12/30 White elephant, Winter Moon, egg shortage, BC bird count, toxic fertilizer, eating seal, night sky, Arctic orcas, wild cat deaths, good-bye Hakai

 

White elephant

White elephant
A white elephant is a metaphor for something that is expensive to maintain, has little use, and is difficult to get rid of. It can also refer to an unwanted gift or possession. The term "white elephant" comes from a legend about the King of Siam, who would give white elephants to courtiers who had displeased him. The courtiers would then have to care for the elephants, even though they had no use for them.


Today's top story in Salish Current: The colorful culture of this place where we live

‘It just tastes like time’: Salmon are a sacred relative to the Nisqually tribe and Native Americans across the Northwest
On a tall bluff that overlooks the south Puget Sound in one direction and sparkling headlights on Interstate 5 in another, members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe are gathering for a Winter Moon Celebration on the soggy solstice. Anna King reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Bird flu scrambled Western Washington egg market for the holidays, and good luck finding eggnog
If you’ve visited your neighborhood grocery store in Western Washington over the holiday season, you might have noticed the variety of eggs was lacking, as well as higher prices for the options that remained. That’s in large part because of a nationwide outbreak of bird flu that has led to the culling of 6.5 million egg-laying hens nationwide, including 2.5 million in California, one of the nation’s top-10 egg-producing states. Stephen Howie reports. (KUOW)

Binoculars in hand, B.C. birders unite for the annual Christmas Bird Count
The annual Christmas Bird Count has been tracking population numbers and species diversity since 1900. (CBC)

The E.P.A. Promotes Toxic Fertilizer. 3M Told It of Risks Years Ago.
The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.” Hiroko Tabuchi reports. (NY Times)

Seal is served: How coastal First Nations are reclaiming their roots by bringing back the hunt
To bring back the forgotten tradition, young Indigenous men from the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warriors Family harvested four harbour seals in October. Nora O’Malley reports. (Times Colonist)

We’re losing sight of the night sky. This First Nation is trying to protect it
Huu-ay-aht First Nation has followed the stars for centuries. Now the coastal B.C. community is safeguarding them for future generations. By Michelle Cyca reports. (The Narwhal) 

Orcas moved into the Arctic. It could be bad news for other whales, and humans too
Orcas in the Arctic could have consequences for "slow, chubby and delicious" potential prey whales such as belugas, narwhals and bowheads. Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press)

Bird flu roars through sanctuary in Washington, kills 20 wild cats: ‘We are heartbroken’
The Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington in Shelton, about 36 miles southwest of Bremerton, announced it is under quarantine and will be closed to the public until further notice to protect the remaining animals and stop the spread. Minnah Arshad reports. (USA Today)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
We started Hakai Magazine over 10 years ago because the ocean and its coastlines needed a voice. No other outlet was exclusively covering issues at the interface of sea and land—or of the marine world in general. Jude Isabella says goodbye. (Hakai Magazine)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PST Mon Dec 30 2024   TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 12 seconds. A slight chance of tstms early this morning. A  chance of showers this morning, then a slight chance of showers  this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 12 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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12/27 Snow goose, new orca calf, BC environment wins, geoduck farm, Indigenous rescues, Bainbridge tsunami plan, Everett port plans, exotic Christmas trees, snowberries, week in review

 

Snow Goose [All About Birds]

Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the “Blue Goose.” Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent. (All About Birds)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Orca whales, wildfire prevention, clean energy, oyster comeback make 2024 headlines

Tahlequah, mother orca made famous after death of calf, has a new baby
A new calf has been born to J pod, spotted for the first time just last Friday — swimming with Tahlequah, or J35, as she is scientifically known.  She is the mother orca who captured the world’s attention by carrying her dead calf for 17 days and 1,000 miles. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)  Newborn orca brings holiday cheer — and fear — to Seattle whale watchers Orca J35 made world headlines in 2018 when she carried her dead baby on her nose for 17 days. Her apparent 1,000-mile tour of grief threw a spotlight on the plight of the southern resident killer whales, endangered by pollution, ship noise, and a lack of salmon to eat. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Nature Wrapped: wins for the environment across B.C. in 2024
Salmon habitat was restored in the Fraser Valley, old-growth forests were protected on Vancouver Island and caribou habitat was conserved in the northeast. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Proposal to create geoduck farm in Pierce County draws opposition
The question of whether a longtime shellfish farm in Burley Lagoon can raise geoducks is inching toward a final answer. The Pierce County deputy hearing examiner approved the ]Taylor Shellfish Farms'] applications for shoreline permits this month... The examiner also rejected local environmental groups’ appeals of the project’s environmental impact statement, which found that the geoduck farm would have “negligible” to “minor” impacts on the lagoon environment. Julia Park reports. (Peninsula Gateway)

The First First Responders
When disaster strikes along British Columbia’s coast, Indigenous rescuers are often the first on the scene. Government-led initiatives are now formally recognizing that work. Adrienne Mason writes. (Hakai Magazine)

