10/31 Deadman Island, big rain, saving trees, toxic lights, democracy watch, week in review

 

Deadman Island [Amy Nelson, Salish Current]

Deadman Island (Happy Hallowe'en!)
Deadman Island is one of the San Juan Islands in San Juan County. The uninhabited, rocky island has a land area of 3.5 acres (1.4 hectares). It is part of the Geese Islets, a collection of rocky islands and reefs near the southwest shore of Lopez Island. Deadman Island is an oystercatcher nesting site and is also a seal haulout. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: PNW researchers seek comprehensive dogfish data 

Atmospheric river to soak Puget Sound Friday evening, drench trick-or-treaters 
By mid to late morning, breezes at the coast and northern waters will start to rise as rain begins across the north coast and far western part of the Strait. This line of heavier rainfall will move southeast slowly through the afternoon, and by 3–4 p.m., it will be raining — heavily in spots — across the northern waters and northwest interior, north and west of Everett, as well as the Strait and the coast. (KIRO) 

Wash. says it will save 77,000 acres from logging. Enviros question the details
Don’t applaud yet. Critics say the big plan amounts to “smoke and mirrors” and is “misleading” Nick Engelfried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

$185M verdict for toxic lights in WA school upheld by state’s high court 
The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for a record-setting payout to three teachers who developed brain damage and other illnesses after being exposed to toxic PCBs at a Monroe school. In the 6-3 ruling, justices reinstated a $185 million jury award, likely the largest product liability verdict ever upheld in Washington state history. A lower court had sided with Monsanto, the manufacturer of the now-banned chemicals. Lulu Ramadan reports. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump says he wants to resume nuclear testing. Here's what that would mean (NPR) 
• Trump sets 7,500 annual limit for refugees entering US. It’ll be mostly white South Africans (AP) 
• Pentagon readying thousands of Guard ‘reaction forces’ as U.S. mission widens (Washington Post) 
• Hegseth orders the military to detail dozens of attorneys to the Justice Department, AP learns (AP) 

 Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/31/25: Lemur Friday, shore-power nixed, chum return, humpback killed, AK gas pipe, Klamath R salmon, new WA bees, Helion, North Coast line. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  902 PM PDT Thu Oct 30 2025    
FRI  SE wind 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas 5 to  7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain.  
FRI NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 6 to  9 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 7 seconds and W 9 ft  at 16 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  S wind 15 to 20 kt, veering to W in the afternoon. Seas  7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 10 ft at  16 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W  9 ft at 15 seconds. Rain likely in the evening, then showers  after midnight.  
SUN  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 14 seconds.  Showers likely, mainly 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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10/30 Ghost shrimp, Helion, North Coast line, BC snap election, pipeline penalty, democracy watch

 

Bay ghost shrimp [Dave Cowles]

Bay ghost shrimp Neotrypaea californiensis
With their pale, fragile bodies, the ghost shrimps look almost otherworldly. But these little specters – more closely related to crabs than to true shrimp – are real-life ecosystem engineers, creating deep burrows by digging with their legs and claws. The bay ghost shrimp is important in the diet of gray whales, which dig large “feeding pits” for them in the intertidal mud of North and Central Puget Sound, especially in Whidbey Basin, Saratoga Passage, and Possession Sound. (WA Department of Ecology)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Indigenous teachers help keep ancestors’ language alive

Helion gives behind-the-scenes tour of secretive 60-foot fusion prototype as it races to deployment
Helion Energy is trying to replicate the physics that fuel the sun and the stars — hence the celestial naming theme — to provide nearly limitless power on earth through fusion reactions. Lisa Stiffler reports. (GeekWire) 

‘Who is going to pay?’: Climate and energy experts question B.C. government’s plans to electrify heavy industry
From building the North Coast transmission line to reducing electrification costs for industry, the B.C. government is planning big changes to energy policy with Bill 31. Experts have big questions. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Eby Threatens Snap Election over North Coast Transmission Line
Premier David Eby says that if a key bill aimed at speeding construction of the North Coast Transmission Line fails to pass in the legislature, he’s willing to call an early election. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee) 

