2/13 Steelhead, fish farm suit, Howard Hanson Dam, BC LNG protests, 'War in the Woods,' BP reinvented, Kalama methanol, WA water impact, going electric, WA lege halfway, McClatchy bankrupcy

Steelhead [US NPS]

Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
Steelhead and rainbow trout are the same species, but rainbow are freshwater only, and steelhead are anadromous, or go to sea. Unlike most salmon, steelhead can survive spawning, and can spawn in multiple years. Like chinook salmon, steelhead have two runs, a summer run and a winter run. Most summer runs are east of the Cascades, and enter streams in summer to reach the spawning grounds by the following spring. A few western Washington rivers also have established runs of summer steelhead. Winter runs spawn closer to the ocean, and require less travel time. They generally prefer fast water in small-to-large mainstem rivers, and medium-to-large tributaries. Steelhead are highly regarded game fish and the steelhead is the state fish of Washington. (WDFW)

Groups sue over steelhead farming in Puget Sound 
Four nonprofits filed a joint lawsuit Tuesday against the state Department of Fish & Wildlife for issuing a permit for steelhead farms in the marine waters of Skagit and Kitsap counties. The organizations — Wild Fish Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety and Friends of the Earth — argue that allowing Cooke Aquaculture to raise steelhead in floating net pens would jeopardize the region's wild steelhead, salmon and endangered Southern Resident orca whales. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valle Herald)

Feds agree to reboot fish-passage project at Howard Hanson Dam, open upper Green River to salmon
Salmon and steelhead could once again inhabit more than 100 miles of the upper Green River watershed now that the entire Washington congressional delegation has backed restarting a federal project to allow fish to pass the Howard Hanson Dam. The fish-passage project could open even more habitat for chinook and coho salmon and steelhead than the celebrated Elwha Dam removal project, the largest in the world. The Howard Hanson Dam would remain intact but the work would double the amount of spawning habitat available to salmon and steelhead in the watershed — and open all of the best of it for the first time in more than a century. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

In photos: Wet’suwet’en matriarchs arrested as RCMP enforce Coastal GasLink pipeline injunction
Police made arrests Monday on the Morice River bridge, the sole entrance point to the Unist'ot'en land-based healing centre. Amber Bracken reports. (The Narwhal)

'We still have title': How a landmark B.C. court case set the stage for Wet'suwet'en protests
Amid the backdrop of nationwide protests, blockades, and arrests, Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs on the front lines of the fight to stop a pipeline in their traditional territories are pointing to a Supreme Court case from the 1990s that underscores their authority over the land. The decision in Delgamuukw vs. British Columbia was delivered on Dec. 11, 1997, affirming Aboriginal land title and setting a precedent for how it is understood in Canadian courts. Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC) See also: Protesters hope to shut down B.C. government buildings with demonstrations on Friday  (CBC)

‘War in the Woods, round two:’ Amid civil unrest, activists gear up for bigger battle over Trans Mountain
Recent protests and blockades are only the beginning of the civil disobedience that lies ahead as Ottawa pushes ahead with the controversial Trans Mountain expansion project, claims an activist group. “I really do see this as a taste of things to come,” said Alexandra Woodsworth, campaign organizer at the British Columbia-based Dogwood Initiative. Woodsworth likened the coming fight to “the War in the Woods, round two,” alluding to a 1993 anti-logging protest on Vancouver Island that led to nearly 1,000 arrests. Jesse Snyder reports. (National Post)

BP boss plans to 'reinvent' oil giant for green era
New BP boss Bernard Looney has said he wants the company to sharply cut net carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. Mr Looney said the 111-year-old company needed to "reinvent" itself, a strategy that will eventually include more investment in alternative energy. BP will have to fundamentally reorganise itself to help make those changes, said Mr Looney, who took over as chief executive last week. It follows similar moves by rivals, including Royal Dutch Shell and Total. (BBC)

Columbia Riverkeeper Wants SEC To Investigate Kalama Methanol Project
A conservation group is pushing the federal government to investigate a proposed methanol plant in Kalama, Washington. Columbia Riverkeeper on Tuesday sent a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission saying the plant’s backers have misrepresented how the methanol will be used and broke a federal law in the process. Troy Brynelson reports. (OPB)

UW summarizes Washington climate impact on water
Climate change is affecting water systems in Washington, and with nearly 70 percent of the state’s population living near the coastline, it will likely affect life in the state in the coming decades. A new summary published by the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group consolidated a September report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and localized it for the state. It illustrated how the state could be swept up in global changes to both oceans and the cryosphere, or Earth’s frozen regions. These places include glaciers on the Cascades and Olympics, as well as seasonal snowfall. Aaron Kunkler reports. (Seattle Weekly)

