1/28 Mouse deer, offshore wind project, Paris Climate Agreement, democracy watch

 

Mouse deer

Mouse deer 
Chevrotains, or mouse-deer, are small, even-toed ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, and are the only living members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera,but several species also are known only from fossils. The extant species are found in forests in South and Southeast Asia; a single species, the water chevrotain, is found in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. In November 2019, conservation scientists announced that they had photographed silver-backed chevrotains (Tragulus versicolor) in a Vietnamese forest for the first time since the last confirmed sightings in 1990.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom's Search and Rescue seeks permanent facility

Judge rules Massachusetts offshore wind project halted by Trump administration can continue
U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy ruled that a nearly completed Massachusetts offshore wind project can continue, as the industry successfully challenges the Trump administration in court. Jennifer McDermott and Michael Casey report.(Associate Press) 

America Officially Leaves the Paris Climate Agreement. For the Second Time.
As of Tuesday, the United States is no longer a party to the Paris agreement on climate change, becoming the only country in the world to abandon the international commitment to slow global warming. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Chuck Sams on ‘biggest tragedy’ of Trump’s gutting of National Park Service (Columbia Insight) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 PM PST Tue Jan 27 2026    
WED  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 4 seconds, SW 3 ft at 11 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to  7 to 10 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds, SW  3 ft at 14 seconds and W 9 ft at 15 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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1/27 Deer mouse, reservoir management, historic tree, north coast electrification, Garry Oak seeds, democracy watch.

Deer mouse [USDA]

 
Deer mouse is a North American species. It is distributed from the northern tree line in Alaska and Canada southward to central Mexico. It occupies many different ecological zones throughout its range. In captivity, deer mice can live as long as eight years. However, in the wild, life expectancy is much shorter, usually less than a year. Finally, deer mouse is a host for strain of hantavirus called Sin Nombre virus, which can be contracted by humans and causes an often fatal disease termed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Community Voices / AltaGas poses high risk

Climate change poses challenges for reservoir management
Snohomish PUD discusses how recent weather patterns narrow the margins of error for Spada Lake. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Tumwater’s historic oak tree protected by court order 
Community activists worked for more than a year and a half to protect a Garry oak tree in Tumwater, Washington, that the city estimates is 400 years old. A superior court judge ruled in late December that the city’s Historic Preservation Commission has the final word on what happens to the tree, not the city. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX) 

Who will pay to electrify North Coast LNG and mining projects? All of us, it turns out
Energy minister’s order could exempt North Coast transmission line customers from paying millions — and shift the cost to the rest of us. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Native plant seeds from critically endangered Garry Oak ecosystems to be preserved
Seeds from the meadowlands will be preserved in the event of an environmental disaster. Hope Lompe reports. (Gabriola Sounder) 

Democracy Watch

• In their words: An examination of statements Trump officials made about what led to Pretti’s death (AP) 
• A 250-year echo: ‘We’ve seen this before’ (ICT) 
• Trump administration threatens to block funds to Minnesota over trans athletes (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  253 PM PST Mon Jan 26 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH  TUESDAY EVENING    
TUE  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, with gusts to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 2 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft  at 13 seconds. Rain in the afternoon.  
TUE NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at 11 seconds and W 2 ft at  15 seconds. Rain.

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1/26 Sea mouse, natural gas initiative, Storming the Sound, VR swim, crown-of-thorns sea star, democracy watch.

Sea mouse [Wikipedia]

 Sea mouse Aphrodita
The sea mouse may be brown and fuzzy, but that is about all it shares with its mammalian namesake. Believe it or not, the sea mouse is actually a marine segmented worm, or polychaete! Sea mice are members of the family Aphroditidae. The Puget Sound species of Aphrodita are typically scavengers, using their palps to search around in the mud for delicious dead things to munch on. (Dept. of Ecology)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  For local government officials, how many jobs are too many?

