Salish Sea News and Weather

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

7/19 Death camas, dairy digester, BC spotted owl habitat, Stanley Park ancient cedar, Whatcom County executive race

Death camas [C-DLand Trust]

Death camas Toxicoscordion venenosum
Death camas is a species of flowering plants in the genus Toxicoscordion, of the Melanthiaceae family. It is native to western North America. The plant is widespread across much of Western Canada, the Western United States, and northern Baja California. They tend to grow in dry meadows and on dry hillsides as well as sagebrush slopes and montane forests. All parts of the plant are poisonous. It is dangerous for humans as well as livestock. Consumption of 2 to 6% of the body weight of the animal is likely to be fatal. Along with other alkaloids, zygacine and other toxic esters of zygadenine are the primary neurotoxic alkaloids contributing to the plant's toxicity. (CalScape)

Tribes and farmers reduce carbon and find common ground through this dairy digester
Washington state is investing $22 million in dairy digesters, part of the 2023-2025 budget for the state's Climate Commitment Act. Based on a new report, they’re currently considered one of the most effective climate investments states can make. Dairy digesters capture the methane that comes from cow manure and other organic waste as it decomposes and turns it into useful renewable energy. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

‘Are you kidding me?’: B.C. sanctions shooting, logging in endangered spotted owl habitat
Only one spotted owl remains in Canada’s wild. The B.C. government says it is committed to recovering the species, even as it approves new clearcuts and recreational shooting in a Fraser Valley wildlife area set aside for the owl. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Ancient Western red cedar tree falls in Stanley Park
A western red cedar tree that is believed to have been centuries old fell in Vancouver's Stanley Park over the weekend, reaching the end of its life at what experts describe as a particularly stressful time for ancient trees in the area. It was anywhere between 800 and 900 years old and suffered from heart rot. (CBC)

Four of six Whatcom executive candidates respond in forum
Responses in a candidates forum from four (of six) vying for Whatcom County Executive sketched out four differing perspectives on how to serve. Salish Current Editorial Staff reports. (Salish Current)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 246 AM PDT Wed Jul 19 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 5 seconds. Patchy fog.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds building to 4 ft at 6 seconds after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight.

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Tuesday, July 18, 2023

7/18 Painted greenling, BC fire season, Vancouver ecosystem, Olympia Capitol Lake, B'ham mayor race

Painted greenling [Scott Johnson]

Painted greenling Oxylebius pictus
Painted greenling range from Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska to north-central Baja, California, but are rare north of Washington. They are found in rocky areas from the intertidal to 160 feet (49 meters). Painted greenling can grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length and live to be 8 years old. Rarely caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound and uncommon in coastal waters. (WDFW)

The 2023 wildfire season is now B.C.'s most destructive on record — and it's only mid-July
The 2023 wildfire season in British Columbia has officially surpassed the 2018 season as the most destructive ever recorded according to area burned. Statistics from the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) show wildfires have burned more than 13,900 square kilometres of land this year, breaking the record of just over 13,500 square kilometres set in 2018. (CBC)

We Knew Vancouver’s Ecosystem Was Damaged. The Truth Is So Much Worse
More than a century after colonization nearly eradicated key fish populations around Vancouver, British Columbia, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is looking to the past to restore the ecosystem. Lauren Kaljur reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Olympia’s Capitol Lake restoration: Pricey ‘boondoggle’ or environmental win?
...The state’s Department of Enterprise Services has evaluated several options, and after a lengthy process has chosen to restore the lake to an estuary, a brackish tidal flat where the river meets the sea. The Legislature gave the department $7 million this year to move forward with that plan, financing its design and permitting.The plan is not without controversy. And some state lawmakers are wary about footing the bill for the project, which could cost up to $247 million — or more. Claire Withycombe reports. (Seattle Times)

Bellingham mayoral candidates field forum questions in primary quest
What should be the way forward for downtown Bellingham vitality, a new jail, waterfront development and housing? Bellingham mayoral primary candidates offered responses in an online forum last week. Salish Current Editorial Staff reports. (Salish Current)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 306 AM PDT Tue Jul 18 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 6 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 6 seconds building to W 3 ft at 7 seconds after midnight.

