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'Massive' sewage spill closes Bainbridge, North Kitsap
beaches (Kitsap Sun)
A massive sewage spill in Seattle on Thursday morning has
prompted a no-contact advisory along the entire east shore of Bainbridge Island
and a portion of North Kitsap. The Kitsap Public Health District is advising
people to avoid contact with water from Jefferson Point near Indianola to
Restoration Point on Bainbridge’s south end. The closure area includes Port
Madison Bay and Miller Bay. Untreated sewage began flowing from a wastewater
plant’s outfall near Seattle’s Discovery Park at about 2 a.m., according to a
King County news release. “Equipment failure” was cited as the cause of the
spill. King County is operating the plant on “emergency bypass mode,” which
allows sewage to discharge into Puget Sound to avoid flooding the plant.
To read more >>
See also:
‘Millions of gallons’ of wastewater dumping into Puget
Sound after heavy rainfall (Seattle Times)
'Emergency' at Seattle wastewater plant dumping raw
sewage into Puget Sound (King 5 News)
Seattle sewage spill topped 150 million gallons (Kitsap
Sun)
Wastewater-treatment plant close to fully functional
after mass discharge in Sound (Seattle Times)
A wastewater-treatment plant that malfunctioned amid
downpours Thursday — causing millions of gallons of raw sewage and untreated
stormwater to be dumped into Puget Sound — is back operating and close to fully
functional again, a King County spokesman said Friday afternoon.... In all,
about 260 million gallons of untreated discharge — a mix of about 85 percent to
90 percent stormwater and 10 percent to 15 percent raw sewage — poured into the
Sound, Williams said. Up to another 200 million gallons of raw sewage and
stormwater was diverted to other area plants for treatment.
To read more >>
Unexpected pollution forces closure of Samish Bay
shellfish harvesting (Skagit Valley Herald)
Pollution in the Samish River spiked this week, leading
to the closure of shellfish harvesting in Samish Bay on Wednesday evening.
Skagit County Water Quality Analyst Rick Haley said the increase in fecal coliform
bacteria in the water was unexpected and unusual, because there was little
rainfall prior to the most recent testing.
To read more >>
Another sewage spill reported in Bremerton (Kitsap Sun)
The waters off Bremerton have been hit with a fourth
sewage spill in less than three weeks. A 23,000-gallon mixture of sewage and
stormwater spilled Monday morning from a Bremerton wastewater facility into the
Port Washington Narrows. The Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact
advisory for the narrows and Sinclair Inlet through Sunday. Signs warning
people to avoid contact with the water were posted at Lions Park and other
public beaches. The narrows was fouled three other times late last month.
To read more >>
Urban Sprawl Forcing Pacific Northwest Songbirds To
'Divorce' (KUOW)
Urban development is encroaching on forests and impacting
the love lives of some songbirds in the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific wren is
having a tough time staying faithful -- at least in Seattle. That’s because a
housing boom is taking over the wren’s habitat: the thick forest understory....
Marzluff said development is forcing the wren and other song bird species to
move. And when that wren moves, it also abandons its mate. Marzluff’s
decade-long study, funded by UW and the National Science Foundation, looks at
six species in landscapes undergoing various levels of development.
To read more >>
Protecting Marine Protected Areas (Pacific Standard
Magazine)
Unlike protected lands, marine protected areas can’t be
staked with signposts — and, without clear boundaries, mariners can easily
drift into areas where they don’t belong. But there might be a technological
fix for that dilemma.
To read more >>
Tribe to use federal money for estuary restoration
(Stanwood Camano News)
Plans are in the works to improve the Zis-a-ba estuary,
88 acres of wetlands south of Stanwood. The Stillaguamish Tribe intends to
restore the estuary, with help from a $511,496 National Coastal Wetlands grant
through the United States Fish & Wildlife Service....The project is
designed to restore tidal and river influence by removing most of the current
levee and building a setback levee to protect surrounding property owners.
To read more >>
$35 million for B.C. Parks not enough after years of
cuts, says conservationist (CBC News)
The provincial government is investing $35 million to
"strengthen conservation" in B.C. over the next three years. Part of
the funds will go towards 25 more full-time park rangers, adding to their
current roster of seven full-time year-round rangers. It also includes a new
B.C. Parks Foundation and programs to protect the environment. For some, the
funding is too little, too late.
