Climate change is already here. You have one last chance to stop it – Los Angeles Times

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Al Bergstein

This week, all across the globe, news agencies are focusing on climate change.  This is late, but needed. The time has come to change the narrative and get everyone involved. We have just witnessed 70,000 Bahamians become climate refugees. Last year it was those in Northern California. And that’s just the big ones. This article talks about what the country and each of us individually need to think about. “Is that next plane flight really needed?”

The world climate is in crisis, and it is all our own doing. And we must through concerted global action end our reliance on fossil fuels before time runs out.
— Read on www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-climate-change-crisis-global-warming-part-1-story.html

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Most American teens are frightened by climate change, poll finds, and about 1 in 4 are taking action – Washington Post

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Al Bergstein

In the 1960s and 70s we faced the very real thread of nuclear annihilation. Now we are back at a very real threat that is much harder to find ways forward. As a child, I was very afraid of being blown to bits. It caused many of my friends to not want to engage in the society, and to do drugs because, “what’s the use?” There are children suffering now with the facts being presented to us. And there are children, like Greta Thurnberg that are standing up and taking action. Let’s support our children when they ask about going out on strike this Friday. The answer should be, “do it, can I join you?”

….A solid majority of American teenagers are convinced that humans are changing the Earth’s climate and believe that it will cause harm to them personally and to other members of their generation, according to a new Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll. Roughly 1 in 4 have participated in a walkout, attended a rally or written to a public official to express their views on global warming — remarkable levels of activism for a group that has not yet reached voting age. Sarah Kaplan and
Emily Guskin report. (Washington Post)

Most American teens are frightened by climate change, poll finds, and about 1 in 4 are taking action

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Washington state officially launches first new construction in effort to electrify ferries – KNKX

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Washington state starts delivering on a “new green economy” by creating green jobs to move us away from fossil fuels. Hundreds of blue collar jobs helping get us to the new world off of fossil fuels. Thanks to Governor Inslee and the Democratic majority in the state capital. Will there be some hickups along the way? You bet. Is this better than doing nothing? Absolutely.


Washington’s ferry system runs on diesel fuel that causes more air pollution than anything else the state transportation department operates. That’s changing as the state Department of Transportation works to convert two of its Jumbo Mark 2 ferries to hybrid-electric propulsion. And now it has officially launched the first new construction of a hybrid ferry, amid much fanfare…The Legislature has so far authorized funding for only one new hybrid electric ferry, but transportation officials say they have up to five more in the pipeline. The cost will be roughly the same as for a traditional diesel Olympic Class vessel: $160 million dollars.  Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Washington state officially launches first new construction in effort to electrify ferries 

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Trump Administration to Finalize Rollback of Clean Water Protections – Washington Post

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Moving us backwards in time. All I can say is that after he’s gone we’ll have to rewrite even better laws next time.


The Trump administration on Thursday is expected to complete the legal repeal of a major Obama-era clean water regulation, which had placed limits on polluting chemicals that could be used near streams, wetlands and water bodies. The rollback of the 2015 measure, known as the Waters of the United States rule, has been widely expected since the early days of the Trump administration, when President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to begin the work of repealing and replacing it. Weakening the Obama-era water rule had been a central campaign pledge for Mr. Trump, who characterized it as a federal land-grab that impinged on the rights of farmers, rural landowners and real estate developers to use their property as they see fit. Coral Davenport reports. (NY Times) See also: Administration finalizes repeal of 2015 water rule Trump called ‘destructive and horrible’  Thursday’s move will revert the nation to 1986 water pollution rule governing wetlands and small streams. Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis report. (Washington Post)

Trump Administration to Finalize Rollback of Clean Water Protections

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One hour with 16 Year Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg – Democracy Now!

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Al Bergstein

One hour to hear from Greta in her own world. Get inspired.

https://www.democracynow.org/shows/2019/9/11

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Orca task force hears about whale watching, dam breaching – PDN

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Al Bergstein

The Orca task force is back on the road taking public comment and debating how to save the remaining Orcas of our resident pods. Without more fish, there is little that will have a huge impact, which is what is needed. Breaching the Snake River Dams are the fastest way to get the most fish in the water. It has been shown that the dams being considered are losing money on every kilowatt generated. But it’s a political hot potato that Jay, now that he’s no longer running for President, may be able to seriously consider.


