1/24 Brant, Casey Sixkiller, owl kill, energy bills, Canada pipelines, carbon storage, week in review

Brant

 
Bird of the Month: The brant
A small goose, brants congregate near the water line. Birch Bay and Drayton Harbor often is a landing area for these birds. It is the farthest north nesting goose, and in migration may fly as high as several thousand feet. The Washington Brant Foundation, along with North Cascades Audubon Society and the City of Blaine, held the first Washington Brant Festival in Blaine and Birch Bay in 2003. The festival changed its name in 2005 to Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival to include the large number of marine bird species that migrate here during spring. This year's festival is March 14-16.  (The Northern Light)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Mark Hunter and the sound of innovation

Casey Sixkiller transitions from EPA to lead state Dept. of Ecology
Regional EPA Administrator Casey Sixkiller finished his work as a federal environmental protection official last week, but he’s staying in the field. He’s been appointed as the new head of the Washington state Department of Ecology. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Northwest conservation groups intervene in lawsuit to defend the lethal removal of barred owls
Five Northwest conservation groups have joined the federal government in defending a program to kill barred owls in the Pacific Northwest to protect the threatened northern spotted owl. These environmental groups have joined the government’s side, in opposition to animal rights groups. Roman Battaglia reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

Trump’s proposed Canada tariff could boost Northwest energy bills
President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian imports could be an expensive proposition for the Pacific Northwest, which depends heavily on its northern neighbors for energy supplies. More than two-thirds of the Northwest’s natural gas comes from Canada, according to the Northwest Gas Association. Nearly half of the crude oil refined in Washington state is Canadian, according to the Washington Department of Ecology. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Trump's threats reveal the trouble with Canada's pipelines running through the U.S.
Interconnectedness is a double-edged sword and Canada is vulnerable in any trade war Evan Dyer reports. (CBC)

Does seabed soil hold secret to supreme carbon storage?
Interest in natural carbon storage in the ocean has, to date, focused on mangrove forests, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. However, a new study from Canadian researchers implores us to take a closer look at the very soil beneath us: the sediment on the seafloor. Rob Hutchins reports. (Oceanographic Magazine)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/23/25: Mac Friday, WA recycling, Nooksack flooding, Trump tariff, Great Bear Rainforest, visiting the U.S., plastics ban

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PST Fri Jan 24 2025    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 8 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 6 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at  6 seconds and W 4 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 11 seconds.  
SUN  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  13 seconds.

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



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