12/26 Golden dirona, 10 big stories, dying loons, Everett frigates sunk, climate grief, democracy watch, week in review

 

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Golden Dirona [Samantha Claver]

Golden Dirona Dirona pellucida
Golden dironas live in the intertidal zones of the oceans, to depths of 60 meters. They can be found in tides from North Sound, Alaska to Puget Sound, Northern Washington, across the Bering Sea until the eastern seas of Japan, Korea and Russia. (Vic High Marine)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Big money to come for free preschool 

10 biggest environmental stories of 2025
In February, Columbia Insight reported on ways the Forest Service is manipulating the threat of wildfires to meet logging targets. In July, the USDA announced a plan to move the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region Headquarters from Portland to Fort Collins, Colo. July brought confirmation of a mating pair of spotted owls in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Big news, no doubt, but each item was edged out by 10 others on our annual list of the year’s top environmental stories. Chuck Thompson curates. (Columbia Insight) 

Why Are Loons Still Dying from Lead Poisoning
In the United States, efforts to save a beloved species face pushback from a surprising foe: gun rights advocates. Krista Langlois reports. (bioGraphic) 

Secretary of the Navy sinks plan for new frigates at Naval Station Everett
A plan to house a dozen guided missile frigates promised for Naval Station Everett is dead after Secretary of the Navy John Phelan scrapped a contract to build the Constellation class ships. Phelan announced on social media and in a statement back on Nov 25, that he wanted to reshape “how the Navy builds and fields its fleet.” Plans to house the 12 Constellation class vessels appeared to still be on track as late as October 2024.Randy Diamond reports. (Everett Herald) 

The Sky Is Falling; How Does That Feel?
Climate change is creating a new form of grief. Here’s how people are dealing with it. Steven Closon reports. (The Front) 

Democracy Watch

• Federal judge says Trump administration must restore disaster money to Democratic states (AP) 
• Trump administration to garnish wages for defaulted student loans (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/26/25: Kwanzaa! baby bull kelp, gray wolf ESA, PFAS, Snohomish rezone, BP pipeline spill, Roadless rule recission. 

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 weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  305 PM PST Thu Dec 25 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH  LATE FRIDAY NIGHT    

FRI  W wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft  in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.  
FRI NIGHT  NW wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  N wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to E in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft, subsiding to 3 to 5 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail:  W 7 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds, W 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 14 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


12/23 Mistletoe, Canada's oil and gas, Snohomish rezone, barge trouble, BP pipe leak, roadless rule, Trump's windmills, democracy watch

 

Editor's note:  Have a happy and safe holiday. News and Weather will be back on Friday. If you have any spare change left after holiday gifts, please make a recurring monthly donation or a one-time donation to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

Mistletoe

Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant. There are hundreds of species which mostly live in tropical regions. There are 1500 species of mistletoe, varying widely in toxicity to humans; the European mistletoe (Viscum album) is more toxic than the American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum). Pagan cultures regarded the white berries as symbols of male fertility, with the seeds resembling semen. The Celts, particularly, saw mistletoe as the semen of Taranis, while the Ancient Greeks referred to mistletoe as "oak sperm". Also in Roman mythology, mistletoe was used by the hero Aeneas to reach the underworld. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Ferndale’s 'Metallica Bridge' offers 'a bit of light' for all

Will anyone want Canada’s oil and gas? Energy regulator delays forecast due to shifting policies
Canada and the U.S. have been changing their energy and climate policies, making it harder to predict just how much demand there will be for fossil fuels in the coming years. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

Snohomish County Council passes 3,000-acre rezoning plan
The area south of Everett is expected to grow from over 500,000 people to almost 750,000 by 2044. Taylor Scott Richmond reports. (Everett Herald) 

Seattle Firm Has Second Barge Hit Trouble on BC Coast
For the second time in less than a month, a barge operated by the same Seattle-based shipping company encountered serious trouble on B.C.’s north coast. On Dec. 14, a barge called Arctic Provider ran aground near the abandoned cannery town of Butedale, about 165 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert. It has since been towed out of Canadian waters, according to its owner, Alaska Marine Lines. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

Lawmakers seek answers about BP’s Olympic Pipeline leak in Snohomish County
Washington congressional lawmakers are seeking answers from oil giant BP following the Olympic Pipeline’s 2,300-gallon leak east of Everett in November, which caused an almost 2-week shutdown of the system and forced Gov. Bob Ferguson to issue a state emergency regarding travel disruptions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

The Road To Ruin
Hidden among the flurry of policy changes by the Trump Administration, the rescission of the Roadless Rule may have far consequences for our public lands. Aidan Byrnes reports. (https://www.theplanetmagazine.net/nostalgia/the-road-to-ruin

Trump Halts 5 Wind Farms Off the East Coast
The Interior Department said the projects posed national security risks, without providing details. The decision imperils billions of dollars of investments. Maxine Joselow and Lisa Friedman report. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump announces plans for new Navy ‘battleship’ as part of a ‘Golden Fleet’ (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-  225 PM PST Mon Dec 22 2025    
TUE  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 12 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the morning.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 5 seconds, W  5 ft at 11 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain in  the evening, then rain likely after midnight.

