Salish Sea News and Weather

Thursday, November 18, 2021

11/18 White sea cuke, BC flood cleanup, BC 'future proof,' farming climate change, Makah whale hunt, Chumasj Heritage NMS, high speed rail, lunar eclipse

White sea cucumber [Dennis Paulson]

White sea cucumber Eupentacta quinquesemita
The White Sea Cucumber is a common species in rocky areas in the middle intertidal zone and below. Up to about 10 cm in length when relaxed, it is easily recognized by its whitish color and long oral tentacles. The animal is often partially hidden in a crevice with only the feeding apparatus sticking out. When disturbed by a potential predator, they may eviscerate their tentacles and foregut into the water. This may startle and confuse the predator as well. However, there is also a seasonal component, and many White Sea Cucumbers in this area routinely eviscerate in the fall, even if not disturbed. (Slater Museum)

Mammoth cleanup to begin in B.C. as flood waters recede
Provincial state of emergency declared Wednesday as military set to arrive. (CBC)

Connecting the dots between B.C.’s floods, landslides and the clearcut logging of old forests
Deforestation dramatically alters how landscapes are able to cope with extreme weather events like the atmospheric river that surged across southern British Columbia earlier this week. Judith Lavoie reports. (The Narwhal) See also: What Will It Take to ‘Future Proof’ BC? A recent report warned governments aren’t adapting to climate change. To be proved right by massive flooding is ‘not a good feeling,’ says a researcher. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Community Voices / How farmers can fight climate change
Farmers are in a powerful position to help curb climate change, and many locally already are taking steps to do so, note dairy farmer Katherine Steensma and author Stevan Harrell. While this bodes well for the future of agriculture here, there is more to be done to stop "wasting and poisoning the good and beautiful things of the world": natural resources. Stevan Harrell and Katherine Steensma write. (Salish Current)

Makah whale hunt decision now in the hands of single NOAA official
It’s been nearly two months since a federal administrative law judge issued his recommendation on the Makah Tribe’s request to revive its whale hunt. Judge George J. Jordan broadly approved the request and recommended that a waiver be granted under the Marine Mammal Act. And comments on his opinion closed over the weekend. Those will play a role in the next step: the decision on whether to grant the waiver. That is now in the hands of a single official at NOAA headquarters in Maryland. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX)

A Proposed New Marine Sanctuary Would be the First One to be Tribal-Led
The US government this week began the process to designate the country’s first tribal-led marine sanctuary. The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would protect sacred Chumash sites, feeding grounds for numerous species of whales and dolphins, sea otter populations, kelp forests, and is home to vital commercial and recreational fisheries. If approved, the sanctuary would comprise a 7,000-square-mile/18,130-square-kilometer area off the central California coast, adjacent to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. John Laing reports. (DeeperBlue)

The dream of high speed rail in the PNW may finally be on the horizon
Rail advocates argue new lines will grow the economy, shrink mobility inequalities and help decarbonize the region. Lizz Giordano reports. (Crosscut)

How you can see the nearly total lunar eclipse Friday morning
West Coast night owls and East Coast early risers will have the best view of the upcoming lunar eclipse this Friday. Overnight, the moon will pass into the shadow of Earth cast by the sun, illuminating the gray orb with a red hue. It will be the second and final eclipse of the year. Joe Hernandez reports. (NPR)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 216 AM PST Thu Nov 18 2021
TODAY E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NE 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

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Wednesday, November 17, 2021

11/17 Periwinkle, I5 NB cleared, Skagit wall worked, Port of Seattle funding, BC GasLink eviction, BC forestry, tribal estuary retoration

Checkered periwinkle [sandiego.edu]

