Salish Sea News and Weather

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

6/9 Moth, salmon restriction, Electon dam, Salish Sea, TM pipe, ancient gardens, habitat protection whale hearing

Bilobed looper moth [Wikipedia]

Bilobed looper moth Megalographa biloba
Bilobed looper moth is a medium-sized (FW length 16 - 18 mm) brown moth that has been collected at widely disparate localities throughout the Northwest during most of the year. Based on a limited number of records, it appears that this species is found in the Willamette Valley and Puget Sound of western Oregon and Washington, respectively and separately in the eastern part of the Northwest in British Columbia and southern Idaho. This species is migratory and is often encountered in open disturbed, agricultural, or urban habitats. In the Pacific Northwest, it is probably not a permanent resident, but migrates northward in late summer. It has been found most commonly in large urban areas in the western part of the Northwest. (PNW Moths)

Feds could restrict West Coast salmon fishing to help orcas
Federal officials are proposing to curtail nontribal salmon fishing along the West Coast in especially bad years to help the Northwest’s endangered killer whales. NOAA Fisheries is taking public comment on the plan, which calls for restricting commercial and recreational salmon fishing when Chinook salmon forecasts are especially low...If NOAA Fisheries adopts the plan as recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, it would be one of the first times a federal agency has restricted hunting or fishing one species to benefit a predator that relies on it. (Associated Press)

Dam operator fined $501,000 for polluting Puyallup River with artificial turf, crumb rubber
The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Electron Hydro, LLC, $501,000 for discharging discarded plastic field turf into the Puyallup River last summer. Pieces of the artificial turf were found up to 21 miles downstream. Deposits of ground-up tire rubber – used as padding for the turf — are believed to have cascaded to the river’s mouth and into Commencement Bay in Tacoma, 41 miles downstream, Ecology said in a news release issued Tuesday. The turf and its crumb rubber material are toxic when ingested by fish and other aquatic life. The Puyallup is home to many protected endangered species: steelhead, bull trout and Chinook, a critical food source for endangered southern resident orcas. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

The Salish Sea: An imperiled wonder of the Northwest
The Salish Sea stretches almost 400 miles from the southern end of Puget Sound near Olympia, to the northern boundary of the Strait of Georgia in British Columbia. It's easy to take for granted, and a new study suggests we do so at our peril. Dr. Kathryn Sobocinski is an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science at Western Washington University. She's the lead author of a new study looking at the current health of the Salish Sea. Kim Malcomb and Andy Hurst report. (KUOW)

Indigenous group seeks full ownership of Trans Mountain Pipeline
Project Reconciliation, a Canadian Indigenous group seeking a stake in the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, is now aiming for a path to full ownership, the group’s new chairman said...Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has said it will sell its ownership once the expansion is completed and derisked, and is open to Indigenous participation. Robert Tuttle reports. (Bloomberg News)

Ancient Gardens Persist in British Columbia’s Forests
Indigenous-managed landscapes retain higher biodiversity than surrounding areas a century after the people who kept them were displaced. Jessa Gamble reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Hunters join forces with conservationists to call on B.C. to protect fish and wildlife habitat
As B.C. faces a biodiversity crisis, a new coalition of unlikely allies is calling on the provincial government to live up to its promises and protect ‘Beautiful British Columbia.’ Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

A U.S.-Funded Study Of Whales' Hearing Is Going Ahead Despite Concerns For The Whales
An international team of scientists is preparing to trap a dozen baleen whales off the coast of Norway and conduct hearing tests on them to gauge their sensitivity to human-made sounds such as sonar. Researchers have tested the auditory faculties of smaller animals in captivity, but this would be the first time scientists have ever captured live whales in the wild to assess their hearing...The study has already generated a wave of pushback from some scientists and environmentalists who believe it puts the whales at unnecessary risk. Joe Hernandez reports.(NPR)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 214 AM PDT Wed Jun 9 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 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 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.

--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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Tuesday, June 8, 2021

6/8 Baby time, Ocean Week, WA360, Fairy Cr, Pebble Mine, CO2 rise, border opening, Protection Is, old sturgeon, Reay Cr fish kill

American robin fledgling [Laurie MacBride]

Baby Time
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes; "It’s definitely baby time around here. I was in a hurry yesterday and almost stepped on another young robin, standing motionless in the middle of a path. Later in the day I watched a Purple finch father in rapid motion, feeding three hopping, noisy fledglings atop one or our garden trellises..."