---


"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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


12/22 Decorator crab, bull kelp, gray wolf, forever chemicals, Owls killed, abortion pills, Indigenous rights, animal pix

 

Editor's note: It's a simple ask—Once a year I ask the readers of News and Weather to join with the readers of Salish Current to make a recurring monthly donation or a one-time donation to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news you can turst in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

Decorator crab [Gustav Paulay]

Decorator crab Oregonia gracilis
There are many species of decorator crabs worldwide, all belonging to one of eight families in the superfamily Majoidea. A few of these species occur in Puget Sound, but the graceful decorator crab, Oregonia gracilis, is our most flamboyant decorator. O. gracilis occurs from the Bering Sea to Monterey, CA, gracing the intertidal zone and deeper — to 400 meters or 1,300 feet — with its cheery presence. In Puget Sound, it prefers mixed composition bottoms with plenty of rocks, sand, shells, and seaweed. (Danny Burgess, Dept. of Ecology) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: ‘Two-headed hydra’ worsens regional flooding 

Thousands of baby bull kelp planted on new rock reef in North Vancouver
On a rainy December day, divers braved the currents of the Burrard Inlet to plant thousands of microscopic bull kelp onto a new underwater rock reef. The reef, which spans about 1,800 square metres, at the Lynn Creek Estuary in North Vancouver, was completed earlier this month in a partnership between Neptune Terminals and the University of B.C. Lauren Vanderdeen reports. (CBC) 

US House passes bill to remove gray wolf from Endangered Species Act list 
The U.S. House on Thursday passed, 211-204, a bill to remove Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf outside Alaska. The bill, sponsored by Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert, would direct the Interior secretary to reissue a 2020 rule removing ESA protections that delisted wolves other than the Mexican wolf in the lower 48 states, while stipulating it could not be challenged in court. Jacob Fischler reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Washington wants to get rid of 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foam. So it’s shipping the foam to an incinerator in Utah
A new program from Washington’s Department of Ecology is helping get rid of firefighting foam that could be toxic. The foam contains what are commonly called “forever chemicals." Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Trust of First Nations 'fragile' as B.C. government considers changes to UN law
The chief of a First Nation in the Great Bear Rainforest says B.C. Premier David Eby risks losing the trust of Indigenous people and could fuel racism if he changes the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. (Canadian Press) 

EPA, state lawmakers could consider regulating abortion pills as pollutants in 2026
As multiple lawsuits over the abortion drug mifepristone unfold, state and federal proposals to regulate and restrict medication abortion are expected to continue in 2026. Abortion opponents argue that medication abortion, despite its strong safety record, is dangerous to patients and the environment. Sofia Resnick reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Bird flu kills barn owls at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Two barn owls were found dead in one of the Twin Barns in the Billy Frank Jr. National Wildlife Refuge in Thurston County. The two owls died of avian influenza, or bird flu, according to a social media post from the wildlife refuge on Dec. 19. (The Olympian) 

Photos of animals and nature captured by AP photojournalists in 2025
The Associated Press’ most striking images from nature in 2025 show existence as fragile as an albino turtle hatchling among its peers or a cicada’s translucent wings. Beyond the headlines and sometimes dangerous human impacts on their worlds, animals and other creatures persist. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• U.S. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors (Washington Post) 
• Two lawmakers seek to find Bondi in contempt over Epstein files (Washington Post) 
• US Coast Guard pursuing another oil tanker off coast of Venezuela (The Guardian) 

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-  236 PM PST Sun Dec 21 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE  MONDAY NIGHT    
MON  S wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft  in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds, SW 6 ft at 9  seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the evening, then rain after  midnight.

---


"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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


12/19 : Haida ermine, border flooding, WA carbon market, Oly oyster pilot, pipeline tax, coal mining pollution, deer birth control, kestrels, democracy watch, week in review

 

Editor's note: I've been curating News and Weather for almost 20 years and co-founded Salish Current five years ago. Both are openly accessible without paywall, and I've done it as a voluntary community service and will continue to do it as long as I can. I'm asking you, as a reader, to support nonprofit local news and Salish Current which pays its editors and freelancers. Please do it before the end of the year and your donation is matched by our 2X NewsMatch Campaign. Thank you! Mike Sato.