Checkered Periwinkle Littorina scutulata
This small (up to 1.5 cm long), sharply pointed snail is abundant on rocks in the high intertidal zone of Puget Sound. Periwinkles are herbivores, scraping soft-bodied algae from the rocks with their radula; tiny animals living on the algae may also be ingested. As food is abundant for them, the snails can be abundant as well, sometimes in masses on an exposed rock surface. Because they live high in their zone, they are often exposed to the air, and they can close their shell tightly with the horny operculum attached to their foot to keep water inside and to avoid both desiccation and suffocation. (Slater Museum)

Northbound traffic on Interstate 5 has reopened south of Bellingham
Northbound traffic on Interstate 5 reopened last night, according to a tweet from Washington state DOT. (Bellingham Herald)

A wall to hold back the Skagit River survives its first major test
The Skagit River crested in Mount Vernon on Tuesday morning, but this time the town was ready to hold back the flood. Joshua McNichols reports. (KUOW)

Seattle agrees to fund studies, habitat to offset future harm to endangered orcas
The Port of Seattle agreed Tuesday to take steps to help endangered Southern Resident killer whales survive in the Salish Sea to offset the harm caused by the port’s dredging project. Karina Brown reports. (Courthouse News)

Wet’suwet’en land defenders say B.C., federal inaction prompted enforcement of Coastal GasLink eviction
When the pipeline company failed to act on an immediate evacuation order, land defenders decommissioned a service road, cutting off access to project sites and work camps housing more than 500 individuals. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) Over 500 pipeline workers stranded behind Wet'suwet'en clan blockades, Coastal GasLink says (CBC)

New forest legislation aims to transfer forest tenures to First Nations and open opportunities to smaller players
There is approximately 33,500 square kilometres of land currently under timber tenures in B.C. but any future transfers would only apply to the 26,000 square kilometres of old growth forest land that government announced would be deferred earlier this month. Lisa Cordasco reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Making room for salmon
How can Puget Sound generate more salmon? That question has been at the center of ecosystem recovery efforts for decades. But even as scientists and conservationists make progress on many fronts — from breaching dams to cleaning up the water — they have faced one especially complicated and frustrating limitation: Salmon need more estuaries. We look at how local tribes are working to restore this critical habitat. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 514 AM PST Wed Nov 17 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT TODAY E wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds.

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

11/16 Tidepool sculpin, weather effects, Skagit delta tidegate, Skookumchuck R, whiskey for salmon

Tidepool sculpin [Mick Otten]

Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus
Tidepool sculpins are small, fairly sedentary fish typically found in sheltered areas or tidepools in temperate waters. They have a large head with a tapering body, large dorsal and anal fins, and dark splotches on their backs. These sculpins have the ability to camouflage themselves by changing color to blend into the background and hide from predators. They are able to tolerate both ocean and brackish water. Tidepool sculpins have a small home area where they remain their entire lives. Should they be displaced from this area, they can find their way home using their keen sense of smell. (Aquarium of the Pacific)

'It was terrifying': Rain storm's impact felt across southern B.C Kevin Griffin and Denise Ryan report. (Vancouver Sun) Mudslide in Whatcom County blocks portion of Interstate 5; heavy rain causes several slides Daisy Zavala reports. (Seattle Times) Skagit River expected to crest Tuesday in Mount Vernon Brandon Stone reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) Flooding shuts down Highway 101, cutting off West End Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Army Corps of Engineers makes concessions
In response to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s threat to sue, the Army Corps of Engineers agreed last week to take a new look at the regionally developed Skagit Delta Tidegate Fish Initiative under the federal Endangered Species Act. The initiative is a 2010 agreement in which local dike, drainage and irrigation districts agreed to restore a certain amount of estuary habitat in exchange for being able to maintain tidegates that can block fish from valuable habitat. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley herald)

Habitat project is ‘just the beginning of something great’ on the Skookumchuck Rive
Miles of rich riparian zones and fish habitat are slowly being reclaimed along the upper reaches of the Skookumchuck River, thanks to a collaborative process that has put a property owner, conservation districts and the state all on the same page. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) finished work on the two-year, $4 million Skookumchuck Early Action Reach River Restoration project in August. The project to install about 30 log jams across more than a mile of river and a high-flow channel was funded with state money funneled through the Chehalis Basin Board. Eric Rosane reports. (Centralia Chronicle)

