TUG WEATHER-- WEST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-
 236 AM PDT THU MAY 8 2008
 
 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM
 PDT THIS MORNING...
 
 .TODAY...W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. W SWELL
 8 FT...SUBSIDING TO 6 FT AT 8 SECONDS. A CHANCE OF A SHOWER.
 .TONIGHT...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT...EASING AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND
 WAVES 1 TO 3 FT...SUBSIDING. W SWELL 5 FT AT 8 SECONDS.
-----------

• (5/7 Associated Press in Seattle PI) Sea lions found dead at dam weren't shot, officials now say; Necropsies renew question of what killed the animals

• (5/7 Seattle Times) Stop buying bottled water, Nickels urges Seattleites

• (*5/6/08 West Seattle Herald) Duwamish habitat restoration planned

• (5/7 Kitsap Sun) SK Wetland Cleared of Trees and Plants



---------------
5/7 Associated Press in Seattle PI

Sea lions found dead at dam weren't shot, officials now say
Necropsies renew question of what killed the animals

By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Federal officials did an about-face Wednesday in an investigation of the deaths of six sea lions in traps at Bonneville Dam, saying their initial assumption that the animals had been shot to death was wrong.

The conclusion, based on the preliminary results of necropsies, reopened questions of how the animals died or whether humans killed them.

The National Marine Fisheries Service's initial reports about the deaths raised intense interest in the long-running dispute over the sea lions, which prey on protected salmon. As a consequence, the government and the Humane Society of the United States made an agreement to suspend trapping and removing the sea lions this year.

But the preliminary results of the examination of the carcasses found no evidence of recent gunshot wounds, spokesman Brian Gorman of the fisheries service said Wednesday.

More at
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/362191_sealions08.html


----------
5/7 Seattle Times

Stop buying bottled water, Nickels urges Seattleites

By Susan Gilmore
Seattle Times staff reporter

When Mayor Greg Nickels drives in his car, he carries a plastic container filled with tap water.

He says it's his small effort to save the environment.

This morning, Nickels launched a bigger mission: To try to get Seattleites to stop buying bottled water.

More at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004398137_webwater07m.html



-----------
*5/6/08 West Seattle Herald

Duwamish habitat restoration planned

By Rebekah Schilperoort

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The Port of Seattle is developing a plan to restore habitat on property it owns along the Lower Duwamish River.

Last week the port held an open house to introduce the first draft of the Lower Duwamish River Habitat Restoration Plan, scheduled to be made public in August.

The intent of the Port's public process will be to develop a "master plan" for the coexistence of natural habitat and the water dependent businesses on the waterway, said Joseph Gellings, a planner for the Port of Seattle....

Heather Trim, a member of People for Puget Sound, said she was unhappy about how the Port was handling the public input process and that it was more "top down" than she would like.

"This isn't a truly collaborative process," said Trim. "It's not too late. You guys could do this differently."

The Port should facilitate workshops and get residents and business owners looking at maps and discussing possible issues, she said, instead of just taking public comment.

Trim also said she and others are "suspicious" of the Port's motives and that it may be trying to "forestall" the other processes working in conjunction....

More at
http://www.westseattleherald.com/articles/2008/05/06/news/local_news/news03.txt



--------
5/7 Kitsap Sun

SK Wetland Cleared of Trees and Plants

By Christopher Dunagan

SOUTH KITSAP

Ken Baker frequently visited a pond nestled among trees and heavy vegetation near his home in South Kitsap. Calling it his "sanctuary," Baker often escaped to the pond at the end of a stressful day.

He had owned the property off Phillips Road and its wetlands for many years. When he sold the land two years ago, he retained an easement so he could cross the property and seek refuge at the pond whenever he wanted.

Last month, after returning from a three-week vacation, Baker wandered down to the pond and was shocked to discover all the trees cut down, the land stripped bare and some dirt piled up around the edges of the pond.

More at
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/may/07/sk-wetland-cleared-of-trees-and-plants/