8/15 Stormy weather, WA EV charger program, illegal fishing, MAHA pesticides, eelgrass, democracy watch, week in review

Crane fly

Crane fly Tipula paludosa Meigan
The crane fly turf pest known as the European crane fly in the Pacific Northwest is an introduced exotic pest first found in the region in 1965 in British Columbia, Canada. Since then, it has gradually spread into Washington State, Western Oregon and Northern California, and has become the most serious economic pest of lawns, pastures and hayfields in the region. In 1998, a second, closely related crane fly species, Tipula oleracea L., from Europe was found in the Pacific Northwest. (Washington Dept. of Agriculture)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Farm models land stewardship, animal welfare

'Big dose': Heavy rainfall forecast for B.C.'s South Coast 
(CBC)  Rare summertime atmospheric river brings rain, gusty winds to western Washington (KOMO) 

WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause 
Washington state has resumed a program to build a network of electric vehicle chargers that the Trump administration had withheld funding for earlier this year.A federal judge in Seattle in June ordered the Trump administration to restore the funding, in response to a lawsuit brought by Washington and other states. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)  

High seas patrol finds dolphins used as shark bait
Canadian-led Operation Pacific Guard cracks down on illegal fishing. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Draft of ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report Suggests RFK Jr. Won’t Push Pesticide Regulations
The report is not final, but indicates good news for the food and agriculture industries. Dani Blum, Benjamin Mueller and Alice Callahan report. (NY Times) 

Scientists monitor the loss of vital eelgrass plants in Salish Sea
The marine vegetation helps mitigate climate change impacts and serves as vital habitat. But a study finds the species is at risk in the San Juans. Nancy DeVaux reports. (Cascade PBS/Salish Current) 

Democracy Watch

• Religious groups pressure retail pharmacies, including Costco, not to carry abortion drug (NPR) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/15/25: Woodstock, electric bills, Site C dam, wildfire AI images, Aboriginal land title, bumblebees, PNW conservation jobs, climate choices, Fraser sockeye, Stillaguamish River delta, fungi. 

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PDT Fri Aug 15 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy fog this morning. Rain.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain in  the evening, then rain after midnight.  
SAT  SW wind around 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 10 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the evening.  
SUN  S wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  10 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.

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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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