To read more >>
Editorial: Pact on timber sale could protect Wallace
Falls State Park (Everett Herald | Opinion)
A compromise pitched by Snohomish County officials may
end nearly a decade of disagreement and discussions over a timber sale near
Wallace Falls State Park.... For nearly 10 years, the state Department of
Natural Resources, which manages state land east of the state park, has planned
to auction 187 acres of second-growth timber, referred to as the Singletary
sale. The sale, however, has pitted two legitimate needs against each other.
To read more >>
Trees, shrubs planted along Puyallup River for forest
restoration project (Tacoma News Tribune)
Around 1,400 trees and shrubs were planted along the
Puyallup River in January by a team from the Department of Ecology's Puget
Sound Corps in an effort to improve and maintain Sumner’s urban forests.
Benefits of the planting project range from improving water quality along the
river, replenishing native vegetation and natural habitats and removing invasive
plant species.... A subprogram of the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), the
Puget Sound Corps crew was provided by the Washington State Department of
Natural Resources (DNR)’s Urban and Community Forest Program.
To read more >>
State Board of Natural Resources rejects Wallace Falls
timber deal (Everett Herald)
A state board on Tuesday turned down a compromise that
would have set aside part of a timber harvest to protect trails and scenery
near Wallace Falls State Park, leaving local elected leaders and trail
advocates disheartened. The Board of Natural Resources voted 4-2 to oppose a
request from Snohomish County. As a result, the whole 187 acres of
second-growth forest known as the Singletary sale could go to auction within
the next month or so.
To read more >>
Don't Call It Wheat: An Environmentally Friendly Grain
Takes Root (NPR | KUOW)
Colin Curwen-McAdams opens the door to his greenhouse in
Mt. Vernon, Wash., and a rush of warm air pours out. "Basically, it's
summer all year long here," he jokes. Curwen-McAdams, a PhD student at
Washington State University, and WSU professor Steven Jones have developed a
new species: a cross between wheat and its wild cousin, wheat grass. They call
it Salish Blue. ... Normal wheat dies every year, and farmers have to till
the soil and plant new seeds. Not only does that mean more work, but the
process also causes erosion, which makes farmland less healthy and can carry
sediment and agricultural chemicals into nearby waters.
To read more >>
Bill would clarify solid waste disposal rules for ag
(Capital Press)
Western lawmakers have proposed an amendment to the
federal Solid Waste Disposal Act to help farmers understand which manure
management rules they’re supposed to follow. HR 848, the Farm Regulatory
Certainty Act, would reaffirm and clarify Congress’ intention regarding manure
management under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, also
known as the Solid Waste Disposal Act. ... Manure
runoff has been a concern in Skagit, Whatcom and Yakima counties in Washington
state.
To read more >>
Trump’s attack on environmental regs could cause havoc
(Crosscut | High Country News)
With the stroke of his pen, President Donald Trump this
week unleashed the biggest assault ever made by a president on the government
regulations that protect Americans and nature. In an executive order, he
mandated that two existing regulations be eliminated for every new regulation
issued. And he dictated that the costs of any new rule be offset by savings
from the regulations that are repealed.
To read more >>
Want to fix infrastructure? Start with National Parks
(Crosscut | Opinion)
As President Donald Trump works to make good on his
pledge to repair America’s crumbling infrastructure, here’s a great place he
can start: fixing America’s national parks. Preserving and maintaining these
American treasures is something all of us, across party lines, can agree should
be a top priority. As a veteran who served 20 years in the U.S. military and
who now spends much of my free time in many gorgeous national parks near my
Pacific Northwest home, I hope the president and Congress will step up and fund
crucial deferred maintenance now.
To read more >>
$3.5B Massey bridge gets environmental nod from B.C.
government (CBC News)
The British Columbia government has granted an
environmental assessment certificate for the 10-lane, $3.5-billion bridge to
replace the Massey Tunnel over the Fraser River. The approval comes with 33
conditions that are legally binding requirements that the Transportation
Ministry must meet.