Legal fight over natural gas initiative crescendoes at WA Supreme Court
The 2024 ballot measure aims to ensure consumers maintain access to natural gas. Voters approved it, but opponents say it’s flawed and should be tossed out. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Environmental conference for local educators returns
About 140 participants talked environmental education throughout the day Friday during the Storming the Sound conference. The annual conference gathers environmental educators from throughout the Puget Sound area to share ideas and information about education on the environment. Emma Fletcher-Fraser reports. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall) 

Augmented reality experience lets museum visitors 'swim' with orcas
A new exhibit titled Critical Distance, which opened Friday, lets visitors dive into the world of a 10-year-old J Pod orca dubbed Kiki. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist) 

How to Kill a Million Sea Stars
Synthetic pheromones offer a promising new means of controlling troublesome crown-of-thorns starfish. Annie Roth reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump letter banning DEI in schools is dead after legal appeal is dropped (Washington Post) 
• As ICE arrests surged, Trump administration sought to cut bodycam program (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  205 PM PST Sun Jan 25 2026    
MON  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds, W  2 ft at 11 seconds and W 2 ft at 14 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds, W 2 ft at 10 seconds and W 2 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/23 San Juan rocks, OR elk, Canada enviro protection, salmon allocation, animal testing, seabed mining, democracy watch, week in review.

San Juan rocks

San Juan rocks
Many of the rock types exposed in the San Juan area are also visible in the Western Domain of the North Cascades. These rocks were involved in multiple subduction zone collisions occurring over a time span of 500 to 100 million years ago. Many terranes were added to the continent during this time, originating from far locations. These include the Nooksack and Chilliwack River terranes, made of volcanic rocks and sands from distant island arcs, and the Bell Pass mélange and Easton terranes, consisting of ocean floor deposits, bits and pieces of oceanic crust, and rocks from the upper mantle. (WDNR WA100)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  30 years of recognition: building self-sufficiency the Samish way 

Oregon’s elk show genetic fortitude against a fast-moving and deadly disease
Oregon elk have so far escaped the clutches of chronic wasting disease. When it arrives, many won't survive but now scientists have found some of those elk may have a genetic variation that helps them fight it. (OPB) 

Canada failed to protect 25% of lands and waters by 2025
Ottawa says it remains committed to hitting its next conservation milestone even as it races to expand critical minerals production. Ainslie Cruickshank report. (The Narwhal) 

Recreational Fishery Groups Upset about Plan to Change Salmon Allocations
As the federal government is revisiting its salmon allocation policy, fishing groups are divided on what, if anything, needs to change. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

E.P.A. Promises a Ban on Animal Testing by 2035
Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, revived a plan created during the first Trump administration to end the testing of chemicals on mammals. Lisa Friedman reports.(NY Times) 

New U.S. Rule Aims to Speed Up Mining of the Seafloor
The Metals Company, a prominent seabed-mining company, applauded the change and filed a new application more than doubling the area it hopes to mine. Sachi Kitajima Mulkey reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• US completes withdrawal from World Health Organization (AP) 
• Former Native American concentration camp lies beneath current immigration detention center (ICT) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/23/26: Pie day, Western redcedar, BC herring, hottest years, eDNA, LNG salmon, toxic tires, LNG flareup.

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-  254 PM PST Thu Jan 22 2026    
FRI  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds, W 3 ft at 12 seconds and W 4 ft at 15 seconds.  
FRI NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 12 seconds.  
SUN  E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/22 River otter, toxic tire chemical, LNG Canada, Green R fish project, BC transmission line, democracy watch

 

River otter (Wikipedia)

River otter Lontra canadensis
River otters are relatively common throughout Washington in ponds, lakes, rivers, sloughs, estuaries, bays, and in open waters along the coast. In colder locations, otters frequent areas that remain ice-free in winter—rapids, the outflows of lakes, and waterfalls. River otters avoid polluted waterways, but will seek out a concentrated food source upstream in urban areas. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Community Voices / AltaGas terminal hearing approaches

Testimony in legislative committees focuses on when a toxic tire chemical should be banned
While not exactly a chicken-or-egg debate, when it comes to regulating a deadly tire chemical, Washington state lawmakers are being called upon to decide what comes first in the effort to save salmon. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

LNG Canada has been flaring up to 15 times more gas than expected, documents reveal
An issue with the Kitimat, B.C., facility’s flaring equipment has resulted in LNG Canada burning significantly more gas — and it could take three years to fix. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