PNW 'doomsday:' New tsunami strategy aims to protect Bainbridge Island
The Washington Emergency Management Division announced the completion of a "Tsunami Maritime Response and Mitigation Strategy" for Eagle Harbor on Thursday, which is home to the island's ferry terminal and several marinas and docks. This report not only evaluates the risk of tsunamis but also recommends protections the city can take to minimize harm to residents and property. Marissa Center reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Port of Everett plans for sea level rise in new development
In the next year, the Port of Everett plans to break ground on the second and largest phase of its Waterfront Place mixed-use project. And as it gears up for development, climate change adaptation and mitigation are at the forefront of the port’s plans. A 2018 University of Washington climate assessment predicted by 2070, the Puget Sound will rise more than 2½ feet in Snohomish County. By the end of the century, the estimate increases to above 4½ feet. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Exotic Christmas tree species take root in the Northwest
The most popular breeds of Christmas trees are the Fraser fir, Douglas fir and Noble fir. Gary Chastagner, a research plant pathologist at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center, is experimenting with exotic species of fir from the other side of the world that might better withstand hotter conditions amid climate change. Lauren Paterson reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Snowberries
Reader John Conley writes: "Regarding the Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus, many wonder why the berries often persist through the Winter months.  In addition to the  saponins (which may be a deterrent), the berries are near the bottom of the list of our local fruits when it comes to nutrition.  Deer and birds will eat them, but usually only when other berries (huckleberries, rose hips, currants, etc.) are not available.  When you see the snowberries disappearing, it is a hard Winter for the wildlife."

Reader Don Norman writes that he "has only noted snowberry being eaten in late winter by towhees, song sparrow, and robins (and varied thrushes!), especially during very cold weather.  It could be the berries are a water source, the birds are hungry and eating anything, or perhaps the snowberries' nasty saponins degrade as the winter progresses...  So if it is going to be a snowy winter, leave your berries!"

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/27/24: Fruitcake Friday, new orca calf, more logging, BC environment wins, toxic fertilizer, bird flu.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  251 AM PST Fri Dec 27 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to SE this afternoon. Seas  6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 6 seconds and W 9 ft at  15 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning. A chance  of rain early this afternoon, then rain late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, veering to S after midnight. Seas  7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 4 seconds and W 10 ft at  16 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  SW wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: W 11 ft  at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 15 seconds.  Rain likely.  
SUN  E wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to SW in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at  14 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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12/23 Snowberry, orca calf, logging, bad oysters, battery storage, dead marine mammals, boat turn-in, Columbia R treaty, holly

 

Common Snowberry (Native Plants PNW]

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry is found from southeast Alaska to southern California; all across the northern United States and the Canadian provinces. Snowberries are high in saponins, which are poorly absorbed by the body.  Although they are largely considered poisonous, (given names like ‘corpse berry’ or ‘snake’s berry’), some tribes ate them fresh or dried them for later consumption. (Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Unseen and overlooked Anacortes / Seeing the forests through the plantations

New calf born in pod of endangered southern resident orca whales, researchers say
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) said the orca calf was spotted swimming with J pod in Puget Sound Friday, Dec. 20, and say it is most likely the child of the orca known as J35. CWR said it has not yet had an official encounter with the calf to confirm its lineage. Jeff Lawrence reports. (CHEK)

Logging would be allowed in millions of acres of national forest in Washington, Oregon and California, including older trees currently off-limits to cutting, under proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Plan...The Biden administration has embarked on an update of the plan to address changes, including a loss of nearly 7% of protected old-growth forest within the plan area because of wildfire. The loss has eliminated gains of old growth achieved during the first 25 years of the plan. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Taylor brand oysters distributed in 3 provinces recalled over possible norovirus contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible norovirus contamination of certain oysters distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The agency says the recall covers certain Fanny Bay, Sunseeker and Cloudy Bay oysters under the Taylor Shellfish Canada brand. The recall says most of the affected oysters were harvested and processed in early December, although some may have been harvested as early as Nov. 27. (Canadian Press)

Skagit County hearing examiner considers battery energy storage facility
A Skagit County hearing examiner considered Friday whether to grant a special-use permit for a battery energy storage facility in the Bayview Ridge area west of Burlington. The facility would be on about 22 acres along McFarland Road. The property is near a Puget Sound Energy substation and is zoned heavy industrial. The facility would be able to store up to 200 megawatt hours of energy for about four hours, increasing the power capacity and grid resiliency of the area, according to Skagit County. Racquel Muncy reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Activists sue to release images of dead orcas entangled by fishing boats
Activists sued the federal government Thursday to release images of dead orca whales, sea lions and other marine mammals entangled by commercial fishing boats off the U.S. West Coast. The complaints were filed after the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration failed to fulfill multiple Freedom of Information Act requests filed by Oceana, a Washington-based conservation group, as part of its campaign to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of trawl fishing in federally managed waters. (Associated Press)

