Wednesday, April 30, 2025

4/30 Kokanee, salmon travel, geoduck farm, salmon recovery, electricity demand, Kurt Beckett, EPA enviro justice, BC critical habitat, Idaho logging, plant sex, AmeriCorps cuts, Spokesman-Review, democracy watch

Kokanee

Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka
Kokanee are the non-anadromous (non-migrating) form of sockeye salmon and spend their whole life landlocked in a freshwater system. They have a limited range and are endemic to the northwest of the U.S., in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Libraries rethink funding strategies after federal cuts

Baby salmon head out to sea. Then they do something unexpected, new research shows
The long-held understanding that baby salmon emerge from the streams where they hatched to head out to sea actually is missing a far more complex story — and a far more interesting one, scientists explain in a new paper.  It turns out the intrepid baby fish, no longer than a pinkie finger, explore multiple streams miles apart, traveling from river mouth to river mouth, in what amounts to a connected meta-nursery. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

The fight over Pierce County’s largest geoduck farm is over.
Taylor Shellfish Company has reached a settlement with nearby homeowners and environmental advocates that will allow a large proposed Pierce County geoduck farm to move forward, subject to several restrictions. Signed by both parties on April 16 and filed April 18 with the state Shorelines Hearings Board, it marks an end to years of dispute between the company and local nonprofits including Friends of Burley Lagoon and the Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat. Julia Park reports. (The News Tribune)

Snohomish County salmon recovery projects receive $1.9M in state funding
The latest round of Climate Commitment Act dollars will support fish barrier removals and habitat restoration work. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Electricity demand in Northwest could double in next 20 years, forecast finds
Data centers, electrifying transit and buildings and producing hydrogen will drive demand, according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

New Washington energy chair’s industry ties raise ethics questions
Former energy consultant Kurt Beckett now heads the agency tasked with permitting his ex-clients' wind and solar plants. Brandon Block reports. (CascadePBS)

The EPA is canceling almost 800 environmental justice grants, court filing reveals
The agency is sending out notices of termination to 781 awardees, almost twice the number of canceled grants that had been previously reported. Maxine Joselow and Amudalat Ajasa report. (Washington Post)

B.C. failing to protect 81% of critical habitat for at-risk species: government docs
B.C. allows industrial logging in critical habitat for at-risk species — part of the reason why it’s not meeting federal standards. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Idaho governor gives executive order to ramp up timber harvests on national forests within the state
A new executive order this month from Idaho Gov. Brad Little has been issued to ramp up timber harvests on national forests throughout the state. The executive order, titled “Make Forests Healthy Again Act,” directs the Idaho Department of Lands to expand its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to reduce fire risks on federal forests in Idaho. Lauren Paterson reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Plant Sex and the City
Plants around the world are adapting their reproductive strategies to survive on an increasingly urban planet. Vanessa Minke-Martin reports. (bioGraphic)

WA joins lawsuit against Trump to stop AmeriCorps cuts
President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut the size of the federal government have decimated the three-decade-old agency, according to the lawsuit filed in federal district court in Maryland. At least 85% of AmeriCorps employees have been put on leave and told they will be fired, according to a news release from Washington Attorney General Nick Brown’s office. David Guzman reports. (Seattle Times)

Spokane's Spokesman-Review newspaper pivots to a nonprofit model
The 131-year-old publication will be donated by the Cowles family to help preserve a crucial piece of the community’s news ecosystem. Mai Hoang reports. (CascadePBS)

Democracy Watch

  • USPS law enforcement assists Trump ‘mass deportation’ effort, sources and records show (Washington Post)
  • House GOP wants to pump billions into Trump’s deportations and detentions as part of tax bill (Associated Press)
  • Trump Administration Retreats From 100% Withholding on Social Security Clawbacks (KFF Health News)
  • Kennedy Advises New Parents to ‘Do Your Own Research’ on Vaccines (NY Times)
  • Trump says he could free Abrego Garcia from El Salvador, but won’t. (NY Times)
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting sues Trump in fight for control (NPR)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  221 AM PDT Wed Apr 30 2025    
TODAY
 NE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 3 seconds and  W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  3 ft at 10 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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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

4/29 Cutthroat trout, Liberals win, WA budget, Trump's PFAS rule, ESA 'harm,' salmon recovery, electric bacteria, USDA cuts, first 100 days

Cutthroat trout [Stan Gregory]


Coastal cutthroat trout (resident) Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii
Resident coastal cutthroat trout are one of three subspecies of cutthroat trout that occur in Washington and one of the two that are native. The other native is the westslope. There is also an anadromous, or ‘sea-run’ coastal cutthroat. Average 7-9 inches. Coastal cutthroat can grow to 10-18 inches in quality populations. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Harbor porpoise subpopulation may be forming in Burrows Pass / Vaisakhi celebration draws cross-border crowd

