Salish Sea News and Weather

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

10/20 Monarch butterfly, Puget Sound nitrogen, salmon and trees, salmon and orcas

Monarch Butterfly [National Geographic]

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus
Monarchs are large, beautifully colored butterflies that are easy to recognize by their striking orange, black, and white markings. The wingspan of a full-grown monarch can reach nearly five inches (13 centimeters), although the average is closer to four inches (10 centimeters). The most amazing thing about monarch butterflies is the enormous migration that North American monarchs undertake each year. Every fall, as cold weather approaches, millions of these delicate insects leave their home range in Canada and the United States and begin flying south. They continue until they reach Southern California or central Mexico, more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away! (National Geographic)

Urine trouble: High nitrogen levels in Puget Sound cause ecological worry
Among its many environmental challenges, Puget Sound has a water quality problem caused in part from too much pee from the 4.5 million people living in the region. This problem, known euphemistically as “nutrient waste,” has caused Puget Sound to run afoul of the federal Clean Water Act. Now the Washington Department of Ecology is poised to finalize new regulations for wastewater treatment plants that seek to cut down how much they concentrate and dump nutrient waste into the sound. Most of the sewage plants in the region don’t filter out nutrients before discharging their treated water. The new “nutrient general permit” that the Ecology Department is proposing would apply to 58 wastewater treatment plants around the sound. Ashley Braun reports. (Crosscut)

Salmon Need Trees
A new study stands as a striking reminder that logging watersheds has an outsized impact on salmon and trout. Led by Kyle Wilson at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, the study looked at the successes and failures of five species of salmonids in the Keogh River (called Giyuxw by the local Kwakiutl First Nation) on northern Vancouver Island. For steelhead trout, the salmonid Wilson and his colleagues had the most data for, the problems the fish faced in the BC river hit the population just as hard as the challenges they faced out at sea. Wilson suspects the same holds true for other species with similar life cycles. Nicola Jones reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Letter: Joint response to “no apparent shortage of prey for Southern Resident killer whales” in the Salish Sea
On Oct. 12, the University of British Columbia issued a press release claiming that a newly published study has “debunked” the idea that there are fewer Chinook salmon available during the summer for the endangered Southern resident killer whales compared to the abundance of fish available to the Northern resident killer whales. The press release grossly overstates the findings of the referenced study. The UBC study describes a new methodology for surveying for Chinook salmon in the oceanic environment, but includes too many unknowns and is too small of a data set to come to such a broad-sweeping conclusion. A coalition of partner organizations has responded with an in-depth statement which can be found at https://orcabehaviorinstitute.org/news/joint-response/. Letter signed by: Orca Behavior Institute, Orca Network, Center for Whale Research, Whale Scout, Salish Sea Ecosystem Advocates, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Wild Orca, Orca Conservancy, University of Exeter, Salish Sea School, Pacific Northwest Protectors, Salish Sea Orca Squad.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 301 AM PDT Wed Oct 20 2021
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2021

10/19 Varied thrush, 'forever chemicals' ban, free Lolita, B'ham climate measures, Marta Green

Varied thrush [Joseph v. Higbee/BirdWeb]

Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
The Varied Thrush is a bird of thick, damp, mossy coniferous forests. Although it prefers dense, wet, old-growth forests, it can be found in a variety of forest types, including mixed forests. he Varied Thrush is similar in behavior to the American Robin, but more elusive. Much of its foraging is done on the ground, usually in dense cover, although sometimes it forages on open lawns and roads. Like other species of thrushes, Varied Thrushes eat a combination of insects and berries, shifting seasonally. (BirdWeb)

EPA unveils strategy to regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’
The Biden administration is launching a wide-ranging strategy to regulate toxic industrial compounds used in products including cookware, carpets and firefighting foams The Biden administration is launching a broad strategy to regulate toxic industrial compounds associated with serious health conditions that are used in products ranging from cookware to carpets and firefighting foams. Michael Regan, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, said it is taking a series of actions to limit pollution from a cluster of long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS that are increasingly turning up in public drinking water systems, private wells and even food. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press)

Will Florida orca Lolita be released? New management, damning report renew advocates' fervor
After a quarter-century of futility, advocates seeking the release of Lolita the Killer Whale have renewed fervor. The sources for that zeal include a prospective new leadership at the Miami Seaquarium, a tsunami of outrage over a damning federal government report about care of animals at the nearly 70-year-old aquarium and rising fears about the vulnerability of the property's marine animals to a climate change-fueled super hurricane. At the forefront is the Aug. 17 announcement that the Dolphin Company, based in Mexico, plans to take over the Seaquarium. Founded in 1994, the company owns 32 marine parks and facilities, including Florida's Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City and Marineland Dolphin Adventure near St. Augustine. Antonio Fins and Wendy Rhodes report. (Palm Beach Post)

