3/3 Moss, BC time, salmon spawn, spongy moths, democracy watch.

Moss baubles [Laurie MacBride]

Moss baubles
Laurie MacBride in "Eye on Environment" writes: "Our mostly mild, wet February has prompted a burst of new energy among the mosses. Their sporophytes are pushing up, each long stem topped with a capsule, getting ready to burst open and release the spores carrying the next generation.When I captured this image, the bright green baubles of the sporophytes were still intact, and pretty enough to lure me down to ground level for a closer look. The hard part was getting my aging body back up again afterwards. If only I could spring up as energetically as the moss! (Eye on Environment) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Report shows need for greater funding, enforcement to save salmon 

B.C. to end time changes, adopt year-round daylight time
March 8 will be the last time most British Columbians have to change their clocks, premier announces. (CBC) 

From Vancouver Island to Howe Sound, spawning herring hit B.C.'s waters
The B.C. coastline is on the verge of one of its biggest natural events of the year: the annual herring spawn. John Kurucz reports. (Times Colonist) 

Are these weird-looking bugs taking over Lakewood? What to know
You probably won’t see them, but they’re there. Growing in the tall tree canopies of Lakewood are tiny invasive critters that have the potential to wreak havoc on Pacific Northwest forests, especially oak trees. It’s called a spongy moth. Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Democracy Watch

• WA students face confrontations during anti-ICE walkouts (Seattle Times) 
• What the Pentagon’s Attack Videos Reveal About the Boat Strikes at Sea (NY Times) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  317 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT    
TUE  S wind 15 to 20 kt with gusts to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 4 seconds, SW 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 2 ft  at 10 seconds. Rain.  
TUE NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: S  2 ft at 4 seconds, SW 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 13 seconds.  Showers in the evening, then rain after midnight.

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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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3/2 Robin, data center regs, enviro crimes bill, cross-border relations resolution, Japanese beetle spray, democracy watch.

 

American Robin

American Robin Turdus migratorius
The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. Though they’re familiar town and city birds, American Robins are at home in wilder areas, too, including mountain forests and Alaskan wilderness. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  100 years of Black History Month

Microsoft urges major changes to Washington data center regulations as bill nears final vote
The race to regulate artificial intelligence infrastructure has arrived at a crossroads in Washington state. After weeks on the sidelines, Microsoft publicly declared its opposition to a controversial state bill that aims to rein in the environmental and economic impacts of the massive data centers powering the AI boom. Lisa Stiffler reports. (GeekWire) 

Plenty opposed to Washington environmental crimes bill
A parade of union officials, industry association leaders and representatives of landowners and fisheries appeared at a Washington state legislative hearing to oppose a bill that would attach criminal penalties to environmental violations. The bill, SB5360, narrowly passed the Washington Senate but has drawn strong opposition from critics who say it will subject workers to criminal penalties for honest mistakes and potentially reduce the willingness of farmers and foresters to engage in environmentally helpful activities. Daniel Fisher reports. (The Center Square) 

State resolution recognizes cross-border relationship with Canada
42nd Legislative District Senator and WWU Associate Professor of Economics Sharon Shewmake’s resolution SR 8696, “recognizing Washington’s interconnected relationship with Canada,” was adopted on Feb. 25 and signed. (WWU News) 

Japanese-beetle pesticide spraying coming to south King County
In a first for western Washington, agriculture officials are gearing up to spray insecticide to fight an infestation of Japanese beetles in south King County, near Seattle. The Washington State Department of Agriculture aims to spray up to 2,000 properties, covering about 1,000 acres of lawn in south King County, starting in late March. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch

• A Supreme Court case over whether marijuana users can own guns is creating unusual alliances (AP) 
• Worms in food, poor medical care, lights on 24/7: Families tell of life in Texas detention center (AP) 
• 'One year of failure.' The Lancet slams RFK Jr.'s first year as health chief (NPR) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  203 PM PST Sun Mar 1 2026    
MON  SE wind around 5 kt, veering to S in the afternoon. Seas  around 2 ft or less, then around 3 ft in the afternoon. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 9 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SE 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of rain in the evening, then rain after midnight.

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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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2/27 Plum blossom, Columbia R salmon, Tacoma trees, elephant seal flu, conservation's new era, democracy watch, week in review.

