7/27 Nootka rose, cancelled clean energy grants, wildfire smoke, WA transmission lines, ancient forest experience, democracy watch.

Nootka rose [Leslie Seaton]

 

Nootka rose Rosa nutkana
Nootka rose is a workhorse of a plant. It is successful in a range of sun and moisture conditions and spreads easily. It is also one of the few species that can compete with Himalaya blackberry. Nootka rose likes it wetter than bald-hip rose but not as wet as swamp rose. (Sound Native Plants)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  After years of delays, Secret Harbor School lawsuits head toward trial

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Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics
The Trump administration has again acknowledged in court documents that it terminated $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” in this case, 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Matthew Daly report. (Associated Press) 

U.S. senator stands up for Canada against smoke complaints as U.S. wildfire moves into B.C.
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray says recent statements from U.S. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, criticizing Canada for its wildfire management are insulting and ridiculous. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC) 

Washington state’s clean-energy bottleneck leads to calls for reform 
Despite its green reputation, the Evergreen State trails every other U.S. state in adding wind and solar power to its electrical grid, according to a 2025 investigation by Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica. John Ryan reports.(KUOW) 

Step inside an 1,800-year-old tree to experience the magic of B.C.’s ancient forests
The Ancient Forest Experience is an immersive video installation by Skwxwú7mesh artist, ethnobotanist and educator T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss in collaboration with filmmakers Damien Gillis and Olivier Leroux. The work is presented at the Vancouver Art Gallery as part of the exhibition Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change. Katie Lawson reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• US appeals court upholds injunction that blocks Trump's order to create a federal voter list (AP) 
• Skagit Publishing journalists go on strike amid contract negotiations (Skagit Valley Herald) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  129 PM PDT Sun Jul 26 2026    
MON  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 9 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the morning.  
MON NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 8 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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7/24 Cougar, Skagit tidegates, BC oil pipe, Houdini fly, Columbia Basin drought, hot kelp, tufted puffin, grizzlies, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Cougar [Rich Beausoleil]

Cougar Puma concolor
Cougars are the largest members of the cat family in Washington. Sleek and graceful, cougars are solitary and secretive animals rarely seen in the wild. Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are known for their strength, agility, and awesome ability to jump. Cougars occur throughout Washington where suitable cover and prey are found. Cougars use steep canyons, rock outcroppings and boulders, or vegetation -- such as dense brush and forests -- to remain hidden while hunting. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The locals who fought for workers’ rights

Tidegates keep salt water out of Skagit County farms. A legal battle has stalled repairs
Conservationists, tribes argue mitigation for impacts to salmon habitat are critical. Sophia Gates reports. (CDN) 

Alberta's got a new plan for a southern pipeline to B.C.'s coast — it still won't be easy
An already heavily trafficked B.C. estuary is under pressure to industrialize more for the proposed project. Georgie Smyth reports. (CBC) 

Pollinator problem: A new predator is stalking mason bees
The backyard conservation success of Mason bee hotels brings with it the unexpected consequence of providing infiltration by the parasite Houdini fly. Michael Williams writes. (Columbia Insight) 

A long-term water supply forecast predicts shortages, droughts in Washington's Columbia Basin
A draft water supply forecast predicts that in the future, the Columbia Basin will have less water available in the summer and early fall. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Washington's heat wave has marine scientists keeping a close eye on Puget Sound
Twice a week this summer, divers from the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium have been surveying bull kelp forests off Owen Beach in Tacoma, documenting the underwater ecosystem and tracking changes from year to year as part of a broader statewide effort to restore 10,000 acres of underwater forest by 2040. Lauren Donovan reports. (Fox 13) 

Endangered seabird makes a rare appearance near Olympia, officials say 
A few lucky Olympia residents spotted a single tufted puffin in Eld Inlet last week, making it an extremely rare sighting for Thurston County, according to the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Anna Hull reports. (The Olympian) 