Bellingham’s mayor proposes these climate measures, including $5 million investment
Two proposed investments by Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood would tackle climate change from both sides of the problem. One proposal would reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by requiring all new housing projects using federal pandemic relief funds to be fully electric and not rely on natural gas, a fossil fuel. The mayor’s second proposal would invest $5 million in electric cooling and ventilation systems in municipal buildings, which could then serve as locations where community members can escape wildfire smoke and high temperatures. Ysabella Kempe reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Marta Green to receive 2021 Legacy Award for oil spill prevention work in the San Juan Islands
The Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force is honoring Marta Green with a 2021 Legacy Award for her committed leadership in developing and advancing the San Juan Islands’ Oil Spill Prevention Strategy. Over the last five years, Green secured grant funding and managed two projects to advance oil spill prevention measures for the shipping lanes through Haro Strait and Boundary Pass. (San Juan Islander)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 248 AM PDT Tue Oct 19 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 11 seconds building to SW at 12 seconds after midnight. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Monday, October 18, 2021

10/18 Anemone, sewer plant, salmon kill, salmon for orcas, sea star extinction, hatchery lawsuit,sea otters, sunken boats, Orca Recovery Day. Oly Green Faith, Spirit Bears

Ritter's brooding anemone [Mary Jo Adams]

Ritter's brooding anemone Epiactis ritteri
This low intertidal species is found in rocky areas with open coast conditions. Column color is red/brown and sometimes having indistinct white lines around the pedal disk. Sand or shell debris may adhere to small tubercles on the stalk. When closed up, the appearance of this species is rather squat as it is shorter than it is wide. When the tentacle crown is open, white radiating lines are present but do not come close to the oral opening. Maximum diameter of the oral disk is about 1.6 inches (4 cm.). This species has also known under the scientific name of Cnidopus ritteri. Another common name is the sandy anemone. (Sound Water Stewards/ Mary Jo Adams)

Metro Vancouver terminates contract of 'abandoned' North Shore wastewater treatment plant
Metro Vancouver is terminating its contract with the builder of a billion-dollar sewage treatment plant in North Vancouver after it missed key construction milestones and has appeared to have “abandoned” the project. Metro Vancouver said it provided a letter to Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP on Friday giving notice of its intent to terminate the contract for them to build the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant which is already two-and-a-half-years behind schedule. Cheryl Chan reports. (Vancouver Sun) See also: North Shore wastewater treatment plant contractor claims Metro Vancouver owes it $100m (Vancouver Sun)

Heat-loving bacteria kills thousands of Washington salmon
An estimated 2,500 Chinook salmon died before they could reach their spawning grounds in Whatcom County in September. Lummi Nation officials say a triple whammy of warm water, low flows, and bacteria killed 80% or more of Chinooks returning to the South Fork Nooksack River. Drone photos show their bleached-white carcasses – the latest victims of the Northwest’s summer of deadly heat – littering the bottom of the river. Tribes and state officials have been working for years to bring the South Fork Chinook population back from the brink of extinction. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Researchers make surprising discovery while tracking Chinook salmon in Salish Sea, B.C.
Researchers made a surprising discovery while tracking Chinook salmon in both the foraging areas of endangered southern resident orcas and the growing, healthy population of the northern resident orcas in B.C. In a study published last week in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, the researchers stated they expected to find the robust population of northern residents fat with fish, and the southern residents stuck with lean pickings. Instead, the team found four to six times the density of big Chinook in the area they tested in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, part of the southern residents’ core foraging area, compared with the area they sampled in the northern residents’ territory, in the Johnstone Strait. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C. ocean researchers push to help understand, restore all but extinct sunflower sea stars
A Vancouver-based conservation organization is pushing for continued study and more resources to help restore a species of sea stars following a mass die off and cascading consequences for other marine life. A study released this week from Ocean Wise says that the decimation of sunflower sea stars, which began in 2013, has resulted in barren underwater landscapes in places like Howe Sound as the disappearance of the marine animals has thrown ecosystems out of whack. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Lawsuit claims hatcheries harm wild fish, orcas
The latest lawsuit over fish in the state claims hatchery-raised salmon and steelhead may impact already-diminished wild populations and the orca whales that eat them. In the lawsuit filed this week in King County Superior Court, the nonprofits Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler argue that the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has in recent years not adhered to State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) regulations when making decisions about hatcheries. Kimberly Cauvel reports. The nonprofits are asking that Fish and Wildlife be ordered to halt any changes underway at its hatcheries that were based on decisions the state agency has made since 2018, and that Fish and Wildlife be required to review those recent decisions. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Sea otters' seemingly destructive digging is making eelgrass more resilient: study
Scientists in B.C. have shown how the seemingly harmful actions of one marine species are actually benefiting another. By digging holes in eelgrass beds, sea otters have helped the long ribbon-like plant become more genetically diverse, according to a new study published this week in the journal Science. The research was undertaken by University of Victoria graduate student Erin Foster and other B.C. scientists. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Eight sunken boats lifted from area around Oak Bay Marina
Five sunken boats and big pieces of three others were pulled from the depths around Oak Bay Marina over the weekend — drawing cheers from crowds on the docks and shore as some of the wreckage emerged. The three-day job by divers and crews aboard two barges with cranes picked all of the sunken vessels in the large bay, according to the Dead Boats Society. An underwater survey by Oak Bay Marina had earlier identified the wrecks. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

