Salish Sea News and Weather

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

9/5 Bees, island fire, BC wildfires, giant spiders, wasps, Tokitae, shrinking glaciers, island water, heat survival, invasive pests, WA gas prices

A morning's work [Laurie MacBride]

A Moment with Bees
Laurie MacBride in Eye on Environment writes: "Bees have been plentiful and active in our garden all summer, though almost always moving too quickly for me to photograph. But the other day, when I had my camera conveniently in hand, I noticed that high up on the now-very tall sunflowers, bees were moving ever so slowly. I watched through my telephoto lens as they ambled along, seeming to savour the taste and texture of the dense floral carpet, while sticky pollen grains clung to the hairs on their heads, legs and bellies. It was a moment that I could also savour..." (Eye on Environment)

San Juans assess fire risk, in the aftermath of Lahaina
Excess forest vegetation once controlled by managed burns by Coast Salish peoples now accumulates in dry, unhealthy forest conditions. Kathryn Wheeler reports. (Salish Current)

Severe wildfires are reshaping the future of B.C. forests
Some areas may end up as grasslands as climate change brings droughts. Other forest may recover if allowed to regrow naturally with a host of species, rather than being replanted with commercially preferred firs. Derrick Penner reports. (Times Colonist)

Seattle's giant house spiders: Big and fast, but they won't kill you
Certain spiders are so big, they make even the most spider-friendly humans leap off the couch, and those spiders, appropriately named “giant house spiders,” are on the move this time of year, looking for a mate. Rod Crawford, who has studied, collected, and curated spiders at the Burke Museum in Seattle for 50 years, sets the record straight. Stephen Howie and Jason Pagano report. (KUOW)

Have you been stung? More wasps in B.C. right now, say scientists
If you’ve been noticing more wasps flying around this time of year in British Columbia, you’re not alone. Beekeepers and researchers confirm that wasps are very active at the end of summer and this year there might even be more than normal in B.C. Alanna Kelly reports. (Northshore News)

The Lummi Nation sees ‘parallels’ with the orca Tokitae’s story
Lummi Nation Chairman Anthony Hillaire said that the feeling of kinship between the Lummi people and the orcas is deepened by shared experiences. Native children were removed from their families and sent to boarding schools, where they were often farmed out in the local community for cheap labor. Many children died from sickness and inadequate medical care. Orcas were removed from their families and sent to amusement parks where they were forced to perform for audiences. Only one captive orca — Keiko, born in Iceland — has returned home. Richard Arlin Walker (Indian County Today/Crosscut)

Rocketing boulders, dwindling streams: signs of WA's shriveling glaciers
As a warming climate shrinks the rivers of ice atop Mount Baker and other mountains around the world, it’s exposing rock faces and cliffs that haven’t seen daylight for millennia. The changes are noticeable from the lowlands. Each summer since a record-smashing heat dome in 2021, Mount Baker has been living up to its Nooksack name Kweq’ Smánit (white mountain) less and less. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) See also: The canary in the icefield Scientists have tracked the fate of the Peyto Glacier in the Rocky Mountains for decades as a global reference point. It’s disappearing faster than expected — a warning sign for communities downstream. (CBC)

Gulf Islands’ water woes an ominous omen for the rest of B.C.

Southern Gulf Islanders have always known their water is a precious commodity as their supply depends on the deep, broken-rock aquifers that supply most of it. In the second straight year of severe drought, worries are creeping in. Wells that draw from those aquifers are running slower or running dry sooner in parched summer conditions. Changing, less-reliable patterns of winter rain in an era of climate change are raising fears about the ability of those aquifers to recharge themselves. Derrick Penner reports. (Times Colonist)

'Light of hope': B.C. researchers say some fish surviving heat waves better than once thought
A new study has found bottom-dwelling fish — including flounder, halibut, rockfish, and all five Pacific salmon species — are defying expectations in the face of heat waves. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Scientists warn invasive pests are taking a staggering toll on society
The authors of a major new U.N.-backed report say invasive species are costing the world more than $423 billion a year. Dino Grandoni reports. (Washington Post)

Readers sound off on Washington’s high gas prices
The state’s cap-and-trade system is met with skepticism and grudging acceptance as companies pass the program's cost to consumer pocketbooks. Venice Buhain reports. (Crosscut)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 253 AM PDT Tue Sep 5 2023 TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of showers.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming S after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.