Judge says Greenpeace must pay $345 million in pipeline lawsuit, cutting jury amount nearly in half
A North Dakota judge has ordered Greenpeace to pay damages of $345 million, reducing an earlier jury award after it found the environmental group and related entities liable for defamation and other claims in connection with protests of an oil pipeline nearly a decade ago. Jack Dura reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• JD Vance calls for reduction in legal immigration at Turning Point event (AP) 
• 2 U.S. prosecutors suspended after describing Jan. 6 attack as carried out by ‘mob’ (Washington Post)
• Feds sent Guard to Portland ICE facility Oct. 4 despite judge's order (Washington State Standard) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  247 PM PDT Wed Oct 29 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING    
THU  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 11 seconds. THU NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain 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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10/29 Pumpkin, AK gas pipe, Indigenous Rights, Klamath R dam removal, saving sequoias, new bees, Gig Harbor dock, earthworm, democracy watch

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
Pumpkins, like other squash, originated in northeastern Mexico and southern United States. The oldest evidence were pumpkin fragments dated between 7,000 and 5,500 BC found in Mexico. Pumpkin fruits are a type of botanical berry known as a pepo. Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes. Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around Halloween. In 2019, China accounted for 37% of the world's production of pumpkins. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: WWU budget cuts threaten student advising

Tokyo Gas signs preliminary agreement with trans-Alaska gas pipeline developer

Tokyo Gas, the largest gas company in Japan, has signed a letter of intent signifying that it would buy up to 1 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year from the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. The development moves the project closer to a financial finish line that would allow the borrowing needed to build the project. (Washington State Standard) 

Does recognition of Indigenous Rights threaten access to nature and recreation in B.C.? 
Outdoor recreation groups worry recognition of Indigenous Rights could limit their access to nature — and so does the resource industry. Cameron Fenton reports. (The Narwhal) 

Klamath River temperatures changed dramatically after dam removal. That’s helping salmon swim farther upstream 
It’s been a little more than a year since four dams on the Klamath River came down — the biggest river restoration project in U.S. history. Water temperatures below the former dam sites are more natural. Dissolved oxygen — what fish and other creatures need to breathe — has stabilized. Toxic cyanobacteria, which often clogged the dam reservoirs during the late summer, have nearly disappeared. Yes Burns reports. (OPB) 

Tacoma mobile-home park residents saved 59 sequoias. Now they hope to buy park By 
In August, residents of the Ohana Estates at 8211 E. McKinley Ave. in Tacoma learned that 59 giant sequoias might be cut down. The incident prompted them to mobilize. By January, the neighbors plan to start a co-op to buy the community from their landlord, thus ensuring their housing stays affordable and the trees remain cared for. Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

8 new Washington bee species identified
The unexpected finds in Chelan County have important implications for biodiversity and knowledge about expanding ranges. Kiyomi Taguchi reports. (UW News/Columbia Insight) 

Major project in Pierce County stalled due to federal government shutdown
The city of Gig Harbor wants to build a new commercial fishing dock next year, but holdups in the review process for permits during the federal government shutdown could further delay the project, which has already been in the works for a decade. Julia Park reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

The not-so-humble earthworm
Ask any extension program or gardening blogger, and they will probably assure you that worms are good for soil health. Check online, and there are literally hundreds of offers of garden worms for sale. How important are earthworms, and do you need to buy them? Russel Barsh writes. (Islands' Weekly) 

Democracy Watch

• US launches strikes on 4 alleged drug-running boats in the eastern Pacific, killing 14 (AP) 
• SNAP runs out of money Nov. 1. States are now figuring out how to feed millions of people (NPR) 
• Trump Officials in Charge of Food Aid Leave Their Posts (NY Times) 
• Democratic AGs, governors sue Trump over SNAP benefits as shutdown hits day 28. (Washington State Standard) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  839 PM PDT Tue Oct 28 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING    
WED  SW wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: W 13 ft at 15 seconds.  Showers likely, mainly in the morning.  
WED NIGHT  W wind around 5 kt, veering to E after midnight.  Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to 8 ft after midnight. Wave  Detail: W 10 ft at 13 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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10/28 Sandpiper, chum return, dead humpback, Uncle Sam billboard, wildfire funding, democracy watch

 

