Event: Elwha – A River Reborn with Author Lynda Mapes May 30th in PT

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Al B.

Elwha: A River Reborn

Author Talk & Book Signing with Lynda Mapes

 May 30  Cotton Building, Port Townsend, 7PM, doors open at 6:45PM

 

Journey into the Northwest’s legendary Elwha River Valley to discover the people, places, and history behind the world’s largest dam removal project, an unprecedented bet on the  power of nature.

Running forty-five miles from mountain headwaters to its mouth on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha River Valley has been many things to many people over the past century—a power source for pioneer towns, a favored jaunt for national conservation luminaries like Robert F. Kennedy and Justice William O. Douglas, an area for Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe members to sustain a fish hatchery, a playground for steelhead enthusiasts. Once legendary for its wild salmon runs and Chinook weighing over 100 pounds, today the Elwha is being dramatically restored as the biggest  dam removal project anywhere in the world is well underway.

Sponsored by the Port Townsend Public Library and the North Olympic Group Sierra Club

For information contact:  Peter Guerrero 510-421-1071

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Oil Spill Response Plan Covering 1,600 Vessels Approved for Puget Sound and Grays Harbor – KBKW

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Al B.

The Washington Department of Ecology has given its final approval of the Washington State Maritime Cooperative’s (WSMC) umbrella oil spill readiness plan that covers more than 1,600 commercial vessels that transit Puget Sound and Grays Harbor. WSMC’s oil spill readiness – or contingency – plan helps ensure that large commercial vessels can mount a rapid, aggressive and well coordinated response if they spill oil in state waters. The plan identifies the location of different response equipment such as oil containment boom, skimming and towing vessels and vacuum trucks in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor. It also identifies how the equipment will be mobilized by private response entities during a spill to minimize harm to important environmental, cultural and economic resources. Dave Haviland reports.

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5476

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Scientists map global routes of ship-borne invasive species – BBC

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Al B.

We who live on a major shipping lane are constantly grappling with this threat. The Coast Guard is on watch for invasives, but from what I’ve seen, very little money is spent on this project.

Scientists have developed the first global model that analyses the routes taken by marine invasive species. The researchers examined the movements of cargo ships around the world to identify the hot spots where these aquatic aliens might thrive. Marine species are taken in with ballast water on freighters and wreak havoc in new locations, driving natives to extinction. The research is published in the Journal Ecology Letters. Matt McGrath reports.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22397076

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Scientists are divided over virus threat to Northwest salmon – Various Sources

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Al B.

Like mariners scanning the horizon from the crow’s nest, scientists have for years been on the lookout in the Pacific Northwest for signs that a dreaded salmon-killing disease, scourge to farmed salmon in other parts of the world, has arrived here, threatening some of the world’s richest wild salmon habitats. Most say there is no evidence. But for years, a biologist in Canada named Alexandra Morton — regarded by some as a visionary Cassandra, by others as a misguided prophet of doom — has said definitively and unquestionably that they are wrong.

Kirk Johnson reports. Scientists are divided over virus threat to Northwest salmon
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130505/NEWS/130509993/scientists-are-divided-over-virus-threat-to-northwest-salmon

See also: Fish farms allied with government, activists say
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/fish-farms-allied-with-government-activists-say-1.146182

and see the free hour long video on Alexandra and her work. Very damning to the BC Provincial and Canadian Government.

https://vimeo.com/61301410

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New bill takes aim at derelict marine vessels – Whidbey News Times

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Al B.

While little of consequence for the environment has happened in Olympia, at least this very important bill found bipartisan support. More analysis to come, but thanks to everyone in Olympia who carried this over the line. Derelict boats have been an outstanding issue for many years. Maybe now we can look to the counties to be able to do something.

Environmental disasters such as the 2012 sinking of the F/V Deep Sea in Penn Cove may soon be a little more avoidable. The state Legislature approved a bill last week that preserves funding for the state’s derelict vessel program and sharpens the effectiveness of existing laws. The legislation sailed through the House and Senate with hefty majority votes and has been forwarded to Gov. Jay Inslee to sign into law. Justin Burnett reports.

http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/205478281.html#

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More repairs needed at water plant, will likely hold up Elwha River dam removal work – PDN

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Al B.

Additional repairs are needed for the sediment-clogged Elwha Water Treatment Plant on the Elwha River…
Jeremy Schwartz and Paul Gottlieb report. http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130505/NEWS/305059988/updated-8212-more-repairs-needed-at-water-plant-will-likely-hold

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Puget Sound Starts Here Launches New Campaign

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Al B.

“The Puget Sound Partnership has done social research into how the 4.5 million of us think and feel about Puget Sound and is launching a new Puget Sound Starts Here campaign this month. Take a look at the campaign website…”
http://salishseacommunications.blogspot.com/2013/05/puget-sound-starts-here-launches-new.html

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