback, climate leaders, fishery disaster, cattle bird flu, spongy moth spray, fly flight, 'new' star, highway opening, Horse Heaven Hills wind farm

Threespine Stickleback [Ryan Hagerty, USFW]

 
Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758
here are two distinct varieties of the species, with one form having an anadromous existence and another form inhabiting strictly freshwater. The anadromous form spends most of its adult life in the ocean feeding on plankton and returns to freshwater to breed. The freshwater form inhabits a wide variety of lakes and streams, and is rarely found more than a few hundred meters above sea level. (USGS) Abundant in sheltered estuarine bays in eelgrass or near pilings. Swims, in part, by waving pectoral fins. Feeds on copepods, other small crustaceans, and fish larvae. Preyed on by larger fish, seals, and sea birds. (Marine Wildlife of Puget Sound, the San Juans and the Strait of Georgia.)

Today's top story in Salish Current: An Earth Day event in the rediscovery of hope

Tribes as global 'climate leaders'
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is often thought about as an extension of the federal government in tribal nations. The BIA builds roads and bridges, funds law enforcement and the agency supports tribes as governments, carrying out the trust responsibility. These days one can add to that list: climate change. Mark Truant reports. (Indian County Today)

U.S. Department of Commerce Allocates $206K In Funding for Puget Sound Fishery Disaster
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today the allocation of $206,000 to address a fishery resource disaster that occurred in the 2020 Squaxin Island Tribe’s Puget Sound fall chum salmon fishery. (NOAA)

Bird flu in cattle stressing Northwest dairy operators
Some Northwest dairy farmers have experienced low milk prices, belly-high flooding, extreme heat, extreme cold events and fires in the past couple of years. Now, the challenge is highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in cattle. Anna King reports. (NW News Network)

Spraying for spongy moths set to start again on Island
Aerial spraying to combat spongy moths — formerly known as gypsy moths — will begin again this month in areas from Greater Victoria to Qualicum Beach, and on Saltspring Island. The biological insecticide Foray 48B, which is used in organic farming, will be used, the Ministry of Forests said. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Watch: The fascinating way fruit flies fly
New research on how the unique way flies fly shows what allows them to so effectively dodge your swatter. Darius Mahdavi reports. (CBC)

A 'new' star will light up the sky soon and you can see it for yourself
A binary star system in the constellation Corona Borealis consists of a white dwarf that pulls material off a neighbouring red giant, leading to exceptionally bright explosions every 79 to 80 years. Nicole Mortillaro reports. (CBC)

North Cascades Highway is opening a little early this year
North Cascades Highway, also known as Highway 20, is set to reopen for the season at 10 a.m. Friday, April 19, after being closed since late November. This year marks the first April opening of the highway since 2019. The pass opened in May from 2020 to 2023. Caitlyn Freeman reports. (Seattle Times)

Plans for WA’s largest wind farm slashed in half
A state energy board cut in half the largest wind project proposed in Washington on Wednesday after a yearslong and contentious planning process. Plans for the $1.7 billion Horse Heaven Hills wind farm originally included up to 222 wind turbines across 24 miles of hillsides near the Tri-Cities, plus three solar arrays covering up to 5,447 acres. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  307 AM PDT Thu Apr 18 2024    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SE swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SE swell  1 ft at 6 seconds.

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"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.



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4/17 Pickleweed, WA drought, logging lands carbon storage, Emerson the seal

 

Pickleweed [Sound Water Stewards]

Pickleweed Salicornia virginica
This species can be found in salt marshes and beaches with low wave energy along the Pacific Coast of the United States and British Columbia, on the American East Coast, and also in Western Europe. This plant belongs to the goosefoot family. Other common names for it include saltwort, sea asparagus, and American glasswort. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Struggling state ferry system finds its way in Washington governor’s race

Statewide drought declared due to low snowpack and dry forecast
With winter’s snowstorms largely behind us and summer just weeks away, our state’s low snowpack and forecasts for a dry and warm spring and summer have spurred the Department of Ecology to declare a drought emergency for most of Washington. (Dept. of Ecology)

Court ruling clears way for carbon storage projects on state logging lands
A timber industry group and two counties challenged a plan to set aside about 10,000 acres of trees to absorb carbon dioxide and help combat climate change. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

Too famous for his own good, Emerson might need to be moved away from selfie-seeking fans
Fisheries agency says it has received reports of people getting their dogs and even their children to approach the elephant seal, putting both them and the animal at risk. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist)

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-  323 AM PDT Wed Apr 17 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  N wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft  at 8 seconds.

