3/17 Shamrock, NOAA cuts, Columbia R Treaty, BC herring, Mark Carney, butterflies, BC wastewater, Vitalus expansion, first 100 days

 

Shamrock (White clover)

Shamrock
A shamrock is a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg ([ˈʃamˠɾˠoːɡ]), which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and simply means "young clover". At most times, Shamrock refers to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser/yellow clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán).

Today's top story in Salish Current: American and Canadian jiu-jitsu competitors clash in Lynden

After Cuts, Former NOAA Chief Scientist Says U.S. Science Risks Becoming a “Backwater Enterprise”
With its first wave of firings, the new Trump administration has decimated NOAA. Madeline Ostrander reports. (bioGraphic)

U.S. pauses Columbia River water-sharing negotiations with Canada amid Trump threats
The nations were trying to finalize updates to the 61-year-old Columbia River Treaty governing shared, cross-border water and hydropower management. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

On board: Navigating the choppy waters of B.C.'s herring fishery
First served in feudal Japan, herring roe, known as kazunoko, gradually became an integral part of Osechi, the traditional Japanese New Year's feast. This ceremonial delicacy, costing upwards of $200 per kilogram, varies in quality, with the most sought-after roe sourced from Canada’s Pacific coast, known for its superior quality compared to its Atlantic counterpart. Olivier Laurin reports. (Victoria News)

Here’s where Canada’s new prime minister stands on the future of oil and gas
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been a key international deal maker on climate action. Mike De Souza and Carl Meyer report. (The Narwhal)

Butterfly populations have declined, but there's hope
A first-ever comprehensive study of butterfly populations across the United States shows dramatic declines in most species. Overall, about 22% have died off in just 20 years. And 114 species have declined by 40% or more. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Under the microscope: Looking at B.C.'s wastewater surveillance for viruses
Testing wastewater for diseases and viral activity gained prominence during the pandemic, but scientists are concerned that funding for such work could be threatened. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Vitalus expansion to come online in 2027
Vitalus Nutrition’s Abbotsford plant currently processes cream and butter, and produces milk proteins and prebiotics. The expansion of an Abbotsford plant aimed at turning milk into proteins, prebiotics, and butter is likely to be complete by the fall of 2027—and local dairy farmers have been told to prepare to up their production. Grace Kennedy reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

The First 100 Days

• Trump signs order to cut staff at Voice of America and other US-funded media organizations (Associated Press)
  
• Trump tapped Kari Lake to run VOA. Then he dismantled it. (Washington Post)
  
• DOGE Cuts Reach Key Nuclear Scientists, Bomb Engineers and Safety Experts (NY Times)
  
• U.S. to Withdraw From Group Investigating Responsibility for Ukraine Invasion (NY Times)
  
• Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants, despite court order (Associated Press)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  233 AM PDT Mon Mar 17 2025   TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds and W  6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the evening.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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4/14 Sanddab, NOAA cuts, WA bike lanes, WA bills dead/alive, wildfires, Salish Sea Wonders, Canadian beaver, first 100 days, week in review

Pacific sanddab

 
Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus
A left-eyed flatfish with an elongate to oval body shape. The eyed side is dull light brown, mottled with brown or black and sometimes yellow or orange, while the blind side is off-white to tan. Pacific sanddab range from the Sea of Japan, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea, south to Cape San Lucas, Baja California.  Pacific sanddab can grow up to 41 cm (16 in) in length, and 0.91 kg (2 lbs) in weight, however most weigh less than 1/3 of a pound. Maximum age is 9 years old. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Beyond obstacles: artists with disabilities express healing through creativity

More cuts coming to US oceans agency and its Olympic Coast sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to jettison 10 buildings it leases in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as the agency prepares to eliminate another 1,029 employees nationwide. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Trump administration takes aim at bike lanes, other WA projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered state officials to scrutinize all projects that received federal grant spending over the past four years on bike lanes, electric vehicle charging stations and other “green infrastructure,” with an eye toward potentially canceling any project that doesn’t align with the Trump administration’s goals. Nicholas Deshais reports. (Seattle Times)

