Salish Sea News and Weather

Monday, July 10, 2023

7/10 White clover, "rights of nature," geoduck farm, eat green crabs, hazardous vessel

White clover

White clover Trifolium repens
A low, creeping plant with distinctive, compound leaves that have 3 same-sized, egg-shaped leaflets. Leaves often display faint, symmetrical white markings. White flowerheads rise above the foliage on leafless stems. Prefers cool, moist soils. (Preen)

Using “rights of nature” to correct environmental wrongs
Will the rights of nature movement, called the “fastest-growing legal movement of the twenty-first century” by U.N. Secretary-General António Guteres, find a foothold here? Clifford Heberden reports. (Salish Current)

Proposed geoduck farm draws opposition from some residents
A group of Johnson Point residents are opposing plans for a new commercial shellfish farm on Henderson Inlet, citing environmental concerns. Taylor Shellfish requested a permit for the proposed aquaculture project in June 2022. The plans involve cultivating geoduck on 3.6 acres within an 8.85-acre tideland west of Johnson Point Loop Northeast, according to county documents. Martín Bilbao reports. (Olympian)

Invasive crabs are hitting B.C. waters. Can we eat our way out of the problem?
European green crabs have posed a problem off the coast of Vancouver Island for decades now, and while current conservation efforts have focused on deep freezing them and throwing them in a landfill, some suggest eating them instead. Srushti Gangdev reports. (CBC)

BC fine for hazardous vessel a first for Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard has issued its first-ever fine to the owner of a hazardous vessel. On June 27, Ryan Brackenbury was issued an administrative monetary penalty of $15,000 after failing to comply with Coast Guard directions to remove Akoo, a 27-foot white-hulled cabin cruiser currently aground in Cadboro Bay, from the marine environment. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist)

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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- 308 AM PDT Mon Jul 10 2023 TODAY SW wind to 10 kt becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of rain after midnight.

--
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Friday, July 7, 2023

7/7 Creambush, BC heat, cost of heat, scary heat, tracking birds, predator-prey, low oxygen water, escort tugs

Creambush [Connie Gallant]

Creambush Holodiscus discolor
Creambush is known for its cascading bunches of fragrant white flowers. A hardy generalist, this species serves as a lovely ornamental for gardens, doing well even in poor soil or shaded areas. And creambush isn't just nice to look at - it has practical uses as well. The species is sometimes called "Ironwood" because its sturdy, straight wood was historically used to make arrow shafts, wooden nails, tools, and more. (Courtesy Connie Gallant)

Campfire bans now cover most of B.C. as heat records fall across the province
More fire bans are coming into place as daily heat records are broken across B.C. and scientist continue to warn about the dangers of human-caused climate change. (CBC)

What is the cost of extreme heat? $1B, according to a new report
High temperatures could lead to half a million hospital admissions for heat-related conditions in 2023. Zoya Teirstein reports. (Crosscut/Grist)

Why a sudden surge of broken heat records is scaring scientists
A remarkable spate of historic heat is hitting the planet, raising alarm over looming extreme weather dangers — and an increasing likelihood that this year will be Earth’s warmest on record...And then, on Monday, came Earth’s hottest day in at least 125,000 years. Tuesday was hotter. Scott Dance reports. (Washington Post)

North Puget Sound groups come together to track bird migration
A collection of local groups led by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians is working on a novel solution to track bird migration. Instead of banding birds and recording them, the groups are installing radio towers around North Puget Sound to record already-banded birds flying by. Their work is part of an international effort called the Motus project, which connects automated radio telemetry to share bird tracking data. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Prey and predators create varying life-or-death conditions for salmon, as shown with Atlantis model
A computer model, called Atlantis, has been applied to more than 40 ecosystems around the world. In Puget Sound, Atlantis has been used to study the food web to determine whether salmon are more threatened by predators or by the lack of a stable food supply. It turns out that one way to help salmon would be to find ways to increase the local herring populations, according to researchers at Long Live the Kings who are leading the project. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

