4/27 Monk seal, Sunrise pipeline, wildfire cost, BC interior fires, fish-trucking, Skagit battery energy storage, slime mold, flood mitigation, meme war, marathon milestone, democracy watch.

 

Dear Readers: Salish Sea News and Weather will take a break and return on May 11. Mahalo.

 

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Hawaiian Monk Seal Neomonachus schauinslandi
The Hawaiian monk seal is a vulnerable species of earless seal in the family Phocidae that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian monk seal is one of two extant monk seal species; the other is the Mediterranean monk seal. A third species, the Caribbean monk seal, is extinct.

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Without data we are flying blind 

Enbridge's B.C. LNG pipeline expansion has the green light. What does it mean?
The federal government announced Friday it has approved Enbridge Inc.’s $4-billion Sunrise natural gas pipeline project in British Columbia. Nick Murray reports. (Canadian Press) 

Counting up receipts: one of Canada’s worst wildfire seasons cost at least $500M
Our analysis found $500 million in expenses directly attributable to last year’s wildfires in Manitoba — from evacuation flights to lost homes to closed business to burned power poles. The true costs are even larger. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal) 

Fire in Fraser Canyon, evacuation alerts in Cariboo as B.C. wildfire season begins
B.C.'s wildfire season is off to an early start with 21 active wildfires burning on Friday, nine of which were started in the last 24 hours. Recent fire activity has been in the central Interior. Simon Little reports. (CBC) 

Baker River's proven fish-trucking plan may work to move salmon among Skagit River's dams
A program to move fish between Baker River reservoirs offers model for Skagit's dams. Sophia Gates reports. (CDN) 

Appeal of Bayview Ridge battery energy storage facility set for June
An appeal of a Skagit County special-use permit for a battery energy storage system on Bayview Ridge will be heard June 23 in Whatcom County Superior Court. The Stewards of Skagit have filed the appeal over the permit, which was issued in January 2025. Milo Whitman reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Identification of rare slime mould in Slocan Valley leads to naming of new species 
Spiromyxa slocanensis has been found and identified twice, on the same log, by the same man. (CBC) 

Trump administration denies mitigation aid after WA floods
The Trump administration has denied Washington’s request for federal funding to prepare for future floods after a historic deluge hit the state late last year. Federal Emergency Management Agency Associate Administrator Gregg Phillips only said the federal hazard mitigation grants are “not warranted.” Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Iran’s Meme War Against Trump Ushers In a Future of ‘Slopaganda’ 
When the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran started two months ago, online accounts linked to Tehran tried building sympathy with defiant and emotional appeals. They had little impact. Then, as the war dragged on, Iran shifted tactics. It began circulating short animated videos that scorched President Trump and others with biting satire. Mr. Trump appeared as a hapless Lego figure, as Woody from Pixar’s “Toy Story,” as a shag-haired pop star of the 1980s era of MTV. The videos now garner millions of views online, demonstrating the resonance of a new style of propaganda intended to undermine support for the United States. Steven Lee Myers and Stuart A. Thompson report. (NY Times) 

Marathon milestone shattered: Sabastian Sawe breaks the fabled 2-hour barrier by 30 seconds
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, bettering the previous men’s world record by an astonishing 65 seconds. He beat Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who was running his first marathon and finished in 1:59.41. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Nearly half of WA sheriffs face misconduct complaints, according to key agency (News Tribune) 
• The Trump Administration Has Changed Almost Every Aspect of Food Stamps (NY Times)

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

Here's your tug weather— 

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/24 Giant Pacific octopus, Chris Morgan, acid waters, mass evaporation, mosquito power, fossil fuel health, democracy watch, week in review.