--
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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told

Friday, September 1, 2023

9/1 Vine maple, local news, polar bear decline, illegal fishing, warming seas, dam removal, tree ordinance, old-growth logging, whale strike, mahi mahi, week in review

Vine Maple [Native Plants Pacific NW]

Vine Maple Acer circinatum
There are nearly 150 species of maples worldwide. Most are from eastern Asia. North America is home to about a dozen. It is found from Alaska and British Columbia to northern California, from the east side of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific coast. Natives used Vine Maple branches for baskets and fish traps. It was often used for firewood. Circinatum refers to the “rounded,” regularly lobed leaves. (Native Plants Pacific NW)

League chapters, media keep the focus on local news
Commentary: Bringing home the lesson of local news and the police raid on the Marion County Record. Mary Coltrane and Dee Anne Finken write. (Salish Current)

Study directly links greenhouse gas emissions with polar bear decline, UW professor says
Polar bears and their cubs will starve faster in the coming decades as greenhouse gas emissions hasten the decline of Arctic ice, scientists found in a new study. The connection between melting Arctic ice and declining polar bear populations has been generally understood for decades, but a study published Thursday in the journal Science is the first to directly quantify the relationship. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Illegal fishing 'rampant' in Indian Arm near Metro Vancouver: DFO
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) says bountiful pink salmon in Indian Arm near North Vancouver has led to "rampant" illegal fishing in three rockfish conservation areas (RCAs). The closed areas are meant to help rockfish populations increase, according to Art Demsky, a fisheries officer and DFO detachment commander for Fraser Valley West. (CBC)

A warming climate could cut West Coast black cod harvests in half
A new study from NOAA Fisheries looks at a group of four kinds of ground fish that right now are commonly caught together in deep water off the west coast. They include sablefish (also known as black cod), Dover sole, and two kinds of small red rock fish, shortspine thornyhead; and longspine thornyhead. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Dam removal still on table as settlement talks over Lower Snake River operations continue
Dam removal remains on the table on the Lower Snake River under an agreement announced Thursday, after two years of settlement talks between the federal government and tribes and conservationists. The original stay was set to expire Thursday. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Inside the tumultuous debate behind Seattle's tree ordinance
The debate over more density or more tree canopy got personal as developers clash with the city's Urban Forestry Commission. Eric Scigliano reports. (Crosscut)

Trump-era rule change allowing the logging of old-growth forests violates laws, judge says
A federal judge has found that a Trump-era rule change that allowed for the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest violates several laws. U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Hallman on Thursday found that the U.S. Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act and the Endangered Species Act when it amended a protection that had been in place since 1994. (Associated Press)

B.C. Ferries vessel likely hit whale for second time since late July
When a humpback surfaced in front of the southbound ferry on Tuesday evening, the crew put the engines in reverse but believe the 152-metre-long ferry hit the whale despite their efforts, a company spokesperson said. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Angler nabs record-breaking fish off Washington coast
Wade La Fontaine caught a 21-pound, 48-inch dolphinfish, also known as dorado or mahi mahi, which shattered the state record, a 16.27-pound dolphinfish caught in 2013. Daniella Segura reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 9/1/23: Food bank Friday, Tokitae, BC giant trees, pink salmon, BC fire costs, Clayoquot Sound logging, flame retardants, tribes climate change, wetland protections, Site C dam error, old-growth logging, polar bear decline.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 255 AM PDT Fri Sep 1 2023
TODAY Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.
TONIGHT Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.
SAT SE wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.
SAT NIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 9 seconds.
SUN SE wind to 10 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 12 seconds.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

8/31 Beach eggs, wetlands protection, SRKW grants, drought, land ownership, Nanaimo natural gas, BC Hydro apology

Beach eggs (Wendy Feltham]

Beach eggs
Many people are familiar with fish eggs enjoyed by humans — caviar, sushi roe; and many fish eggs provide valuable nutrition for seabirds and marine invertebrates. Even experts can’t identify all fish eggs just from a photo, including this cluster of orange eggs nibbled on by two Sanderlings near Point Wilson. A photographer provides an up-close and personal look at eggs found on beaches in or near Port Townsend. Wendy Feltham writes. (Salish Current/Rainshadow Journal)