Carney's Liberal party wins Canadian election and completes a stunning turnaround fueled by Trump (Associated Press) What Carney’s win means for environment and climate issues in Canada Mark Carney and the Liberals have won the 2025 election. Here’s what that means for the carbon tax, energy, Indigenous Rights and conservation. Fatima Syed and Shannon Waters report. (The Narwhal)

A breakdown of Washington’s new $78B two-year state budget
The deal, awaiting Gov. Ferguson’s signature, includes $4.3B in new taxes on businesses, financial assets and technology, and boosts K-12 funding. Laurel Demkovich reports. (CascadePBS)

Trump administration deciding on PFAS drinking water limits

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, finding they increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and babies being born with low birth weight. In a decision with consequences for tens of millions of Americans, the Trump administration is expected to soon say whether it intends to stand by those strict standards and defend the limits against a water utility industry challenge in federal court. Michael Phillis reports. (Associated Press)

Proposed change could reshape Endangered Species Act. Here’s how it affects WA
A big change could be coming to U.S. wildlife conservation policy. In mid-April, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to change how the term “harm” would be defined in the Endangered Species Act. Daniel Schrager reports. (The News Tribune)

State announces $2.4 million for Skagit County salmon recovery projects
The state Recreation and Conservation Office announced Monday it is allocating about $2.4 million to organizations within Skagit County for five salmon recovery projects. The grants are part of a set of 69 throughout the state worth a total of $71 million. The funding comes from a cap and trade system put in place by the 2021 Climate Commitment Act. The system charges large polluters in the state for their carbon emissions. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Scientists discover new electric bacteria in Oregon sediment and name it after Siletz tribe descendants
A newly-discovered species of bacteria, which conducts electricity, was found in a mud flat in the Yaquina Bay estuary. Its conductivity helps optimize its metabolic processes in the muck. Researchers have dubbed it Ca.Electrothrix yaqonensis. That’s in honor of the Yaqona tribal people, whose descendants are now part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, who helped come up with the name. Brian Bull (KLCC)

USDA set to cut $1B for food programs. WA food banks are worried
Local banks are already struggling to meet demand, and federal cuts could mean empty shelves for the 1 in 4 Washingtonians who visited one last year. Josh Cohen reports. (CascadePBS)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump orders list of ‘sanctuary cities’ to target for funding freeze (Washington State Standard)
  • Trump denies disaster aid, tells states to do more (Washington State Standard)
  • Trump Recasts Mission of Justice Dept.’s Civil Rights Office, Prompting ‘Exodus’ (NY Times)
  • DOGE employees gain accounts on classified networks holding nuclear secrets (NPR)
  • Trump is giving automakers a break on tariffs (NPR)
  • National Climate Assessment Authors Are Dismissed by Trump Administration (NY Times)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  209 AM PDT Tue Apr 29 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft  at 6 seconds and W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 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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Monday, April 28, 2025

4/28 Rainbow trout, WA lege session ends, Canada elections, forested swamps, deep-sea mining, Vietnam War, first 100 days

Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
Steelhead and rainbow trout are the same species, but rainbow are freshwater only, and steelhead are anadromous, or go to sea. Rainbow trout are the most common and hence most popular species of trout in Washington. There are thousands of wild populations statewide but the main reason for their popularity is that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks millions of rainbow trout every year across the state for the specific purpose of providing recreational angling opportunities. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: New book savors the wild life

Rent limits, tax hikes head to governor as Washington lawmakers end session
In the session's final days, the Democratic majority settled on a deal for new rent caps, approved a gun permit requirement, and signed off on unemployment benefits for striking workers. The state budget passed with a slate of new tax hikes -- and without a single Republican vote in support. Jeanie Lindsay reports. (KUOW)

Election 2025: a voter’s guide to carbon taxes, natural resources and other key environment issues in Canada
From critical minerals to pipelines, here’s what the Liberals, Conservatives and others are promising. (The Narwhal) Canadians are set to vote in an election dominated by Trump's trade war and bluster (Associated Press)

Forested swamps on the Northwest coast are some of the biggest carbon storehouses around, new research finds
The coastlines of Oregon and Washington take many different forms: sandy beaches, rocky headlands, marshy flats, and swampy tidal forests of salt-tolerant Sitka spruce. These tidal swamps were once the primary type of coastal wetland in Oregon, but development since European settlement has destroyed more than 90% of that original habitat. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