Giant Pacific octopus [Monterey Bay Aquarium]

 

 Giant Pacific octopus Enteroctopus dofleini
The giant Pacific octopus can be found all around the Pacific, from Korea and Japan to the coastlines of Canada, the United States and Mexico. It lives in chilly Pacific waters 60 degrees Fahrenheit or colder — in both shallow water and depths to 4900 feet (1500 m) and more. If you're lucky and extremely sharp-eyed you may find one in a tide pool. It is a solitary animal that spends most of its life alone. (Monterey Bay Aquarium) See also: A massive kraken-like octopus may have prowled the seas during the age of dinosaurs (AP) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A walk in the park with Chris Morgan

A walk in the park with Chris Morgan
The Bellingham-based broadcaster tells stories of bears, the Pacific Northwest and the new season of his podcast, ‘The Wild.’ Jason Dove Mark reports. (Salish Current) 

PNW waters acidifying faster than rest of world's oceans, UW study finds
Puget Sound and the Salish Sea are on the leading edge of an ocean acidification crisis that could devastate West Coast fisheries within decades, UW research says. Leah Pezzett reports. (KING) 

Could summer bring a ‘mass evaporation event’?
A thirsty atmosphere is amplifying the effects of a warm winter and leading to a new understanding of drought. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight) 

How mosquitoes — and malaria — helped shaped the whereabouts of early humankind
For tens of thousands of years, where humans have chosen to live has long been shaped by climate and the landscape. That's why there are so few of us clinging to the crags of Mount Everest or decamping to Antarctica. And the places we have called home in more welcoming parts of the world have helped shape our species — from our genes to our behaviors. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR) 

‘In death and in debt’: how we pay for fossil fuels with our health
Talk of affordability often comes down to the price at the pump. But more and more Canadians are realizing the less upfront cost of coal, oil and gas use, as it affects their bodies. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Washington’s Supreme Court races are heating up. Who’s watching? (KNKX) 
• Trump Administration Aims to Strip Citizenship From Hundreds of Naturalized Americans (NY Times) 
• Millions of Americans may now also be considered Canadian under a new law (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, April 24, 2026: Aloha Arbor Day, Nooksack floods, BC DRIPA, weather lab, BC mining, coyote parasige, island prairie, BP refinery explosion, National Nature Assessment, WA wolves.

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-  142 AM PDT Fri Apr 24 2026    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 3 to  5 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 6 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 7 seconds and NW 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  7 seconds and NW 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds and W 3 ft at 14 seconds.  
SUN  NE wind around 5 kt, backing to W in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 13 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/23 White-crowned sparrow, Nature Record, WA wolves, grey whales, 'ghost' gear, democracy 'watch.

 White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-crowned Sparrows appear each winter over much of North America to grace our gardens and favorite trails (they live in parts of the West year-round). The smart black-and-white head, pale beak, and crisp gray breast combine for a dashing look – and make it one of the surest sparrow identifications in North America. Watch for flocks of these sparrows scurrying through brushy borders and overgrown fields, or coax them into the open with backyard feeders. As spring approaches, listen out for this bird’s thin, sweet whistle. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Poems for the Earth

Trump canceled the National Nature Assessment. Scientists will publish it anyway
Now independent and rebranded as The Nature Record, the assessment was first launched through an executive order signed by then-President Biden in Seattle. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

WA wolf numbers jump after slight decline
Washington’s wolf population grew by 17% last year, resuming an upward trend following a momentary decline in 2024. At the end of 2025, Washington had an estimated minimum wolf population of 270 individual animals living in 49 packs with 23 breeding pairs.  Eric Barker reports. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News) 

‘We're really worried’: 4 grey whales found dead off B.C. coast in 10 days 
Researchers believe dramatic decline in available prey in Arctic feeding grounds may be to blame. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Scuba divers clear Vancouver Island pier of abandoned fishing, crabbing gear 
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says between 2020 and 2025, it has invested more than $58.4 million to tackle ghost gear, which includes fishing nets, lines, traps, and rope. Since 2020, it has removed 2,563 tonnes of gear and more than 985 kilometres of rope from Canadian waters. Peter Ross, a senior scientist at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, says ghost gear has been "a real thorn in the side of wildlife for a long time," citing the International Whaling Commission's estimate that 300,000 whales and dolphins die yearly from entanglement with fishing gear. Johna Baylon reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch
Everett reactivates Flock camera network after passage of new law (Everett Herald) 

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-  132 PM PDT Wed Apr 22 2026    
THU  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 11 seconds.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming N 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 5 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/22 Plainfin midshipman, rare ecosystem, BC ancient forest, WA coal plant, record=high temperatures, BP refinery, wind and solar projects, sea lions, democracy watch.

