5/20 Northern spotted owl, hot earth, Iran oil slick, atrazine ok'd, Squamish wall, some PFSAs ok'd, Indigenous governance, fake eggs, democracy watch.

Northern spotted owl

 

 Northern spotted owl Strix occidentalis caurina
The northern spotted owl is the largest of three subspecies of spotted owls, and inhabits structurally complex forests from southwestern British Columbia, through Washington and Oregon, and into northern California. The northern spotted owl is relatively long-lived, has a long reproductive life span, invests significantly in parental care, and exhibits high adult survivorship relative to other North American owls. It is listed as threatened. (FWS)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Politics, patricide and soccer — British Columbia’s Bard on the Beach

Climate report says world won't get as hot as feared but will pass warming limit
Both the old best and worst case future scenarios in the fight against climate change are being jettisoned by the world’s top scientists as they prepare the next series of huge United Nations reports. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press) 

Oil Slick Reaches a Pristine Persian Gulf Island in Iran
Videos show birds, turtles and crabs trapped inside mounds of tar around Shidvar island, a protected wildlife sanctuary with turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Sanam MahooziErika Solomon and Devon Lum report. (NY Times) 

E.P.A. Clears a Weedkiller, Saying It Won’t Push Species to Extinction
The finding effectively paves the way for continued use of atrazine, a widely used herbicide that has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans. Hiroko Tabuchi reports. (NY Times) 

Fearing a Killer Landslide, Squamish Builds a $115-Million Wall
History shows what could happen. Is this ambitious response enough? Lauren Watson reports. (The Tyee) 

E.P.A. to End Some Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
The Trump administration announced Monday that it will drop some limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water that officials had determined can cause cancer and other serious health problems — angering some key activists who had supported President Trump’s campaign. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

When Indigenous Peoples Steward the Land, Nature Wins
The author of a new study says more needs to be done to support Indigenous governance. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

To revive an extinct bird, you first need an artificial egg

Colossal Biosciences, a Texas company trying to bring extinct species back to life, reports creating artificial eggs that would be necessary to revive extinct birds such as the dodo. Rob Stein reports. (NPR) 

Democracy Watch

• Federal judge rebuffs bid to toss WA legislative maps (Washington State Standard) 
• Steep drop in number of people with Affordable Care Act health coverage, analysis finds (NPR) 
• Trump discloses thousands of stock trades, some in companies directly influenced by his policies (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-  253 PM PDT Tue May 19 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: 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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5/19 White-tailed ptarmigan, Nooksack R flooding, green crab removal, WDNR campsites, Morrison Cr lamprey, seaweed biorefinery, democracy watch.

Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan

Mt. Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan Lagopus leucura rainierensis
The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan is found only in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State and British Columbia, and one of five subspecies of white-tailed ptarmigan in North America. The bird is one of the few animals that lives on mountaintops throughout its entire life. It is listed as threatened. (FWS)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lummi celebrates salmon, youth

Where does the water go? Nooksack River flood recovery is complicated
As they race to protect themselves against the next catastrophic flood, communities along the Nooksack River are caught in a pressure cooker.  Smaller cities like Sumas and its neighbor Everson want to increase the river’s capacity. But doing so could risk sending more water to downstream communities like Lummi Nation, effectively turned into an island several times a year when flooding swallows its main roads. Kai Uyehara reports. (Seattle Times) 

Volunteers remove invasive European green crab
It’s early April, and the hunt for the invasive European green crab began about a full month early. Last year, Refuge Management Program staffers and volunteers collected 1,668 individual crabs. This year, trapping teams collected 315 in the first two weeks alone. Michael Dashiell reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Washington DNR asks for grace this camping season amid budget cuts
The budget for the DNR’s recreation program was cut by over 20% in 2025 — and this year, another $580,000 of maintenance funding was eliminated. All told, the program has seen $8 million of cuts in less than two years. In April, the DNR announced that four campgrounds would fully close for the season, and a handful of others will see reduced seasons this year.Sami West, Vaughan Jones and Patricia Murphy report. (KUOW) 

How the Morrison Creek lamprey helped create a refuge for salmon during hot summers
The fish a research scientist discovered in Morrison Creek were something never before seen in the world, shining a spotlight on the tiny ecosystem. (Times Colonist) 

Cascadia Seaweed set to launch new biorefinery near Prince Rupert
New plant in Port Edward expected to be fully operational in a couple of months. Catherine Garrett reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit (AP) 
• Supreme Court sends closely watched Native American voting rights decision back to lower court (AP) 
• Theo Angelis sworn in as WA Supreme Court justice (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-  238 PM PDT Mon May 18 2026    
TUE  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds. TUE NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 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.