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
The smallest of the sandpipers or “peeps”, the least sandpiper is just 6 inches from beak to tail tip. This little guy is similar to several other sandpipers and stints, however it’s short, slightly curved bill and light colored legs set it apart from the others. It can be seen during migration in the spring and late summer singly or in small groups hunting for small worms, snails and crustaceans above the water’s edge. They pick up prey from the surface as well as probe just under the surface of the sand. They winter from Puget Sound south along the west coast into South America. (Puget Sound Estuarium) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Students lead in celebrations of Hispanic heritage 

Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound
Chum salmon are on the run into Puget Sound, and our southern resident killer whales may not be far behind...While the orcas prefer Chinook salmon, they appear more than willing to settle for chum when those fish are in abundance — as they were this time last year when a record number of chum began showing up in Central/South Puget Sound. This year’s chum run is expected to be substantial — perhaps not quite as large as last year’s — and all of this contributes to an interesting and ongoing story about the travels of these endangered orcas. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

'Very sad and tragic': Humpback whale found dead off Keats Island, B.C. 
A four-year-old humpback whale has washed up dead near Keats Island in Howe Sound, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is investigating to determine the cause of death. The whale was found dead in the same area where a humpback whale was struck by a whale-watching vessel on Oct. 23. A statement from whale-watching company Prince of Whales said that based on timing and location, it believes this could be the whale involved in Thursday's incident. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Uncle Sam billboard on I-5 goes from right-wing zingers to a statement of Native rights
This week's message: “Native Land” and on the line below “#chehalis.” Jeff Warnke, director of government and public relations for the tribe, said he has been shocked at how much discussion he’s seen around what he considers a statement of fact. Stephen Howie reports. (KUOW) 

Climate dollars eyed to backfill WA wildfire funding 
Washington’s lands commissioner and a leading Democratic House lawmaker indicated that they want to tap revenue from the state’s cap-and-trade program for at least some of the $60 million for firefighting. The maneuver would mean turning to a steady-flowing stream of cash at a time when the state’s operating budget is squeezed. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Merkley demands cost estimate for Trump’s National Guard deployments (OregonLive) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  801 PM PDT Mon Oct 27 2025    

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM PDT TUESDAY THROUGH  TUESDAY MORNING  

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE  TUESDAY NIGHT    

TUE  E wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SE 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds and W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  

TUE NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to SW after midnight.  Seas 5 to 8 ft, subsiding to 4 to 6 ft after midnight. Wave  Detail: SE 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers in  the evening, then rain 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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10/27 Sideband snail, furloughed feds, Michael Glore, shore-power nixed, coast shipwrecks, democracy watch

 

Pacific Sideband snail 
[Jefferson Land Trust Natural History Society]

 

 

 

Pacific Sideband snail Monadenia fidelis 
The most dramatic and largest native Northwest snail is the Pacific sideband snail, with a shell diameter of 18-35 mm.  Its flattened, coil shell sports bands of black, chestnut, and yellow around its perimeter. You may find them in the forest, particularly after a good rain. Living under leaf litter, they munch away at fungi and decaying organic matter, emitting a smell when disturbed. Maybe this is why another common name is the rotten garlic snail. (Jefferson Land Trust Natural History Society)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Skagit seniors push for greater services 

Furloughed feds pick up Seattle beach trash to keep serving the public
Furloughed federal employees were out in the rain picking up cigarette butts, bottle caps, and other trash at Seattle’s Golden Gardens Park on Friday. Their sodden volunteerism was part of a national week of service for civil servants prevented from doing their jobs by the federal government shutdown. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Glore hired as executive director to lead Dungeness River center
Michael Glore was recently hired to run the center, which is a partnership between the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the National Audubon Society and the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Harbour authority abandons shore-power plan for cruise ships
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is pulling the plug on a plan to install shore power for cruise ships docking at Ogden Point, saying its share of the cost is prohibitive, despite millions promised by the federal and provincial governments. Plug-in power for cruise ships had been heralded as a cleaner alternative to leaving the massive ships idling during visits. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Wrecked: Sinking ships and colliding cultures on the Northwest Coast
For centuries, shipwrecks caused clashes of cultures and worlds in the Northwest. The wrecks created opportunity but also great tragedy for Indigenous people. But today, Native American tribes are still vibrant and alive. And the echoes of those wrecks are still felt today in Northwest myths and culture. Anna King reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Democracy Watch

