Salish Sea News and Weather

Thursday, September 14, 2023

9/14 Bougainvillea, whale winter behavior, cougars and wolves, exotic marine species, biodegradable fishing gear

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the four o' clock family, Nyctaginaceae. The first European to describe these plants was Philibert Commerçon, a botanist accompanying French Navy admiral Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage of circumnavigation of the Earth, and first published by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789. It is possible that the first European to observe these plants was Jeanne Baret, Commerçon's lover and assistant, who was an expert in botany. Because she was not allowed on ship as a woman, she disguised herself as a man in order to make the journey (and thus became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe). (Wikipedia)

Ocean Wise starts studying whale winter behaviour to further conservation efforts
Ocean Wise is embarking on its second winter research project to study the behaviour of whales in the Salish Sea to further protect and boost the populations. Researchers with Ocean Wise have noticed increased activity of whales like humpbacks, Bigg’s killer whales and southern resident orcas around Vancouver Island in the cooler months. (CHEK)

In a battle of apex predators, Washington cougars are killing wolves at a surprising rate
Wolves may be an apex predator, but researchers in Washington recently noticed that they’re being attacked and killed by another carnivore at the top of the food chain: cougars. Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

Warmer water brings big, exotic species into the Salish Sea
Marine heat is causing some unusual species to show up in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Recent reports include two sightings in August of six-foot-long sunfish near Tacoma, Wash. Also recently seen: a huge bluefin tuna in the San Juan Islands. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Biodegradable Fishing Gear Isn’t Good Enough
Lower efficiency makes the eco-friendly nets and ropes fall short. That’s a trade-off we might have to accept. Alastair Bland (Hakai 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- 828 AM PDT Thu Sep 14 2023
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.

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Wednesday, September 13, 2023

9/13/23 Pikake, Nooksack flooding, Merritt flooding, urban giants

Pikake (UH Extension)

Pikake is the Hawaiian name for a jasmine, Jasminum sambac, which is one of about a dozen Jasminum species grown in Hawaii as ornamentals. The name is adapted from the word “peacock,” because the Hawaiian Princess Kaiulani reportedly was fond both of this flower and the bird, according to Marie Neal (In Gardens of Hawaii). (University of Hawaii Extension)

U.S., Canada make headway on cross-border Nooksack flood strategy
As the two-year anniversary of a devastating Nooksack River flood approaches, cross-border strategy talks are beginning to take shape, taking community cooperation and climate change into consideration. Is it enough? Catherine Skrzypinski and Clifford Heberden report. (Salish Current)

Walking Among Vancouver’s Urban Giants
Most of the city’s old growth was cleared long ago. But not in Stanley Park. Solana Pasqua reports. (The Tyee)

B.C. government was aware of Merritt dike problems before destructive flooding in 2021, documents show
FOI request shows engineer had warned over integrity of dikes — which province has oversight of — since 2018. Brenna Owen reports.(CBC)

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- 816 AM PDT Wed Sep 13 2023
TODAY Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 10 seconds.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

9/12 Hibiscus, BC old grwoth, humpbacks, Everett reservoirs, Whatcom water

Hibiscus (Wikipedia)

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. The genus is quite large, comprising several hundred species that are native to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. The generic name is derived from the Greek name ἰβίσκος (ibískos) which Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis (c. 40–90 AD).(Wikipedia)

‘Frustrating as hell’: advocates say old-growth still being cut years after protections promised
The province promised to implement more than a dozen recommendations made by an independent review. Some worry change for the old forests home to at-risk species hasn’t come fast enough. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Humpback whales find their voice
During the fall months, the Salish Sea comes alive with “whups,” “moans,” “growls” and an assorted variety of “creaks,” “trumpets,” “buzzes” and other humpback whale vocalizations. Jeff Rice reports. (Salish Sea Currents)

New Everett reservoirs built to weather big earthquake in $23M project
Two new reservoirs on Rucker Hill are nearly complete. The city plans to replace another off Evergreen Way in phases. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Candidates talk water as Whatcom wells run dry
Nooksack watershed and Whatcom County leaders face lower streamflows, higher stream temperatures, less snow runoff and higher temperatures. What do candidates say? Kai Uyehara 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- 806 AM PDT Tue Sep 12 2023
TODAY E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 9 seconds. Showers likely in the morning then showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt becoming W after midnight. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the evening.

