11/10 Snowberry, stormy weather, global warming, nat'l energy legislation, copper mining, Longview mill, Tacoma LNG, sewage overflow, Skagit restoration, cottonwoods, Orcas Is ferry dock, pumpkins, democracy watch.

Editor's note: Good Tuesday morning. Some heavy weather coming in so do take care. I hope you enjoy today's selection of stories and will take the time to make a one-time or recurring monthly donation to support local news and Salish Current. Your dollars are doubled when you donate to our 2xNewsMatch Campaign. Thanks, Mike.

Snowberry [Gardenia]

Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry is unlike almost any other plant in the world. Few plants have such white berries. It is a delicate looking plant with a quietly enchanting quality. The small clusters of pink flowers in the spring become the egg-white berries of late summer which last on the plant until nearly spring. In this way, they offer great fall and winter interest. The berries are rarely heavy laden, but instead seem to float lightly in the air, all about the plant. This and their small, scattered leaf pattern, give the plant a low but airy quality. (King County)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Missing and Murdered Indigenous People summit spotlights ongoing crisis

Atmospheric rivers to bring rain as El Niño arrives in Washington. What to expect 
A trough of lower pressure air has slipped down from the Gulf of Alaska, rapidly saturating the jet stream with rain as cooler air from the north collides with warmer more moist air from the south. The result is a persistent atmospheric river this week, one pointed directly at the Pacific Northwest through Tuesday and again returning this weekend. Sean Macaday reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)  Another storm expected for B.C. coast after wet, windy weekend (CBC) 

Global warming near levels forecast for 2040: UVic study
The Earth is already warming to levels that experts had hoped wouldn’t happen until 2040. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist) 

Senate advances sweeping energy legislation in first major action since midterm elections
The Senate on Monday advanced bipartisan legislation aimed at speeding up permitting reviews for data centers and other infrastructure projects, in the first major action since last week’s election that soundly repudiated President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. Matthew Daly and Jennifer McDermott report. (Associated Press) 

The promise and peril of a giant new copper mine proposed in northern B.C.
At the headwaters of the Morice watershed’s most important salmon spawning rivers, a proposed copper mine is prompting questions about economic opportunity, salmon recovery and the future of northern B.C. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal) 

Longview mill shuttered after deadly spill plans December restart 
The Japanese owners of a Longview paper mill largely shut down by a fatal chemical accident in May plan to restart pulp production in December. The Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant was shuttered after 11 people died and at least eight were injured in a May 26 spill of a corrosive chemical mixture known as white liquor. Paul Roberts reports. (Seattle Times) 

Newest lawsuit targeting Longview paper mill expands to nearby wood product companies 
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two men killed in last spring’s fatal chemical spill, targets an array of companies associated with the Nippon Dynawave paper mill. Erik Neumann reports. (OPB) 

Changes to Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas facility permit proposed by PSE 
The utility describes its proposed revisions are "limited to process equipment and reporting conditions and do not affect the operations of the flare." The Puyallup Tribe of Indians and others are urging the agency to deny the requested modifications or require independent analysis and public comment before any final decisions are made. Debbie Cockrell reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Oyster farmers sue Village of Cumberland over sewage overflows
The farmers say overflow from the village’s old wastewater infrastructure has forced closures of the local shellfishery when large rainfalls flood the wastewater lagoons. Scott Van Haren reports. (Times Colonist) 

State program proposes $11 million for Skagit-area restoration projects
The state's Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program released its draft list of 46 projects to receive funding — including about $11 million for 10 Skagit-area projects. The allocations are not final until the program receives its state capital funding. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

The Mystery of the Vital, Vanishing Cottonwoods
Inside the drive to restore 500,000 ‘keystone’ trees along the dammed Nechako. Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee) 

Large vehicles restricted at Orcas Island ferry terminal after cracks discovered in support beams
Starting Monday, Nov. 9, vehicles over 22 feet in length and over 8,000 pounds will no longer be permitted to load and unload at the Orcas Island ferry terminal, after engineers discovered dangerous cracks in structural steel beams on the land-to-ship transfer span. (KING) 

What happens to all the pumpkins that don’t get picked from patches? 
When Double R Farms closes its pumpkin patch for the year, the leftovers don’t go to waste. Instead, the fowl and fauna feast. Down the gravel path leading from Geri Ruiz’s house to the Double R fields, crows and geese are flying overhead. They land in the fields of mowed-down pumpkins and corn, and they feast. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Democracy Watch

• Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky launches bid to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (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-  137 PM PST Mon Nov 9 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON    

TUE  SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas 7 to  10 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain.  
TUE NIGHT  SE wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming S 25 to 30 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds and  W 7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of tstms. Showers.