• USDA won’t shuffle funds to extend SNAP during shutdown, in about-face from earlier plan (Washington State Standard) 
• MAGA lobbying firms are booming. This is where their money goes. (Washington Post) 
• Trump announces additional 10 per cent tariff on Canada over Ontario ad (Times Colonist)

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-  227 PM PDT Sun Oct 26 2025    

MON  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE in the afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of  showers.  
MON NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 20 to 25 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds and W  6 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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10/24 Rose, AK drilling, Lummi consultation petition, WA tribal consultation, marbled murrelets, wolf kill, democracy watch, week in review

Rose

A rose is a rose is a rose.
The sentence "Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose" was written by Gertrude Stein as part of the 1913 poem "Sacred Emily", which appeared in the 1922 book Geography and Plays. In that poem, the first "Rose" is the name of a person. Stein later used variations on the sentence in other writings, and the shortened form "A rose is a rose is a rose" is among her most famous quotations, often interpreted as meaning "things are what they are", a statement of the law of identity, "A is A." (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Broadband access in Northwest Washington improving — but gaps remain 

Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling
The Trump administration on Thursday finalized plans to open the coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to potential oil and gas drilling, renewing a long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation’s environmental jewels. Becky Bohrer reports. (Associated Press) 

Lummi Nation files petition in B.C. Supreme Court over environmental assessments
Lummi Nation has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia to be consulted as a participating Indigenous nation (PIN) on environmental projects in the province. The petition states that British Columbia has a “duty of deep consultation” with Lummi Nation on projects that affect their traditional territory, which includes parts of B.C. This would give the tribe a “seat at the table” on issues affecting those lands. Hannah Edelman reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

WA governor moves to improve state consultation with tribes
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order Wednesday to strengthen how the state consults and works with Native American tribes in Washington. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Sightings of marbled murrelets in Commencement Bay
Marbled murrelets are a rare sight in Puget Sound. The threatened birds have declined severely in California, Oregon, and Washington, and biologists are intrigued by their summer presence in Commencement Bay. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine) h

Washington issues ‘lethal removal’ order for one of Sherman pack’s last wolves
Environmental groups are concerned that 70% of WDFW wolf killings are being carried out on behalf of a single landowner. Nick Engelfried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump says he’s ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads (AP) 
• It's the deadliest year for ICE in decades. As detentions rise, the trend may continue (NPR) 
• The East Wing is gone, and Trump turns to damage control (Washington Post) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/24/25: UN Day, Indigenous refuges, septopus, Klamath salmon, 'Skipper' struck, BC electric line, derelict barge, Snohomish R rights. w-october_24.html

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Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PDT Fri Oct 24 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT  
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE  SATURDAY NIGHT    
TODAY  S wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 6 ft at  6 seconds and W 10 ft at 14 seconds. A slight chance of tstms.  Rain this morning, then showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 15 to 20 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at  14 seconds. Showers likely in the evening, then rain likely after  midnight.  
SAT  E wind 20 to 25 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to  40 kt in the afternoon. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: E 9 ft at  7 seconds and W 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt. Seas  8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 6 to 9 ft after midnight. Wave Detail:  SE 9 ft at 7 seconds and W 8 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft  at 13 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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10/23 Matsutake, Snohomish R rights, derelict barge removal, stranded sea cukes, democracy watch

Matsutake [Wikipedia]

 
Matsutake Tricholoma matsutake 
Matsutake is a species of choice edible mycorrhizal mushroom that grows in Eurasia and North America. It is prized in Japanese cuisine for its distinct aroma. The common name and specific epithet, matsutake, in use since the late 19th century, derives from Japanese matsu (pine tree) and take (mushroom). (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Film recalls the ‘War for the Woods’ as the fight continues / It’s time to rethink what forests are for

Editor's note: Our Skagit reader points out that the blue whale featured yesterday is, at 100 feet long, not longer than a 747 which is 250 feet long. 

