5/31 Rough piddock, WA salmon passages, Indigenous MPAs, forested wetlands, LNG ad greenwashing, Prince Rupert LNG, woodpecker metalheads, week in review

Rough Piddock [Robert Gorman]

 

Rough Piddock  Zirfaea pilsbryi
The Rough Piddock is a clam able to drill through rock. Rough Piddocks have shells up to 6 inches long, one half smooth and the other rough with ridges and points. A fleshy foot extending from the rough end sticks to rock like a sucker. Once in place, muscles in the piddock's foot and body slowly turn the rough shell against the clay or rock and grind away. Thirty slight turns take an hour and rotate the piddock a full circle. Then the creature changes direction and grinds the other way. Slowly, the piddock burrows in. (Friends of Skagit Beaches)

Today's top stories in Salish Current: Limited-equity co-op model moves Lopez Island affordable housing forward / Cute ... and dangerous: suburban deer hazards are real

WA salmon passage projects are getting more than $75 million
Migrating salmon and steelhead face all kinds of obstacles littered throughout Washington. But piece by piece, those barriers will be removed, thanks in part to nearly $75 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Nearly $40 million of the funding announced will go to nine projects led by tribal nations, including tearing out a dam, culverts and other barriers to fish passage in rivers and streams from the Skagit to the Klickitat. Another four projects, including an effort to reconnect 125 river miles on the western Olympic Peninsula, received nearly $36 million. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Mapping the Growth of Indigenous Marine Protected and Conserved Areas
First Nations are managing their coastal territories in response to colonization. Stories from 10 news outlets explains how. Pippa Norman reports. (The Tyee)

Forested Wetlands Are Missing from Maps
Before they can be conserved, “cryptic” carbon-rich wetlands in the Pacific Northwest need to be documented. Natalia Mesa reports. (High County News/Hakai Magazine)

Leaked Decision Slams LNG Ads for Greenwashing
Claims made about LNG in wraparound ads that ran in major daily newspapers, including the Victoria Times Colonist, could not be substantiated by Ad Standards Canada, a leaked document reveals. Amanda Follett Hosgood  reports. (The Tyee)

Prince Rupert port to get busier with $1.35B gas export plant
Calgary-based AltaGas Ltd. and Netherlands-based joint venture partner Royal Vopak have approved a final investment decision for a large-scale liquefied petroleum gas and bulk liquids terminal project near Prince Rupert, B.C. The companies say site clearing work is more than 95 per cent complete and the project is expected to come online near the end of 2026. (Canadian Press)

'Chimney caps, vent pipes, gutters': Why some woodpeckers are major metal heads
Kevin McGowan, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, said woodpeckers batter wood to find food, make a home, mark territory and attract a mate. But when they bash away at metal, primarily during the springtime breeding season, their metallic racket has two purposes, "basically summarized as: All other guys stay away, all the girls come to me." Sacha Pfeiffer reports. (NPR)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/31/24: Parrot Friday, BC old-growth, owl wars, BC hydrogen, raising sea stars, Woodfibre LNG, AK youth climate suit, salmon barriers.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  223 AM PDT Fri May 31 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 4 seconds and  W 3 ft at 7 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SAT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming N in the afternoon. Seas 3 to  4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain likely in the  morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SUN  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.

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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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5/30 Gaper clam, Woodfibre LNG, deer danger, BC ferries sale, AK youth climate suit

 

Gaper clam [Dave Cowles]

Gaper clam
Two species of gapers occur in Puget Sound: the fat gaper or Alaskan gaper (Tresus capax), and the less-common Pacific gaper (T. nuttallii), which has a narrower shell. Both species have a wide gape at one end of their shells to accommodate large tube-like siphons, used for water exchange. The siphons of gaper clams and geoducks are too large to be completely pulled inside their shells, so both must bury themselves deeply to avoid being chomped by predators like Dungeness crabs, moon snails, sea stars, and gulls. Gaper clams aren’t as strong diggers as their “better-at-everything” cousins the geoducks, but individuals can still be found up to four feet deep. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Land acknowledgments: from words to transformative actions

Squamish environmental group challenges Woodfibre LNG, FortisBC wastewater permits
The BC Energy Regulator has issued a permit for Woodfibre LNG to release more than 1,200 litres of contaminated wastewater daily into the Howe Sound fjord. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Cute and Dangerous: Suburban Deer Hazards are Real
Back in April 2016, volunteers in Port Townsend counted 230 deer in a half-hour survey that did not cover the entire city. Since then, deer numbers have grown. The mayor himself recently counted 49 deer in a 1.5-mile loop walk near his PT home, and posted his own video of being menaced by an aggressive deer. Karen Sullivan writes. (Rainshadow Journal)