Haida ermine [Wikipedia]

Haida ermine Mustela haidarum
The Haida ermine is a mustelid species endemic to a few islands off the Pacific Northwest of North America, namely Haida Gwaii in Canada and the southern Alexander Archipelago in Alaska. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Post Point to upgrade, seek further pollution controls

Cross-border flood reduction plan to aid B.C., American communities not expected for two years
A cross-border plan to reduce the impact of flooding in B.C. and Washington, where major rainfall hit again last week in the Fraser Valley, is not expected to be ready for “about” another two years, according to Washington State officials. That will be six years after a transboundary group tasked with finding solutions to reduce cross-border flooding was resurrected following devastating floods on both sides of the border in 2021. B.C. officials had no response on the timing of the completion of a cross-border plan. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun) 

WA carbon market revenue hits $4.3B as prices reach record 
Prices in Washington’s carbon market have continued to trend upward as the price of emission allowances reached an all-time high this month. The state held four auctions between September and December and raised just over $1.1 billion by selling over 16 million carbon emission allowances. The latest auctions bring the total amount raised by the program to over $4.3 billion. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times) 

Olympia oyster restoration bolstered with partnership
A regional partnership will put Olympia oysters at the center of science, restoration, hands-on learning and ocean stewardship. Starting early next year, Northwest Maritime (NWM) will host a small oyster rearing operation on its Port Townsend campus at 431 Water St. The operation, in its pilot year, will be a collaboration between NWM, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (JST) and Puget Sound Restoration Fund. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

BC Backpedals on Pipeline Assessment Reductions
Pipeline companies won’t be getting a massive property tax break for Christmas at the expense of some rural homeowners. At least not this year. Tyler Olsen reports. (The Tyee) 

B.C. government ‘lagging way behind’ on coal mine pollution research
In neighbouring Alberta, government scientists are producing peer-reviewed studies on the impacts of coal mining. Why isn’t B.C. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal) 

Esquimalt won’t continue deer contraceptive program 
Esquimalt is shifting to a monitoring-only approach for deer management instead of continuing a contraceptive program for the animals that a recent study found reduced fawn births. The move will save the township about $75,000 annually. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist) 

American Kestrels put the Cherry on Top
The diminutive falcons keep pests and poop away from one of Michigan's prized crops. Benji Jones reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children (AP) 
• Trump’s handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump-Kennedy Center (AP) 

Salish Sea News and Weather Week in Review 12/19/25: Evergreen tree, BC flood, Clean Water Act, AK oil gas plan, warmest fall, WA coal plant, BC forest protection, Trump's climate fight. 

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 weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  302 PM PST Thu Dec 18 2025    
FRI  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SW 4 ft  at 8 seconds and W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the morning,  then rain in the afternoon.  
FRI NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SW  3 ft at 8 seconds and W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 8 seconds and  W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the morning, then rain in the  afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SW wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 4 ft  at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at 10 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)salish-current.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


12/18 Mountain goat, levees, Trump's climate, Arctic warming, democracy watch

 

Editor's note:  Take a minute to read Tom Banse's story in Salish Current, listed below. That's the kind of reporting that's done and made available without paywall when you donate to nonprofit local news and Salish Current. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. [salish-current.org/donate] Thank you. Mike

Mountain goat [Cassia Carpenter]

Mountain goat Oreamnos americanus
The mountain goat occurs only in northwestern North America from Colorado to Alaska, and is the only genus and species of its kind in the world. Its closest relatives are the chamois of Europe and the goral and serow of Asia. Fewer than 3,000 mountain goats likely reside in Washington currently, the majority of those in the Cascade Mountains from the Canadian border south to around Mount Adams. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Cross currents create quandaries in cleaning ship exhaust

An emerging threat as WA flooding continues: saturated levees 
River waters ripped through a second levee in Western Washington on Tuesday, forcing more evacuations and emergency repairs as the deluge of rain continues. Since the arrival of back-to-back the atmospheric rivers, the region’s swollen rivers have saturated these earthen barriers, which are crucial defenses near populated areas that often keep the rising and surging waters at bay. Conrad Swanson report. (Seattle Times) 

Trump targets premier U.S. weather and climate research center
The Trump administration said it will be dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, one of the world’s leading Earth science research institutions. Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, called the center “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country” and said that the federal government would be “breaking up” the institution. Lisa FriedmanBrad Plumer and Jack Healy report. (NY Times) 