From Delivery Trucks To Scooter-Moving Vans, Fleets Are Going Electric 
As electric cars grow in popularity and visibility, experts say a revolution is coming in a place most people overlook: corporate and municipal fleets. The scooter company Lime is the latest firm to announce that it plans to completely remove gas- and diesel-powered vehicles from its fleet and power its new electric work vehicles with renewable energy. Camila Domonoske reports. (NPR)

Halfway there, budget committees dive into a pile of bills 
(2/11)We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2020 session. Which means it’s all downhill from here. We can only hope. It is cutoff day for fiscal bills, which means marathon meetings of the budget committees in the two chambers. Check out the agenda for the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It has 63 bills up for votes. Starting Wednesday, lawmakers in both chambers will spend many hours on the floor passing bills for the other chamber to consider. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Everett Herald)

McClatchy, Major Local News Publisher, Files for Bankruptcy
The newspaper publisher, which operates in 14 states, is trying to restructure its debt and pursue a “digital transformation” as local news struggles. [In Puget Sound, the company owns the Bellingham Herald, the News Tribune of Tacoma, and the Olympian.] Katie Robertson reports. (NY Times)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  339 AM PST Thu Feb 13 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. W swell 4 ft at 15 seconds.  Rain. 
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 8 ft  at 16 seconds. Rain in the evening then rain likely after  midnight.



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

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2/12 Goose, BC LNG protest, Chehalis flood protections, Dungeness oyster farm

White-fronted goose [Gene Tepke]

Greater White-Fronted Goose Anser albifrons
The Greater White-fronted Goose is mottled brownish-gray overall with a black tail, white rump, white band at the tip of the tail, and bright orange legs. The belly has a varied pattern of large black splotches. Its name is derived from the white facial feathers around the base of the pinkish-yellow bill. The juvenile looks similar but lacks the white facial feathering and black markings on the belly. Greater White-fronted Geese nest on marshy ponds in the tundra or taiga. They winter in open country in mild climates in habitat with shallow fresh or salt water near agricultural fields.

Major Vancouver intersection re-opened after overnight anti-pipeline protest
Protesters blocked off Cambie and Broadway for 16 hours in support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. Meera Bains and Alex Migdal report. (CBC)

Coastal GasLink returning to work in injunction area in Wet'suwet'en territory
RCMP continues to maintain exclusion zone checkpoint on forest service road. Chantelle Bellrichard reports. (CBC)

Will flood protections set back salmon restoration in the Chehalis River Basin? 
A flood control dam proposal on the Chehalis complicates a multimillion-dollar effort by tribes and lawmakers to bring back declining salmon runs. John Stang reports. (Crosscut)

Oyster farm gets county OK for first phase only 
The first portion of a three-phase oyster farm planned by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe within the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge has received approval from the county’s hearing examiner after years of analysis and discussion. Matthew Nash reports. (Peninsula Daily News)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PST Wed Feb 12 2020   
TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft. W swell 7 ft at  14 seconds. 
TONIGHT  Light wind becoming SE to 10 kt after midnight. Wind  waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 7 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 5 ft at  14 seconds after midnight. Rain likely after midnight.



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

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2/11 Brooding anemone, TMX cost, Puget Sound chemicals, BC LNG protests

Brooding anemone [Mary Jo Adams]

Brooding anemone Epiactis sp.
his is a small anemone, with the crown up to 2 inches in diameter. (The base may be somewhat wider than the crown.) The color varies. It is often red or pink when on rocks and green or brown when on eelgrass. Look for the radiating white lines originating from the oral disk and on the base and column. Also, watch for baby Epiactis attached to the base of the mother. They look like little buds and will stay attached to her for several months until they're large enough to live on their own. There are several similar species of Epiactis. (Mary Jo Adams/Sound Water Stewards)

Cost of Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project in B.C. soars
Trans Mountain Corp. says the cost of its pipeline expansion project has soared to $12.6 billion from $7.4 billion. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

UW testing technique identifies 64 new chemicals in Puget Sound
Eight of the 64 chemicals were at potentially hazardous concentrations that researchers say will require further investigation. (KING)

Hundreds rally in Metro Vancouver and Victoria in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en
Police arrest 57 anti-pipeline protesters blocking Vancouver and Delta port entrances.  (CBC) And: Police action in Wet'suwet'en territory sparks solidarity actions nationwide   Rail lines, ports and government offices shut down by supporters. (CBC)



Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  810 PM PST Mon Feb 10 2020   
TUE  SW wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft  at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then rain likely  in the afternoon. 
TUE NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 14 seconds. A slight  chance of rain.



