11/27 Diatryma, beach restoration, bird flu infection, BC Ferries funding gap, week in review

 

Editor's note: Salish Sea News and Weather will take a few days off and I wish you a safe and pleasant Thanksgiving. Before I shutter the shop, please consider taking a moment to make a monthly or one-time donation to support community-based local news with a monthly or one-time donation to the Salish Current 2xNewsMatch campaign. Thanks for reading and staying involved. Talk to you in December. Mike Sato.

Diatryma [Dan Coe]

Diatryma footprint
A 50-million-year-old fossilized footprint of Diatryma, a giant flightless bird, was found in the Racehorse Creek near Deming. The bird walked across mud deposited on top of sand, probably on the bank of a stream in the subtropical floodplain environment of the Chuckanut Formation. (NW Geology)

Today's top story in Salish Current: First-time voters and last-minute ballots / Post-election political, media realignments mean greater role for local news

'Sometimes you only get one shot.' Restoring salmon habitat and rejuvenating a South Seattle beach
Ashley Townes is leading a $300,000 project and working alongside the Rainier Beach Link2Lake committee, a neighborhood group, to bolster fish habitat as part of a larger project to rejuvenate Be’er Sheva Park in South Seattle, a Lake Washington beach that serves historically Black and diverse neighborhoods. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez reports. (KUOW)

Bird flu in B.C.: Teen infected with H5N1 stable but remains critically ill
Health officials have been unable to locate the source of the teen's exposure, despite exhausting contact tracing and tests. Cheryl Chan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C. Ferries faces 'funding gap' as fares fail to keep pace with capital costs
The cost of building new ferries is 40 per cent higher than it was in 2020, CEO Nicolas Jimenez told the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/27/28: Turkey Day, climate pollution, ship-whale collision zone, polluted pilings, Kootenay Creek settlement, Columbia R treaty.

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Here's your Thanksgiving week and weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  340 AM PST Wed Nov 27 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 kt, backing to SW late. Seas around 3 ft. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 5 seconds and W 2 ft at 13 seconds. Chance of  showers.  
TONIGHT  S wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 13 seconds. Chance of showers.  
THU  S wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 5 seconds and W 2 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers in the  morning, then showers likely.  
THU NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds and W  2 ft at 13 seconds. Showers likely.  
FRI  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 6 seconds. Rain likely, mainly late in the day.  
FRI NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 3 ft at  12 seconds. Rain likely.  
SAT  SE wind 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 9  seconds, W 4 ft at 12 seconds and W 2 ft at 21 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 16 seconds and W 3 ft at 19 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  17 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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11/26 Palm leaf fossil, Kootenay Cr spill, Mann Rd floodplain, Wiley Slough, orcas in False Cr, Discovery Bay oysters, Columbia R treaty

 

Editor's note: News and Weather will take a short break on Thursday and Friday and return in December. (December already!) We're very very close to meeting our 2xNewsMatch challenge and it would be great to meet the challenge by this month's end. A monthly recurring donation of $10, $15 or $20 will be doubled and will pay for the freelance stories reported in the Salish Current  and keep the Current freely available to be read by all. Please support open access local news. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Sabalites campbelli palm leaves (Wikipedia)

Fossils
Various plant and animal fossils have been found in the Chuckanut Formation. A fossil turtle shell was recovered from the formation at Clark Point south of Bellingham in 1960.  In 2023, the first articulated fossil fish was identified from the formation, which was a fragmented specimen of Phareodus. Eocene fossil trackways are found in the Chuckanut Formation, composed of birds, mammals, and some turtle tracks. It is thought that the Chuckanut Formation shoreline was of riverine environments combined with a large scale "bedding plane" of material deposition. Four deposition or track sites are known.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Three years, two deadly atmospheric rivers. Is B.C. ready for the next one? / Democracy in action starts with listening to voters

Missing link: Climate pollution surges in Washington state after pandemic lull (KUOW)

Class action lawsuit for massive 2013 fuel spill into Kootenay creek settled for $4.5 million
A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit for damages caused by a massive 2013 fuel spill in the West Kootenay's Slocan Valley.  An agreement signed by the lawsuit parties was filed in B.C. Supreme Court, with four defendants paying more than $4.5 million into a fund that could be divided among some 2,700 affected residents. Tom Popyk reports. (CBC)