Skagit County vessel turn-in event brings in 49 boats
Forty-nine vessels were kept from possibly becoming abandoned or derelict during a state Department of Natural Resources’ Vessel Turn in Program event held in Skagit County. The event, which ran July 22 through November, allowed vessel owners to responsibly dispose of their unwanted boats for free. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Stopgap Columbia River Treaty leaves U.S. with more electricity, trickier flood management
A stopgap update to the 60-year-old Columbia River Treaty between the U.S. and Canada upends flood control and hydropower across the river basin. The U.S. Department of State announced the temporary agreement late last month. It shifts flood risk management mostly to the U.S., which could make it trickier to manage floods on the Lower Columbia. But it also lets the U.S. keep an estimated $100 million in hydropower previously sent north. The new regime will have downstream impacts on hydropower generation, flood-control costs and ecosystems in ways that river managers say are not entirely clear yet. Henry Brannan reports. (The Columbian)

Holly
Reader Forest Shomer comments regarding Washington state efforts to label holly a noxious weed: "The eight holly growers could and should set a positive example, by helping develop and then cultivating a sterile hybrid form of the species. I don’t think many would object to a sterile holly, but as long as it is only available as an aggressive invader of our parks and forests—it is non grata to those of us who labor to keep heritage lands intact for the future (and present."

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  219 AM PST Mon Dec 23 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 20 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to  13 ft, building to 11 to 15 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 5 seconds and W 14 ft at 19 seconds. Rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 20 to 25 kt, veering to S after midnight. Gusts  up to 40 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft, subsiding to 7 to 10 ft after  midnight. Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 12 ft at  18 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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12/20 Poinsettia, compost pollution, bad oysters, ivy ban, bird flu, NW hydrogen hub, week in review

 

Editor's note: Thank you, good readers of News and Weather, for your support of local not-for-profit news and Salish Current. Thanks to your donations and that of other community organizations, we're on our way to reaching our $100,000 fundraising goal before Dec. 31. If you haven't yet donated to help keep community news free for all to read, please make your monthly or one-time donation. I'll be back with News and Weather next Monday and Friday. Please have a happy and safe holiday season. Mahalo, Mike Sato.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima
Poinsettia is a well-known member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), commonly sold as an ornamental at Christmastime. The poinsettia is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides.  Cultivated varieties are available with white, pink, mottled, and striped bracts, but the solid red varieties, in several shades, remain in greatest demand during the Christmas season. (Brittanica)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Seeking festive cheer while struggling with financial fears / Invasive ‘murder hornets’ found in Washington have been eradicated, officials say

Abbotsford composting company fined nearly $120,000 for polluting waterways
Pacific Coast Renewables Corp. was found to be releasing effluent with unsafe levels of contaminants such as ammonia into waterways that reached the Fraser River. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters
Health officials in British Columbia say at least 64 people have become sick after eating raw oysters from restaurants and retail locations. A statement from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the provincial health authority says the "norovirus-like" gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported since Nov. 1 in the Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Island Health regions. (Canadian Press)

Why Washington state aims to ban English ivy
It’s not a war on Christmas. But two botanical symbols of the holiday — holly and ivy — face increasing controls in Washington due to the ecological havoc they can wreak when they escape into the wild. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is proposing to ban the sale or transport of English ivy and its cousin, Atlantic ivy, by adding the plants to the state’s list of quarantined species. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Bird flu kills Olympic Peninsula cougars in WA
Two wild cougars on the Olympic Peninsula have been killed by bird flu, as the disease continues to spread to more species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organization, confirmed the deaths Thursday. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)  See also: How Worried Should We Be about Bird Flu, Lyme Disease and Rabies? California declaring a public health emergency over bird flu, which hospitalized a British Columbia teenager for weeks. A fourth case of chronic wasting disease among deer. Tens of thousands of sea lions dying of H5N1. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Regulators to assess environmental risks of Northwest Hydrogen Hub
The U.S. Department of Energy is beginning its environmental impact assessment of the program, which promises about $1 billion in federal funding for the region. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/20/24: Sacagawea Friday, WA budget, Fairy Cr, WQ standards, Columbia R salmon, youth climate cases, Columbia R Superfund listing, dam operations, Whitman College dining.

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-  209 AM PST Fri Dec 20 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM PST THIS MORNING  THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at  12 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds. Rain early this morning,  then a chance of rain late this morning. Rain this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 5 seconds, SW  4 ft at 12 seconds and W 5 ft at 16 seconds. Rain after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, veering to S in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 5 seconds, SW 4 ft at  14 seconds and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and SW  9 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 6 to  9 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds, W 8 ft at 14 seconds and  SW 4 ft at 14 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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12/19 Mistletoe, rising tide, youth climate, Columbia dam operations, canoe in forest, Whitman College foods, fauna and flora

 

