5/13 Dunlin, Skagit R dams, Chinook diet, fed conservation rule, SR 20, riparian rule, BC ostrich farm, democracy watch

Dunlin [Connie Gallant]

   
Dunlin Calidris alpina
The dunlin is a small wader in the genus Calidris. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Growing Good in Skagit County

$4B Seattle City Light hydropower deal gets Mayor Wilson’s signature 
Mayor Katie Wilson signed a historic $4 billion agreement Tuesday, marking a turning point in Seattle’s hydropower operations on the Skagit River. It lays out a road map over the next half-century, including investments in salmon passage, habitat and cultural resources. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

What do Chinook salmon eat? BC anglers and scientists map the Salish Sea food chain 
The Adult Salmon Diet Program, led by UVic biologist and Liber Ero Chair for Fisheries Research Francis Juanes and PSF biologist Will Duguid, is a citizen science initiative that analyzes the stomach contents of adult Chinook salmon caught by recreational anglers. Since 2017, more than 250 recreational anglers have submitted the guts of their catches and researchers have analyzed more than 7,000 salmon stomachs to date. Nicole Crozier reports. (University of Victoria News) 

Feds officially cancel conservation rule for public lands
The United States Bureau of Land Management on Monday formally cancelled the so-called “Public Land Rule,” which required the agency to consider conservation and development equally in land-use decisions for millions of acres across the West. The Biden-era rule provided guidance for ensuring conservation received due consideration along with mining, timber, grazing, recreation or other uses on public lands. Patrick Lohmann reports.(Washington State Standard) 

Highway 20 over North Cascades expected to remain closed until July
The extended seasonal closure comes as crews work to clean up winter storm damage. Crews have begun work to stabilize a slope and clear debris from a rockslide at milepost 131 near Diablo Lake. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

'Highway on the Sea': How decisions made about B.C. Ferries decades ago led to problems today
Like back then, the questions now are how to replenish an aging fleet and who is ultimately accountable. Justin McElroy reports. (CBC) 

Clallam County to join riparian rule lawsuit
The Clallam County commissioners agreed that the county should join in an amicus brief regarding the Np Riparian Buffer Rule lawsuit against the state Board of Natural Resources Forest Practice Board. The new buffer rule was passed in November, expanding buffers for non-fish (Type Np) streams from largely intermittent 50-foot buffers to continuous 65-foot to 70-foot no-harvest buffers. That removed more than 200,000 acres of private forestland from productive use, an economic impact of $1 billion to $1.8 billion. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Owners of Controversial Ostrich Farm Plan New Venture on Vancouver Island
Local farmers are concerned about how Universal Ostrich handled its previous avian flu outbreak. Meg Collins reports. (The Tyee) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump’s proposed ‘Golden Dome’ estimated to cost $1.2 trillion, far more than he initially said (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-  114 PM PDT Tue May 12 2026    
WED  W wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 6 seconds and W  5 ft at 11 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 6 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of rain.

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



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5/12 Lingcod, water shortage, Haida Gwall energy, Port of Tacoma land, yellow-legged hornet, Snohiomish R bacteria, 'illegal DEI,' Canada nature, WDNR budget, fin whale carcass, island marmots, democracy watch.

 

Lingcod

Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus
Lingcod range from Kodiak Island to northern Baja, California and possibly to the Bering Sea. They are found on the bottom, with most individuals occupying rocky areas at depths of 10 to 100 m (32-328 ft). They have been found at depths of 427 m (1,400 ft). Lingcod can grow up to 152 cm (60 in) in length, and 59 kg (130 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is 14 years for males and 20 years for females. The WA state record is held by Tom Nelson who hooked a 61 lb ling in the San Juans in July 1986. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Growing Good in Skagit County

As drought worsens, Western states brace for wildfires, water shortages
From the Rockies to the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada, mountainsides across the West are sparsely covered by the snow that usually blankets the high country well into the summer. This year, Western states are heading into the summer with a desperately low balance — threatening wildfires, drinking water, crops, electricity and more. Alex Brown reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Inside Haida Gwaii’s historic plan to ditch diesel
Solar North, the first large-scale solar project on a remote grid in B.C., is just the start. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal) 

Port of Tacoma looks to sell massive Thurston County property to mining company 
A Puyallup sand-and-gravel firm is the latest entity proposing to take on more than 700 acres of Port of Tacoma property in Thurston County. It marks the third time the port has made moves to offload the 745-acre site historically known as the port’s “Maytown property” after initially entering into an unsuccessful joint venture with Port of Olympia to develop the acreage two decades ago. Debbie Cockrell reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

West Coast’s first yellow-legged hornet intercepted in Vancouver, Washington
Agriculture officials are asking people in the Vancouver, Washington, area to report any sightings of a yellow-legged hornet, an invasive species native to Southeast Asia. Yellow-legged hornets have invaded areas ranging from Korea and Japan to Europe and the southeast United States. They are smaller but more aggressive than the northern giant hornets —popularly, if unfairly, known as ‘murder hornets.’ John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Ecology study finds bacteria in Snohomish River tied to aging septic systems
For decades, local groups have engaged in cleanup efforts to improve water quality in the Snohomish River. Those efforts are working — according to a recent study from the Washington Department of Ecology — but most tributaries still do not meet state targets for certain bacteria levels. Jenna Peterson reports. (Everett Herald) 