Despite global opposition, Trump just fast-tracked deep-sea mining
President Donald Trump wants federal agencies to fast-track applications for deep-sea mining in an effort to make the United States a global leader in the nascent industry. Trump issued an executive order Thursday declaring that U.S. policy includes “creating a robust domestic supply chain for critical minerals derived from seabed resources to support economic growth, reindustrialization, and military preparedness.” Anita Hofschneider reports. (Grist)

The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago, but the battle with Agent Orange continues
The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to Communist forces. But millions of people still face daily battles with its chemical legacy. Aniruddha Ghost and Hat Dinh report. (Associated Press)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump's first 100 days: Steamrolling government, strong-arming allies, igniting trade wars (Associated Press)
  • Trump budget to take ax to ‘radical’ safety net programs (NY Times)
  • Tech industry tried reducing AI's pervasive bias. Now Trump wants to end its 'woke AI' efforts (Associated Press)
  • U.S. Restores Legal Status for Many International Students, but Warns of Removals to Come (NY Times)
  • For Trump, PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals' in Straws Are a Crisis. In Water, Maybe Less So. (NY Times)
  • Trump says Columbus Day will now just be Columbus Day (Associated Press)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  230 AM PDT Mon Apr 28 2025    
TODAY
 SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to S late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 13 seconds. A  chance of rain early this morning, then rain late this morning  and afternoon.  
TONIGHT
 SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 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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Friday, April 25, 2025

4/25 Scotch broom, WA enviro legislation, Canada fossil fuel regulations, raising chickens, first 100 days, week in review

Scotch broom [Anne Tanne]

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom is a highly invasive species in the Pacific Northwest. It's a shrub that spreads rapidly, forming dense patches that displace native plants. It's known for its pea-like yellow flowers and green, angled stems. The seeds, which can remain viable in the soil for many years, contribute to its aggressive spread.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Cheers to a cause: the Max Higbee Center / What we don’t know about the Nooksack adjudication

WA environmental legislation passed this year that you should know
Bills to standardize recycling statewide, tweak the state's cap-and-invest program and allow fusion energy development all made it through this session. John Stang reports. (CascadePBS)

Canada’s fossil fuel companies win battle against climate transparency

Financial regulators hit pause this week on a years-long effort to force corporations to be more transparent about how climate change will disrupt business, following anti-climate moves in the U.S. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal)

Washingtonians are buying chickens to get around high egg prices. Is it worth it?
Feed stores across Washington are selling out of baby chickens, as people try to get around high egg prices at the market. But there are downsides to having a backyard flock, such as cost and potential exposure to bird flu. Freddy Monares reports. (KNKX)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump orders Justice Department to investigate Democrats’ top fundraising platform (Associated Press)
  • Trump Takes a Major Step Toward Seabed Mining in International Waters (NY Times)
  • In a reversal, the Trump administration restores funding for women's health study (NPR)
  • Federal judges pause U.S. Education Department enforcement of DEI ban (Washington State Standard)
  • Trump DOJ asks U.S. Supreme Court to reverse ruling allowing transgender troops (Washington State Standard)


Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/25/25: Penguin Friday, gray whale die off, anti-Trump protests, 'forever chemicals,' WA culvert removal plan, PFAS removal, EPA DEI, climate research, Trump's drilling, Canada LNG.

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-  250 AM PDT Fri Apr 25 2025    
TODAY
 E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW early this afternoon,  then becoming W 15 to 20 kt late. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 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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Thursday, April 24, 2025

4/24 Mustard, Seattle climate, UW climate research, fast tracking fossil fuel projects, Canada LNG, BC regulatory exemptions, Lasqueti Is reserves, farming bird, first 100 days

Wild mustard [Zeynel]
 

Wild mustard Brassica rapa
Wild mustard is a wild herb of the mustard family that’s used widely across the globe, especially in the Pacific Northwest, as a vegetable and seed oil crop. Other common names include field mustard and, in the UK, charlock. The Pacific Northwest was first introduced to wild mustard by means of crop production in 1864, and its use as a food crop, as well as its invasive nature, helped it to quickly spread across the rest of North America.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Never too late: women’s stories take center stage / Pope’s ‘field hospital’ provides light in the darkness

Seattle launches new actions to tame transport’s climate impact
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced measures Tuesday to cut the city’s stubborn carbon emissions, including more electric-vehicle charging stations and a program for e-cargo bike deliveries. To meet its science-based targets for helping the world hang on to a livable climate, Seattle needs to cut emissions nearly in half by 2030. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