Editor's note: Second to the last day of my asking you to make a donation to support not-for-profit, independent, local news reporting that's open and accessible for all to read. The story below about chum salmon returning to the restored Padden Creek is a good example of the freelance reporting published by Salish Current. Your monthly or one-time donation helps pay for the reporting and keeping access to the reporting free of paywalls. News and Weather supports open-access reporting as a community service and asks for your support for Salish Current in its year-end fundraising campaign. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The salmon come home after home is restored / The season of (more!) waste

If you like to watch: Puget Sound Waves Push Into Seattle Suburb
Strong winds just outside of Seattle pushed water from the Puget sound ashore, entering people’s homes, knocking down fencing and leaving residents with an extreme mess to clean up. But, this event wasn’t due to wind alone. Something else is going on. (The Weather Channel)

Montana Supreme Court affirms decision in historic youth climate case
A state limit on the analysis of greenhouse gas emissions is unconstitutional, the court says. Micah Drew and Blair Miller report. (Washington State Standard)

Federal agencies to revise environmental study for Columbia River Basin dam operations
Supplemental study will consider new data about dam breaching, which environmental advocates say would restore salmon, steelhead populations. Mia Maldonado reports. (Washington State Standard)

The Canoe in the Forest
An unfinished boat hidden on a remote island in Alaska illuminates a missing chapter in the history of traditional Haida and Tlingit canoe building. Joshua Hunt writes. (Hakai Magazine)

How Whitman College is reckoning with its past
On a recent Friday, the menu at Whitman College’s dining hall looked a little different than normal. There was roasted elk, fry bread with huckleberry jam, and cedar plank smoked rainbow trout.  These “first foods” are representative of the region’s Indigenous people. And Whitman College will now have a station highlighting them on the first Friday of every month. Susan Shain reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Christmas anemone
Reader Wendy Feltham points out that Tuesday's Christmas anemone featured photo was in fact Urticina grebelnyi. Researchers separated it from Urticina crassicornis in 2006, but it takes a very long time for the field guides and Wikipedia to catch up. These are the anemone researchers.

Christmas tree
Regarding traditional decorations of the Christmas tree featured yesterday, a reader writes that "Sweetmeats" would be a great name for a death metal band.

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-  205 AM PST Thu Dec 19 2024   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE  3 ft at 7 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 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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12/18 Christmas tree, aspen, wealth tax, loonie, youth climate case, Columbia R Superfund, Edmonds tree ordinance, Milltown Is

 

Editor's note: Today is the third to the last day I'm going to ask you to support not-for-profit local news and Salish Current. Next week, Christmas falls on a Wednesday and News and Weather will take a break on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. So, before the year ends, how about making a monthly or one-time donation to support local news and Salish Current with a donation? Thank you. Mike Sato.

Christmas tree

Christmas tree
A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was developed in Central Europe, particularly Germany and Livonia (now Estonia and Latvia), where Protestant Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. The tree was traditionally decorated with "roses made of colored paper, apples, wafers, tinsel, [and] sweetmeats". Moravian Christians began to illuminate Christmas trees with candles, which were often replaced by Christmas lights after the advent of electrification. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Allied Arts is on the move

Aspen is a natural fire guard. Why has B.C. spent decades killing it off with glyphosate?
The BC NDP government promised to phase out its use in forestry, but decades of herbicide spraying has reduced biodiversity and the potential for wildfire mitigation. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal) Glyphosate use in B.C. forestry, explained Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Inslee proposes taxing wealthy residents and businesses to close Washington's budget gap
His final two-year spending plan calls for raising about $13 billion over four years from additional taxes. Republicans decry the approach. Jerry Cornfield and Laurel Demkovich report. (Washington State Standard)

Canadian dollar dips below 70 cents US for first time since March 2020
Loonie first hit 0.6999 US in early morning hours Tuesday, according to Bloomberg data. Jenna Benchetrit reports. (CBC)

Canadian youth climate case will go to trial in Vancouver in 2026
The group argues Canada's contribution to climate change violates their rights to life, liberty, and security. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Nearly 150 miles of Columbia River added to EPA’s Superfund list
Sediments behind Grand Coulee Dam contain heavy metals from Canadian smelter. Henry Brannan reports. (Washington State Standard)

Judge finds Edmonds tree mandate unconstitutional
Snohmish County Superior judge George Appel has found unconstitutional that a residential property owner wishing to remove a tree be required by the city of Edmonds to plant two trees and dedicate the tree site as public property. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Fish and Wildlife adding 15 acres to Milltown Island Unit of Skagit Wildlife Area
The Milltown Island Unit is an island and estuary area in the south fork of the Skagit River that is only accessible by boat. The unit is south of Conway. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  206 AM PST Wed Dec 18 2024  
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  W wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt late this  morning, easing to 10 to 15 kt early this afternoon, becoming S  5 to 10 kt late. Seas 5 to 8 ft, subsiding to 4 to 6 ft this  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 9 seconds and W 2 ft at  18 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds, W  6 ft at 12 seconds and W 6 ft at 16 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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12/17 Christmas anemone, human health standards, gray whale, diesel spill, Mount Polley mine, Columbia salmon returns, Skagit birding

 

