2/3 Redbanded rockfish, weather, tree canopy, old-growth, wastewater, 'Resident Orca,' hummingbirds, first 100 days

 

Redbanded rockfish [Pat McMahon]

Redbanded rockfish Sebastes babcock
The Redbanded rockfish is a colorful rockfish not often seen in the Salish Sea. This may be due to its being most commonly found at water depths from 500' to 1150'. According to the NOAA publication "Fishes of the Salish Sea: a compilation and distributional analysis," the Redbanded
Rockfish has only been found in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands and Hood Canal and no other parts of the Salish Sea. This rockfish is more commonly found off the coast of British Columbia where it appears as by-catch during trawl and longline fisheries. The Redbanded Rockfish can grow to 25 inches and live up to 106 years. (Courtesy Pat McMahon)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Editor joins Salish Current newsroom / Regional, state leaders push back against immigration enforcement / Whatcom READS builds a community of readers

First Alert Weather
Off-and-on snow showers fell across western Washington on Sunday and will continue in some areas into the first half of workweek, as the colder air deepens. (KING) Metro Vancouverites wake up to first widespread snowfall of the season. Snowfall warnings in place for much of the South Coast, Arctic outflow warnings on north and central coasts (CBC)

Seattle's canopy shrinks as ordinance protects the wrong trees
Since 2023, the city classified more than 2,000 trees as “protected” — without regard to whether they ever were threatened by development. Robert McClure reports. (InvestigateWest)

Environmentalists push for stronger old-growth protections in Northwest Forest Plan
Around a hundred community members showed up to the U.S. Forest Service office in Medford on Wednesday night for a public meeting about proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Plan. Environmental activists held a rally outside the Forest Service office to push for stronger protections for old-growth ecosystems in the amendments. Roman Battaglia reports. (Jefferson Public Radio)

King County refines wastewater into fertilizer for WA crops, forests
In King County, [the] program, called Loop is one of the largest and most successful in the country, sending out thousands of tons of the stuff every year, and they’re looking to expand operations into neighborhood gardens near you. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Deep dive into the underwater forest of Washington
Amid debates on school closings and budget deficits, lawmakers in Olympia are also taking a deep dive on bull kelp. While it may not be the splashiest piece of legislation, this aquatic plant has an oversized role in our water, and its at risk of disappearing. Lauren Donovan reports. (FOX 13)

‘Resident Orca’ film shows Lummi elders’ quest to bring captured whale home to the Salish Sea
The opening sequence of the movie shows some of the last footage ever of the orca the Lummi people call Sk'aliCh'ehl-tenaut. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

'Metabolic knife edge': Study offers insight into hummingbirds' hibernation-like rest
Short-term hibernation, known as torpor, allows tiny birds to conserve energy between meals. Ashley Joannou reports. (Canadian Press) 

The First 100 Days
• White House announces tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, China (Washington State Standard)
• Trudeau announces 25 per cent targeted retaliatory tariffs (Times Colonist)
• Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sources (Associated Press)
• Health data, entire pages wiped from federal websites as Trump officials target ‘gender ideology’ (Associate Press)
• Trump fires the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Associated Press)
• USAID notice instructs staffers to stay out of its headquarters (Associated Press)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  245 AM PST Mon Feb 3 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 25 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds and W 4 ft at 12 seconds. Showers likely this morning,  then a chance of showers early this afternoon. Showers likely  late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Showers likely in the  evening, then snow and rain 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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