Skykomish River project aims to create salmon habitat, reduce flooding
Historically, the Mann Road floodplain across the Skykomish River from Sultan was connected through a network of side channels. But in the 1960s, people disconnected channels when they began building levees and berms to protect buildings and farms. A streamlined river means flows are heightened during heavy rain or snowmelt runoff and reduces the number of protected side eddies and marsh area for salmon smolt to mature. A Snohomish County project funded by the Community Floodplain Solutions program hopes to collaborate with local property owners to restore former channels, but neighbors are wary of the project due to what they see as the county’s lack of communication. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Reopening of Wiley Slough celebrated
Wiley Slough is on the lower south fork of the Skagit River and is popular for birdwatching, hunting and walking. The area was restored to tidal marsh about 15 years ago but repairs required raising about a mile of dike by three feet, widening its base, and building a section of concrete floodwall. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Mother orca with 3 offpsring in Vancouver's False Creek a sign of recovery: researcher
A family of orcas in Vancouver's False Creek have sparked joy among the people who saw them. Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia's marine mammal research unit, has identified the whales as a family group of transient orcas consisting of a mother and her three offspring. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

Discovery Bay Olympia oyster project receives more funding
The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee will receive $16,000 in funding to further an effort to support Olympia oyster populations in Discovery Bay. The funds are intended to be paid to Hood Canal Oyster Co. (HCOC), which won the bid for the project through a request for proposal (RFP). Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Canada working with Biden team to finalize B.C. river treaty before Trump takes office
Top officials in both Canada and the United States are pushing the need to finalize the Columbia River Treaty to manage water flowing between the two countries before the administration change in America. There are concerns that the incoming Trump administration may undo the progress made in negotiations so far. At a news conference in September, Trump claimed that Canada had "essentially a very large faucet" that was sending water into the Pacific Ocean but that it could be turned around to send water "right into Los Angeles" to help with natural disasters. (Canadian Press)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PST Tue Nov 26 2024    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 6 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.



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11/25 Fossils, climate pollution, loonie, ship-whale zone, polluted pilings, octopus in storm

Editor's note: News and Weather will take a short break on Thursday and Friday and return in December. (December already!) We're very very close to meeting our 2xNewsMatch challenge and it would be great to meet the challenge by this month's end. A monthly recurring donation of $10, $15 or $20 will be doubled and will pay for the freelance stories reported in the Salish Current  and keep the Current freely available for all to read. Please support open access local news. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Fossils

Fossils
Geological events in the Western Strait of Juan de Fuca from 56 million to 20 million years ago resulted in the deposit of marine animals into the coastal substrate. Today you can find those fossilized animals while beach combing. The fossils pictured were found on Strait of Juan de Fuca beaches from Twin Rivers to Neah Bay in Washington State's Clallam County. The fossil in the middle appears to be very similar to Hemigrapsus sp. found in today's intertidal zone. (Courtesy Pat McMahon)

Today's top story in Salish Current: At local food banks, accelerating need exceeds supply / Are totem poles Northwest tradition or cultural invaders?

Climate pollution surges in Washington state after pandemic lull
Policymakers and advocates are essentially driving blind as they pursue the difficult goal of slashing fossil-fuel pollution fast enough to help stabilize the planet’s rapidly heating climate. The Washington Department of Ecology plans to publish the state’s greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 and 2021 in December 2024. The Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment plans to publish an inventory of Seattle’s contribution to climate change for the year 2022 in December as well. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Will the Canadian dollar slip below 70 cents US?
The Canadian dollar has slipped to its lowest level in five years. Outside of the depths of the COVID pandemic, the loonie is weaker than it's been since 2015. And experts say there's every reason to think it will fall even more. The Canadian dollar has been on a long, slow decline since the summer of 2021. But the decline has picked up steam this month as the U.S. dollar soared on news that Donald Trump had won re-election. Peter Armstrong reports. (CBC)

Area off Vancouver Island a high-risk zone for ship-whale collisions: study
In B.C., a previously unidentified hot spot for whale-ship collisions was found off the coast of Vancouver Island. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Plucking polluted pilings: 1,200 are being removed along Tacoma’s Ruston Way
Crews have begun pulling the first of some 1,200 polluted pilings that once supported a sawmill on Tacoma’s waterfront. The site is one of “The Filthy Four,” according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Crews working for DNR started the project Wednesday at the old Dickman Mill site — now a Metro Parks Tacoma property. Craig Sailor reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Octopus captured on video battling B.C.’s bomb cyclone on ocean floor
The video shows the octopus using its tentacles to hang on, while its mantle — the sac above its head — is rippled by the fast-moving water. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  225 AM PST Mon Nov 25 2024   TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 5 seconds. Showers likely, mainly this morning.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less.