This whiskey is for protecting salmon
Whiskey isn’t just for drinking anymore. A new craft whiskey is turning the old saying: “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting,” on its head. This whiskey is fighting to save salmon. Copperworks Distilling Co., based in Seattle, has released the first Salmon-Safe American single malt whiskey, made entirely from barley grown in one field in Walla Walla, Washington. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PST Tue Nov 16 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY
TODAY NW wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt later this morning. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft later this morning. NW swell 10 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning.
TONIGHT NW wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 9 ft at 10 seconds becoming W 5 ft at 10 seconds after midnight.

Monday, November 15, 2021

11/15 Cormorant, heavy weather, new news, climate agreement, BC gas, crown land returned, fishers, PS Naval Shipyard

Brandt's cormorant, breeding male [Joseph Higbee]

Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Almost always found on salt or brackish water, Brandt's Cormorants inhabit rocky shorelines and open ocean. Nesting colonies are typically located on slopes rather than cliff ledges, although some Washington colonies are located on steep cliffs. Brandt's Cormorants are common along the rocky outer coast and coastal islands of Washington, from Cape Flattery to Oregon. They are rarely seen in Puget Sound or other inland waters during the breeding season, but are common, especially in the upper Puget Trough and Strait of Juan de Fuca at other times of the year. (BirdWeb)

Power outages and landslide warnings as rain, wind continue across Seattle area Heidi Groover reports. (Seattle Times) Relentless rain causing flooding and road closures across B.C. (CBC)

Salish Current and Casdcadia Daily News: Read all about it
Join in on Nov. 17 to hear about two new news organizations in Bellingham and Whatcom County market with goals of informing the public and adding to the civic discourse: Salish Current and Cascadia Daily News. While the two entities have different business models (Salish Current is a news nonprofit supported by foundations and individual donors; Cascadia Daily News will be subscription-based with advertising) they are both committed to independent local journalism. Register in advance by Monday, Nov. 15.

‘It is not enough’: World leaders react to COP26 climate agreement
Many call on countries to move faster to curb greenhouse gas emissions and help nations damaged by climate change, after last-minute moves weakened Glasgow’s final deal. Steven Mufson and Annabelle Timsit report. (Washington Post)

Gidimt'en evict Coastal GasLink from Wet'suwet'en territory
The Gidimt'en clan told workers to "peacefully evacuate" the area before the main road into the Lhudis Bin territory was closed at 1 p.m. (Canadian Press)

B.C. returns nearly 100 hectares of Crown land near Sechelt to shíshálh Nation
The 99.6-hectare parcel of land is located on the south shore of Salmon Inlet, about 16 kilometres north of Sechelt. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Transplanted fishers released into park
A release of seven fishers from Alberta, Canada into Olympic National Park earlier this month is part of a program to increase the genetic diversity of the once-decimated native species. Five were released into the wild at Lake Ozette and two were released near Sol Duc, said Patti Happe, wildlife branch chief of Olympic National Park (ONP), on Friday. Leah Leach reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Here come the funds: Navy inks contracts to bring billions to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
The Navy is slated to sink its first $8 billion into its plans to revitalize the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and other docks and facilities in the Pacific. Five companies have inked contracts to compete for a decades' worth of work aimed at modernizing the docks, wharves and other infrastructure the Navy uses in Puget Sound to maintain its fleet. About 40% of the work entailed in the contracts will occur at the Bremerton shipyard, with another 40% for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and the rest at smaller Pacific bases. Josh Farley reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 239 AM PST Mon Nov 15 2021
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
TODAY SW wind 20 to 30 kt becoming W 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon. Combined seas 2 to 5 ft with a dominant period of 14 seconds building to 5 to 7 ft with a dominant period of 13 seconds in the afternoon. Rain in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT NW wind 30 to 40 kt becoming W 15 to 25 kt after midnight. Combined seas 4 to 7 ft with a dominant period of 17 seconds subsiding to 2 to 4 ft with a dominant period of 0 seconds after midnight. A chance of showers in the evening then rain after midnight.

