Salish Sea Communications: December 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/31/21

Aloha New Year 2022!
Salish Sea News and Weather says 'aloha' to 2021 and 'aloha' to 2022, wishing you good health and safe passage in the new year. Mike Sato.

Alaska experiences record-high temperature for December, freezing rain
Kodiak soared to 67 degrees on Sunday, while other towns are experiencing anomalous rain. Matthew Cappucci and Emily Schwing reports. (Washington Post)

For the Northwest, climate change was hard to ignore in 2021
2021 brought some of the most extreme weather events ever seen in the Pacific Northwest — or anywhere. From heat domes to record-breaking rainfall, climate change was hard to ignore in Washington. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

How 2021′s floods and heat waves are signs of what’s to come
In 2021, extremely rare weather disasters became alarmingly common. Lauren Sommer reports. (NPR)

What were the costliest extreme weather events in 2021?
The full cost of flooding in B.C. is still being assessed, but according to one estimate, November flooding places B.C. as the world's fifth most expensive extreme weather event in 2021. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

‘The salmon will come back again’: First Nations document devastating low returns on B.C.’s central coast
Fifty years ago, an average of 47,000 salmon returned annually to the Neekas River north of Bella Bella. In 2021, the 750 salmon returning to the once-teeming waterway act as a fresh warning to local First Nations that urgent action is needed — at both the provincial and federal level — to prevent total population collapse. Stephanie Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

A shellfish company gets into the weeds
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community shows how eelgrass and aquaculture can coexist in Puget Sound. Sarah Sax reports. (High County News)

Rising Seas and Shifting Sands: Combining Natural and Grey Infrastructure to Protect Canada’s Coastal Communities
A report on how Canada can scale-up the use of nature-based solutions, in tandem
with grey infrastructure, to protect communities along the East and West coastlines. (University of Waterloo, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation)

Conservation groups see mounting success in B.C. with private land acquisitions
Donations from $5 to $500,000 offer 'direct' results toward protecting biodiversity. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Salmon habitat to increase after conservation group buys land near South Prairie Creek A piece of property near South Prairie Creek in Buckley will soon become a part of a floodplain restoration project, which benefit salmon and improve habitat. Forterra, a local nonprofit land conservation agency, announced Dec. 23 that it acquired 33 acres of privately owned property adjacent to an existing 134-acre South Prairie Creek Preserve. Angelica Relente reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

What we learned this year about human waste and Puget Sound
The waste that 4.5 million Seattle-area people flush affects shellfish, wastewater regulations and more. Hannah Weinberger reports. (Crosscut)

Sewage spills contaminates Percival Creek, Capitol Lake
About 735 gallons of sewage streamed into the Tumwater stormwater system and then into Percival Creek on Monday. The county attributed the spill to a blockage in a sanitary sewer line on Somerset Hill Drive Southwest. Martin Bilbao reports. (The Olympian)

Snow geese and winter waterfowl flock to Skagit fields and skies
One of the Northwest’s great natural treasures is the abundant flocks of winter waterfowl that come here in the colder months — and they are easy to spot on open fields. Hit the road for Skagit County, and odds are good that you’ll find some. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

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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Thursday, December 23, 2021

Salish Sea News Week in Review December 23 2021

Aloha Yule log Friday!
A Yule log or bûche de Noël is a traditional Christmas cake, often served as a dessert near Christmas, especially in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and several former French colonies such as Canada, Vietnam, and Lebanon. Variants are also served in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, and Spain. Wikipedia

Adapting to Climate Change Will Only Get More Expensive
A new estimate puts the cost of adapting and repairing coastal infrastructure damaged by climate change in the United States at hundreds of billions annually.

Lots of derelict vessels in Kitsap, few funds to deal with them
At least 18 derelict boats are sitting on the Kitsap shoreline of Puget Sound, according to a recent count by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.

Wet'suwet'en protesters block Coastal GasLink site again, 1 month after RCMP crackdown
One month after the high-profile arrests of dozens people on Wet'suwet'en territory, a group identifying themselves as land defenders returned Sunday to reoccupy a protest camp, blocking access to a Coastal GasLink pipeline drill site in northern British Columbia.

In 2021, climate ambitions soared and crashed in US and around the world
After four years of near-silence about climate change in the White House, 2021 brought an abrupt shift.

Navy releases jet noise monitoring study
The Navy’s noise monitoring report that is dated Nov. 30 concludes that the modeling it used to predict the impact of aircraft noise, such as for the EIS for NAS Whidbey Island, is accurate. In fact, according to the report, monitoring data shows jet operations often create less of an impact than modeling suggested.

A ghost river showed its face during the recent Nooksack floods
The Nooksack River starts in small streams around the base of Mount Baker, and empties into Bellingham Bay on Puget Sound. But a few hundred years ago, it used to flow north into Canada.