On Friday, the County Superior Court will decide if the Snohomish River has rights
Developers are taking an initiative that grants the Snohomish River legal standing rights to court, arguing the law oversteps its bounds. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Derelict barge sat in Tacoma waterway for 2+ years. Cost to remove it: $463K
The Port of Tacoma approved a resolution to remove a derelict boat that has been sitting in the Hylebos Waterway since March 2023. After two of its most recent owners failed to remove it, taxpayers will, at the cost of $463,000, according to port records. The Disawah, a 110-foot barge, is expected to be removed in November after the Port of Tacoma Commission on Tuesday approved authorization for Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. to remove and dispose of it. Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Thousands of sea cucumbers have washed up on the beach in the Oregon coastal town of Seaside The partially translucent, pink gelatinous creatures are called skin breathing sea cucumbers. They normally burrow into the sand along the low tideline and farther out. But on Tuesday, thanks to a combination of heavy surf and low tide, they were scattered across more than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of Seaside Beach. Audrey McAvoy reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• US hits $38 trillion in debt, after the fastest accumulation of $1 trillion outside of the pandemic (AP) 
• Pentagon announces a new right-wing press corps after mass walkout (Washington Post) 
• USDA is reopening some 2,100 offices to help farmers access $3B in aid despite the ongoing shutdown (AP) 

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-  229 PM PDT Wed Oct 22 2025    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE  THURSDAY NIGHT    
THU  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with gusts up  to 35 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 6 to 9 ft  in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SE 6 ft at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at  16 seconds. Rain. THU NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 9 to  12 ft. Wave Detail: SE 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 11 ft at  14 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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10/22 Blue whale, "Skipper' struck, Carriger solar farm, BC big power line, WA drought, lion's mane jelly, democracy watch

Blue whale

 
Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus
The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth. It can grow to 100 feet (30.5 m) in length and weigh as much as 200 tons — the weight of 30 elephants and longer than the longest jumbo jet. A blue whale eats krill almost exclusively, consuming up to 7,900 pounds (3,600 kg) of these tiny, shrimplike invertebrates daily. That’s about 40 million krill every day! Because of this, blue whales require larger and more dense “prey patches” (concentrations of prey) than other baleen whales. (Monterey Bay Aquarium) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Recovery: the trumpeter swan's story

Ferry likely struck humpback calf ‘Skipper:’ researchers
Photos of the calf taken by whale-watching operators on Oct. 16 and then again after the Hullo ferry strike on Oct. 20 revealed a large gash on the small whale’s back. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Proposal for 1,300-acre solar farm goes again to Washington governor for approval
Gov. Bob Ferguson held off green-lighting the Carriger project in August to allow the Yakama Nation more time to weigh in on cultural resource protections. Jerry Cornfield  reports. (Washington State Standard) 

B.C. bets big changes to energy policy will reap massive rewards
The province says Bill 31 will speed up construction of the $6-billion North Coast transmission line as it looks to electrify mines, LNG projects and ports in northwest B.C. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

WA cities face unprecedented water cuts amid drought
This year’s drought was so bad, the state had to cut deeper than ever before. With only a single exception, every person, farm, ranch, irrigation ditch and company drawing water from rivers, streams and reservoirs within the basin had to stop. Entire cities couldn’t be spared. This includes Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Prosser, Roslyn, Yakima and anyone else with a surface water right. They all received so-called curtailment letters from Washington’s Department of Ecology earlier this month. Only the Yakama Indian Nation’s water was left untouched. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times) 

Heaviest jellyfish on Earth filmed off Washington coast
The lion's mane jellyfish has an estimated maximum weight of more than 1,000kg. This videographer found one on a night dive in the Salish Sea. (Discover Wildlife) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases (NY Times)  
• Hegseth changes policy on how Pentagon officials communicate with Congress (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  259 PM PDT Tue Oct 21 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON  
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY  MORNING WED  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 5 seconds and W  7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning, then rain in  the afternoon. WED NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 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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10/21 Raven, GasLink protesters, Skamania Hatchery, Klamath salmon, democracy watch

 

Raven 

Common Raven Corvus corax
The intriguing Common Raven has accompanied people around the Northern Hemisphere for centuries, following their wagons, sleds, sleighs, and hunting parties in hopes of a quick meal. Ravens are among the smartest of all birds, gaining a reputation for solving ever more complicated problems invented by ever more creative scientists. These big, sooty birds thrive among humans and in the back of beyond, stretching across the sky on easy, flowing wingbeats and filling the empty spaces with an echoing croak. (All About Birds]