Friday, November 12, 2021

11/12 Turkey tail, flood watch, Whatcom climate plan, cargo containers, Boeing Field green walls, week in review

Turkey tail

Turkey tail Trametes versicolor
Trametes versicolor – also known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor – is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Meaning 'of several colors', versicolor reliably describes this fungus that displays different colors. (Wikipedia)

Flood Watch Issued As 'Pineapple Express' Arrives In Puget Sound
A flood watch will be in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday until Saturday afternoon. The Seattle area could see two inches of rain by tomorrow. Lucas Combos reports. (Patch)

Whatcom County takes these steps to address local effects of global climate change
Whatcom County Council members approved a Climate Action Plan that spells out the effects of global climate change locally and makes specific recommendations on how to address them. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

105 containers that fell off cargo ship believed to have sunk: coast guard
The Canadian Coast Guard says it believes that many, if not all, of the 105 missing containers that fell into the sea from a cargo ship off Victoria in late October have sunk. (Canadian Press)

Climate and quality-of-life activists find common ground at Boeing Field
Local groups pressure government to respond to climate change and health concerns. Velma Veloria and Rosario-Maria Medina are pursuing the construction of green walls to help mitigate noise and pollution from Boeing Field aircraft. Peter Fairley reports. (InvestigateWest)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/12/21: Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day, border opening, Fawn Sharp, Nooksack Tribe, WA EVs, B'ham climate tax, BC forestry law, cargo containers, spotted owl habitat, salmon management, Tacoma Tideflats, Whatcom climate plan

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 210 AM PST Fri Nov 12 2021
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming SW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 9 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.
SAT SW wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming SW 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft at 10 seconds.

Thursday, November 11, 2021

11/11 Red poppy, Tacoma Tideflats, UVic energy buoy, cargo-ship fiasco

Red poppy

Red poppy
The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D. while serving on the front lines.

Months later, Tacoma moves to restrict fossil fuel use on Tideflats. Some worry about loopholes
Tacoma City Council moved Tuesday to restrict the expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure on the Tideflats, but there remains debate about whether the new land-use codes go far enough to address the climate emergency the city declared in 2019. The new code dictates where certain industrial uses can develop on the Tideflats and is a result of a process spanning months and multiple meetings with businesses, environmentalists and other interested parties. After all that time, no one is entirely satisfied with the result, but elected officials say they worked collaboratively with people on all sides of the issue. Allison Needles reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

University of Victoria launching plan to replace diesel with wind energy buoy
Researchers at the University of Victoria are floating a new idea that could bring clean, renewable power to B.C.’s remote coastal communities and end their dependence on diesel generators. A highly customized buoy, equipped with a wind turbine and a 3D laser-scanning system, will soon be launched off the Victoria-area coast to transmit live data. (Canadian Press)

Cargo-ship fiasco underscores growing risk in Salish Sea
The toxic fumes that spewed from the container ship Zim Kingston put a fiery exclamation point on a long-standing argument of Washington environmental groups — that state, tribal and local governments should have more say in major Canadian development projects that can adversely impact our environment and livelihoods. Michael Riordan writes. (Seattle Times Opinion)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 234 AM PST Thu Nov 11 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 20 kt becoming 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. NW swell 4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming S 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. Showers and a chance of tstms.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

11/10 Chickadee, climate tax, Indigenous salmon management, geoduck farm, Delta development, spotted owl logging, cargo containers, salmon poaching, BC forestry, pumped storage