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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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11/22 Foxglove, fed hydrogen rule, BP green hydrogen, chum salmon, glass recycling, Site C dam naming, logging, bluebottles, week in review

 

Editor's note: Thank you for your donations to the Salish Current 2xNewsMatch campaign. We have completed our third week of our two-month campaign and are now only $2,300 shy of our first $15,000 challenge. We hope to meet that challenge by Thanksgiving week; that will ensure we have at least $30,000 in our 2025 budget to pay our freelance reporters and to keep the Current freely accessible for all to read. If you can make a $10 a month recurring donation, that will be doubled in our match campaign— and will provide the assurance of $20 a month support every month in 2025. Please donate. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Foxglove

Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, the foxglove or common foxglove, is a toxic species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, native to and widespread throughout most of temperate Europe. It has also naturalized in parts of North America, as well as some other temperate regions.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Early look at Skagit County 2025 budget includes property tax increase

Local lawmakers urge changes to proposed federal hydrogen energy rules
Three local lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to edit the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit to create flexibility for regional energy economies. U.S. Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina, Kim Schrier, D-Sammamish, and Rick Larsen, D-Everett, argue a strict section of the proposed rule undermines the intention of supporting the country’s growth of a hydrogen energy market. They say tight federal guidelines may be counterproductive in states that already have clean energy policies, like Washington. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

BP halts green hydrogen plant project at Cherry Point
The Whatcom County refinery was one of five worldwide BP had shortlisted to create sustainable aviation fuel. The energy giant was previously working toward establishing a large, standalone sustainable aviation fuels facility to be fed by a green hydrogen plant at Cherry Point. BP now looks to pivot toward creating sustainable fuel with mostly existing capabilities in the county. Isaac Stone Simonelli reports. (CDN)

Seattle park's record chum salmon run points to good conditions for sea life
Chum salmon appear to be having a boom year in the northwest. Numerous runs from Puget Sound to the Columbia River have seen near-record returns already, more than a week before the season usually peaks. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Seattle recycling faces 'unprecedented challenges' as bottle maker closes
Utility officials say glass recycling in the Seattle area faces “unprecedented challenges” as the region’s main manufacturer of glass bottles shuts its doors. The Ardagh Glass Packaging plant in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley shut down temporarily in July and permanently in November. The plant, a property of Luxembourg-based Ardagh Group, laid off 245 workers. The multinational company blamed competition from subsidized bottle makers in China and those in Chile and Mexico. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Site C dam to be given Indigenous name after flooding Treaty 8 territory
BC Hydro’s plans to give the controversial dam and reservoir Indigenous language names are being called inappropriate by a First Nations chief whose traditional territory was flooded by the megaproject. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Logging Is the Deadliest Job, but Still an Oregon Way of Life
Mostly employed in densely forested pockets of the Pacific Northwest and the South, loggers have the highest rate of fatal on-the-job injuries of any civilian occupation in the nation, outpacing roofers, hunters and underground mining machine operators. Kurtis Lee reports. Photographs and Video by Kristina Barker. (NY Times)

One Great Shot: Bluebottle Beauty
Each summer, thousands of bluebottles (also known as Portuguese man-of-wars) wash up along the shores of Sydney, Australia. These remarkable relatives of jellyfish are actually colonial organisms: each is made up of four kinds of specialized, interdependent bodies called zooids. One zooid provides the gas-filled sail; when the wind catches, it whisks the bluebottle across the ocean’s surface. The other zooids take care of hunting, digestion, and reproduction. Grant Thomas writes. (Hakai Magazine)  Note: The Hakai Magazine team is joining bioGraphic to deepen its coverage of ocean and coastal stories. (bioGraphic)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/22/24: Humane Society Friday, logjam, Dept. of Energy pick, bird flu, forage fish, wildfire logging, urban salmon, Great Bear Sea initiative, Pitt River Red Slough.

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-  203 AM PST Fri Nov 22 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  E wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to SE 30 to 35 kt this  afternoon. Seas 7 to 8 ft, building to 9 to 12 ft this afternoon.  Wave Detail: SE 9 ft at 7 seconds, SW 2 ft at 12 seconds and W  5 ft at 13 seconds. Showers.  
TONIGHT  S wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 6 to  9 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SE 8 ft at 7 seconds and SW  6 ft at 14 seconds. Showers.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 6 seconds and SW 5 ft at 11 seconds. Showers.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers.  
SUN  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 ft at 9 seconds. Showers.

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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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11/21 Elephant ear, storm damage, Red Slough restoration, Chilcotin River slide

Editor's note: We're a week away from the US Thanksgiving weekend and we'd like to reach our first match challenge of $15,000. We're about $3,000 short of matching the Salish Current 2xNewsMatch challenge and when we match it, we will have $30,000 to keep community-supported local news accessible for all to read. A monthly or one-time donation from News & Weather readers would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Elephant ear

Elephant ear
Colocasia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to southeastern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Orcas display uncanny behavior in historic Penn Cove visit / The new opportunity for Republicans and Democrats in Congress

How a powerful bomb cyclone ravaged the Northwest
This storm was off the charts. The bomb cyclone emerged from the middle of the Pacific Ocean and swirled with such intensity off Washington’s coast that it ravaged the region Tuesday night, ripping down trees, toppling power lines and killing at least two. Conrad Swanson and Catalina Gaitán report. (Seattle Times)