Long-stalled fish project on Green River could begin this summer
long-awaited project to unlock more than 100 miles of prime habitat on the Green River and its tributaries for threatened salmon could be moving forward after more than a decade of setbacks. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

New transmission line will help boost major LNG project in northwest B.C.: minister
North Coast Transmission Line will begin construction this summer, according to B.C. energy minister. Wolfgang Depner reports. (The Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, memo says (AP) 
• We Need Diverse Books launches Unbanned Book Network to fight school bans (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  235 PM PST Wed Jan 21 2026    

THU  SW wind around 5 kt, backing to SE in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 11 seconds and W 3 ft at  15 seconds.  

THU NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 3 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/21 Japanese eelgrass, Canada oil gas, WDFW dDNA,LNG salmon. Mimpkish Valley plan, democracy watch.

Japanese Eelgrass

 
 Japanese Eelgrass Nanozostera japonica 
Japanese eelgrass is an annual to perennial, aquatic, herbaceous plant with stems growing up to around 12 inches. Japanese eelgrass is non-native, difficult to control and negatively impacts the shellfish industry. It was listed as a Class C noxious weed on commercially managed shellfish beds only. (WA Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatever happened to the Healthy Children’s Fund?

‘Incredible alignment’: Canada is picking away at an oil and gas industry wish list
 With a host of announcements and agreements last year, the Carney government is working its way through a public list of requests from fossil fuel industry lobbyists and execs. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

Why WDFW is bringing eDNA project to Washington rivers
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has begun a wide-ranging study to catalogue all native, freshwater aquatic species found in every river and major drainage in the state. The Aquatic Biodiversity Study is the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, and possibly the nation. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Woodfibre LNG didn’t monitor salmon correctly. B.C. took 4 months to tell the public 
The August monitoring lapse didn’t make it into public records until December. One advocate says Canada is spending millions on salmon restoration while B.C. is ‘approving destructive LNG projects that undermine all of that work.’ Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

First Nation to help shape plans for Nimpkish Valley
Implementation of a land-use plan for the Nimpkish Valley was officially kick-started by ministerial orders signed last week in Nanaimo. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch
Trump says people will ‘find out’ how far he’s willing to go to acquire Greenland (Washington State Standard) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  233 PM PST Tue Jan 20 2026    
WED  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at  6 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds. WED NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/20 Gumboot chiton, MLK Day, hot year, orca show, democracy watch.

Gumboot chiton

   
Gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri
The gumboot chiton, also known as the giant western fiery chiton or giant Pacific chiton, is the largest of the chitons, growing to 36 cm (14 in) and capable of reaching a weight of more than 2 kg (4.4 lb). It is found along the shores of the northern Pacific Ocean from Central California to Alaska to Japan. It inhabits the lower intertidal and subtidal zones of rocky coastlines. The gumboot chiton's appearance has led some tidepoolers to refer to it, fondly, as the "wandering meatloaf". The name "gumboot chiton" seems to derive from a resemblance to part of a rubber Wellington boot or "gum rubber" boot. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The MLK we're allowed to remember

The struggle continues’: MLK Day celebrated amid tense political climate 
Holiday marked with parades and services but tempered by anxieties over racial and social equality under Trump. Martin Luther King Jr Day was marked with parades and services across the US on Monday. But the celebration for the achievements of the slain 60s civil rights leader was tempered by contemporary anxieties over racial and social equality and Trump administration’s crackdown in Minneapolis. Edward Helmore reports. (The Guardian) 

Canada forecasts 2026 to be among the hottest years on record
The Government of Canada has released its annual global mean temperature forecast, providing early insight into expected global temperature conditions for 2026. Following record-breaking global heat in 2023 and 2024 and a comparably warm 2025, global temperatures are expected to remain at historically high levels. (Environment Canada) 

Orcas put on a show off Seattle
Orca whales swam off the shore of a Seattle neighborhood. The orcas were Bigg's killer whales, a group that hunts sea mammals. Manuel Valdez reports. (Associated Press/KING) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump ties his stance on Greenland to not getting Nobel Peace Prize (AP) 
• Justice Department weighs rollback of gun regulations (Washington Post) 
• Far fewer people buy Obamacare coverage as insurance premiums spike (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-  159 PM PST Mon Jan 19 2026    
TUE  E wind around 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft  at 7 seconds and W 4 ft at 15 seconds. TUE NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S  2 ft at 6 seconds and W 4 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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1/19 Miner's lettuce, Western redcedar, herring harvest, Tsawout Nation, desalination, democracy watch.