To read more >>
OIL TRANSPORTATION
Bills aim to beef up oil transportation safety (Everett
Herald | Associated Press)
With more crude oil expected to move through Washington
state, Democratic lawmakers want to toughen rules around oil transportation and
raise more money for spill prevention and response efforts. Companion bills in
the House and Senate aim to reduce the risk of oil spills with provisions that
target oil carried by vessels, pipelines and trains. Supporters say the
legislation is needed to address the growing risks of oil shipped through state
waters.
To read more >>
Lawmakers Propose Updates To Oil Safety In Washington
State (NW News Network)
Lawmakers in Olympia heard a set of bills Monday, that
would enhance regulations around oil transportation by rail, water, and
pipeline. One retired refinery worker from Anacortes, Steve Garey, said he and
others in the business understand why adequate prevention measures are so
vital. “We know how bad it can get with these substances, and we know how
quickly it can get bad,” Garey said. “It is irresponsible not to take
reasonable steps to ensure protection for the special environment that is so
central to the soul of the Pacific Northwest.”
To read more >>
Developers withdraw coal terminal applications, ending
project (Bellingham Herald)
Developers of the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point
have withdrawn its permit applications, essentially closing the book on the
project. Pacific International Terminals sent a letter Tuesday to Whatcom
County officials announcing it was stopping the environmental impact statement
process and is withdrawing its applications for the Gateway Pacific Terminal.
To read more >>
Train exec rails against Ecology oil spill rule (Capital
Press)
A small railroad that makes about $4,000 a year hauling
soybean oil and mineral oil will have to spend several times that amount to
meet the Washington Department of Ecology’s rule on preparing for oil spills, a
railroad executive told legislators this week. The soybean oil goes to feed
cattle and the mineral oil goes to orchards as a pesticide, Central Washington
Railroad Chief Operating Officer Tim Kelly told the House Environment Committee
on Feb. 6. Ecology’s new rule treats those oils the same as crude oil
transported across state lines by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.
To read more >>
State agency seeks funds to ramp up efforts to battle
aquatic invasive species (The Olympian)
Bad news is knocking at the door and Washington is behind
the curve on dealing with aquatic invasive species. State officials say there’s an urgency to get up to speed
after the alarming developments in Montana last year….Northwest states could
boast of being invasive mussel-free — until last year. State Department of Fish
and Wildlife officials are promoting legislation this year to get more money
for protection. An additional $1.3 million per year would come from increased
commercial boating fees and the state general fund.
To read more >>
B.C.'s invasive species warriors tackle turtles,
knotweed, climate change and critics (CBC News)
Invasive species experts have gathered in Richmond to
strategize strikes against everything from Japanese knotweed to American
bullfrogs with the only weapon that works — cooperation. The Invasive Species
Council of B.C. (ISCBC) works to stop foreign plants and animals from taking
over ecosystems in the province. With increased trade and travel and warmer
winters, organizers say they face more challenges than ever controlling
destructive invaders. The biggest tool in their arsenal is cooperation.
To read more >>
Tiny invasive mud snail teaches big science lesson on
Capitol Lake field trip (The Olympian)
Although smaller than a grain of rice, just one New
Zealand mud snail can wreak havoc on an entire body of water, as seen with
Capitol Lake in Olympia.... The 260-acre Capitol Lake has been closed to
boating and recreational activities to prevent the spread of the resilient mud
snails. Anyone who comes in contact with the water must undergo a
decontamination process, such as washing boots with hot water or chemicals.
To read more >>
Farmed geoduck's sustainability rating takes a hit
(Kitsap Sun)
Geoduck farming’s increasing use of plastic gear cost it
a top-spot rating from Seafood Watch, a consumer guide popular with
environmentally minded eaters. Washington’s farmed geoduck was downgraded from
the guide’s “best choice” rating to the mid-range “good alternative”
designation after an assessment late last year of aquaculture practices in
Puget Sound. The fast-growing industry’s use of plastic gear, including
beach-embedded grow tubes and protective netting, has sparked “increasing
concerns” about debris and plastic particles in the marine environment,
according to Seafood Watch’s 115-page assessment.