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

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2/10 Chipmunk, sewage spill, BC LNG protest, hot Antarctica, Jane Lubschenco, Swanrise

Townsend's chipmunk [Walter Siegmund]

Townsend's Chipmunk Tamias townsendii
Townsend's chipmunk is a species of rodent in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. It lives in the forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America, from British Columbia through western Washington and Oregon. Townsend's chipmunk is named after John Kirk Townsend, an early 19th-century ornithologist. (Wikipedia)

Sewage, runoff spill into Strait, harbor
Overflows driven by constant rainfall have led to an estimated 451,800 gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater spilling into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Port Angeles Harbor, the Clallam County Environmental Health director said. Jennifer Carcelon said in a press release issued Friday that sewage spills were reported at N and Fourth streets and at the pump station on Marine Drive, and a combined sewage overflow was reported from the wastewater treatment plant’s outfall. (Peninsula Daily News)

Protesters block ports, streets and rails in support of Wet'suwet'en in B.C.
Protesters across British Columbia have blocked trains, access to ports and some streets in support of hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en Nation in their bid to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline in their traditional territories in northern B.C. Sunday's protests follow the arrests of more than 20 people that began last week after police began enforcing a B.C. Supreme Court injunction against Wet'suwet'en Nation members who are blocking access to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project. Maryse Zeidler and Clare Hennig report. (CBC) See allso: Day 4: RCMP continue enforcement against Wet'suwet'en over pipeline injunction  Chantelle Bellrichard reports. (CBC)

It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week 
Antarctica experienced its hottest day on record Thursday. At least, that’s what scientists reported at Argentina’s Esperanza research station, on the very northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The finding, announced Thursday by Argentina’s national meteorological service, placed the temperature at 18.3 degrees Celsius — or just about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Colin Dwyer reports. (NPR)

An Ecologist Organizes the World
Jane Lubchenco helped change the field of ecology by making the science useful to society. Ann Finkbeiner reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Swanrise events offer rare look at wintering birds
The surroundings were quiet when a group of 20 people gathered in northeast Mount Vernon before dawn Saturday, wearing coats and knit caps and thanking the sky for keeping the rain at bay. The rubber boots on their feet hinted the bunch wouldn’t be on dry ground for long. They were heading to a soggy landscape just right for birds and beavers: the wetland system that is Barney Lake. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)


Now, your tug weather-- West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  804 PM PST Sun Feb 9 2020   MON  SE wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 15 seconds. 
MON NIGHT  W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell  8 ft at 16 seconds.



--
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2/7 Dumbbell worm, Puget Sound protections, BC LNG protest, WA floods, seaweeds, bumblebees, national monument development

Dumbbell worm [U of Hong Kong]

Dumbbell worm Sternaspis affinis
The genus Sternaspis is comprised of sedentary invertebrates with short and thick anterior setae. The dumbbell worm can be found on the West Coast of North America, from Alaska to the Gulf of California. Known to our scientists as Sternaspis affinis Stimpson, 1864, the dumbbell worm has many names. It has been nicknamed the "mud owl" because of two colorful protective shields, called the "caudal shield", that cover its gills when its head is buried in the soil searching for tasty edible specks of organic matter. The shields look so much like eyes that scientists felt that the worms looked like tiny owls in the soil.

Bill to add federal protections to Puget Sound passes in U.S. House 
A bill to coordinate local, state, tribal and federal efforts to preserve and restore Puget Sound passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 5 by voice vote with bipartisan support. The Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound (PUGET SOS) Act was first introduced in 2015 by Reps. Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck to address environmental issues concerning Puget Sound at the federal level and coordinate preservation efforts between government entities. Callie Craighead reports. (SeattlePI)

6 arrested at Wet'suwet'en anti-pipeline camp
Six people were arrested at a camp on traditional Wet'suwet'en territory as RCMP conducted a pre-dawn raid to enforce an injunction order against those blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern B.C. According to supporters of the blockade, more than a dozen RCMP officers moved past the police checkpoint on Morice Forest Service Road early Thursday morning. "It's a whole damn army up there," said Wet'suwet'en hereditary Chief Woos, who also goes by the name Frank Alec. "They've got guns on, they've got tactical gear on. They look like they're ready for war." (CBC)

