Friday, October 9, 2026

10/9 Pika, BC pipe, pro oil-gas group, WA pipeline expansions, Delta LNG, WSF sick out, democracy watch, week in review.

 

American pika [WDFW]


American pika Ochotona princeps
American pika habitat is restricted to rocky talus slopes, primarily the talus-meadow interface. They are often found above tree lines up to the limit of vegetation, though they can also survive in rocky areas within forests or near lakes. Pikas do not dig burrows, but they may enlarge dens or nest sites under rock. They are sensitive to temperatures above 78 degrees Fahrenheit and rely on winter snowpack to insulate them from extreme cold conditions. The population size of American pika in Washington is unknown. It is a montane talus habitat specialist that may face threats from climate change. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Southern resident killer whales out, Bigg’s in, according to new data 

Water, toxic waste and opportunity: Indigenous leaders react to Carney's pipeline plan
In Sumas First Nation near Abbotsford, B.C., people have gotten used to oil spills, says Chief Dalton Silver. Crude oil has been stored, re-routed and carried through the First Nation's traditional territory for decades. Silver fought the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in 2024 — and lost. Today, he's gearing up for another fight: against the proposed Pacific Link pipeline, which will follow a similar route to Trans Mountain. Jennifer Yoon reports. (CBC) 

‘Knowing our opponents’: how a pro-oil-and-gas group tracks journalists, First Nations and environmentalists 
New research by Greenpeace Canada lays out a web of pro-oil-and-gas groups working together to influence public opinion on climate change. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal)  

4 WA gas pipeline expansions are proposed. Here’s where they stand 
Compressed in steel pipes buried underground, natural gas courses down the Interstate 5 corridor from British Columbia. It flows through the Columbia River Gorge from the Rocky Mountains. The Williams Companies owns and operates the Northwest Pipeline, the main natural gas highway into the state. Williams has proposed four projects that could significantly expand the amount of gas that can be moved into Washington. Greg Kim reports. (Seattle Times) 

A Delta LNG Project Is Expected to Push Emissions Past Standards
As Fortis expands its facility along the Fraser, pollution is expected to worsen in neighbouring communities. ZoĆ« Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

What we know about underlying labor issues that halted WA’s ferry system 
Commuters, passengers, and crew on Washington State Ferries hit some choppy waters this week when nearly two dozen engine room workers called out in an apparent “sick out” related to labor concerns. Entire routes went out of service on Monday, with only enough staff to run six out of 18 boats. Casey Martin reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch
  • Japanese Americans in Seattle embark on 4-day pilgrimage to immigrant detention sites (KUOW) 
  • Trump bought over $1 million in SpaceX debt days before unveiling space policy (Washington Post) 
Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/9/26: BC pipe, ocean monitoring, WSF sickout, gray whale haven, Skagit flood maps, fires and lakes, dead baby orca, green crabs, sewage nitrogen.

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Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  246 AM PDT Fri Oct 9 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
   
TODAY
 W wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming NW 25 to 30 kt late this  morning. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to 7 to 10 ft this afternoon.  Wave Detail: W 10 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 NW wind 15 to 25 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft, subsiding to 4 to 6 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 NE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 10 seconds and W 2 ft at 20 seconds.  
SUN
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  8 seconds and W 2 ft at 19 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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Thursday, October 8, 2026

10/8 Gumboot chiton, dead orca, green crab, LNG Canada noise, BC Indigenous Rights, nitrogen rules, Skagit stormwater, democracy watch.

Gumboot chiton [Wikipedia]
 
Gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri
The gumboot chiton is a creature of the low intertidal and subtidal worlds. Mainly nocturnal, it stays hidden from the sun. But on foggy days with minus tides, like today, this odd critter can turn up in tidepools.Like all other chiton species, the gumboot uses a muscular foot to cling to rock surfaces. Though it is the largest chiton, the gumboot has the weakest grip: it is easily pried loose by waves and can wash ashore in storms. (Tides and Trails)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Cascadia Works anthology: A lesson in literary citizenship, community

Another grieving orca mom carries dead calf on her nose off Washington state
Whale researchers spotted the female orca carrying a tiny carcass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Saturday. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)  Another southern resident orca seen pushing dead calf (Times Colonist) 