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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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11/9 Snowy plover, BC sharks, wildfire season, Steller's Eider,BC-US traffic, saving local journalism.

2xNewsMatch Challenge: Try this link salish-current.org/donate

Western snowy plover [Seattle Aquarium]

Western snowy plover Charadrius nivosus
The western snowy plover grows to just six inches long at adulthood, and weighs in at less than two ounces—roughly equivalent to two slices of sandwich bread! That’s not the only thing that’s small about this species: As of 2021, their population in Washington state consisted of less than 100 adults. (Seattle Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Rising mountain biking star Chloe Bear refuses to slow down

BC’s Little Sharks Get New Protections
In a ‘pretty rare’ move, Canada is adding over a dozen new aquatic creatures to the Species at Risk Act. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

‘Something I had not seen before’: 2026 fire season in the Northwest among the worst on record
In 2026, wildfires burned more than 3 million acres in Washington state and Oregon. Erick Bengel reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

‘Heart-pounding’ discovery: Rare sea duck spotted in Saanich
Oak Bay birder Geoffrey Newell spotted a Steller’s Eider this week. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) Freshwater species are at risk. A new global threat map could help save some from brink of extinction
Dams, farming, fishing, pollution, natural resource activity top Canada's threat list, McGill researcher says. Bryce Hoye reports. (CBC)

Will midterm results bump Canadian travel to U.S.? Unlikely, say business leaders
One night of defiance won’t undo two years of a trade war and snide remarks from the Oval Office, says the head of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

How Can We Save Local Journalism?
Corporate consolidation hasn’t worked. Could a return to ‘mom-and-pop’ news outlets be the future? Amanda Follett Hosgood writes. (The Tyee) 

Pile perch
Our reader in Mount Vernon writes regarding last week's critter profile of pile perch: "When I was in fish school trying to learn latin names for anything but salmonids, my mnemonic device for the pile perch (which at the time was Damalicthys vacca) was that Vaca is Spanish for cow, and cows leave piles wherever they go, so a pile perch has vacca in the name." What other cool mnemonics have you used?

Democracy Watch

• Feds can’t force WA to set aside alleged noncitizen ballots, judge rules (Washington State Standard) 

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-  201 PM PST Sun Nov 8 2026    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON    

MON  SE wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to  7 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 12 seconds. A  chance of rain in the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  

MON NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SE 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain.

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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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11/6 Portage Is, rain, Dyno Battery. AI and whales, Vancouver Is reservoirs, Padilla Bay shorewalk, democracy watch, week in review.

Editor's Ask: Salish Sea News and Weather is free for all to read and freely available to readers of  Salish Current as a community service. In November and December, we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by donating to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

Portage Island

Portage Island
Portage Island (also known as Point Francis) is an island in the western part of Bellingham Bay in Whatcom County. It is separated from the Lummi Peninsula by Portage Bay and from the central part of Lummi Island by Hale Passage. At low tide the mudflats connect to the mainland with a long sand strip on the west side of the island called The Portage, allowing access on foot or vehicle. Another sand strip on the east side of the island is called Brant Point. Before European settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest, Portage Island had long been a winter village, gathering ground, and a place of spiritual significance for the Lummi people.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Native nations fight the 211-mile road that could transform Alaska’s Arctic

Rainfall warning issued for parts of Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island
Heaviest rain expected from Tofino north to Port Alice and Zeballos. (Canadian Press) 