B.C. Ferries seeks offers for four retired vessels
Queen of Burnaby, Mayne Queen, Bowen Queen and ­Powell River Queen are listed in the corporation’s request for ­proposals. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Youth climate-change lawsuit targets Alaska LNG project
Eight young Alaska residents sued the state on Wednesday seeking to block a major natural gas project, the latest in a string of climate-change related lawsuits by youths arguing that government policies promoting fossil fuels violate their rights. The Anchorage state court lawsuit, brought by a group of plaintiffs ranging in age from 11 to 22, alleges that an Alaska law mandating the project's development infringes on their due process rights and other constitutional protections by causing the release of greenhouse gases that harm their health and livelihood. Clark Mindock reports. (Reuters)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  217 AM PDT Thu May 30 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt this afternoon.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 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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5/29 Moon snail, BC old-growth, climate change beaches, raising sea stars, Dabob Bay

Moon snail [WDFW/Kevin Lee]

Moon Snail Euspira lewisii
One of the best-known invertebrates in the sandy intertidal zone is the Moon Snail, both because it is a large (up to 13 cm in diameter) species and because its egg masses are especially notable. Moon Snails are voracious predators on the clams that share their habitat. They find a clam, presumably by chemoreception, and envelope it in their big foot and often drag it more deeply into the sand. The radula has seven rows of teeth, with which they dig a hole (easily recognizable as made by this species because countersunk) into the clam shell. A gland on the proboscis secretes enzymes and even hydrochloric acid to help accomplish this. The snail then rasps and sucks out the clam’s tissues over a period of a day or so. (Puget Sound Museum of Natural History)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local flower-farming takes root  in a global economy

Did B.C. keep its old-growth forest promises?
With an election approaching this fall, the BC NDP government has released a surprise update touting ‘significant progress’ on protecting old-growth forests. We take a look at the reality on the ground. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

Will climate change cause more WA beach closures because of algae or bacteria?
It’s unclear how climate change might affect closures in the region. But generally algae thrives in warmer water and bacteria is commonly washed into waterways, mostly from animal feces. As summers get hotter, access to cold bodies of water will become more important for people who don’t have a place to cool down. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Guide to raising sunflower starfish ‘nearly finished’
A top researcher for the University of Washington said that he expects to publish a book in coming months detailing how to raise sunflower sea stars that will hopefully show some resilience to the wasting disease that has killed nearly 6 billion of them in recent years. Scott Doggett reports. (PT Leader)

Public comment opens on Dabob Bay
Public comment on a proposed expansion of the Dabob Bay Natural Area opens today as the state Department of Natural Resources looks to add 671 acres to the protected area... A community meeting will be held at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center in Coyle at 6 p.m. June 17 for members of the public to provide feedback on the proposal. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  218 AM PDT Wed May 29 2024    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 10 seconds. A chance of showers with a slight chance of tstms  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 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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5/28 Sand dollar, BC old-growth, owl wars, PFAS lawsuits, BC hydrogen, NW bees, BC Ferries, right whale

 

Eccentric sand dollar [Wendy Feltham]

Eccentric sand dollar Dendraster excentricus
Wendy Feltham points out that last Friday's critter profile of Clypeaster reticulates (Flat sea urchin) was of the Indo-Pacific species. "Our local WA species is the Dendraster excentricus (Eccentric Sand Dollar), which is flatter. When alive, its spiny, tube-like feet are purple, and when dead, its 'test,' or skeleton, is whitish," writes Wendy.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Science denialism and the bright extinction of killer whales

Environmental groups critical of new B.C. government old-growth logging report
The B.C. government has released a report on its progress protecting old-growth forests, but some First Nations and environmental groups say the plan released Friday falls short. The report comes three years after the B.C. government committed to policies to conserve old-growth trees, and includes updated timelines on protections for old growth. Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

Owl Wars: The Battle for Northwest Forests (and Owls)
Have we saved the Northern Spotted Owl yet? Apparently not. But there may be a better way than shooting the rival owls. The landmark Northwest Forest Plan, which was widely expected to save the owl, has just turned 30 years old.  And yet, right now, because larger, more aggressive barred owls native to the east coast have been displacing spotted owls from their old-growth habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is considering a plan to kill by shotguns barred owls by the thousands and perhaps hundreds of thousands. Dan Chasan writes. (Post Alley)

Lawyers to Plastics Makers: Prepare for ‘Astronomical’ PFAS Lawsuits
At an industry presentation about dangerous “forever chemicals,” lawyers predicted a wave of lawsuits that could dwarf asbestos litigation, audio from the event revealed. Hiroko Tabuchi reports. (NY Times)

$900M project to create hydrogen plants, refuelling stops in B.C.
H2 Gateway project aims to create 20 fill-up stations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. (Canadian Press)