17 rivers flooding across Western Wash. amid relentless rains
Relentless rain is triggering renewed flooding on more than a dozen rivers Thursday across Western Washington. Major flooding is expected or already occurring on four rivers - the Snoqualmie near Carnation, the Tolt above Carnation, the Carbon near Fairfax and the Cowlitz at Randle. Four other rivers are experiencing moderate flooding - the Cedar near Landsburg, the Snoqualmie near Snoqualmie Falls, the White at R Street Bridge, the Snohomish at Snohomish and near Monroe, and Issaquah Creek in Issaquah. (KOMO) See also: Army Corps monitoring Green and White river dams as storm waters reach peak  Reservoirs on two area rivers are filling fast, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has spotters keeping an eye on them 24 hours a day. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Washington researchers tackle ocean acidification with new seaweed crops 
As seaweeds grow in the ocean, they naturally pull carbon dioxide from the water for photosynthesis, much as trees pull CO2 from the air. Many people in western Washington see an opportunity in that. Shellfish growers here have struggled with ocean acidification, which is increasing along with climate change and can prevent baby oysters from forming their shells. So, one farm on the north end of Hood Canal has devoted five acres to an experiment that is now licensed as a commercial operation. They're growing kelp along with oysters on lines to see if that co-culture can benefit both crops. It's been working well, says Charlie Delius, the farm manager at Hood Canal Mariculture. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat
Extreme temperatures are driving a dramatic decline in bumblebees across North America and Europe, according to a new study, in yet another way climate change is putting ecosystems at risk. Researchers looked at half a million records showing where bumblebees have been found since 1901, across 66 different species. They found that in places where bumblebees have lived in North America, you’re about half as likely to see one today. The decline is especially pronounced in Mexico, where bumblebees once lived in abundance. Lauren Sommer reports. (NPR)

Trump Administration Finalizes Plans To Allow Development On Downsized Monuments
More than two years after carrying out the largest reversal of national monument protections in U.S. history, the Trump administration has finalized plans for the roughly 2 million acres of formerly protected land in southern Utah. The federal Bureau of Land Management released its plans Thursday to open up the lands, which were once protected as part of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments, to use by energy developers and ranchers. Colin Dwyer reports. (NPR)



Now, your weekend tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  836 PM PST Thu Feb 6 2020   
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY  MORNING    
FRI  SE wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S 20 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 3 to 5 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the  morning then rain in the afternoon. 
FRI NIGHT  SW wind 25 to 35 kt becoming W 30 to 40 kt after  midnight. Combined seas 9 to 12 ft with a dominant period of  13 seconds building to 18 to 19 ft with a dominant period of  11 seconds after midnight. Rain. 
SAT  NW wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 20 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Combined seas 18 to 20 ft with a dominant period of  13 seconds subsiding to 14 to 16 ft with a dominant period of  12 seconds in the afternoon. 
SAT NIGHT  NW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming NE to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after  midnight. W swell 14 ft at 13 seconds. 
SUN  E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at  17 seconds.



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

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2/6 Pt Whitehorn, TMX protest, BC LNG protest, Colstrip, leaving PS Energy, 'Fecal Mountain'

Pt Whitehorn [Whatcom County Parks]

Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve
Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve features 54 acres of forest, bluff and beach, with a 3/4 mile fully accessible trail to spectacular viewpoints of the Strait of Georgia and San Juan Islands. A switchback path descends from the bluff to access a windswept cobble beach. (Whatcom County Regional Parks)

'We'll do what we have to do': Trans Mountain pipeline opponents to ramp up protests
Opponents of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion say they will do whatever it takes to stop the project after suffering a devastating legal blow at the Federal Court of Appeal. Activists are preparing for a prolonged battle on the land and water that they hope will remain non-violent but that could lead to clashes with police, said Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. "For the longest time, I've been, from my elders, under strict orders to do this in a peaceful way," he said Wednesday. "Personally, I'm fed up. If it has to get ugly, it will get ugly." Laura Kane reports. (CBC)

RCMP urge Coastal GasLink pipeline protesters to leave disputed area or face arrest
The B.C. RCMP say they are ready to enforce an injunction order against protesters of the Coastal GasLink pipeline —and urge protesters to leave the area or face arrest. "If there are arrests to be made there are peaceful options that will require minimal use of force," said Assistant Commissioner Eric Stubbs, criminal operations officer for the B.C. RCMP. Stubbs said officers are instructed to use the least amount of force that is reasonable to safely arrest a protester. He said Mounties prefer peaceful options, including voluntary arrests or physically carrying away someone who isn't resisting. But Stubbs stressed that injunction orders are mandatory, "not optional invitations or suggestions" for everyone involved. (CBC) See also: What you need to know about the Coastal GasLink pipeline conflict  Chantelle Bellrichard and Jorge Barrera report. (CBC)