An intimate look at life alongside grizzly bears
Haines Junction sits in one of Yukon's densest grizzly bear corridors. In this tiny town, Indigenous Knowledge and decades of prevention are helping people and bears coexist. Trina Moyles reports. Photography by Sonny Parker. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Government withdraws subpoenas of 3 reporters for The New York Times after admitting legal errors (AP) 
• ICE agents arrest several outside Lynden packing plant in what advocates call a ‘soft raid’ (CDN) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, July 24, 2026: Old Joke Day, ESA protections, Roberts Bank expansion, El Niño, habitat protection fusion power, US energy efficiency, 6PPD, killing seals, data center electricity rates

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-  227 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft in the evening, then around 2 ft or  less. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 6 seconds.  
SAT  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 8 seconds and S 2 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely in the  afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 8 seconds and S 2 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 9 seconds. Rain.

---


"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

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7/23 Bobcat, BC wildfires, killing seals, Chinook parasite, data center electricity rates, democracy watch.

Bobcat [Wilson Cady]

 

Bobcat Lynx rufus
Found throughout all of Washington, bobcats are probably more common than most people realize. Bobcats appear to be using suburban settings more often, although due to their reclusive ways, they are not often seen. Rock cliffs, outcroppings, and ledges are important to bobcats for shelter, raising young, and resting sites. Large brush or log piles and hollow trees or logs are used in wooded areas. Finding bobcats in open fields, meadows and agricultural areas is not uncommon, provided enough brushy or timbered areas for escape cover is nearby.(WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham rec nonprofit switches focus to trails 

Coyote
Rick, our Mount Vernon reader, notes: "We definitely have an active coyote population in our neighborhood, basically in the middle of town.  There is a small wild area behind Madison School and the adjacent Kulshan Trail greenway where they mostly hang out, but I've seen them on our street in broad daylight and found coyote poop in the yard.  Little the Cat goes out only under direct supervision.  It's ok because she's quite old and doesn't go far. When the train goes by and honks its horn, the coyotes frequently chime in, also right in the middle of the day."

Extreme heat, wildfire smoke prompt weather warnings across B.C.
Much of B.C. bracing for temperatures in the mid-30s, Environment Canada says. Tara Carman reports. (CBC) 

Can killing seals save salmon? Conservationists and Washington lawmakers disagree 
Washington lawmakers, U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Emily Randall, a Democrat, are sponsors of the Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act (H.R. 9621) which would expand the ability of federal, state, and tribal authorities to remove seals and sea lions, known collectively as pinnipeds, from Washington waters in an effort to boost salmon recovery. Cornelius Hocker reports (KUOW) 

A parasite that thrives in warm conditions adds to Yukon River salmon woes
Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, is so exalted among the five Pacific salmon species that it is designated Alaska’s official state fish. And the Yukon River Chinooks were traditionally considered among the best of the best. When Stan Zuray began noticing white spots, a mushy texture and a weird “sour watermelon” smell in the Chinook salmon he was pulling from the Yukon River, he knew something was going wrong. The culprit in the mushy, weird-smelling salmon was Ichthyophonus, a parasite found in oceans around the world, but a particular menace to the health of Yukon River Chinook salmon. Yereth Rosen reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Seattle approves higher electricity rates for new data centers 
The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to require new and expanding data centers to pay higher electricity rates than other customers. The new rates are designed to cover the cost of building new power sources and transmission lines needed to serve the energy-hungry facilities. City leaders say the change will help prevent residential customers from paying those costs through future rate increases. Joshua McNichols reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch

• House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump’s priorities (AP) 
• Journalists urge correspondents’ association to stand up to Trump at rescheduled press dinner (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-  239 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026    

THU  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds.  

THU NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds.

---


"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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7/22 Coyote, fusion power, carbon capture, Capitol Lake, US energy efficiency, Enbridge pipe, abandoned boats, 6PPD, democracy watch.