 

Plainfin midshipman

Plainfin midshipman Porichthys notatus
Plainfin midshipman are caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound and in embayments along the outer coast. This fish can breathe air when it is out of water and is bioluminescent during courtship. The prominent photopores are used by this nocturnal predator to attract prey. Plainfin midshipman range from Sitka, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay in southern Baja California. They are found from the intertidal to over 366 m (1,200 ft) in water depth. The plainfin midshipman can grow up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom photographer to feature in Seattle concert

Tending to Paradise
A rare prairie ecosystem shaped by humans in Washington State exemplifies a shift in how conservationists envision our relationship with the natural world. Emma Marris writes. (bioGraphic) 

The Forest Quietly Removed from BC’s Old-Growth Deferral List
Most of Vancouver Island has been logged. Now, one of the last ancient forests, in the Tsitika River watershed, is on the chopping block. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Washington’s last coal-fired plant still in limbo
The feds want to burn coal, the state doesn’t, the facility’s owners are caught in the middle. John Stang reports. (Columbia Insight) 

4 B.C. communities see record-high temperatures
Four British Columbia communities set or matched their daily high temperature records on Sunday as warm weather swept across parts of the province. (Canadian Press) 

BP refinery incident being inspected by state labor and air agencies 
The industrial accident at BP Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine on Saturday, April 18, is being inspected by multiple agencies, including the Northwest Clean Air Agency and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Annie Todd reports. (CDN) 

Judge Halts Trump Actions That Have Slowed Renewable Energy 
The Interior Department had imposed restrictions on wind and solar projects across the country, prompting developers to sue. Brad Plumer reports. (NY Times) 

Sea lions pack Seattle docks, signaling shift in Puget Sound ecosystem 
Sea lions are back in big numbers, crowding docks across Ballard and causing quite a raucous. Marine experts say the chaotic scene could point to something much bigger happening beneath the surface. Joe Gaydos with the SeaDoc Society says their size alone makes an impression. Lauren Donovan reports.(Fox13) 

Democracy Watch

• ‘If my people': Here’s why the Bible passage Trump will read aloud is so potent and polarizing (AP) 
• Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments (AP) 
• Cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood fail in attempt to have Flock camera ruling vacated (Skagit Valley Herald) 

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-  119 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026    
WED  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  13 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 12 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/21 Scotch broom, extreme weather watch, BC mine permits, BC electric ferries, gas prices, coyote parasites, Mel Tonasket, democracy watch.

Scotch Broom

 

Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom is a perennial, many-branched, shrub ranging in height from 3 to 10 feet tall. This plant is on the Washington State quarantine list. It displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of grassland and open forest. It aggressively spreads to form monocultures, replacing desirable forage grasses and young trees. Seeds are toxic to livestock and horses. (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lopez residents bridge political divide

UW prof in political storm as Trump targets national weather lab
An expert on extreme weather, Shuyi Chen currently chairs the academic nonprofit that manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research. That means she and like-minded scientists are now in a battle with President Donald Trump. Daniel Beckman reports. (Seattle Times) 

Ex-consultants now drafting B.C. mine permit they once promoted
Former consultants helped advance the massive KSM mine in the private sector. Metadata shows they are now drafting its permit from inside the B.C. government. Stefan Labbé reports. (BIV) 

