7/6 Brown rockfish, BC pipeline, pipeline risks, Roberts Bank terminal, Skagit restoration, democracy watch.

 

Brown rockfish [Steve Lonhart]

Brown Rockfish Sebastes auriculatus
Brown Rockfish range from the Gulf of Alaska to central Baja California. They inhabit depths from the intertidal zone down to 287 m (941 ft). Browns can grow up to 56 cm (22 in) in length and 2.7 kg (5.9 lb) in weight, living for up to at least 34 years. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  United States 250: Celebration, mourning and a call to action

Alberta submits plans and announces partners for new pipeline to B.C. coast
Alberta has formally submitted a proposed route to the major projects office, after a federal deal with B.C. effectively opened the way for a bitumen pipeline to B.C.’s southern region. Chuck Chiang and Jack Farrell report. (Canadian Press) 

Proposed oil pipeline to B.C. coast spurs alarm in Washington state
Increased tanker traffic could threaten orcas and raise spill risks in the Salish Sea, according to tribes and environmental advocates. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Why expansion of Delta, B.C., container port is going hand-in-hand with Alberta pipeline
Federal funds for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 come despite environmental concerns. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

State begins restoration of Skagit River estuary
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife kicked off this week restoration of 270 acres of Skagit River estuary that will take about two years to complete. The restoration is on the department’s Island Unit, just south of Conway. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Democracy Watch
Supreme Court declines to halt $800-a-day fine for ex-Fox News reporter refusing to divulge sources (AP) 
Revamp of WA public records rules nears completion (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-  134 PM PDT Sun Jul 5 2026    
MON  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 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.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/2 Morning glory, fish bubblers, Amazon's carbon, deep-sea mining, transmission lines, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Salish Sea News and Weather will return on Monday. Enjoy a safe 4th!

Morning glory [James Steakley]

Morning glory Ipomoea tricolor
Morning glory is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae. Ipomoea tricolor is the archetypical species for the group and is renowned for its many beautiful varieties, such as 'Heavenly Blue', 'Flying Saucers', and 'Pearly Gates'. Morning glory species were historically used in China for their laxative seeds, by ancient Mesoamericans to vulcanize rubber with their sulfur-rich juice, and by Aztec priests for hallucinogenic purposes. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  United States at 250

What are fish bubblers and why are they coming to the Snake River?
The Army Corps of Engineers is deploying new technology to assist the movement of migrating fish. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Amazon's carbon emissions jumped 16% in 2025. The driver: massive data center buildout
Amazon has pledged to have net zero emissions by 2040, but the data center requirements of artificial intelligence have raised questions about the potential for Amazon and other big tech companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Monica Nickelsburg and Stephen Howie report. (KUOW) 

The Vancouver Company Working with Trump to Mine the Deep Sea
As the US snubs international law, experts say Canada has a duty to step in. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Western governors establish multi-state task force to update the region’s transmission lines
Governors of Itah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington  signed a letter endorsing the establishment of a multi-state task force to develop a study and action plan to update the region’s energy grid.  Alixel Cabrera reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Crypto, real estate, watches: How Trump made over $1 billion last year (AP) 
• Immigrant arrests surge to 10,000 in 5 days as ICE clamps down (NY Times) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, July 2 2026:: Alice in Wonderland, OR lawsuit, Skagit restoration, Canada electricity, heat dome, BC orcas, Indigenous-led whale watching, salmon guts, deep-sea mining. 

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 Jul 1 2026    
THU  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NE in the afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.  
THU NIGHT  SE wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail:  W 3 ft at 8 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the evening.  
FRI  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds.  
FRI NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 7 seconds.  
SAT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 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  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 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.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/1/26 Chickweed, salmon guts, Alberta pipe, tapeworms, microplastics, democracy wqtch

 

Chickweed [Wikipedia]

Chickweed Stellaria media
Chickweed is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout the world, where it is a weed of waste ground, farmland and gardens. It is sometimes grown as a salad crop or for poultry consumption. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Commentaries: Pride without the price tag / The Salish Sea at a crossroads

Using Salmon Guts to Map Forage Fish Populations
A new study examined thousands of chinook stomachs to track a vital and often overlooked part of the Salish Sea’s food chain. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

Alberta to unveil details of 'million-barrel-per-day' oil pipeline route to West Coast on July 2
Province was given July 1 deadline to submit proposal to the Major Projects Office. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC) 

Fox tapeworm found in Pullman fox, Puget Sound coyotes
While common in parts of Europe, Asia and northern North America, the parasite was not believed to be present in the Pacific Northwest until recently. Emmalee Appel reports. (KREM) 

After bold pledge, EPA shelves microplastics testing in U.S. drinking water 
On Friday, the EPA submitted a list of chemicals it plans to test for under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, a mandatory testing program used to collect information about concerning chemicals in drinking water that could be harming human health. It did not include microplastics or pharmaceuticals. Susanne Rust reports. (LA Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits (AP) 
• Supreme Court upholds state laws banning transgender girls and women from school athletic teams (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-  141 PM PDT Tue Jun 30 2026    
WED  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  9 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 7 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.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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6/30 Vetch, WA heat dome, BC heat dome, BC orcas, democracy watch.