Powerful 'bomb cyclone' leaves 300,000 B.C. Hydro customers without power
B.C. Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk called it one of the worst storms he’s ever experienced: “Whether it was a bomb or a cyclone, it was a very significant event.” Darron Kloster and Cindy E. Harnett report. (Times Colonist)

'A special moment': Water again flowing at Red Slough on the Pitt River, fresh hope for salmon
B.C. Parks Foundation and the Katzie First Nation have announced the completion of one of the largest salmon restoration projects in Western Canada. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Site of massive B.C. river landslide remains unstable, effects on salmon not yet clear
Slide in late July dammed the Chilcotin River, created a lake about 11 kilometres long. Brenna Owen reports. (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-  239 AM PST Thu Nov 21 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY  NIGHT   TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 6 ft  at 11 seconds. A chance of rain this morning, then rain this  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds. 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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11/20 Dogwood, PRGT pipe, sharks, urban salmon, Great Bear Sea Initiative

 

Editor's Note: If you have power this morning, be thankful and reach out to those who don't. It takes a village. If you can, please donate today to Salish Current's 2xNewsMatch campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Pacific Dogwood

Pacific Dogwood  Cornus nuttallii
Pacific dogwood is also known as Western Flowering Dogwood.  It was named after Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist and zoologist. Relationships: There are about 100 dogwood species worldwide found primarily in temperate regions. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The roots of environmental evil: ‘Crimes Against Nature’

PRGT pipeline decision looms large for B.C.’s new environment minister
B.C.’s newly minted cabinet ministers have tough energy and environmental decisions to make, from the PRGT pipeline and LNG projects to Fairy Creek old-growth logging deferrals. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)  Controversial Pipeline Fighting to Avoid New Environmental Review Prince Rupert gas line has applied to extend approval granted a decade ago. Nicholas Gottlieb reports. (The Tyee)

Mysterious sharks gain recognition as scientists explore their contributions to Puget Sound
This past summer, two science papers documented, for the first time, the presence of two species of sharks not known to exist in Puget Sound. These species are commonly called sevengill and soupfin sharks. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Urban salmon return to Metro Vancouver streams to spawn
Efforts to rehabilitate urban waterways have helped bring spawning salmon back to parts of Metro Vancouver, including unlikely-looking streams surrounded by industrial and residential development. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

On BC’s North Coast, First Nations Are Building a New Economy
The Great Bear Sea Initiative is using conservation finance to create jobs and preserve nature. Arno Kopecky reports. (The Tyee)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  320 AM PST Wed Nov 20 2024    
STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 25 to 35 kt with gusts up to 50 kt. Seas 9 to 12  ft. Wave Detail: SE 8 ft at 8 seconds and W 9 ft at 15 seconds. A  slight chance of tstms.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE  5 ft at 6 seconds and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Showers.

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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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11/19 Catnip, storm, Hwy 20, bird flu, forage fish study, SRKW feast, windfarm appeal, wildfire logging, Elwha timber sale, owl hunting

Editor's Note: Before the storm hits— You receive today's News and Weather at no charge because it's a community service; won't you donate to provide fact-based, local news to anyone who wishes to read the Salish Current? Thank you for doubling your donation by donating today to our 2xNewsMatch campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato

Today's top story in Salish Current: Reducing and reusing as Bellingham recycling shifts

Catnip

Catnip Nepeta cataria
Catnip, also known as catswort, catwort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, parts of Mongolia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. (Wikipedia)

Western Washington braces for severe rain, wind storms brought by Pacific bomb cyclone
High winds and rain are expected to strike Western Washington on Tuesday. Meteorologists are advising residents to prepare for power outages and other stormy disruptions. Natalie Akane Newcomb and Dyer Oxley report. (KUOW) ‘Bomb cyclone’ set to lash B.C. coast Environment Canada is forecasting high winds and heavy rain for Vancouver Island. Some areas could be hit by easterly wind gusts of up to 100 km/h. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Highway 20 over the North Cascades to remain closed
The state Department of Transportation decided Monday to keep Highway 20 over the North Cascades closed until spring. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Bird flu decimated tern colony in northwest Washington
Study findings provide new details on a Caspian tern die-off near Port Townsend in 2023 and how the virus killed seals in the region, infecting their brains. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

WWU scientists awarded $638K grant to study forage fish survival in Salish Sea
A multidisciplinary team of Western Washington University Marine and Coastal Science (MACS) faculty were recently awarded a three-year, $638,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the new grant is to better understand the impact of polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) – a type of toxic fatty acid, or lipid – on a group close to the bottom of the food pyramid that impacts everything above it: forage fish. John Thompson reports. (WWU News)