A state orca task force debated whale watching operations and was urged to recommend the breaching of the lower Snake River dams. The Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force discussed its recommendations to Gov. Jay Inslee in a day-long meeting Monday in Port Angeles. A final report to Inslee is due Nov. 8. Task force member Donna Sandstrom, founder and executive director of the Whale Trail, a Seattle nonprofit working to help the endangered Southern Resident orcas, suggested that the task force add its recommendation to suspend orca whale watching to an urgent list for legislative action. “We’re not hopeless, but we will be soon,” Sandstrom said of the J, K and L orca pods that hunt chinook salmon in the Salish Sea. Rob Ollikainen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Orca task force hears about whale watching, dam breaching

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Hunting and Fishing to Expand on 77 National Wildlife Refuges – OPB

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Al Bergstein

The outrage to our National Wildlife Refuges by the radical right wing that Trump has put in place in our federal government continues. It is hard to believe that most Republicans that voted for Trump were voting for this to happen. This is a right wing revolution taking place right in front of our eyes, and the damage may never be recovered from it. These areas were set aside as refuges,over the last 100 years,  now they are nothing more than shooting galleries for hunters. I have no idea why anyone would cheering such a thing.  Once again it reinforces the notion that you could have all the great intentions in the world, but if you sit out elections because your favorite candidate didn’t get the nod, then you have no power to accomplish anything, and you likely lose what you value. Voting counts.

Hunting And Fishing To Expand On 77 National Wildlife Refuges
The Trump administration is expanding hunting and fishing opportunities in 77 national wildlife refuges. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service eliminated or revised thousands of regulations to closely match state laws. The expansion added more than 1.4 million acres nationwide and more than doubled the acreage that has been opened or expanded in the last five years combined…. In Washington, San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Spring Creek, Leavenworth, Little White Salmon and Entiat national fish hatcheries will open to sport fishing for the first time. In addition, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge will open more land to waterfowl hunting this season.  Molly Samayoa reports. (OPB)

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Volunteers trap European green crabs – PDN

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Al Bergstein

The invasion continues. If you want to volunteer, you might want to talk to the folks at the Clallam County Marine Resources committee to see when they are going to be helping Emily Grason.

The invasive European green crab continues to keep a presence on the North Olympic Peninsula. The highest Peninsula counts so far this season have been on the Makah reservation on the West End, where 988 green crabs have been found, and at the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge, where volunteers have discovered 56, said marine ecologist Emily Grason, Crab Team program manager for Washington Sea Grant, last week. Those areas have had the largest totals for European green crab captures across the Salish Sea, she said. Matthew Nash reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Volunteers trap European green crabs

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Funds approved for economic study of murrelet plan – PDN

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Funds approved for economic study of murrelet plan
The Clallam County commissioners have agreed to give $7,500 to the Washington State Association of Counties to conduct an economic impact study of the Long-Term Conservation Strategy for the marbled murrelet and how it would affect junior taxing districts. The commissioners agreed to send a letter to the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) informing it of the county’s support Tuesday. WSAC sent a letter to the county in August requesting the funds so that it can conduct a detailed economic impact analysis on county taxing district revenues if the preferred alternative in the Department of Natural Resources’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Long-term Conservation Strategy for the marbled murrelet is implemented. Clallam County, which has 93,301 acres of county trust lands — more than any other county in the state — was asked to provide $7,500 for the study. As of Aug. 13, DNR had committed $20,000 toward the study. Jesse Major reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

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New viruses discovered in endangered wild Pacific salmon populations | UBC Science – Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Al Bergstein

As if we needed another problem for our dwindling salmon stocks to face, now this.

New viruses discovered in endangered wild Pacific salmon populations
— Read on science.ubc.ca/news/new-viruses-discovered-endangered-wild-pacific-salmon-populations

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The World Wastes Tons of Food. A Grocery ‘Happy Hour’ Is One Answer. NY Times

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Here’s a simple thing that all of us, myself included, can do to slow global warming. The article points out that food waste, the excess food that groceries and restaurants dump, along with the food that you and I throw out because it never got used in our fridges, is another significant cause of global warming. Why? Because all of it had used fossil fuel to plant, harvest and transport, and then, after it was near or after its’ use by date, was transported from the store to either a food bank, or landfill where it was composted, both using fossil fuel to do that job, and by the methane generated by it rotting in the landfill.

I’ve gone to using my bike to make much more frequent trips to the grocery store, or combining those trips with other trips. I buy in much smaller amounts, such as a quart rather than a gallon of milk. I rotate my vegetables and check the drawer daily. I’ve gone to buying less fruits and veggies at the market, more 1 at a time, rather than three or four that might sit and go to waste.

Here in Port Townsend, I know that the food bank works with NW Harvest and the local groceries to do their best to work excess food into the hands of those that need it and are not able to afford it.

Our refrigerators are geared towards waste. Very few of us really need the size of refrigerator that we have, but unless you design your kitchen yourself, all standard kitchens use about the same size large refridgerators. This is not true in Europe. And not having a standard refrigerator affects your house’s resell value. It’s all of a piece, that we are designing our way to a warming planet.