Seattle battery maker repeatedly cited for lead violations; L&I confirms workers became ill
State inspectors have documented serious workplace safety problems at Dyno Battery for decades. L&I now confirms two workers have filed approved illness claims. Heidi Kirk reports. (KING) 

These rare killer whales are threatened by shipping noise. AI is turning down the din 
A buoy in the Haro Strait is using AI to detect whale calls, with the aim of helping mariners avoid strikes on endangered southern resident killer whales. Tom Page reports. (CNN) 

Vancouver Island reservoirs show impacts of unseasonably dry fall
UVic engineering prof says now is the time for municipalities to evaluate their water infrastructure. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC) 

Padilla Bay Shore Trail divides tidelands from farmland in Skagit Valley
The 2⅛-mile trail follows the top of a dike that separates the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only about 30 such reserves in the nation, from corduroy fields of farmland, allowing views of tideland nature on one side and agricultural nurture on the other. Jon Bauer writes. (CDN) 

Democracy Watch

• Head of Justice Department office on Civil Rights resigns (NPR) 
• Trans sports bans get voter approval in 4 states (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/6/26: Sax Friday, Roberts Bank, supertanker risks, science research, Pacific Link opposition, more Canadian oil refineries, Longview mill, C-39, ship noise.

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-  202 PM PST Thu Nov 5 2026    

FRI  SE wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to S in the afternoon. Gusts  up to 45 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds  and W 8 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
FRI NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 7 seconds and W  9 ft at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt with gusts up  to 45 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft  at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 7 to  10 ft, building to 9 to 13 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: S 5 ft  at 5 seconds and W 13 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  W wind 25 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt, easing to 10 to  15 kt in the afternoon. Seas 10 to 14 ft. Wave Detail: W 14 ft at  15 seconds. Rain, mainly in the morning.

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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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11'5 Woodfibre LNG, Bill C-39, cetacean dust-up.

Dead Link: A reader pointed out that the link to donate to the NewsMatch campaign has not been connected the last few days— and maybe that's why you've been silent? News and Weather and Salish Current are free for all to read without a paywall. It's a nonprofit community service and we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by donating to the NewsMatch campaign. Your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Please support nonprofit local news. Thank! Mike Sato.

Liberty Cap [Wikipedia]

Psilocybin mushroom
Psilocybin mushroom is a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which is metabolised into the psychedelic compound psilocin following ingestion. The term "psilocybin mushroom" refers to a broad group of fungi found across several genera. Amongst other cultural applications, psilocybin mushrooms are used as recreational drugs. While psilocybin mushrooms were used ritualistically in pre-Columbian Mexico for religious and divinatory purposes, their historical use elsewhere was rare and is often exaggerated. Such practices were suppressed after European colonization. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Islands’ Oil Spill Association’s eyes in the sky

'Massive exaggeration': B.C. economists raise concerns over Woodfibre LNG study
Job, revenue numbers in study questioned as LNG export facility nears completion near Squamish. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Federal bill’s sweeping powers jeopardize environment, witnesses tell MPs
The federal government’s proposal for sweeping new powers over major projects could come at the expense of the environment and public accountability, witnesses warned during a committee hearing held in Ottawa. Representatives from environmental and legal organizations discussed their concerns about some of the proposed provisions of Bill C-39, also called the Building Canada Strong Act, during a legislative committee meeting this week. Nathalie Hewa Dewage reports. (National Observer) 

Orcas and humpback whales clash near US-Canada border
The Pacific Whale Watch Association said it witnessed a large group of orcas and a pair of humpback whales clash during a "dramatic, hours-long encounter" in the Salish Sea on Thursday. (KRCR TV) 

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-  148 PM PST Wed Nov 4 2026    

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM PST THURSDAY    

THU  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  13 seconds and W 2 ft at 19 seconds.  

THU NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with  gusts up to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE  4 ft at 4 seconds, W 7 ft at 14 seconds and W 3 ft at 17 seconds.  A chance of rain in the evening, then rain after midnight.

---


"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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11/4 Harbor porpoise, Longview mill, Deep Bay, monarch butterflies, democracy watch.