Miner's lettuce

 
Miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata
Miner's lettuce, or winter purslane, is a flowering plant in the family Montiaceae. It is an edible, fleshy, herbaceous, annual plant native to the western mountain and coastal regions of North America. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Beyond the holiday, MLK Jr.’s vision confronts today’s political reality 

Climate change is killing this PNW tree. In Europe they want to plant it
Western redcedars are declining at home, but they’re climate change winners in Central Europe’s changing climate. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Renewed calls for Moratorium as DFO approves more than 2k tons of herring harvest 
Despite the declining numbers of herring, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has approved more than 2,000 tons of herring to be taken from the Salish Sea this winter, an increase in the harvest rate from 10 per cent last year to 14 per cent in 2025. Tchadas Leo reports. (CHEK) 

Salt Spring Islanders helped First Nation with land purchase
The Tsawout wanted to buy the lot to get road access to reserve land. Salt Spring Islanders jumped in to help out, raising more than $600,000. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Peninsula First Nation eyes addition to reserves 
The Tsawout Nation purchased a 99-acre Saanichton farm last May, and is considering partnering with a Chilliwack-based developer on developing the property. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

In a warming world, freshwater production is moving deep beneath the sea
Climate change is driving a global boom in desalination as regions turn to the sea for drinking water. Annika Hammerschlag reports. (Associate Press) 

Democracy Watch

• AP obtains documents showing Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez has been on DEA’s radar for years (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-  159 PM PST Sun Jan 18 2026  
MON  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/16 Chuckanut Formation, fed funding, clean energy backlog, climate-pollution fund, Centralia coal plant, wastewater testing, Way of Whales, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Chuckanut Formation [Dan Coe]

Chuckanut Formation
The Chuckanut Formation is made of many alternating layers of siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate. These sediments started to pile up near Bellingham around 40 to 50 million years ago. Rivers carried sand and mud on a long journey down from the Rocky Mountains and along rushing streams to a broad river plain not far from Washington’s ancient seashore. Subduction along the North American plate margin later folded the rocks, like the bunched up wrinkles in a rug shoved across the living room floor. The Chuckanut Formation is renowned for its large fossil palm fronds and abundant plant debris. The ancient riverine muck also hosts the footprints of large vertebrates. (WDNR) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Council member proposes Nooksack adjudication settlement

Congress rejects Trump cuts, funds major WA projects
Congress passed a bipartisan funding package Thursday for energy and water projects, scientific research, weather programs and more, rejecting most of President Donald Trump’s deepest requested cuts and securing billions of dollars for Washington state. The three-bill package includes $5 billion specific to Washington state, including $3.2 billion for Hanford, a Central Washington nuclear cleanup site, and $190 million for construction at Howard A. Hanson Dam, a project supporting fish passage and flood risk reduction along the Green River near Seattle that the Trump administration shirked in its funding proposals. Anumita Kaur reports. (Settle Times) 

Report finds $149 billion backlog of clean energy projects in WA
The report, cheekily named “Build SHIIT Now,” says more than 250 projects, 580,000 jobs, and 24 gigawatts are at risk in Washington state due to bureaucratic delays. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)  

Future of Washington state’s climate-pollution fund up in the air
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson'd proposed budget would redirect $569 million from the state’s quarterly auctions of pollution permits away from the environmental spending those funds have been dedicated to since the auctions began in 2023. That half-billion-plus dollars would be used to shield state refunds of sales taxes for lower-income taxpayers from the budget axe. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Fight over Centralia coal plant heats up as WA challenges feds 
The Washington state attorney general’s office and environmental advocates filed separate administrative appeals Wednesday, challenging a U.S. Department of Energy emergency order that required the state’s last coal plant to continue being available for operations. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Time) 