Editor's note: It's always sad news to report the closing of a local newspaper and the story below about the closing of La Conner's weekly paper is a tough one to take, especially during this time of year. Not-for-profit, community-supported news is one business model the Salish Current is pursuing and it will only work with the financial support of its community. Please support community-based news with a monthly or one-time donation before the end of the year. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Christmas anemone

Christmas anemone Urticina crassicornis
Urticina crassicornis, commonly known as the mottled anemone, the painted anemone or the Christmas anemone, is a large and common intertidal and subtidal species of sea anemone. Its habitat includes a large portion of the coastal areas of the northern hemisphere, mainly polar regions, and it lives a solitary life for up to 80 years. Mottled anemones are similar to Dahlia anemones (U. felina) and both are commonly referred to as northern red anemones. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: Future of La Conner newspaper unclear despite community efforts to save it

Protecting the health of people who eat fish: The long battle over water quality standards
...A lawsuit filed against the EPA over toxic pollution limits is finally due for a decision. All the old players are waiting anxiously for a judge to decide if the EPA — and now the state Department of Ecology — have made reasonable choices. Even if the judge sides with the EPA and Ecology, the case is likely to be on appeal when President Donald Trump returns to office with a pledge to overturn regulatory controls within the EPA. Christopher Dunagan writes. (Puget Sound Institute)

North Puget Sound Gray Whale ‘Little Patch’ among animals returning to Salish Sea early
Whales have been returning to the Salish Sea earlier than usual, according to a news release from researchers. The whale “Little Patch” is the first of the North Puget Sound Gray Whales, or “Sounders,” to return to the Salish Sea, as reported by the Orca Network and Cascadia Research Collective. Experts said the whale’s spotting has continued a trend of early arrivals. (KIRO)

Island First Nation closes clam beaches after 'human error' diesel spill at fish farm near Zeballos
Up to 8,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled into Esperanza Inlet while it was being transferred at a Grieg Seafood fish farm. Jeff Bell and Michael John Lo report. (Times Colonist)

How toxic impact of Mount Polley disaster filters through B.C. waters
The catastrophic collapse of a tailings dam in the B.C. Interior sent about 25 million cubic metres of poisoned water from the copper and gold mine surging into waterways including Polley and Quesnel lakes on Aug. 4, 2014. Darryl Greer reports. (Canadian Press)

Number of salmon returning to Columbia River Basin stays flat over last decade
Average salmon and steelhead counts in the Columbia River Basin over the last decade are still well below officials’ goal of 5 million fish per year. From 2014 to 2023, just 2.3 million salmon and steelhead made the same journey. That’s an improvement from the 1990s when that average fell to 1.3 million fish due to dams, predation and other environmental factors. James Dawson reports. (Boise State Public Radio)

A Puget Sound birding bounty just off I-5
As the days grow shorter and colder, thousands of winter waterfowl migrate to this valley, drawn to the region’s intertidal estuaries, marshes and rich agricultural lands. Bird watchers, too, flock to North Puget Sound to catch a glimpse of the birding bonanza: snow geese, swans, short-eared owls, Northern pintail and eagles and other raptors, from October to March... In early 2024, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife biologists identified around 10,500 swans and 66,300 snow geese from the Canadian border to North King County. Erika Schultz reports. (Seattle 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-  203 AM PST Tue Dec 17 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING THROUGH  WEDNESDAY MORNING    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming E 20 to 25 kt late this  morning and early afternoon, then becoming SE 15 to 20 kt late.  Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds, S 2 ft at  10 seconds and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt, veering to  W after midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at  5 seconds and W 7 ft at 12 seconds. Rain, mainly 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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12/16 Yule goat, WA budget, Fairy Creek, WA emission allowances, BC Ferries, plastic recycling, AI 'news'

Editor's note: It's the darkest time of the year and a bright light nearing the end of our dash to meet our fundraising goal. Salish Current receives more donations in December than any other time of the year, go figure, and we'd like to say thank you in advance to those who plan to help us move into 2025 with more local news, essays and curated news clippings that's free to read with out paywall. If you haven't already, please make a monthly or one-time donation to our fundraising campaign. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Yule goat

Yule goat
The Yule goat is a Scandinavian and Northern European Yule and Christmas symbol and tradition. Its origin is from Germanic paganism and has existed in many variants during Scandinavian history. Modern representations of the Yule goat are typically made of straw. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Should we be subsidizing the profligate power consumption of mansion owners?