Electric ferry aims to reduce underwater noise, but threats still remain for humpbacks in B.C.
3 humpback whales were found dead last fall in B.C., 2 died from vessel strikes. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Why Gas Prices Go Up Fast and Take So Long to Fall
Fuel station owners take some of the hit for consumers when oil prices surge. On the way down, they try to get their money back. Lydia DePillis reports. (NY Times) 

Outdoors Parasite found in Western WA coyotes puts dogs and humans at risk
Most cities across America coexist with coyotes, whether they know it or not, and the Seattle-Tacoma area is no exception. A new study by a team of University of Washington researchers recently has revealed that over one-third of the coyotes studied across Western Washington carry a deadly tapeworm that can be transmitted to pets and, in some cases, to humans. Gavin Feed reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Mel Tonasket reflects on 55 Years in Indian Country
Mel Tonasket says the modern history of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is defined by a single turning point: the decision to reject federal termination, and the decades of work that followed to rebuild tribal sovereignty and influence. Paul W. Taylor reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• The Onion has agreed to a new deal to take over Infowars (NPR) 

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-  114 PM PDT Mon Apr 20 2026    
TUE  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain likely.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/20 Oregon grape, Nooksack flooding, BP Cherry Point explosion, BC DRIPA, Louisiana oil gas, spring Chinook fishing, B'ham I-5 rock, Lake Union shipwrecks, Hwy 20 opening, democracy watch.

Oregon grape

 
Oregon grape Berberis aquifolium
Oregon grape, or holly-leaved barberry, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall and 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. It has pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, exhibiting dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries. The berries are a part of the traditional diet of some indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and the species serves as the state flower of Oregon. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Kidney health for all.

Can Nature Help Solve the Flood Threat Humans Created?
Constraining the Nooksack has had devastating, costly results. US officials aim to give it more space to flow. Tyler Olsen reports. (The Tyee) 

3 people injured in apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale
Three people were injured in an apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery Saturday morning. Whatcom County Fire District 7, whose service area includes the Cherry Point industrial area, said on its social media its firefighters provided “medical transport of three patients to a local hospital” with at least one seriously injured patient and two patients with lesser injuries. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

B.C. government pulls back on DRIPA suspension again amid First Nations opposition
Province walked back proposed amendments to the law again after public appeal from First Nations leaders. Simon Little reports. (CBC) 

The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana
The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana. The unanimous procedural decision gives the companies a new day in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay upward of $740 million to clean up damage to the state’s coastline, one of multiple similar lawsuits. Lindsay Whitehurts and Jack Brook report. (Associated Press) 

Skagit River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
The Skagit River will open Monday to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook salmon from the Division Street Bridge in Mount Vernon to Gilligan Creek east of Sedro-Woolley. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife the fishery will run through May 15. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Bellingham I-5 rock to be removed in coming weeks
The time has come for a famed Bellingham landmark to move: the painted rock on Interstate 5, marking the “almost there” point in many drives north for Whatcom County residents. Annie Todd reports. (CDN) 

Hidden in plain sight: Robots reveal ‘shipwreck city’ beneath Lake Union
A robotics specialist documents Lake Union's shipwrecks in waters too polluted and dangerous for most divers; historians say that exploration is only just beginning. Dalton Day reports. (KING) 

Work to reopen Highway 20 over North Cascades continues
Highway 20 over the North Cascades is getting close to reopening. According to a Thursday news release from the state Department of Transportation, the eastside and westside crews clearing the highway of snow met Tuesday at milepost 157. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Democracy Watch

• WA bail reform proposal sparks controversy, public safety concerns (Olympian) 
• Ordered free, still locked up: Judges fume as Trump administration holds ICE detainees (LA Times) 

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

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  210 PM PDT Sun Apr 19 2026    
MON  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  12 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 10 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/17 Frangipani, bird migration, Joel Connelly, shrimping, sprawl, gas flaring, violet tunicate, NPR donation, wolves, seal whiskers, 'Big Bertha,' gray whales, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Frangipani

Frangipani
Plumeria, commonly known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. They are native in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil and as far north as Florida, but are often grown as ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with irrigation. (Wikipedia(

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Should hunting be allowed for mountain goats?