The EPA removes federal protections for most of the country's wetlands
The Environmental Protection Agency removed federal protections for a majority of the country's wetlands on Tuesday to comply with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The EPA and Department of the Army announced a final rule amending the definition of protected "waters of the United States" in light of the decision in Sackett v. EPA in May, which narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act and the agency's power to regulate waterways and wetlands. James Doubek reports. (NPR)

Grants available for projects that would benefit Southern Resident orca whales
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Navy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BNSF Railway and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced there is $1.5 million available through the Killer Whale Conservation Program. The funding increased from last year’s $1.1 million. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Scarce Water: On the Frontlines of BC’s Drought
New rules that were supposed to manage water use aren’t working, say advocates.
Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee) See also: Water Supply Update — time to start thinking about water supplies in 2024 Get used to the words “warm and dry” (WA Dept of Ecology)

Who owns the West?
At the end of 2021, foreign entities or individuals held a “significant interest” in some 10.16 million acres, not counting lease-holdings, in the Western U.S. This sampling of foreign ownership comes from Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act reporting for 2021. Companies or parcels may have changed hands since then. Jonathan Thompson reports. (High County News)

Nanaimo moving quickly to limit natural gas in new builds
New construction won’t be allowed to have natural gas as a primary heat source as of July 1, 2024 — six years before the provincial target. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

BC Hydro apologizes for $128 million Site C dam data error
Over three years, undisclosed employees quietly handed out $558 million in direct-award contracts, including $92 million to engineering firm SNC Lavalin, according to new information provided by the public utility. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 259 AM PDT Thu Aug 31 2023 TODAY Light wind. Wind waves less than 1 ft. W swell 2 ft at 8 seconds. Patchy fog. Showers likely in the morning. A chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 5 ft at 8 seconds.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

8/30 Japanese eelgrass, Cowichan R, tribal climate, PBDEs, Clayoquot Sound logging, WA carbon auction, Whatcom candidates

Japanese eelgrass [WA Noxious Weed]

Japanese eelgrass Nanozostera japonica
Japanese eelgrass grows in intertidal marine waters in open tidal mudflats and sandflats, generally growing from 0.1 to 1.5m mean lower low water. Japanese eelgrass generally grows higher in the intertidal zone than the native, common eelgrass (Zostera marina). The two species can also grow in an intermixed, mosiac pattern on mudflats with variable elevations. Japanese eelgrass is non-native, difficult to control and negatively impacts the shellfish industry. It was listed in 2012 as a Class C noxious weed on commercially managed shellfish beds only. In 2013, the modified wording was removed so that Japanese eelgrass is now a Class C noxious weed. (WA State Noxious Weed Control Board)

Salmon Die in Droves as Climate Change Burns Canada
The effects of a summer of environmental catastrophes were felt everywhere in Canada, from its vast boreal forests to a river on Vancouver Island once fished by Hollywood royalty. The Cowichan River, on Canada’s Vancouver Island, saw hundreds of young salmon and trout die last month. The river, a renowned fly-fishing destination, is suffering from the effects of climate change, including a low water level and high water temperatures. Norimitsu Onishi reports. (NY Times)

Native nations on front lines of climate change share knowledge and find support at intensive camps
Tribes suffer some of the most severe impacts of climate change in the U.S. but often have the fewest resources to respond, which makes the intensive camps on combating the impact of climate change a vital training ground and community-building space. People from at least 28 tribes and intertribal organizations attended this year’s camp in Port Angeles, Washington, and more than 70 tribes have taken part in similar camps organized by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians at other sites across the U.S. since 2016. Hallie Golden reports. (Associated Press)

New flame retardants found in breast milk years after similar chemicals were banned
In the early 2000s, researchers tested breast milk samples from U.S. mothers and found high levels of toxic compounds used as a common flame retardant in household items. The compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), were gradually phased out after a link was found with certain health risks. It sounds like a public health success story, but new research suggests it may not be quite that simple. This summer, scientists detected a new set of similar flame retardants in the breast milk of 50 U.S. women. Bec Roldan reports. (NPR)

30 years after Clayoquot Sound, old growth logging continues unabated, says B.C. conservation group
The Sierra Club of B.C. says the logging of large old trees in verdant, bio-diverse forests on Vancouver Island has continued mostly unabated in the 30 years since one of the biggest acts of civil disobedience in Canada. The Sierra Club of B.C. and the Tla-o-qui-aht used provincial data to show that in 1993 there were about 6,870 square kilometres of productive old-growth rainforest — trees at least 140 years or older — left on Vancouver Island. That's about 31 per cent of what's estimated to have been there before industrialized logging began. Thirty years later, the groups say the remaining productive old-growth rainforest on the island is 4,470 square kilometres, a reduction of about 20 per cent. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