Fly, you die: Northwest bees that fly during mild winter weather less likely to survive until spring
New research out of Washington State University shows colonies of Northwest bees that fly in warm fall and winter weather are dying more quickly than they used to. That’s because bees use up their reserves, and aren’t able to bring nectar or pollen back to the hive. Climate change could be making those die-outs worse. Anna King reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

B.C. Ferries told to improve relationship with ferry-dependent communities
The relationship with ferry-dependent communities has deteriorated in the last two years, says a report from the B.C. Ferries Commissioner. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist) 

One of world’s rarest whales sighted off California coast
In an extraordinary sighting, a critically endangered North Pacific right whale was spotted off the Marin County coast on Friday, thrilling scientists. One of the rarest whales in the world, only an estimated 30 animals are thought to survive. Lisa M. Krieger reports. (Mercury News)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  222 AM PDT Tue May 28 2024    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds.  Rain this morning, then a slight chance of rain early this  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds. A  chance of showers.

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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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5/24 Sand dollar, WA wind farm, Burrard Inlet polluters, grizzly reintroduction, banning boats, week in review

 

Sand dollar [Frédéric Ducarme]

Flat sea urchin (sand dollar) Clypeaster reticulatus
The term "sand dollar" derives from the appearance of the tests (skeletons) of dead individuals after being washed ashore. The test lacks its velvet-like skin of spines and has often been bleached white by sunlight. To beachcombers of the past, this suggested a large, silver coin, such as the old Spanish dollar, which had a diameter of 38–40 mm. In the folklore of Georgia in the United States, sand dollars were believed to represent coins lost by mermaids. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Science denialism and the bright extinction of killer whales

Inslee rejects recommendation to shrink footprint of massive wind farm
The future of one of the largest wind farms ever proposed in Washington got a boost Thursday as Gov. Jay Inslee told a state panel it went too far downsizing the project. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Mapping Burrard Inlet’s legal polluters
These 21 facilities hold provincial authorizations to release polluted effluent, challenging efforts to bring the Lower Mainland waterway back to life. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Officials clash over North Cascade grizzly bear reintroduction
In a recent heated committee hearing on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, argued against bringing grizzly bears to the North Cascades.   During a House Natural Resources Committee hearing, Newhouse hammered out complaints about part of the plan – known as the 10(j) rule – that would make it easier for managers to take care of problem bears. Courtney Flatt reports. (NWNews)

Can bans on boats — including canoes and kayaks — stop a tiny shellfish from wreaking havoc across Canada?
Riding Mountain National Park’s boat ban is part of a growing trend across the country. The goal: stop a tiny invasive creature that can produce a million eggs per year. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports.(The Narwhal)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/24/24: Asparagus Friday, Samish Nation village, salmon parks, Burrard Inlet, WA mountain goats, oysters, Sidney Is deer kill, First Nation right to buy land, TMX.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  326 AM PDT Fri May 24 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to S early this afternoon,  veering to NW late. Seas around 2 ft or less, then 3 to 4 ft this  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds. Showers this  morning, then a slight chance of showers early this afternoon. A  chance of showers late.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of showers in the evening.  
SAT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  Showers likely after midnight.  
SUN  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  9 seconds. Showers.  
SUN NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 8 seconds. Showers likely.

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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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5/23 Mock orange, First Nation land purchase, TMX, WA honeybees, salmon fishing, Sidney Is deer kill, wax myrtles, rhodys

Mock orange [Portland Nursery]

 

Mock Orange Philadelphus lewisii
This plant grows from British Columbia to California, and east to Idaho and Montana. In Washington, this plant grows on both sides of the Cascades crest and at the coast. This plant produces brown bark which eventually flakes off. The wood is strong and hard. The flowers are showy and fragrant with a scent similar to orange blossoms.  Many Pacific Northwest tribes (including the Cowlitz, Klamath, Lummi, Nlaka'pamux, and others) have made combs, cradle hoops and hoods, knitting needles, baskets, snowshoes, harpoon shafts, fishing spears, bows, arrows, clubs, breast plates, tools, and pipe stems from the wood. The leaves and bark have been used to make soap.  (WA Native Plant Society)

Today's top story in Salish Current: A presidential visit planned and celebrated — then forgotten

Change to B.C. law allows First Nations to directly own land
The B.C. government's changes to a law that prevented First Nations from acquiring land have come into effect, meaning nations can now directly buy and own land in the province. Previously, First Nations needed to form a proxy, like a corporation or a trust, to buy land. The legislation, which was introduced in April, came into effect on Tuesday. The changes have no legal impact on other landowners — just federally recognized First Nations. Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

Ottawa removes regulatory red tape for Trans Mountain pipeline
The Canada Development Investment Corporation and Trans Mountain Corporation will no longer need authorization from a top official, the governor in council, to make transactions like incorporating subsidiaries. Canada bought the pipeline system in 2018. At the time, it could ship 300,000 barrels of oil per day. The federal government oversaw the expansion of the pipeline, which can now ship about 890,000 barrels per day from Alberta to Canada's Pacific coast.Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