On Orca Recovery Day, students help document small but important fish in food chain
Holding up a jar filled with water and sand, students looked at roughly 400 tiny, white eggs floating inside — surf smelt at the very early stages of their lives. The small fish, a kind of forage fish found in the shallow waters of Puget Sound, are an importance food source for many species, including salmon. Salmon, in turn, are the favorite food of Southern Resident orcas. Several middle-school students in the Salish Sea School, which offers outdoor-based programs for youths, learned on Saturday the importance of forage fish in the marine food chain, and assisted with a forage fish egg survey on Fidalgo Bay. Jacqueline Allison reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) See also: Groups host Orca Recovery Day to connect people with Harper Estuary Peiyu Lin reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Olympia Green Faith to call for climate action at Oct. 18 event
The Olympia arm of Green Faith, an international, multi-faith grassroots organization, will call for climate action at an event at Fertile Ground on Oct. 18. The event, called Faiths for Climate Action, will run from 5 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Adams St. and 9th Ave. The scheduled activities are an introduction to the Green Faith movement and the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, a song, an interfaith prayer, and a tree prayer inspired by a Siberian indigenous tradition. Julia Ornedo reports. (JOLT)

Spirit Bears Have a Special Power When Hunting
A UVic scientist has discovered the advantage their white fur gives them for catching dinner. Marina Wang reports. (The Tyee)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 249 AM PDT Mon Oct 18 2021
TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after mid

Friday, October 15, 2021

10/15 Maize, Nov 8 border opening, Lower Snake R dams, Kirner Pond swans, no new kind of orca, sea otters, BC groundwater, week in review

Maize

Maize Zea mays
Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to open border to fully vaccinated travellers starting Nov. 8
The United States is set to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers starting starting Nov. 8, and will apply to those travelling by air, land or passenger ferry. Air travellers will need to show proof of vaccination on arrival to the U.S., but will still need to show a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel prior to boarding their flight. Non-essential travellers crossing at a land border will be required to show proof of vaccination or attest to their vaccination status upon request by a border agent, but unlike air travellers there will be no requirement for them to show a negative COVID-19 test. Darren Major and Katie Simpson report. (CBC)

Inslee says Lower Snake River dams report should be ready this summer
The fate of the four controversial Lower Snake River dams will be a topic of study this summer. Washington politicians said they plan to weigh in then on the fate of the four controversial Lower Snake River dams. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says a report should come out this summer on the four controversial dams on the Lower Snake River. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Swan-saving project complete at Kirner Pond
A multi-agency, private-public effort to help trumpeter swans safely depart from their seasonal home on Kirner Pond is complete...Local bird advocates came together to start a GoFundMe fundraiser that kicked off on Jan. 25, and it quickly raised more than the goal of $65,000. Those funds, along with in-kind labor and efforts from Clallam PUD, helped fund the work to bury the power lines clearing the way for the trumpeter swans to take off from the small pond located about a mile west of the Woodcock/Sequim-Dungeness Way intersection. Michael Dashiell reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

No discovery of 'new kind of killer whale' off western North America
In a news release, cetacean scientists wrote on Oct. 8: "On October 4th, Hakai Magazine published an article with a headline reporting the discovery of “a new kind of killer whale”. Other media outlets subsequently reported similar headlines in Canada, the USA and internationally, and although some content has since been corrected in these articles, others continue to report false information. The fact is that no new type of killer whale has been discovered and that many of the whales in question are part of the known Bigg’s (transient) killer whale population that prey on marine mammals."