While a freezer does help reduce waste by prolonging the foods use by date, it also contributes to global warming itself.

The best we can do is to think through our food use. Slow the buying habit. As a challenge, try to buy your food the day you plan to eat it.

And perhaps discuss this with your local grocers. They want your business! It’s a low margin business.

www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/business/food-waste-climate-change.html

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Growing Blueberries Workshop – Wed September 18th

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Growing Blueberries Workshop – Wed September 18th *New*

If you are interested in blueberry production, then this workshop is for you! Come on out and gain knowledge and practical experience with WSU specialists and local farmers! Workshop topics will include soil management and nutrient needs for optimal blueberry production, pruning for controlling bush size and concentrating ripening earlier in the season, pathogens  including phomopsis twig blight and mummy berry, weed management, and spotted wing drosophila and other pests. Guest speakers include Lisa DeVetter  Assistant Professor, Small Fruit Horticulture, Beverly Gerdeman – WSU Assistant Research Professor in Entomology and Janet Aubin  Farmer, Finnriver Farm. Janet will walk us through her 25 year old and 2 year old blueberry fields. Cost is $25 per person (*scholarship assistance available, please contact Kellie Henwood at least two weeks before the event or call (360) 379-5610 ext. 201. Preregistration required, click here.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – noon. Location: Finnriver Home Farm, 142 Barn Swallow Rd., Chimacum

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WSU Master Gardener Training’ Course – Class starts September 16th

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Al Bergstein

WSU Master Gardener Training’ Course – Class starts September 16th *New*

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? The next WSU Master Gardener Training class starts soon!  This eleven-week course includes professional education from WSU educators via online training, lectures from local experts and field trips to outstanding local and regional gardens.  Upon completion, participants give back to the community by volunteering in one of our many programs, including our Growing Groceries class, WSU Seed Library, food bank gardens, native plant outreach, and Plant Clinics.  Lectures and field trips take place on Thursdays; September 12th through November 21st from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  The class is held at the Jefferson County Library and the WSU Classroom in Port Hadlock. .  Cost is $265.  For more details click here,  or contact Bridget Gregg.

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EVENT: Beyond Waste Action Group 9/10

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Beyond Waste Action Group – Local 20/20 – Tues  September 10th
The Beyond Waste Action Groupmeets the second Tuesday of each month at either 10:30 a.m.-12:00 or 7pm-8:30pm, depending on the month.  The group looks at a number of issues including food-waste composting, plastics reduction and recycling, reduction of garbage on an individual and community level, and various other waste-related topics that spontaneously come up during the meeting.  Newcomers are always welcome. Email Lisafor info on monthly agenda and meeting time and venue. Location: Uptown PT.
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Location:  contact Lisa.

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Proposed EPA Rules Could Limit State And Tribal Power To Block Infrastructure Projects -OPB

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Over the last few years, since Trump came to power, I have been hearing about companies, some here in the NW engaged in shellfish farming, that have been quietly spending tens of thousands of dollars lobbying the Federal government to strip away the capability of local jurisdictions, such as county, state and tribal governments, to create local rules that could stymie the businesses operations or licensing by the federal government, under the Clean Water Act. A goal of theirs has been to take away the ability of local environmentally concerned organizations to sue, other than at the federal level.  Now, it appears the Trump administration is acting on their lobbying efforts. Think about fish farming, pulp mills, or any other activity covered under the Clean Water Act.

The rules specifically would restrict these non-federal governments’ authority to review the water quality impacts of projects that require a federal permit or license. These projects range from pipelines to hydropower facilities to dredging — any development that result in “discharge” into U.S. waters.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 21, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OW–2019–0405, at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Kasparek, Oceans, Wetlands, and Communities Division, Office of Water (4504–T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–3351; email address: cwa401@epa.gov.

Read the whole legal document (very long, very difficult to follow if not a environmental lawyer) at

Array

https://www.opb.org/news/article/federal-water-quality-rules-energy-infrastructure/

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Rayonier Mill – DOE to hold public comment period

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Al Bergstein

From the Department of Ecology:

This message is about the Port Angeles Rayonier Mill located at 700 N. Ennis Street in Port Angeles.

The Department of Ecology will hold a public comment period from August 29 to October 28, 2019, to provide an opportunity for you to comment on three reports (Volumes I, II, III, see below). You can submit comments online during the comment period.

We will hold an Open House on September 25, 2019, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Olympic Medical Center, Linkletter Hall, 939 Caroline Street in Port Angeles to answer your questions about the reports and the Rayonier Mill cleanup.