Monday, July 17, 2023

7/17 Spiraea, 'Lyra,' gray whales, Bigg's whales, Klamath dam, Cowichan R salmon, Port Renfrew catch limit, intertribal canoe journey, refinery safety, Petrogas lawsuit, all-electric tug, northern pike

Douglas Spiraea [Native Plants PNW]

Douglas Spiraea Spiraea douglasii
The word Spiraea comes from a Greek plant that was commonly used for garlands. Douglas Spiraea is named after David Douglas. Douglas Spiraea is native from southeast Alaska to northern California. Although it mostly occurs west of the Cascade Mountains, it is also found in eastern Washington, Idaho and western Montana. Douglas Spiraea has also been found growing in isolated counties of Colorado, Missouri, and Tennessee. (Native Plants PNW)

‘Lyra’ sheds light on power, dangers of journalism
“Lyra,” showing July 18 at Bellingham’s Pickford Film Center, documents the story of murdered Northern Ireland journalist Lyra McKee and spotlights the dangers and power of journalism — and why that matters. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Hopeful signs for declining population of gray whales along West Coast
The population of the eastern north Pacific Gray whale has been sliding downward since reaching a peak in 2016 with an estimated 26,960 whales. This year, scientists put the estimate at 14,526 whales. The estimate is based on counts of migrating whales off the Central California coast and statistical analyses. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Single-day record 72 Bigg's killer whales spotted in Salish Sea
Ten different groups of the whales were reported, ranging from the Hood Canal of the Puget Sound all the way north to Vancouver Island’s Campbell River region in British Columbia, the PWWA said in a written release. The largest group — 18 killer whales — was seen near the northern San Juan Islands. (KOMO)

With one down, Klamath dam removal proceeds on schedule
The first of four hydroelectric dams along the Oregon-California border has been removed from the main stem of the Klamath River. All that remains of the dam known as Copco 2 in Siskiyou County, California, is the headworks of a diversion tunnel adjacent to the now free-flowing river. Juliet Grable reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Hundreds of dead young salmon and trout found in rivere
Hundreds of tiny silver salmon and trout fry have been discovered dead at the bottom of a canyon at the base of Skutz Falls on the Cowichan River system and the cause of the mass die-off is a mystery. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Port Renfrew fishers shocked by sudden salmon cuts
Anglers will only be allowed to retain one chinook a day. Charter-boat operators worry clients will cancel visits. (Times Colonist)

After hiatus, intertribal canoe journey returns
For the first time since 2019, the intertribal canoe journey is returning to the Pacific Northwest and includes multiple stops along the North Olympic Peninsula as crews make their way to the Muckleshoot Indian Nation near Auburn. The annual canoe journeys began in 1989 with the “Paddle to Seattle” and have been held each year since, except for three years during the pandemic, with a different tribe hosting the trip each year. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

New regulations proposed for refinery safety
The state Department of Labor and Industries announced last month that it’s proposing changes to safety regulations for refineries. The regulations would affect two Anacortes refineries. The Labor and Industries news release announcing the proposal referenced previous explosions at the March Point refineries as part of the need for regulation changes. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

High court ruling in Petrogas lawsuit could mean millions in taxes for Whatcom County
Whatcom County has won a lawsuit that could mean $10 million or more in back taxes from a Cherry Point petrochemical company. In a one-sentence decision issued late Wednesday, the state Supreme Court upheld an appellate court ruling from November 2022 that said Petrogas Pacific must pay taxes as set by the Whatcom County Assessor’s Office. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

First all-electric tugboat in the world now plying the waters of B.C.
HaiSea Marine, a collaboration between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan, welcomed the arrival of the HaiSea Wamis this week. Joseph Ruttle reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Washington state biologists prepare for invasive northern pike
Right now, an invasive fish species is trapped behind Grand Coulee Dam in eastern Washington. If northern pike make it past the two giant cement dams in their way, it could spell trouble for salmon. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 303 AM PDT Mon Jul 17 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. Showers likely in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 1 ft at 7 seconds.

Friday, July 14, 2023

7/14 Gumweed, Elwha fish, WA gas prices, BC drought, water rule, low tides, week in review

Puget Sound Gumweed [Amy Barlow]

Puget Sound Gumweed Grindelia integrifolia
Puget Sound gumweed, a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), is a native, perennial, tap-rooted, herbaceous to semi-woody subshrub that grows 8 to 40 inches tall. Puget Sound gumweed is a locally common wildflower found along beaches, rocky shores, wet meadows, wetland prairies, ditches, pastures and salt marshes.(USDA)

Strong fish counts seen in Elwha
Fish species on the Elwha River are coming back now that dams that once blocked the river have been removed, but river restoration is still in its infancy, according to Sam Blenkman, chief fisheries biologist with Olympic National Park. More than 4,000 Chinook salmon had returned to the river by 2022, and more than 25,000 trout were surveyed in 2019, up from the roughly 3,000 in 2007, but the moratorium on most fishing remains in effect. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

High gas prices fuel talk of anti-gouging measures, cap-and-trade tweaks
Washington’s new climate policy is taking heat for the state’s highest-in-the-nation prices at the pump. But the law’s backers say oil companies are to blame. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