Monday, September 11, 2023

9/11 Plumeria, wasting disease, humpbacks, AI wildfires, Elwha timber wale, farm pollution

Plumeria (Wikipedia)

Plumeria (Wikipedia)

Plumeria, also known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Rauvolfioideae, of the family Apocynaceae. Most species are deciduous shrubs or small trees. The genus Plumeria is named in honour of 17th-century French botanist and Catholic monk Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The name "frangipani" comes from a fictional 16th-century marquis of the noble Frangipani family in Italy, who created a synthetic plumeria-like perfume. (Wikipedia)

About a decade after an outbreak of disease, researchers find mixed results for sea stars
Almost a decade after a massive outbreak of sea star wasting syndrome, researchers are working to measure sea star populations. Derek Smith, Shannon Point lab manager and a research assistant professor in the marine and coastal science program, said sea star numbers are still low compared to the pre-2014 numbers. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

How the humpback whale made a massive comeback in the Salish Sea
hey are big. They are beautiful. And they are back. The return of the humpback whale to greater numbers than observed in decades is part of a larger revival of marine mammals in the Salish Sea. It is an astonishing sight of life rebounding, with exception of the endangered southern residents orcas. It’s in these conditions the humpbacks have made a spectacular recovery at about 8% a year. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

How AI is helping detect wildfires in Washington
High-tech fire lookouts are now helping spot wildfires in Washington. This fire season, the state has deployed cameras geared up with artificial intelligence. The Washington Department of Natural Resources has set up 11 stations, consisting of two 360-degree view, ultra-high definition cameras. The cameras, developed by San Francisco-based Pano AI, detect smoke and fire starts within a 15-mile radius. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News Network)

Contested timber sale advancing
A controversial timber sale near the Elwha River is moving ahead, despite opposition from some local elected officials and environmentalists. On July 26, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opened bids for auctioning off the 126-acre “Power Plant” timber sale about 7 miles west of Port Angeles even as environmental groups were trying to challenge the sale in court. Murphy Company of Eugene, Ore., won the contract. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Farmers know they create a huge share of Canada’s emissions. Now they’re seriously counting them
Fertilizer, fossil fuels and cows mean farming creates 10% of Canada’s carbon pollution. Measuring it all is a complex and uncertain task. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal)

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- 218 AM PDT Mon Sep 11 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. SW swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 4 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

Friday, September 8, 2023

9/8 Huckleberry hound, metal shredding, Cowichan R, Indigenous Protected Area, fire to flood, water restrictions, tree ordinance, Sierra Club, cap-and-trade, Happy Valley gravel pit, ANWR drilling, week in review

Huckleberry Hound

Huckleberry "Huck" Hound is a fictional cartoon character, a blue anthropomorphic coonhound that speaks with a Tennessee Southern drawl. He first appeared in the series The Huckleberry Hound Show. The cartoon was one of six TV shows to win an Emmy Award in 1960 as an "Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming"; the first animated series to receive such an award.

Noise, toxins, traffic concerns with proposed metal shredding
Residents are concerned about noise, toxic dust, fire hazards and increased truck traffic if a proposed metal shredding facility along Bellingham's Marine Drive is built. Questen Inghram reports. (Salish Current)

Environmental stress likely cause of fish die-off on Vancouver Island
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has found that "stressful environmental conditions" likely killed hundreds of salmon and trout in the Cowichan River in mid-July. The cause appeared to be lesions found on the fish. These lesions tend to be caused by stress, which can be related to low oxygen and high pH levels in the water. Kathryn Marlow reports. (CBC)

Water to be pumped into Cowichan River from lake next week
Pumping of water from Cowichan Lake into the Cowichan River could begin as soon as Monday to keep river flow rates from dropping too low. The goal is for the river to maintain current flow conditions of about 4.5 cubic metres per second to protect fish. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Gitanyow celebrates the return of salmon as B.C. inches toward recognizing the nation’s protected area
Two years after the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs declared 54,000 hectares of land and water off-limits to industry, the provincial government still hasn’t officially acknowledged the Meziadin Indigenous Protected Area. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