Arctic Warming Is Turning Alaska’s Rivers Red With Toxic Runoff
Record-setting temperatures and rainfall in the Arctic over the past year sped up the melting of permafrost and washed toxic minerals into more than 200 rivers across northern Alaska, threatening vital salmon runs, according to a report card issued by federal scientists. Eric Miller reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump’s push to make oil drilling cheap again squeezes some states more than others (Associated Press) 
• Trump Administration Aims to Strip More Foreign-Born Americans of Citizenship (NY Times) 
• Senators freeze Coast Guard admiral’s promotion over swastika, noose policy (Washington Post) 
• American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. (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-  248 PM PST Wed Dec 17 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON    
THU  SE wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 25 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 9  ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 6 seconds and W 9 ft at 11 seconds.  Rain.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 25 to 30 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to 8 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 10 ft at 11 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)salish-current.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


12/17 Ptarmigan, warmest fall, WA flooding, TransAlta coal plant, Indigenous Rights law, BC forest conservation, democracy watch

 Editor's note: There are many immediate needs facing our community, and I hope you can see your support of local news as a community good serving the health and well-being of our community. Please support local news and Salish Current. Thank you! Mike

 

White-tailed ptarmigan [Timo Mitzen]

White-tailed ptarmigan Lagopus leucura
White-tailed Ptarmigan are small, tubby grouse, snow-white in winter and twig-brown in summer. They’re famous for being virtually invisible when they stand still against the windswept rocks, low shrubs, and snowbanks of their high-mountain habitat. They nest above timberline in the alpine tundra of western mountains, and are the only birds in North America that spend their entire life cycle in these very high elevations. Their feathered feet and dense plumage enable them to walk on top of snow and even roost inside snowbanks. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Behind closed doors, Part 2: Port of Bellingham and its contractors

Northwest just finished warmest fall on record, scientists report
Across the Northwest, a record warm fall and lack of snowpack going into the winter is putting more drought pressure on Oregon, Idaho, Washington and western Montana. Despite record rain in western Washington recently, and earlier this year in central and southern Oregon, the showers are filling up already overdrawn reservoirs in many areas. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

WA flooding among the 'most devastating' natural disasters in state history
Gov. Bob Ferguson told Washingtonians to brace for a lengthy recovery, and announced $3.5 million in state assistance for short-term needs such as groceries and hotel stays. (KNKX) 

DOE orders WA coal plant to continue operating despite state ban 
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order Tuesday evening directing power generation company TransAlta to continue operating a coal plant in Centralia, despite a state law that requires utilities in Washington to stop using coal for power generation beginning next year. The state’s last coal plant was scheduled to close at the end of this year and Puget Sound Energy, which had bought coal-fired electricity from the plant, had agreed to convert the plant to burn natural gas. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times) 

‘Extremely offensive’: B.C. premier’s plans to change Indigenous Rights law met with frustration
If the Declaration Act was a milestone for reconciliation, how could Premier David Eby’s amendments change B.C.’s relationship with First Nations? Here’s what you need to know. Shannon Waters and Matt Simmons explain. (The Narwhale) 

Major conservation of B.C. forestry land totalling 45,000 hectares announced 
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says it has reached an agreement with the federal and British Columbia governments as well as other private and public sector partners to conserve 45,000 hectares, or 450 square kilometres, of timberland in the province. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Coast Guard enacts policy calling swastikas, nooses ‘potentially divisive’ (Washington Post) 
• Hegseth Declines to Show Lawmakers Boat Strike Video (NY Times) 
• Trump expands travel ban to 39 countries after shooting of Guard members (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-  449 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING    
WED  W wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft, subsiding to 7 to  10 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 13 ft at 11 seconds and SW  2 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the morning, then rain in the  afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: S  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 8 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)salish-current.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


12/16 Snowberry, Skagit dams, Abbotsford flooding, F-150 Lightning, democracy watch

 

Common Snowberry [Native Plants PNW]

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry is found from southeast Alaska to southern California; all across the northern United States and the Canadian provinces. Snowberries are high in saponins, which are poorly absorbed by the body.  Although they are largely considered poisonous, (given names like ‘corpse berry’ or ‘snake’s berry’), some tribes ate them fresh or dried them for later consumption. (Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Could Mount Baker be tapped for geothermal energy?