Oceans Week Victoria offers free virtual events
Oceans Week Victoria is offering eight days of free virtual programming events centred around the celebration of Oceans Day on June 8. Over 100 events and activities are planned to cover science, technology, art, music, sustainability and conservation. Specific topics include marine biodiversity, deep sea exploration, water conservation and sustainable fishing. Evert Lindquist reports. (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Racers paddle, harness wind to sail Puget Sound
Under a dramatic sky, the first WA360 race launched Monday morning, sending sailors, kayakers, rowers and standup paddleboarders across Port Townsend Bay for a grand loop around. Fifty-six teams — with names such as Boogie Barge, Fingers Crossed and Fun While Lost — set out on the 360-mile course, which has Olympia as its first checkpoint. Hosted by the Northwest Maritime Center, the race is trackable at NWmaritime.org/WA360. Diane Urbani de la Paz reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Pacheedaht First Nation tells B.C. to defer old-growth logging in Fairy Creek
The Pacheedaht, Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations are requesting a two-year pause on old-growth logging in two watershed areas while they work on stewardship plans informed by Indigenous prioritie Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal) See also: Three First Nations call for halt of old-growth logging on territories The Vancouver Island First Nations are calling for a two-year moratorium on old-growth logging in the central Walbran Valley and at Fairy Creek, the site of protests. Lisa Cordasco reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Alaska Native corporation to protect its land, dealing blow to massive gold mine project
The deal will make it difficult for backers of a massive open-pit gold and copper mine to carry out their project because the new protections cover a portion of a critical route the Pebble Limited Partnership plans to use to transport ore from the mine. Joshua Partlow and Juliet Eilperin reports. (Washington Post)

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Fueling Climate Change Hits A Four Million Year High
The amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere reached 419 parts per million in May, its highest level in more than four million years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on Monday. After dipping last year because of pandemic-fueled lockdowns, emissions of greenhouse gases have begun to soar again as economies open and people resume work and travel. The newly-released data about May carbon dioxide levels show that the global community so far has failed to slow the accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, NOAA said in its announcement. Eric McDaniel reports. (NPR)

Canada eyeing multi-stage approach to reopening the border to travellers
Canadian officials are looking at a multi-phase approach to reopening the border that would begin with allowing fully vaccinated travellers to enter starting this summer. The pace of Canada-U.S. discussions about reopening has intensified lately, as more people in both countries are vaccinated and as frustration grows on the American side over the continued border closure. Alexander Panetta and Sophia Harris report. (CBC)

Protected Habitat, for a Population of One
Fifty years ago, Marty Bluewater fought to keep his home among the nesting birds of Protection Island. Now he’s fighting for the birds. Photographs and Text by Ruth Fremson (NY Times)

Researchers catch record-breaking sturgeon, thought to be nearly 100 years old
The largest Nechako white sturgeon on record was caught and released on the Nechako River near Vanderhoof, B.C., earlier this month. Weighing in at 152 kilograms (336 pounds) and measuring 2.9 metres (9.6 feet), the huge fish was caught by staff at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre. (CBC)

Hundreds of dead fish found in Vancouver Island creek
Hundreds of dead fish were found in Vancouver Island's Reay Creek on Friday afternoon, and conservationists are concerned they were killed by contaminants flowing from a nearby storm drain. 318 cutthroat trout, 13 sculpins, 11 stickleback and three coho, along with crayfish, worms and other small species were counted among the dead animals within a 150-metre span of the creek. Conservationist says bleach was likely poured into a storm drain. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 302 AM PDT Tue Jun 8 2021
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the evening.

Monday, June 7, 2021

6/7 Beaver, train sabotage, Skagit dams, toxic waste fine, Fairy Cr, Canada emissions, HELP law, bird names, anting, Rayonier dock

Beaver [Laura Rogers/WDFW]