 

Coyote [Donald E. Campbell] 

Coyote Canis latrans
At first glance, the coyote resembles a small German shepherd dog, yet its color can vary from animal to animal. Coyotes also have shorter, bushier tails that are carried low, almost dragging the ground, and longer, narrower muzzles than their dog cousins. In Washington, these intelligent and adaptable animals now manage to occupy almost every conceivable habitat type, from open shrubsteppe to densely forested areas to urban areas. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Fire danger heightens; what can be done?

Company secures world-first fusion power license in Washington
The Everett-based Helion is constructing a fusion power plant in central Washington near the Columbia River after receiving a green light from the state. Helion says it’s the first company in the world to receive regulatory licenses for the plant it’s building in Malaga, Wash. in Chelan County. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Canada’s promises to capture carbon span almost 20 years, with little gains
Stephen Harper swore by it; Mark Carney is ready to invest taxpayer dollars in it. A Narwhal investigation reveals how Canadian politicians have bought into an unproven technology they tout as a climate fix. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

Why is Capitol Lake so low this week? Here’s what crews are doing
Capitol Lake in downtown Olympia might look a little different this week, as crews with Deschutes Estuary Restoration project team draw down the water levels to check out the shoreline. The work is part of efforts to restore the Deschutes Estuary by ultimately removing the dam for good and building a new bridge over the connected waterway. Ty Vinson reports. (The Olympian) 

The U.S. Is Pulling Back on Energy Efficiency 
The Trump administration is dismantling a wide array of federal energy-efficiency programs at the same time that war in Iran is raising oil prices, climate change is fueling record heat that is driving up demand for air conditioning and new data centers are straining America’s electricity supply. Brad Plumer reports. (NY Times) 

Enbridge breaks ground on $4B natural gas pipeline expansion
Enbridge is beginning construction on a $4 billion expansion of its West Coast Natural Gas pipeline. The Sunrise Expansion Program will provide up to 300 million cubic feet per day of additional transportation capacity for natural gas in B.C.  Hanna Petersen reports. (CBC) 

How Vancouver’s abandoned boats became everyone’s problem 
As the FIFA World Cup temporarily transformed False Creek, Vancouver’s abandoned boats revealed a deeper story about pollution, bureaucracy and housing insecurity. Anjini Snape reports. (The Narwhal) 

Untangling chemical names and looking back over 200 years of 6PPD history
The tire chemical 6PPD is known worldwide for its deadly effect on salmon, but it also has a complex history. We look at how this history connects to important breakthroughs in modern transportation and medicine and how the unique chemical structure of 6PPD makes it an environmental hazard. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Democracy Watch

• US civil rights agency moves to end demographic data collection after 60 years (AP) 
• ICE arrests reach new high (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-  149 PM PDT Tue Jul 21 2026    
WED  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 9 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"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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7/21 Opossum, LNG Canada, US ESA, Canada tariffs, BC battery storage, taming data centers, Waffles dies, Seattle Aquarium bot, Pt Roberts burial sites, democracy watch.

 

Opossum

Opossums Didelphis virginianus
Opossums are marsupials (mammals with a pouch in which they carry their young), a primitive group of mammals found most commonly in Australia. Prior to European settlement of North America, the opossum was found only in Central America and the southeastern United States. During the 1900s, its range expanded northward and westward. Virginia opossums, also known as “possums,” first arrived in Washington in the early 1900s as pets and novelties. Some of these animals, or their offspring, later escaped from captivity or were intentionally released. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Allegiant Airlines set to close Bellingham crew base

LNG Canada’s Acid Gas-Burning Incinerator Keeps Failing
A key tool for protecting Kitimat’s environment and humans has frequently malfunctioned, leaving it unusable for months on end. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

The feds no longer protect endangered species habitat. States say they can’t pick up the slack
The Trump administration is removing protections from the key places where endangered species live, saying states can keep the areas safe. Federal officials framed the decision as a move to give “freedom” to state leaders to manage wildlife without burdensome federal regulations. But experts say states aren’t equipped for the task. Matthew Brown reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol and cheese
President Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. (Associated Press) 