Plum blossom

Chinese plum Prunus mume
Chinese plum is a tree species in the family Rosaceae. It is also referenced by its flowers as plum blossom. Although referred to as a plum in English, it is classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus, making it an apricot. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The music of a movement 

Judge orders protective measures for Columbia River salmon after Trump canceled historic deal
A federal judge in Oregon has ordered dams that operate on the Columbia and Snake rivers to generate less hydropower and allow more water to pass in an effort to keep salmon populations from dying out. The order largely restores measures that were in place under a landmark deal to protect salmon that the Trump administration canceled last year. Tony Schick reports. (OPB) 

Tacoma gets grant to plant trees around where kids walk to school 
The city of Tacoma has been prioritizing tree planting in parts of the city where there are fewer trees, such as south and east Tacoma. This latest effort is a new grant-funded program called SafeTREE Routes to School, which aims to increase tree canopy near schools. Saturday’s tree planting event was the groundbreaking of the project. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Bird Flu Strikes California Elephant Seals for the First Time
Thirty seals, primarily weaned pups, have died since late last week, scientists said. Emily Anthes and Apoorva Mandavilli report. (NY Times) 

Conservation Enters a New Era
One year after the Trump administration slashed biodiversity protections at home and abroad, people and organizations are figuring out where to go from here. A four-part series. 

• The Ghosts of Conservation Past. A look back at the United States’ outsize influence on global conservation reveals why the latest funding cuts should come as no surprise. (bioGraphic) 
• The Future of Conservation Without U.S. Aid. The Trump administration’s cuts to biodiversity funding have imperiled species, habitats, and the people who defend both. Now the world seeks a new way forward. (bioGraphic) 
• In the Wake of the Storm. A scientist tracks how cuts to federal funding are reshaping coastal communities, research, and species management in Alaska. (bioGraphic) 
• The Fight for the Heart of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One year after the Trump administration threw the EPA into chaos, former employees continue to push back—and to dream of an agency reborn. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• The IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential information to ICE 42,695 times, judge says (AP) 
• Snohomish County judge rules Flock camera footage is public record (Everett Herald)  
• Checking in on the state of news media in Washington (KNKX) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/27/28: Polar bear Friday, coal plant poison, logging OR, Dungeness crab regs, BC Indigenous Rights law, geoduck harvest rules, oil company climate, BC herring spawn, Burrard Inlet dredging, conservation's new era, Columbia R salmon, elephant seal flu. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  227 AM PST Fri Feb 27 2026    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 13 seconds. Rain likely, mainly this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  E wind around 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 11 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  5 seconds and W 3 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.



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2/26 Oregon hairy triton, herring spawn, Burrard Inlet dredging, Padilla Bay eelgrass, flare fix, underground dam, democracy watch.

Oregon hairy triton

    

Oregon hairy triton Fusitriton oregonensis
Oregon hairy triton is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae. The snail was given its specific name oregonensis (meaning "of Oregon") to honor the Oregon Territory by conchologist John Howard Redfield in 1846. It is native to the northwestern coast of North America. The shells are found from Alaska to California, as well as in northern Japan. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom County flooding problem solving

First signs of herring spawn spark excitement on Vancouver Island
The herring spawn attracts wildlife and onlookers to witness an increase in marine activity. Maryse Zeidler reports. (CBC) 

Vancouver port applies to dredge Burrard Inlet this year to fuel oil exports
An application to federal authorities contemplates deepening a navigational channel starting in September 2026. Stefan Labbé reports. (BIV) 

Genetic diversity a plus for Padilla Bay eelgrass
Padilla Bay’s expansive eelgrass meadow has a unique diversity of genetics, according to new research. Padilla Bay hosts one of the largest eelgrass beds in North America. The bed spans about 8,000 acres. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Financial considerations likely behind LNG Canada flare fix delay: experts
The company says an issue with one of its flares will take three years to fix. Experts believe the company is prioritizing profits over the public and ask why the B.C. regulator isn’t stepping in. Lauren Watson reports. (The Narwhal) 

As drought fears mount, a team in Idaho proposes a subterranean dam
Can we engineer a way out of water shortages and a looming agricultural crisis? An ISU professor is working on it. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• A look at Trump’s false and misleading claims in his State of the Union speech (AP) 
• The Future of News (Pew Trust) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 PM PST Wed Feb 25 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON    
THU  SW wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 8 seconds. Rain.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds and W  6 ft at 12 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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2/25 American dipper, Indigenous Rights Law, goeduck harvest, gov's new ferries, SCOTUS climate, democracy watch.