Inside WA’s struggling honeybee industry
Despite a recent uptick of hives in Texas, which was strong enough to briefly increase the national count, honeybee operations are still staring down the barrel of colony collapse and extremely high annual loss rates of hives. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Skagit River reopens to salmon fishing
The Skagit River has reopened to salmon fishing following a 10-day closure. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)  Cascade River opens next week for salmon fishing  The Cascade River will open for salmon fishing May 29 from its mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road bridge. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Parks Canada to spend $12M on Sidney Island deer kill, restoration, documents show
Parks Canada will spend about $12 million on a plan to kill invasive deer and restore native vegetation on Sidney Island, according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. That’s more than double the cost that has been widely reported for the controversial project on the small Gulf Island. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Don Norman from Go Natives! Nursery writes: "California Wax Myrtle is the best choice in the NW for an evergreen screen.  It is a critical winter food source for many birds, especially yellow-rumped warblers, as its seed (I believe it is a drupe) is covered with a wax (thus the name) that is a digestible fat.  If all of the Laurel, Photinia, Pyramidalis and other non-native screens were replaced with this much nicer looking and less maintenance shrub, there would be hundreds of thousands more wintering birds in Seattle (and a lot fewer pruning jobs)." 

Federal Way's rhododendron garden has noticed how NW summer is affecting certain rhodys
Local conditions for rhododendrons at Federal Way's Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden have been changing as the summers have gotten warmer, and drier, with heat waves lasting longer than in the past. There are certain species that the garden can no longer grow because of this. Patricia Murphy reports. (KUOW)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  208 AM PDT Thu May 23 2024    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds. A  slight chance of showers late.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds. A  chance of showers.

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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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5/22 Wax myrtle, Burrard Inlet, orca calf family, salmon parks, WA mountain goats, B'ham trees, oiled birds, WA diesel ferries, Nooksack closure, triploid oysters

California Wax Myrtle [Monrovia]

 

 California wax myrtle Morella californica
California wax myrtle is a moderately fast growing and long-lived shrub or tree.It grows in an upright form, with active growth during the spring and summer. The shiny dark-green leaves remain on the plant throughout the year, making it an attractive garden planting. The flowers are yellow and bloom in the early summer.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Meeting the housing need: four suggestions for comprehensive planning

A portrait of pollution around Canada’s busiest port
Tsleil-Waututh Nation is intent on rewriting provincial policy to protect Burrard Inlet from industrial waste. But a leaked video of a coal spill illustrates the challenges with enforcement. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. orca calf's extended family spotted near Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. Marine scientist Jared Towers says in a social media post he was surprised to see members of the calf's great-grandmother's pod swimming in ocean waters near Alert Bay. (Canadian Press)

To heal a forest: The fight for salmon parks
If you like to watch: First Nations managed forests on Vancouver and Nootka islands for thousands of years. As logging encroached on the last untouched salmon stream in their traditional territory, leaders of the Nuchatlaht Tribe launched a movement to heal and protect this land. (Produced by Lauren Frohne / The Seattle Times)

WA mountain goats struggle to survive
All of the surveyed mountain goat herds in Washington state are declining, with the exception of Mount St. Helens, which has grown, according to data provided by the state. Researchers believe climate change is a factor, as the ungulates rely on shrinking alpine habitats. These counts do not include all goats or herds in the state. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

City Council approves emergency landmark tree protections
Bellingham's city council adopted an emergency landmark tree ordinance where any healthy tree with a trunk diameter of 36 inches or greater will be automatically considered a “landmark tree” and receive special protections. (City of Bellingham)

Officials search for source of oil that’s coated, killed Northwest coastal birds
At least 10 birds covered with oil have been found along the Northwest coast between Long Beach, Washington, and Lincoln City, Oregon, since Sunday. Three of them died, and some of the surviving birds are in poor condition. Officials have also received several reports of tar balls along the coast not far from the mouth of the Columbia River. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

WSF says building new diesel ferries would create two-year delay
State officials say it would significantly slow plans to grow the fleet if they were to switch now from hybrid boats to the less eco-friendly option. John Stang reports. (CascadePBS)

Fishing closes on Nooksack River across Whatcom County
Effective Saturday, all fishing for all species of fish closes on all forks of the Nooksack River until the end of July or through summer, depending on the river fork. Fish and Wildlife said the closure was required to protect spring Chinook salmon and wild steelhead runs. Those fish in particular need deep, cold water through summer and the return of the rainy season in October. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

