1/10 Black widow, Ferguson's budget, fish weirs, thriving gulls, killing barred owls, ship-whale collisions, bird help, week in review

 

Black widow spider

Black widow spider
Latrodectus is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that are commonly known as the true widows, a group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders.  (Wikipedia)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Stakes are high for undocumented residents

Ferguson pitches spending cuts, voices skepticism of ‘wealth tax’
The governor-elect says his plan could yield $4 billion in savings to help close the state’s roughly $12 billion budget shortfall. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Fish weirs are still banned under the Fisheries Act. This First Nation wants to build a new one
Sumas First Nation is trying to construct a fish weir on its traditional territory in B.C.’s Fraser Valley, in the face of environmental and bureaucratic obstacles. Amy Romer reports. (The Narwhal)

Sea gulls 'thriving' around B.C.'s Salish Sea, researchers say
A positive picture is being painted for researchers looking into the health of glaucous-winged gulls on the Salish Sea. Started in 2020, the five-year project is designed to establish ecological baselines for gull health in the Salish Sea. With field work completed, researchers will now be analyzing contaminant levels and pathogens in local gulls and comparing those findings with gull populations elsewhere. Jessica Durling reports.(North Delta Reporter)

BLM endorses plan to kill barred owls on federal land, as Oregon lawmakers push back
The Biden administration appears to be doubling down on a plan to kill barred owls in order to protect the northern spotted owl populations in Northwest forests. But a group of bipartisan Oregon legislators says it’s a cruel and wasteful plan. They’re calling on the incoming Trump administration’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency to reverse the decision. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

Whale, ship collisions around the globe could be helped by slower speeds, study shows
Giant ships that transport everything from coffee cups to clothes across the ocean are often so large they can’t tell when they collide with a whale. Now, research out of the Northwest could help these massive vessels avoid collisions with whales around the world. These collisions are one of the major reasons large whales die, but it’s really hard to study. Often, the whales sink to the bottom of the ocean. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

How to encourage birds to join your garden crew
Birds? Really? Yes! Birds are a highly skilled first line of defense against many pests, from aphids to sow thistles. Many native birds eagerly eat both bugs and seeds, so gardens lively with birds tend to be healthy places. Ann Lovejoy writes. (Kitsap Sun)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/10/25: Tintin Friday, drilling ban, 2 new monuments, Skagit battery storage, BC hydrogen, Trudeau's legacy, Skagit dams, WA net-pen ban, WA voters outlook.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 AM PST Fri Jan 10 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  THIS EVENING  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE  TONIGHT    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt with gusts up  to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft, building to 10 to 14 ft this  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 13 ft at 11 seconds. A slight chance of  rain early this morning.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 20 to 25 kt. Gusts up to 35 kt in the evening.  Seas 9 to 13 ft, subsiding to 8 to 11 ft after midnight. Wave  Detail: W 12 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  NW wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  NE wind around 5 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 12 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  11 seconds and W 4 ft at 19 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/9 Black coral, net-pen ban, late climate report, BC masking, WA pessimism, grizzly ESA

Black coral [Dr. Scott France]

Black coral Antipatharians
Black corals are an order of soft deep-water corals. Though they have historically been used by Pacific Islanders for medical treatment and in rituals, its only modern use is making jewelry. Black corals have been declining in numbers and are expected to continue declining due to the effects of poaching, ocean acidification and climate change. (Wikipedia)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Discovery of soupfin shark surprises researchers

WA bans commercial net-pen fish farming
Commercial net-pen aquaculture is history in Washington. The state Board of Natural Resources on Tuesday adopted a rule banning the industry. The ban is a victory for outgoing Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, who told the board that the top duty for the Department of Natural Resources in leasing its aquatic lands is to protect them for future generations. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Despite state law, Washington takes 3+ years to reveal its climate pollution
Washington state disclosed its impact on the global climate on Monday, two years later than required by state law. The Department of Ecology’s new report on Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions covers the years 2020 and 2021. State law has required timely disclosure of Washington’s climate pollution every two years since 2010, with heat-trapping emissions for 2022 and 2023 to be reported by Dec. 31, 2024. The deadline for reporting 2020 and 2021 pollution was Dec. 31, 2022. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