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"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.



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4/16 Basket star, orca calf, PFAS limits, Robert Bullard, kelp forests

Basket star [Seattle Aquarium]

Basket star Asteronychidae
Basket stars are echinoderms (pronounced uh-KAI-nuh-durmz). These marine invertebrates, meaning animals without backbones, belong to the phylum Echinodermata and are characterized by a hard, spiny covering or skin. Basket stars are found all over the world, in the coldest areas of the ocean at depths up to 6,200 feet, as well as in warmer, tropical waters at about 30 feet below the surface. The species at the Seattle Aquarium, Gorgonocephalus eucnemis, is found in the Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea to southern California, parts of the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. (Seattle Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Keeping wheat’s story — and profits — local

Orphaned B.C. orca may be eating fish, vet says, as rescuers plan new strategy
Rescue crews have been regrouping and planning a new strategy after being outsmarted by the orca last week, but no date had been set for the next attempt. (Canadian Press)  Watch: Up close with orca rescue team in B.C. (CBC)

Washington to adopt new U.S. PFAS limits, but may take two years
The Washington Department of Health plans to lower the limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new lower limits on Wednesday. Donna Gordon Blankinship reports. (Cascade PBS)

Why environmental justice matters, from the founder himself
You might think of environmental justice as an old concept, old as the environmental movement itself. Surely, you say, the father of environmental justice is long gone, his lessons passed down through generations, his legacy enshrined in the marbled annals of history. But you’d be wrong.  Robert Bullard— the father of environmental justice— is very much alive and active.  Bullard is a distinguished professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University and director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Exploring the Forests of the Sea
Under ocean waves, kelp functions much like a forest ecosystem on land. What are we doing to protect it? Paul Tullis reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  302 AM PDT Tue Apr 16 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PDT THIS MORNING    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at  8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds.

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"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.



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4/15 Hermit crab sponge, Haida Gwaii, Puyallup Tribe, salmon fishing ban, 'touch tank,' wildfires

Hermit crab sponge

 

 Hermit crab sponge Suberites sp.
Although sponge of this genus is well known because of its tendency to overgrow a snail shell being carried around by a hermit crab, on Whidbey Island beaches, we most often see it as a lobe shaped encrusting mass attached to shaded areas of rock in the very low intertidal zone.(Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top stories in Salish Current: First element of Rosario Resort sale closes this week; My Mexican eclipse

'We were born knowing this is ours': B.C. signs deal recognizing Haida Nation title over Haida Gwaii
The B.C. government and the Council of the Haida Nation have signed an agreement officially recognizing Haida Gwaii's Aboriginal title, more than two decades after the nation launched a legal action seeking formal recognition. (Canadian Press)

Puyallup Tribe to have 17 acres of waterfront land added to reservation
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians Land Into Trust Act transfers land along the Tacoma waterfront to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, allowing the Tribe to expand its reservation and access to federal benefits associated with it. Katie Campbell reports. (KUOW)

Salmon fishing is banned off the California coast for the second year in a row amid low stocks
Federal fishery managers voted Wednesday to cancel all commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the coast of California for the second year in a row, and only the fourth time in state history, because of dwindling stocks. (Associated Press)

Seattle Aquarium’s hands-on tide pool experience is a touch of luxury
The Seattle Aquarium’s Life on the Edge habitat is a type of exhibit colloquially referred to as a “touch tank,” where visitors can politely reach their hands into the water and feel more than 100 species of invertebrates passing over their mammalian fingertips. Tantri Wija writes. (Seattle Times)

Drought, heat raise the risk of a repeat of Canada’s record-breaking wildfires last year
Canada’s emergency preparedness minister warned Wednesday the country’s wildfire season could be more explosive than last year when it led to unprecedented smoke conditions across much of the country and into the United States.  (Associated Press)

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-  214 AM PDT Mon Apr 15 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft  at 9 seconds.

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"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.