Drought conditions at highest level in parts of B.C. as province warns of tightening water restrictions
Leaders in British Columbia are sounding the alarm about looming water scarcity and future use restrictions as drought levels in parts of the province have been elevated to the most severe end of the scale. (CBC)

The West's water system is grappling with a racist past and hotter future
As droughts strain water supplies across Western states, some cities and farmers have struggled with mandatory cutbacks. Determining who gets cut is decided by the foundational pecking order of Western water: the older your claim to water, created as the country expanded westward, the better protected it is. When there's a shortage, those with newer water rights have to cut back first, sometimes giving up their water completely before older claims lose a single drop. It's known as "first in time, first in right." But "first" is a relative term. Lauren Sommer reports. (NPR)

Upcoming low tides will provide great tide pooling opportunities
As summer rolls along, upcoming seasonal low tides will provide a chance to get up close to marine creatures in rocky tide pools. Extreme low tides will occur July 14-20 and July 29-Aug. 4, according to a state Department of Fish and Wildlife news release. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports.(Skagit Valley Herald)

Salish Sea News Week in Review July 14 2023: Shark day, geoduck farm, green crabs, LNG exports, NW forests, deer Covid, ship LNG, Elwha fish, WA gas prices.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 241 AM PDT Fri Jul 14 2023
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 2 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN W wind to 10 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.

Thursday, July 13, 2023

7/13 Chickweed, whale hunt, ship fuel LNG, plastics, wetlands protection, noctiluca, sustainable tourism

Chickweed [Gardening Know How]

Chickweed Stellaria media
Chickweed is an annual and perennial flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout the world. This species is used as a cooling herbal remedy, and grown as a vegetable crop and ground cover for both human and poultry consumption. It is sometimes called common chickweed to distinguish it from other plants called chickweed. Other common names include chickenwort, craches, maruns, and winterweed. The plant germinates in autumn or late winter, then forms large mats of foliage. (Wikipedia)

Frustration mounts as Makah tribe waits for word on the whale hunt
NOAA Fisheries was expected by the end of June to issue a final environmental impact statement allowing the Makah Tribe to hunt a gray whale but now says the process will likely take a couple more months. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

New emissions targets may sink LNG’s pitch as a shipping fuel
The fossil fuel and shipping industries just got a serious shot across the bow over relying on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transition fuel. On Friday, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) finalized stricter global emissions standards for the maritime industry while closing a significant regulatory loophole driving up the use of LNG as a shipping fuel. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Solving the world’s plastics problem
Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our refrigerators, in our oceans and even in our bloodstreams. And wherever there are plastics, there are questions over what to do with them. Following the failure of the Washington Recycling and Packaging Act, experts and a key lawmaker discuss next steps. (Crosscut podcast)

U.S. House Dems want data on impact of Supreme Court ruling on wetlands protection
Top Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked federal agencies Monday to track possible negative effects from a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal authority to regulate clean water. Jacob Fischler reports. (Washington State Standard)

Orange phytoplankton blooms more common as temperatures rise
Phytoplankton blooms the colour of cream of tomato soup along the shores of Vancouver Island are becoming more common, likely due to hotter weather, scientists say. It’s the result of a phytoplankton called noctiluca, which occurs with the right combination of nutrients in the water and hot weather, said Svetlana Esenkulova, a biologist with the Pacific Salmon Foundation who is trying to determine if the phytoplankton is harming salmon. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Treading Lightly. Mapping the road to sustainable tourism.
For many years, Washington has been a top destination for adventure seekers. Almost 40 million people pay a visit to one of Washington’s parks every year, according to the Washington Trails Association. More people than ever are setting out to explore the state’s natural wonders, thanks to a combination of increased information online and a common hunger for community after the COVID-19 pandemic. But increased foot traffic wears trails out faster and with more people comes more waste. Hanna Rhody reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PDT Thu Jul 13 2023
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 1 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

7/12 Pineapple weed, Orcas tuna, LNG exports, NW Forest Plan, Tokitae homecoming, heat records, farm water, deer Covid, space pic

Pineapple weed

Pineapple weed Matricaria discoidea
Matricaria discoidea, commonly known as pineappleweed, wild chamomile, disc mayweed, and rayless mayweed, is an annual plant native to northeast Asia where it grows as a common herb of fields, gardens, and roadsides. It is in the family Asteraceae. The flowers exude a chamomile/pineapple aroma when crushed. (Wikipedia)