Beaver Castor canadensis
Beavers are widely distributed across the U.S. and are known for their dam-building behavior. These dams provide them protection from predators, but the impacts of their dam building can occasionally bring them into conflict with humans. (WDFW) See: The enchanting world of beavers in King County — and how they might benefit a warming planet Ryan Blethen reports. (Seattle Times) And: The Gnawing Question of Saltwater Beavers Scientists have long overlooked beavers in the intertidal zone. Now they’re counting on the freshwater rodents to restore Washington’s coastal ecosystems. Ben Goldfarb reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Sabotage caused Washington state oil-train disaster, rail union says
The oil train came apart on the snowy tracks north of Bellingham shortly after the locomotive engineer got the mile-long chain of petroleum tanks on wheels under way....There’s only one way the train could have derailed like that, according to the union representing the rail crew and a retired federal investigator of railroad accidents: sabotage. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Dam relicensing process delayed for additional comment
In response to some indigenous people in Canada saying they were left out of the early review process for the relicensing of Seattle City Light’s Skagit River dams, finalizing the relicensing study plan has been delayed. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) agreed in mid-May to extend the comment period for the Nlaka’pamux Nation Bands Coalition through June 1. The coalition represents 11 First Nation bands of the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

State fines Mukilteo company $70K for wastewater violations
A Mukilteo aerospace company plans to appeal $70,500 in fines from the state for alleged wastewater violations. The state Department of Ecology said Applied Aero Systems released wastewater into the sewer that exceeded state limits for toxic metals and other pollutants. The company does material coatings and assembly for Boeing and other aerospace firms. Violations include failure to provide adequate treatment and to monitor the discharges, the state agency said. Without proper treatment, industrial pollutants can harm the wastewater plant or pass untreated into Puget Sound. Andrea Brown reports. (Everett Herald)

Save Fairy Creek: A primer on the battle over B.C.'s ancient forests
Environmentalists say they are fighting Canada’s version of the ivory trade, while the forestry industry says the protesters are endangering the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking families. Nia Williams reports. (Reuters) See also: Critics say B.C. old growth blockades underscore failure to deliver endangered species law Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Natural climate solutions could offset 11 per cent of Canada’s emissions by 2030: report
Study published in Science Advances finds protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, such as wetlands, forests and grasslands, could help Canada meet its climate goals. Sharon J. Riley reports. (The Narwhal)

At the Duwamish longhouse, a law is signed requiring environmental justice from state agencies
When the time arrived for Gov. Jay Inslee to sign a far-reaching piece of environmental justice into law, the ceremony took place by the mouth of Seattle’s only river, the Duwamish, at the cultural center of the people who have called themselves by the same name for generations. Jack Russillo reports. (South Seattle Emerald/Investigate West)

Monuments and teams have changed names as America reckons with racism. Birds are next
...America is trying to come to terms with its complicated racial past by changing the names of institutions, ranging from military bases to baseball teams. Now efforts are also underway to change the names of some living monuments — birds. When early naturalists like John James Audubon discovered a new bird, for example, they often named it after a friend or colleague. Jeff St. Clair reports. (WKSU)

Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting
Photographer Tony Austin recently captured a peculiar image of a crow with its wings covered in dozens of tiny black ants and in the throes of what appeared to be a behaviour he described as a "very odd and violent dirt bath." The image also captured the imagination of hundreds of devotees to a Facebook group called Picture Perfect Vancouver Island after the Metchosin, B.C., photographer posted it on Monday.Cathy Kearney reports. (CBC)

Bid adieu to last of giant dock
An imposing, abandoned vestige of the Rayonier pulp mill's legacy will be demolished starting in mid-June. Workers will begin to remove the concrete panels of a 1,050-foot-long dock that just into Port Angeles harbor east of downtown the week of June 13 and are expected to complete it in July. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Mon Jun 7 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 5 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. A slight chance of showers.

Friday, June 4, 2021

6/4 Sea star, parked ships, wildfire smoke, Olympic Discovery Trail, giant hornets, week in review

Ochre sea star [Melissa McFadden]

Ochre sea star Pisalter aochraceus
Ochre Sea Stars are the most commonly seen member of their group in many Pacific Northwest coastal areas. Virtual swarms of orange and/or purple starfish are exposed at especially low tides, often clustered under shady ledges or in crevices where they won’t get baked by the sun. From the numbers exposed as the tide goes out, they are clearly an intertidal animal. In fact, they are one of the more important intertidal animals. The species has been called a “keystone species,” as its presence or absence significantly affects the entire community in the intertidal zone. (Slater Museum/UPS)

'It's a nuisance': Container ships anchored in Puget Sound causing headaches for neighbors
Three boats are anchored in Holmes Harbor, nestled between Whidbey and Camano Islands. Approximately five more are sitting at Yukon Harbor near Blake Island. They're among about 15 ships currently anchored in Puget Sound because of a massive backlog of container ships up and down the West Coast. Ports from L.A. to B.C. are at capacity due to a supply chain surge that's sending goods from Asia flooding into America, as coronavirus loosens its grip on our economies. Unspecified railway issues in the Midwest are partially to blame for full ports in Seattle and Tacoma. Longshoremen have nowhere to load the containers once they come in. Eric Wilkimson reports. (KING)