CDC studies show value of nationwide wastewater disease surveillance, as potential funding cut looms
The findings add to evidence that wastewater testing is a valuable weapon in tracking disease, including COVID-19, polio, mpox and bird flu. But the national wastewater surveillance system, run by CDC since 2020, is newly at risk, under a Trump administration budget plan would slash its funding from about $125 million a year to about $25 million. Devi Shastri reports. (Associated Press) 

Way of Whales 2026
Join in for speakers all things cetacean and salmon at Orca Network's Ways of Whales 2026 celebration Jan, 24, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Coupeville High School or online. Registration. 

Democracy Watch

• Confusion erupts in mental health and substance abuse programs as HHS cuts, then reinstates grants (AP)
• Defense Department says military newspaper Stars and Stripes must eliminate ‘woke distractions’(AP)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/16/26: Prohibition, fish sounds, offshore wind farms, green jet fuel, tire chemical, mortality cost, energy grants block, RCMP sued, hot year. 

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-  215 AM PST Fri Jan 16 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  E wind 15 to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3  to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 12  seconds.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 3 ft at 14 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 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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1/15 Snowdrop, hot year, expensive climate, insurance woes, democracy watch.

 

Snowdrop

Snowdrop Gallantus
The first bulbs to bloom here in Western Washington are typically snowdrops often emerging in January but coming into their full bloom in late February. Whether planted in clumps or a massive drift, snowdrops are a sure sign that spring is on the horizon. Snowdrops are always white with green or yellow markings, the double-flowered varieties are particularly charming. (WSU Master Gardener)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Heartbreak, rage and shame as community mourns death of Renee Good, protests ICE

2025 among world's three hottest years on record, WMO says 
Last year was among the planet's three warmest on record, the World Meteorological Organization said on Wednesday, as EU scientists also confirmed average temperatures have now exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming for the longest since records began. Kate Abnett reports. (Reuters) 

Sooner-than-expected climate impacts could cost the world trillions
The impacts of climate change are occurring sooner than expected, but governments and businesses continue to underestimate the risks, which could add up to trillions of dollars in economic losses by 2050. A report by climate scientists and financial experts has warned that the world may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming and faces “planetary insolvency”, where global warming begins to severely damage both the environment and economic growth. Alec Kuhn reports. (New Scientist) 

Insured losses from wildfire, storms and floods hit record high globally
Record insured losses from wildfires, storms and floods hit $98 billion globally last year, with L.A. County's January wildfires the costliest disaster of 2025. Climate change is driving these secondary perils to become more severe and frequent, according to Munich Re's analysis of rising global temperatures. Stephan Kohl reports. (LA Times) 

Democracy Watch

• US suspends immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance (AP) 
• New RFK Jr. pick for vaccine panel: ‘I was not anti-vaccine. I am now.’ (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-  211 PM PST Wed Jan 14 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH  THURSDAY EVENING    
THU  E wind 15 to 20 kt, with frequent gusts to 25 kt. Seas 4  to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 13  seconds.  
THU NIGHT  E wind 15 to 20 kt, with frequent gusts to 25 kt.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 4 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)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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1/14 Wren, tire chemical ban, Columbia R plan. WA road damage, BC tanker ban, RCMP sued, democracy watchl

 

Pacific Wren [Mason Maron]

Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificus
themselves. One researcher deemed them a “pinnacle of song complexity.” This tinkling, bubbly songster is more often heard than seen within the dark understory of old-growth evergreen forests where they live. When Pacific Wrens sing they hold their tail upright and their entire body shakes with sound. They move like mice through the forest understory, hopping along logs and upturned roots. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Decision pending on Ferndale Terminal environmental review