NorthWestern files paperwork to buy more of Colstrip Unit 4 for $1
NorthWestern Energy filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the official process of purchasing an additional 25% of Colstrip Unit 4, giving the utility a majority ownership in the unit. Puget Sound Energy owns 25% of the coal-fired power plant unit. If the long process NorthWestern is now part of is approved by the Montana Public Service Commission, NorthWestern will buy Puget Sound’s stake in the unit for $1. Melissa Loveridge reports. (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

Bellevue, Olympia residents petition to break away from Puget Sound Energy
A group of residents wants the east side of King County to stop using Puget Sound Energy. They call it the dirtiest utility in Washington state. There's a petition to form a new public utility district for Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Woodinville, and surrounding cities. It would remove that area — approximately 500,000 — from Puget Sound Energy's service. The East King County Public Utility District would be operated by an executive board consisting of three locals. If at least 35,000 people sign the petition by early July, a measure will be on the 2020 ballot. Paige Browning reports. (KUOW)

Regulatory mess of 'Fecal Mountain' one step closer to being resolved
For more than two years, fences have been up around Eagle Mountain Middle School in Anmore, B.C., warning about fecal matter leaking from a nearby septic system up the hill. The kids even have a nickname for it.  "It's been called worse than Fecal Mountain, unfortunately," said Robert Boies, a homeowner in Anmore Green Estates, whose septic system leaks water contaminated with E. coli and fecal coliform...On Tuesday night — 26 months after the provincial government ordered a fix — Anmore council approved a local area service bylaw, allowing the strata to pay to link up to Metro Vancouver's sewage system, while the rest of the predominately rural municipality remains on septic. Justin McElroy reports. (CBC)


Now, your tug weather-- West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  846 PM PST Wed Feb 5 2020
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT   
THU  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10 ft at  13 seconds. Rain. 
THU NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming SW to 10 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 13 seconds. A  chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after  midnight.



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

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2/5 Pacific yew, TMX ruling, Hamilton flooding, WA Clear Air Rule. protect WA water rights

Pacific yew [Jason Hollinger]

Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia
The Pacific Yew (Pacific Yew) is found from British Columbia to Northern California from the coast to the Cascades, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas and the western slope of the Rockies in B.C., Idaho and Montana.  Rarely ever numerous, it is usually found as an understory tree in moist old growth forests growing beneath other larger trees such as Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir. Brevifolia means short leaves. (Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest)

With its legal hurdles all but cleared, TMX’s challenges move to different court — the street  
With the last legal challenge to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project all but eliminated, experts say opposition to the pipeline now will move from the courts to the streets. “We always said we’d do what it takes to stop this pipeline,” said Rueben George, manager of the TWN Sacred Trust and a member of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, one of three First Nations that filed the legal challenge. Geoffrey Morgan reports. (Canadian Press) See also: First Nations respond to Trans Mountain appeal decision  Chantelle Bellrichard reports. (CBC)

Hamilton might be the most flooded town in Washington. Why won't anyone move? 
A Seattle nonprofit invested in a $1 million effort to provide the 300 residents of Hamilton with a route to higher ground. But some residents insist, ‘We're not relocating.’ Levi Pulkkinen reports. (Crosscut)

Bill seeks to fully reinstate Clean Air Rule
A House bill seeks to fully reinstate Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to cap carbon pollution in the state by giving additional authority to the state Department of Ecology on who they can regulate. The proposal is a response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling that said the state’s Clean Air Rule cannot apply to companies that sell or distribute petroleum or natural gas because they don’t make their own emissions. In a 5-4 ruling last month, the state’s high court said that the Department of Ecology only has the authority to regulate “actual emitters.” Rachel LaCorte reports. (Associated Press)

Lawmakers want to protect water rights in Washington from Wall Street speculation
Worries that moneyed interests could control Washington’s water have sparked a push in Olympia to cut Wall Street bankers and international investors out of the state’s convoluted water rights system. Competing bills introduced during this legislative session take aim at the state’s water banks, which collect untapped water rights and sell water to users in need. Although the proposed legislation has received only tepid support, a consensus is emerging that action is needed to keep speculators from using water banking, as one state senator puts it, to “strangle” Washingtonians. Water banks collect water rights from rural landowners who have permission to take more water than they need. The banks then sell access to water to customers whose water rights are either too new or too small to meet their needs. Levi Pulkkinen reports. (Investigate West)


Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  843 PM PST Tue Feb 4 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT   
WED  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 13 ft at  15 seconds. Rain in the morning then rain likely in the  afternoon. 
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  12 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then rain  after midnight.




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

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