State reports on European green crab trapping efforts
From July 2025 to June 2026, 2.1 million green crabs were removed in the state, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife European Green Crab Annual Progress Report released Friday. The number of green crabs removed increased in most management areas as more effort was put into catching them, but some areas saw a decline or their number hold steady. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

LNG Canada fined $50K over underwater noise monitoring during tug terminal construction
The company behind a major LNG export terminal on British Columbia's North Coast has been handed a $50,000 administrative penalty related to underwater noise while building a tug terminal three years ago. The tug terminal was a part of Phase 1 of LNG Canada's natural gas liquefaction and export terminal in Kitimat, which began operations last year. Simon Little reports. (CBC) 

B.C.’s Indigenous Rights law is now an election issue. Here’s what you need to know 
On the B.C. campaign trail, both the NDP and the Conservatives have spoken against the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Experts say it doesn’t threaten private property rights — and used properly, makes development smoother, not less certain. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Sewage treatment permits being revised to address nitrogen, low-oxygen problems
Regulatory efforts to confront low-oxygen problems in Puget Sound have turned toward sewage treatment plants, as the Washington Department of Ecology proceeds to reissue operational permits, some ahead of the normal five-year schedule. Since June, 18 draft wastewater permits have been released for public comment, all containing provisions to address current and future discharges of nitrogen in sewage effluent. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Skagit County to expand area it manages for stormwater
The expansion includes all of March Point, additional areas around Big Lake, south of Little Mountain Park in Mount Vernon, the area in Mount Vernon by Riverbend Road, near PeaceHealth United General Medical Center, the northern section of the Northern State Recreation Area, the southeast part of Barney Lake, and small areas around the Port of Skagit. The expansion increases the county's stormwater permit area by about 62%, from about 12,772 acres to about 20,712 acres. It's the first time the county has expanded its permit area since the system was set up in 2007. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Democracy Watch
  • Trump-appointed judge accuses ICE of lying and fabricating records (NY Times) 
  • Trump’s $90 Medicare rebate rolls out, but millions are left out. Critics say it’s a political stunt (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-  246 PM PDT Wed Oct 7 2026    
THU
 W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds.  
THU NIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain  after midnight.

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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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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

10/7 Lingcod, Skagit flood maps, marbled murrelet, Pacific Link pipe, fire and lakes, democracy watch.

Lingcod [NOAA]
 

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 or 5 ft) in length, and 59 kg (130 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is 14 years for males and 20 years for females. A Washington state-record 61 lb. lingcod was caught in the San Juan Islands in 1986. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Washington needs this aging state ferry to keep running and running

New Skagit Valley flood maps show worsening conditions 
A new report offers an updated look at flooding risk on the Skagit River, where some of the most damaging floods are expected to become more frequent with climate warming, while existing infrastructure such as dams and levees won’t be able to protect communities from the worst of it. The project, led by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, with partners including the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, is intended to help local leaders and residents better understand their risk. The official federal flood maps in Skagit County haven’t been updated since 1985. Isabella Breda and Fiona Martin reports. (Seattle Times) 

A Bird So Elusive That Just Seeing One Is a Quest
Meet the crew determined to catch a glimpse of BC’s disappearing marbled murrelet. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Carney’s expensive Alberta truce: the Pacific Link pipeline 
Canadians were always going to foot the bill for the pipeline to the West Coast — despite an agreement requiring private capital to cover it. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal) 

When a forest burns, what does it mean for lakes? Scientists are trying to find out 
Canada has more lakes than any other country, and nearly every one has been exposed to wildfire smoke. Leah Borts-Kuperman reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch
  • Arkansas campaign ad sparks conservative backlash for portraying lazy welfare recipient as white (AP) 
  • Trump doesn’t commit to repaying federal funds already spent on controversial ads (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-  142 PM PDT Tue Oct 6 2026    
WED
 E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  13 seconds and W 2 ft at 17 seconds. Areas of dense fog in the  morning.  
WED NIGHT
 NW wind around 5 kt. 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.  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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Tuesday, October 6, 2026

10/6 Anemone, WSF sickout, gray whale haven, prawn fisher fined, wall lizards, democracy watch.