Dramatic rise in bird migration over Washington state prompts 'Lights Out' efforts to protect millions
Washington's night sky will be filled with millions of migrating birds in the coming nights! According to BirdCast data, on the night of April 16, over 165 million birds will migrate across the country, and around 845,000 birds in Washington. Scientists encourage joining the "Lights Out" movement by turning off or dimming non-essential lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during critical migration periods. Ashley Ruiz reports. (KING) 

Joel Connelly, Iconic Northwest Journalist, dies at 78
Joel Connelly, considered by many to be the Dean of Seattle political journalism, died on April 15, the victim of a long battle with diabetes. He resided for many years in Madrona neighborhood and on Whidbey Island. Oddly, as a tough journalist, he was widely loved both by friends and sources, as well as by residents of Horizon House, and particularly his caretakers, where he courageously lived his last few years as his body wore out. David Brewster writes. (Post Alley) 

Shrimping closed for 2nd straight year in waters east of Kitsap
Recreational fishing for spot shrimp will not open in the waters east of Kitsap County in 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced, a rare closure for the second consecutive season due to declining populations found during state testing that one scientist called "unprecedented." David Nelson reports. (Kitsap Sun) 

Living in the Sprawl
As housing developments devour open space in the western United States, can local governments stave off habitat loss? Ben Goldfarb reports. (bioGraphic) 

Malfunctioning Canadian LNG terminal burned more gas than estimated 2024 global record
Exclusive: The LNG Canada plant — the country’s first major LNG facility, owned by Shell, Petronas, Korea Gas, PetroChina and Mitsubishi — is one of the highest sources of global emissions for flaring, undermining claims that Canada produces the cleanest natural gas in the world. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

The Slimy BC Invader That Came from the West
The violet tunicate is a hermaphroditic reproducer that shellfish farmers have been blasting off oysters for nearly a century on the West Coast. Grace Kennedy reports. (The Tyee) 

NPR receives $113 million from two donors after federal funding cut 
NPR announced a $113 million windfall on Thursday from two charitable donors including billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer, a former NPR board member, who gave $80 million, the largest gift by a living donor in the organization’s history. An anonymous donor gave an additional $33 million. Scott Nover reports. (Washington Post) 

Study: Wolves return might impact ecosystems less than previously thought
Predator effects on habitat are real but context-dependent. How do they apply in the Columbia River Basin? Eli Francovich reports. (Columbia Insight) 

How seals' whiskers make them master underwater hunters
A harbor seal sports about a hundred whiskers — which are more than just for show. They provide the animals with key intel on their surroundings. Seals can use their whiskers to pull all sorts of information out of disturbances in the water. They can determine the direction in which something has traveled. Lab studies suggest seals might even distinguish between the movements of different types of fish. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR)

Landslide mitigation to protect salmon habitat begins on Vancouver Island
A First Nation on Vancouver Island has partnered with an environmental group to try to mitigate the harms of a massive landslide — known locally as "Big Bertha" — on salmon-bearing streams in the area. (Canadian Press) 

Gray whales of the Salish Sea
A relatively high number of gray whale deaths in Washington this year has brought attention to one of the Salish Sea's most prominent large whale species. A new, comprehensive overview from the Cascadia Research Collective looks at the status and trends of our local grays, including where they are most likely to be spotted and the threats they face, such as climate change. John Calambokidis writes. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Democracy Watch

• Federal agency approves concept for Trump’s plan for a Triumphal Arch in Washington (AP) 
• Trump rails against court decision that once again stalls his White House ballroom project (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, April 17, 2026: Haiku Poetry Day, tire toxin, WA flood relief, Climate Commitment Act, BC DRIPA amendments, climate change cause, grizzlies, floating hotel, BC toxic drug crisis.

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-  221 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026    
TODAY  S wind around 5 kt, backing to NE early this afternoon,  backing to N late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told