 

Vetch [Katy Chayka]

Vetch Vicia americana
American vetch is a native, perennial, climbing vine that grows approximately 1 to 2 feet tall. It fixes nitrogen and can be grown as a cover preceding late spring-planted crops. Native Americans used the pods, seeds, and leaves of American vetch as food. This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. (USDA) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lopez Swim Center finally opens

Five years after the dome: Washington remains vulnerable to extreme heat
Five years after a record-shattering heat wave hit the Pacific Northwest, killing an estimated 1,200 people in British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington, the region is somewhat more prepared to handle extreme heat...Lasting about a week, the late June 2021 heat dome was Washington’s deadliest weather disaster. It delivered the highest temperatures ever recorded in Oregon (119°F), Washington (120°F), and Canada (121°F). John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

How B.C.’s heat dome overwhelmed paramedics and changed emergency response forever
A record-breaking heat dome sent nearly 12,000 emergency calls into B.C.’s ambulance system in a single day, in 2021. Five years later, are we any more prepared? Cameron Fenton reports. (The Narwhal) 

Plenty of food and conservation have turned B.C. waters into whale-sighting hot spot
A recent surge of sightings of orcas, humpback whales and other cetaceans along B.C.’s southern coast is in line with scientific studies that show populations have increased. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge (AP) 
• Trump Cut a Billion-Dollar Mining Deal. His Sons Stand to Profit (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-  147 PM PDT Mon Jun 29 2026    
TUE  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 10 seconds. TUE NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 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.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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6/29 Dock, OR suit, seaweed farming, Sound orcas, Indigenous-led whale watching, Skagit salmon recovery, Rayonier cleanup, Canada power, democracy watch.

 

Broadleaf dock [T.W. Miller]

Dock
Curly dock (Rumex crispus), also called sour dock or yellow dock, is a robust tap-rooted perennial growing two to five feet tall. Broadleaf or bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is distinguished by its broader leaves and presence of one to three spines on the fruit’s winged structure. Dock species are native to Eurasia. They are particularly common in wet meadows, along ditch banks, and in waste areas. (WSU)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Israeli soldiers were set to join panel at WWU. Then came outcry and a change of venue

Oregon lawsuit could upend federal management of public lands
A new lawsuit challenging a logging project in Oregon threatens to unravel the management plans governing hundreds of millions of acres of federal public land. At stake are thousands of leases and permits covering billions of dollars of economic activity — including mining, drilling, grazing, logging, ski resorts, wind and solar projects, outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing. Alex Brown reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Seaweed Farming is Growing in BC. Mind the Risks
This form of aquaculture has a lot of benefits but needs new regulations to manage potential environmental threats. John Driscoll and Edward Gregr write. (The Tyee) 

Decades-long dataset shows which orcas are most at home in Puget Sound
Data spanning nearly half a century shows that endangered southern resident killer whales are spending less time in inland waters, whereas their larger cousins, Bigg’s killer whales, are increasingly present in Puget Sound. The results were published June 24 in PLOS One.  Gillian Dohrn reports. (UW News) 

Indigenous-led whale watching tour now offered in Seattle
‘First Stories of the Salish Sea,’ a collaboration with Taproot Travel Co. and FRS Clipper, took its inaugural voyage on June 16, offering the first Indigenous-led whale watching tour. Nika Bartoo-Smith reports. (Underscore Native News + ICT) 

Skagit governments, state agency reach agreement on salmon recovery planning
Tribes, Skagit county officials, dike and drainage districts and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have agreed to meet regularly to coordinate major habitat projects. Sophia Gates reports. (CDN) 

Ecology plans to stick with Rayonier cleanup
The state Department of Ecology is sticking with its original approach to cleaning up the contaminated site and a consent decree requiring Rayonier to implement the cleanup was filed in Clallam County Superior Court on June 25. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Energy minister names 5 priority power-line projects for federal backing
Ottawa has set the ambitious goal of doubling Canada's electric grid by 2050 to meet the growing demand from industry, electric vehicles, heat pumps and artificial intelligence.  While increasing generating capacity is part of that plan, the federal government has said it is committed to helping connect provincial grids.  John Thurton reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise (AP) 
• A Trump commission urges ‘bridges’ between church and state in sweeping draft report (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-  209 PM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026    
MON  NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  10 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind around 10 kt, backing to S 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.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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6/26 Snapdragons, SRKWs, humpback calf, Centralis coal plant, Columbia R fisheries, Roundup, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Snapdragons