Washington lawmakers to decide whether to ban a tire chemical shown to be toxic to salmon
A new bill introduced to the Washington Legislature, now in session, would require tire manufacturers to reformulate the rubber in their tires to remove a chemical responsible for killing large numbers of coho salmon and other fish. If approved, the legislation would give tire manufacturers nine years to find a suitable replacement for the compound 6PPD, a chemical additive used to extend the life of nearly every tire on the market today. The chemical readily combines with ozone to form 6PPD-quinone, a compound shown to be extremely toxic to coho with varying toxic effects on other salmon and trout species. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Trump kiboshed salmon recovery deal. Can this plan fill the gap?
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council has released the latest draft plan for its 40-year-old Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program. The council says its proposed actions will result in cooler water temperatures, elevated spill levels in spring and summer, reductions in ramping and daily flow fluctuations and reduced predation. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight)

Road damage from WA flooding to cost at least $40M
Last month’s heavy flooding inflicted at least $40 million to $50 million of damage on Washington’s highways, state transportation officials estimated to lawmakers Monday. The state Department of Transportation has responded to dozens of locations due to flooding, officials told lawmakers. The state has signed 16 contracts for emergency repairs. A few more are still to come. Jake Goldstein-Street reports.(Washington State Standard) 

Coastal First Nations call on Carney to defend B.C. tanker ban in pipeline talks
Relations between Ottawa and Coastal First Nations soured late last year over an agreement with Alberta that opened the door to a pipeline to B.C.'s coast and a potential suspension of the coastal tanker ban moratorium. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press)

The Narwhal Is Suing the RCMP. Stakes Are High for Journalism
The judge’s ruling could reinforce the right of journalists to report from inside police ‘exclusion zones.’ Tyler Olsen reports.(The Tyee)

Democracy Watch

• Justice Department prosecutors resign amid turmoil over Minnesota ICE shooting investigation (AP) 
• Trump repeats false claims when discussing Greenland’s security in the Arctic (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-  211 PM PST Tue Jan 13 2026    
WED  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  15 seconds. Patchy dense fog.  
WED NIGHT  N wind around 5 kt, veering to E after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Widespread  dense fog in the evening. Patchy dense fog 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.



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1/13 Sorcerer's dorid, laurel, WA lege, tire chemicals kill, air pollution, offshore wind farm, clean energy grants, PBS New Weekend.

 

Sorcerer's Dorid

Sorcerer's Dorid Polycera atra
Sorcerer's dorid is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae. Polycera atra feeds on the bryozoan Bugula.

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Challenges from weather, economy, policy beset farmers

English laurel. A reader points out that Cherry laurel featured in yesterday's flora spotlight is also known as English laurel and has invaded Ravenna Ravine in Seattle. Alas, the English have also given us English ivy. What else? 

2026 Washington state legislative session begins
With the banging of gavels, the Washington state Legislature opened its sprint of a 60-day session Monday in Olympia. The proceedings were more ceremony than substance, as the state’s 98 representatives and 49 senators began their work. (Washington State Standard) 

Study finds juvenile coho salmon at risk from deadly tire chemical
When it was first identified in 2020, the deadly tire chemical 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) was seen mostly as a threat to adult coho salmon. Fish returning in the fall were found disoriented and gasping shortly after entering creeks that had even trace amounts of the chemical. In some cases, as many as 90 percent of those fish died before they could spawn, a problem that continues to threaten some local populations with extinction. Jeff Rice reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show. Maxine Joselow reports. (NY Times) 

Offshore wind developer prevails in court as Trump says the US ‘will not approve any windmills’
A federal judge ruled Monday that work on a major offshore wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut can resume, handing the industry at least a temporary victory as President Donald Trump seeks to shut it down. Jennifer McDermott reports. (Associated Press) 

Court says Trump admin illegally blocked billions in clean energy grants to Democratic states 
A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration acted illegally when it canceled $7.6 billion in clean energy grants for projects in states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press) 

PBS weekend newscasts shut down due to funding cuts, replaced by single-topic programs 
“PBS News Weekend,” the companion to the weekday “NewsHour” program, has signed off, eliminated due to federal funding cuts to public broadcasting. David Bauer reports. (Associated Press) 

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-  316 PM PST Mon Jan 12 2026    
TUE  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  13 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning. TUE NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt, veering to SW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds. A  chance of 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.



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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1/12 Cherry laurel, plastic bags, fish sounds, offshore wind farms, radon, statues vandalized, democracy watch.