Brooding anemone [Sound Water Stewards]
 

Brooding anemone Epiactis sp.
This is a small anemone, with the crown up to 2 inches in diameter. (The base may be somewhat wider than the crown.) The color varies. It is often red or pink when on rocks and green or brown when on eelgrass. Look for the radiating white lines originating from the oral disk and on the base and column. Also, watch for baby Epiactis attached to the base of the mother. They look like little buds and will stay attached to her for several months until they're large enough to live on their own. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bellingham superhero scene rises overnight

Sickout devastates WA ferry system; Ferguson urges workers to return Tuesday
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson told frustrated unionized ferry workers that he expected “every vessel on every route” to be running Tuesday morning as a sickout by members brought much of the nation’s largest ferry system to a standstill Monday. Thirteen of the ferry system’s 18 vessels transporting travelers and commuters across Puget Sound were out of commission at some point Monday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. By mid-afternoon, only six ferries were operating. The workers’ union says it didn’t coordinate the sickout that led to mass cancellations and took most of the vessels out of the water. Jake Goldstein-Street and Jerry Cornfield report. (Washington State Standard) 

Gray whale safe haven in Puget Sound takes on new significance amid population decline
Almost 200 gray whales have washed up dead along the West Coast in 2026. A small group of gray whales who feed in Puget Sound is surprisingly central to understanding the crisis. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine) 

Prawn fisher fined $30,000 for violating licence terms near Nanaimo
It’s the latest fine for Dean Keitsch, who was fined $250,000 two years ago for fishing in a closed area on the Sunshine Coast. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Slugs gone, bugs gone, strawberries thriving as invasive lizards boom in B.C.
Gavin Hanke, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Royal BC Museum, said it's estimated that there are about 800,000 to a million European wall lizards in B.C., mostly on Vancouver Island, and they have spread as far as Campbell River, 260 kilometres north of Victoria. He worries their rapid spread could have a "serious impact" on the environment. Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch
  • White House blocks Politico from Air Force One trip, cannot secure replacement (Washington Post) 
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 Oct 5 2026    
TUE
 NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 10 seconds. Areas of dense fog in the morning.  
TUE NIGHT
 NW wind around 5 kt, veering to NE after midnight.  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.  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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Monday, October 5, 2026

10/5 Larch, Canada pipe spill risk, LNG Chinese steel, Kelvin wave, salmon return, Haida Gwaii swordfish, bald eagles killed, ocean monitoring, democracy watch.

Western Larch [Wikipedia]


Western Larch Larix occidentalis
Unlike most conifers, Larches are deciduous; the needles turn a golden color in the fall before they are shed. From the Cascades in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, its range extends eastward to the Rocky Mountains of B.C., northern Idaho and western Montana. Western Larch is a valuable lumber tree. It has the densest wood of the northwest conifers it is often used to make boxes and crates.  Another important economic product is Larch gum; it is similar to gum arabic and is used as an emulsifier or stabilizer in foods and medicine. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The secrets of Salish Sea’s sixgill sharks

WA governor ‘disappointed’ Canada is fast-tracking new oil pipeline to B.C.
Ferguson says resources are insufficient to deal with supertanker spill. A WA congressman warns the project is ‘not ready for prime time.’ Jerry Cornfield and Tom Banse report. (Washington State Standard) 

Carney Fast-Tracks Oil Pipeline, Promises Environmental Protection
Announcing funding to prepare BC for oil spills is ‘a warning sign all on its own,’ UBCIC women’s rep says. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

LNG Canada to use Chinese steel on $33B expansion project in Kitimat, B.C.
LNG Canada will once again use Chinese steel for the "specialized fabrication capability" it says it requires for its $33-billion Phase 2 expansion project in Kitimat, B.C.  LNG Canada will buy more components from the state-owned China Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC), which also manufactured its first two liquified natural gas processing units, known as trains, now in operation. Janyce McGregor reports. (CBC) 

