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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.