Making sense of Washington’s multi-billion dollar budget hole
A reckoning has arrived over spending on programs and services that is expected to outpace state tax revenue. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)   A guide to understanding the Washington state budget It’s confusing, it’s convoluted, and it’s your taxpayer dollars. It’s budget season in Olympia. Laura Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C. government aims to permanently protect Fairy Creek
With old-growth logging deferrals set to expire in February, the BC NDP and Greens pledge to work together to safeguard the old-growth valley. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

WA’s top climate polluters hand in emission allowances — except one
The process of buying and turning in allowances for the greenhouse gases they emit into the atmosphere serves as a cornerstone of the state’s 2021 Climate Commitment Act, which survived a hard-fought repeal effort last month. Over the next few decades, state officials will ratchet down the number of allowances sold as a way of cutting emissions. This strategy is working as intended, officials with the state’s Department of Ecology say. Of the 97 major polluters in the state required to participate, 96 have turned in their share of allowances. The lone holdout, a relatively small and defunct mill in Grays Harbor County with a checkered past, didn’t participate at all, marring the state’s otherwise perfect record. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C. Ferries submits application for 'largest capital investment' in its history
B.C. Ferries is seeking approval to build five new major vessels to help replace its aging fleet. The company is withholding cost estimates for now. Douglas Quan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Some say plastic recycling is ‘hopeless.’ Others are determined to fix it
Plastics are everywhere — from containers to house paint — and are leaching into water and food. Here’s what really happens to your blue bin — and what people are doing to reduce waste. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal)

AI slop is already invading Oregon’s local journalism
Silicon Valley’s latest hot technology is being used to further degrade the news available to Oregonians. Ryan Haas 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-  152 AM PST Mon Dec 16 2024    CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING    
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 5 seconds, W 2  ft at 11 seconds and SW 3 ft at 12 seconds. Rain, mainly this  morning.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 2 ft at 11 seconds and W 7 ft at  16 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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12/13 Clown nudibranch, Victoria bird count, Skagit Flats mud, Trump's seafood, week in review

 

Editor's note: Thank goodness it's Friday with our Week in Review feature wrapping up the week. I'm racing to the year's end finish line to meet the Salish Current fundraising goal of $100,000 and I thank those readers of News and Weather who have donated and ask those who have not, to help support not-for-profit local news available to all to read without paywall. Please make a monthly or one-time donations to our 2xLocalMatch challenge. Have a good weekend! See you on Monday. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Clown nudibranch [Moro Bay NEP]

Clown nudibranch Triopha catalinae
This is one of the largest nudibranchs able to crawl on the underside of the surface film in tide pools.  It feeds on bryozoans such as Bugula californica by digesting the soft parts.  Tide pool fish avoid Triopha, and this is believed to be because of some sort of chemical repellent. The species is usually one of the most common nudibranchs found near Rosario. Its geographical range is from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska to the Gulf of California. (Walla Walla University)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Health equity event brings rural Whatcom residents together to voice what’s needed

Victoria birders are tops for participation in annual count
Organizers of this year’s count — which runs over a 24-hour period on Saturday — are hoping to break their own record of 154 different species set in 2004. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Nick on the Rocks: Volcanic mud blooms tulips in the Skagit Flats
The famous flower fields are connected to mudflows that spilled from Washington’s Glacier Peak less than 15,000 years ago. Could it erupt again?Adam Brown reports. (CascadePBS)

Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen’s friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish
The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes for one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy — seafood — and some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Patrick Whittle reports. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/13/24: Horse Friday, Carlisle monument, 'Chevron doctrine,' Duwamish cleanup, monarch butterflies, Mount Polly mine, WA carbon auction, BC wind energy, I-2066 challenge.

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-  320 AM PST Fri Dec 13 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM PST THIS MORNING  THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING    
TODAY  E wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SE 20 to 25 kt with gusts  up to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 7 to  10 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 6 seconds and W 5 ft  at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  S wind 20 to 25 kt, veering to SW in the afternoon. Gusts  up to 40 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds  and W 9 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 6 to 9 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SE 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely.

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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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12/12 Coconut crab, WA carbon auction, BC wind energy, I-2066 suit, river rights

 

Editor's note: One of the true joys over the years in curating News and Weather has been the periodic contributions by readers to the flora and fauna profile featured at the top of the blog. Today's critter feature by Gene Helfman was prompted by yesterday's hermit crab feature. I'm not only amazed by the knowledge, expertise and experience among readers but also by their willingness to share that knowledge for all to read— freely. Truth, the best truth available, is a community good that should be available to all. Please support local news and the work of the Salish Current with a donation today. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Coconut crabs with Gene Hellman's father, Sam
[Courtesy]

Coconut crab Birgus latro
Pre-eminent among the crabs that evolved from hermit crabs back into free-living species is the coconut crab, the world’s largest terrestrial arthropod and terrestrial invertebrate. I studied their behavior for my master’s thesis in Palau and on Enewetak Atoll. They’re the top predator on small islands throughout much of the tropical Pacific. They pick up a snail shell when they emerge from the water as small juveniles but soon abandon the shell, live in burrows, and grow to immense sizes (9 lbs, 3 foot leg span). Here’s a photo of my dad holding two medium-size individuals suspended via the method commonly used when several are captured (they have to be kept apart or will actively kill and eat each other). They’re delicious, have been wiped out in many places due to human predation, and are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (Courtesy Gene Helfman)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community members explore new Mount Vernon Library Commons