WA's third carbon auction should push pollution credits over $1B
Washington will hold its third carbon auction on Wednesday under its new cap-and-invest program. The first two auctions sold pollution credits totaling about $800 million. The third is expected to put the total for the year well over $1 billion. This is the first year of implementing the state’s new Climate Commitment Act, which passed in 2021. Businesses generating more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon emissions must participate in the program or face fines of up to $10,000 per violation per day. Donna Gordon Blankenship reports. (Crosscut)

Whatcom candidate forum was a study in styles
Commentary: A Whatcom County candidates forum revealed differences in style if not policy. Mike Sato writes. (Salish Current)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 236 AM PDT Wed Aug 30 2023 TODAY Light wind becoming W to 10 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning then a slight chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming E after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of showers in the evening then showers after midnight.

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

8/29 China rockfish, Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut celebration, BC First Nations, BC fire costs, control burns, pink salmon, deer kill

China Rockfish [M. Chamberlain]

China Rockfish Sebastes nebulosus
China Rockfish can be found from Kodiak Island, AK to southern California at depths between 3 m (10 ft) and 128 m (420 ft). They are more common however, between British Columbia and central California, at depths greater than 10 m (33 ft). Chinas almost exclusively prefer rocky habitat with high relief and complexity. Interestingly, China Rockfish have also been seen cohabitating with Giant Pacific Octopus in rock crevices. This species is known to have particularly small home ranges while also being territorial. Research conducted off of Vancouver Island showed that they are a relatively sedentary species after they reach adulthood, only moving around 10 m (33ft) from their home. China Rockfish grow up to 45 cm (18 in) in length and 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) in weight, living for up to at least 79 years. (WDFW)

Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut celebration is a call to action
A celebration of life for Southern Resident orca Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut was a call to action as well as a remembrance. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current) See also: Complete raw video of ceremony (Friends of the San Juans)

Watch: How First Nations in B.C. are reclaiming control and access in their traditional territories
Despite thousands of years of caring for the land and waters, First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island have historically been shut out of decisions about the management of parks. But the tide, it seems, is turning. (CBC)

Province of B.C. says it's spent $585M so far this year fighting wildfires
The B.C. government has spent more than half a billion dollars so far this year fighting a historically bad wildfire season, and that number is expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks as hundreds of blazes continue to burn. Tim Petruk reports. (Castanet)

Severe wildfires are difficult to control – but one research model shows ‘a better way forward’
As swaths of wildlands are being scorched and communities smoked out by another unusually hot, dry summer, researchers in Washington state say there could be a less miserable, environmentally beneficial alternative. A key part of the solution is allowing some smaller wildfires to burn when conditions are favorable and by conducting prescribed burns — an approach historically practiced by indigenous people in North America. Lisa Stiffler reports. (GeekWire)

Pink salmon are having a great 2023 return in Puget Sound
Matt Bogaard with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said: "We're forecasting to see about four million Pink Salmon returning to Puget Sound this year. That's right around the 10-year average," Bogaard said. "We did see a run size of a little over 8.5 million in 2013. And we've had several large run sizes since, but in the last two pink salmon cycles, we've seen declining run sizes. So it's great to see a larger number coming back this year." Natalie Akane Newcomb reports. (KUOW)

Deer kill essential to Sidney Island survival: First Nations
Parks Canada tour shows how the understory has been nibbled down compared with lush neighbouring Portland Island. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 253 AM PDT Tue Aug 29 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 3 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft after midnight. W swell 3 ft at 11 seconds. A slight chance of rain in the evening then a chance of showers after midnight.