UW climate research group braces for Trump cuts
Potential budget cuts by the Trump administration could roughly slash in half funding for a leading Pacific Northwest climate change research group, scientists say. The scientists, with the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, are raising alarm and bracing for the elimination of two federal climate research programs they run from the university campus. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Interior Department to Fast-Track Oil, Gas and Mining Projects
The Interior Department said late Wednesday that it would fast-track approvals for projects involving coal, gas, oil and minerals on public lands, arguing that President Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency allowed it to radically reduce lengthy reviews required by the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. Environmental reviews that typically take a year to complete would be finished in 14 days, administration officials said. More complicated environmental impact statements that usually take two years would be completed in 28 days, they said. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

LNG could help break Canada's dependence on the U.S. energy economy — but there are no guarantees
With the backing of Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and the Korea Gas Corp., the $40 billion Canada LNG project has been described by the federal government as the "largest single private sector investment in the history of the country." Debate over environmental, economic impacts as industry calls for 'Team Canada' approach. Andrew Kurjata, Lyndsay Duncombe and Chris Corday report. (CBC)

BC Greens call for regulator reform over secret exemption given to oil company
The BC Greens say secrecy around BC Energy Regulator compliance and enforcement is ‘completely unacceptable.’ Matt Simmons and Zak Vescera report. (The Narwhal)
 
Two properties donated as parkland on Lasqueti Island
The properties are being added to conservation areas and a provincial park on the small Gulf Island to form 568 acres of protected area. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

The Birds Who Farm the Forest Floor
New research shows that superb lyrebirds dig in the dirt to create habitat for other species—and to sate their own appetites. Jude Isabella reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump signs executive orders targeting colleges, plus schools’ equity efforts (Associated Press)
  • WA international students file class action over Trump revocations (Seattle Times)
  • 12 States Sue Trump Over His Tariffs (NY Times)
  • Black churches back Smithsonian African American museum after Trump's order (Associated 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-  230 AM PDT Thu Apr 24 2025    
TODAY
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 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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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

4/23 Broadleaf dock, culvert removal, PFAS, EPA DEI, Haller Farm purchase option, Chuckanut Dr rockslide, slime, first 100 days

Broadleaf dock [Richard Old]

Broadleaf dock Rumex obtusifolius
Broadleaf dock, commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. Broadleaf dock is commonly found in fields, meadows and pasture lands. It favors wet or poorly drained areas of undisturbed soils such as ditches and roadsides. (Wikipedia/OSU Horticulture)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Earth Day 2025:  places, players and perspectives

Up a creek: $5B culvert removal plan appears dead in WA Legislature
A Senate plan for new borrowing to pay for the tear-out and replacement of pipes and other fish barriers ran into opposition from local governments and the governor. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

WA lawmakers want PFAS testing for human waste fertilizer
Lawmakers voted unanimously last week to send Senate Bill 5033 to Gov. Bob Ferguson. The bill would require the state Department of Ecology to test fertilizers made from human waste for levels of toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which cause cancer and a host of other health problems. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Edmonds launches technology to destroy PFAS
Edmonds is the first city in the country to implement new technology at a wastewater treatment facility that eradicates “forever chemicals,” otherwise known as PFAS. Within the next week, the city will start the new system on a 6-month trial run to collect data and train Public Works staff. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

EPA to fire or reassign more than 450 staffers working on environmental justice, DEI
The move is part of the Trump administration’s push to close the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. Amudalat Ajasa reports. (Washington Post)

Skagit County commissioners sign option agreement to purchase Haller Farm
...The Haller Farm property makes up the majority of a top-ranked project area on the Skagit River estuary for Chinook salmon recovery. The area is known as Sullivan Hacienda. The $10 million property includes about 110 acres of the Sullivan Hacienda area, a 107-acre undeveloped upland area that is an important cultural site to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, 180 acres of farmland that would be placed under an easement through the Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program to ensure it be used for agriculture, about 100 acres used by Gielow Pickles, and part of the Pleasant Ridge upland area. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Large 20-foot rockslide blocks Chuckanut Drive, no reopening time estimated
A rockslide is fully blocking Chuckanut Drive, covering both lanes just south of the Skagit County border, near Blanchard Road. Jack Belcher reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Slime Sense
A wildly variable group of single-celled organisms shows intelligent behavior. Photograph by Andy Sands/Story by Sarah Gilman. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

  • As Tesla profits plunge 71%, Elon Musk says he'll spend less time on DOGE (NPR)
  • Federal judge blocks Trump administration from dismantling Voice of America (Associated Press)
  • National Science Foundation terminates hundreds of active research awards  (NY Times)
  • Marco Rubio wants to cut 15% of State Department staff in the US (Associated 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-  153 AM PDT Wed Apr 23 2025    
TODAY
 E wind around 5 kt, backing to NE late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 NW wind around 5 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds.