BC orders masks in hospitals, care facilities as flu illness increase
Workers, volunteers and visitors in facilities operated by B.C. health authorities must now wear masks in areas where patients get care. (Canadian Press)

Majority of voters have a negative outlook on Washington’s future
Across political lines, Cascade PBS/Elway Poll respondents feel pessimistic about the state, citing the tax system, budget shortfall and housing costs. Mai Hoang reports. (CascadePBS)

Feds reject state petitions to delist grizzly bears, reaffirm protected status in Montana, Wyoming
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a new comprehensive approach to grizzly management including consolidating grizzlies into a single distinct population; Montana officials decry announcement. Micah Drew reports.(Daily Montanan)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  322 AM PST Thu Jan 9 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds, SW 2 ft at  12 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 5 seconds, SW 3 ft at 13 seconds and W  6 ft at 17 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/8 Black bear, Trudeau's legacy, Skagit battery energy siting, offshore drilling, sea sponge, Skagit dams

 

Black bear [Wikipedia]

Black bear Ursus americanus
The black bear is a species of medium-sized bear endemic to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. It is an omnivore, with a diet varying greatly depending on season and location. It typically lives in largely forested areas but will leave forests in search of food and is sometimes attracted to human communities due to the immediate availability of food. (Wikipedia)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Fear of the unknown: AI anxiety in academia

What is Justin Trudeau’s environmental legacy?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s climate-conscious government bought Canada an oil pipeline while ushering in significant environmental laws. Carl Meyer and Fatima Syed report. (The Narwhal)  Justin Trudeau's legacy gets mixed reviews from First Nations in B.C. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Public comment again being taken on battery energy storage facility near Sedro-Woolley
The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council is again taking public comment on the proposed Goldeneye Energy Storage Facility east of Sedro-Woolley. Public comment will be open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Can Trump overturn Biden’s ban on offshore drilling? ‘It’s not so simple,’ experts say
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to overturn President Joe Biden’s sweeping, eleventh-hour ban on offshore drilling. But it’s easier said than done, according to legal experts. Brendan Rascius reports. (The News Tribune)

One sea sponge near the Island could give insight into our changing oceans
Belinda the sponge is proving that sea sponges are more active—and resilient—than previously thought. Robyn Bell reports. (Capital Daily)

The Skagit Opens Up For Fish
On Sept. 14, 1924, the Gorge Dam Powerhouse sent the first power generated on the Skagit south to Seattle. Since then, the three dams on the river have cut off salmon from natural spawning grounds. A century later, in April 2023, Seattle City Light, the utility that owns and operates the dams, committed to ensuring safe passage for fish around their structures. But with the specifics unclear, scientists and indigenous peoples are asking: Will the type of fish passage that comes from the utility be enough?  Ben Delaney reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  220 AM PST Wed Jan 8 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  14 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/7 Black rockfish, grieving orca, Biden's monuments, floating class, more blackmouth

 

Black rockfish [Monterey Bay Aquarium]

Black rockfish Sebastes melanops
The black rockfish is also known variously as the black seaperch, black bass, black rock cod, sea bass, black snapper and Pacific Ocean perch. It is sometimes misidentified as the "red snapper." (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Why count birds?

Grieving orca mom carries dead calf on her nose for fifth day
An endangered orca mother has been carrying her dead newborn calf on her snout for nearly a week around Washington’s Puget Sound. Whale watchers and researchers spotted the whale known as J35, or Tahlequah, and her dead daughter, known as J61, off Whidbey Island on Sunday. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Biden creates 2 new national monuments, setting a conservation record
President Biden is creating two new national monuments in California on Tuesday, preserving the lands from development and setting a record for the most land and waters conserved by any president, the White House said. Deepa Shivaram reports. (NPR)  Monument-Building: Biden Protects 100s of Millions of Acres of Offshore Land on his Way Out Joel Connelly writes. (Post Alley)