Snapdragons Antirrhinum
Antirrhinum is a genus of plants in the Plantaginaceae family, commonly known as dragon flowers or snapdragons because of the flowers' fancied resemblance to the face of a dragon that opens and closes its mouth when laterally squeezed. They are also sometimes called toadflax or dog flower. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Local groups promote green boating during World Cup traffic

Study of 50 Years of Data Shows Southern Resident Orcas Are Increasingly Absent From Puget Sound
Researchers analyzing nearly 50 years of data have identified distinct shifts in the movement patterns of two killer whale populations within the Salish Sea. The study tracks the behavioral ecology of the endangered southern resident killer whales and a separate group of transient orcas, noting that the southern residents are increasingly absent from their traditional habitats in Puget Sound. (GeneOnline) 

Humpback calf struck by Hullo ferry returns to Salish Sea after months-long absence 
A young humpback whale that was believed to have been struck by a Hullo Ferries vessel in October was spotted in the waters of the Salish Sea this week, which came as a relief to whale watchers who had not seen the animal in months. Adam Chan reports. (CHEK) 

The tab to keep a Pacific Northwest coal plant on standby keeps rising. Who will pay?
Utilities are spurning attempts by the facility’s owner to have them share in the costs stemming from a federal directive. Meanwhile, the plant sits idle. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard) 

BPA abruptly pulls funding from Columbia River fisheries program
The Bonneville Power Administration isn’t going to put any more money into a fisheries program operated by state wildlife management agencies of Oregon and Washington and Clatsop County Fisheries in Oregon. BPA has provided funding for the program for decades. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Supreme Court ruling blocks thousands of lawsuits against the maker of Roundup weedkiller
The Supreme Court sided with the maker of Roundup weedkiller Thursday in a ruling expected to block thousands of lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people the product could cause cancer. Lindsay Whitehurst and David A. Lieb report. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Mount Vernon City Council votes to turn off Flock cameras, mayor concerned with process (Skagit Valley Herald) 
• Trump order limiting voting by mail halted by federal court (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/26/26: Food truck Friday, WA snowpack, Orcas green crab, L130/129, El Niño, sunflower star, carbon market, wildlife refuges, drilling on public lands, Burrard dredging, Roundup.

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 weeekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  113 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  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 9 seconds. A  chance of rain.  
SAT  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 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.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


6/25 Honeysuckle, Big Tech, AK orcas, single-use plastics, Burrard Inlet dredge, democracy watch.

 

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle Lonicera
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. The genus includes 158 species native to northern latitudes in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Honeysuckle derives its name from the edible sweet nectar obtainable from its tubular flowers. The name Lonicera stems from Adam Lonicer, a Renaissance botanist.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bright spot for salmon — sockeye fishing open on Skagit River

Big Tech is bankrolling the clean energy transition... while emitting more than ever
Pacific Northwest scientists and engineers are chasing a watershed moment in clean energy. These projects have something in common: They are all being bankrolled by tech, an industry with an insatiable appetite for energy thanks to the artificial intelligence boom. That these carbon-free energy gambles are being built in Washington and Oregon is no accident. The states have some of the most aggressive decarbonization laws on the books. Monica Nickelsberg reports. (KUOW) 

Famous Orcas from Alaskan Rescue Effort Pop Up on Oregon Coast, Blowing Up Social Media
Not since “Free Willy's” freedom trip from the Oregon Coast Aquarium back in the '90s has there been a visit from such a famous whale (or two). Oregon's Keiko made worldwide news then for being the first whale in captivity to be freed in such a grand manner, but some 20 years later the names T049A2 and T051 became almost as well known for getting stuck in an Alaskan Lake and then freed by rather elaborate means. (Oregon Coast Beach Connection) 

17 GOP AGs sue California over single-use plastics law
Seventeen Republican attorneys general have sued California over a state law that requires plastic packaging producers to move away from single-use plastics, alleging that the law will raise costs for consumers across the country. Nada Hassanein reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Vancouver port receives permission to dredge Burrard Inlet, allow big oil tankers to increase load
Dredging underneath Second Narrows bridge will start in September, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says.  Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press)  

Democracy Watch

• Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote (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-  145 PM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026    
THU  NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  7 seconds. Rain likely in the afternoon.  
THU NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less, then  around 3 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 6 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.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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