Monday, August 28, 2023

8/28 Goshawk, life of Tokitae, return home, giant trees, BC ferries, radioactive water, Bay Day

Northern Goshawk [Frank King]

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
The Northern Goshawk is the bigger, fiercer, wilder relative of the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks that prowl suburbs and backyards. It’s an accipiter—a type of hawk with short, broad wings and a long rudderlike tail that give it superb aerial agility. These secretive birds are mostly gray with bold white “eyebrow” stripes over piercing orange to red eyes. Northern Goshawks flash through forests chasing bird and mammal prey, pouncing silently or crashing feet first through brush to grab quarry in crushingly strong talons. (All About Birds)

Celebrating the life of Tokitae the orca on San Juan Island
More than 300 people gathered Sunday at a park in the heart of the home waters of the southern resident orcas to pay tribute to the life of Tokitae. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Lummi Nation prepares for Sk'aliCh'elh'tenaut's return home
The remains of captive Southern Resident orca whale Sk'aliCh'elh'tenaut (Tokitae/Lolita) will be laid to rest in the waters where her orca pod still resides much of the year. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

The quest for an ancient colossus, in the wild rainforest of B.C.
Experts worry B.C.’s giant trees could be the last of their kind as climate change jeopardizes their ability to survive the centuries to come. Brenna Owen reports. (The Canadian Press)

40 per cent of B.C. Ferries cancellations due to crew shortages
There were 1,163 cancellations due to crew shortages this fiscal year, up from 522 in 2022. Cheryl Chan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Japan's discharge of radioactive water into Pacific Ocean unlikely to affect B.C., scientist says
On Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. PT, Japan initiated the release of radioactive water from a nuclear power plant managed by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), more than a decade after the facility sustained catastrophic damage. (CBC)

Fidalgo Bay Day teaches those in attendance about area's marine life
The 19th Fidalgo Bay Day on Saturday gave those in attendance the chance learn about marine life through an aquatic touch tank and educational booths. Fidalgo Bay Day, hosted at Fidalgo Bay Resort by the Skagit Marine Resources Committee, is an event aimed at getting children excited about marine life. Emma Burrell reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 251 AM PDT Mon Aug 28 2023
TODAY W wind to 10 kt rising to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 2 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers in the morning then showers likely and a slight chance of tstms in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind 5 to 15 kt becoming to 10 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely and a chance of tstms in the evening then a chance of showers and a slight chance of tstms after midnight.

Friday, August 25, 2023

8/25 Pileated woodpecker, Cascades fire, fleeing wildfire, the Blob, paper vs. plastic straws, week in review

Pileated Woodpecker (Avibirds)

Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest of the Washington State woodpeckers. Pileated Woodpeckers are vocal, typically making a long piping call, along with wuk-wuk or cuk-cuk calls. This species makes nesting holes in dead deciduous or coniferous trees. They create a new cavity every season. The Pleated Woodpecker diet consists mainly of carpenter ants. They also feed on other insects, including other ants, flies, woodboring beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, termites, and cockroaches, as well as fruits and nuts. (Avibirds)

Red flag warning in Cascades over increased fire risk, thunderstorms
The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a red flag warning Thursday for the west slopes of the Central Cascades over gusty winds, dry conditions and unstable weather that’s expected to increase existing fire risks. The warning will be in effect through 5 p.m. Friday. Daisy Zavala Magaña reports. (Seattle Times)

What it’s like to flee a wildfire in B.C.
As someone who has long frequented burning landscapes to put out fires, I hadn’t ever feared for my safety before. That changed the day two explosive fires converged in the province’s Shuswap region. Mike Graeme reports. (The Narwhal)

Years After the Blob, the Pacific Still Doesn’t Look the Same
The 2014–2016 marine heatwave transformed the ecosystem of the northeast Pacific. Some of those changes seem here to stay. Ethan Freedman reports.(Hakai Magazine)

Study: Paper straws might not be better than plastic for environment
So-called “eco-friendly” paper drinking straws contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals and may not be better for the environment than plastic versions, researchers have warned. Long-lasting “forever chemicals,” which are potentially harmful to people, wildlife and the environment, were found in 18 out of 20 brands of paper straws, Belgian researchers found. (PA Media/dpa)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/25/23: Dog Day, Tokitae, GenZ climage, WA forests, Cowichan R, 'Aroma of Tacoma,' E.coli, Garbage Patch, Skeena last fish, the Blob.

Have you read the Salish Current?
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Free to read, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 250 AM PDT Fri Aug 25 2023
TODAY E wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 6 seconds. Haze.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 2 ft at 6 seconds. Haze.
SAT NW wind to 10 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 6 seconds. Haze.
SAT NIGHT NW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 7 seconds.
SUN SW wind to 10 kt becoming W 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 1 ft at 7 seconds.