Southern resident orcas feast on Puget Sound chum in long visit
The southern resident orcas have been spy-hopping, breaching, slapping their tails, chasing down chum salmon and dazzling onlookers from the shores of the Salish Sea. For nearly a month, they have been spotted mostly hanging around the “Possession Triangle,” or the waters from the south end of Whidbey Island to the Edmonds-Kingston ferry line. This may be one of the fish-eating orcas’ longest recent stretches in the inland waters. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Tri-Cities activists file lawsuit challenging approval of Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center
A controversial renewable energy project near the Tri-Cities is facing a lawsuit from locals. People who would live nearby are hoping to scale it back. Tri-Cities C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Community Action for Responsible Environmental Stewardship, has advocated against building the project. Courtney Flatt reports. (Northwest Public Broadcasting)

More logging is proposed to help curb wildfires in the US Pacific Northwest
U.S. officials would allow increased logging on federal lands across the Pacific Northwest in the name of fighting wildfires and boosting rural economies under proposed changes to a sweeping forest management plan that’s been in place for three decades. The U.S. Forest Service proposal, released Friday, would overhaul the Northwest Forest Plan that governs about 38,000 square miles (99,000 square kilometers) in Oregon, Washington and California. (Associated Press)

One timber sale canceled, two approved
Tree advocates have been partially successful in postponing the logging of forests owned by the state Department of Natural Resources and located within the Elwha watershed region, and they plan to continue their efforts until they achieve full success. At the November Board of Natural Resources (BNR) meeting, Hilary Franz, state commissioner of public lands and chair of the board, placed a pause on the Elwha Watershed “Alley Cat” timber sale. Despite advocacy efforts that included a petition with more than 300 signatures and a letter-writing campaign that generated more than 6,165 letters, the six-person BNR approved two other Elwha watershed sales, “Tree Well” and “Parched.” Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

The owl hunters: the deadly campaign to save a Pacific Northwest icon
Scientists slip into forests with guns, on a killing quest to save a NW icon. Joshua Partlow reports. (Washington Post)

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-  342 AM PST Tue Nov 19 2024   STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  WEDNESDAY MORNING    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming E 30 to 40 kt with gusts  up to 55 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 8 to 11 ft this  afternoon. Wave Detail: E 11 ft at 8 seconds and W 7 ft at  12 seconds. A chance of showers early this morning. A chance of  rain early this afternoon, then rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 35 to 45 kt with gusts up to 60 kt, becoming SE  25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt after midnight. Seas 9 to  13 ft. Wave Detail: E 13 ft at 9 seconds and W 8 ft at  15 seconds. 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/18 Spider plant, logjams, energy czar, Vancouver Is unceded lands, WA budget deficit, The Good Whale, warehouse project, orca protection

Editor's note: We begin our third week of our 2xNewsMatch fundraiser to support local news provided by Salish Current for everyone to read. We are $4,500 short of meeting our first $15,000 challenge grant and it would be great to meet that challenge and have $30,000 secured for 2025. You receive today's News and Weather at no charge because it's a community service; won't you donate to provide fact-based, local news to anyone who wishes to read the Salish Current? Thank you for doubling your donation by donating today to our 2xNewsMatch campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato

Spider plant

Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plant or common spider plant is named due to its spider-like look, and is also known as spider ivy, airplane plant, ribbon plant, and hen and chickens. It is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Asparagaceae. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: WWU community grapples with post-election uncertainty in a new Trump era / We failed the test to maintain our democratic institutions

The power of a logjam: A vision of the Northwest’s rivers of old
In their natural state, Puget Sound rivers are a braided mess of forested islands, jammed with downed wood and surging with salmon. Now work is underway to restore the lower Elwha to a version of its past — in part by building giant logjams. So far, the tribe has built about 80 logjams here, returning wood obstructions to the river’s life cycle 10 years since two hydroelectric dams were removed from the watershed. The jams further rebuild the resilience of the river, especially in consideration of the effects of climate change, said Jamie Michel, habitat manager for the tribe. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Trump picks Colorado oil and gas executive to lead Energy Department
Republican President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday he wants Chris Wright, a Colorado oil and gas executive who denies that the world faces a “climate crisis,” to serve the new administration as Department of Energy secretary. Quentin Young reports. (Washington State Standard)

Locked out: how a 19th century land grant is still undermining First Nations rights on Vancouver Island
On Vancouver Island, a vast swath of privately owned forest poses a unique challenge for five First Nations seeking redress for their unceded homelands. Julie Gordon reports. (The Narwhal)

With $10B deficit looming, WA governor calls on state agencies to make cuts
Washington’s outgoing governor says reductions are needed to balance the next state budget. Lawmakers may also consider new taxes when they convene next year. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

If you like to listen: The Good Whale
This is the story of a wildly ambitious science experiment to return a captive orca to the ocean — while the world watched. (Serial Productions and NY Times)