Chestnut-backed chickadee [All About Birds]

Chestnut-backed chickadee Poecile rufescens
A handsome chickadee that matches the rich brown bark of the coastal trees it lives among, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee is the species to look for up and down the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. Active, sociable, and noisy as any chickadee, you’ll find these birds at the heart of foraging flocks moving through tall conifers with titmice, nuthatches, and sometimes other chickadee species. (All About Birds)

Bellingham mayor urges tax to fund climate change programs
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood asked the City Council to consider asking voters to approve a tax to pay for citywide programs aimed at reducing the city’s carbon footprint and helping the effort to fight global climate change...Fleetwood didn’t provide any details, but said that it likely would be a property tax...Fleetwood said he would ask the council for funds to draft a ballot measure at its Nov. 22 meeting. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

B.C. study shows sustainable management of salmon before colonization
The study published Wednesday in the journal Scientific Reports examined chum salmon bones dating from between 400 BC and AD 1200 from four archeological sites around Burrard Inlet. Brenna Owen reports. (The Canadian Press) See: Indigenous sex-selective salmon harvesting demonstrates pre-contact marine resource management in Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada (Nature)

A Pierce County oyster farm wants to raise geoducks. Neighbors are raising the alarm
A new draft Environmental Impact Statement has reignited a long-simmering dispute between the Taylor Shellfish Company and its neighbors over a proposal for geoduck farming in Burley Lagoon. The dispute has gone on so long — since 2016 — that some of the neighbors, like Karen McDonell, have made virtual second careers of fighting Taylor Shellfish and the very idea of farming geoducks. Kerry Webster reports. (Gateway News)

Delta wants more oversight for Fraser River, Salish Sea
The grinding facility and marine terminal application will undergo a provincial and federal environmental assessment through a process led by the BC Environmental Assessment Office. Sandor Gyarmati reports. (Delta Optimist)

‘Faulty’ science used by Trump appointees to cut owl habitat
Political appointees in the Trump administration relied on faulty science to justify stripping habitat protections for the imperiled northern spotted owl, U.S. wildlife officials said Tuesday as they struck down a rule that would have opened millions of acres of West Coast forest to potential logging. Matthew Brown and Gillian Flaccus report. (Associated Press)

Most cargo containers vanished after falling overboard from ship near Victoria, B.C.
Of the 109 cargo containers that went overboard from the Zim Kingston, a cargo ship that caught fire near British Columbia last month, 105 have not been seen, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. In all, 57 tons of potassium amyl xanthate, used in mines and pulp mills, and thiourea dioxide, used to manufacture textiles, were aboard the Zim Kingston in four containers: two that fell overboard and the two that caused the onboard fire. Christine Clarridge reports. (Seattle Times)

Residents near salmon-bearing streams in B.C. asked to watch for poachers
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is asking residents near salmon-bearing creeks to be on the lookout for poachers during spawning season, after three men were spotted taking fish from a stream in Coquitlam, B.C. Rafferty Baker reports. (CBC)

How B.C.’s long-awaited forestry law updates leave gaps around protecting old-growth and Indigenous Rights
While environmental advocates are cautiously optimistic about proposed amendments to B.C.'s 2004 Forest Ranges and Practices Act, many worry they lack clarity and don't provide the protections the province's oldest forests need. Zoe Yunker writes. (The Narwhal) See also: Counting the Job Cost of Halting Old-Growth Logging The government says 4,500, industry says 18,000. Critics say there are too many unanswered questions about the government’s plans. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

New electricity project in WA takes a twist on hydropower
An effort to generate energy along the Columbia through a concept called 'pumped storage' has drawn pushback from tribes and environmental groups. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 238 AM PST Wed Nov 10 2021
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 17 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 14 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft building to 6 to 8 ft after midnight. W swell 10 ft at 11 seconds subsiding to 7 ft at 10 seconds after midnight. Rain.