Army takeover of Skagit dams lowers flood waters
As the Skagit’s flood waters were building, the Army Corps took over Ross Dam, a 540-foot tall concrete dam owned by Seattle City Light, and Upper Baker Dam, a 300-foot high concrete dam, owned by Puget Sound Energy. As flows surged into the reservoir known as Ross Lake, engineers turned off Ross Dam spigot.The dam held back 99% of water flowing into the reservoir, according to Army Corps officials. (John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Feds defend response to flooding in B.C. after Abbotsford mayor slams inaction 
The federal minister responsible for handling natural disasters defended her government in the wake of criticism about how it has responded to flooding in B.C.'s Fraser Valley. At a news conference on Friday, Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens accused the federal government of inaction following the 2021 floods and failing to address mitigation needs and prevent a similar disaster. Nick Logan reports. (CBC) 

Ford pulls the plug on the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck
Ford Motor Company has ceased production of the F-150 Lightning, its flagship full-size electric pickup, and will focus instead on hybrid vehicles and a future line of smaller, cheaper EVs. Battery plants once intended to supply Ford trucks will now be sending batteries to bolster the electric grid instead. Ford says the move is following customer demand, and reflecting the reality that the Lightning was a money-loser — and Ford, concluded, it always would be. Camila Domonoske reports. (NPR) 

Democracy Watch
Trump 'very strongly' considering loosening federal marijuana regulations (Washington State Standard) 
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military (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-  520 PM PST Mon Dec 15 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING  
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY  MORNING    

TUE  SW wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming S 25 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 4 ft at 5 seconds and W  7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 30 to 40 kt with gusts up to 50 kt. Seas 7 to  10 ft, building to 10 to 14 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SW  4 ft at 8 seconds and W 14 ft at 11 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)salish-current.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


12/15 White dapperling, flood aid, BC flooding, Clean Water Act, monarch butterflies, sea lion rescue, Arctic oil exploration, mercury, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: More rain and possible flooding in the works so keep safe and if you can, help out by volunteering or donating to the recovery efforts. It's hard to run a fundraising campaign during a disaster when the needs are immediate. Please meet that immediate need but make the longer term donation that funds the local news that brings the news to you. 2X NewsMatch Campaign. [salish-current.org/donate]  Thank you.

 

Leucoagaricus leucothites [Adolph Ceska]

 

Leucoagaricus leucothites
Known as white dapperling, ma'am on motorcycle, smooth parasol, woman-on-motorcycle, it is a widespread mushroom that occurs mostly in grassy areas, gardens, and other human-influenced habitats, but also occasionally in forests. (Burke Herbarium) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Shearwaters visit Salish Sea in record numbers

Washington set to receive federal aid amid record flooding
President Donald Trump approved the state's request for help with recovery efforts on Friday, two days after it was submitted by Gov. Bob Ferguson. The approval means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, will help the state pay for infrastructure repairs, evacuations and setting up shelters. Freddy Monares reports. (KNKX) 

B.C.’s failure to fund flood response ‘troublesome’ as atmospheric river strikes again  
Rising waters closed highways and forced evacuations, prompting fresh criticism that the province has been too slow to invest in flood defences despite repeated warnings since 2021. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal) 

How a U.S. river swelled catastrophic floods in B.C. — and why little can be done to stop it happening again
Two years ago, what would soon become a historic atmospheric river made landfall in B.C. as nearly a month's worth of rain pounded down on the province in less than 48 hours. What ultimately put the prairie underwater wasn't just the rain falling from the sky, but floodwaters from the Nooksack River in Washington state. Michelle Ghoussoub reports. (CBC) 

Environmental groups say permitting bill passed by US House guts clean water protections
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to pass a bill that Republicans say would reform the Clean Water Act and cut through regulatory burdens. The Act would redefine “navigable waters” – a term key to defining the waters that are protected by the Clean Water Act – and exclude waste treatment systems, streams that flow only in direct response to precipitation, prior converted cropland, groundwater and other features decided on by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Cami Koons reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Trump administration delays decision on federal protections for monarch butterflies
President Donald Trump’s administration has delayed a decision on whether to extend federal protections to monarch butterflies indefinitely despite years of warnings from conservationists that populations are shrinking. But the Trump administration quietly listed the effort as a “long-term action” that will not come within the year after announcement of the listing in September. Todd Richmond reports. (Associated Press) 

Crews rescue entangled sea lion in Vancouver Island's Cowichan Bay
A female sea lion, later named Stl’eluqum by the Cowichan Tribes, was freed from a severe neck entanglement near Cowichan Bay off of Vancouver Island’s east coast after being first sighted on Nov.7. Claire Palmer reports. (CBC)  