Victoria teachers, tour company fight to keep Salish Sea classroom afloat
'It gets them out into that natural world to make that connection and make them feel like they’re part of something bigger' Christine van Reeuwyk reports. (Peninsula News Review)

Blackmouth salmon
Yesterday's feature on blackmouth salmon prompted the following note from David Beatty: "Normally Chinook smolts, whether of natural origin (wild) or of hatchery origin when leaving freshwater in Puget Sound (PS) watersheds, have an instinct to migrate outward into the open North Pacific Ocean. Over 50 years ago, the then Washington Department of Fisheries initiated a program to hold hatchery origin Chinook smolts for a year longer than the normal time of three months. Upon release, the 15 months old smolts would have lost their instinct to migrate out of PS if there was a sufficient PS food chain for them to grow to adulthood. This program could lead to a winter recreational fishery for blackmouth salmon in PS. In 1993, the Washington Legislature established the Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Program within the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild Salmon Policy. Since the program started, the state salmon hatcheries in PS have increased the number of yearling hatchery origin Chinook released to 3 million each year. Additionally, volunteer organizations in PS began holding three month old hatchery origin Chinook smolts in marine net pens for a period of time, imitating the state program, other than these fish are not being held at the hatchery in freshwater for the additional months. These fish were fed and upon release there was the anticipation of them becoming PS resident blackmouth. Earlier evidence indicated that the rearing of smolts in marine net pens prior to release did not necessarily produce PS resident blackmouth. However, the released yearlings when becoming mature adults would likely home back to the area of release during their spawning migration from the North Pacific Ocean. In line with the Wild Salmon Policy, these PS blackmouth Chinook, being of hatchery origin, are to be adipose fin clipped. This WDFW program is funded by recreational fishers through the annual saltwater fishing license."

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Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  252 AM PST Tue Jan 7 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 25 kt, becoming E 15 to 25 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 15 seconds. A slight chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  NE wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 seconds and W  7 ft at 15 seconds. Rain likely in the evening.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/6 Blackmouth, offshore drilling, bad oysters, BC ship recycler, Fiero Marine Life Center, WA net-pen future, BC hydrogen, Skagit battery energy, one-day uni

 

Blackmouth salmon [WDFW]

Blackmouth salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook that live out their entire lives in Puget Sound are known as “resident Chinook” or “blackmouth,” a nickname derived from their dark gums. Some fish hatcheries release their Chinook later than normal to increase the blackmouth population and provide for winter sport fisheries. (Encyclopedia of Puget Sound)


Today's top story in Salish Current: More Canada crude is coming, but a trade war could hamper flow

Biden to ban future offshore drilling across more than 600 million acres
With just two weeks left in his presidency, Joe Biden will prohibit future oil and gas drilling off the entire East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the remaining portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. Biden will sign two memoranda Monday to permanently ban offshore drilling over more than 625 million acres of ocean to advance his commitment to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, a White House statement said.  By Jacob Fischler reports. (News From The States)

Oysters recalled in Washington and Oregon over potential norovirus contaminationT
he U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recalling oysters harvested from Puget Sound in December, citing possible norovirus contamination. It’s one of several recalls to impact the Pacific Northwest’s shellfish supply in the past month. (KUOW)

B.C. ship recycler penalized $46,105 for leaking toxic effluent into ocean
The penalties to Deep Water Recovery's Vancouver Island operations come after testing found toxic metal concentrations 160 times the provincial limit. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Marine Center receives $15 million
The Feiro Marine Life Center will receive $15 million from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries from the Inflation Reduction Act toward the construction of the Marine Discovery Center. Feiro and NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary have partnered to design and build a new joint visitor center downtown on the Port Angeles Waterfront Center campus. (Peninsula Daily News)

DNR board to vote on future of net-pen fish farming in WA
The Board of Natural Resources on Tuesday will consider a rule proposed by Hilary Franz, commissioner of public lands, that would end the nearly 40-year history of commercial net-pen fish farming in the state. That would bring Washington in line with California and Alaska, which ban the practice. Oregon has no commercial net-pen farms. British Columbia is phasing in a ban by 2029. Net-pen fishing can be a lucrative business, but it requires operations on state-managed aquatic lands. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