To read more >>
Warm ocean water triggered vast seabird die-off, experts
say (Seattle Times)
A year after tens of thousands of common murres, an
abundant North Pacific seabird, starved and washed ashore on beaches from
California to Alaska, researchers have pinned the cause to unusually warm ocean
temperatures that affected the tiny fish they eat. Elevated temperatures in
seawater affected wildlife in a pair of major marine ecosystems along the West
Coast and Canada, said John Piatt, a research wildlife biologist for the U.S.
Geological Survey. Common murres are an indicator of the regions’ health.
To read more >>
Gull deaths still a mystery, but cause probably not
harmful to humans (Tacoma News Tribune)
Despite a battery of tests, little progress has been made
in discovering the cause of a January gull die-off in Tacoma. Whatever killed
or sickened as many as 50 gulls hasn’t been found, but it mostly likely poses
no risk to human health, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said
Thursday. The agency said more tests are underway.
To read more >>
Trump administration delays listing bumblebee as
endangered (Seattle Times | Associated Press)
The Trump administration on Thursday delayed what would
be the first endangered designation for a bee species in the continental U.S.,
one day before it was to take effect..... The rusty patched bumblebee has disappeared from about 90 percent of
its range in the past 20 years. Scientists say disease, pesticide exposure,
habitat loss and climate change are among possible causes. It’s among a number
of bee species that have suffered steep population declines — along with
monarch butterflies, another key pollinator.
To read more >>
What’s dripping from your car? Find out for free (Everett
Herald | Street Smarts blog)
There’s a mysterious wet patch underneath your car. If
you’re like many folks, your first thought is oil leak. If you know a little
something about cars, maybe you add coolant to the list of possibilities. (If
you’re like me, you simply shrug.) Engine oil and coolant (anti-freeze) are the
top offenders when it comes to leaks from vehicles. But the actual list of
potential sources of leaks is much longer.
To read more >>
City hoping for ‘iconic’ bridge as part of major Totem
Lake investments (Kirkland Reporter)
The City of Kirkland is hoping to build an iconic bridge
to connect two pieces of the Cross Kirkland Corridor, and city staff is,
apparently, dreaming big. The connection would bridge the intersection at NE
124th Street and Totem Lake Boulevard, among the busiest intersections in the
city.... It’s one of several pieces in major investment in infrastructure
around the former Totem Lake Malls site. The city improved stormwater
facilities and developed an old rail line, and plans to redevelop the land
around Totem Lake itself into a park.
To read more >>
Draft law set for Carlsborg sewer project (Peninsula
Daily News)
Clallam County officials have rolled out a draft
ordinance for the $10.18 million Carlsborg sewer project that includes an
additional $8 monthly business charge as they stay on track for an April 1
completion date. Commissioners nurse hopes that more residents and businesses will
sign up over the next several weeks.... Sequim-area Commissioner Mark Ozias,
the commissioners’ chairman, said Tuesday he is confident that the project,
designed to eliminate all new Carlsborg-area septic systems after April 1, will
be “substantially complete” by that date.
To read more >>
What’s Upstream planned nearly $200,000 blitz to regulate
farmers (Capital Press)
What’s Upstream organizers planned to spend nearly
$200,000 in federal funds during and after the 2016 legislative session on a
“robust” campaign to regulate Washington farmers, according to Environmental
Protection Agency records. It’s unclear how much money was actually spent. The
media blitz was scheduled to last six months, but faltered after three.
Congressional anger over EPA’s financial support for the anti-agriculture
campaign scuttled some elements of the project.
To read more >>
Lummi clammers, dairy farmers clean bacteria-polluted bay
(Tacoma News Tribune)
For more than two years now, Lummi Nation has been unable
to reliably open its prime clam beds on its reservation for harvest because of
bacterial pollution in Portage Bay near Bellingham. Now in an unusual leap of
faith, tribal leaders and seven family dairy-farm operators in Whatcom County
are launching a collaborative effort to clean up the bay.... The goal is also
to join together to advocate for clean water in the Nooksack River Basin to a
wider community, including across the border in Canada, where exploding growth
is suspected to be contributing to pollution. The goal is to bring more
signatories to the agreement to address all sources of contamination.