Timber company returns 2 miles of waterfront property to Squaxin Island Tribe
Port Blakely Companies, a family-owned company with timber operations in the U.S. and New Zealand, has returned 2 miles of waterfront and 125 acres of tidelands on Little Skookum Inlet in Mason County to the Squaxin Island Tribe, at no cost.

Nonprofit donated more than 200 acres on Nisqually River for threatened woodpecker
A Washington-native threatened woodpecker will be getting a new preserve along the Nisqually River, after 265 acres were donated to an environmental nonprofit.

Whatcom farmers face manure management challenges after flooding
Flooding in Whatcom and Skagit counties in November put major stress on local dairies, including lost animals and lost revenues for some. Now there’s another hurdle: With storage lagoons overtopping, where can they store all that manure?

Friday, December 17, 2021

Salish Sea News Week in Review December 17, 2021

Aloha Simpson Family Friday!
On this day in 1989, the first episode of The Simpsons aired. The popular American animated series directed by Matt Groening is set in the fictional town of Springfield and it follows the life of the Simpson family. (The rest is history.)

Archaeologists Have Unearthed Exciting Secrets on Haida Gwaii
Archaeological excavations have revealed the oldest domestic dog remains ever reported in the Americas, roughly 11,000-year-old stone tools, and the tantalizing signs of far more to come.

What killed millions of honey bees at this Everett farm?
In the summer, a beekeeper lost 240 hives on Ebey Island. An investigation found they died from pesticides, but whose?

Road to Recovery: How a Victoria company became the first carbon neutral whale watching business in Canada
Eagle Wing Tours prides itself on being the first — and still the only — carbon-neutral whale watching company in Canada.

Jay Inslee, Washington lawmakers propose electric vehicle rebates and other climate initiatives ahead of legislative session
Gov. Jay Inslee Monday rolled out his latest plans to fight climate change, including an idea to spend $100 million annually to fund rebates for people buying electric vehicles.

Seagrass wasting disease is fueled by climate change
Seagrass is suffering from a wasting disease across the Pacific Northwest, and climate change is driving the destructive outbreak, according to a new study from Cornell University.

Washington state’s next ferry officially has a name
The next Washington state ferry will bear the name Wishkah when it sails in 2024.

Natural gas furnaces, water heaters in crosshairs of some Northwest policymakers
Fossil fuel use in buildings looks to be the next frontier for climate activists at the state and local level. There's a convergence of activity in the Pacific Northwest aimed at phasing out natural gas furnaces and water heaters.

Cascadia’s Chance for a Zero-Carbon Future: What We Learned
Lessons from a year of reporting on climate solutions for the bioregion spanning BC, Washington and Oregon.

Gov. Inslee unveils new $187 million plan for Washington salmon recovery
Gov. Jay Inslee wants to invest $187 million in salmon recovery as part of his 2022 budget and policy proposals.

Federal magistrate finds flaws in Navy environmental study of Growler jet impacts
A U.S. federal magistrate has found that the Navy in an environmental impact statement “turned a blind” eye to data that did not support the goal of increasing Growler jet operations from an air station at Whidbey Island.

21-day TMX shutdown a warning of how vulnerable the fuel supply is to climate change disasters
After the longest shutdown in its 70-year history, the Trans Mountain pipeline restarted Sunday, but won't be at full capacity or pressure until January, according to engineers.

Swinomish Tribe wants to resurrect U.S. clam gardening
With climate change threatening culturally important foods, a Puget Sound tribe pushes to build the country's first clam garden of the modern era.

Federal government announces closure of most Pacific herring fisheries
Most commercial fisheries for Pacific herring on the West Coast have been closed with the exception of harvests by First Nations for food and ceremonial purposes.

Washington launches program to cut underwater noise in Puget Sound
Quiet Sound plans to work with the Northwest shipping industry to make it easier for marine creatures to navigate, find food and communicate.

Friday, December 10, 2021

Salish Sea News Week in Review December 10 2021

Aloha Human Rights Friday!
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10, 1948, and Human Rights Day commemorates this event and takes place on its anniversary. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays out a foundation for a more just world, and details a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone is entitled to, "without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." It "sets out universal values and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations" and "establishes the equal dignity and worth of every person."

Trans Mountain pipeline to restart Monday after shutdown during B.C. floods
The Trans Mountain pipeline is set to restart Monday after record-setting rainfall, devastating flooding and landslides last month prompted a three-week precautionary shutdown that led to fuel rationing in parts of B.C.

Voter redistricting maps by commission can go forth, WA Supreme Court says
In a surprise order Friday morning, the Washington Supreme Court declined to take on the job of drafting new congressional and legislative maps.