How can B.C. meet its hydrogen goals?
The provincial and federal governments both hope the element can offer a low-emissions alternative to fossil fuels, and have made significant investments in hydrogen production in B.C. But producing low-emissions hydrogen requires a significant amount of renewable power — power that at the moment officials say B.C. cannot offer on an industrial scale. These challenges have put the province's largest hydrogen project on indefinite hold, and been an obstacle for the province's emerging hydrogen industry.  Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC) 

Battery energy storage system approved for industrial land west of Mount Vernon
A private energy company has received a special use permit to construct a 200-megawatt lithium-ion battery energy storage system, or BESS, on industrial land west of Mount Vernon. The project, proposed by NextEra Energy Resources, is the first large electrical storage system to be approved in Skagit County. The project, proposed for a Sierra Pacific-owned property south of Ovenell Road and the Skagit Regional Airport, would entail around 92 single-story inverter/transformer units and 368 battery cabinets within an 18-acre area surrounded by a security fence. Julia Tillman report. (CDN)

One-day university focuses on Salish Sea
On Saturday, Feb. 1, up to 350 people will return to the classroom at Coupeville High School for “a one-day university for all.” For the 31st year, Sound Waters University is gathering environmental experts who will discuss issues and challenges faced by the Salish Sea and those who strive to protect it. Luisa Loi reports. (Whidbey News-Times)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PST Mon Jan 6 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 18 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 16 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/3 Dolphins, Skagit dams relicensing, ghost gear, road salt, white pelicans, Nooksack pollution, BC wildfires, week in review

Acrobatics, dolphin style [Laurie MacBride]

Dance of the Dolphins
We saw no whales on our boat trip this past summer, but some of their smaller cousins put on a surprise performance for us on one very memorable morning. We were anchored in Tenedos Bay, a popular spot in Desolation Sound—a place we would never have expected to see whales or dolphins. So you can imagine our excitement as we spotted a pod of about 20 Pacific White-sided dolphins entering the bay and heading our way. To our delight, they cruised directly over to the part of the bay where we were moored. Laurie MacBride writes with photos. (Eye on Environment)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Clyde Ford to speak on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. / Annual event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of inclusion with music, inspiration

Extension granted on process to relicense Skagit River dams
The yearslong process to relicense the three Skagit River dams has gotten longer after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission agreed to a five-month extension. Seattle City Light’s license to operate the dams, which provide 20% of Seattle’s electricity, expires in April. The utility is asking that its license be renew for another 30 to 50 years. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Sea You Never: The Tragic Tale of Derelict Fishing Gear
Derelict crab pots are a consistent killer among crab populations. This abandoned gear leads to ghostfishing and the disappearance of the crabs. Peyton Perdue reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Road salt kills fertilized coho salmon eggs, say UBC researchers
The UBC data suggests salting roads at current levels in November or December is likely dangerous to coho and chum salmon. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Changes in Pacific Northwest white pelican populations puzzle scientists
White pelicans are distinctive. Their 9-foot white wings are black tipped, and can create a bit of a mirage when they fly, seemingly appearing and disappearing as they go. Their populations have increased considerably over the past few decades, and more recently, some pelicans have been spotted staying along the coast and in the Columbia River Basin for longer than expected. Allison Frost reports. (OPB)

Portage Pollution Creates Unsavory Shellfish
Fecal coliform bacterial pollutants entering the Nooksack River Watershed, leaves the Lummi Nation with uncertain access to their shellfish harvesting sites. Amanda Ferrell reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Canadian forests primed for more severe wildfire days, new research warns
Canadian forests are increasingly primed for severe, uncontrollable wildfires, a study published Thursday said, underlining what the authors described as a pressing need to proactively mitigate the "increased threat posed by climate change." The study by Canadian researchers, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, looked at Canadian fire severity from 1981 to 2020. Jordan Omstead reports. (Canadian Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/3/25: Tolkien Day, bird flu, toxic fertilizer, Hakai farewell, orca babies, stay away zone, Skagit dams, salt kills.