To read more >>
WA house takes ‘step one’ on rural well prohibition
(Capital Press)
Tribes and environmentalists asked lawmakers Tuesday to
leave intact a state Supreme Court decision that a Washington Farm Bureau
lobbyist said has made building rural homes “way too hard.”... The hearing
showed bipartisan support for easing the burden placed by the court on
individual landowners, though legislators are divided on how far to go in
revising the Hirst decision. House Bill 1885 would essentially undo the ruling,
restoring the state’s policy of routinely allowing wells that draw up to 5,000
gallons a day. House Bill 1918 would phase-in the ruling, giving landowners who
already have invested in building and septic permits time to build.
To read more >>
Hirst-triggered water bills come before House Ag
committee (Columbia Basin Herald)
Two competing bills designed to solve issues created by
the Hirst decision came before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee on Tuesday. House Bill 1918, sponsored by Rep. Derek Stanford,
D-Bothell and House Bill 1885 sponsored by Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland are
both designed to allow counties to use Department of Ecology information, but
they differ on mitigation.
To read more >>
Craig Avenue water main break shuts off water for about
120 homes in Port Angeles (Peninsula Daily News)
More than 120 homes in Port Angeles are without water
after a water main broke early Wednesday morning. Crews were dispatched to the
20-inch water main break at the 1200 block of Craig Avenue at 3:34 a.m. and the
city has no estimates for when it will be repaired, said Craig Fulton, city
public works director.... The concrete line that broke is likely one of the
oldest water mains in the city, he said. It was installed in 1961 to replace
the wood stave transmission line that was installed in the 1930s. The water
main was previously used to pull water from Morris Creek, but is now used to
pull water from the Elwha River.
To read more >>
Capitol Lake may flood Friday in downtown Olympia (The
Olympian)
State and city crews are preparing sandbags for possible
flooding Friday at Capitol Lake in downtown Olympia. The Department of
Enterprise Services issued a warning of potential flooding between 6 a.m. and 9
a.m. near the state-owned lake, including Heritage Park. The lake is located at
the mouth of the Deschutes River, which received its own flood warning Thursday
from the National Weather Service. Department spokesperson Linda Kent confirmed
that the lake came within 1 foot of flooding Friday morning.
To read more >>
Climate Change Causes Fundamental Shifts in the Chemistry
of Mountain Soil (Pacific Standard Magazine)
A warming climate will fundamentally change the chemistry
of mountain soils by shifting the balance of nutrients, visibly disrupting
fragile, high-elevation ecosystems of grasses, flowers and trees within
decades.Most of the world’s mountain regions are warming twice as fast as the
global average, speeding up microbial activity. As a result, the ratio of two
key nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, is shifting fast, according to
University of Vermont researcher Nathan Sanders, one of an international team
that studied soil chemistry in seven mountain regions around the world over the
course of a growing season.
To read more >>
Legislator proposes tougher carbon emissions bill
(Everett Herald)
A bill setting tougher goals for carbon emission
reductions in Washington cleared a House panel this week with little debate and
a handful of additions pushed by Republicans. Legislation approved by the House
Environment Committee on Thursday calls for emission levels in 2050 to be 80
percent less than levels in 1990, a target nearly twice as stringent as
existing law but in line with standards in California and several other states.
To read more >>
Climate Change Denier Testifies for 40 Minutes Before
State Senate Environment Committee (Seattle Weekly)
A prominent climate change denier today provided an
unusually lengthy testimony before a Washington Senate committee at the
invitation of Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale....In his statements, Tony Heller, an independent
scientist who also blogs under the name Steve Goddard and tweets as
@SteveSGoddard, claimed that several employees of two federal agencies
deliberately gave wrong data to the majority of the world’s scientists who have
concluded that climate change is real. ...Normally, people get two to
three minutes to testify before they are cut off. A panel of a few experts can
get 30 minutes on some occasions. Heller was allotted 40 minutes.
