10/28 Douglas maple, ropeless crab traps, OR 3-mile rule, Project PULSE, democracy watch.

Douglas Maple [Native Plants PNW]

 
Douglas Maple Acer glabrum var. douglasii
One of three native maple species in the Pacific Northwest, Douglas Maple var. douglasii, is found from coastal southeast Alaska and British Columbia, to southern Oregon; east to Idaho and Montana. Fall foliage ranges from yellow to orange to crimson.  (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Tax fraud conviction shadows Skagit County treasurer candidate Garrison

No Strings Attached
A new fishery in California shows how ropeless crab traps can prevent whales from becoming entangled in fishing lines. Madeline Ostrander reports. (The Narwhal) 

Oregon looking at new rules for 3-mile-wide ribbon of ocean along the coast
The Oregon Department of State Lands wants to strengthen protections for Oregon’s marine ecosystem and ensure Oregonians get fair compensation for the use of the seafloor. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports. (OPB) 

DOE Awards Puget Sound Energy $40.2M for Washington State 'Project PULSE' Transmission Upgrades
PSE is matching the $40.2 million federal grant, bringing the total investment in regional grid modernization to approximately $80.4 million. Eric Moody reports. (T&DWorld) 

Canadian youth ask courts to hold governments accountable for meaningful climate action
A landmark trial in Canada is part of a growing global wave of climate litigation testing whether governments can be held legally responsible for failing to protect people from a warming world. Stefan Labbé reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• ICE arrests surge at Seattle-area Home Depot parking lots. Neighbors are on the lookout. (KUOW) 
• Incoming premier denounces white supremacists at legislature (Times Colonist) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  103 PM PDT Tue Oct 27 2026    
WED  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming S in the afternoon. Seas 3 to  5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds and W 2 ft at 14 seconds.  A chance of rain in the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 10 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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10/27 Red tree coral, youth climate action, BC coast tanker ban, WA rivers fishing closures. biodiversity protections, Roadless Rule repeal, Salish Sea Gateway, democracy watch.

Red tree coral [Wikipedia]

 
Red tree coral Primnoa pacifica 
Red tree coral is a species of soft coral in the family Primnoidae. It is a deep water coral found in the North Pacific Ocean, and plays an integral role in supporting benthic ecosystems. Red tree corals are made of a soluble form of calcium carbonate, which forms the reef structure, and provide food, shelter, and nutrients for surrounding organisms. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom jail project enters design phase without 50-50 care split

Canadian youth ask courts to hold governments accountable for meaningful climate action
A landmark trial in Canada is part of a growing global wave of climate litigation testing whether governments can be held legally responsible for failing to protect people from a warming world. Stefan Labbé reports. (The Narwhal) 

Federal Conservatives renew push to end B.C. North Coast tanker ban
Tory bill to scrap the ban heads to 2nd reading in Parliament this week. (Canadian Press) 

WDFW closes many western Washington rivers to fishing, citing historically low flows
The closures, which took effect Oct. 24, prohibit fishing for salmon and all game fish in several major river systems and tributaries. (KING) 

Every Day, Humankind Saws Another Branch Off the Tree of Life’
As countries meet to rescue a global nature agreement, scientists warn of a ‘dramatic weakening’ of Canada’s biodiversity protections. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Loggers say Roadless Rule repeal won't solve their biggest challenges
With the formal repeal of the Roadless Rule rule expected early next year, the picture on the ground in timber country looks messier. Those who make a living in the forests say the problems are much bigger than access to more trees. Kurt Seigler reports. (OPB/NPR) 

DP World Inaugurates CAD$22 Million Salish Sea Gateway
DP World has inaugurated its CAD$22 million Salish Sea Gateway, British Columbia’s first dedicated short-sea shipping facility, designed to strengthen trade connectivity between Vancouver Island and British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. (DredgeWire) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration asks Washington to set aside ballots from 400 voters it says may be noncitizens (AP) 
• Thousands of observers are expected to descend on polling places to monitor the vote on Election Day (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-  221 PM PDT Mon Oct 26 2026    
TUE  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of rain in the afternoon.  
TUE NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 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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10/26 Coral mushrooms, BC election, BC Conservative gov't, democracy watch.

