5/13 Pond turtle, Burrard Inlet dredging, BC low snowpack, South Sound prairies, LNG ship fuel, democracy watch

Northwestern pond turtle [WDFW]

 

Northwestern pond turtle Actinemys marmorata
The range of the western pond turtle extends from the Puget Sound lowlands in Washington through western Oregon and California, south to Baja California. This aquatic turtle lives in streams, ponds, lakes, and permanent and ephemeral wetlands. Pond turtles spend most of their lives in water, but they also require terrestrial habitats for nesting.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Reproductive health in the balance as state weighs budget priorities

B.C., federal government support dredging Vancouver's Burrard Inlet, others opposed
British Columbia's energy minister is backing plans to dredge and deepen Vancouver's Burrard Inlet to accommodate fully loaded oil tankers, despite concerns from environmentalists, experts and First Nations. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press)

B.C.'s low snowpack and early melt signal drought, raising concerns for hydro power
Former provincial environment minister says drought is a factor in B.C.’s declining electricity generation. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Decline of South Puget Sound prairies are a conservation priority in Thurston County
South Puget Sound’s native prairies are now listed as one of the state’s rarest ecosystems, as The Nature Conservancy confirmed prairie lands have dwindled to under 3 percent. In response to the biome loss, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) passed a proclamation, naming May 2025 as Prairie Appreciation Month at a meeting earlier this month. Kameko Marquez reports. (JOLT)

Cruise Ship Refuels With LNG For The First Time At Port Of Vancouver
The first-ever cruise ship has filled up with an alternative fuel at the Port of Vancouver, receiving LNG (liquefied natural gas) from Seaspan Energy’s LNG bunker vessel Seaspan Garibaldi as it prepares to sail to Alaska. (Marine Insight)

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration welcomes 59 white South Africans as refugees (AP)
  
•  RFK Jr. swims in D.C. creek that flows with sewage and bacteria (NY Times)
  
• House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers (AP) 
• Farmers Sued Over Deleted Climate Data. So the Government Will Put It Back (NY Times)
  
• Trump, Pressed on Qatari Jet, Says Only ‘Stupid’ People Reject Gifts (NY Times)
  
• Trump tried to fire Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members. Then came DOGE (NPR)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  310 AM PDT Tue May 13 2025    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to N late this morning, then  becoming W 10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave  Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds and W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  7 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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