‘It Could Flip Like a Switch.’ Will BC Move from Fires to Floods?
In the midst of unprecedented drought, provincial officials warn that this year looks a lot like 2021. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Sunshine Coast imposes most severe water restrictions on 20,000 residents due to persistent drought
Prolonged and intense drought conditions are forcing the Sunshine Coast's largest water system to impose its highest-level restrictions on water use starting Friday. That means no watering gardens or plants, using sprinklers or washing vehicles or homes. (CBC)

Climate advocates push to amend Seattle’s new tree ordinance
Tree protection advocates say climate concerns and equity are not adequately addressed in Seattle’s new tree ordinance. It passed in May amid calls from the city’s Urban Forestry Commission for more time to address concerns that the update favored developers. Now the commission is looking at proposals to amend it. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

The Sierra Club hired its first Black leader. Turmoil over racial equity followed.
The Sierra Club, one of the nation’s largest and oldest environmental groups, laid off staffers of color and scaled back its equity work under new leadership. Maxine Joselow reports. (Washington Post)

Federal affirmative action ruling may impact WA cap-and-trade
Allocating funds from the carbon plan to minority communities most affected by pollution could draw legal battles based on the new SCOTUS decision. Alex Brown reports. (Stateline/Crosscut)

Gravel pit project withdrawn
A Sequim applicant for a permit for a proposed gravel pit in Happy Valley has withdrawn his application, citing threats and even shots fired. After the project was withdrawn Wednesday, a Thursday hearing before the Clallam County hearing examiner to consider the 4.74-acre basalt mine called Happy Valley Pit LLC was canceled. Matthew Nash reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Biden Approved a Big Oil Project. Now, He’s Cracking Down on Drilling.
In the months since the president allowed the Willow project in Alaska, his administration has curtailed fossil fuel activities on millions of acres of public land and in federal waters. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 9/8/23: Star Trek Friday, heat wave survivial, Gulf Islands' water, Growlers, pumped storage hydro, WA cap-and-trade, BC old growth logging, ANWR drilling, Gitanyow celebration.

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- 234 AM PDT Fri Sep 8 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 10 seconds.
SUN SW wind to 10 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 7 seconds.

Thursday, September 7, 2023

9/7 Huckleberry Island, tsunami, WA cap-and-trade, BC old growth logging, BC groundwater, Tofino drought, gray squirrel status, ANWR drilling, mola mola

Huckleberry Island [WA Dept. of Ecology]

Huckleberry Island is situated in the center of the Samish Nation's traditional territory, and is approximately 4 miles south of Samish Island, the site of the tribe's largest historical village. The state agreed in 2010 to transfer ownership of Huckleberry Island, just east of Guemes Island, to the Samish Island Nation. As the steward of Huckleberry Island, the tribe is committed to maintaining public day use access to the island, which is frequently visited and explored by boaters and kayakers. The Samish Nation intends to develop an inventory of plant species on the island, and assess the impacts of invasive species. (Anacortes Now)

Signs of a hidden threat: preparing for the really big one
New signs around the Salish Sea raise awareness in areas that might be inundated by tsunami. Adam M. Sowards reports. (Salish Current)

Out of the smokestack, into the state budget
Washington’s cap-and-trade auctions are pulling in money faster than expected, spurring new ideas for spending, along with calls to rework the program to ease costs for consumers. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

A company was forced to reduce logging in Haida Gwaii’s old-growth forests. Now they’re suing for $75M
The Haida Gwaii Management Council’s decision to protect ancient trees meant Teal-Jones could no longer log them. Now, the B.C. Supreme Court will decide who pays when conservation cuts into corporate profit. Arno Kopecky reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. groundwater licensing delays abound, 7 years after requirement was introduced
According the provincial forestry ministry's website, there are about 20,000 non-domestic groundwater users in B.C. People who use groundwater for their household are not required to get a licence or pay fees. Mike Wei, a hydrogeologist who has worked with the provincial government on its groundwater program, believes as few as 7,000 businesses or organizations have applied for licences. (CBC)