They Were Promised New Septic Tanks. Trump Called It ‘Illegal DEI.’
The Justice Department ended a deal that had helped fund a solution to the sewage crisis in rural Alabama. “Almost like we are starting all over again,” one activist said. Bernard Mokam reports. (NY Times) 

Nature makes Canada a whole lotta money. We’ve got the charts to prove it
Conserved and protected areas in Canada are invaluable — but we have 9 charts that try to capture their economic impact. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal) 

WA public lands agency confronts operating cash crunch, as logging revenue lags
A key account is expected to have a deficit by June. Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove argues his decision to set aside some older forests is not to blame. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

To move a 40-ton fin whale carcass, Samish Island finds a way 
Equal parts somber scene and spectacle, hundreds of people descended on the normally quiet beach on Samish Island last week for what would likely be a once-in-a-lifetime viewing: an endangered fin whale, known for its size and speed, close enough to touch its rubbery skin and hear the hisses of gas buildup in its carcass. Paige Cornwell reports. (Seattle Times) 

First wild Island marmots are out of hibernation
Vancouver Island marmots now number 427 in 35 colonies — up from just 22 marmots in 2003 — in Vancouver Island’s alpine meadows, ranging from Nanaimo Lakes and the Comox Valley to Strathcona Park and Mount Cain. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Reflecting Pool repairs to cost $13.1 million. Trump had promised $1.8M  (NY Times) 
• One-third say at least one Trump assassination attempt was faked, poll says (USA Today) 

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-  301 PM PDT Mon May 11 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 11 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 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. 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.



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5/11 Mother Tree, BC salmon farm ban, Dungeness Spit, Longview coal, Shell profits, Stillaguamish Tribe, Big Mama, burrowing owls, bird banding, parks hunting, Tacoma bird habitats, democracy watch.

 

Mother Tree 

Mother Tree
In Finding the Mother Tree, Suzanne Simard demonstrates how storytelling can ignite something science alone cannot. The author takes us through her career in the forests of North America, working on plantations to identify links between crop yields, herbicide use and species diversity. In carrying out these initial studies, she goes on to discover that trees communicate underground through a complex web of fungi, and at the centre of this web, an individual known as the “mother tree” helps to coordinate a powerful network that heals, feeds and sustains the other members of the forest. (The Guardian)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Conserving land for future generations

Feds Won’t Recommit to the BC Salmon Farm Ban
As lobbying intensifies, the Carney government is ‘considering how it can best move sustainable aquaculture forward.’ Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Washington tribe seeks control of Dungeness Spit refuge
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe wants to take control of two wildlife refuges on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula back from the federal government. The tribe is pushing for federal legislation to take over the Dungeness and Protection Island national wildlife refuges. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Coal exports from Longview? Here we go again
An obscure port company is seeking to resurrect an old scheme along the Columbia River. Nick Englefried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Shell Reports Nearly $7 Billion Profit After Oil Prices Surged Amid U.S.-Iran War
The oil giant’s earnings in the first three months of the year were more than double the previous quarter’s and follow similarly strong results of European rivals. Gregory Schmidt and Rebecca F. Elliott report. (NY Times) 

Why this tribe is buying up hundreds of acres of farmland — and flooding it
The Stillaguamish Tribe in Washington state has been buying land in its traditional territory and removing levees. The goal is to turn farmland into wetlands with the hopes of restoring Chinook salmon. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

She's back! Big Mama returns to the Salish Sea, where she started the humpback comeback
Big Mama is thought to be one of the first humpbacks to return to the Salish Sea after the end of commercial whaling. Darron Koster reports. (Times Colonist) 

On the brink of disappearing, burrowing owls are recovering in B.C. — with a little help
The Upper Nicola Band recently released 11 captive-born owls — part of a decade-long effort to reinstate the tiny birds of prey whose populations have plummeted. Aaron Hemens reports. (The Narwhal) 

A bird in the hand: meet the people preserving the scientific practice of bird banding
Birds migrate across the world; so do the volunteers who come together for annual bird-banding efforts. But the impacts of U.S. funding cuts threaten to spread across the border, imperilling the future of conservation. Paula Razuri reports. (The Narwhal) 

Trump is lifting restrictions on hunting in national parks, refuges and wilderness areas
President Donald Trump's administration is pushing federal land management officials to lift restrictions on hunting and trapping in national parks, refuges and wilderness areas. (Associated Press) 

Why are humans creating habitat for these birds in Tacoma?
Down between the train tracks along Ruston Way and the shoreline of Commencement Bay in Tacoma stand small, cedar-clad boxes. These tiny dwellings, hoisted about 16 feet above the ground, aren’t suitable for humans. These are new nesting boxes for birds, specifically purple martins. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Democracy Watch

• Redistricting is rampant ahead of the US House midterm elections. What states are taking action?  (AP) 
• WA Supreme Court rejects state’s attempt to unblock sheriff eligibility law (KUOW) 
• Sedro-Woolley to turn back on its Flock cameras (Skagit Valley Herald) 
• Record number of Washingtonians drop health insurance after loss of tax credits (The Olympian) 
• Let’s Go Washington prepares to gather signatures for income tax repeal effort  (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-  127 PM PDT Sun May 10 2026    
MON  NW wind around 5 kt, veering to N in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to E after midnight.  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. 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.



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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— 

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



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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.

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



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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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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.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)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



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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.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)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