---

"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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Tuesday, April 22, 2025

4/22 Clover, WA legislature, EPA grants, Hwy 20 opening, WA timber, Skagit Chinook, first 100 days

 

Clover

Clover Trifolium repens
White clover, a familiar sight in many lawns, is known for its distinct trifoliate leaves and small white flowers. And if you’re really lucky, you might even stumble upon a leaf with four leaflets. While some consider it a weed, it can add a touch of charm and greenery to a space, which is why some people consider planting a clover lawn.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Walk-on ferry between Anacortes and San Juans launches on trial basis

The Washington Legislature’s final week brings long to-do list
Debates over rent caps, parental rights, taxes and — perhaps the most contentious — finalizing the budget, all must be resolved before April 27. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Cascade/PBS)

E.P.A. Set to Cancel Grants Aimed at Protecting Children From Toxic Chemicals
The cancellations, set to apply to pending and active grants, also affect research into “forever chemicals” contaminating the food supply. Hiroko Tabuchi reports. (NY Times)

Highway 20 over North Cascades to open Tuesday
Highway 20 over the North Cascades will open to vehicle traffic at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The 37-mile stretch of highway from the Ross Dam trailhead (milepost 134) to the Silver Star Gate (milepost 171) has been closed since Nov. 18. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Central Player: How the Timber Economy Made Washington State
Despite cyclical economic conditions, our state’s wood products story remains a separate and dramatic story through local history. Junius Rochester writes. (Post Alley)

Section of Skagit River to open to Chinook salmon fishing
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the Skagit River will open Thursday to fishing for hatchery Chinook salmon from the West Mount Vernon Bridge to Gilligan Creek east of Sedro-Woolley. That fishery will run at least through May 14, but may be extended through the end of May. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

The First 100 Days

  • The ‘5 things’ emails are going by the wayside as Musk readies his exit (Washington Post)
  • White House Assesses Ways to Persuade Women to Have More Children (NY Times)
  • US student loans in default to be referred to debt collection (Associated Press)
  • Harvard sues Trump administration to stop the freeze of more than $2 billion in grants (Associated Press)
  • As controversies pile up, Trump allies increasingly turn on one another (Associated 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-  157 AM PDT Tue Apr 22 2025    
TODAY
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.

---

"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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Monday, April 21, 2025

4/21 Danelion, gray whale die off, anti-Trump protests, forest journey, passenger ferry funding, Pope Francis, Dark Sky Week, marmot remains, 'Lelo,' first 100 days

 

Dandelion

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
The dandelion or common dandelion is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The common dandelion is well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of many silver-tufted fruit that disperse in the wind. (Wikipedia(

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trump administration sued over rare San Juan Island moth

Melting Arctic sea ice spurs gray whale die off along West Coast
Gray whales, a signature of the Washington coast, are dying by the thousands, victims of declines in Arctic sea ice. Boom-and-bust cycles of gray whale populations are normal. But for the first time since the Eastern North Pacific population has been monitored over the past five decades, scientists are seeing not a cycle of loss and recovery, but continued decline in the population by more than 40% over the past 10 years. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Anti-Trump protests build momentum in WA: ‘We’re just getting louder’
Standing Saturday on Broadway in Everett, where crowds of people on either side waved signs opposed to President Donald Trump as nonstop car honking urged protesters on, it was possible to feel that a groundswell against the federal administration was underway. That was precisely the point for many who came to a “Hands Off!” rally stretching for more than 2 miles. Nina Shapiro and Caitlyn Freeman report. (Seattle Times)  Also: Photos: Anti-Trump protesters turn out to rallies across the country (NPR)

My journey through the forest tells a story of fragility and resilience
On the front steps to my house is a baby tree in a clay pot. Just a seedling. With its feathery needles and delicate twigs, it looks too fragile for this world. But this tree is a survivor. I chunked it off a nurse log on the Old Growth Trail at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest east of Eugene, Ore. — nearly 16,000 acres of forest, 40% of it old growth. Trees 500, even 700, years old, their bark gnarled and grizzled with time, their canopies far over my head. I had gone there to collect myself. Lynda Mapes writes. (Seattle Times)

State Budget Cuts Could Slash Puget Sound’s Passenger Ferry Service
Dozens of Water Taxi and Kitsap Fast Ferry trips would be slashed if the state Senate’s budget writers get their way. Ryan Packer reports. (The Urbanist)

Live updates: Pope Francis dies at 88
Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor, has died. He was 88. (Associated Press)