The three reports for your review and comment are available at the Rayonier Mill webpage:

  • Upland Data Summary Report (Volume I) describes what the contaminants are and where they are located in soil and groundwater.
  • Marine Data Summary Report (Volume II) describes what the contaminants are and where they are located in sediments.
  • Cleanup Alternatives Evaluation Report (Volume III) describes and evaluates options for cleanup of soil and ground water and marine sediments.

 

A Fact Sheet briefly summarizes information from the reports and contains information about the public comment period and open house.

 

These reports are available at the Port Angeles Public Library (360-417-8500) and at the Department of Ecology in Lacey (by appointment, call 360-407-6365).

 

For questions regarding the cleanup, please contact the Cleanup Site Manager, Marian Abbett or (360) 407-6257.

 

For questions regarding public involvement, please contact me.

 

Kind regards,

 

Nancy Davis, Ph.D.

Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist

Washington Department of Ecology | Toxics Cleanup Program | Southwest Regional Office

PO Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504-7775

Tel. 360.407.0067 | Fax 360.407.6305

nancy.davis@ecy.wa.gov

 

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Northwest Watershed Institute meets goal to fund Tarboo Forest addition.

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Al Bergstein

From Peter Bahls.

Dear Friends of Tarboo Creek and Dabob Bay,

I am happy to report that thanks to your generous support, Northwest Watershed Institute has raised the remaining funding needed to conserve the Tarboo forest addition. We could not have done it without you! THANK YOU!

As you may recall, Northwest Watershed Institute purchased the beautiful 21-acre forest last fall with private loans to prevent it from being clearcut and developed. Your contributions combined with grant funding from the Jefferson County Conservation Futures fund will allow us to pay off the loans and secure it as a permanent part of NWI’s Tarboo Wildlife Preserve. Thanks to your help, we plan to move ahead with putting a conservation easement on the property in November 2019 to preserve wildlife habitat, store carbon, and sustain selective harvest of forest products.

For more background on the project – please see news article at https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/nwi-seeks-to-add-forestland-store-carbon/

Regards, Peter Bahls, Executive Director

Northwest Watershed Institute

3407 Eddy Street

Port Townsend, WA 98368

 

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Simulation shows how fast tsunamis could move through Puget Sound after ‘The Big One’ – The Olympian

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Good new information on the danger of a tsunamis to us in the Salish Sea. This clarifies that you *have* to get to higher ground quickly, even if you think you are safe. Think about Kai Tai Lagoon and San Juan Avenue in Port Townsend. A fast moving 10 foot wave could easily swamp San Juan from both the North Beach side and the Port Townsend Bay side, coming at people from both directions as they were fleeing down San Juan. Don’t think it’s possible? Review the videos from survivors of the Japanese tsunamis.

The simulation shows 10-foot-tall waves or higher moving through Hood Canal.

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Cruise Ships Dump 90% Of Grey Water In BC

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Al Bergstein

More evidence of bad enviromental behavior. Just say no to cruise ships.

1.54 billion liters of grey water were generated by ships off the British Columbia coast in 2017 – the equivalent of more than 600 Olympic-size swimming pools, said a study. World Wildlife Fund Canada says cruise ships traveling between Washington state and Alaska are responsible for dumping “the vast majority” of the potentially toxic grey water that ends up off the B.C. coast each year. Cruise ships accounted for 1.37 billion (almost 90%) of the 1.54 billion liters of grey water generated off the B.C. coast in 2017, the study revealed. Shailaja A. Lakshmi reports. (Marine Link)

Cruise Ships Dump 90% Of Grey Water In BC

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Pink salmon numbers may threaten other North Pacific species – AP

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Al Bergstein

The pieces to the salmon puzzle continue to come in from the various angles of research being done. The scientists in this article don’t claim to be have the sole answer but are raising questions that run counter to the narrative that the hatchery supporters want to tell. This is healthy debate and given the stakes for our last great fishery, are worth putting more money into determining whether these root causes or not.

Biological oceanographer Sonia Batten experienced her lightbulb moment on the perils of too many salmon three years ago as she prepared a talk on the most important North Pacific seafood you’ll never see on a plate — zooplankton.

https://www.apnews.com/e589a757f4fd48869af6e17845c5c857

And this follow up story showed up from KUOW

‘Slowly slipping away.’ Fewest sockeye salmon ever counted at Ballard Locks

Sockeye salmon are returning to Lake Washington in the smallest numbers since record-keeping started.

As of early August, 17,000 sockeye had returned from the ocean, compared to hundreds of thousands inat their peak years.

https://kuow.org/stories/slowly-slipping-away-sockeye-numbers-at-ballard-locks-reach-record-lows

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