So Long Triploids, Hello Creamy Oysters
Triploid oysters—selectively bred for summer eating—suffer in high temperatures. Is their plight enough to get us to change our oyster eating habits? Devon Fredericksen reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Wed May 22 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT WEDNESDAY    
TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W early this afternoon,  rising to 15 to 20 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 7 seconds and W 4 ft at 16 seconds. Patchy fog this morning.  Rain, mainly this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 7 to  10 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 9 seconds. A chance  of rain 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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5/21Evergreen huckleberry, WESE strike, Skagit drought, upper Columbia salmon revival, Willow Inn sale

Evergreen Huckleberry [Native Plants PNW]

Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum
Evergreen Huckleberry is also called California Huckleberry, Evergreen Blueberry or Box Blueberry.  Ovatum refers to its oval-shaped leaves. Evergreen Huckleberry is found on the west side of the Cascade Mountains from British Columbia to California.  Along the coast of California, it is common to the redwoods but sporadic further south. Natives ate the berries fresh or dried them into cakes.  Today, common lore asserts that they are sweeter after the first frost.  The berries are a bit tedious to pick and separate from the foliage, but are delicious baked into muffins. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Fewer Canadians are getting to the Point: do Point Roberts trends signal permanent change?

Western Educational Student Employees Are On Strike
Beginning today at 5am, 1,100 Educational Student Employees at Western Washington University walked off the job and onto the picket line. Student employees will gather at Old Main at 1 p.m. (WESE News Release)

Snowpack remains low, Skagit County in drought
Snowpack remains low in the North Cascades as drought persists. The Natural Resources Conservation Service published its latest Washington Water Supply Outlook Report last week. According to the report, most areas are in snow drought statewide, except for the area near Mount Saint Helens. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Northwest tribes, feds dive into work on salmon revival in upper Columbia River
The fish were once abundant but two dams decimated their numbers and it took years for an historic 20-year reintroduction plan to emerge. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Offer accepted for Willows Inn Restaurant; proceeds to fund new Lighthouse Mission facility
Lighthouse Mission Ministries accepted an offer from a prospective buyer to purchase The Willows Inn properties on Lummi Island. The Mission will not be disclosing the identity of the prospective buyer or the offer price until a sales transaction is closed. The 2023 assessed valuation of the properties was about $2.4 million. Rachel Showalter reports. (Bellingham Herald)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  222 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE  TONIGHT    
TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds. Rain until late afternoon, then  a chance of rain late. Patchy fog.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 6 to  9 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 9 seconds. A chance  of showers.

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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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5/20 Ninebark, columbine, Samish village, WA ferries, F/V Chief Joseph, biosolids plan

Pacific Ninebark [Native Plants PNW]

Pacific Ninebark Physocarpus capitatus
Ninebarks are so called because it was believed there are nine layers (or nine strips) of peeling bark on the stems. Pacific Ninebark is native from Southeast Alaska to the coast ranges of Santa Barbara County in California, mostly in the coastal states and British Columbia. The wood of Pacific Ninebark has been used to make small items such as children’s bows and knitting needles.  A tea made from the bark was used as a laxative or to induce vomiting.  Due to toxicity concerns, caution is advised for any internal use. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Jail, behavioral health, community policing challenge new Whatcom County sheriff

Regarding columbine
Don Norman from Go Natives Nursery writes that the columbine that is native is Aquilegia Formosa.  There are non-natives that occur in almost every yard, which will cross with the natives, so if you want to collect seed or allow your native to spread, you will need to pull out, or cut off the flowers of the non-natives.

Samish Indian Nation debuts first village in 125 years to 'bring the elders back home'
The Samish Indian Nation on Friday debuted a new affordable housing project spanning 2 acres of tribal land in Anacortes. The project, called Xwch'ángteng, contains 14 two-bedroom cottages that are ADA-ready, along with a new community center and playground. Samish tribal members who are seniors, disabled, and low-income will get priority for the new cottages, which are each roughly 1,000 square feet. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez reports. (KUOW)

Listen: How can Washington build a sustainable state ferries system?
An aging fleet and staffing shortages have meant canceled or limited sailings, not just on the Bremerton-Seattle route, but across Western Washington. A state lawmaker who has vowed to fix the Washington State Ferries System is State Rep. Greg Nance, whose 23rd district includes Bremerton.  Emil Moffatt reports. (KNKX)

Troubled fishing boat successfully raised from sea floor off San Juan Island
Salvage crews have successfully raised a 48-foot fishing boat that had sunk near the northwest tip of San Juan Island. The sinking on May 3 was not the F/V Chief Joseph’s first trouble at sea. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

CRD plan makes use of biosolids for fuel a priority
An advanced thermal processing plant at the Hartland Landfill would convert biosolids into biochar or biofuel. Andrew A. Duffy 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-  209 AM PDT Mon May 20 2024    
TODAY  Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 7 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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5/17 Columbine, Nooksack flooding, tidal marshes, orca superpower, boat invasives rule, week in review