Lawsuit challenges Trump administration approval for Arctic Alaska oil exploration plan
Environmental and Native organizations on Thursday sued the Trump administration to try to overturn last month’s approval of an expansive oil-exploration program on the North Slope.  Yereth Rosen reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Mercury Rising
When Alaska’s wolves began eating sea otters, it looked like a story of adaptation. Then they started getting sick. Gennaro Tomma reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch
Government Can Withhold Funds From Planned Parenthood, Appeals Court Rules (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-  236 PM PST Sun Dec 14 2025    GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH  MONDAY AFTERNOON    
MON  S wind 30 to 35 kt, veering to W 25 to 35 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: S 6 ft at 6 seconds and  W 11 ft at 12 seconds. Showers in the morning, then rain in the  afternoon.  
MON NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 5 seconds and W  8 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


12/12 Red brotula, cetacean cooperation, WA floods, climate change, Fraser Valley flood, disaster relief, BC oil, closed beaches, democracy watch, week in review

 

Editor's note: This week's floods will recede and the real story of recovery will continue for weeks to come. Salish Sea News and Weather and Salish Current will be here to follow that story as we did four years ago. Please support our regional and local news efforts with a donation to our 2X NewsMatch Campaign [salish-current.org/donate] so we can continue our work. Thank you. Mike

 

Red brotula [D.W. Gotshall]

Red brotula Brosmophycis marginata 
Red brotula is a species of viviparous brotula found along the North American Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California. This fish is often displayed in public aquariums. This species grows to a length of 46 centimetres (18 in) TL. The red brotula is the only known member of its genus. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Where words meet the natural world

Orcas and dolphins caught on video collaborating to hunt salmon
Pacific white-sided dolphins and Northern Resident killer whales were observed in a symbiotic relationship in hunting salmon with orcas listening to dolphin echolocation and dolphins feeding on salmon scraps. Lauren Vanderdeen reports. (CBC) 

Skagit River crests, but risk is not over as Western WA flooding continues
Nearly 10,000 Burlington residents were told to evacuate their homes early Friday as a slough from the Skagit River started flooding homes. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate their homes Wednesday and Thursday, including all of those in the Skagit Valley’s 100-year flood plain. Residents in some areas of Pierce, Whatcom, Snohomish and Lewis counties were also told to leave, and people hunkered down in shelters and hotels. The risk is not over. The Skagit River near Mount Vernon crested at a record-breaking 37.7 feet around 12:15 a.m. Friday, presenting the devastated valley with further danger. Snohomish River at Snohomish was still above record high level of flooding as of 5 a.m. Friday. (Seattle Times) 

How Western Washington’s ‘100-year’ floods are changing 
Flooding is a natural part of how rivers function, but climate change is going to make things worse, threatening communities along rivers and in floodplains. Climate change is playing a role for two main reasons: The snow line is creeping higher so more precipitation is falling as rain instead of snow. And warmer air moving over warming ocean water can hold more moisture than before. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times) 

New evacuation orders issued as flood warnings expanded in B.C.'s Fraser Valley
Much of the Fraser Valley remains under a flood warning on Thursday, but new warnings have been issued for Princeton and other areas along the upper Similkameen and Tulameen rivers and their tributaries. Chad Pawson and Nick Logan report. (CBC) 

Amid historic flooding, WA scores win over Trump administration on federal disaster funds 
While the Skagit Valley and other areas across Western Washington were being inundated with floodwaters, a federal judge ruled Thursday against the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down an emergency program to protect infrastructure against natural disasters. Lauren Girgis reports. (Seattle Times) 

How the Carney-Smith Pact Could Bring More Tankers to Burrard Inlet
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that Premier David Eby had told her he agreed to a different proposal than a new pipeline to the northwest coast to expand oil shipments through B.C. That proposal would see a 40 per cent increase in the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline to B.C.’s Lower Mainland and an increase in tanker traffic in the Salish Sea. Andrew McLeod reports. (The Tyee) 

Beaches closed after heavy rain leads to wastewater overflow
The Capital Regional District said beaches in the affected areas will be closed until water-quality samples confirm the risk from the overflows has passed. Jeff Bell reports.(Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch
Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans (AP) 
US national park gift shops ordered to purge merchandise promoting DEI (AP) 
Trump’s ‘gold card’ program goes live, offering US visas starting at $1 million per person (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 12/12/25: Poinsettia Friday, Tacoma aroma, Carriger Solar, BC giant cedar, Trump's wind block, new orca calf, WA coal plant, climate migration. 