What bills are still dead and alive in the Washington Legislature
Lawmakers in the Washington Legislature spent the past week and a half passing bills off the House and Senate floors ahead of a Wednesday deadline. Measures that didn’t make it through their chamber of origin by that cutoff are likely dead for the year. Jake Goldstein-Street and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero report. (Washington State Standard)

We know how to protect homes from wildfires. Why don’t more people do it?
It’s not a mystery why some houses survive catastrophic fires while their neighbours burn. Still, few people follow FireSmart recommendations — these experts are trying to fix that. Chloe Williams reports. (The Narwhal)

Salish Sea Wonders.
Zoom in on Salish Sea geology; tides and currents; intertidal ecology; plankton, herring, salmon & sharks; Race Rocks Ecological Reserve; and a message of recovery and hope. March 31, April 7, 14, & 28, 7 – 9pm; $30 for the series, group rate and subsidies available.
Information here.

The dam, the myth, the legend: 50 years of the beaver
An exploration of the buck-toothed, flat-tailed, landscape-shifting icon celebrating 50 years as Canada’s national symbol. Brian Banks reports. (Canadian Geographic)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/14/25: Pi Day, herring status, space fish count, 100,000 tires EPA enviro justice, EPA reg ban, Columbia R treaty, seafood tariff.

The First 100 Days

• Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene in birthright citizenship case (News From The States)
  
• Hundreds of federal offices could begin closing this summer at DOGE's behest (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 weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PDT Fri Mar 14 2025  
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SE 15 to 20 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 5 seconds and  W 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to 8 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 13 seconds. Showers.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W  8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/13 Fire ant, EPA rollback, WA carbon auction, B'ham orcas, AI whale alerts, Pt Roberts, Gates climate group, Columbia R Treaty, first 100 days

 

Fire ant

Fire ant
Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis, which includes over 200 species. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Views conflict around best use for Port real estate

Trump administration to roll back many EPA regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will seek to undo more than 30 regulations, including some aimed at lowering carbon emissions and curbing pollution, as well as redefining what waters and wetlands the federal government can regulate, Administrator Lee Zeldin said Wednesday. The agency will take 31 actions covering a host of issues that amounted to “the largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history,” Zeldin said in a brief video posted to the EPA website Wednesday afternoon....“Today, the green new scam ends as the EPA does its part to usher in the golden age of American success,” Zeldin said. (News From The States)  A breakdown of major EPA deregulatory moves around water, air, climate (Associated Press)

Washington carbon auction prices rise again
Prices for air pollution allowances under Washington’s cap-and-trade law climbed again at the state’s first auction of the year. The Department of Ecology said allowances the state offered on March 5 sold for $50 each. That’s about 24% higher than the $40.26 sale price at the previous auction in December. The latest sales will net another $230 million for the state. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Three orca whales spotted swimming through Bellingham Bay
At least three orca whales were spotted swimming through Bellingham Bay on Tuesday. Bellingham resident Nate Wallace captured a video of the whales at about 4:30 p.m. as they were swimming south in the I&J Waterway along the Port of Bellingham. Rachel Showalter reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Ping, You've Got Whale
A new artificial intelligence-powered detection system is giving ship captains real-time alerts when a whale is in their path. Ashley Braun reports. (bioGraphic) 

Cut off from the United States, Point Roberts, Wash., worries it won't survive a trade war
Point Roberts Realtor says community feels like 'children going through a divorce' Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

Climate group funded by Bill Gates slashes staff in major retreat
Breakthrough Energy, an umbrella group for energy and environmental efforts funded by Mr. Gates, is resetting for the Trump era. Dozens of staff members were cut, including Breakthrough Energy’s unit in Europe, its team in the United States working on public policy issues and most of its employees working on partnerships with other climate organizations. David Gelles and Theodore Schleifer report. (NY Times)

B.C. plans  for ‘any action’ Trump may take on Columbia River Treaty
Canada and the U.S. have been ‘the envy of the world’ when it comes to cross-border water sharing. That could be coming to an end. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

The First 100 Days

• School lunches: USDA ends program that provided food from local farmers (Associated Press)
  
• E.P.A. Targets Dozens of Environmental Rules as It Reframes Its Purpose (NY Times)
  
• Trump directs National Endowment for the Humanities chair to step aside (WA Post)
  
• ICE returns all migrants from Guantánamo to stateside facilities (NY Times)
  

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  259 AM PDT Thu Mar 13 2025
TODAY  W wind around 15 kt. Seas 9 to 11 ft early, subsiding to 5  to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at 13  seconds. Rain likely early this morning, then showers likely with  a slight chance of tstms late this morning and afternoon.  

TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, backing to S after midnight. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain likely in the  evening, then rain after midnight.

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.

---


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



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3/12 Earthworm, NW water, EPA enviro justice, Columbia R treaty, BC coal levies, seafood tariffs, Telegraph Cove, first 100 days

Earthworm

Earthworm
An earthworm is a soil-dwelling terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. Other slang names for earthworms include "dew-worm", "rainworm", "nightcrawler", and "angleworm" (from its use as angling hookbaits). Larger terrestrial earthworms are also called megadriles (which translates to "big worms") as opposed to the microdriles ("small worms") in the semiaquatic families Tubificidae, Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae.

Today's top story in Salish Current: La Conner coffee shop paddles upstream

Snow or no? Northwest’s water outlook gets murky with federal cuts
Federal cutbacks are threatening the Pacific Northwest’s ability to manage its water supplies and keep people safe from floods. Agencies that keep tabs on Northwest rivers and snowpack have been shedding scientists under the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal government. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

E.P.A. Plans to Close All Environmental Justice Offices
An internal memo directs the closure of offices designed to ease the heavy pollution faced by poor and minority communities. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

U.S. pauses Columbia River Treaty talks as trade tensions grow, B.C. minister says
B.C.'s Energy Ministry says the United States has paused negotiations with Canada on the wide-reaching Columbia River Treaty that regulates everything from flood control and power generation to water supply and salmon restoration in the region. The ministry says in a news release that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration "is conducting a broad review of its international engagement." (CBC)

B.C. premier calls for levies on U.S. thermal coal exports in response to Trump tariffs
As President Donald Trump's tariff threats continue to hang over Canada, B.C. Premier David Eby wants the federal government to impose a tax on U.S. thermal coal shipped out of the province as a way to pressure the White House. But after the president lashed out at Canada for Ontario's levies, there are also fears that any more retaliation from provinces could backfire. Yasmine Ghania reports. (CBC)

China tariffs hit B.C. seafood sector struggling with U.S. tariffs
B.C. Seafood exporters had been bracing for China's retaliatory tariffs in Canada's trade dispute over Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum but the decision lands as another major hit. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Rebuild underway for fire-ravaged Telegraph Cove
Telegraph Cove is rising from the ashes. Cleanup of the historic boardwalk on the North Island is well underway and rebuilding of the wharf and other structures destroyed in a devastating New Year’s Eve fire is scheduled to start this month. Darren Koster reports. (Times Colonist)

The First 100 Days

• Elon Musk Seeks to Put $100 Million Into Trump Political Operation (NY Times) 
• Trump withdraws threat of double tariffs on Canadian metals in dispute over electricity (News From The States)
  
• Trump’s 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports go into effect (Associated Press) 
• Researchers are learning the Trump administration axed their work to improve vaccination (Associated Press) 
• EU says its countermeasures to Trump's tariffs will go into effect on April 1 (Associated Press) 
• Under Trump, Social Security resumes what it once called ‘clawback cruelty’ (KFF Health News)
  

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-  258 AM PDT Wed Mar 12 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 6 ft at  13 seconds. Showers.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers  in the evening, then showers 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/11 Air plant, SRKW in CA, BC ecosystem protection, BPA power sales, grizzly bears, Peggy Sloan, first 100 days

 

Air plant

Air plant Tillandsia argentea
Tillandsia is a genus of around 649 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of the Neotropics, from northern Mexico and the southeastern United States to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to central Argentina. Their leaves, more or less silvery in color, are covered with specialized cells (trichomes) capable of rapidly absorbing water that gathers on them.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trump administration to advisory council: ‘You’re fired’

Endangered species of killer whale makes surprise appearance on California Central Coast
A federally endangered species of killer whale was spotted in the Central Coast this week, exciting whale watching crews and spurring hope for its survival. Drone footage captured the moment a group of Southern Resident Killer Whales breached the waters of the Monterey Bay as they frolicked and searched for food. Roseann Cattani reports. (Salinas Californian)

