7/3 Bluegill, white-tailed ptarmigan, Trump's fossil fuel guys, sharks, Chevron deference, I-2117, barred owls kill, Post Point sewage, week in review

 

Bluegill

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
Bluegill is one of several "panfish" species in Washington which is very popular across the state because they are easy to catch, they are a great "family fishing activity" and they make excellent table fare. Often mistaken for pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill are distinguishable by a darkened blue spot on the posterior edge of the gill plate. The sides of the head and chin are often a dark shade of blue and there are 5-9 vertical bars along the sides of the bluegill; however, these are not always distinct. Average 4-8 inches. Bluegill can grow to 6-11 inches in quality populations. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The story of Racial Unity Now (RUN)

Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan listed as threatened by climate change
The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan — found atop the Cascades from Canada to southern Washington — is officially listed as a threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Former Trump staffers are ‘on the battlefield’ for a Canadian fossil fuel giant
Recordings reveal TC Energy’s alleged attempts to influence governments in North America through sophisticated intelligence gathering, fostering relationships with national security officials and countering opposition to fossil fuel developments. Matt Simmons and Mike De Souza report. (The Narwhal)

Sharks Get a Bad Rap. But Look. They’re Beautiful
Watching them cut through the water, I felt a new kind of peace. Dorothy Woodend writes. (The Tyee)

Supreme Court dismantles federal environmental protections
The Supreme Court on Friday threw into question the future of climate and environmental regulation in the United States, scrapping a decades-old legal precedent that gave federal agencies leeway to interpret laws according to their expertise and scientific evidence. The impact of the decision to scrap the so-called Chevron deference will take years to become clear, but it could allow for far more legal challenges against regulations by agencies like the EPA and the Department of the Interior that have a huge role in the climate fight. Jake Bittle and Zoya Teirstein report. (Grist)

WA ballot initiative would cut $848.6M of environmental programs
If passed, Initiative 2117 would repeal the state's new Climate Commitment Act, which has raised more than $2B for projects like electrifying transit. John Stang reports. (CascadePBS)

Feds draw up final plan to kill hundreds of thousands of barred owls in PNW
The control program, outlined in a final Environmental Impact Statement announced Wednesday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is intended to result in the annual removal of less than one-half of 1% of the current North American barred owl population — but it’s still a lot of birds: as many as 500,000 barred owls, over the next 30 years, depending on how fully the program is implemented. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Upgrades ongoing at Post Point as city buys time to find better environmental solution
The City of Bellingham is focusing on much-needed upgrades to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant as officials seek a more environmentally friendly solution after a $1 billion plan to completely overhaul the solid waste system was rejected. The repairs — expected to cost $100 million, based on a 2022 estimate — could extend the existing solids system’s life by 20 years, giving the city time to research and test greener, innovative technologies designed for future waste systems. The average waste treatment plant lasts 40 to 50 years. Post Point Wastewater Plant was installed in 1974. Charlotte Alden reports. (CDN) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/3/24: Great auks extinction day, one whale species, grey whale warning, owls, heat waves, natural gas initiative.

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PDT Wed Jul 3 2024    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.

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