Columbine

 

Columbine
Aquilegia is a genus of about 60–70 species of perennial plants that are found in meadows, woodlands, and at higher altitudes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, known for the spurred petals of their flowers. (Wikipedia)

Today's top stories in Salish Current: Jail, behavioral health, community policing challenge new Whatcom County sheriff / Lopez author’s debut novel rooted in people and place

Crossborder Nooksack teams have met 10 times since October
Ten meetings in 10 months might not sound like a lot, but given recent history, the nine governments trying to prevent another devastating Nooksack River flood might as well be teenagers who can’t get off the phone with one another. Whether they’ll ever be able to take things to the next level remains to be seen. Tyler Olsen reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Rare tidal marshes set the table for salmon recovery
Tidal wetlands are crucial to Chinook salmon recovery but are among the most threatened habitats in Puget Sound. In 2012, The Nature Conservancy began restoring a 150-acre section of tidal marsh on Port Susan Bay at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River. That project is entering a new phase and may soon connect with other adjacent restoration efforts put forth by the Stillaguamish Tribe. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Current Magazine)

UBC discovery of orca’s superpower makes them even more scary as yacht attacks rise
In a story that is becoming terrifyingly common, another yacht was sunk this week by a gang of orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar. And new research from scientists at the University of British Columbia shows that these killer whales are so efficient at breathing, they can perform a dive on just a single breath of air. The researchers combined drone footage with data from tags suction-cupped to 11 orcas off the coast of B.C. to gather information on the animals’ habits. They found that the whales in their study took about 1.2 breaths per minute while resting, and 1.5 to 1.8 per minute while travelling or hunting. (National Post)

B.C. imposes new rules on boaters to stop spread of parasite
British Columbia's chief veterinarian has issued an order making it illegal to transport boats or other watercraft without removing the drain plug to prevent the spread of whirling disease. Whirling disease, which is fatal in fish, is caused by a microscopic parasite that mainly targets salmon and trout. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says the order takes effect on Friday and is also intended to keep invasive mussels out of B.C. waterways.(Canadian Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/17/24: ESA Day, chinook runs, peregrine falcons, MPAs, cultural burns, jet noise danger, Oly Peninsula marmots, ship pollution, Nooksack flooding.

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-  202 AM PDT Fri May 17 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. NW swell 8 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 7 ft at 9 seconds  subsiding to 5 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.  
SAT  W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  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 8 seconds.  
SUN  Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 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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5/16 Spearnose poacher, cruise ship pollution, humans and pollinators, DFO salmon farm virus

Northern Spearnose Poacher

Northern Spearnose Poacher Agonopsis vulsa
The northern spearnose poacher, also known as the window-tailed sea-poacher or the windowtail poacher, is a fish in the family Agonidae. It was described by David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert in 1880, originally under the genus Agonus. It is a marine, temperate water-dwelling fish which is known from the eastern Pacific Ocean, including southeastern Alaska to southern California. It dwells at a depth range of 0 to 163 metres (0 to 535 ft). Males can reach a maximum total length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in). (Wikipedia)

Today's top stories in Salish Current: Tales of tricksters and triumphs: 35th year of Vancouver’s Shakespeare festival opens June 11 /Campus protests over Gaza part of a proud tradition

Endangered orca habitat sullied by Canadian cruise ship pollution
Cruise ships are jeopardizing endangered southern resident killer whales by dumping billions of litres of polluted wastewater into the ocean, new federal government documents reveal.There was a 14-fold increase in the total number of ships employing scrubber technology in coastal waters between 2018 and 2022, recent data submitted by Environment and Climate Change Canada to an international environment organization revealed. Rochelle Baker reports. (Canadian Press)

New Indigenous-led PacSci exhibit connects humans and pollinators
The living pathway invites Pacific Science Center guests to form relationships with their surrounding environment through observation. Skylar Stekly reports. (Crosscut)

B.C. First Nation to reactivate judicial review of DFO’s salmon farm virus policy
A B.C. First Nation says it has lost faith in federal plans to remove open net-pens from the province’s ocean salmon farms and is reluctantly relaunching legal action it had on hold that challenges Fisheries Department aquaculture policy. (Canadian 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-  244 AM PDT Thu May 16 2024    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH  FRIDAY MORNING    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming NW after midnight. Wind  waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 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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5/15 Sturgeon poacher, Navy jet noise, marmots, carbon emissions, owl housing

Sturgeon poacher

 