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5/18 Marbled Murrelet, fishing fuel costs, Canadian pipelines, less stream oxygen, Katzie First Nation, monk seals harmed, gray whale mortality, dead humpback, Bc logging, democracy watch.

Marbled Murrelet

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus
The marbled murrelet is a small, chubby seabird that has a very short neck. The species historical range included Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington. It is listed as threatened. (FWS)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  What to expect after state drought declaration

High fuel costs are testing Washington and Oregon's fishing industry
To find salmon, Oregon fisherman Jesse Coon has to travel miles offshore, searching for dense shoals and burning lots of fuel. Oregon’s commercial troll salmon season opened April 14, but the biggest catches typically arrive later in the summer. It’s still early in the season, and it's hard to know how good the fishing will be. Since the war in Iran began in late February, another factor is compounding that risk. Diesel costs have surged, cutting thousands of dollars from already thin margins. Rachel Miller-Howard reports. (Northwest News Network/KUOW) 

B.C. energy minister says Carney making national pipeline deals without involving other provinces
Carney announced a new carbon pricing scheme for Alberta on Friday, which could pave the way for pipeline. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Scientists find climate change is reducing oxygen in rivers worldwide
Global warming is causing rivers to slowly lose oxygen, threatening fish and other lives. A study released Friday of more than 21,000 rivers worldwide shows they have lost an average of 2.1% of their oxygen since 1985. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press) 

Katzie First Nation guardians and partners celebrate restoration of important B.C. marsh
Dikes were installed throughout the Fraser River to pursue agriculture — now, reverting Xwíʔləm̓nəc to its natural state is restoring biodiversity, culture and connection Santana Dreaver reports. (The Narwhal) 

People Usually Get Away With Harming Hawai‘i’s Seals Despite Tourist Case
A Seattle visitor was arrested a week after lobbing a rock at an endangered seal on Maui. But cases involving people killing the seals are rarely prosecuted.  Marcel Honoré reports. (Civil Beat) 

Whale washed ashore on Whidbey is 19th this year, marks ‘decimation’ of population
On May 13, a deceased 39-foot gray whale washed ashore at West Beach County Park in Oak Harbor around midday. The male is the 19th dead gray whale to wash ashore in the state this year, already surpassing last year’s tragic toll. Marina Blatt reports. (South Whidbey Record) 

Humpback whale released after spectacular rescue effort found dead off Denmark
A humpback whale found dead this week off a Danish island has been identified as the animal released two weeks ago in a spectacular and contentious rescue effort, after repeatedly becoming stranded off Germany’s Baltic Sea coast. Geir Moulson and Stephanie Dazio report. (Associated Press) 

B.C. approved logging in threatened caribou habitat despite provincial recommendation against it
Southern mountain caribou were listed as threatened in 2003 under Canada's Species at Risk Act. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press)  

Democracy Watch

• Public defenders ask WA Supreme Court to put new limits on cash bail (KUOW) 
• Federal employees accuse USDA secretary of 'Christian proselytizing' in holiday emails to staff (FOX News) 

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 May 17 2026    
MON  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 7 seconds and W  6 ft at 15 seconds.  MON NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 5 seconds and W  6 ft at 14 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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5/15 Horsetail, Chinook diets, Canada enviro reviews, LNG health effects, shoreline access, Fishtrap Cr, Tacoma tidepools, Canada electric grid, Real Change, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Horsetail

Common Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Equisetum arvense is distributed throughout temperate and arctic areas of the northern hemisphere, growing typically in moist soils. Being a relative of ferns, common horsetail does not reproduce via pollen but via spores which are borne on the plant’s reproductive stems. Equisetum arvense has a long history of cultural use with Native Americans and ancient Roman and Chinese physicians using it to treat a variety of ailments. (USDA)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Locals find USDA claim of $3 meals unrealistic 

Chinook salmon adapting diets as Salish Sea changes
University of Victoria researchers are analyzing thousands of salmon stomachs to track shifting prey patterns linked to climate change. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