With repeal measure rejected, WA carbon auction prices surge
Prices for Washington’s air pollution allowances rebounded at an auction this month, the first sale since voters upheld the state’s cap-and-trade program. The Department of Ecology on Wednesday said allowances the state offered on Dec. 4 sold for $40.26 each. That’s about 35% higher than the $29.88 sale price in September. Allowances for 2027, sold in advance at the latest auction, fetched $26 apiece. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

‘At what cost?’: wind energy projects now exempt from environmental assessments in B.C.
As the Alberta government shuns wind power, British Columbia plans to welcome the industry by exempting all new wind energy projects from an environmental assessment that usually takes one to two years. Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix announced the exemption on Dec. 9 at a press conference while confirming nine new wind power projects co-owned by First Nations will receive 30-year production contracts with BC Hydro. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

Officials plan to file lawsuit challenging constitutionality of I-2066
The coalition said Wednesday that I-2066 supporters misled Washington voters with an extensive misinformation campaign. Quixem Ramirez reports. (KING)

A river in Washington state now has enforceable legal rights
Voters in the city of Everett chose to grant the Snohomish River watershed rights to exist, regenerate and flourish as part of a November ballot initiative. Katie Surma reports. (Inside Climate News)

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-  326 AM PST Thu Dec 12 2024    
TODAY  SE wind around 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain early this morning, then  rain late this morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 15 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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12/11 Hermit crab, grocery merger, press freedom bill, Duwamish cleanup, monarch butterflies, Site C dam, Imperial Metals

 

Editor's note: News and Weather focuses on environment-related news but today's top two items— the big grocery merger now gone south and the freedom of the press legislation— are two issues I've been following and thought you'd like to follow as well. Having said that, I'll get out of the way after reminding you that we have only a few more days to meet out $100,000 fundraising goal to take Salish Current  into 2025. Please make a donation and help support local news freely accessible to all. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Hermit crab [Seattle Aquarium]

Hermit crab
Hermit crabs evolved from free-living crabs—and some hermit crab species have evolved back into free-living species, including Alaskan king crabs and porcelain crabs. There are over 500 species of hermit crabs around the world, and they’ve evolved a unique body shape to fit into their shell homes. Unlike free-living crabs, their abdomens aren’t covered in a hard exoskeleton but rather a thin, soft one; their abdomens are also twisted to fit the spiral cavity of the snail shells in which they make their homes.(Seattle Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Uphill climb to housing affordability

Albertsons gives up on Kroger merger and sues the grocery chain for failing to secure deal
Albertsons is giving up on its merger with Kroger and it is suing the grocery chain, saying it didn’t do enough to secure regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion agreement. The move came the day after two judges halted the merger in separate court cases. Dee-Ann Durbin reports. (Associated Press)

Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton blocks press freedom bill Trump said GOP ‘must kill’
An effort to pass a sweeping measure aimed at protecting press freedoms was struck down in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night. The journalism shield law — which would limit the federal government’s ability to force disclosure of journalists’ sources — drew strong objections from President-elect Donald Trump, who’s had a rather rocky relationship with the press. Shauneen Miranda reports. (Colorado Newsline)

Full cleanup begins at Lower Duwamish Superfund site
It has been 10 years since a plan was released for the dredging, capping and recovery of the 5-mile Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site. This fall, work began in earnest. For as much as five months each year, barges and excavators will make their way down the river, removing polluted earth. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species in US
U.S. wildlife officials announced a decision Tuesday to extend federal protections to monarch butterflies after years of warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change. Todd Richmond reports. (Associated Press)

Who stands to gain from the massive Site C dam?
After nearly a decade of construction, the massive Site C dam is finally generating electricity. But the debate about the megaproject is far from over. While it’s meant to power thousands of homes and electric cars, what is the real cost and who stands to gain? Camille Vernet reports. (CBC)

A Decade Later, Imperial Metals Faces Consequences for the Mount Polley Disaster
The company, still releasing mining wastewater into Quesnel Lake, faces charges under the federal Fisheries Act. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)  10 years after B.C.’s worst mining waste disaster, company faces charges Imperial Metals applied to expand its Mount Polley mine, still polluting a lake, earlier this year. Conservation advocates wonder if charges today will reduce future risks. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

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-  314 AM PST Wed Dec 11 2024  
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 15 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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12/10 Red-legged frog, BC wind power, Carlisle Indian School, 'Chevron doctrine,' caviar pizzas, bad news deer

 

Editor's Note: There's a lot of stress in some of our lives so take a minute to read Don Monfort's story about burning rubber on the new I-5 (link below) and consider that today's gift from the Salish Current to you, the reader of News and Weather. One part of the equation is quality stories that can be read without paywall, the other part is community writers bringing those stories to readers. Please support community-based journalism with a donation to the 2xLocalMatch challenge today. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Red-legged frog [Julia Kirby]