Bluefin Tuna Washes Up On Orcas Island’s East Sound
Northwest Sportsman source and local landowner Gary Lundquist and his youngest son JD were headed to the ferry dock early this morning when they spotted a lump on Crescent Beach by the village of Eastsound and went to investigate. Lundquist described the fish as untouched, so it was likely deposited – or stranded – by last night’s midnight 8-foot-or-so high tide. This morning’s low was at 7:28 at nearby Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Andy Walgamott reports. (Northwest Sportsman)

Future of Canada's LNG exports shrouded in uncertainty amid fluctuating demand, experts say
Canadian liquefied natural gas projects looking to fill gaps in the global market left by the absence of Russian gas may run into more challenging conditions than expected, industry experts say. Officials from the LNG industry at an industry conference in Vancouver say the consensus among economists is that the gas shortage in Europe caused by the Ukraine war is unlikely to last beyond 10 years, while the rise of renewables will cut into demand from 2030 onward. (The Canadian Press)

New committee will advise on key plan for future of Northwest forests, adapting to climate change
A panel of regional experts will spend the next two years updating a nearly 30-year-old plan for how to manage and protect millions of acres of federal forestland in the Northwest. Committee members will recommend policies to federal agencies updating the Northwest Forest Plan, focusing specifically on the impacts of climate change. Five experts from Washington state will serve on the panel. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay shares plans to move whale Tokitae ‘as soon as we can’
Indianapolis Colts owner and philanthropist Jim Irsay said he is still working on bringing the orca whale Tokitae back to the Salish Sea, and he’s personally helping to fund the effort. L.B. Gilbert reports. (MY Northwest)

Sounds like a broken record: why climate change keeps outdoing itself
Against the backdrop of global warming, El Niño conditions have an additive effect, pushing temperatures to record highs. This has combined with a reduction in aerosols, which are small particles that can deflect incoming solar radiation. So these two factors are most likely to blame for the record-breaking heat, in the atmosphere and in the oceans. Kimberley Reid reports. (The Narwhal)

Farmers in Sunshine Coast say they want to be exempt from water restrictions during drought
No outdoor watering is allowed in the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) during its most extreme Stage 4 water restrictions, but farmers say they need to continue watering their crops to maintain their livelihoods and provide food for their community. Michelle Gomez reports. (CBC)

Coronavirus probably spread widely in deer and perhaps back to people, USDA says
Humans transmitted the coronavirus to white-tailed deer more than 100 times in late 2021 and early 2022, according to new research led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The research also suggests that the virus probably spread widely among deer, that it mutated in the animals and that they may have passed these altered versions of the virus back to people at least three times. Emily Anthes reports. (NY Times)

JWST keeps finding cosmic gems, black holes and surprising galaxies
NASA is marking the anniversary of the JWST’s scientific debut with the release of a spectacular new image. Joel Achenbach reports.(Washington Post)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 254 AM PDT Wed Jul 12 2023
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 2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

7/11 Rattlesnake plantain, BC fire ban, boat fiberglass, David Sibley, Salish Sea UNTAMED

Rattlesnake plantain

Rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
Goodyera oblongifolia is a species of orchid known by the common names western rattlesnake plantain and giant rattlesnake plantain. The common name stems from the leaves, which have marks resembling snakeskin; the plant is also said to have been used to treat snakebites. (Wikipedia)

B.C. announces total campfire ban amid drastic wildfire surge, worsening drought
All campfires across British Columbia were banned Monday, except on the North Coast island of Haida Gwaii, after thousands of lightning strikes and worsening drought conditions resulted in more than 100 new wildfires over the weekend. Dirk Meissner reports. (The Canadian Press)

The Problem with Boating’s High-Fiberglass Diet
Fiberglass revolutionized boating, but decades later, discarded and degraded vessels are adding to marine pollution. We can do something about it. Norman Miller reports. (Hakai Magazine)

David Sibley explains how drawing birds makes you a “thoughtful observer”
“There’s a real, deep, personal satisfaction and reward for taking the time to really watch a bird and study it and figure out how to draw it,” David Sibley, the famed artist and birder, said. Camille Baker reports. (NY Times)

Salish Sea UNTAMED for women and men
Salish Sea by UNTAMED is a Aromatic Aquatic fragrance for women and men. This is a new fragrance. Salish Sea was launched in 2022. The nose behind this fragrance is Sunyata Calogeros-Smith. Top notes are Sea Salt, Herbal Notes, Rosemary and Black Pepper; middle notes are Driftwood, Sea Notes, Seaweed, Lily of the Valley and Honeysuckle; base notes are Beach grass, Ambergris, Oakmoss and Fir. (Fragrentica)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 235 AM PDT Tue Jul 11 2023 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. NW swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. SW swell 1 ft at 10 seconds becoming NW 2 ft at 9 seconds after midnight.