3/5 Gray whales, lege endgame, toxicants, herring, 1st District, 'poticrete,' Bowker Cr, Squalicum Cr, salmon ceremonies, McAbee fossils, BP Gulf payout

(Photo: Laura Francis, NOAA)

The first gray whale in the annual spring migration up the coast was spotted last week off Tofino, marking the largest and most timeless sign that spring is on the way. Whale sighting marks start of migration

There was high drama on the floor of the Washington state Senate last Friday. Three Democrats broke ranks to join minority Republicans. It was a coup of sorts. This newly formed “philosophical majority” took control of the Senate and forced four bills to the floor -– including an alternate budget-balancing proposal. Minority Republicans force budget to floor of Wash. Senate  

Game time: Environmentalists in Washington state are fighting last-minute legislative proposals they say will weaken rules aimed at keeping toxic pollution out of state waters. One House measure would make it voluntary for dozens of cities and counties in Western Washington to adopt greener strategies to control stormwater runoff, considered the biggest threat to Puget Sound and other state waters. Another idea being floated would delay those rules by three years. Fight in Olympia over solutions for toxic runoff

A Washington State University researcher Michael Skinner has demonstrated that a variety of environmental toxicants-- including jet fuel, dioxin, plastics and the pesticides DEET and permethrin -- can have negative effects on not just an exposed animal but the next three generations of its offspring. The animal's DNA sequence remains unchanged, but the compounds change the way genes turn on and off. Effects of Environmental Toxicants Reach Down Through Generations

A small group of volunteers has been working in the dark, beneath the docks at Squamish Terminals north of Vancouver, to restore a herring run long thought lost. Mark Hume reports:  A herring revival spawned from the depths of darkness

The once-a-decade redrawing of boundaries converted the 1st District from an urban safe haven for a liberal Democrat to a mix of farmland and suburbia from the Canadian border to Medina, where partisans are equally divided -- and where Republicans can win. One Republican, six Democrats and an independent are vying for the seat vacated by Rep. Jay Inslee who is running for governor. Jerry Cornfield reports: Suburbs, farms and mansions: New 1st District a politically battleground

Bellingham Public Works built a missing segment of the Whatcom Creek Trail using LEDs for streetlights, porous pavement and concrete partially made from old toilets and has won a silver Greenroads Certification for the "Poticrete" project. Bellingham earns certification for environmentally friendly street project

Over a century, Bowker Creek’s natural path has been piped and paved, boxed and walled with concrete. The creek running behind Oak Bay High emerges from a culvert and streams along concrete channels before continuing to the sea. On Friday, the federal government announced it will provide $738,000 for a project to restore the section of the creek running south of the school.  The 100-year plan to restore Bowker Creek  See also: 'Watershed moment' for Greater Victoria creek

The state Department of Ecology will provide Bellingham $787,500 in funding and loan the city almost $1 million more to reroute and improve habitat on a segment of Squalicum Creek. The loan would be paid back over 20 years at a 2.7 percent interest rate. Ecology set to provide Bellingham $1.77M for Squalicum Creek project

Courtnery Flatt at EarthFix reports on preparations being made by Columbia River Indian tribes for opening of spring fisheries. Predictions of strong salmon runs are giving the tribes extra reason to celebrate. Ceremonial Fisheries Culturally Important to NW Tribes

After a decade of scientists arguing the insanity of issuing mineral leases allowing the mining of the world-renowned McAbee fossil beds for cat litter, British Columbia's government finally has begun the process of protecting them with a heritage designation.  It took 10 years, but B.C. gov't has 'seen the light' on important fossil beds

BP expects to pay out $7.8 billion as a result of last Friday’s court settlement and anticipates that a separate claims fund run by Ken Feinberg’s Gulf Coast Claims Facility will cease at some point. People waiting for money from Feinberg's Gulf Coast Claims Facility can take what the settlement vehicles offer them or opt out and make a claim directly to a BP-run entity. If they don't like what they get from that entity, they can sue. The U.S. Justice Department said Friday's settlement is not the end of the road. BP expects to pay $7.8B in Gulf spill suit deal

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 300 AM PST MON MAR 5 2012
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY
W WIND 20 TO 30 KT...EASING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 10 FT AT 12 SECONDS. RAIN EARLY...THEN SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 4 FT. W SWELL 10 FT AT 12 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.