Pierce County warehouse project near popular trail approved; 100s of trees to be removed
The city of DuPont’s hearing examiner ruled Tuesday that a controversial proposal to build a 256,800-square-foot office/warehouse building near the popular Sequalitchew Creek Trail could move forward. If approved, construction of the “DuPont West” or “DuPont 243” project, could result in the removal of more than 350 healthy trees, including 56 protected landmark trees. Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Documents reveal Canada's early efforts to save orcas from 'catastrophic' oil spills
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has launched measures to try and protect endangered orcas on the West Coast from rising risk of oil spills, indicate federal documents obtained by Canada’s National Observer through access-to-information legislation. The fisheries department (DFO) has invested in vessels and acoustic gear, drafted an operating procedure for fishery officers, maintains community equipment caches and conducts training exercises led by a marine mammal response team that includes the use of underwater speakers to deter whales from entering a spill zone, the documents show. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  306 AM PST Mon Nov 18 2024   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON  
STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY  MORNING    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 6 to 9 ft  this afternoon. Wave Detail: W 11 ft at 13 seconds. A slight  chance of tstms. Showers.  
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 8 ft at 13 seconds. Showers.

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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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11/15 Periwinkle, Interior chief, avian flu protocols, BC herring, state money spending, underwater sound, week in review

Editor's note: We're completing our second week of our 2xNewsMatch fundraiser to support Salish Current which reports stories like the one below about Tilth's 50th anniversary. Your donation helps pay for its freelance reporting and keeps its stories and essays free for all to read. Please help keep community-supported journalism healthy with a donation to Salish Current today. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Common periwinkle

Common periwinkle Vinca minor
Common periwinkle (Lesser periwinkle, Dwarf periwinkle) was an ornamental groundcover popular for its fast growth and dense coverage that was deliberately introduced from Europe. However, it has since escaped captivity and spread rapidly through BC forest’s understories, choking out native plant species. Common periwinkle prefers shaded, moist conditions such as along water courses and in forested areas. It can reproduce through both seed and vegetatively.  This species is one of the “top six” invasive species still sold throughout BC – be sure not to purchase or trade this plant! (Invasive Species Council of BC)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Celebrating alternative agriculture: the 50th anniversary for Tilth

Trump expected to tap North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be secretary of Interior
North Dakota involved in 30 lawsuits against federal government, including a handful against Interior. Michael Achterling, Jeff Beach and Mary Steurer report. (North Dakota Monitor)

B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up avian flu protocols amid human exposure risk
British Columbia's chief veterinarian said in a letter to vets that clinics handling wild birds must have safety procedures in place and ensure staff are trained and equipped with proper protection. Ashley Joannou reports. (Canadian Press)

Hereditary chiefs call for a fishing moratorium to safeguard herring stocks
Concerned by the disappearance of herring in their territories, hereditary chiefs are calling for closure of the West Coast’s last commercial herring fishery. Four WSÁNEĆ Chiefs representing three nations gathered in Sidney on Wednesday to sign the Pacific Herring Declaration, which calls for an immediate moratorium on the upcoming Strait of Georgia commercial fishery. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)

See where state money is funding environmental work in Snohomish County
A new dashboard shows where dollars are going to overburdened communities across the state. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Electrical engineer to lecture on underwater sound
Eric McRae, a principal electrical engineer of the University of Washington’s applied physics lab, will speak at 3 p.m. Sunday at The Chapel at Fort Worden State Park on underwater sound. (Peninsula Daily News)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/15/24: Little Red Wagon Friday, Site C dam, coastal bird sanctuary, EPA chief, Biden's old growth, Klamath dams, BC floods, carbon dioxide, BC herring.

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-  235 AM PST Fri Nov 15 2024   
TODAY  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 8 to 10 feet subsiding to 4 to  6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds.  
TONIGHT  S wind around 5 kt, backing to SE 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain  after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 3 to  5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SE  5 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SW 5 ft at 5 seconds, W  7 ft at 12 seconds and W 2 ft at 17 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  13 seconds. Rain in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.

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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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/14 Bindweed, hot Earth, intertidal solace, WA voter turnout, 'green' hydrogen, Salish Sea keepers, 'Foxy'

Editor's Note: Readers of News and Weather enjoy this community service providing links to curated environmental news articles from Salish Sea news sources. Today's top story below comes from Salish Current, one of those news sources, a nonprofit community-supported effort. During November and December, I ask for your monthly recurring or one-time support during the Current's 2xNewsMatch fundraising campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Field Bindweed

Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Field bindweed is a perennial herbaceous plant with creeping and twining stems that grow along the ground and up through other plants and structures. It has an extensive system of rhizomes that can grow deep into the soil. Once established, field bindweed is nearly impossible to fully eradicate. It outcompetes native plants species and can reduce crop yields. It forms an extensive root system, often climbing or forming dense tangled mats. Hedge bindweed, Calystegia sepium, also called morning glory is similar looking but has larger leaves and flowers. (WA Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current: What’s next for the environment in Northwest Washington?