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  245 AM PST Fri Jan 3 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  E wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SE 15 to 20 kt late. Seas  6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: E  5 ft at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  3 ft at 6 seconds and W 6 ft at 16 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to around 5 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 7 seconds and  W 5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/2 Baby orcas, Kitsap forest, orca distance, Allen Cr habitat, invasive species, Burley Lagoon, avian flu teen

Editor's note: Thank you very much for your donation to the Salish Current fundraiser which ended on Dec. 31. We met and exceeded our goal with a total of $113,705 donated to take the Current into 2025. Mahalo. Mike Sato.

Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono
The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
Happy New Year

Today's top story in Salish Current: Social justice eludes many, impacts the whole community

Newborn southern resident orca calf confirmed, another feared dead
Excitement over a newborn southern resident orca calf that was spotted with the population's J pod earlier this week has been muted by news that another calf has died. The newly observed calf has been designated J62. Researchers say they don't yet know much about it. The deceased J61 calf was first seen travelling with J pod on Dec. 20 in Puget Sound. The newborn female orca was later determined by a team of researchers and scientists to be the offspring of mother J35, also known as Tahlequah, which gained global attention in 2018 when she carried the body of her newborn for 17 days. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)  See also: Famous orca mom carries another dead calf around Puget Sound John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Conservation effort in North Kitsap continues with $6.3 million purchase of forest
Over 450 acres of forest land has been acquired by Great Peninsula Conservancy, completing a major piece of the historic Kitsap Forest & Bay preservation effort near the North Kitsap community of Port Gamble. Melissa Conner reports. (Kitsap Sun)

New law requires boaters to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident orcas
Starting January 1, boaters in Washington waters must stay 1,000 yards away from SRKW at all times, which is approximately a half-nautical mile. There are currently just over 70 Southern Resident orcas, consisting of three pods: J, K, and L. The new law creates a uniform policy for everyone on the water, commercial, recreational and even kayakers and paddleboarders. Denise Whitaker reports. (KOMO)

Tulalip Tribes aim to boost salmon habitat at Allen Creek
Last month, the Tulalip Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Tulalip Tribes, acquired 33 acres surrounding a stretch of Allen Creek outside Marysville, just east of the Kellogg Marsh Grange Hall. An additional 4 acres of farm land were dedicated as a conservation easement. The tribes’ Cultural and Natural Resources Department plans to rebraid creek channels, replant native vegetation and remove culverts — all in the name of restoring coho habitat. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Climate change is helping invasive species take root in Washington
Non-native plants are crowding out native ones in the Pacific Northwest and posing new challenges for the organizations that manage them. Cassie Diamond reports. (CascadePBS) 

It would be Pierce County’s largest geoduck farm. Locals fought it. Now the state decides
Burley Lagoon, a body of saltwater that connects under the Purdy Bay Bridge to Henderson Bay, has been a site for shellfish cultivation since the 1930s, beginning with a farm operated by Tyee Oyster Company. It’s now managed by Taylor Shellfish Farms, a giant in Washington state’s shellfish industry. The fifth-generation family-owned company began managing the approximately 300-acre Burley Lagoon farm on a lease from Western Oyster Company in 2012, The News Tribune reported. Since that change in management, residents who live near the lagoon have voiced concerns about Taylor Shellfish’s proposal in 2014 to convert part of the farm to raise the large clams (pronounced “gooeyducks”). The company currently raises Manila clams and Pacific oysters there. Julia Park report. (Tacoma News Tribune)

B.C. teen with avian flu off oxygen, no longer infectious, Canadian health officials tell medical journal
A letter sent to the editor of The New England Journal of Medicine signed by Canadian health officials says the British Columbia teenager who tested positive for avian flu has been taken off supplemental oxygen and is no longer infectious. (Canadian Press)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  229 AM PST Thu Jan 2 2025    
TODAY  E wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain until late afternoon,  then a chance of rain late.
TONIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  4 ft at 5 seconds, W 7 ft at 14 seconds and W 2 ft at 19 seconds.  A chance of rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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