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 weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  217 AM PST Fri Dec 12 2025    
TODAY  SE wind around 10 kt, veering to SW late this morning  and afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 13 seconds.  Rain.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain  likely, mainly in the evening.  
SAT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  14 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning, then rain likely in  the afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 20 to 25 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  S wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to around 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  4 ft at 10 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)salish-current.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


12/11 Holly, rain and flood, climate migrants, democracy watch

 

Common Holly 

Holly Ilex aquifolium
Holly is a legacy crop in Washington, and has been grown for over 100 years. It is a valuable crop with a lot of cultural significance and practical uses, such as a hedgerow plant. Holly is a nuisance plant when it grows in unwanted places, such as Washington's forests, where it spreads throughout the understory, displacing native species. (WA Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Vamos, schools partner to get underserved kids outdoors

Blend of unusual weather conditions brings trillions of gallons in persistent rain to the Northwest
Warm water and air and unusual weather conditions tracing back as far as tropical cyclone flooding in Indonesia helped supercharge stubborn atmospheric rivers that have drenched Washington state with almost 5 trillion gallons (19 trillion liters) of rain in the past seven days, threatening record flood levels. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press) 

Flooding in parts of B.C.’s Fraser Valley leads to state of emergency, evacuation alerts — and old anxieties
Torrential rain expected to overwhelm Washington’s Nooksack River, but not as severely as in 2021. (CBC) 

Is the Pacific Northwest ready for a wave of climate migration?
Climate migration is difficult to study, and even harder to predict, because a complex constellation of factors guides the decision to pick up and move. But some experts, like Abrahm Lustgarten, say a historic population shift has already begun, and Western Washington should start preparing now to become a “climate haven.” Monica Nickelsburg reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along southern US border (AP) 
• Judge in Oregon Blocks Arrest of Protesters For Noise (NY Times) 
• Trump's face on national parks pass sparks lawsuit (SF Gate) 

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-  207 PM PST Wed Dec 10 2025    

THU  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of  rain in the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  
THU NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 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)salish-current.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


12/10 Christmas anemone, rain and flood, new orca calf, planting eelgrass, rural school funding, last coal plant, pulp mill hydrogen, democracy watch

 

Editor's note:  In times of emergencies like flooding, public safety news is and should be free to read. Salish Current believes local news should be free to read at all times as a community good. Free to read, however, requires community support to pay the editors and reports. Once a year I ask the readers of News and Weather to join with the readers of Salish Current to make a recurring monthly donation or a one-time donation to support local news that is free for all to read. More than ever, local news in these troubled times is important. Please donate. Thank you. Mike

Christmas anemone

Christmas anemone
Urticina crassicornis, known as the mottled anemone, the painted anemone or the Christmas anemone, is a large and common intertidal and subtidal species of sea anemone. Its habitat includes a large portion of the coastal areas of the northern hemisphere, mainly polar regions, and it lives a solitary life for up to 80 years. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Changing landscape of Western Washington’s 'bible belt'

Atmospheric river to bring heavy rain to B.C.'s South Coast, orange warning issued for Fraser Valley. Orange warning issued under new Environment Canada colour-coded weather warning system. Nick Logan reports. (CBC)  More flooding, rainfall to come for WA and Seattle area with second surge (Seattle Times) 

New orca calf spotted with K pod
A new orca calf was spotted in Puget Sound on Tuesday afternoon, which is the first calf born into the K pod in over three years, according to the Orca Conservancy. Olivia Sullivan reports. (KING) 

Snorkeling an Eelgrass Meadow
What it's like to plant seagrass in the Joemma Beach eelgrass meadow by hand and by robot, part 2. Chris Rurik writes. (Infinite Peninsula) 

Congress approves Secure Rural Schools funding critical to rural Northwest counties
The U.S. House voted 395-4 to renew funding that helps rural counties pay for schools, roads and public safety. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB) 

Washington’s last coal power plant will transition to natural gas
The facility was set to close this year. A deal announced Tuesday will keep it producing electricity. Joseph O’Sullivan reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Why this B.C. pulp mill wants to produce hydrogen
Hydrogen will be produced and used for heat in a $21-million project at Kruger Pulp Mill in Kamloops. Jacqueline Gelineau reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Must the Military Disobey Unlawful Orders? Pam Bondi Has Said Yes. (NY Times) 
• Trump administration aims to officially scrap Biden-era student loan forgiveness program (Washington State Standard) 

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-  215 PM PST Tue Dec 9 2025    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH  WEDNESDAY EVENING     
WED  W wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  11 seconds. Rain.  
WED NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 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)salish-current.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


12/9 Poinsettia, wind energy, daytime coyotes, democracy watch

 

Poinsettia

Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima

The poinsettia is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. (Wikipedia)

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Today's top story in Salish Current: Election results set port plans in motion

Federal judge throws out Trump order blocking development of wind energy
A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law. Matthew Daly and Jennifer McDermott report. (Associated Press) 