Today's top story in Salish Current: Despite the rain, this is what democracy looks like / Remembering history as a path to healing, reconciliation, welcoming

Supporters Cheer After Indigenous Land Defenders Avoid Jail 
Judge rejects the prosecutors’ call for more jail time for protesters arrested at a Coastal GasLink pipeline work site. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

Washington will close hatchery that produces thousands of steelhead
There will soon be fewer steelhead released into Washington’s waters due to the impending closure of Skamania Hatchery.  Located in Washougal, the hatchery produces summer and winter steelhead that are released into southwest Washington rivers for recreational fishing. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Salmon clear last Klamath dams, reaching Williamson and Sprague rivers 
Just a year after four dams were removed, fall Chinook have migrated nearly 300 miles into the Upper Klamath Basin in Southern Oregon. Jes Burns and Cassandra Profita report. (OBP) 

Democracy Watch

• ICE agents hold teens at gunpoint at Oregon coffee shop (OregonLive) 
• Trump directs demolition on part of White House for ballroom despite lacking construction approval (AP) 
• US appeals court says Trump can take command of Oregon troops though deployment blocked for now (AP)

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Here's your tug weather— West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 PM PDT Mon Oct 20 2025    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT   TUE  S wind around 5 kt, backing to E in the afternoon. Seas  6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 17 seconds. A chance of rain in  the morning.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to  5 to 8 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  9 ft at 15 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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10/20 Blue jay, Indigenous marine refuges, Helion, humpback struck, 'septopus,' bronze art theft, democracy watch

 

Blue Jay [Ryan Sanderson]

Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period. (All About Birds) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Working towards an affordable, climate-resilient future / Making the next step ‘a better choice’

3 Indigenous-led marine refuges established off B.C.'s North Coast
The federal government and two First Nations have jointly announced the establishment of three marine refuges along British Columbia's North Coast. All three sites have been established under an initiative meant to increase Indigenous-led marine conservation efforts on the West Coast, while also advancing reconciliation. (Canadian Press) 

Everett-based Helion receives approval to build fusion power plant
A Chelan County hearing examiner approved a conditional use permit on Tuesday, allowing Everett-based Helion Energy to construct what could become the world’s first fusion power plant in the town of Malaga near the Columbia River. Randy Diamond reports. (Everett Herald) 

Hullo Ferries vessel struck humpback near Vancouver: DFO
A ship owned by a high-speed, passenger-only ferry service between Vancouver and Nanaimo has struck a humpback whale near Vancouver in English Bay, according to a federal department. The statement said the whale was observed swimming north after the contact, but it did not offer any additional details about the condition of the animal. gang Depner reports. (Canadian Press) 

Rare 'septopus' believed to have been found on shore of B.C.'s Pender Island
A scientist based in Washington state is celebrating after identifying what she believes to be a seven-arm octopus — typically found in the Atlantic Ocean — on B.C.’s coast.  The creature was discovered in August when Pender Island resident Kathleen Durant was walking her dog and came across what looked like a big, red jellyfish on the beach. Courtney Dickson reports. (CBC) 

In Seattle, theft of bronze art is rising. Why? And who is impacted? 
Over the summer, a $7,000 sculpture vanished into thin air. The 120-pound bronze was cut loose from its mounting post near the International Fountain at Seattle Center and subsequently disappeared. With bronze — an alloy of copper and tin — selling for roughly $2.50 per pound, a small, 120-pound bronze like this would fetch maybe $300, a fraction of its actual value. Margo Vansynghel reports. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Photos show ‘No Kings’ rallies against Trump across the US and in Europe (AP) 
• Speaker Johnson defends Trump's decision to commute Santos sentencing (Politico) 
• DHS to spend $200 million on private jets for Noem, other officials. (Washington Post) 
• Trump moves closer to eliminating Education Department amid shutdown (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-  247 PM PDT Sun Oct 19 2025    
MON  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft  in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 5 seconds, W 6 ft at 12 seconds and W 2 ft at 23 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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10/17 Chrysanthemums, solar program suit, Baker R sockeye, ferruginous hawks, war mining, 'we are the land,' BC land return, glamping, democracy watch, week in review