Ecosystem Protection Took a Hit in BC’s 2025 Budget
Last month, Eby announced his plans to expedite 19 resource development projects across the province to buffer against the shock of the new trade war. While details on that fast-tracking process remain hazy, Eby has said fast-tracking won’t come at the expense of oversight. “We’re going to do it consistent with our environmental commitments, but we’re going to do it a heck of a lot faster,” he said. Zoe Yunker reports. (The Tyee)

BPA announces intention to join new Southwest energy market
BPA announces intention to split with California and join new Southwest energy market
The Northwest’s largest hydropower supplier announced it intends to join a new day-ahead energy market based in Arkansas over one based in California.  Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Could the status of grizzly bears change in the lower 48 states?
There could be updates to how grizzly bears are categorized under the Endangered Species Act. However, grizzlies would still be considered threatened in all of Washington state and parts of Idaho.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services thinks it would one day make it easier to delist grizzlies if the federal government changes things up. In its proposed status change, grizzlies would remain threatened in areas where they currently live or habitat where they could one day live. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Seattle Aquarium Names New CEO
Peggy Sloan, the chief animal conservation officer at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, will begin her new job in May. She replaces Bob Davidson, who will retire after 23 years as CEO. Davidson, one of Seattle magazine’s Most Influential people of 2025, is credited with reinventing the aquarium (it recently opened the Ocean Pavilion and a public rooftop) and was one of the leaders of Seattle $800 million waterfront renovation. Rob Smith reports. (Seattle Magazine)


The First 100 Days

• Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud (Associated Press)
  
• Kennedy Links Measles Outbreak to Poor Diet and Health, Citing Fringe Theories (NY Times)
  
• DC begins removing 'Black Lives Matter' plaza after pressure from GOP (Associated Press)
  
• Trump doubles planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% as trade war intensifies (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-  257 AM PDT Tue Mar 11 2025   TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at  11 seconds. Showers likely early this morning, then a chance of  showers late this morning. Showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 14 seconds. Showers.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/10 Sea biscuit, Sixkiller, herring, bull kelp, Trump's timber, rangers reinstated, SRKWs, mapping from space, 100,000 tires, first 100 days

 

Sea biscuit

Sea biscuit
Sand dollars, also known as sea cookies or snapper biscuits in New Zealand and Brazil or pansy shells in South Africa, are species of flat, burrowing sea urchins belonging to the order Clypeasteroida. Some species within the order, not quite as flat, are known as sea biscuits. Sand dollars can also be called "sand cakes" or "cake urchins". (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Billy Frank Jr.’s teachings endure  /  Ferguson pledges to restore ferry service to pre-pandemic levels by summer

WA Ecology director responds to federal rollbacks
One of the earliest meetings Casey Sixkiller, Washington’s Ecology head, recalls in his career was about the cleanup of the Duwamish, Seattle’s only river. Since that meeting some 25 years ago, a lot has happened.... Sixkiller insists that Washington, the first state in the U.S. to have an environmental regulatory agency, can continue to protect its air, water and land, and its leadership in regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Manuel Villa and Isabella Breda report. (Seattle Times)

Is this fish really disappearing from the Georgia Strait?
First Nations say herring are disappearing. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says they’re stable. So what’s really going on?. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

New bill aims to protect Washington’s underwater bull kelp forests
Lawmakers seek to raise awareness of the plant’s cultural significance and its role in supporting ecosystems by naming it WA’s official marine forest. Emma Schwichtenberg reports. (CascadePBS)

Trump’s timber directives could sway Oregon forest policy, but market effects remain unclear
New executive orders from the Trump administration last weekend call on federal agencies to fast-track logging projects by circumventing endangered species laws, and to investigate whether lumber imports threaten national security. These directives could influence separate logging policies that are currently in the works. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

Washington-based U.S. Forest Service rangers reinstated — for now
Ahead of the busiest season for outdoor recreation, staffing for trail clearing, search & rescue, toilet cleaning and other duties is still uncertain. Dominick Bonny reports. (CascadePBS)

