8/12 California poppy, Upthegrove, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Snohomish R, Chilcotin debris, invasive mussels, citizen science, ocean acid, seagrass filters

 

California poppy

California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
In spite of the beauty of its blossom, the California Poppy is considered to be a weed by many people. Native to North America, scattered wild populations of this plant are found in most states. However, since it was first collected on a Russian exploratory voyage to the west coast of North America in the early 19th century, it is likely that most of the eastern populations are the result of seeds and plants brought back from the west, rather than from native populations in those areas. The California Poppy is the state flower of California.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Review: Queer documentary ‘Break the Game’ to play at the Pickford

Upthegrove edges into second place in Washington lands commissioner race
Democratic lands commissioner candidate Dave Upthegrove inched into second place in the race on Friday night, supplanting Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson who had held the spot since election night. Upthegrove led Pederson by 4,446 votes in Friday night’s tally around 6 p.m. Bill Lucia reports.(Washington State Standard)

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe poised to help manage key Salish Sea wildlife refuges
The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe is close to finalizing an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to co-manage two Clallam County wildlife refuges: the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, both key breeding places for Salish Sea animals. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez reports. (KUOW)  See also: Tribe poised to co-manage Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Does it make sense for an entity that seeks to financially profit from the use of a federal resource, to be given co-management powers of that resource? Al Bergstein writes. (Olympic Peninsula Environmental News)

Snohomish River climate projects get $21M federal boost
Climate resiliency projects in the Snohomish River delta received a $21 million boost this summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced last month. Snohomish County plans to use $16.7 million to restore 430 acres of tidal wetlands at Chinook Marsh. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Debris from Chilcotin slide reaches Metro Vancouver and Salish Sea
Officials are warning boaters on the Fraser River to be wary as debris from the Chilcotin landslide has reached the Lower Mainland. Metro Vancouver staff urge people to stay off the Fraser River and away from the river banks. The regional district adds that debris has reached Langley, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Surrey. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Sniffing out invasive mussels to protect Washington’s waters
Fin is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mussel-smelling dog. He’s about 4 years old and is a Catahoula leopard dog, blue lacy and Australian kelpie mix.  Like a drug or bomb-smelling dog, his nose is particularly good at sniffing out tiny, invasive mussels. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Citizen scientists track impact of climate change on Island
Citizen ­scientists are observing and documenting how climate change is ­hitting Vancouver Island’s forests and plant species. Hope Lompe reports. (National Observer)

Fish harvesters help with research on rising acidity of oceans
Scientific research is expanding along the B.C. coast to better understand the effects of ocean acidification, and how to respond. Hope Lompe reports. (National Observer)

Seagrasses filter human pathogens in marine waters
An international team of researchers discovered that coastal urban seagrass ecosystems can significantly reduce human bacterial pathogens, including those with widespread antibiotic resistance, in marine bivalves—a vital food source for people around the world. (Cornell University/PhysOrg)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Mon Aug 12 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds. TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 5 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 msato at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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