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums Asteraceae
Chrysanthemums, sometimes abbreviated to 'mums' or 'chrysanths', are perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the family Asteraceae that bloom in the autumn. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the center of diversity is in China. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Child care, housing costs hamper business recruitment

WA sues EPA over canceled $7 billion solar program
Washington is among the states suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for ending a $7 billion program intended to help low-income and disadvantaged households install solar power. The program was created in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, and Washington state was awarded $156 million in April 2024. However, after President Donald Trump took office the grants were thrust into limbo and the program was terminated in August. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times) 

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe celebrates huge rebound of Baker River sockeye 
Nearly 92,000 sockeye salmon returned to the Baker River this year. That’s a historic milestone for nearby tribes, state wildlife officials and the hydroelectric utility that caused the decline — and helped bring the fish back. Scott Schuyler, the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe’s policy representative for cultural natural resources, has been watching the fish run for more than 40 years. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

Ferruginous hawks are changing the plans for a massive wind farm near the Tri-Cities. Here’s why 
Ferruginous hawk habitat is on hillsides, cliffs, rock outcroppings and in trees — near the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center’s planned site. That’s changing where developers can build parts of the wind, solar and battery project. The Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, or EFSEC, unanimously passed a resolution in a meeting on Wednesday to strike dozens of planned wind turbines from the massive project planned outside the Tri-Cities. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Why Is the US War Department Buying into a BC Mining Company?
Global instability is creating a rush for critical minerals, which are useful for green energy. And the military. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

'We are the land,' Sleydo' tells B.C. court at Wet'suwet'wen blockade sentencing
A Wet’suwet’en leader convicted after blocking work on the Coastal GasLink pipeline addressed a B.C. Supreme Court at the end of sentencing arguments on Thursday, telling the judge her land "has never been ceded or surrendered." "We are more than just our songs and dances. Our ancestors said, we are the land, and the land is us. Our laws flow from the land, we are nothing without it,” said Sleydo' at the end of the hearing. dzi'u Loverin reports. (CBC) 

80 hectares of land returned to Snuneymuxw First Nation
The federal government has returned nearly 80 hectares of land to the Snuneymuxw First Nation, which it hopes to develop with housing and commercial spaces. The land transfer, announced Thursday, involves three federal parcels of land in the City of Nanaimo, often referred to as the Department of National Defence lands. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist) 

The Glamp Divide: Can luxury and wilderness co-exist?
After a controversy in the Columbia River Gorge, the luxe camping alternative is under scrutiny. Erica Browne Grivas reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• How FEMA Is Forcing Disaster-Struck Towns to Fend for Themselves (NY Times) 
• Penn, USC reject Trump’s Rowan-backed college funding deal (Bloomberg) 
• Big Tech is paying millions to train teachers on AI, in a push to bring chatbots into classrooms (AP) 
• ‘No Kings’ protests return as Trump ramps up authoritarian practices, organizers say (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/17/25: Mulligan Friday, Marine Mammal Protection Act, opening AK lands, SRKW decline, BC mushroom toilets, sea star recovery, Columbia Basin salmon, wildfire sperm count, monitoring orcas. 

Here's your weekend tug weather—  
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Fri Oct 17 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH  SUNDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 11 seconds and W 5 ft at 18 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to S after midnight. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 16 seconds. Rain after  midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds and  W 7 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to SW after midnight.  Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 6 seconds and W 8 ft at  11 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  W wind 25 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft, building to 8 to 11 ft  in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 5 seconds and W 11 ft at  15 seconds. 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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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10/16 Red rock crab, orca monitoring, First Nation forestry, hyena photo, Pentagon reporting rules, democracy watch

 

Red Rock Crab [Kirt L. Onthank] 

Red Rock Crab Cancer productus
Red rock crabs, as their name implies, prefer rocky substrates but can also be found in eelgrass, soft-bottom habitat, and shellfish beds from the mid intertidal to depths of about 260 feet. The species is native to North American west coast estuaries from Alaska to Northern Baja California and is common throughout Puget Sound. It can be distinguished from the Dungeness by the presence of black on the tips of its claws and by its red coloration. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: In an online world, museums work to stay seen / It isn't always a boat