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4/12 Skunk cabbage, Dan Evans, snowpack, stop mining, heat islands, seaweed farm, SF marshland, week in review

Western skunk cabbage [
Martin Bravenboer/WikiMedia]

Western skunk cabbage Lysichiton americanus
Western skunk cabbage  is found in wet areas along streams and in swamps. Its range extends from Cook Inlet, Alaska, south through British Colombia and the Pacific Northwest states to Santa Cruz county, California, with isolated populations in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. (US Dept. of Agriculture)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community Voices / Review: ‘The Anxious Generation,’ by Jonathan Haidt

Former WA Gov. Dan Evans feted for energy, conservation work
The state’s other living three-term governor, 98, was recognized by the group  that coordinates energy development in the Columbia Basin. Venice Buhain reports. (Crosscut)

How the Lowest Snowpack in 50 Years Will Hit BC
British Columbia entered this month with the lowest snowpack in more than 50 years, creating risks for BC Hydro, agriculture and the coming fire season. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Judge orders mining company to stop work next to Everett school
Despite demands to cease work next door to Fairmount Elementary, the company reportedly continued operations at its site. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports (Everett Herald) 

Portal shows capital region areas most vulnerable to extreme heat
Heat-exposure maps show urban heat islands — high concentrations of people, roads and buildings that make an area hotter— canopy cover of trees and elevation levels where ocean breezes can have a cooling effect. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

A farm off Lummi Island grows its crops underwater
Lummi resident Riley Starks is harvesting seaweed off Lummi Island at the first permitted seaweed farm in Washington state. Eric Riddle reports. (KING)

Making a Marsh out of a Mud Pile
In San Francisco Bay, scientists are looking for a better way to rebuild flagging marshland. Erica Gies reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/12/24: Yuri Gagarin Friday, TM pipe, PCB rule, PSE LNG, loggerhead turtle, PFAS limits, WA electricity demand.

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  200 AM PDT Fri Apr 12 2024  
TODAY  N wind to 10 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NE to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at  10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 to 6 ft at 9 seconds  building to 6 to 7 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.  
SUN  W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 7 to 8 ft at 9 seconds building to 9 ft at 8 seconds in the  afternoon.

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"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.



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4/11 Salmonberry, WA electricity, BC snowpack, carbon removal, orca calf, WA park fees

Salmonberry [Native Plants PNW]

Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
Rubus, derived from ruber, a latin word for red, is the genus of plants generally called brambles. The epithet spectabilis means spectacular due to Salmonberry’s showy flowers and fruits. Salmonberry is found from southern Alaska to the northern California coast, mostly on the western slope of the Cascades. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Affordable housing opens for occupancy on Bellingham's waterfront

Surge in electricity demand spells trouble for PNW, forecasts show
Power planning forecasts in the Northwest show trouble ahead, in spiking demand for energy, transmission worries and no quick or cheap answers.The state and its neighbors are going to face challenges in keeping the lights on while complying with environmental mandates, including rebuilding salmon runs and meeting commitments to get off fossil fuels, a panel of experts told the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in its monthly meeting Tuesday. Lyda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Lowest snowpack since 1970 sparks drought, wildfire concerns
The low snowpack, combined with warm weather, creates “signficantly elevated” drought hazards for the spring and summer. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

State considers permit for carbon removal pilot in Port Angeles
A company partnering with the Port of Port Angeles aims to use the natural dynamics of the ocean to pull climate-warming carbon dioxide from the air, starting as soon as this summer. It has begun applying for permits for a two-year pilot project at the port, that said it could safely remove hundreds of tons of carbon a year from the air. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

Chief says rescue effort for stranded orca calf four, five days away as plans ramp up
Ehattesaht Chief Simon John said Wednesday a rescue of the female orca calf from the lagoon could be as early as Sunday or next week. Dirk Meissner reports. (Canadian Press)

Washington considers fee hikes for campers and boaters at its state parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is considering upping the fees for campsites and mooring. The cost of Discover Passes, which are set in state law, will not change. Laural Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  305 AM PDT Thu Apr 11 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.

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"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.



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4/10 Serviceberry, drinking water PFAS, water cost, orca calf, floodplains study

 

Saskatoon Serviceberry [Native Plants PNW]

Saskatoon Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
Saskatoon Serviceberry is a combination of two of its most familiar common names.  Saskatoon comes from the Cree word for Serviceberry.  The city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was named after the berry. The plant is found throughout most of Canada and western North America; from Alaska to California in the west. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Little Squalicum Pier will open up the Bellingham Bay

National limit for PFAS in drinking water affects all public wells in WA
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the first national drinking water standard for so-called “forever chemicals” Wednesday that will require testing of thousands of drinking water systems across Washington. So far, the chemicals have been detected in 253 water systems in Washington state, but that doesn’t include thousands of households who drink from private wells, or those that serve 15 or fewer households, which are not subject to state or federal testing requirements. Isabella Breda and Manuel Villa. (Seattle Times)

What you pay for drinking water in Metro Vancouver varies dramatically
The details are found in Metro Vancouver’s most recent water-use report that tracked usage and water rates of the region’s municipalities between 2000 to 2021. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Time ticks down for stranded orca calf as rescue efforts ramp up
The Ehattesaht First Nation says in a statement that it is relying on its traditional knowledge about whales and its territorial waters, along with modern tools, to rescue an orca calf stranded in a remote tidal lagoon. (Canadian Press)

Swinomish tribe receives grant to study river floodplains
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community has received a $700,000 grant from the National Coastal Resilience Fund to study the Skagit and Samish river floodplains and their flood risks. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  301 AM PDT Wed Apr 10 2024    
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 7 ft at 14 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 5 ft at 13 seconds.