International Dark Sky Week to be celebrated
International Dark Sky Week, billed as “a worldwide celebration of the dark and natural night” by Dark Sky International, will be celebrated today through April 28. Emily Matthiessen reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Bones of the past: Marmot remains with tool marks evidence of Indigenous life on Island mountains
The bones show people were coming over the mountain tops to trade, says an archeologist working with K’ómoks First Nation. Madeline Dunnett reports. (Times Colonist)

Northwest farmworker activist gets court hearing date; still detained in ICE facility
Prominent farm worker activist Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez Zeferino remains held in the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma as of Saturday, April 19 and is expected to appear at a November immigration hearing to determine the first steps of removal proceedings. Annie Todd reports. (CDN)

The First 100 Days

  • Anti-Trump protesters rally in New York, Washington and elsewhere across the country (Associated Press)
  • Harvard pushes back on claim that Trump team mistakenly sent demand letter (Washington Post)
  • Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat (NY 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-  212 AM PDT Mon Apr 21 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 4 to  6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 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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Friday, April 18, 2025

4/18 Pepé Le Pew, Pacific fishing, Canada climate, WA recycling, flood prevention, SnoCo habitat law, lake fishing, California salmon season, wolf numbers, first 100 days, week in review

 

Pepé Le Pew

Pepé Le Pew is an animated character from the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, introduced in 1945. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: OPALCO moving closer to tidal power

Trump Lifts Commercial Fishing Ban On Key Protected Area In Central Pacific
President Donald Trump has opened one the largest protected swaths of the Central Pacific Ocean to commercial fishing, lifting a ban that sought to help conserve the region’s imperiled fish, shark, sea turtles, marine mammals and other species. Members of the Trump administration signaled that Papahānaumokuākea, the protected area around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, could be next.  Marcel Honoré reports. (Civil Beat)

Canadian voters ranked climate change as a top issue — even during a pandemic. Has the U.S. trade war changed that?
Climate change has dropped in Canadians’ list of priorities this election — but that doesn’t mean climate issues are no longer relevant. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal)

WA’s recycling system may finally get an overhaul
A bill dubbed the “Recycling Reform Act” would standardize the state’s recycling system by creating a single list of materials accepted for recycling, boost recycling rates, lower costs for residents and expand access to curbside recycling. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Trump administration pulls funds for WA communities at risk for floods
In announcing plans to end the program earlier this month, a FEMA news release called the program “wasteful and ineffective.” The news release identified about $882 million to be rescinded nationwide. Isbella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

Snohomish County Council member offers new proposal for habitat ordinance
The new proposal, Amendment Three, comes after months of discussions on how to update the policy, with the council trying to find an appropriate balance between environmental preservation and the county’s desperate need for housing, and new protections affrf to stream buffers. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Lowland lakes set to open across Washington state, over 14 million trout to be stocked in 2025
April 26 is the official opening day for fishing at lowland lakes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks these lakes with rainbow, cutthroat and the occasional tiger trout. Sam Kristofferson reports. (My Bellingham Now) 

California commercial salmon season is shut down again
The decision by the Pacific Fishery Management Council means that no salmon caught off California can be sold to retail consumers and restaurants for at least another year. A brief windows will be allowed for sportsfishing.  In Oregon and Washington, commercial salmon fishing will remain open, although limited. Alastair Bland reports. (Cal Matters)

Oregon wolf population surpasses 200 for first time in 8 decades
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff counted 204 wolves in December, a 15% increase from the year before. Washington sees first population drop since wolves returned to that state in 2008. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

The First 100 Days

  • Civil society groups are now in Trump's sights for punitive action (Associated Press)
  • Supreme Court keeps hold on Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship but sets May arguments  (Associated Press)
  • The State Department is changing its mind about what it calls human rights  (NPR)


Salish Sea News Week in Review 4/18/29: Piñata Friday, NOAA firings,BC forest worth, dying sea lions, Trump's logging, bathroom cleaning, pinto abalone, ESA 'take,' salmon farm pathogens, Pacific fishing.