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12/28 Everett sewage, redistricting, Pleasant Harbor resort, Vancouver bag ban, watershed grants, eco-friendly farmed fish

New blog: “The Art of the Year-End Donation”

Read two comment on yesterday’s blog post "Smokin’ and Talkin’ and Textin’ While Drivin’   

Eyew, yuk and shame shame: Gary Chittim reports that during Thankgiving week, Everett Public Works dumped an estimated 25 million gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater into the Snohomish River and Puget Sound. Penalties for polluting, anyone?   Millions of gallons of raw sewage dumped into Snohomish River  

We find out this morning what the agreed-upon new congressional district maps look like — and have until Friday to comment. Deal reached on new election districts

The draft supplemental environmental impact statement is due in about two months on the proposed 257-acres, $300 million Pleasant Harbor Marina and Golf Resort at Brinnon on Hood Canal. Paul Gottleib of the Peninsula Daily News brings us up to date on the project. Revamped plan for Pleasant Harbor mega-resort looks to the environment  

Vancouver B.C. plastic bags must not pollute the same way plastic bags in Bellingham, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Seattle and Portland do. Used to hear that about Victoria sewage— that it’s different. Metro Vancouver won't join Seattle and Portland in plastic bag ban
 Federal watershed grants include $500,000 awarded to The Nature Conservancy to identify what floodplain areas in Puget Sound have the best potential for storing floodwaters and providing fish and wildlife habitat and $480,584 awarded to Washington State University to test new methods to treat stormwater and conduct research on permeable pavement materials. EPA grants state $3.6 Million; 18 projects awarded funds for land, water conservation

Doesn’t make much difference whether you certify farmed fish as eco-friendly or not, it’s still farmed fish. Eco-labelled farm fish offer little environmental benefit, University of Victoria study concludes  

Now, your tug weather--
WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 247 AM PST WED DEC 28 2011
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST THURSDAY
TODAY
SW WIND 20 TO 25 KT...BECOMING 20 TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 3 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 11 FT AT 11 SECONDS. RAIN IN THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO 5 FT. W SWELL 12 FT AT 11 SECONDS. SHOWERS IN THE EVENING...THEN SHOWERS LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service.

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Follow on Twitter.  

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9/14 Salish Sea News & Weather: Redistricting, reefnetting, Roundup, Martinac penalty, Elwha, Brackett's landing, climate change PR, rising tides

Booker's moon

Good-bye, Summer; good night, Moon. My photo of the week (thus far): Booker’s view from The Junction on Monday night in West Seattle Blog...

Washington state now has a 10th Congressional district and the political scramble is on for how the districts will be drawn for the 2012 elections. One possibility is a congressional district where racial minorities outnumber whites. Maps would give minorities clout
 
Butter clams are OK. Varnish clams not safe for recreational harvest in Whatcom County

Bob Simmons in Crosscut featured the Lummi Island reefnet operation last week; Lynda Mapes goes to Lopez Island for her Seattle Times story, Low-tech reef netters haul in best salmon catch in years

Bad stuff: Jess Zimmerman in Grist reports that researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey have detected the active ingredient of Roundup, a chemical called glyphosate, in waterways, air, and rain. Roundup weed killer is showing up in air and water

Tacoma shipbuilder J.M. Martinac was originally fined $50,000 by Ecology for violating stormwater discharge standards and repeated noncompliance. Upon complying the penalty was reduced to $17,000. Ecology, Tacoma shipbuilder settle penalty

Part 4 of the history of the Elwha Dams, Klallams' river lifeline severed by dams

If you’re not going to Port Angeles for the Elwha Festival, go to Anacortes for Fidalgo Bay Day where kids of all ages can enjoy an Undersea Zoo, hands-on activities, sample some chowder from local restaurants and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Seafarers' Memorial Park. Explore marine life at Fidalgo Bay Day

More history. Larry Vogel blogs in Patch.com to set the record straight about Edmonds history: “Contrary to popular legend, the story of Edmonds does not begin with George Brackett. In 1866, fourteen years before Brackett’s famous landing, Missouri-born Pleasant H. Ewell filed the first claim to the land that would become Edmonds.” Edmonds Before George Brackett

You always suspected it wasn’t a fair game. It wasn’t and it isn’t: According to a report by Mike De Souza in the Vancouver Sun, a major Alberta-based oil and gas company helped to kick-start an elaborate public relations project designed to cast doubt on scientific evidence linking human activity to global warming with a $175,000 donation in 2004 channeled through the University of Calgary. The contribution was part of $507,975 raised to produce a video and engage in public relations, advertising and lobbying activities against the Kyoto Protocol and government measures to restrict fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Talisman Energy kick-started U of C climate skeptic fund

Did it make a difference? Reuters reports that a report by the Climate Change and European Marine Ecosystem Research warns that Europe's seas are changing at an unprecedented rate as ice sheets melt, temperatures rise and marine life migrates due to climate change. New European sea level data stuns researchers 

Now, your tug weather:
TODAY
SW WIND 10 KT...BECOMING W 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS.
 TONIGHT
 W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT AT 10 SECONDS. CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN AREAS OF DRIZZLE AFTER MIDNIGHT. AREAS OF FOG AFTER MIDNIGHT.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service.
Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

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