 

Cherry laurel  

Cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus
Cherry laurel is naturalized in Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, and California. It is most common west of the Cascades in Washington. Very fast-growing and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, cherry laurel is a strong competitor and thrives in our climate. Because it is spread by birds to remote areas, it has the potential to be a serious threat to native forest land in the Puget Sound region. Cherry laurel is also poisonous to eat. Cherry laurel is designated as a weed of concern in King County and is on the Monitor List of the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. This means control is not required, but is recommended, and new plantings are discouraged. (King County) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A migrant's journey: Whatcom READS ‘Solito’ for 2026

A new push to ban plastic bags could be in store for Washington
Thicker bags have proliferated in the wake of the statewide ban on thin plastic bags took effect in 2021. Now, some cities are asking lawmakers to close a loophole. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

Knock, knock, who's there? UVic biologists identify unique sounds of 8 fish species
The researchers used an underwater microphone to eavesdrop on rockfish and other species near the ­community of Bamfield in Barkley Sound, on the southwest coast of ­Vancouver Island. They developed a machine learning model that examined the unique characteristics of the fish noises, and were able to differentiate between different species — including those that are closely related — with high accuracy. Marissa Birnie reports.(Canadian Press)  

Billions at Stake in the Ocean as Trump Throttles Offshore Wind Farms
The Trump administration has repeatedly ordered work to stop on offshore wind farms along the East Coast, pushing at least two projects to the brink of collapse. Maxine Joselow and Brad Plumer report.(NY Times) 

Homeowners Left on Their Own to Deal with Deadly Gas
When the city of Oliver tested 83 homes for radon exposure last October, 57 per cent of the houses exceeded Health Canada’s safety guidelines. That’s seven times the provincial average. B.C.’s Interior has Canada’s highest levels of radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that kills an estimated 3,200 Canadians annually. But unlike homeowners in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, where provincially funded relief exists, Interior residents must pay out of pocket. Gemma Boothroyd reports. (The Tyee) 

Washington state pumps more tax dollars toward green jet fuel
Officials hope a new state-funded “accelerator” can tackle off-putting prices and other barriers to adoption of the fuel, which can reduce air travel emissions by 50-80%. Tom Banse reports.(Washington State Standard) 

Statues from Nisqually Tribe vandalized at entrance to new state park
Nisqually Tribe member William Frank III said on social media that the welcome figure near the entrance of Nisqually State Park were vandalized on New Year’s Eve. Photos show the figures were knocked over from their standing positions, causing damage to the lower half and feet of all four statues. Ty Vinson reports. (Olympian) 

Democracy Watch

• 'Enough is enough.' WA congresswoman pushes to impeach Kristi Noem (KUOW) 
• ICE searched WA driver’s license data into November, report finds (Washington State Standard) 
• Federal judge blocks Trump election order, siding with Oregon, Washington (Washington State Standard) 
• Reference to Trump’s impeachments is removed from the display of his Smithsonian photo portrait (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-  230 AM PST Sun Jan 11 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH  MONDAY AFTERNOON    
MON  S wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 8 to 11 ft, subsiding to 6 to 9 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: S 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 11 ft at  15 seconds. Rain. Patchy fog.  
MON NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain. Patchy fog.

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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



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1/9 Helleborus, young enviros, Edmonds water, killer whale survey, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Helleborus

Helleborus
Here in the Pacific Northwest the blooming of Hellebores is a favorite late winter reminder that spring is right around the corner. The genus of Helleborus is comprised of 15 different species and belongs to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). Hellebores are perennial and largely evergreen. Their flowers provide color and interest in the shade garden when other plants are dormant. In addition, their leaf structure is interesting enough to make them a foundation of the shade garden year-round, even when their flowers are spent. Hellebores are also deer resistant and somewhat drought tolerant. (Portland Nursery)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  What the Growler Environment Impact Statement means off-Whidbey