Looking to escape wildfire smoke in WA this year? A new tool could help
Smoke forecasting is notoriously hard to do, but a new tool from the state Department of Ecology may help us anticipate hazardous air five days in the future. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Olympic Discovery Trail idea draws opposition
A controversial plan to study an alternate route for the Olympic Discovery Trail east of Port Angeles survived a flood of opposition this week. The City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to keep an upland ODT plan as an unfunded line item in the city’s 2022-2027 capital facilities plan despite calls from more that two dozen trail users to remove it from the 318-page document. The council then voted unanimously — with Charlie McCaughan excused — to direct staff to move the upland ODT plan and nearly $600,000 worth of riprap repairs to the existing waterfront trail from parks to transportation projects in the five-year infrastructure plan. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Crews to set at least 1,200 Asian giant hornet traps across Washington this summer
WSDOT announced Wednesday that it, along with the Department of Agriculture and other agencies, will begin to set at least 1,200 traps in places across Washington, with the transportation department focused primarily on highways in the northwest part of the state. (KING)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/4/21: Gun Violence Day, TM pipe, Howe Sound maps, ANWR drilling, BC forestry plan, WA fish pen rules, Montana wind, Active Pass tankers, parked ships, wildfire smoke

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 316 AM PDT Fri Jun 4 2021
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 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 5 ft at 9 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.
SAT W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 2 ft after midnight. SW swell 3 ft at 14 seconds building to W 9 ft at 13 seconds after midnight.
SUN S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, June 3, 2021

6/3 Purple finch, Montana wind farm, Active Pass tankers, Arctic drilling, BC forestry plan, Orca Action Month

Purple finch [BirdWeb]

Purple finch Carpodacus purpureus
The Purple Finch is closely related to the Cassin's Finch and the House Finch, and in fact, there are places in Washington where all three species can be found. All three species are streaked, and the males of all three have red plumage. Purple Finches are generally found in moist coniferous and mixed-forest lowlands, especially those with many openings and edges, and an abundant understory. They are often found in revegetating clear-cuts, on farmland, and in rural residential areas. (BirdWeb)

Montana's largest wind farm contracts with Puget Sound Energy
What’s expected to be Montana’s largest wind farm secured its first customer Wednesday from Colstrip Power Plant co-owner Puget Sound Energy. The Seattle-area utility confirmed Wednesday morning that it has a 20-year contract with the owner of the Clearwater Wind project, a massive three-county wind farm being developed near Colstrip. Puget will purchase 350 megawatts of Clearwater capacity, enough to power 140,000 homes, according to the utility. The power is expected to come on line by the end of 2022. Tom Lutey reports. (Billings Gazette)

‘We’re Not Going to See Tankers in Active Pass Ever Again’
Tankers of all sizes have been banned from travelling through Active Pass, a narrow stretch of water between Mayne and Galiano islands, following a public outcry and Tyee reporting. The Pacific Pilotage Authority, a federal Crown corporation, issued the ban following a Tyee report that highlighted the lack of regulation on tankers transiting the narrow, busy waterway.The interim ban covers ships carrying bulk oil, pollutants and hazardous cargo, and it stands until a risk assessment is completed for commercial vessels in Active Pass. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Biden Aims to End Arctic Drilling. A Trump-Era Law Could Foil His Plans.
President Biden may be forced to hold a new lease sale for oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite his vows to slash fossil fuel pollution and his action this week to suspend Arctic drilling leases that had been awarded in the final days of the Trump administration. A law passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in 2017 requires the president to hold two lease sales in the refuge before the end of 2024. President Donald Trump held the first; now legal experts say the Biden administration could be locked into holding a second sale. Coral Davenport and Henry Fountain report. (NY Times)

Five ways B.C.’s new forestry plan sets the stage for more old-growth conflict
In the midst of escalating protests over logging, Horgan released an intentions paper on Tuesday that critics say fails to implement any immediate solutions. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) See also: Additional logging deferrals expected this summer, says forestry minister Deferrals temporarily protect old growth, putting harvesting on hold in old forest ecosystems at the highest risk of permanent biodiversity loss. They can expire, and can be extended. (CBC) And: Police say they've made 158 arrests so far at B.C. protests against old-growth logging (Canadian Press)