What to know about the Kelvin wave raising the sea level along the West Coast
Sea levels along the West Coast will begin to rise by up to a foot this month as a series of pulses of warm water called Kelvin waves hit the shoreline and move north, sparking concerns about beach erosion and flooding in areas already impacted by climate change and El NiƱo. (Associated Press) 

Pacific salmon are returning home to spawn. Here’s where to see them 
In October and November, pink, coho and fall chinook salmon come home to spawn. According to the USGS, they use the earth’s magnetic field like a compass, intuitively knowing their ancestral waters are the best place to spawn. Once salmon have located their home rivers, they use their sense of smell to find their way back to their home streams. Gavin Feek reports (Tacoma News Tribune) 

A swordfish was found on Haida Gwaii. Will more follow?
The discovery of a decaying swordfish off British Columbia's North Coast could be a sign of things to come as ocean temperatures rise, a researcher specializing in global fisheries says. The fish was found by filmmaker and outdoorsman "Captain" Quinn Barabash while out with his oldest son and some friends on Sept. 27. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC) 

WA man pleads guilty to shooting 2 bald eagles 
A man pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal charges after being found with a dead bald eagle in his vehicle. Joel David Ridley, 39 years old and a member of Lummi Nation, was arrested in February after law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired and encountered the man with the eagle in his vehicle. Joseph O'Sullivan reports. (Seattle Times) 

After Outcry, Monitors the Trump Administration Tried to Scrap Return to Sea
Under pressure from Congress, a network of ocean monitors that provides vital data to meteorologists, climate scientists, oceanographers and the fishing industry is being restored. Eric Niiler reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch
  • New monument to Japanese Canadians reminder of dark period in B.C.’s past (Times Colonist) 
  • Pete Hegseth to launch new Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs (AP) 
  • Trump directed use of taxpayer money for ads praising his presidency (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-  207 PM PDT Sun Oct 4 2026    
MON
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  11 seconds.  
MON 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.  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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Friday, October 2, 2026

10/2 America at 250, American bittern, West Coast pipeline, AK natural gas, BC Ferries fuel, water and oil, Skagit dams, wolf kill, snaring salmon, crab fishing, Fire and Ice, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Check out the artwork auction and come support Salish Current and local news next Wednesday at "America at 250" featuring eminent historian and Western Washington University scholar Johann Neem and journalist Ron Judd discussing the search for a common narrative to describe what our county means to us.  Appetizers and no-host bar are available. Wednesday, Oct. 7, Hotel Leo, Bellingham. Reservations advised: salishcurrent.rsvp@gmail.com

American bittern [Greg Lavety]


American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
A solitary species, the American Bittern is more often heard than seen. It is a stout heron, with mottled buff-brown plumage. Its neck can be held in to appear short and sturdy, or extended to look long and slender. American Bitterns are found in dense freshwater marshes and extensive wet meadows. They prefer wetlands with thick cattail and bulrush, mixed with areas of open water. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Volunteers work to solve Washington’s kelp mystery

West Coast oil pipeline becomes 1st project designated in national interest
A proposed pipeline carrying one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the B.C. coast has become the first project designated in the national interest, the federal and Alberta governments have announced. Listing the West Coast Pacific Link oil pipeline on Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act means the federal government has moved from considering whether it should be built to how it will be built by fast-tracking and consolidating the approval process, including environmental assessments. Peter Zimonjic reports. (CBC) 

Korean officials confirm no deal exists to invest in Alaska natural gas pipeline
Korea has not agreed to invest $54 billion in the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline — and has not even agreed to invest at all, its national industry minister, Kim Jung-kwan, told reporters in Seoul on Thursday. His remarks came hours after President Donald Trump held a news conference in the White House to incorrectly proclaim that officials from the Asian nation had agreed to spend $54 billion from a $200 billion investment pledge on the pipeline project. James Brooks reports. (Washington State Standard) 

BC Ferries Heads to $1.3-Billion Deal with US-Owned Fuel Supplier
At a time when British Columbia Premier David Eby is championing buying Canadian, BC Ferries may be preparing to enter a multi-year agreement to buy fuel from an American-owned company with strong ties to U.S. President Donald Trump and the governing Republicans. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee) 