Coral Mushrooms

Coral Mushrooms Ramaria
Coral mushrooms are some of the most visually striking fungi in the Pacific Northwest. They look like underwater corals transplanted to the forest floor — clusters of branching, upright fingers in colors ranging from bright orange and crimson to pale yellow and purple. Most belong to the genus Ramaria, but several other genera produce coral-like forms. (Salish Mushrooms)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  To keep Lopez fed, keep local farms thriving

B.C.’s Conservative party just won a majority. Here’s what it means for the environment 
Following a snap election called by the BC NDP, the Conservatives have won the 2026 election. From oil and gas to Indigenous Rights, here’s what it plans to change. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

What to expect from the new B.C. Conservative government
Party has promised to not raise taxes, scrap Massey Tunnel replacement and repeal DRIPA. (CBC)

Democracy Watch

• Musk says he was behind Starlink speed restriction after service in Ukraine is restored (AP) 
• Trump’s DOJ sues over Alaska Senate race, expanding preelection legal fights (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-  146 PM PDT Sun Oct 25 2026    
MON  E wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at  11 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  SW wind around 5 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less, then  around 3 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 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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10/23 Redhead, ghost net cleanup, Skagit Island Unit, BC Ferries, coral reef ecosystems, seagrass, democracy watch, week in review.

Redhead [Bryan Calk]

 

Redhead Aythya americana
With a gleaming cinnamon head setting off a body marked in black and business gray, adult male Redheads light up the open water of lakes and coastlines. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in sometimes-huge flocks, particularly along the Gulf Coast, where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Summers find them nesting in reedy ponds of the Great Plains and West. Female and young Redheads are uniform brown, with the same black-tipped, blue-gray bill as the male. (All About Birds) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Samish Crest fires raise concerns about prevention in urban-adjacent woods

‘Gratifying and humbling’: First Nation leads ghost net cleanup from Interior B.C. rivers
For two decades, TLKemchEEN has facilitated the annual cleanup of the Fraser and Thompson rivers to support salmon and other aquatic life. Santana Dreaver reports. (The Narwhal) 

State temporarily reopens Skagit Wildlife Area's Island Unit
The unit, located near Conway, is accessible only by boat. Fish and Wildlife began restoration of 270 acres of estuary at the unit in July, and expected to keep it closed through fall 2028. The department and its contractor have paused construction for the winter. The unit reopened Saturday and will remain open through March. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Unions Call on Next Government to Build Ferries in BC
After a year of political discontent over BC Ferries’ decision to hire a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new vessels, the three front-runners in the B.C. election have all committed to supporting ferry-building in this province. Isaac Pham Nay reports. (The Tyee)

Almost all coral reef ecosystems face risk of collapse in 50 years, study warns
An assessment of the world's coral reef ecosystems has found that almost all face a high risk of collapse in the next 50 years mostly due to warming oceans and heat waves. Michael Casey reports.(Associated Press) 

The Curious Connection Between Bacteria, Seagrass, and Carbon
New research shows that seagrass depends on the bacteria around it—and that the antibiotics entering our oceans could disrupt that relationship. Scarlett Buckley reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge blocks Homeland Security from conducting election-related sweeps in 9 states (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/23/26: Mole Day, Stillaguamish Tribe restoration, Tranquil Cr restoration, invasive beetle, bear baiting, humpback killed, SRKW population, sunken tires removal. 

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-  138 AM PDT Fri Oct 23 2026    
TODAY  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E late this morning and  early afternoon, backing to NW late. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail:  W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt, backing to S around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  SE 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. A  chance of rain in the afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  7 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 6 ft at 9 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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10/22 Blood star, new SRKW calf, BC voter guide, BC poll, tire removal, democracy watch.

Pacific blood star

 

Pacific blood star Henricia leviuscula
Pacific blood star is a species of sea star found along the Pacific coast of North America. They can usually be identified by their bright orange-red color, but there can also be many variations from tan to almost purple. The disk can be a mottled gray color. Its range is from Alaska to Baja California. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Inside the obsessive, beautiful world of Bellingham’s fungi experts

'Definitely good news': New southern resident killer whale calf spotted
The calf appears healthy, but researchers warn that life is hard for young killer whales. Scott Van Haren reports. (Times Colonist) 

Your B.C. election guide to key climate and environment issues 
Here’s where the NDP, Conservatives and Greens stand on fossil fuels, Indigenous Rights and energy. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Affordability leapfrogs environment, even in eco-savvy B.C.
An Ipsos poll in September found just 12 per cent of British Columbians ranked the environment and climate change as among their top three election priorities. Jack Knox writes. (Times Colonist) 

WA state removes 2,000 tires from Thurston County park. Why were they there? 
Work crews removed about 2,000 tires offshore of Frye Cove Park in northwest Thurston County this month. Several state groups sunk thousands of tires across Puget Sound between the 1960s and 80s, according to DNR. They hoped the tires would serve as artificial reef habitat for rocket fish and lingcod populations, both of which dwindled due to overfishing around the same time period. Despite good intentions, DNR says subsequent surveys found fish were not using the tires as habitat. Martín Bilbao reports. (The Olympian) 

Democracy Watch

• New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay state $25B (Washington State Standard) 
• School choice expansion fuels growth of classical Christian schools (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-  207 PM PDT Wed Oct 21 2026    
THU  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 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 NW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 10 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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10/21 Golden-crowned sparrow, oil tanker terminal, SRKW population, Alberta separation, Medicaid cuts.