It’s Getting Harder for Fish in the Sea to Breathe
Off the coast of southeastern China, one particular fish species is booming: the oddly named Bombay duck, a long, slim fish with a distinctive, gaping jaw and a texture like jelly...“It’s monstrous,” says University of British Columbia fisheries researcher Daniel Pauly of the explosion in numbers. The reason for this mass invasion, says Pauly, is extremely low oxygen levels in these polluted waters. Fish species that can’t cope with less oxygen have fled, while the Bombay duck, part of a small subset of species that is physiologically better able to deal with less oxygen, has moved in. Nicola Jones reports. (The Tyee)

KOTUG Canada partners with Robert Allan and Sanmar to build two high bollard pull methanol fuelled escort tugs
KOTUG Canada (“KOTUG”) has selected Türkiye’s Sanmar Shipyards to build two RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs – Robert Allan Ltd. design – to service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), according to Sanmar's release. These tugs will escort tankers from the harbour limits of the Port of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes of the Salish Sea. To provide this service, KOTUG Canada has partnered with Sc’ianew First Nation from Beecher Bay, which is strategically located along the shipping route. (Port News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review July 7 2023: Satchel Paige, orca babies, forever chemicals, cruise ship rules, climate change costs, TM oil, Fraser salmon, predator-prey, campfire bans.

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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- 238 AM PDT Fri Jul 7 2023 TODAY W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 6 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 6 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening.
SAT NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds. SAT NIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 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 4 ft at 11 seconds.

Thursday, July 6, 2023

7/6 Lamb's quarters, air quality, El Nino, WA drought, Early Stuart sockeye, craft beer salmon, wolverines, gray whale plastics

Lamb's Quarters

Lamb's Quarters Chenopodium berlandieri
The species is widespread in North America, where it is found in every U.S. state except Hawaii. The fast-growing, upright plant can reach heights of more than 3 m. Although widely regarded as a weed, this species was once one of several plants cultivated by Native Americans in prehistoric North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex. (Wikipedia)

Western Washington air quality takes a dive
Western Washington air quality throughout the region took a dive into unhealthy territory July 5. You can blame the poor air quality on smoke from all of last night's fireworks shows and smoke coming in from local and Canadian wildfires. The National Weather Service in Seattle expects winds from the coast will move through the region starting on Thursday and into Friday, which could blow some of the smoke away and improve conditions. Dyer Oxley reports. (KUOW)

El Nino has started. What does that mean for B.C.?
The World Meteorological Organization expects the event to be of moderate strength, and says it will ‘greatly increase’ the likelihood of breaking temperature records around the world. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Statewide drought advisory issued for Washington
The warmest May on record coupled with an abnormally dry spring and early summer have resulted in quickly declining water supplies and have prompted the Department of Ecology to issue a statewide drought advisory. A drought advisory provides early warning of a possible drought. (WA Dept of Ecology)

This push to bring back salmon is about more than just fish
There is only one bridge in Takla Landing, and on this June day about three dozen people are gathered there around a blue plastic tub swimming with hundreds of baby salmon. They are preparing to transfer the fish into a nearby creek, hoping against all odds the fry will thrive and reboot the millennia-old migration of Early Stuart sockeye, once millions of fish strong, along the Fraser River from its headwaters to the sea and back again. It’s a last-ditch effort — the staple for the community has been nearly wiped out by habitat loss, climate change and a freak landslide in 2018. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson reports. (National Observer)

How Far Will Salmon Swim for a Craft Beer?
In Oregon, researchers hope a surprising aroma will lure stray salmon back to their home hatcheries. Ben Goldfarb reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Long-awaited decision looms for protection of wolverines
After a lengthy legal battle and years of conservation work, wolverines, including those in the North Cascades, may receive federal protection. Conservationists are now waiting for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision, which will come by the end of November. Emma Fletcher-Fraser reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Study shows Oregon Coast gray whales consume millions of harmful bits of plastic, clothing
Researchers from the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute analyzing the poop and prey of gray whales off the Oregon Coast estimate the mammals could be consuming millions of small bits of plastic, clothing fibers and other human debris each day that harm their health – and could hurt humans. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

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- 245 AM PDT Thu Jul 6 2023
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 7 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 7 seconds.

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

7/5 Thistle, Canada's climate change toll, TM pipe, Tokitae activist, ferrry woes, Lincoln Theatre, shoreline armor, beach eggs, Bill Nye

Bull Thistle

Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Bull thistle is a biennial herbaceous plant growing between 3 to 7 feet tall with one upright branched stem. It grows a rosette (cluster of radiating leaves at plant base) in its first year and blooms in its second year. Bull thistle may outcompete native plants and desirable wildlife and livestock forage plants. It can invade most any disturbed habitat and grow in dense thickets. Hay price may decline with the presence of bull thistle. (WA Noxious Weed Control Board)

Canada offers lesson in the economic toll of climate change
Canada’s wildfires have burned 20 million acres, blanketed Canadian and U.S. cities with smoke and raised health concerns on both sides of the border, with no end in sight. The toll on the Canadian economy is only beginning to sink in...“It’s come on faster than we thought, even informed people,” said Dave Sawyer, principal economist at the Canadian Climate Institute. “You couldn’t model this out if you tried. We’ve always been concerned about this escalation of damages, but seeing it happen is so stark.” Lydia DePillis reports. (NY Times)

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion likely to send more Canadian oil to US, not Asia
The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) was meant to unlock Asian markets for Canadian oil, but analysts and traders said those barrels now will probably land on the U.S. West Coast as Asia gobbles up Russian oil that is cheaper due to sanctions from Western countries after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Mia Williams reports. (Reuters)

Activist facing lawsuit over social media videos showcasing Tokitae
An animal activist is facing a lawsuit after drone videos were posted along with descriptions of concerns about the condition of Tokitae, an orca originally captured in the Pacific Northwest before living more than 50 years in captivity. "They don’t like me," said Phil Demers, noting that he has been part of protests for roughly a year. According to a lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County, the Miami Seaquarium alleges that Demers has used misinformation and intimidation tactics to interfere with zoos in an attempt to rescue animals from unsafe conditions. The lawsuit claims that Demers has used drones to record unauthorized images, and that he’s knowingly published false information. (Fox13)

Record-breaking ferry ridership leaves hundreds stranded amidst high winds in Puget Sound
Washington State Ferries (WSF) told KOMO News that ridership on Saturday topped 88,000, making it the highest single day since the summer of 2019. More than 82,000 people took a state ferry on Sunday. (KOMO) See: B.C. Ferries says delayed repairs on one of its largest vessels caused long weekend cancellations Coastal Celebration out of service for maintenance; Salt Spring ferry cancelled due to staffing shortfall. (CBC)

Showtime in Mount Vernon: Lincoln Theatre is a star in downtown renewal
A symbol for local revival, the century-old Lincoln Theatre has helped stimulate business and bring back visitors to riverfront downtown Mount Vernon. Kai Uyehara reports. (Salish Current)

A Line in the Sand
Years of unregulated shoreline armor construction on the San Juan Islands has damaged crucial ecosystems and put human properties in danger. There are plans to remove these structures for the safety of habitats and island residents. Zoe Hawley reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Beach Eggs—Part 2
Wendy Feltham shares her photos and writes: "This second in a four-part series on beach eggs will look at some unusual marine snail eggs, starting with the Frilled Dogwinkle (Nucella lamellosa). These honeycomb-like yellow eggs were the first marine eggs that caught my attention...." (Rainshadow Journal)

ICYMI Change lives, expand minds, boost careers — with science — say teachers and the Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy and local educators and students agree: studying science can be life-changing and career-enhancing. Matt Benoit 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- 241 AM PDT Wed Jul 5 2023 TODAY N wind to 10 kt becoming NW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft at 8 seconds.

Monday, July 3, 2023

7/3 Fireweed, two orca calves, emergency rule, Bill Nye, E coli closure, forever chemicals, Kate Moran, cruise ship rules

Fireweed [Gardenia]

Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium
Pink spires of flowers bloom at tops of tall, erect, leafy stems with narrow willow-like leaves. Often grows in spectacular dense patches, and though attractive, it is aggressive in a moist garden, spreading from persistent underground stems. The seeds are dispersed far and wide by long, white, silky hairs. Bees value it as a source of nectar, and the very young shoots and leaves can be eaten as cooked greens. Recent work at the genetic level has shown that Chamerion, recognized by its alternate leaves, is distinct from Epilobium (with leaves opposite, at least near base), the genus in which Fireweed was formerly placed. (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

New orca babies grow endangered southern resident population
There’s not just one, but two new babies in the L pod of the endangered southern resident orcas...The babies, L126 and L127, are the offspring of moms L119 and L94, according to the center. They are the first calves born in the L pod since L125 was born in 2021, and the first in the L12 subgroup since 2018. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Fish and Wildlife issues emergency rule for vulnerable orcas
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued an emergency rule that requires commercial whale watching vessels to stay farther away from 11 vulnerable Southern Resident orca whales. According to a Thursday news release from Fish and Wildlife, researchers have identified 10 Southern Resident orcas to be in “poor body condition” and one in a late stage pregnancy. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Change lives, expand minds, boost careers — with science — say teachers and the Science Guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy and local educators and students agree: studying science can be life-changing and career-enhancing. Matt Benoit reports. (Salish Current)

Water quality advisory issued at Kitsilano Point Beach
Vancouver Coastal Health issued an advisory on Canada Day, noting multiple E. coli counts of 591 per 100 millilitres, well above the advised limit of 400 per 100 mL. Joseph Ruttle reports. (Vancouver Sun)

‘Forever chemicals’ in drinking water found at Whidbey ‘slice of heaven’
For as long as she can remember, Tamara Ross’ family hasn’t liked the taste of drinking water at Harrington Lagoon. So they’ve always brought bottled water to their vacation homes in the idyllic community east of Coupeville on Whidbey Island. But about a year and a half ago, the water company alerted her and her neighbors to the presence of so-called “forever chemicals” in the drinking water. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Everett Herald)

Victoria residents among those named to Order of Canada
Ocean Networks Canada president Kate Moran of Victoria is among 85 people named Friday to the country’s highest civilian honour. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist/The Canadian Press)

Canada's new cruise ship rules don't plug loopholes for major source of wastewater pollution
The federal government says some new cruise ship pollution measures are now mandatory, but environmental groups say the move still doesn’t plug gaps that permit the ongoing contamination of some of Canada’s most sensitive coastlines. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

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- 208 AM PDT Mon Jul 3 2023
TODAY Light wind becoming NE to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. NW swell 6 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. NW swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.

Friday, June 30, 2023

6/30 Golden Delicious, moving Tokitae, survival threats, Tacoma beach pollution, women fishers, night anchoring, bat colony, week in review

Golden Delicious [Gardenia]

Golden Delicious Malus domestica
Golden Delicious is a cultivar of apple. It is one of the 15 most popular apple cultivars in the United States. It is not closely related to Red Delicious. Golden Delicious arose from a chance seedling on the family farm of J. M. Mullins in Clay County, West Virginia, who sold the tree and propagation rights to Stark Brothers Nurseries for $5000, which first marketed it as a companion of their Red Delicious in 1914. According to the US Apple Association website, as of 2008, Golden Delicious, along with its descendent cultivars Gala, Ginger Gold, Honeycrisp, and Jonagold, were among the fifteen most popular apple cultivars in the United States. (Wikipedia)

Members of Congress urge relocation of last captive orca taken from Puget Sound
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. and Reps. Jared Huffman, D-Calif. and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asking the federal agencies Thursday to relocate captive orca Tokitae, also known as Lolita or Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut, because of the dangers posed by the Atlantic hurricane season. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Endangered orcas in B.C. facing host of new threats to survival
Researchers are renewing their calls for Ottawa to take action to preserve the specie's main food source — Chinook salmon. Sarah Grochowski reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Health advisory issued for Tacoma beach after high levels of bacteria found in water
A health advisory has been issued for the waters off Jack Hyde Park in Tacoma after high bacteria levels were recorded there. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued the warning Thursday. The advisory is in effect until further notice. (Tacoma News Tribune)

More women are casting their net into the salmon fishing industry
They used to be considered bad luck onboard, but an increasing number of female crew members are stepping onto boats headed to Alaska. Francesca Lyman reports. (Crosscut)

Vancouver port launches pilot to reduce commercial ships anchoring in Gulf Islands at night
Starting Saturday, commercial ship operators anchoring around the Southern Gulf Islands will be asked to avoid nighttime arrivals or departures, according to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. However, a group that represents the residents doubts this voluntary procedure will stop the ship operators from dropping their noisy anchors during the night. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Puget Sound's biggest bat colony could be big loser of dam-removal project
The Yuma myotis and the little brown bat colonies at Woodard Bay fly 8 miles to Olympia's Capitol Lake reservoir to feed. The Washington Department of Enterprise Services plans to remove a 70-year-old dam and turn silt- and weed-choked Capitol Lake back into a saltwater mudflat. Restoring the estuary would eliminate the bats’ midge buffet. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Salish Sea News and Weather Week in Review June 30, 2023: Asteroid Day, Lpod baby, heat wave lawsuit, sewer fee burden, wildfire season, orca lesions, land protection tax, moving Tokitae.

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- 248 AM PDT Fri Jun 30 2023
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds.
SAT W wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after midnight. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds.
SUN W wind to 10 kt becoming NW 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.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

6/29 Yellow flag, orca lesions, land protection tax, eco corridors, fish pen removal, glaciers

Yellow flag [Donald Hobern/Creative Commons]

Yellow flag Iris pseudacorus
Yellow iris is widespread in the northeastern United States, where it has been found in the wild for close to 140 years. Although recorded from over 40 states, yellow iris is not equally distributed or problematic throughout. It is relatively new to the western United States, where notable early records from California and western Montana date to the 1950s. Iris pseudacorus is reported as invasive in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. (US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Scientists find worrisome lesions on endangered southern resident orcas
The peer-reviewed research published in the Public Library of Science on Wednesday suggests 99% of the orcas studied had photographic evidence of skin lesions. Researchers evaluated photos from nearly 20,000 orca sightings from 2004 to 2016, finding that lesions — often gray patches and gray targets on the orcas’ skin — generally became more prevalent over time. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Snoqualmie implements a first of its kind land protection tax
The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe hopes to preserve the Snoqualmie Falls and other ancestral sites for future generations through a new 2 percent land protection tax. Leaders say it’s a model for other tribes working to reclaim their ancestral lands. Nika Bartoo-Smith reports. (Indian Country Today)

Long-term ecological corridors envisioned for Island
An initiative by Parks Canada and an Indigenous-led partnership will see local knowledge used to conserve ecological corridors on the coast from Victoria to Tofino. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Hope Island fish pens removed
After years of conflict, the aquaculture fish pens near Hope Island in Skagit Bay have been removed. Cooke Aquaculture, which leased the area from the state Department of Natural Resources, finished removing the pens at the end of May, the department confirmed. In November, Natural Resources banned all commercial finfish net pen aquaculture on state-owned aquatic lands managed by the department. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Finding Glaciers in the West
David B. Williams, “an evangelist for the practice of paying attention,” writes: "For many years, the Cascades didn’t have glaciers, or so said the geologists. They weren’t referring to a time long ago when the mountains were bare of ice; the men of science simply didn’t think that glaciers were here. Nor did they think there were any glaciers in the United States, outside of Alaska, at least until 1871, when geologist Clarence King declared their discovery in the mountains of the Pacific Coast..." (Street Smart Naturalist)

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- 242 AM PDT Thu Jun 29 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 3 ft at 10 seconds.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy drizzle.