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"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.



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4/9 Lilac, orca calf, PSE LNG, burnt sewage, chemical plant pollution, ship-breaking, best bird, loggerhead turtle, wolf protection, PCB standards, "Sounders"

Lilac

Lilac Syringa
Syringa is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Pasture or power? Solar talk on San Juan Island

Trapped B.C. orca calf's skin whitening, no sign of emaciation: Fisheries Department
The skin of a young killer whale trapped in a Vancouver Island lagoon is turning white due to the low salinity of the water, but the Fisheries Department says the calf is active and isn't showing signs of emaciation. (Canadian Press)

Puget Sound Energy facility has violated air permit over a dozen times
The 2-year old liquified natural gas plant on the Tacoma Tideflats has been issued more than a dozen violations of the facility’s air permit by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Bellingham receives notice its wastewater plant violated air quality standards
Bellingham's wastewater treatment plant was notified on March 27 by the Northwest Clean Air Agency that its burnt sewage violated emission limits and standards. (Bellingham Herald)

Environmental Protection Agency Limits Pollution From Chemical Plants
The new regulation is aimed at reducing the risk of cancer for people who live close to plants emitting toxic chemicals. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Vancouver Island ship-breaking site hit with stop-pollution order
he company taking apart derelict vessels in Union Bay, B.C., has been hit with a pollution abatement order from the province. Deep Water Recovery is illegally allowing toxic effluent to run off into Baynes Sound and the marine environment off Vancouver Island's east coast, B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has found. Madeline Dunnett reports. (The Discourse/CBC)

Watch: B.C.’s best bird crowned
Linda Bakker, co-executive director of the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C., breaks down how the Anna’s hummingbird beat 32 birds in a bracket to decide B.C.'s best bird. (CBC)

Rare sea turtle discovered dead on North Island
Another loggerhead sea turtle has surfaced on Vancouver Island, hundreds of kilometres north of its natural range in the open Pacific Ocean. The turtle was found dead on Friday by hikers at Nels Bight near Cape Scott on the North Island.It was the second loggerhead turtle discovered on the Island in three months, after a 38-kilogram female was found alive but severely hypothermic in “cold shock” floating in bull kelp off Metchosin on Feb. 4. Darren Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Environmental groups challenge decision not to federally protect wolves across the West
Conservation groups are taking the federal government to court over environmental protections for gray wolves across the West. Earlier this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded western gray wolves did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. If those protections had been granted, they would have applied to wolves in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, where those states have the highest concentrations of wolves. Wolves in remaining portions of those states are federally listed as endangered. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

Comment: Feds deny Washington’s request for stricter PCB standards
Regarding yesterday's story, local biologist  Don Norman writes: "The article reminded me of a similar issue when I worked on the Superfund Issue back in the late 1990s.  When the research showed that great blue herons were being impacted, likely by chemical exposure in the Hylebos compared to other nearby colonies, there was a petition to EPA about protection of higher trophic level species from such exposure. It was denied.  The reason was that there were such huge contaminated areas on the east coast.  Those east coast areas would never achieve any cleanup with those lower limits.  As an aside, I am reviewing great blue heron colonies this spring and summer to determine how populations are doing in the Salish Sea, as monitoring of this Priority Species has been, apparently, dropped by WDFW.  If you have any knowledge of any heron colonies, I would love to hear from you at pugetsoundbird@gmail.com ."

Welcome the Whales Parade and Festival
Orca Network and the Langley Chamber of Commerce will host the annual event on April 13-14 featuring a full schedule of activities for all ages. The event celebrates the return of the "Sounders," a group of about 20 gray whales who divert from their northern migration along the Washington coast each spring to spend a few weeks feeding on the ghost shrimp that occur along Whidbey shorelines. Information.

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 tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  318 AM PDT Tue Apr 9 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 to 6 ft at 11 seconds building to  6 to 7 ft at 11 seconds in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 to 8 ft at 11 seconds  becoming 5 to 6 ft at 15 seconds after midnight.

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"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.



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