Seattle sees uptick in reports of daytime coyote encounters 
Nighttime coyote sightings are not uncommon in Western Washington. But a recent uptick in daytime encounters has some Seattle residents near Volunteer Park and the Washington Park Arboretum concerned. Lisa Brooks reports. (KNKX) 

Democracy Watch

• Florida governor declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization (AP) 
• Supreme Court declines to hear Texas book ban appeal in case watched by free speech groups (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-  220 PM PST Mon Dec 8 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM PST TUESDAY THROUGH  TUESDAY EVENING    
TUE  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in  the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  
TUE NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming W 25 to 30 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SW 5 ft at 5 seconds and W  8 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)salish-current.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


12/8/25 Russula, flood forecast, Tacoma aroma, Montana wind, Carriger Solar, BC giant cedar, AK seismic stations, orca pix, democracy watch

 

Editor's note: Thanks to readers of News and Weather who donated to support local news that's free to read in the nonprofit Salish Current. News and Weather will always be free to read as long as I'm curating the regional environmental clips. The daily News and Weather is published along with original local news reporting in the Salish Current newsletter, which pays its freelancers. Once a year I ask you to help support Salish Current. Please donate to our 2X NewsMatch Campaign. Thank you. Mike.

Red russula [Wikipedia]

Russula
Russula is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of fungi. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796. The mushrooms are fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Research finds reducing pollution can also speed warming

Major flood forecast worsens for Western WA rivers 
An atmospheric river is barreling towards Western Washington, bringing a risk of major river flooding and landslides in an especially soggy week, according to the National Weather Service. The rainfall will come in hot on Monday, gradually tapering off Tuesday before picking up again Wednesday., The Cascades will get pummeled with rain, with many slopes expected to get 5 or more inches, causing rivers to swell as all that water makes its way downstream to Puget Sound. Caitlyn Freeman reports. (Seattle Times) 

Is this the end of the Tacoma aroma? City finalizes vision for the Tideflats
After eight years of work, the city of Tacoma has finalized a long-term vision for the Tideflats that includes the end of the paper mill. The plan creates a roadmap for land-use decisions on the Tideflats and is accompanied by zoning changes that mean a laundry list of new facilities could not be established on the Tideflats. Top of the list? A pulp and paper mill. Isha Trivedi reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

As WA’s coal ban looms, Montana wind fills only some of the energy gap 
Even with PSE’s new wind power, including agreements to buy electricity from two other wind farms in Montana, it won’t be enough to rid itself of fossil fuels. The utility plans to bridge the power gap after coal’s phaseout partially with natural gas, which on paper typically burns cleaner than other fossil fuels but remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. (The utility has also secured hydropower contracts to ease the move off coal.) Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times) 

Large-scale solar farm in central WA gets green light from governor 
Time is running short for the Carriger Solar project to qualify for key federal tax credits. If completed, it could provide enough power for 32,500 homes. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Why was 'incredible' giant cedar cut down, despite B.C.'s big-tree protection law?
Joshua Wright says a yellow cedar tree he photographed last year was "incredible," the largest he'd ever seen in a decade of hiking around Vancouver Island. The monumental cedar stood in what was one of the few intact or nearly intact old-growth valleys left on the island. Brenna Owens. (Canadian Press) 

Nine Alaska seismic stations to go dark in January, slowing West Coast tsunami alerts
A network of more than 200 seismic stations spans Alaska, and the National Weather Service has tsunami warning centers in Alaska and Hawaii, designed to get initial warnings to regions at risk around the Pacific within five minutes of an earthquake. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially terminated funding for nine of those stations, mostly in the seismically active Aleutian Islands, in September. John Ryan reports. (KNKX) 

Watch: Hundreds of citizen scientists help photograph orcas in coastal waters
B.C. is learning more about killer whales in its coastal waters thanks to the collaborative work of hundreds of people. Citizen scientists are taking photos of whales' dorsal fins in the Salish Sea and sending them to researchers. As Alanna Kelly reports, there's good news about these whales, which are known to frequent B.C. waters. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• National Park Service drops free admission on MLK Day, Juneteenth while adding Trump’s birthday (AP) 
• Washington, other West Coast states, go against CDC, recommend hepatitis B vaccine for all newborns (KUOW) 
• Trump order ending birthright citizenship to be argued at US Supreme Court (Washington State Standard

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-  200 PM PST Sun Dec 7 2025    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY  EVENING   MON  S wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 25 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft, building to 7 to  10 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: SW 5 ft at 6 seconds and W  10 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 25 to 35 kt, easing to 20 to 25 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SW 4 ft at 7 seconds and W  10 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)salish-current.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