Sturgeon Poacher Agonus acipenserinus
The Sturgeon Poacher can grow up to 12 inches in length. They have a slender, tapering body that is covered with scales that are actually modified bony plates. Found from Northern California to the Bering Sea in Alaska, in shallow waters to depths of about 200’, these fish have very small mouths, that are surrounded by clumps of cirri. These cirri actually contain their taste buds which are used to grovel through the sand and silt bottoms it prefers to inhabit in search of a tasty shrimp or other very small invertebrate. (Scott Boyd)

Today's top story in Salish Current: What tighter fed PFAS mandates mean for local contaminated communities

Navy jet noise could mean long-term health impacts for Whidbey Island
More than 74,000 people on Whidbey Island could face long-term health impacts from the U.S. Navy jet noise that’s blasted over residents several days a week for over a decade, new research shows.  A study  from the University of Washington, published last week in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, reports the noise from the Boeing EA-18G Growlers and their training drills present a “substantial risk” to two-thirds of Island County residents. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times)

Environmentalists seek protections for marmots on Olympic Peninsula
Environmentalists say the species is in trouble, with around 2,000 to 4,000 of the animals believed to be left after a sharp population decline from the 1990s to mid-2000s. With this in mind, the Center for Biological Diversity this week petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to grant the marmots, which can grow to around 32 inches long and weigh up to 20 pounds, new protections under the federal Endangered Species Act. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

The carbon cost of return-to-office mandates
Many companies made headway during the pandemic on promises to go green. But with work commutes required again, emissions are rising. Kate Yoder reports. (Grist/Crosscut)

Climate Change and Housing Adaptation: Owl Edition
After scores of barn owls died in overheated nest boxes, conservationists set out to give the birds less heat-prone homes. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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-  241 AM PDT Wed May 15 2024    
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W  swell 3 to 7 ft at 7 seconds becoming NW 3 to 4 ft at 7 seconds  in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW 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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5/14 Pygmy poacher, WA summer, marine protected areas, Skagit fishing, saving old-growth, controlled burns, First Nations rent, sunken boat

Pygmy poacher [Mark Lloyd]

 

Pygmy poacher Odontopyxis trispinosa
The pygmy poacher is a species of poacher that is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean along the North American coast from southern Alaska to northern Mexico. This species occurs at depths of from 9 to 373 metres (30 to 1,224 ft). This species grows to a length of 9.5 centimetres (3.7 in) total length. Common but inconspicuous. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: OPALCO proposes to harness tidal power for San Juans

How warm will Washington state get during summer 2024?
Weather forecasters have long been talking about a warmer-than-normal summer 2024 in Washington state, but as the season gets closer, it appears the region may only get slightly warmer than average. Natalie Akane Newcomb and Angela King report. (KUOW)

OSU Scientists, Marine Biodiversity Opportunities are Being Lost
An international collaboration that includes two Oregon State University scientists says the world’s largest marine protected areas aren’t collectively delivering the biodiversity benefits they could be because of slow implementation of management strategies and a failure to restrict the most impactful human activities. Steve Lundeberg reports. (Corvallis Advocate)

Skagit River closing to salmon fishing
The Skagit River will close Wednesday to salmon fishing until further notice. The river will be closed from the Highway 536 bridge in Mount Vernon to Gilligan Creek. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife made the decision to close the river based on harvestable numbers of hatchery spring Chinook forecast to return to the Marblemount Hatchery. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Not Too Wet To Burn
Amid an uptick in wildfires, scientists search for lessons on how to save old-growth rainforests from a fiery future. Madeline Ostrander reports. (Hakai Magazine)

‘A Good Fire’: How Prescribed Cultural Burns Protect Communities
They’re rooted in generational knowledge. And they’re long overdue. Aaron Hemens reports. (The Tyee)

On Vancouver Island, residents are paying voluntary rent to First Nations
‘It’s a good step towards mending our relationship’: a growing network of reciprocity trusts allow settlers to contribute to the communities whose lands they live on. Julie Gordon reports. (The Narwhal)

Sunken fishing vessel raised, fuel offloaded at Henry island
Divers used a pump truck onboard a barge to retrieve more than 1,900 litres of diesel fuel from the Chief Joseph, which sank May 3. Darron Kloster 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-  243 AM PDT Tue May 14 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON  THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 3 to 7 ft at 9 seconds subsiding to 4 ft at  9 seconds in the afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds building to 5 ft at  14 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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5/13 Paper birch, chinook run, peregrine falcons, Bear Divide, First Nation land, BC drought, Whatcom Co housing

Paper Birch

 

Paper Birch Betula papyrifera
Paper Birch gets its name from the way the bark on older trees will peel in thin, white, papery sheets.  It is also sometimes called Canoe Birch or White Birch. Paper Birch is widely distributed throughout the northern regions of North America from Alaska to Newfoundland. West of the Cascades, Paper Birch is mostly found north of the Skagit in Washington State, but may also occur in the southern Puget Sound region. (Native Plants of the PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: San Juan and Skagit county council candidates file for August primary