As Southern Resident orca population declines, those who care about them remain hopeful
For Samish Indian Nation Chairman Tom Wooten, the declining population is personal. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

B.C. researcher mapping Vancouver Island spawning grounds from space
Swaths of Salish Sea turned teal by herring milt informs federal fisheries, First Nations. Christine van Reeuwyk (The Free Press)

Sixty years later: More than 100,000 tires from failed reef plan are coming out of Puget Sound
A plan to create artificial reefs in Puget Sound using automotive tires was created by Washington's Department of Natural Resources with the intention of attracting native reef fish in order to bolster recreational fishing opportunities across the state. Tires strung together with polypropylene twine were placed at the bottom of Puget Sound into the 1970s and 1980s. This long stretch of water which varies from one to 5 miles wide, has been home to tens of thousands of car and truck tires. However, the tire reef plan fell flat. Farah Jadran reports. (KING)

The Frist 100 Days

• HHS makes $25,000 buyout offer to most of its employees  (Associated Press)
  
• Elon Musk Proposes Privatizing Amtrak, Calling Rail Service ‘Sad’ (NY Times)
  
• Secretary of State Rubio says purge of USAID programs complete, with 83% of agency’s programs gone (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-  241 AM PDT Mon Mar 10 2025   TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE this afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of  showers.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/7 Fairy ring mushroom, disappearing butterflies, healthy J62, wildfire season, NW Stream Center, Green Lake cleanup, BPA rehiring, week in review, first 100 days

Fairy ring mushroom

Fairy ring mushroom Marasmius oreades
Fairy rings are common on lawns and playing fields, and are normally caused by the fairy ring champignon Marasmius oreades. The species is quite harmless, unless you require blemish-free turf. A fairy ring marks the outer limit of a single fungus that is hidden away in the soil for most of the year. Just like mould on jam, fungi radiate outwards in circles – the bigger the ring, the older the fungus. (BBC)

Today's top story in Salish Current: San Juan Island Farmers Market kicks off coupon program fundraiser

First national analysis finds America's butterflies are disappearing at 'catastrophic' rate
America’s butterflies are disappearing because of insecticides, climate change and habitat loss, with the number of the winged beauties down 22% since 2000, a new study finds. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Researchers optimistic about health of southern resident killer whale calf
Researchers using a drone captured images of the newest southern resident orca frolicking with its pod and appearing healthy. The encounter on Feb. 17 near the U.S. San Juan Islands east of Victoria showed calf J62 — earlier confirmed to be a female — swimming alongside other members of J Pod, playfully twirling and rubbing her body against her mother, J41, and other family members. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Federal funding chaos is hampering WA state planning for wildfire season, officials say
Local and state agencies say that federal funding freezes and layoffs have thrown a wrench into planning efforts and sown chaos at a crucial time, especially with the state seeing more severe and destructive fires. Becca Most reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Clearwater students experience watershed moment at Northwest Stream Center
The Everett facility provides environmental education focused on watershed and riparian health. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Cleanup at Seattle's Green Lake targets abandoned fishing lines that can ensnare wildlife
Abandoned fishing lines are the focus of a volunteer cleanup effort at Seattle’s Green Lake this weekend. The stray lines are blamed for killing two owls along the water’s edge in recent years. Amy Radil reports. (KUOW)

Bonneville Power Administration offers jobs back to staff fired by Trump administration
Roughly 120 employees were fired from BPA last month - raising alarms from experts in the power grid and Gov. Tina Kotek. They've now been asked to return, but the agency will still be down hundreds of positions since the start of the Trump administration. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

Salish Sea News Week in Review, 3/7/25: Flapjack Friday, quake, more logging, Forest Service firings, tariffs, BC inspections, EPA water discharge rules, NW power markets, newspaper woes.


The First 100 Days

• Trump changes course and delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada (Associated Press)
  
• Elon Musk tells Republican lawmakers he's not to blame for federal firings (Associated Press)
• Trump signs executive order to establish government bitcoin reserve (Reuters)
  

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-  259 AM PST Fri Mar 7 2025    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE late this morning and  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 13 seconds. A  slight chance of rain this morning. A chance of rain early this  afternoon, then a slight chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 13 seconds.  Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told