B.C. announces 1st battery energy storage project, to be housed on Vancouver Island
B.C.'s main energy provider says it has chosen Vancouver Island to house the province's first battery energy storage project. The project will be located at the Vancouver Island Terminal Substation near Duncan, according to B.C. Hydro. The utility says it will launch the procurement process for the project by the end of July, with expectations that it will be in service by 2030. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC) 

Welcome or Not? BC Communities Plot How to Tame Data Centres
From Terrace to Kamloops, AI proposals have sparked questions from locals and calls for new rules. Lauren Watson reports. (The Tyee) 

Waffles, the baby seal found with gunshot wound, dies
A baby seal found over Fourth of July weekend in Bellingham with a gunshot wound to the head was euthanized Friday, medical professionals said. Waffles, who was around three weeks old, was the third seal in the last year SR3 treated for gunshot wounds. All three have died. Savannah Butcher reports. (Seattle Times) 

Seattle Aquarium's remotely operated robot explores Puget Sound's kelp forests
It's a whole new world right beneath the millions of tourist footsteps along the Seattle Waterfront. So close, yet so far away. Many visitors have no idea what waits below, but the Seattle Aquarium can now show them with its remotely operated vehicle (ROV). George Waldenberger reports. (KOMO) 

Lummi Nation wins preliminary court injunction over disturbed burial sites in Point Roberts 
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction that requires Whidbey Telecom to provide Lummi Nation with 30 days’ notice before conducting future "ground-disturbing activities" in Point Roberts after the tribe said the company's fiber optic cable projects had disturbed ancient burial sites. Stephan Howie reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration ramps up pressure on indefinite immigrant detention (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-  133 PM PDT Mon Jul 20 2026    
TUE  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 8 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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7/20 Raccoon, imperiled animal protection, Roberts Bank expansion, El Niño, BC wildfire, western WA smoke, bacteria beaches, democracy watch.

 

Raccoon [Wikipedia]

Raccoon Procyon lotor
Raccoons are a common sight in much of Washington, often drawn to urban areas by food supplied by humans. As long as raccoons are kept out of human homes, not cornered, and not treated as pets, they are not dangerous. Because their hind legs are longer than the front legs, raccoons have a hunched appearance when they walk or run. A raccoon in the wild will probably weigh less than the urbanized raccoon that has learned to live on handouts, pet food, and garbage-can leftovers. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham celebrates Pride with parade, entertainment

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Reader Don Norman comments on last week's Yellow-rumped Warbler profile: "Yellow-rumped warblers are associated with the coastal shrub wax myrtle in the winter, eating their caloric rich winter berries, making them one of the most abundant wintering warblers in the US, on the east coast associated with Morella cerifera, on the west coast with Morella california.  To birders they are know as 'butter butts'"

US cancels automatic protections for imperiled animals as critics warn of extinctions
The U.S. Interior Department on Friday canceled a rule meant to protect plants and animals that are determined to be threatened with extinction, the latest step by President Donald Trump’s administration to dismantle key provisions of the landmark Endangered Species Act at the behest of industry. Instead of receiving automatic protections, imperiled species will need individualized protection plans once they are added to the threatened species list. That’s a potentially lengthy process in which companies could seek exemptions for oil and gas drilling, mining and other development where those species live. Matthew Brown reports.(Associated Press) 

‘Industrial sacrifice zone’: the plan to bring oil supertankers to the mouth of the Fraser River
As governments look to expand Roberts Bank, scientists warn one of Canada's most important ecosystems for salmon, southern resident killer whales and migratory birds could pay the price. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

El Niño is here, and it’s already looking like it could be 'mind-blowing'
In order to be considered an El Niño, temperatures in that zone need to be 0.5 C above the average. Ocean temperatures are now close to 2 C above average. And we're not even close to the peak yet. This is the warmest on record that region has ever been at this time of year. Nicole Mortillaro reports. (CBC)