Sea Otters Are Reshaping the Genetics of Eelgrass Meadows
The once-imperiled marine mammal could help this vital coastal ecosystem adapt to a changing world. Isobel Whitcomb reports. (Hakai Magazine)

BC’s Groundwater Licensing System Is Still in Crisis
Experts warn of chaos and economic disruption, but say it’s not too late to save the needed initiative. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Week in Review 10/15/21: Mushroom Friday!, northern goshawk, snow crab, Fairy Cr protest, Indigenous Peoples Day, FortisBC LNG, starving SRKW, border opening, bigleaf maples, Connie Gallant

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 237 AM PDT Fri Oct 15 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 7 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.
SAT SE wind 20 to 30 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 7 ft at 8 seconds becoming W 4 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.
SUN Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

10/14 Chanterelle, bigleaf maples, WA ferries cuts, Connie Gallant, Fairy Cr protest, tug oil spill, Springer book, biodiversity conference

Chanterelle

Chanterelle
Chanterelle is the common name of several species of fungi in the genera Cantharellus, Craterellus, Gomphus, and Polyozellus. They are among the most popular of wild edible mushrooms. They are orange, yellow or white, meaty and funnel-shaped. (Wikipedia)

What’s killing the Northwest’s bigleaf maples? Scientists think they’ve found the answer
Climate change is the culprit behind the increasing deaths of bigleaf maples in Washington and across the Pacific Northwest. That’s the conclusion of University of Washington researchers and government agencies who began studying the phenomenon in 2011... In a paper released earlier this month, lead researchers Jacob Betzen and Patrick Tobin concluded that the varied effects of urbanization and climate change were leading to the decline and death of bigleaf maples across their range from British Columbia to California. Craig Sailor reports (Tacoma News Tribune)

Amid crew shortages, Washington State Ferries to cut sailings on some routes by half
Washington State Ferries announced late Wednesday afternoon it will impose cuts indefinitely to at least five routes, after failing to overcome a chronic lack of crew. Ferry officials said that by adopting a leaner schedule, to take effect on Saturday, they could better assure travelers that the remaining sailings do occur. It’s a drastic move that Amy Scarton, deputy state transportation secretary, said last week the agency might need to make. She compared this scenario to “snow routes” when transit or ferry managers carefully trim service but keep a mobility lifeline between communities. Mike Lindblom reports. (Seattle Times)

Port Townsend Marine Science Center presents Stopps award
This has been a difficult time for Connie Gallant. Her mate of 50 years, JD, died Sept. 2. “He was my cheerleader. We shared everything,” said Gallant. So it was bittersweet, she said this week, to receive news she’d won the 2021 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award. Diane Urbani de la Paz reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

How Fairy Creek Is Influencing the Wet’suwet’en Resistance
Northern BC land defenders dig in, borrowing tactics and eying court rulings from the big standoff on Vancouver Island. Amanda Follett Hosgood and Zoe Yunke report. (The Tyee)

Heiltsuk leader says community still waiting for environmental justice 5 years after 'traumatizing' oil spill
In 2016, tugboat Nathan E. Stewart spilled 110,000 litres of diesel and oil, closing nation's harvesting site. (CBC)

Book Signing; Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer
Donna Sandstrom, Founder/Executive Director of The Whale Trail hosts a book signing celebrating her new book, Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer. 10/17, 2 - 4 p.m., C & P Coffee, 5612 California Ave SW, Seattle. The event will be open to the public in partnership with Paper Boat Booksellers.

Why the U.N.’s Biodiversity Conference Is So Important
Countries are gathering in an effort to stop a biodiversity collapse that scientists say could equal climate change as an existential crisis. Catrin Einhorn reports. (NY Times)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 240 AM PDT Thu Oct 14 2021
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt in the morning becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less in the morning becoming less than 1 ft. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT S wind to 10 kt becoming SE after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening then rain after midnight.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

10/13 Pumpkin, border opening, SRKW decline, islander ferry woes, Tilbury Is LNG, gas lawn tool ban, orca fight, fish sink