Low Chinook runs endanger prime fishing rivers in Snohomish County
Even in pristine salmon habitat like the Sultan, Chinook numbers are down. Warm water and extreme weather are potential factors. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Peregrine falcons laced with banned chemicals, Canadian scientists find
The fastest animal on the planet, peregrine falcons can't seem to escape contamination from banned toxic flame retardants, a new study has found. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

On this unassuming trail near LA, bird watchers see something spectacular
Bear Divide is unique because it's like a passageway through the wall of the San Gabriels. Birds are funneled through, says Kelly Reckling, a PhD student at UCLA who studies bird migration, and fly low enough for researchers to identify, catch and study the species as they pass. On a really good day, Reckling says, you can see up to 20,000 birds zooming by as they travel north for the summer. Kai McNamee reports. (NPR)

B.C. returns land on Island to Lyackson First Nation
Lyackson Nation and Cowichan Tribes are holding the land in partnership until there is a plan to divide the land between the two. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist)

Space program captures images of B.C.'s dry riverbeds as drought continues
Images from Canadian mission show narrow waterways reflecting lack of rain, snow. Andrew Kurjata reports.(CBC)

With state policy stuck, a county charts its own path to allow more rural housing
State lawmakers heard from Whatcom County leaders about efforts there to allow more backyard cottages and other accessory dwelling units. Laura Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

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-  239 AM PDT Mon May 13 2024    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 to  5 ft at 11 seconds building to 4 to 6 ft at 10 seconds in the  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. 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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5/10 Blue elderberry, GiveBIG, TMX, Point Defiance aquarium, BC drought, ash borer, Zodiac, Esutarium

Blue Elderberry

Blue Elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
Blue Elderberry was sometimes known as S. glauca; it is more commonly known as Sambucus cerulea (or cerulean), but many botanists feel that it and the American Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, are just a subspecies of the well-known European species, the Black Elder, Sambucus nigra. Elder trees were important in Celtic folklore and mythology; they were considered sacred to fairies and were used for making wands. 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trans Mountain is a metaphor for larger economic and political forces at play

Thank you for GivingBIG!
We did our best to meet our $10,000 GiveBIG match challenge and thank readers who supported nonprofit, no-paywall community journalism. There's still time to double your one-time or monthly donation by making a GiveBIG donation to support Salish Current. Mike Sato.

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.

Groups opposed to pipeline call for B.C. to push for oil spill evacuation plan
Dozens of health officials, Indigenous and environmental groups and city councillors opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are calling on B.C. to push the federal government for a more robust oil spill response plan. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Point Defiance aquarium set to reopen after $7M renovation
Point Defiance Zoo is expected to reopen its Tropical Reef Aquarium this summer, the zoo announced this week. Formerly called the “South Pacific Aquarium,” the 25,000-square-foot area will boast colorful fish and sharks in a tropical coral-reef environment, according to a news release. The June 14 reopening comes after years of repairs and restorations to habitats, life-support systems and animal-care structures. Simone Carter reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

'Every drop counts': B.C. prepares for impacts of ongoing drought
Parts of British Columbia will likely enter "unfamiliar territory" with drought if they see another hot, dry summer, says the head of the province's River Forecast Centre. Dave Campbell says persistent drought conditions in B.C. stretch back to 2022, so the province is heading into this summer with "multi-year" precipitation deficits. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Invasive ash-tree-destroying beetle found in B.C. for 1st time
A highly destructive invasive beetle that kills ash trees has been found in B.C., marking the first time it has been officially recorded in the province. Larvae of the emerald ash borer were recently found in Vancouver by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, indicating that the bug has been on the move into B.C. from other provinces. Tessa Vikander reports. (CBC)  See: State crews remove trees in Washington County [OR] to slow spread of emerald ash borer. Cassandra Profita reports. (OPB)

Schooner Zodiac Celebrates a Century at Sea
On a beautiful spring or summer day, it’s not uncommon to glimpse the two-masted schooner Zodiac bobbing on the waters of the Salish Sea. For decades, it has conducted private charters and public cruises, transporting locals and tourists from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal into the splendor of the San Juan Islands and beyond. Matt Benoit writes. (WhatcomTalk)

Puget Sound Estuarium
The Puget Sound Estuarium was created in 2007 by the South Sound Estuary Association. According to their website, their mission is to, “foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of Puget Sound.” Kristina Lotz writes. (ThurstonTalk)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/10/24: Mandela Friday, Elwha fishery, youth climate suit,Ksi Lisims LNG, bumblebees, Hood Canal summer chum, tides, fish pens, TMX.

Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  203 AM PDT Fri May 10 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 3 ft at  11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT  NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at  10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 3 ft. W swell  5 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft building to 3 to 5 ft in the afternoon. 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.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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