9/4 Spider plant, wildfire smoke, WA forest plan, Lauren Oakes, ocean oxygen, Trans Mountain expansion, BC watersheds, Pacific green turtles, democracy watch

 Spider plant

 

Spider plant Chlorophytum comosum
Chlorophytum comosum, usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, airplane plant, ribbon plant, and hen and chickens, is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Asparagaceae. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local counties brace for new public defense standards

Shroud of wildfire smoke set to worsen in B.C. over coming days
British Columbians are being told to prepare themselves for the worsening of a dense shroud of wildfire smoke that has descended over the province, with health experts saying the dangerous impacts of the pollution might not be immediately apparent. Chuck Chiang reports. (Canadian Press)  Also: Smoketember Is Rolling In. Here’s How to Protect Yourself There is no safe level of exposure to wildfire smoke. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

WA plan to conserve 77,000 acres of older forests draws fire 
Washington loggers, school leaders and conservation activists on Wednesday decried the state lands commissioner’s proposal to set aside 77,000 acres of older forests while opening 29,000 acres back up for logging.  Some said the plan, announced by Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove last week, didn’t do enough to protect the state’s older forests, while others said it would lead to layoffs, business closures and delay of critical school construction projects. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Science writer Lauren Oakes explores the effectiveness of tree planting efforts
A new book – "Treekeepers: The Race for a Forested Future" by Montana-based science writer Lauren Oakes – delves deep into that question. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

B.C. oceans facing 'alarming' oxygen depletion, new study warns
Stretches of ocean off British Columbia’s coast are increasingly being starved of oxygen — an emerging threat that, if left unchecked, could have devastating impacts on the region’s marine life and fisheries, a new study says. The research, recently published in the Journal Global Biochemical Cycles, focused on Queen Charlotte Sound, Pacific Canada’s largest sea sitting over a continental shelf. Stefan Labbé reports. (BIV) 

Why Trans Mountain wants to expand when the oil pipeline isn't even full
A little more than one year after completing construction of the Trans Mountain expansion oil pipeline, the Crown corporation is pursuing two different methods to increase how much oil can be exported. The pipeline is operating at about 80%, while tankers are only 70% full. Kyle Bakx reports. (CBC) 

B.C.’s long-promised watershed security strategy is done. It’s just not public
The B.C. government greenlit a watershed security strategy it co-developed with First Nations more than a year ago, according to an internal government document obtained by The Narwhal. But the province has failed to release the strategy despite repeated calls from First Nations partners to do so. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal) 

Go North, Young Turtle
As eastern Pacific green sea turtles were being slaughtered in much of their range, an intrepid group of turtles pushed north into uncharted waters. Adam Skolnick reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• President Trump floats deploying National Guard troops to New Orleans (NPR) 
• Judge warns of 'national police force' in ruling Trump broke the law sending Guard to LA (Washington State Standard) 
• Trump administration illegally froze billions in Harvard funds, judge rules (NPR) 
• Federal officials to restore health and science data after lawsuit settlement (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Thu Sep 4 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 3 to  4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 2 ft at 12 seconds.  Patchy dense fog this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 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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