Scientists Hope Underwater Fiber-Optic Cables Can Help Save Endangered Orcas
Scientists from the University of Washington recently deployed a little over 1 mile of fiber-optic cable in the Salish Sea to test whether internet cables can monitor endangered orcas like a continuous underwater microphone to capture the clicks, calls and whistles of passing whales — information that could reveal how they respond to ship traffic, food scarcity and climate change. If the experiment works, the thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables that already crisscross the ocean floor could be turned into a vast listening network that could inform conservation efforts worldwide. (Associated Press) 

‘It’s not even close to equitable’: B.C. First Nations push to reshape forestry
Nations across B.C. are buying into forestry tenures once controlled by multinational companies. But with old-growth trees dwindling and mills shutting down, the stakes are high. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal) 

Haunting hyena wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest
A hyena prowling an abandoned mining town and a beetle perched to witness the destruction of its forest habitat are the winners of the year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The two grand prize winners and 19 category winners were announced Wednesday by the Natural History Museum in London, which has put on the competition for 61 years. Emily Chung reports. (CBC) 

Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules
Dozens of reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon on Wednesday rather than agree to government-imposed restrictions on their work, pushing journalists who cover the American military further from the seat of its power. The nation’s leadership called the new rules “common sense” to help regulate a “very disruptive” press. News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information — classified or otherwise — that had not been approved by Hegseth for release. David Bauder reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Brown University Rejects White House Deal for Special Treatment (NY Times) 
• Trump is opting some of the government out of the shutdown (Washington Post) 
• Trump considers overhaul of refugee system that would favor white people (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-  205 PM PDT Wed Oct 15 2025    

THU  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  11 seconds. Showers in the afternoon. THU NIGHT  SW wind around 10 kt, veering to W after midnight.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at  13 seconds. 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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10/15 Chanterelle, sea star recovery, Columbia R dams, coal bid rejected, ocean wave energy, wildfire smoke and sperm, democracy watch

 

Chanterelle

Chanterelle
Chanterelles are found in Eurasia, North America, and Africa, typically growing in forested areas. They initially gained popularity as an edible mushroom in the 18th century via their inclusion in French cuisine. 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Keeping opera alive in the PNW

With one mystery solved, researchers examine new strategies for sea star recovery
Knowing the cause of sea star wasting disease allows scientists to look for ways to increase resilience among the ravaged sea star population. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents) 

Oregon, environmental groups ask courts to help Columbia Basin fish 
Environmental groups and the state of Oregon asked a judge Tuesday to OK a suite of changes to dam operations in the Columbia Basin to reduce harm to endangered salmon and steelhead. The requests are the first major development in a decadeslong legal battle in the basin since the Trump administration blew up a 2023 agreement that had provided a path to dam removal on the lower Snake River. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

US rejects bid to buy 167 million tons of coal on public lands for less than a penny per ton
Federal officials rejected a company’s bid to acquire 167 million tons of coal on public lands in Montana for less than a penny per ton, in what would have been the biggest U.S. government coal sale in more than a decade. The failed sale underscores a continued low appetite for coal among utilities that are turning to cheaper natural gas and renewables such as wind and solar to generate electricity. Matthew Brown reports. (Associated Press) 

Energy from ocean waves? Major PNW utility signs on for test site 
A small test site miles off the Oregon coast will soon generate electricity with the motion of the ocean. PacWave, as the site’s called, is not expected to produce much energy, but its technologies there hold a lot of potential. And last month the Bonneville Power Administration, which supplies about a third of the Pacific Northwest’s energy, agreed to buy whatever electricity it generates, confirmed Dan Hellin, director of the test site. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times) 

New research links wildfire smoke to lower sperm counts
A study by Dr. Tristan Nicholson and published in the journal Fertility and Sterility compared the dates of wildfire contamination with the sperm samples of 84 men who donated during potentially high exposure to smoke. The results: lower counts, as well as more inactive sperm, compared to samples taken when the air was cleaner. Lisa Brooks reports. (KNKX) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump honors Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would be his 32nd birthday (AP) 
• White House Guts Education Department With More Layoffs (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-  241 PM PDT Tue Oct 14 2025    
WED  SE wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at  14 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 7 seconds and W 3 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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told