8/17 Dinoflagelates, BC wildfires, logging old growth, saving sea stars, protecting Skagit farmland, Lala, democracy watch.

 

Dinoflagelates

Dinoflagelates
In coastal regions, the primary source of flow-agitated bioluminescence is dinoflagellates. These single-celled organisms are common members of the plankton—tiny marine plants, animals or bacteria that float on or near the ocean’s surface. Bioluminescent dinoflagellates range in size from about 30 µm to 1 mm, and are found in all the world’s oceans. Occasionally they become very abundant, resulting in red tides, so called because the large number of organisms discolors the water. If the dinoflagellates are luminescent, there can be spectacular displays of bioluminescence at night. (UC San Diego)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Proposed logging project near Little Mountain raises alarm

What you need to know about B.C. wildfires on Aug. 16 
Unstable weather pattern could lead to lightning-caused fires, while evacuation orders slowly lift. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

A line in the forest: B.C. is logging its last old growth. Protesters are trying to stop it
Only 20 per cent of Vancouver Island’s productive old-growth forests remain, according to the Sierra Club, and most of that is still open to logging. Annika Hammerschlag reports. (Associated Press) 

Billions of sea stars have died. A Northwest tribe is trying to save the species
Sunflower sea stars are critically endangered in the Pacific Ocean. University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to bring this 24-armed creature back from the brink of extinction. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

153 aces of Skagit County farmland protected through conservation project
About 153 acres of farmland east of Sedro-Woolley were placed under a conservation easement on Monday as part of the Skagit County Commissioners’ consent agenda. Cameron Martinez reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)  

‘Utter Devastation’: Lala Turns Hawaiʻi Upside Down, Spares Some
Even as the hurricane settled into a tropical storm, it bared down across the island chain, hitting rural Big Island harder than other areas. Jeremy Hay reports. (Civil Beat) 

Democracy Watch

• No more ‘hypothetical situations’: States move to fortify elections against Trump (Washington State Standard) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  134 PM PDT Sun Aug 16 2026    
MON  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW in the afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at  9 seconds. Patchy dense fog in the morning.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 8 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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