5/9 Turkish washcloth, GiveBIG, 'green' hydrogen, spongy moth, fish pens, tides, ptarmigan, BC drought, kelp octopus

 

Turkish washcloth [UPS]

Turkish washcloth Mastocarpus papillatus
Reddish-brown to blackish, it grows in abundance on rocky substrates in the high to mid intertidal zones of Pacific Northwest coastal waters. The coloration of red algae is an adaptation to growing in deeper water, as their red pigment (phycoerythrin) involved in photosynthesis reflects red and absorbs blue wavelengths, which penetrate into deeper water. Not really used by Turks as a washcloth. [UPS]

Today's top story in Salish Current: Pipeline explosion: Part 2 — Healing and aftermath / Mariner Musing: The Mariners are in first place atop the AL West Division

It's not too late to GiveBIG

Salish Sea News and Weather is open to all to read without paywall because I believe news is a public good and best supported by its readers. News and Weather is included in weekday publication of Salish Current, a nonprofit newsroom serving readers in Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. A GiveBIG donation shows your support for nonprofit community news—the true free press. Thanks, Mike Sato

AltaGas outlines economic potential of ‘green’ hydrogen plant at former Intalco site
A Canadian energy company described plans for a “green” hydrogen manufacturing and storage facility at the site of the former Intalco aluminum smelter in the Cherry Point industrial area west of Ferndale. If brought to full fruition, the AltaGas Ltd. project could cost $850 million to $1 billion and provide hundreds of living wage jobs in Whatcom County during its construction phase, a company official said Wednesday. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)  See: Green hydrogen plans take shape for former Alcoa site at Cherry Point (Salish Current, Jan. 24, 2024)

Emergency declared for spongy moth invading Washington state
A foreign invader, of the pest variety, is posing imminent danger to plants in Washington state. The spongy moth has been sighted in Thurston and Skagit counties. The state is now revving up airplane engines to go spray two large areas to get rid of the moths...The state is specifically calling out two spongy moth hot spots: a 920-acre area in Concrete, and 1,383 acres at Steamboat Island Road and Highway 101 near Olympia. Last year, 103 spongy moths were captured in these areas. Paige Browning reports. (KUOW)  See: Giant hornet effort approaches milestone as another pest shows up (Salish Current, Feb. 26, 2024)

Diverse cast calls for end to B.C.'s open-net fish pens, as PM promised
Alliance of Indigenous, commercial and sports fishers ask Prime Minister to keep a promise to transition away from the pens by 2025. Gordon McIntyre reports (Vancouver Sun)

Extra-low (and high) tides coming to Puget Sound this week
Extra-low tides on Puget Sound May 8 to May 12 bring opportunities to witness sea stars and other colorful creatures along local shorelines. Near Seattle, the lowest tides are expected midday on Thursday and Friday. The U.S. Coast Guard warns that extra-low tides are often followed by extra-high tides. Sea level is expected to yo-yo as much as 17 feet this week near Olympia. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Deadline set for decision on North Cascades bird
The Center for Biological Diversity announced April 25 that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a deadline for the Endangered Species Act listing of a rare bird found in the North Cascades. The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan is a plump white and brown bird in the grouse family...As part of the April 25 agreement with the Center, the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to make a decision whether or not to list the Mount Rainier ptarmigan subspecies by June 26. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Community mourns thousands of fish lost as B.C. drought risk looms again
Scientists and others like Shepherd worry that climate change and the threat of another year of drought could have further dire consequences for populations of salmon, trout and other fish in B.C. Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press)

One Great Shot: Curious Creature in the Kelp
A photographer diving off the coast of British Columbia captures an encounter with an inquisitive octopus. Bennett Whitnell reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  205 AM PDT Thu May 9 2024    
TODAY  E wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind to 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves  1 to 2 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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