Amid Earth's heat records, scientists report another bump upward in annual carbon emissions
Even as Earth sets new heat records, humanity this year is pumping 330 million tons (300 million metric tons) more carbon dioxide into the air by burning fossil fuels than it did last year. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Finding Food and Solace in the Intertidal
On the complex pleasures of harvesting shellfish with the people you love. Emma Marris writes. (Hakai Magazine)

WA voter turnout dropped for all ages — especially young people
Participation for Washingtonians 18-24 dropped 8.5 points from the 2020 election, but improved compared to 2016. Nate Sanford reports. (CascadePBS)

How to Produce Hydrogen Gas as Cleanly as Possible
Green hydrogen? More like electrification with extra steps. Brian Owens reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Identity and environment collide in “Keepers of the Salish Sea”
Like his character Samuel, Squamish Nation playwright Justin Neal worked a marketing job in New York City and felt like there was something missing in life. Neal returned to the West Coast and carved his own path by founding Holy Crow Arts: an Indigenous non-profit theatre company with a focus on grassroots, community-based projects. Holy Crow’s latest work is "Keepers of the Salish Sea," which has its world premiere at The Cultch’s Historic Theatre on November 21. The play follows lead character Samuel as he receives a life-changing call that brings him back to Coast Salish lands. Samuel grew up off reserve, and is light-skinned and white-passing—which causes him to struggle with his identity. Susan Gill reports. (Georgia Straight)

An arctic fox found in Portland will soon live in a Wisconsin zoo
An arctic fox that was found lost and dirty in Portland last month will soon have a new home — and a new companion. The animal, nicknamed “Foxy” by some of her caretakers, will head to the Midwest on Thursday. The Oschner Park Zoo in Baraboo, Wisconsin, has agreed to house her with its resident male arctic fox, Apollo. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

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-  221 AM PST Thu Nov 14 2024  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 10 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of showers  early this morning, then a slight chance of showers late this  morning. A chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to  7 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 15 seconds. A chance  of showers 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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11/13 Common reed, avian flu case, Fraser R flooding, immigration chief, John Horgan

Editor's note: As News and Weather readers know, the environmental news clips curated in these pages  come from news sources throughout the Salish Sea. Some of those stories are also made available to communities served by the Salish Current which does require funding to operate as a nonprofit, open access news platform. Your donation during the 2xNewsMatch campaign makes it possible for Salish Current to continue as a community service. Please donate today. Thank you, Mike Sato.

Common reed

Common reed Phragmites australis
Common reed is a large perennial grass or reed with creeping rhizomes. It typically grows in or near wetlands but also may be found in sites that hold water, such as roadside ditches and depressions. Common reed forms dense stands, which include both live stems and standing dead stems from previous years. The plant spreads horizontally by sending out rhizome runners, which can grow 10 or more feet in a single growing season, rapidly crowding out native grasses. (WA Invasive Species Council)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Puget Sound researchers uncover shark secrets, but new questions arise

You might beat back phragmites, the scourge of wetlands, but then what?
The bane of American wetlands is a tall, dense reed called phragmites. Once the reed is poisoned and mowed down, what's left is a blank slate of mud—the perfect environment for phragmites to come right back.  Nell Greenfieldboyce reports. (NPR)

B.C. teen with avian flu is in critical condition, provincial health officer says
The teenager who tested positive for avian flu is in critical condition and being treated for acute respiratory distress at B.C. Children's Hospital, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says. (CBC)

3 years, 2 deadly atmospheric rivers. Is B.C. ready for the next one?
On the heels of another destructive atmospheric river that left 5 people dead, we have to learn how to live with water. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Trump readies for mass deportations with reported pick of Noem as Homeland Security chief
President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday night he will nominate South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which will carry out Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations of millions of people in the country without proper legal status. Ariana Figueroa reports. (Washington State Standard)

Everyone Has a John Horgan Story
Kind, fierce, down to earth, always caring, he left an impressive political legacy. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

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-  243 AM PST Wed Nov 13 2024  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt, becoming S  15 to 20 kt late this morning and afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft,  subsiding to 5 to 7 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at  7 seconds and W 6 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of tstms. Showers.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W after midnight. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at  15 seconds. A chance of tstms in the evening. Showers.

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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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/12 Holly, EPA chief, Biden's old growth, Klamath dams, gull sightings

 

Editor's note: Thanks to the News and Weather readers who have donated to the Salish Current 2xNewsMatch campaign. You help make it possible to report stories like the tidal energy project below. Please make your donation today to keep fact-based reporting available for everyone to read without paywall. Please donate today. Thanks, Mike Sato.

