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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