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 PDT Fri Apr 18 2025    
TODAY
 S wind around 5 kt, veering to NW late this morning,  backing to W 10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave  Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to  8 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: NW 8 ft at 8 seconds and W 3 ft  at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening.  
SAT
 NW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of 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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Thursday, April 17, 2025

4/17 Hoatzin, ESA 'take,' salmon farm pathogens, BC wldfires, logging compensation, caribou memory, first 100 days

Hoatzin


Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin
The hoatzin of the Amazon Basin is a folivore, or leaf-eater. This so-called 'stink bird' reeks of fresh cow manure or sweet-smelling hay, because of its unusual diet. The bird has a special digestive system to process the huge quantity of foliage it needs to provide enough energy.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Looming federal health care funding cuts threaten vulnerable locals

Proposed rule change on endangered species triggers alarm for environmentalists
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service said in a proposed rule issued Wednesday that habitat modification should not be considered harm because it is not the same as intentionally targeting a species, called “take.” Environmentalists argue that the definition of “take,” though, has always included actions that harm species, and the definition of “harm” has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Tammy Webber reports. (Associated Press)

New study shows increased pathogens near B.C. open-net salmon farms
A new study led by the Pacific Salmon Foundation and four northern Vancouver Island First Nations suggests that water collected near active open-net salmon farms contains four times more pathogens harmful to wild salmon than samples collected near inactive salmon farms. B.C. Salmon Farming Association says study's results are overblown. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC)

B.C. ministers urge residents to have go-bags, insurance before floods and wildfire
B.C. Wildfire Service warns of elevated spring fire risk unless there's sustained rain. (Canadian Press)

Forestry Giant Not Owed Compensation, BC Supreme Court Rules
A decision by the Supreme Court of British Columbia to reject a $75-million compensation claim made by a logging company that once operated on Haida Gwaii could have reverberations across the province as the government continues its reconciliation efforts with First Nations. Teal-Jones had argued it faced ‘constructive taking’ on Haida Gwaii. Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee)

What the Caribou Remember
A herd of ungulates in Alaska draws on experience to adapt to a changing winter landscape. Sarah Gilman reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

  • California Is Preparing to Take Trump to Court to Stop His Tariffs (NY Times)
  • RFK Jr. to refocus federal autism research on environmental factors (Washington State Standard)
  • Kennedy Calls Autism ‘Preventable,’ Drawing Ire From Researchers (NY Times)
  • I.R.S. Is Said to Be Considering Whether to Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status (NY Times)
  • Trump administration has gutted an agency that coordinates homelessness policy (NPR)
  • Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in criminal contempt (Associated Press)
  • AmeriCorps members who respond to disasters and help nonprofits are let go in DOGE cuts (Associated Press)
  • ICE, DOGE seek sensitive Medicare data as immigration crackdown intensifies (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-  233 AM PDT Thu Apr 17 2025  
TODAY
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 9 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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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

4/16 Spotted skunk, pinto abalone, Mount Polley dam, BC Ferries, come to California, Spokesman-Review, butterfly migration colossal squid, first 100 days

 

Western spotted skunk [NPS]

Western spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis
Western spotted skunks are associated with habitats that have dense ground cover, dense understory vegetation, burrows of other species, rocky outcrops, and woody structures, such as logs, snags, stumps, log and brush piles. These features are important as resting, denning and foraging sites and are found in a variety of land cover types including conifer forests, riparian areas, thickets and brushy habitats, and farmlands.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local law enforcement faces staffing, recruiting issues

State recommends keeping pinto abalone on endangered species list
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Tuesday that it recommends keeping the state’s only native abalone on its endangered species list. “While pinto abalone recovery efforts are progressing well, the species’ population trend over the past 10 years is not increasing and key criteria for downlisting to threatened have not been met,” Katie Sowul, Fish and Wildlife’s lead abalone biologist, said in a news release. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

First Nation challenges B.C.'s approval to raise Mount Polley mine tailings dam
The Xatsull First Nation in B.C. has filed a legal challenge over the plan to allow the Mount Polley mine to raise its tailings dam a decade after a similar storage site at the mine gave way, creating one of the province's largest environmental disasters. (Canadian Press)

B.C. Ferries’ new major vessels will not be made in Canada
The four major vessels B.C. Ferries hopes to have built and in service by 2029 will not be built in Canada because no Canadian shipyards submitted proposals to build the vessels. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

California governor urges Canadians to ignore Trump, come back for sand, sun and wine
Gavin Newsom released video urging Canadians to tour state again, amid sharp downturn in U.S.-bound travel. Matthew Scace and Bill Graveland report. (Canadian Press)

Spokane’s Spokesman-Review is going nonprofit
In joining a growing wave of nonprofit conversions, the family-owned paper aims to preserve community journalism — and keep it out of corporate hands. Rick Edmonds reports. (Poynter)

Scientists trace a butterfly migration route that is millions of years old
Every year, for millions of years, a huge number of painted lady butterflies have migrated thousands of miles across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Now, for the first time, an international team of scientists called the Worldwide Painted Lady Migration Project has traced their route.  Natalie Escobar reports. (NPR)