Holly

Holly
Ilex or holly is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family.  Holly – more specifically the European holly, Ilex aquifolium – is commonly referenced at Christmas time, and is often referred to by the name Christ's thorn. In many Western Christian cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration, used especially in wreaths and illustrations, for instance on Christmas cards. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: OPALCO’s Tidal Energy Pilot Project facing early headwinds

Have a Holly Noxious Christmas? State board eyes un-jolly label for invasive greenery
Washington state officials are debating whether to brand a traditional holiday decoration a noxious weed. The dubious decor is English holly. While many landowners struggle to rid themselves of the sharp-leafed invasive species, the state's holly farmers have been fighting to keep the pejorative label off their crop. Attitudes toward the painfully spiny shrub with bright red berries have changed dramatically over the decades. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

For EPA chief, Trump picks former Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York
President-elect Donald Trump Monday said he will nominate former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to serve as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin does not necessarily come from an environmental background. He’s an attorney and currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Zeldin serves as a chair of America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank that is packed with former Trump officials. “He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said. “He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.” Ariana Figueroa reports. (Washington State Standard)

Despite Biden’s promise to protect old forests, his administration keeps approving plans to cut them down
On Earth Day in 2022, President Joe Biden stood among cherry blossoms and towering Douglas firs in a Seattle park to declare the importance of big, old trees. “There used to be a hell of a lot more forests like this,” he said, calling them “our planet’s lungs” and extolling their power to fight climate change. The president uncapped his pen, preparing to sign an executive order to protect mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. “I just think this is the beginning of a new day,” Biden said. But two years later, at a timber auction in a federal office in Roseburg, Oregon, this new day was nowhere to be seen. April Ehrlich, McKenzie Funk and Tony Schick report. (OPB and ProPublica)

The Other Side of the World’s Largest Dam Removal
Removing dams from the Klamath River in Northern California seems like a clear win for fish and rivers. Why do some locals hate it? J.B. MacKinnon reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Residents can report gull sightings in Salish Sea this field season
You can report sightings of sea gulls with colour bands in the Salish Sea as part of a BC-wide project. Called the Salish Sea Gull Project, it focuses on banding adult and juvenile gulls along many parts of BC, where researchers can investigate their movement, site fidelity, and survival across the Salish Sea and beyond. Hussam Elghussein reports. (My Campbell River Now)

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-  240 AM PST Tue Nov 12 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON  
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE  TONIGHT   TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt late this  morning, then becoming SE 10 to 15 kt early this afternoon,  rising to 20 to 25 kt late. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 10 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of showers until  late afternoon, then rain late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 25 to 35 kt, with gusts up to 45 kt, veering  to S 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 7  ft at 5 seconds, SW 5 ft at 11 seconds and W 9 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain in the evening, then showers with a chance of tstms 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


11/11 Poppy, stormy weather, good rain, Site C dam, Crowberry Bog, bird sanctuary

 

Editor's Note: Salish Sea News and Weather is free to read as my volunteer effort to provide curated environmental news as a community service. Salish Current provides news and essays that likewise is free for all to read as a community service— but pays its freelance reporters. Please support fact-based community news which is freely accessible to all by donating to the Salish Current 2xNewsMatch campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Poppy [Papaver rhoeas]

Poppy
A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the source of the narcotic drug mixture opium, which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drug. It also produces edible seeds. Following the trench warfare in the poppy fields of Flanders, Belgium, during World War I, poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime, especially in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Commonwealth realms. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: After department shake-up, is permit processing in San Juan County better?

Series of storms bring wind, rain and snow to Whatcom County
Nooksack River nears flood stage. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)  Heavy rain, strong winds prompt weather warnings for B.C.'s South Coast Rainfall amounts up to 40 millimetres expected by Monday morning in most of Metro Vancouver, forecasters say (CBC)

Sometimes the rain never seems to end on B.C.'s coast — and that's a good thing for some
Rain is a key benefit for some communities, economies and businesses. (CBC)

Site C dam reservoir now fully filled, generating power but flooding land loved by locals
Project will increase province's electricity supply by 8%, B.C. Hydro says. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

A mysterious, rare bog is full of surprises on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Crowberry Bog sits like an inflated bladder above the surrounding landscape. Ed Jahn reports. (OPB)

Wildlife petition calls for new Vancouver Island coastal bird sanctuary
Conservationists want to connect Victoria Harbour and Shoal Harbour, creating a new Salish Sea migratory bird sanctuary. Ben Fenlon reports. (Lake Cowichan Gazette)

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-  609 AM PST Mon Nov 11 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON   
REST OF TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, backing to S late. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 6 seconds and W 7 ft at  13 seconds. A slight chance of tstms. Rain likely early this  morning, then showers late this morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft, building to 8 to 11 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: W 11 ft at 16 seconds. Showers 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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