Study ties oil companies to water crisis. Will it stick in court?
A study published in August may have gifted citizens and governments a powerful new scientific tool for forcing large fossil fuel companies to pay for the climate change-associated damages and costs linked to their outsized carbon footprints. And it’s not alone. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Seattle’s dams cut off Canada’s salmon. A century later, they may be coming back 
After U.S. Tribes won a hard-fought agreement to restore fish passage around Seattle's dams, First Nations in British Columbia are preparing for the possible return of salmon to waters they've been absent from for more than a century. David Moskowitz reports. (The Narwhal) 

Wolves in SE Washington pack to be killed ‘incrementally’ by state officials after livestock attacks
The director of the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife this week authorized the “incremental” killing of wolves in southeastern Washington with a goal to stop attacks on livestock.  The order is the second this month that calls for killing wolves in the Couse pack. On Sept. 17, the department killed an adult male. Since then, at least one member of the pack attacked again.  Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

The Art of the Catch
To bulk up for winter hibernation, Alaska’s brown bears employ a range of techniques for snaring salmon. PĆ„l Hermansen and Vanessa Minke-Martin report. (bioGraphic) 

Recreational crab fishing reopening
Local waters that will open to sport crabbing seven days a week through Dec. 31 include: Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait, Port Angeles Harbor, Discovery Bay); Marine Area 7 North (San Juan Islands); Marine Area 7 South (San Juan Islands); Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Fire and Ice
Author David B. Williams discusses his book, "In the Range of Fire and Ice" with North Cascades Institute founder Saul Weisberg at Village Books in Bellingham at 6 p.m. on October 8.  Information and reservation here.

Democracy Watch
  • 14,000 WA residents expected to lose Medicaid Oct. 1 (KUOW) 
Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/2/26: Peanuts Friday!, clean car rules, funding industry, carbon-market deal, Skagit eagle center, Truth and Reconciliation, ocean protection, 'sacrifice zones,' LNG expansion, oil and water, Skagit dams, west coast pipe green lit.


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-  233 PM PDT Thu Oct 1 2026    
FRI
 S wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft  at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. Rain likely.  
FRI NIGHT
 N wind around 5 kt, veering to E after midnight.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 9 seconds. Patchy fog in  the evening.  
SAT
 E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft  at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 NE wind around 5 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SUN
 NE wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 6 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Thursday, October 1, 2026

10/1 Decorator crab, ocean protection, LNG expansion, LNG tax credits, AK natural gas, democracy watch.

 

Decorator crab [Vic High Marine Biology]


Decorator crab Oregonia gracilis
Oregonia gracilis,
commonly known as the graceful decorator crab, is a species of crab belonging to the family Oregoniidae. Like other decorator crabs it habitually attaches other organisms to its back. The sessile organisms are attached to hooked setae that act as a sort of velcro attachment. This decoration provides visual and chemical camouflage thus reducing predation risk. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  How to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in NW Washington 

Carney announces $1.2B in funding to protect oceans as major projects loom
Funding aims to reduce effects of underwater noise on marine life and boost fisheries enforcement. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press) 

LNG Canada’s massive expansion is a go. Here’s what it means
A planned $33 billion investment in the second phase will double LNG Canada’s export capacity, bringing more gas, infrastructure and emissions to B.C.’s North Coast. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

BC’s Big, and Now Secret, Natural Gas Giveaway
Tax credits let companies pay little for resources. What do the parties say? Ben Parfitt reports (he Tyee) 

Trump plugs $54 billion natural gas project in Alaska, flanked by a senator in a tight race
President Donald Trump said South Korea plans to invest about $54 billion in a natural gas project in Alaska, an announcement he made in the Oval Office on Wednesday flanked by a Republican senator who has found himself in a tough reelection race in the state. On Monday, Trump made a similar-styled announcement about a massive steel plant in Iowa. Thomas Beaumont, Darlene Superville and Will Weissert report. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch
  • Senate GOP campaign chief says ‘cash is king’ as Trump team promises millions to keep majority (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-  134 PM PDT Wed Sep 30 2026    
THU
 SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  10 seconds. A chance of rain in the afternoon.  
THU NIGHT
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 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.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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