 Did you vote? BTW, whatever the results turn out to be, it's only the beginning. The real job is to govern. And the job of nonprofit local news is to provide reporting readers can trust and a forum where they can express their views honestly and safely. Help support nonprofit local news by making a donation to Salish Current's NewsMatch campaign where news is reported without paywall for people, not for profit. Thank you. Mike Sato.

Harbor porpoise [NOAA]

Harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Two stocks are known to occur in Washington: Northern Oregon-Washington Coast Stock and Washington Inland Waters Stock. Harbor porpoise are mostly found in coastal waters, including bays and estuaries. In Washington, harbor porpoise were a common year-round resident in the Puget Sound in the 1940s. By the 1970s, however, they had disappeared from the Sound, and their numbers were greatly reduced in the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, and around the San Juan Islands. In the early 2000s, harbor porpoise made a comeback to Puget Sound.  The life span of this species is about 24 years. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  As wolf populations grow, state expects a Western Washington increase

Longview mill to appeal $77,800 fine after worker nearly engulfed in hot pulp
After plunging into a sinkhole of hot pulp, the worker told inspectors at one point he thought, “I’m not going to make it back.” John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Nanaimo and Comox land trust’s secure funds for over 100 acres in Deep Bay
The BC Parks Foundation announced on Monday, Nov. 2, the final monetary amount has been raised to purchase 122.5 acres of property west of Deep Bay, north of Qualicum Beach, with donors already raising much of the $4M price tag. Both the Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) and the Nanaimo & Area Land Trust (NALT) each committed $50,000 each, with $395,000 outstanding when they called for more donations in September. Jordan Davidson reports. (Nanaimo News Now) 

Monarch butterflies get tiny trackers to help scientists follow their mysterious migration
Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón and other scientists are attaching tiny tracking devices to hundreds of butterflies to find those critical stopover locations before they disappear. Swarms of dazzling orange-and-black monarchs use environmental cues to travel some 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) from as far as southern Canada to spend the winter in forests of oyamel fir trees in central Mexico, a protected biosphere reserve that’s also a World Heritage site. Dorany Pineda reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• ICE repeatedly violated court order on warrantless arrests in Oregon, one agent lied, federal judge finds (OregonLive) 
• Washington immigrant, labor groups accuse feds of voter intimidation (KUOW) 

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-  137 PM PST Tue Nov 3 2026    
WED  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds, SW 3 ft at 9 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds. Rain in  the afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to SW after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at  10 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. Rain, mainly in the evening.

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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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11/3 Pile perch, PacLink pipe, bird flu death, shoreline erosion, Canadian oil refineries, BC time, democracy watch.

NewsMatch: Please support independent, nonprofit local news by making a donation to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

Pile perch [WDFW]

 
Pile perch Rhacochilus vacca
Pile perch range from Wrangell, southeastern Alaska to Guadalupe Island, off north-central Baja California, Mexico. Adults are found along rocky shores, often around kelp, pilings and underwater structures, in water depths up to 46 m (150 ft). Pile perch can grow up to 44.2 cm (17.4 in) in length and 2 kg (4.4 lbs.) in weight. Maximum age is 10 years old. The Washington state record is a 3.57 lbs pile perch caught by Steve Urban in 1981. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  What happens in Florida doesn’t stay in Florida

First Nations in B.C. challenge Carney's Pacific Link pipeline national interest designation
Several First Nations in B.C. are challenging the federal government in court and seeking to overturn its decision to designate the Pacific Link pipeline project as a project of national interest. The nations say listing the pipeline project in such a way "effectively acts as an approval," and that Canada's duties to consult and accommodate the nations must be met before a project is listed. (CBC) 

Washington state resident dies from bird flu following exposure to infected cattle
A person in Washington state has died from complications of the bird flu, the first such U.S. death in a year. The Yakima County resident, who had previous health conditions, was exposed to avian influenza at a dairy with infected cattle and had been hospitalized. Mike Stobbe reports. (Associated Press) 

She lived along the sea for decades. Then much of this WA beach washed away 
In the past year, some 230 feet of the shoreline, from the water to the land’s edge, has washed away here along a stretch of the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Port Angeles. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