To read more >>
See also:
State senator invites climate-change denier to brief
committee while he’s away (Bellingham Herald)
$40M infusion for BC green cars program (Vancouver Sun)
The government of British Columbia is investing $40
million into its Clean Energy Vehicle Program to help the public make the
transition from gas-guzzling vehicles to electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel
cell electric vehicles. Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett says the funds
will be distributed over the next three years and will offer continued purchase
incentives of up to $5,000 for battery electric vehicles and $6,000 for
hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. When the incentives from the SCRAP-IT program
are added, the government says that purchasers could save up to $11,000 on a
new electric vehicle.
To read more >>
Spotted in Washington: conservatives supporting climate
action (Christian Science Monitor)
President Trump and the Republican-led Congress aren't
showing much interest in climate change, but idea of a carbon tax is still
percolating – and conservatives who back it symbolize a green wing of the GOP
that may be growing.
To read more >>
Fighting Fossil Fuels at the Local Level (Sightline)
As the Trump Administration looks to favor the fossil
fuel industry with federal policy, state and local authority, especially the
power of regulating land use, will likely play an increasingly important role
in protecting regions like the Northwest from the risks of coal, oil, and gas.
Indeed, threatened by a tsunami of energy export projects, a number of cities
and counties in the Northwest are defending themselves from new energy export
projects by reforming their land use and development codes. It’s a strategy
that has paid dividends for the Thin Green Line, Cascadia’s resistance to
ill-conceived fossil fuel export schemes, which is likely to be increasingly
important in the next few years.
To read more >>
Editorial: Expand use of renewable energy by utilities
(Everett Herald | Opinion)
Ten years ago, Washington state voters, recognizing the
imperative need to address climate change and cleaner air, passed Initiative
937, which requires the state’s electrical utilities to use renewable resources
for a portion of the electricity they provide to their customers. Many
utilities, public and private, balked. But since passage those utilities have
been able to meet the initiative’s requirements. The portion of renewable
energy that utilities provide has increased incrementally.
To read more >>
Port Angeles City Council slams cut in fishing; says
limited halibut season hurts economy (Peninsula Daily News)
The Port Angeles City Council has joined the chorus of
business and fishing interests who object to this year’s limited halibut
fishing season as hurting the economy and compromising sport fishers’ safety.
The 7-0 vote supported a resolution for a longer season than the one planned
for 2017.... The city council vote came after a public comment session during
which more than a half-dozen fishing enthusiasts urged the council to take
action. “Fish and Wildlife must think first of citizens and less about
commercial interests,” Ralph Burba said. “Let the people fish,” he said to
applause in council chambers.
To read more >>
Long ban lifted on Hood Canal squid fishing (Kitsap Sun)
Squid jiggers, welcome back to Hood Canal. The state
Department of Fish and Wildlife has lifted a 13-year ban on squid fishing in
the canal — the only part of Puget Sound where recreational squid harvests were
restricted. The closure in 2004 might have been an overly cautious response to
a long bout of low dissolved oxygen levels.
To read more >>
Sport fishing industry in peril in Pacific Northwest (The
Olympian | Guest Opinion)
More than any other time in history, the sport fishing
industry in the Pacific Northwest is in need of help. The meltdown began in
2015 when our region saw some of the highest temperatures and lowest rainfall
amount ever recorded.... Now, in 2017, we are working in a climate of
uncertainty; we are unsure that the North of Falcon Process will work this
year; rumors swirl that the governor’s office may replace sport fishing
representatives on the commission, and we are uncertain if Washington will hold
true to the Columbia River Reforms. In the midst of all this job-killing
uncertainty, WDFW is proposing a record increase in the cost of fishing
licenses we sell.
To read more >>
Fire leaves Port of Everett marina dock without power
(Everett Herald)
An electrical fire has left a dock at the Port of
Everett’s marina without power since late January. It is expected to be another
two weeks until power is restored, said Lisa Lefeber, Port spokeswoman. In the
meantime, a handful of people living aboard boats moored at the marina have had
to move to other berths where they can plug in.
To read more >>
Port of Port Townsend approves moorage rate hike
(Peninsula Daily News)
Port of Port Townsend commissioners voted unanimously to
implement moorage rate hikes this spring to help pay for a long list of capital
projects. The three commissioners approved the rate hikes Wednesday and plan to
implement the new rates starting April 1. Rates will increase by 10 percent to
16 percent, varying upon the size of the boat. Boat owners moored in Boat
Haven, Point Hudson and Herb Beck marinas will see anywhere from a $27 to $43
increase per month — up to $61 per month for larger vessels.