From pipelines to mines, Canada’s environmental reviews could be transforming. Here’s how
The government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is proposing a massive shift in the way industrial projects are federally assessed. Former environment ministers are panning it. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

BC Towns Call for an Investigation into LNG Health Effects
Health officers’ report last fall has led local leaders to demand answers about the impact of LNG on residents’ health. Will the province listen? Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

Court dismisses push for clear access to Stanwood shoreline
K’Allen Specht, a Wenatchee resident, has argued the actions of Snohomish County officials made his favorite childhood beach, a 50-foot stretch of sand and driftwood on the Puget Sound near Warm Beach, inaccessible. County prosecutors said there isn’t an existing dispute because they agreed the public has access to Hillman Place despite the signage, according to court records. Ian Davis-Leonard reports. (Everett Herald) 

Abbotsford’s Fishtrap Creek to get $63M upgrade to prevent future flooding, habitat loss
Senior wastewater engineer says 25-year-long project 'badly needed.' Kier Junos reports. (CBC) 

‘Squeal of discovery.’ Guided tide-pool explorations return to Tacoma beaches
Parks Tacoma’s free guided tide pool walks are back! They return this weekend at Owen Beach and Titlow Beach and offer family-friendly beach discoveries and explorations at low tide. Gavin Feek reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Canada aims to double its electric grid by 2050 with clean energy and lower costs for users
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveils a clean electricity strategy aimed at doubling Canada’s electricity grid by 2050. Jim Morris reports. (Associated Press) 

Real Change newspapers double in price. Will vendors see payoff? 
The price of the Real Change newspaper would double to $4 starting May 6. It’s the first price increase since 2013 for the weekly street newspaper, which focuses on local news about poverty and social issues while providing easy to access work for people around the city, many of whom are homeless. Stephanie Stokes reports. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump administration will join a prayer gathering criticized for promoting Christian nationalism (AP) 
• Trump’s talk of 51st US state met with near-silence in Venezuela (AP) 
• Federal judge asked to ditch WA legislative district maps (Washington State Standard) 
• Lawyers urge judge to block Trump order that would create eligible voter list, limit mail ballots (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/15/26: Endangered Species Day, Dungeness Spit, BC salmon farms, fed parks hunting, drought, WDNR logging revenue, Skagit R dams, Chinook diet, spiral helix, campground trees saved.

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-  217 AM PDT Fri May 15 2026    
TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 8 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. Showers with a slight  chance of tstms.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds.  Showers likely, mainly in the evening.  
SAT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 12 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 11 seconds.  SUN  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 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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5/14 Garter snake, spiral helix, monk seal rock thrower, war farm woes, trees spared, low tides, democracy watch.

Garter snake

  Garter snake
Garter snake is the common name for small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus Thamnophis in the family Colubridae. They are native to North and Central America, ranging from central Canada in the north to Costa Rica in the south. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The smell of neglect

Fish take a spin at Cle Elum Dam’s spiral helix
The Yakima River Basin project aims to provide gentler and more adaptable fish passage as snowpack melts and the climate warms. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

Hawaii monk seal rock thrower arrested, to appear in Seattle court
A Covington, Washington man was arrested for allegedly hurling a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal and will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Thursday. Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, is accused of being the subject in a viral video where he claimed he was "rich enough to pay the fines" after throwing a large rock at a seal named "Lani" on a Hawaii beach. Will Wixey reports. (FOX13) 

Costs tied to Iran war add to WA farm woes
Agricultural expenses were already high in the state, and further increases are hard to pass on to consumers. Donna Gordon Blankinship reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Fundraising effort saves patch of state-managed forest in western WA from logging
Environmental activists have raised the $32,000 needed to spare the trees surrounding a campground on the northern end of the Olympic Peninsula from logging. The Elwha Legacy Forests Coalition paid Webster Logging to halt the cutting of a two-acre state-managed parcel around the Sadie Creek campground. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Puget Sound to see low tides this weekend
Between Saturday and Wednesday, Puget Sound will see tides dip between -3 and -4 feet, allowing for a rare chance to see marine life up close. Olivia Sullivan and Adam Claibon report. (KING) 

Democracy Watch

• Why Trump’s Spiritual Adviser Dedicated a Golden Statue to the President (The New Yorker) 

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-  521 PM PDT Wed May 13 2026    
THU  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at 10 seconds. Rain likely in the  afternoon.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 7 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. 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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5/13 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? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  114 PM PDT 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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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