7/16 California lilac, beach fecals, Jpod return, life in Kitimat, tracking tiny fish, democracy watch

California lilac

 
California lilac Ceanothus
California lilac (not a true lilac) blooms in May and attracts bees. It's an evergreen with small, glossy, dark green leaves. It is hardy to about 5 degrees F. In the Puget Sound area it can get 6-8 feet tall on its own. Pruning every two years will keep it as low as you like and will keep it densely branched and very floriferous. It makes a stunning screening hedge. (Calendula Farm)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Tagging nearly complete on most elusive Salish sharks

Poopy beaches? Three-quarters of tested WA shores saw unsafe fecal contamination
About 76% of tested Washington beaches showed potentially unsafe fecal-contamination levels on at least one testing day last year, according to the findings by Environment America Research and Policy Center. In addition, 30% of the state’s 63 monitored beaches had possibly unsafe contamination on at least a quarter of all testing days in 2024, per the July 7 report. Simone Carter reports. (The Olympian)

Orca-strated return: B.C. southern residents make surprise Salish Sea arrival
After 75 days away, the killer whales were sighted in the Salish Sea on World Orca Day. Ben Fenlon reports. (Penticton Western News)

B.C. town ‘built by industry’ adjusts to life with LNG
A 90-metre flare lit the skies over Kitimat as LNG Canada readied its systems in late June. The first of 170 ships per year has now set sail, its belly filled with liquefied natural gas. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Teeny Tiny Trackers Take to the Water
A new generation of petite, submersible tracking tags offers a fresh look at the lives of little fishes.  Moira Donovan reports. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

• US Senate Republicans advance bill stripping funds from NPR, PBS, foreign aid (Washington State Standard)
  
• Federal government accuses nine Spokane protesters of violence against ICE (Spokesman-Review)
  
• Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across ten states, union says (AP)
  
• Trump Administration Resumes Third-Country Deportation Flights (NY Times)
  
• Transgender asylum seeker released from ICE custody after order from federal judge (AP)
  
• Trump tells Texas Republicans to redistrict to help keep GOP House majority (AP)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  258 AM PDT Wed Jul 16 2025    
TODAY  SW wind around 5 kt, veering to W late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  Patchy fog 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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