The First Ever Sighting of a Colossal Squid
An expedition spotted a baby of the species in the South Sandwich Islands. This cephalopod can grow to more than 20 feet and has proved elusive in its deep-sea environs. Elizabeth Preston reports. (NY Times)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump plans order to cut funding for NPR and PBS (NPR)
  • The White House is starting a new media policy that restricts wire services' access to the president (Associated Press)
  • DOGE trumpets unemployment fraud that the government already found years ago (Associated Press)
  • Trump administration sues Maine over participation of transgender athletes in girls sports (Associated Press)
  • Trump administration must unfreeze billions in climate funding, judge rules (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-  230 AM PDT Wed Apr 16 2025    
TODAY
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NE late. Seas 5 to 7 ft.  Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to N after midnight. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 5 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told



Tuesday, April 15, 2025

4/15 Cabbage moth, Trump's logging, Columbia R salmon, NOAA scientists, lotus pinnatus, anxious salmon, 'bomb cyclone' relief, WA school gender inclusion, first 100 days

Cabbage moth

 

Cabbage moth Pieris rapae
Cabbage moth is the name given to the very common small white butterfly in North America. True cabbageworms and cabbage moth introduced from Europe (Mamestra brassicae) are small and brown, but both types do the same type of damage. The female lays tiny white eggs on the underside of cabbage leaves. Left unchecked these eggs hatch into medium-sized green caterpillars which eat large holes in the leaves.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Children’s Fund contract delay leaves providers seeking answers

Trump proposed cutting the Northwest’s national forests. So what happens next?
President Donald Trump’s executive order last month laid the groundwork for wholesale changes in national forest management. But just when and where more cutting could happen is up in the air. Here at home, that means timber managers are under a directive to help contribute to a 25% increase in logging volume over the next several years. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Columbia River spill to help salmon faces murky political waters
Every year, water is barreled along the river’s lower dams to balance electricity needs while aiding young fish. But the program’s future is uncertain. Henry Brannan reports. (The Columbian)

NOAA scientists are cleaning bathrooms in Seattle
Federal scientists responsible for monitoring the health of West Coast fisheries are cleaning office bathrooms and reconsidering critical experiments after the Department of Commerce failed to renew their lab’s contracts for hazardous waste disposal, janitorial services, IT and building maintenance. Ecologists, chemists and biologists at Montlake Laboratory, the center’s headquarters in Seattle, are taking turns hauling garbage to the dumpster and discussing whether they should create a sign-up sheet to scrub toilets. Lisa Song reports. (Propublica)

Vehicles damaging park home to endangered flower: Nanaimo
There are just five known sites for the lotus pinnatus in Canada — three within the park in Nanaimo’s Harewood Plains area, one on Gabriola Island and one near Ladysmith. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Anxiety drugs found in rivers make salmon take more risks
In many streams and rivers, fish are swimming in a veritable soup of drugs. Components of that soup may be disrupting their behavior, according to a new study. Atlantic salmon exposed to anti-anxiety medication during their migration were more successful in reaching their destination than drug-free fish, researchers reported Thursday in Science. That success may stem from increased boldness, the researchers found, a trait that could ultimately harm the fish in the long-run. Jonathan Lambert reports. (NPR)

Trump's FEMA denies Washington disaster relief for 'bomb cyclone' windstorm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a request from Washington state last week to help pay for damage caused during a storm last year. In January, as then-Gov. Jay Inslee was preparing to leave office, the state applied for aid from the federal government to pay for an estimated $34 million in damages from the storm. On Monday, Gov. Ferguson said the state had met all the criteria to qualify for emergency relief funds, but those funds were nevertheless denied. A letter from a senior FEMA official doesn’t give a reason for the denial. Scott Greenstone and John Ryan report. (KUOW) https://www.kuow.org/stories/president-donald-trump-fema-denies-washington-disaster-relief-bomb-cyclone

Feds to investigate WA schools agency over gender inclusivity conflict
The Trump administration on Monday launched an investigation into the Washington office tasked with overseeing public schools, citing allegations that the state directed a school district to implement a gender inclusion policy that conflicts with federal law. The investigation puts the 1,800-student La Center School District at the middle of the escalating battle between the U.S. Department of Education and the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction over approaches to inclusivity in schools. Jake Goldstein-Street reports.  (Washington State Standard)

The First 100 Days

  • Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard over campus activism  (Associated Press)
  • El Salvador's president won't return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US (Associated Press)
  • Despite a court order, White House bars AP from Oval Office event (Associated Press)
  • They Followed the Rules. Now Thousands of Migrants Are Told, ‘Leave.’ (NY Times)
  • Trump Administration Memo Proposes Cutting State Department Funding by Nearly Half (NY 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-  230 AM PDT Tue Apr 15 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 11 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