Golden-crowned sparrow [Gregg Thompson]

 

Golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla 
The Golden-crowned Sparrow has bright breeding plumage with a bright yellow crown flanked with bold, black bars. Golden-crowned Sparrows are most commonly considered a migrant and wintering bird in Washington, and are one of the most common wintering sparrows in western Washington, especially on the coast and up the Columbia Gorge as far as Lyle. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom County’s Kidney Moonshot: A goal within reach

Elbows up in Washington state over Canada’s proposed oil tanker terminal on border
Critics searching for leverage against pipeline project that would carry 1M barrels of oil a day to waiting supertankers in British Columbia. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard)  ‘A whole order of magnitude greater’: San Juan responders prepare for unprecedented megatanker traffic. Sam Fletcher reports. (Salish Current) 

Southern resident orca population inches up, but still low
The latest census of the critically endangered orcas found 76 as of July 1, up from 74 during the same period a year ago. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Alberta Gives Its Answer: ‘The Separation Stuff Is Crap’
Voters soundly reject pursuing a split from Canada. But anti-immigrant proposals were winning. Leah Hennig reports. (The Tyee) 

WA hospitals anticipate losing billions in revenue from Medicaid cuts
New work requirements take effect Jan. 1. Healthcare leaders say this will affect all patients, not just those on Medicaid. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (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-  202 PM PDT Tue Oct 20 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 11 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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10/20 Blackeye goby, Bill C-39, Dene Kʼéh Kusān protection, AK bear baiting, MONA climate change, BC daylight savings time, humpback struck, The Digger, democracy watch.

Blackeye Goby [REEF]

 
Blackeye Goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii
The Blackeye Goby is found through the Pacific coasts of the US and Canada including southern California to British Columbia, and is present but uncommon near Alaska. They are typically between 1-4 inches and can grow to a maximum size of 6 inches. Blackeye Gobies are found on sandy areas near rocky outcroppings or structures like docks. They like to make dens in sand or silt, or they may occupy crevices or submerged objects like bottles, jars, or tires. (REEF)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A protest in pictures: Whatcom County says ‘No Kings’

What does Bill C-39 mean for First Nations? Senators question Carney government 
The controversial bill reshapes how Indigenous communities weigh in on major mining, oil and gas and infrastructure projects in Canada — and shortens timelines for environmental review. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

B.C. election casts uncertainty over future of Indigenous protected area 
Dene Kʼéh Kusān, a massive proposed protected area in Kaska territory, would bring the province closer to the BC NDP's conservation goals. But a change in government could mean a change in priorities. Cameron Fenton reports. (The Narwhal) 

Trump administration moves to reopen Alaska national preserves to bear baiting by sport hunters
Sport hunters will be able to bait bears in Alaska national preserves, under a final rule the Trump administration announced on Friday. Bear baiting, which involves use of food stockpiles to attract bears that are then killed and harvested, is a controversial practice. The rule, proposed in March, overturns bans by the Biden and Obama administrations of the practice within National Park Service units. Yereth Rosen reports. (Washington State Standard) /

WWU artists and scientists collaborate to provoke dialogue on climate change
A 6-foot beautiful but broken sea star ravaged by wasting disease. A contour map overlaid with poetic riffs on geologic time. Photographs of neon rectangles illuminating a dense forest to highlight the effects of forest fire. A jewel box installation of a kelp forest. An everyday business suit crafted from a silver emergency wildfire shelter. The artwork in “Surge: A Geography of Flow” at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner comes out of a collaboration between visual artists and climate scientists exploring how art can spark conversations about climate change’s impact on the landscape. Jennifer Nerad reports. (WWU News) 

For thousands of workers, lifelong time-zone math will go out the window when B.C. stops changing clocks
Federal employees among many facing schedule changes as B.C. moves to permanent daylight time Nov. 1. Rhianna Schmunk reports. (CBC) 

Humpback whale struck by BC Ferries vessel near Sunshine Coast, researchers fear collision was fatal
BC Ferries confirmed the Queen of Surrey was travelling between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale when it collided with the whale in waters south of Grace Island. Jeff Lawrence reports. (CHEK) 

Sympathy for the Digger
Tom Cruise’s oil tycoon blames climate change on consumers. I don’t entirely disagree. Nathan Gilles writes. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Dept. charges 28 in California with voting-related crimes (NY Times) 
• Alberta polls close in separation vote testing Carney’s push for Canadian unity (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-  204 PM PDT Mon Oct 19 2026    
TUE  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  5 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 11 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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