Where are all the young environmentalists?
Political forces of today are different than those faced by activists even 10 years ago. To respond to them, environmental groups that appeal to younger people are adopting new tactics. Youth participation in environmental causes may appear to be less robust than in the past—cynicism about the authoritarian behavior of the federal government might be affecting that—but in many ways it has simply transformed. Erica Browne Grivas reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Edmonds adopts Critical Areas Ordinance with new aquifer area restrictions
After months of back and forth, the city council approved updates that proponents say better protect the town’s drinking water.  Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

First Joint NOAA Killer Whale Survey Examines Endangered Southern Residents’ Shift to Coast
NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and NOAA Fisheries combined forces in a September survey of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. The survey employed new technologies to study the whales’ summertime shift to Washington coastal waters. (NOAA) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’ (NY Times) 
• House passes bill to extend health care subsidies in defiance of GOP leaders (AP) 
• Senate Advances Measure to Curb Trump’s Use of Force in Venezuela (NY Times) 

 Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/9/26: Apricots, December floods, nuke ventures, zero-emission trucks, glacier collapse, drift logs, NEPA, WA climate report.  

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-  216 PM PST Thu Jan 8 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON     

FRI  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the  morning.  
FRI NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 13 seconds.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  8 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 6 to 9 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 9 ft at  17 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



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1/8 Sea urchin, NEPA, WA climate report, Alberta oil pipe, krill fishery, wood biomass, AI weather map, democracy watch,

 

Purple sea urchin [Kurt L. Onthank/Wikimedia Commons]

Purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus 
Purple sea urchins are easy to spot — their deep purple bodies can be seen dotting the lower intertidal zone (to about 160 meters) from Canada to Mexico. They like the rocky coast for its wave action, where they can “breathe” the plentiful oxygen in the water with their tube feet, but occasionally they make it into the calmer waters of Puget Sound, as well. (Dept. of Ecology)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham staffer asked ChatGPT to ‘exclude’ vendor from city contract

White House completes plan to curb bedrock environmental law
The Trump administration has finalized a plan to roll back regulations implementing a landmark environmental law that the White House says needlessly delays federal approvals for energy and infrastructure projects. The action Wednesday by the White House Council on Environmental Quality rescinds regulations related to the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to consider a project’s possible environmental impacts before it is approved. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press) 

WA Dept. of Commerce corrects climate report data after error vastly overstates emission cuts
Washington’s Department of Commerce has corrected a major error in its greenhouse gas emissions reporting, saying a “data entry error” vastly inflated the climate benefits of several state-funded rebate programs. The department originally reported that 7.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced. The actual amount is around 78,000. Jake Johns reports. (KING) 

Alberta government launches website to host information about proposed oil pipeline
Government targets July 1 to have application ready for federal major projects office Lauren Krugel reports. (Canadian Press) 

Vancouver Island First Nations criticize DFO for lack of consultation on krill fishery opening
First Nations on northern Vancouver Island are criticizing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for a lack of consultation prior to opening commercial krill fishing in what they say are "fragile coast inlet waters." Hereditary Chief T̕łaḵwagila David Mungo Knox of the Fort Rupert First Nation, also known as the Kwakiutl First Nation, says he wants DFO to discuss fisheries management with coastal First Nations before allowing commercial fishing. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC) 

Wood biomass project in Wash. put on hold
The UK-based Drax Group said last month it’s pausing plans for the facility as part of a wider slowdown in capacity expansion caused by weak demand for its wood pellets. The Drax plant would be built in Longview, Wash., where it would process up to 450,000 metric tons of wood annually, turning Pacific Northwest trees into pellets for export to overseas power plants. Nick Engelfried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

‘Whata Bod’: An AI-generated NWS map invented fake towns in Idaho
Amid a big agency push to use AI models in weather prediction, an AI-generated forecast graphic with errors was pulled from NWS sites. Ruby Mellen reports. (Washington Post) 

Democracy Watch

• Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand. (NY Times) 
• Trump proposes massive increase in 2027 defense spending to $1.5T, citing ‘dangerous times (AP) 
• Texas A&M, Under New Curriculum Limits, Warns Professor Not to Teach Plato (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-  208 PM PST Wed Jan 7 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING    
THU  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 14 seconds.  Showers in the morning, then rain likely in the afternoon.  
THU NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W  8 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



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