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
Pumpkins, like other squash, originated in northeastern Mexico and southern United States. The oldest evidence were pumpkin fragments dated between 7,000 and 5,500 BC found in Mexico. Pumpkin fruits are a type of botanical berry known as a pepo. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around Halloween. In 2019, China accounted for 37% of the world's production of pumpkins. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to reopen land border to fully vaccinated Canadians next month
Fully vaccinated Canadians will be allowed to enter the United States at land and ferry border crossings starting in early November. Senior U.S. officials announced Tuesday night a plan to begin reopening the land borders with Canada and Mexico, which have been closed for non-essential travel since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. An exact date for the reopening has not yet been determined, according to senior administration officials who briefed reporters earlier about the plan during a conference call. Alexander Panetta, Katie Simpson and Nick Boisvert report. (CBC)

Study raises new questions about why southern resident killer whales are in decline
A team from the University of British Columbia says the assumption that southern resident killer whales are in decline due to lack of chinook salmon in Canadian waters does not hold up under scrutiny. Instead, their new study suggests declining chinook stocks are only part of the problem facing the critically endangered orcas, and that researchers need to look beyond the Salish Sea for answers. Andrew Trites, co-author and director of UBC's Marine Mammal Research Unit, called the findings published earlier this month in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences unexpected. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

‘Where’s the ferry?’ islanders ask as crew shortages stymie scheduled sailings
Part of the state highway system but not taken for granted these days: Recent substantial crew shortages have resulted in cancellations of more than 50 Washington State Ferries sailings in a week in the San Juan Islands. State officials are looking for long-term solutions to serve commuters and other residents and visitors. Heather Spaulding reports. (Salish Current)

FortisBC Wants to Expand an LNG Plant on Vancouver’s Doorstep. Opponents Say No
Tilbury Island is a low-lying stretch of land a few kilometres from the mouth of the Fraser River, tucked in the industrial heart of the city of Delta. Tilbury Island is at the centre of a debate that’s leading environmental groups to picket the provincial legislature, and cities to vote in opposition. The island is home to FortisBC’s Tilbury Island LNG facility, which the utility company is seeking to expand by adding additional LNG storage and a jetty where it could load tankers bound for international markets. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

California set to become first state to ban gasoline-powered lawn equipment
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would phase out the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment in the state by 2024. Tik Root reports. (Washington Post)

Rare clash between two distinct kinds of orcas in the Salish Sea — and the endangered fish-eaters won
Whale watching in the Salish Sea is almost always a thrill. But a recent clash between two species of orcas presented a rare spectacle. Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg’s, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix. In a recent encounter between these distinct ecotypes, it was the southern residents that appeared to break up a group of transients and drive them away. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (NNKX)

Letting Carbon Sink with the Fishes
Fish fall to the seafloor when they die, sequestering carbon in the deep. Our penchant for catching big fish is breaking the cycle. Amorina Kingdon, Kelly Fretwell and Meigan Henry report. (Hakai Magazine)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 226 AM PDT Wed Oct 13 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt becoming E 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 7 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain after midnight.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

10/12 Jonagold, Indigenous Peoples' Day, WA cider, BC Ferries Covid, octopus wrestling

Jonagold apple

Jonagold apple
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to Jonagold. The Jonagold apple is a cross between Golden Delicious and the Jonathan. It first appeared in 1953 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. This apple tends to be large in size and is tangy sweet with honey-like flavor notes. On the outside, Jonagold is crimson red flushed with yellow-green undertones. The flesh is a creamy pale yellow color. They have a shorter season than many apples, making them a real treat in the fall and winter months. (Stemilt)

‘We are the land’: Indigenous Peoples’ Day gathering at Lummi Nation celebrates survival
Sweet smoke lifted from the fire, burning to coals to prepare the feast of salmon for this gathering on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It was, after all, a gathering of the Salmon People. From Canada to California and reservations in between, Native people gathered here at the Wex’liem Community Building west of Bellingham both in person and virtually to talk about what it means to be Native. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Climate change forces WA apple cider industry to adjust
The future of the business may depend on how apple growers and cider-makers start adapting now to conditions they can’t anticipate. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Public health experts call on B.C. Ferries to provide more stringent COVID-19 safety measures
Epidemiologists are calling for more clarity around B.C. Ferries' ventilation protocols and more stringent mask requirements on sailings after the corporation announced federal proof-of-vaccination rules would not apply to its passengers. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

When Octopus Wrestling Was All the Rage
Long before the NHL’s Kraken came to town, Seattle was home to another cephalopod-themed sports craze. Kristen Nelson reports. (Sports Illustrated)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 222 AM PDT Tue Oct 12 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 9 ft subsiding to 5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds building to 9 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. A chance of rain in the evening.