Fish passage, dam removal studied as Seattle City Light aims to relicense three Skagit River dams
As Seattle City Light moves to extend its use of the dams for another 30 to 50 years, at stake is the cost and supply of cheap, carbon-neutral power from the dams...Now tribes and other river users are pushing City Light to do more for salmon in this round of relicensing.

It could take weeks to unload damaged containers from Zim Kingston cargo ship
Removing 60 containers damaged by fire and rough weather aboard the cargo ship Zim Kingston could take up to 12 days and involve multiple salvage contractors, and safety and regulatory agencies, says the Port of Nanaimo.

Coastal GasLink failed to fix nearly 2 dozen environmental violations along pipeline route, B.C. officials say
Officials have flagged numerous, ongoing environmental violations by Coastal GasLink that could harm sensitive waterways along the pipeline's route through northern B.C.

Tacoma adopts Climate Action Plan to eliminate carbon emissions and save $4 billion by 2050
On Nov. 30, Tacoma City Council made the decision to approve a 2030 Climate Action Plan they say will keep the city on the course to achieving zero emissions by 2050.

Retreating glaciers could create new salmon habitat, B.C. study shows
The retreat of glaciers in the Pacific mountains of British Columbia and Alaska could produce thousands of kilometres of potential new salmon habitat, a study led by researchers at Simon Fraser University shows.

Northwest Environmental Advocates Sues EPA Over Water Quality Impairment
On Tuesday, plaintiff Northwest Environmental Advocates filed a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency claiming that they have impaired the water quality in Puget Sound in Washington state.

A 2022 Agenda for Cascadia’s Climate Dreams
There are many decarbonization goals the bioregion can act on right now. Here are 25.

B.C. floods caused at least $450M in damage, insurance bureau says
The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates the insured damage caused by flooding in British Columbia last month at $450 million, calling it the "most costly severe weather event in the province's history."

Shoreline becomes latest city to ban natural gas in new buildings
The Shoreline City Council unanimously approved a new energy code on Monday that prohibits most uses of fossil fuels in new commercial buildings and larger residential buildings.

Friday, December 3, 2021

Salish Sea News Week in Review December 3, 2021

Aloha National Green Bean Casserole Day!
Green Bean Casserole, a favorite comfort food usually eaten at Thanksgiving, has two main ingredients: green beans and cream of mushroom soup, and it is usually topped with French fried onions. The recipe was created by Dorcas "Dottie" Reilly, in 1955, while she was working for the Campbell's Soup Company, in their home economics department. When creating the dish, the goal was to come up with something that could be made with ingredients that could be found in most people's houses. Campbell's began putting the recipe on the outside of their cream of mushroom soup cans in about 1960. In 2002 Dottie Reilly presented her original recipe card to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. National Green Bean Casserole Day was created by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway.

Flood damage could cost farmers hundreds of millions of dollars, B.C. Agriculture Council says
It could take as long as a year for some farms to begin operating again, council president says.

Arlington formally recognizes homeland of Stillaguamish people
A newly adopted acknowledgement is intended to show respect to native ancestors and their descendants.

Lummi Nation declares disaster as tens of thousands of invasive European green crab found
The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution declaring a disaster after more than 70,000 European green crab — an invasive species — were captured and removed from the Lummi Sea Pond in recent months.

Washington state seeks tighter wastewater rules for Puget Sound, but sewage plant operators push back
...The state’s Ecology Department will decide as soon as the end of the month whether to issue a new general permit for all 58 sewage plants around the Sound.

First Nation declares land in Knight Inlet an Indigenous protected area
A Campbell River-area First Nation made a bold proclamation Monday that it wants a seat at the table when it comes to stewardship of a massive area of its traditional territory that it said was taken “by a stroke of a pen” nearly a century ago.

Northern Washington tribes fear ‘devastation’ of salmon by extreme floodwaters
Too much water can be dangerous, even for fish. As officials tally losses from flood damage, tribes say impacts on fish runs won’t be known for years The Nooksack River registered some of its highest flood levels ever in the recent flooding that authorities now say caused as much as $50 million in damages.

Ship It Zero campaign pushing carriers, retailers to speed up transition to cleaner fuels
A new campaign called Ship It Zero is pushing retailers and shippers to do what it takes to achieve zero-emissions shipping by 2030.

B.C. identifies 1st case of omicron variant
Infected individual recently travelled to Nigeria and is currently isolating.

Jordan Cove developers abandon plans for pipeline, Coos Bay LNG terminal
The developers that had hoped to build the Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove Energy Project have told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission they do not intend to move forward with the project.

Fixing septic systems is key to protecting Puget Sound shellfish
Keeping shellfish safe to eat will get harder without increasing repair and inspection of septic systems that can contaminate shellfish beds.