Tofino remains vigilant as water reservoirs hit lowest level
Short-term rental operators, resorts and hotels asked to remove unnecessary linens and bathtub stoppers to discourage tub use. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Washington may upgrade Western gray squirrel to 'endangered' status
Washington’s Western gray squirrels are in trouble. So much so that state officials are considering uplisting the squirrels from threatened to endangered. The change comes after a periodic status review. Declining habitat is a big problem for the squirrels. Biologists said their habitat has changed because of timber harvests, wildfires, land conversion and climate change. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW News)

The Biden administration is ending drilling leases in ANWR, at least for now
The Biden administration is canceling the only seven oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The leases were originally issued by the Trump administration over the protests of environmentalists and some Alaska Native groups who argue the region should be protected as a critical wildlife habitat. Ximena Bustillo reports. (NPR)

Video captures another sunfish spotted in the Puget Sound
An ocean sunfish called a Mola Mola was spotted while a couple was cruising south between McNeil and Anderson islands. Mola Molas can grow to 11 feet long and weigh more than a ton. This is the second sunfish spotted in recent weeks in our region. Last week, Jonah Zimmerman got a video of the big fish swimming near his boat not far from Tacoma. (KIRO)

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- 243 AM PDT Thu Sep 7 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.
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.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

9/6 Huckleberry, bird flu, BC Ferries, Growlers, oyster insomnia, pumped storage hydro, clown wedgefish, Whatcom book award

Huckleberry [Wikipedia]

Huckleberry
The name 'huckleberry' is a North American variation of the English dialectal name variously called 'hurtleberry' or 'whortleberry' (/ˈhwɜːrtəlbɛri/) for the bilberry. In North America, the name was applied to numerous plant variations, all bearing small berries with colors that may be red, blue, or black. In the Pacific Northwest and mountains of Montana and Idaho, this huckleberry species and several others, such as the black Vaccinium huckleberry (V. membranaceum) and blue (Cascade) huckleberry (V. deliciosum), grow in various habitats, such as mid-alpine regions up to 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) above sea level, mountain slopes, forests, or lake basins. (Wikipedia)

Bird flu outbreak in Washington possibly spreading to seals
A bird flu outbreak around Fort Flagler State Park near Port Townsend may be spreading to mammals, according to the state Department of Health. As of last week, an outbreak of a deadly strain of the avian influenza had likely killed 1,700 gulls and Caspian terns on Rat Island – a small wildlife preserve near the state park, and its adjacent shores. The island is currently closed due to the outbreak. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

Amid forecast of financial uncertainty, B.C. Ferries seeks to buy 4 new electric vessels
B.C. Ferries says it’s planning to order four new electric-powered Island-class vessels under an accelerated schedule. But it’s also facing financial uncertainties while it awaits a decision on passenger-fare increases during the next four years. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Judge: Growler flights continue
A U.S. District Judge has ruled that jet training flights over Whidbey Island can continue even as the Navy is ordered to redo its environmental impact statement concerning the impacts of noise and emissions on the area. In an order issued Friday in the Western District of Washington, Judge Richard Jones wrote that while the Navy underreported the true amount of fuel emissions from flights, failed to take a hard look at species-specific impact on birds and failed to analyze impacts on childhood learning, stopping the flights would pose a risk to national security. Peter Segall reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Light Pollution Is Causing Oyster Insomnia
Even artificial light that’s dimmer than the full moon can knock oysters’ circadian rhythms out of sync. Hannah Seo reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Pumped storage hydropower is the greenest renewable energy technology, study says
Researchers with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said closed-loop pumped storage hydropower will have a lower carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of the technology, from construction to decommissioning, than other renewable energy storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Detective McDavitt and the Curious Case of the Clown Wedgefish
Scientists were writing an obituary for this species when a lawyer turned internet sleuth found evidence of its existence in an unlikely place. Brian Howey reports. (Hakai Magazine)

State book award finalists include four Whatcom authors
Rena Priest, Clyde Ford, Caitlin Scarano and Tom Crestodina have been named finalists from among 242 entries for Washington State Book Awards. Dean Kahn 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- 244 AM PDT Wed Sep 6 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming N to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning. Showers likely.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds.