Salish Sea News Week in Review January 21 2022

Aloha Squirrel Friday!
Squirrels are one of the most common animals that people see on a regular basis. These little creatures with a fluffy tail are practically everywhere–in cities, parks, college campuses and forests. They might live in trees or dig a hole in the ground to serve as a home. Some people might even say that squirrels are nuts for nuts, and can last through the harshest of winters without much trouble at all. Squirrels are part of the Sciuridae family, which makes them cousins to a variety of rodents such as chipmunks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and other rodents. The earliest fossils of squirrels date back to the Eocene epoch which was perhaps more than 30 million years ago. National Squirrel Appreciation Day was founded by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove, who is affiliated with the North Carolina Nature Center.

The Nooksack River is in “grave danger,” warns Whatcom scientist with numbers to back it up
The Nooksack River is in “grave danger” of experiencing irreversible changes and ecosystem collapse if Whatcom County doesn’t rapidly reform the way it manages nearby human activity.

Vancouver Park Board chair proposes co-management of parks with First Nations
A motion calling for the co-management of parks that fall within the traditional territories of Vancouver's First Nations communities will be debated at a park board meeting later this month.

At deadly Glacier Peak, one last hurdle for new seismometers
Snohomish County’s Glacier Peak, classified as one of America’s deadliest volcanoes, is a step closer to getting adequate seismometers to detect future eruptions.

The inescapable power of water on a landslide-prone street
A little over a week ago, a landslide in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood pushed a home off its foundations. Perkins Lane is a tiny little street that runs along the side of Magnolia Hill.

"No shortage of questions to be answered" for region's shrinking orca population
While scientists, wildlife managers and others continue to untangle the complex web of fish, boat and water quality issues that affect the health of Southern Resident orca whales, the population remains endangered — and continues to shrink.

Bill to ramp up recycling a top priority for green coalition in 2022 Washington state legislative session
... Senate Bill 5665, called the "Lorraine Loomis Act" seeks to help restore salmon runs by improving tree shade that can improve cooling around streams where the fish spawn and may rear and would also establish a conservation grant program for stream-side zones.

Fish processor says it's closing Surrey plant after federal decision to phase out salmon farms
One of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in British Columbia says it's permanently closing its processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal government decision to phase out some fish farms.

Mining company drops rights to Upper Skagit watershed in key preservation step
The British Columbia government has announced the surrender of mining rights at the headwaters of the Skagit River, following yearslong controversy over protection of one of the region’s premier salmon rivers.

Deal reached between B.C. First Nations and forestry company to defer old-growth logging
Logging will be temporarily deferred in approximately 2,500 hectares of old-growth forest following an agreement between four Vancouver Island First Nations and a forestry company.

An orphaned orca brought a community together — and still inspires 20 years after her rescue
Twenty years ago this month, a baby orca was discovered near Seattle. She was lost and alone, unhealthy and lingering dangerously close to the Vashon Island ferry dock. Six months later, a community effort successfully returned her to her family off Vancouver Island, Canada.

Washington Gov. Inslee declares European green crab emergency
Washington Governor Jay Inslee has authorized emergency actions to combat an infestation of European green crabs.

Thousands of pigs that drowned on B.C. farm no threat to environment
The pigs were among approximately 600,000 animals that died on Sumas Prairie in late November.

'The whole landscape has changed:' Parks, trails and rec sites destroyed by B.C. storms
Access to some parts of the B.C. backcountry will likely be "restricted" this summer as assessments are still underway.

These news clips are a selection of weekday clips collected in Salish Sea News and Weather which is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe at no cost to the weekday news clips, send your name and email to mikesato772 at gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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