Orca Action Month
June marks the 15th annual Orca Action Month in Washington state and sixth annual celebration in Oregon and British Columbia. Members of the Orca Salmon Alliance and their partners are hosting events throughout the month to educate the public about the Southern Resident orca community and the challenges they face.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PDT Thu Jun 3 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 4 ft at 10 seconds after midnight.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

6/2 Purple urchin, ANWR drilling, BC forest plan WA net pen rules, Deb Haaland, PA Terminal 3, orca book, warblers, snow-white ravens, Pebble Mine

Purple sea urchin [Steve Lonhart/NOAA]

Pacific purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Purple sea urchins call the Pacific Ocean, specifically along North America’s west coast, home. They are commonly found in rocky intertidal areas and among kelp forests, of which they are a key part of the delicate ecosystem. These animals are omnivores, primarily eating large marine algae like bull kelp and giant kelp... Their primary predators are sea stars, sea otters, and humans (for both research and food). When sea urchin predator populations suffer, such as when sea stars died off in 2013 due to sea star wasting disease, urchin populations can grow unchecked and contribute to widespread loss of kelp forests. (National Marine Sanctuary Foundation)

Biden administration suspends oil and gas leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Biden administration on Tuesday suspended oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, targeting one of President Donald Trump’s most significant environmental acts during his last days in office. The move by the Interior Department, which could spark a major legal battle, dims the prospect of oil drilling in a pristine and politically charged expanse of Alaskan wilderness that Republicans and Democrats have fought over for four decades. Joshua Partlow and Juliet Eilperin report. (Washington Post)

Politicians, environmentalists, industry divided on B.C.'s forestry plan
After weeks of arrests and attempts to block old growth logging on Vancouver Island, the province's anticipated forestry announcement proved to be a disappointment Tuesday to protesters and environmentalists. The province unveiled a plan Tuesday for "sustainable forest policy" that largely focuses on redistributing forest tenures — the agreements between government and the foresters harvesting the land. While the province said the plan is to include more Indigenous Nations, forest communities and small operators in forestry agreements, critics say the move does little to address the need to preserve old growth forests that are actively being logged, including trees inside lots at the Fairy Creek Watershed. Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC) see also: RCMP have now made 151 arrests as B.C. protests against old-growth logging continue (Canadian Press)

Public invited to comment on state draft commercial fish net pen guidance
Ecology is accepting comments on the draft Guidance for Marine Net Pen Aquaculture in Washington State: Regulations, Risks and Management now through June 21.The draft guidance is designed to provide local governments, state agencies, project proponents and other interested parties a clear, science-based set of practices and tools to authorize, operate, and oversee commercial net pens in ways that will reduce these risks. The draft and information on how to comment can be found on the guidance webpage. (WA Dept of Ecology)

The Promise and Pressures of Deb Haaland, the First Native American Cabinet Secretary
As interior secretary, Ms. Haaland runs an agency once responsible for eradicating the homes, culture and often the lives of Indigenous people. Elizabeth Williamson reports. (NY Times)

Dredging at Terminal 3 pier paves way for log ships
Ship captains can be less fearful about grounding their vessels in Port Angeles Harbor.A $1.6 million dredging project has been completed at the Port of Port Angeles Terminal 3 pier.The total cost of the project came to about $2.1 million over two budget years when sediment sampling and permitting are included. The $1.6 million for dredging that was accepted as complete last week by the commissioners was budgeted at $1 million. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home
Lynda V. Mapes’ new book, “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home,” with photos by Steve Ringman of The Seattle Times, is based on the award-winning 2018-19 Seattle Times series Hostile Waters. The book, copublished by The Seattle Times and Braided River, will be available June 1. (Seattle Times)

10 migrant warblers to listen for now in the Northwest
Among the most prominent avian singers this time of year are our migrant visitors, some of whom have traveled thousands of miles, bringing vibrant color and song. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times)

They are blue-eyed, as white as snow and are very rare, except on Vancouver Island
The legend of the white raven continues in Coombs. The mysterious snow-white ravens are only known to exist on the mid-Island and have been documented there for more than two decades. The strange corvids are considered leucistic — not albino, which have no pigment at all. These ravens have blue eyes and likely have genetic defects that dilute their natural black colour, says Mike Yip, a noted bird photographer and author who has been photographing the white birds since 2007. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Corps: Pebble Mine appeal review could take over a year
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday it could take more than a year to weigh an appeal by a developer seeking to build a copper and gold mine in a region that supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. Becky Bohrer reports. (Associated Press)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 256 AM PDT Wed Jun 2 2021
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 5 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds.

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

6/1 Douglas aster, House of Tears totem pole, Fairy Cr protest, TM pipe tunnel, orca attack, Howe Sound maps, old growth guitars, hummer poop

Douglas aster [East Multnomah Conserv. Dist.]

Douglas Aster Aster subspicatus
Douglas Aster is a tall spreading perennial that blooms into the late summer and thrives on saltwater shorelines. The rather lanky stems are topped with bluish purple flowers that look like miniature daisies (ray flowers). The prolific blooms will draw lots of butterflies. (East Multnomah Conservation District)

House of Tears Carvers visit Bellingham with totem pole bound for DC
Several hundred people took part in an opportunity in Bellingham to view a totem pole created by Lummi carvers — the latest stop in the Red Road to D.C. tour of the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere across the U.S. Amy Nelson reports. (Salish Current)

Hundreds of protesters flood back into old-growth blockade camps cleared by RCMP
In the middle of the woods, 20 kilometres from a police barricade, sits a man in a boat in a tree. He is one of hundreds of activists who have returned to camps the RCMP has spent weeks trying to clear to enforce a B.C. Supreme Court injunction allowing a forestry company to continue old-growth logging activities in the area near Port Renfrew, B.C...Since RCMP began enforcing the injunction on May 17, officers have arrested 142 people for breaching the injunction or for obstruction. Nine people have been arrested more than once, according to police. Kieran Oudshoorn reports. (CBC) See also: Three Days in the Theatre of Fairy Creek The drama playing out today was set in motion 150 years ago. One person can change the ending. Arno Kopecky writes. (The Tyee)

Trans Mountain pipeline begins construction of tunnel in Burnaby, B.C.
Construction has begun on the 2.6-kilometre tunnel in Burnaby, B.C., for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The company says in a news release the work on the tunnel connecting the Westridge Marine and Burnaby terminals began Wednesday. It says the start of construction of the tunnel represents one of the major components of the expansion project in the Lower Mainland and is expected to take a little over half a year to complete. The tunnel construction began after a year of preparation and more than six years of planning, design and regulatory processes. Trans Mountain says the tunnel will be more than four metres in diameter and have three delivery pipelines to load vessels at the Westridge Marine terminal. (Canadian Press)

Humpback mother and calf fend off orca attack in wild video captured off Nanaimo
A Vancouver Island Whale Watch crew set out on a search Monday, worried for a humpback mother and her calf that they last saw Saturday off Nanaimo’s Neck Point. The two humpbacks haven’t been seen since a wild video was recorded by sailor Darcy Irwin on Saturday night. According to witnesses, three pods of transient orcas, the T100, T123s and T46Bs former a bigger group of 13 whales and moved in on the humpback mom and her calf around dinner time. The video shows bodies slamming against the water over an elapsed time of more than 30 minutes. Skye Ryan reports. (CHEK)

Howe Sound guide to launch maps for World Oceans Day
On the eve of World Oceans Day on June 8, the Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem Marine Reference Guide project will be launching two maps of the region. The first is an interactive tool that was three years in the making and has more than 400 layers built into it. In an interview, Gibsons-based project director Fiona Beaty said the interactive map helps visualize how people, industry and marine life use the area. Keili Bartlett reports. (Pique NewsMagazine)

Use of Old-Growth Timber Hits a Sour Note in the Music Industry
Guitars are often made from big trees — but the industry is changing its tune. Chris Gibson and Andrew Warren writes. (The Tyee)

B.C. researchers request hummingbird poop to help measure planet's health
B.C. researchers are asking the public to send in feces from hummingbirds to determine their health which they say could help measure one of the indicators of a healthy planet. They're also asking those who are able to send in any hummingbird feces they collect. "It sounds like a strange thing, but we have sparked this investigation of hummingbirds because they are such great pollinators," said Lisa Wood, an associate professor and researcher at the University of Northern British Columbia. Brittany Roffel reports. (CBC)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 247 AM PDT Tue Jun 1 2021
TODAY NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 12 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds. Patchy fog after midnight.

"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter.

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told