B.C. wildfire tally surges past 100 as barrage of lightning strikes transforms fire season in a flash
Two-thirds of fires in province are out of control, mostly in southern Interior. (Canadian Press) 

Wildfire smoke to roll into Western WA; highs over 90 
Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia is expected to drift into Western Washington this week, when temperatures are likely to climb into the mid-80s and even the mid-90s in some areas. Lulu Ramadan reports. (Seattle Times) 

Bacteria closes several beaches across Puget Sound area
King County Health Department says the beaches are closed due to high levels of bacteria in water, likely caused by fecal matter from people, pets, or wildlife. Gene Coulon Memorial Beach was one of those beaches; high bacteria levels have also prompted closures at Houghton Beach in Kirkland, Mount Baker in Seattle, and Salt Creek near Port Angeles. Heather Bosch reports. (KIRO) 

Democracy Watch

• DHS boss Mullin warns of possible prosecution for election officials over voter roll access (AP) 
• Federal agents were told FBI will no longer investigate ICE confrontations  (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— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  143 PM PDT Sun Jul 19 2026    
MON  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  

MON NIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 8 seconds.

---


"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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


7/17 Yellow-rumped warbler, Roberts Bank Terminal 2 major project, virtual fences, grizzly management, shot harbor seal, high Cascade toads, whale-watch biz, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Yellow-Rumped Warbler [Bird Watching HQ]

Yellow-Rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
Two subspecies of this warbler exist in Washington. They are can be distinguished by their throat patch, which is yellow in Audubon’s Warblers and white in Myrtle Warbler (pictured above). Yellow-Rumped Warblers are an active species known for catching insects in midair. They visit feeders with sunflower seeds, raisins, suet, and peanut butter during winter. They also eat winter berries. Yellow-Rumped Warblers often search for food in trees but will venture to the ground to forage in leaf debris, and they’ve even been known to pick through seaweed in coastal areas! [Bird Watching HQ]

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham Herald union members ratify new contract after strike

Federal government refers Port of Vancouver strategy to Major Projects Office
Roberts Bank Terminal 2 considered potential 'project of national interest' (Canadian Press) 

This technology is being called the ‘future of grazing in the West’
Barbed-wire fences changed the western US in the 1800s. Can virtual fences change it back? K.C. Mehaffey reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Feds propose rule shifting management of grizzly bears toward states
The proposed rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not remove the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species list (though it notes the agency is considering a separate determination related to the listing) or change geographic boundaries of the management plan. Instead, it is the first step towards increasing state management of grizzly bears. Micah Drew reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Harbor seal pup with gunshot wound recovering after rescue from Bellingham beach 
A harbor seal pup is receiving treatment after it was discovered with a gunshot wound in the Smith Gardens tidal flats north of downtown Bellingham. The pup was stabilized and transferred to SR3’s Rescue Center in Des Moines, Wash., two days later. Hannah Edelman reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

Watch: The fascinating sex lives of high Cascade toads
Oregon scientist studies the wondrous lifecycle of Western toads. Jule Gilfillan reports. (OPB) 

Whale-watching company Eagle Wing Tours acquired for $24M
Pursuit, a Colorado-based attractions and hospitality company, has taken over the Victoria whale-watching company. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration caps how long international students can stay in the US (AP) 
• Multiple investigations refuted Trump’s claims that fraud altered the outcome in 2020 (NY Times) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/17/26: Emoji Day, ESA rollback, Microsoft emissions, Trump's climate skeptic, national monuments shrunk, ESA suit, First Nation major projects opposition, five million frogs, Roberts Banks Terminal 2 project of national interest.

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-  141 AM PDT Fri Jul 17 2026    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 3 ft at  12 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds and W  3 ft at 15 seconds.  
SAT  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 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds.  
SUN  S wind around 5 kt, veering to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.

---


"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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