Northern red-legged frog Rana aurora
The Northern red-legged frog is active for most of the year from late February through October, with breeding occurring in late winter through early spring. These frogs are most commonly found in and around fish-free bodies of fresh, still water, especially those in more open areas exposed to sunlight. (Save The Frogs)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Our private freeway: Burning rubber on the new I-5

B.C. announces 9 new wind projects to power equivalent of 500,000 homes
That number is roughly equivalent to the power projected to be generated by the Site C dam, which recently started feeding power into B.C.'s electrical grid at a construction cost of $16 billion. Majority of projects are in Interior and north and will add about 8% to power supply, government says. (Canadian Press)

Honoring the children: Biden proclaims new national monument at Carlisle
President Joe Biden announced the creation of a new national monument on the site of the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School to honor the tens of thousands of students who attended boarding schools...Deb Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip Tribes and executive director of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Project, known as NABS, who attended the summit, said the monument will honor the survivors as well as those children who died at the school and never made it home. Mary Annette Pember and Jourdan Bennett-Begaye report. (Indian Country Today)

Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies
The overturning of the ‘Chevron doctrine’ may affect everything from fishing rules to transgender rights under Trump. Tim Henderson reports. (Stateline)

Caviar Pizzas, New Money, and the Death of an Ancient Fish
Fancy fish eggs have become the latest luxury good to go viral on social media, raising questions about the future of sturgeon. Paul Greenberg reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Deer may be cute but their growing population is bad news for B.C. forests, birds. Here's why.
Much-loved deer are more plentiful in B.C. than in the 1800s. Trouble is they're devouring forest plants once central to Indigenous food supply. Birds suffer, too. There are solutions.  Douglas Todd writes. (Vancouver Sun)

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-  255 AM PST Tue Dec 10 2024    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at 16 seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  4 ft at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 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.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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12/9 Red octopus, failed aquaculture, Vancouver gas, OR kelp forests, extinction, Anacortes glacier

 

Editor's note: Thank you for reading News and Weather. It's a perfect outlet for me as an environmental news junkie to curate and provide headlines and links to edited news stories. I do the same on a wider range of news items in the Friday edition of the Salish Current newsletter and you can check that out by taking a minute to scroll down last Friday's edition. Salish Current, like News and Weather, is open-access, no paywall but needs community support to pay its freelance reporters and keep its pages open. That's my ask for your recurring or one-time donation to the 2xLocalMatch challenge. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Red octopus [Pat McMahon]

Red octopus
Of the two octopuses found in the Salish Sea the Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) is thought to be the most abundant but it is not commonly seen due to it's small size and cryptic nature. It grows to a maximum length of 20” and is mostly found in the inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal zones. They have a lifespan of about two years. Sometimes the Red Octopus will move to deeper water in Puget Sound where they can be caught during the Washington State Spot Prawn season. This is one of several that were caught and released in 300' of water in Port Susan in 2024. (Courtesy Pat McMahon)

Today's top stories in Salish Current:  Natural gas restrictions restrained, but the battle continues / Everybody’s watching their wallet: a look at the GOP economic plan / Election reaction explodes on social media

The Destructive Legacy of Failed Aquaculture
Removing abandoned infrastructure is challenging, time-consuming, and costly. Aquaculture is big business in Canada. In 2023, open-net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia alone produced 50,000 tonnes of fish worth just over US $350-million. But on June 30, 2029, the federal government’s long-looming ban on open-net-pen salmon farming is set to take effect. On that day, 63 operations will be forced to shut down. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Did Trans Mountain actually make gasoline cheaper in Canada’s most expensive city?
Prices are still high at Vancouver’s pumps — but an economist who predicted price relief believes they’d be worse without the pipeline. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal)

New report shows how Oregon’s kelp forests have dwindled
A new report spells out exactly how much Oregon’s kelp forests have dwindled over the past decade or so — and the picture is bleak. According to a status report released by the Oregon Kelp Alliance in November, nearly 900 acres of bull kelp forest has essentially disappeared off the Oregon Coast since 2010. Only around one-third of Oregon’s kelp forests remain — important oases facing ongoing threats and stressors in a changing ocean. Katie Frankowicz reports. (KMUN)

How many species could go extinct from climate change? It depends on how hot it gets.
To consider how climate change could cause some extinctions, imagine a tiny mountain bird that eats the berries of a particular mountain tree. That tree can only grow at a specific elevation around the mountain, where it's evolved over millennia to thrive in that microclimate. As global temperatures rise, both the tree and the bird will be forced to rise too, tracking their microclimate as it moves uphill. But they can only go so far.  Scientists call this mountain phenomenon the "escalator to extinction." Jonathan Lambert reports. (NPR)

Nick on the Rocks: How an ancient glacier carved coastal Anacortes
About 15,000 years ago, Washington was covered by a massive sheet of ice. As it melted, it helped shape the state into the landscapes we know today. Adam Brown reports. (CascadePBS)

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-  230 AM PST Mon Dec 9 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL UNTIL NOON PST TODAY    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 10 ft  at 14 seconds subsiding to W 6 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  4 ft at 12 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.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told