Politicians have floated building more oil refineries in Canada. Here’s what you need to know 
Some politicians have been keen to decrease Canada’s reliance on U.S. refineries. But experts say that’s no silver bullet. Anne Caroline Desplanques reports. (The Narwhal) 

Some hiccups for ferries after B.C. ditches time change
Many other parts of the world rolled back to standard time on Sunday morning. Toronto is now two hours ahead of Victoria, instead of three. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court rejects Trump administration push to set aside thousands of California ballots (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-  600 PM PST Mon Nov 2 2026    
TUE  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SW 3 ft  at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SW  3 ft at 10 seconds and W 5 ft at 13 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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11/2 Pumpkin, Roberts Bank Terminal 2, oil tanker risk, Docktober, BC time, Kitsap electricity, American science, Bigfoot, democracy watch.

A seasonal request: Salish Sea News and Weather is free for all to read and freely available to readers of  Salish Current as a community service. In November and December, we ask our readers to help support independent, nonprofit local news by making a donation to the NewsMatch campaign where your dollars donated will be matched by national and local funders to meet Salish Current's 2027 operating expenses. Thank you for supporting nonprofit local news. Mike Sato.

 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita.  The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties but It may be used in reference to multiple species of Cucurbita. C. pepo pumpkins are among the oldest known domesticated plants, with evidence of their cultivation dating to between 7000 BCE and 5500 BCE in Mesoamerica. Wild species of Cucurbita and the earliest domesticated species are native to North America (parts of present-day northeastern Mexico and the southern United States). (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  WWU grad student goes off the beaten path to classify Whatcom County’s legacy forests

Federal government lists Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion in Delta, B.C., as 'project of national interest'
The project, which is a proposed three-berth container terminal at Roberts Bank, will be led by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and is expected to add 2.4 million containers of annual capacity at Port of Vancouver. (CBC)

Oil Supertankers Are Too Risky for the Salish Sea, Experts Say
Washington state’s spill prevention program manager says sharp turns and other hazards increase the chance of an accident. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Ecology pulls tens of millions from waterfront cleanup
Over the summer, the state Department of Ecology pulled $87 million in current and future grant funds from the Port of Everett’s ongoing cleanup of a former timber site at the waterfront. This comes as the port prepares to go to trial with Weyerhaeuser in November after the timber company pulled out of its cost-sharing agreement for the project eight years ago. Without their matching funds, port CEO Lisa Lefeber said Ecology pulled funding necessary for the cleanup’s next steps. Jenna Millikan reports. (Everett Herald) 

Move over, Halloween. It’s Docktober on Puget Sound
Nature lovers often hit the beach at low tide to catch glimpses of underwater life in fleeting tidepools at the margins of Puget Sound. Some nature nerds like to hang off the edge of a dock instead. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

B.C. won't be changing its clocks on Nov. 1. Here's what you need to know
Technology companies are advising British Columbians to keep software updated, check their appointments. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Kitsap to vote on energy measure, as PSE pours millions into campaign against it
Kitsap County voters will weigh in on whether to explore leaving Puget Sound Energy this November. The measure is called Proposition 1. David Kroman and Hans Anderson report. (KUOW) 

How Trump Is Dismantling America’s Scientific Research Machine
The system that has driven life-altering discoveries and helped make the United States a superpower is now under intense strain. Christopher Flavelle, Irena Hwang, Adam Sella, Alan Blinder, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Benjamin Mueller and Michael C. Bender report. (NY Times) 

What Bigfoot can teach us about predicting the impacts of climate change 
Believe it or not, researchers are using Sasquatch data to better understand how well their methods for studying scientifically recognized species are working. Leah Borts-Kuperman reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska Senate race if GOP incumbent loses (AP) 
• Over 40% of names on DOJ list of alleged noncitizens are not on Calif. voter rolls, analysis finds (AP) 
• Trump loses appeals over California ballots, Homeland Security operations (Washington State Standard) 

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-  154 PM PST Sun Nov 1 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM PST MONDAY THROUGH  LATE MONDAY NIGHT    

MON  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 16 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  3 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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