To read more >>
$85 million Foss Waterway retirement development canceled
(Tacoma News Tribune)
The backer of an $85 million retirement community on the
Thea Foss Waterway has withdrawn its proposal.... Transforming Age had proposed
an upscale retirement community for people aged 55 and older, on a nearly
1-acre parcel, called sites 8 and 9, south of the Murray Morgan bridge.
To read more >>
Team to plan trail maintenance in Morning Star
conservation area (Everett Herald)
A team has formed to start drafting a trails plan for the
state’s largest natural resources conservation area. The state Department of
Natural Resources is working on a plan for maintaining, updating and possibly
expanding trails in the Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area. The
plan would guide trail work for the next 10 to 15 years. Trails to Gothic
Basin, Ashland Lakes and the Walt Bailey area are among those affected.
To read more >>
County set to adopt new flood maps after 30 years (Tacoma
News Tribune)
If your eyes glaze over at the words “flood insurance,”
rub them hard and pay attention, unless you’d rather toss $1,000 or so into the
nearest burn barrel. Tuesday, Pierce County Council members are expected to
close the book on a 30-year saga: an update of the county’s flood zone maps,
issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The ordinance passed out of
a council subcommittee last week with a unanimous vote.
To read more >>
New lands commissioner has a lot on her plate (Everett
Herald)
Hilary Franz became the state’s new commissioner of
Public Lands last month after earning that title in the November election. The
management of much of the state’s natural resources rests with her
department.... The decisions of the commissioner heavily affect rural
communities and the surrounding environment. Franz is aware of this duality.
To read more >>
Orca Relief announces new executive director (Journal of
the San Juan Islands)
Orca Relief Citizens Alliance is pleased to announce the
appointment of Scott West as its new executive director. Past Executive
Director Bruce Stedman has stepped down after 20 years of service and a
relocation to the East Coast. West’s prior work with the Environmental
Protection Agency and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will be an asset to
Orca Relief as it continues to seek support of its petition for the Whale
Protection Zone Proposition and work toward the full recovery of Puget Sound’s
Southern resident killer whales.
To read more >>
New ferry director young and passionate (Kitsap Sun)
There's a new generation leading Washington's ferries.
Forty-year-old Amy Scarton became director Feb. 1, bumping interim boss
Elizabeth Kosa back to her No. 2 staff chief position. Kosa, 38, didn't mind.
"I was extremely excited about Amy," Kosa said of the replacement for
Lynne Griffith, who retired at the end of January at age 67. "She brings
new depth and knowledge to the ferry system. She's multimodal and highly
capable with government."
To read more >>
Trump EPA official juggles two jobs in two Washingtons,
and it hasn’t gone well (Washington Post)
Doug Ericksen is trying to hold down two jobs in two
different Washingtons. And it’s not going terribly well. Ericksen was an early
backer of Donald Trump who shares the president’s skepticism of environmental
regulations and climate change. In January, he was rewarded with a job in
Washington D.C., running communications and helping to reshape the
Environmental Protection Agency.... But Ericksen has pretty much been missing
in action for the first month of the legislature’s 105- day session.
To read more >>
Residents look to recall senator on Trump transition team
(Bellingham Herald | Kitsap Sun)
A group of Whatcom County residents have started an
effort to recall a state senator currently serving on President Donald Trump's
transition team. The Bellingham Herald reports that some residents say Sen.
Doug Ericksen can't do his job at home while he's serving as communications
director for the Environmental Protection Agency during the presidential
transition.
To read more >>
Washington's Benton Staying At EPA As Senior White House
Adviser (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Former Washington state Sen. Don Benton will be staying
on at the Environmental Protection Agency as the agency’s senior White House
adviser. The EPA’s acting administrator, Catherine McCabe, announced the news
in a video message to employees this week.
To read more >>
How is the Puget Sound ecosystem doing?
The 2015 State of the Sound reports on the current state of the ecosystem and the status of regional recovery actions. Learn more at www.psp.wa.gov/sos.
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