 

American dipper

American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus
The slate-gray American Dipper is North America’s only truly aquatic songbird. It flits among midstream rocks and logs, rhythmically bobbing its tail, and then disappears for long moments to forage for aquatic larvae on the stream bottom, using its wings to negotiate the current. These birds build mossy, domed nests on boulders, cliff ledges, and bridges. The burbling song is evocative of the rushing whitewater streams this species calls home in western North and Central America. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Bridge over a troubled highway

B.C. moves at ‘warp speed’ to change landmark Indigenous Rights law
B.C. plans to amend the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act by June. Opposition is growing — will the government listen? Shannon Waters reports.(The Narwhal) 

WA proposes tighter rules on harvesting shellfish, including geoducks 
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing to increase the minimum harvest size for cockles from one and half inches to two and a half, decrease the limit of geoducks that can be gathered daily from three to one and modify harvesting seasons for certain beaches. Kai Uyehara reports. (Seattle Times) 

WA governor’s $1B borrowing plan to buy new ferries sinks in Legislature
House and Senate spending plans released Monday would also push off conversion of diesel boats to battery power. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Supreme Court agrees to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. Lindsay Whitehurst reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• It's not just professional journalists combing the Epstein files (AP) 
• Justice Department withheld and removed some Epstein files related to Trump (NPR) 

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-  234 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026    

WED  W wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming SW 20 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 6 seconds.  Rain.  
WED NIGHT  SW wind 20 to 25 kt, rising to 25 to 30 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SW 6 ft at 7 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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2/24 Spanish bluebell, Wei Wai Kum First Nation, Dungeness crab rules, democracy watch.

 

Spanish bluebell

Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica
The Spanish bluebell, or wood hyacinth, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial native to the Iberian Peninsula. However, it has naturalised and is cultivated in many other European countries, as well as in North America and Australia. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Indigenous rappers ‘carry the torch’ 

First Nation takes majority ownership in Campbell River whale watching firm
Wei Wai Kum First Nation is on pathway to full ownership of Campbell River business. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission denies petition to alter Dungeness crabbing rules
With whale entanglements on the rise, last December, the Center for Biological Diversityalong with Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the American Cetacean Society, submitted a petition to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission that recommended a suite of sweeping new deployment and equipment rules intended to prevent whale entanglements.  Brian Bahouth reports. (KLCC) 

Democracy Watch

• RFK Jr. fought pesticides for years. Now he’s backing their production (AP) 
• CDC deputy director abruptly resigns from role as agency reels from turnover (The Guardian) 

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-  225 PM PST Mon Feb 23 2026    

TUE  E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 4 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of rain in  the afternoon.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 6 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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2/23 Ruby-crowned kinglet, coal plant emissions, cutting western OR forests, protect public lands, plastic problem, Indigenous curriculum, Trump's border wall, democracy watch.

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet [Evan Lipton]

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula
A tiny bird seemingly overflowing with energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages almost frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. Its habit of constantly flicking its wings is a key identification clue. Smaller than a warbler or chickadee, this plain green-gray bird has a white eyering and a white bar on the wing. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Indigenous rappers ‘carry the torch’ 

Trump administration eases limits on coal plants for emitting mercury, other toxins
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, the Trump administration’s latest effort to boost the fossil fuel industry by paring back clean air and water rules. Michael Phillis and Dylan Lovan report. (Associated Press) 

Feds propose opening millions of acres of western Oregon forests to 1960s logging levels
The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday shared in a notice of intent that officials will propose new updates to the Western Oregon Resource Management Plans that have governed logging and conservation on 2.5 million acres of forests in 17 Oregon counties for decades, and that were last updated in 2016. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Bipartisan majorities in Western states oppose Trump’s rollback of public lands protections
Eighty-four percent of Western voters say that “rollbacks of laws that protect our land, water and wildlife” are a serious problem, up from 68% eight years ago, according to a poll released Wednesday by Colorado College’s State of the Rockies project. Chase Woodruff reports. (Washington State Standard) 

 'The Problem With Plastic' is dire, but still holds hope
"The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late," written by Adam Mahoney and Judith Enck, founders of the nonprofit Beyond Plastics, looks at the serious impacts to the environment and human health caused by our reliance on plastics. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)  

A class of their own: Tired of same topics, students help shape their own Indigenous course
A group of Indigenous students helped put together a new course for Stelly’s Secondary with local First Nations input. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

‘Psychological’ Trump wall on WA’s border has repelled a million trips 
Cars with Canadian plates coming southbound into northwest Washington dropped 39% in the first 365 days of Trump’s term, Jan. 20, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2026, as compared to the same time span a year earlier. Assuming a typical average of 1.3 people per car, it adds up to 1.2 million Canadians not visiting. Danny Westneat writes. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch

• FCC calls for more 'patriotic, pro-America' programming in run-up to 250th anniversary (NPR) 
• TSA says PreCheck still operational after previous announcement of suspension during funding fight (AP) 
• ICE’s purchases for big detention centers are marked by secrecy, frustrating towns (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-  215 PM PST Sun Feb 22 2026    
MON  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming W 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SW 5 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of rain.  
MON NIGHT  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to NE after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 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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