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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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.

---


"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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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 Niño. (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.

---


"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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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. Pål 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.

---


"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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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.

---


"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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9/30 Chinese lantern, BC pipe, environment 'sacrifice zones,' Truth and Reconciliation Day, fed land data centers, sixgill sharks, democracy watch.

 

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

 

Chinese Lantern

Chinese Lantern Physalis alkekengi
Physalis alkekengi has been used for a wide range of purposes in traditional medicine for around two millennia. It was used, purportedly to heal fever, induce mental serenity, and assist in childbirth, according to ancient Chinese books including the Erya and Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. Its usage in reducing heat, boosting energy, and aiding in diuresis was also mentioned in Li Shizhen's Ming dynasty Compendium of Materia Medica. The plant's juice was thought to be useful in treating jaundice. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Laughs are year-round in Bellingham’s stand-up comedy scene

Pump the Brakes on the West Coast Oil Pipeline, Washington Says
The state of Washington is urging the Mark Carney government not to fast-track the new West Coast oil pipeline, saying shared waters are “too valuable” to expedite a project that could lead to a catastrophic oil spill and harm ecosystems and the maritime economy. In a Sept. 18 letter to the government, Casey Sixkiller, director of the state’s Department of Ecology, wrote that the proposed pipeline would double the volume of crude oil exported through the Salish Sea. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Critics accuse Carney government of proposing 'sacrifice zones' for the environment
The new Building Canada Strong Act contains a list of measures that Prime Minister Mark Carney says will get projects moving faster in the face of major threats to Canada's economy from U.S. President Donald Trump. But experts warn Bill C-39 could also dismantle environmental safeguards that protect Canadians and prevent wildlife from extinction, despite the federal government claiming otherwise. David Thurton and Olivia Stefanovich report. (CBC) 

Reconciliation events important amid rising denialism, says Sooke walk organizer
Sooke walk, South Island Powwow, bike ride among many events marking National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist) 

Data centers proposed on federal land in eastern Oregon, western states
A new data center campus could soon be coming to federal land near Hermiston in eastern Oregon. It would be the first in Oregon sited on federal public land, and one of at least 12 proposed for more than 17,500 Bureau of Land Management acres across western states under President Donald Trump’s July 2025 executive order to hasten data center development. The proposals on federal land in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming were first reported last week by The Washington Sun. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

The Secrets of Salish Sea’s Sixgill Sharks
Bluntnose sixgill sharks are something of an enigma, even to scientists who study them. Using data collected over more than 20 years, scientists have learned that the Salish Sea, including Puget Sound, comprises one of the world’s few known pupping grounds for the species. Typically researchers see and catch only younger animals in relatively shallow, nearshore habitats. Only through unusual events, such as the stranding of female sixgills in 2007 and 2019, have researchers accessed adults for study. (NOAA Fisheries) 

Democracy Watch

• Homeland Security taps $20M in taxpayer funds for pro-Trump 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-  651 PM PDT Tue Sep 29 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  11 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  NE wind around 5 kt, veering to E after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds.

---


"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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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9/29 Salmonfly, PSE rate increase, carbon-market deal, Eba, Marine Life Center camera, owl migration, Skagit bald eagle center, kalo harvest, democracy watch.

 

American salmonfly 

American salmonfly Pteronarcys dorsata
American salmonfly is a species of giant stonefly in the family Pteronarcyidae found in North America. Larvae feed on algae, but adults don't eat at all. They are known to release a noxious fluid from joints in the legs or play dead when menaced and are primarily nocturnal. Adults are active in spring and summer and the species is the biggest stonefly in North America. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Author writes first full history of long-lost Mount Baker Marathon

Puget Sound Energy seeks $1.5B rate increase 
Puget Sound Energy is asking state regulators to approve $1.5 billion in rate increases over the next three years. The proposal would cost a typical PSE electricity customer an additional $612 a year by 2029 and a typical gas customer $276 a year. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Washington gets closer to massive carbon-market deal
Last week, the state of Washington completed the final piece of state rule-making needed to link its cap-and-trade carbon market with markets in California and the Canadian province of Québec. The move sets the stage for what’s being called the world’s largest subnational cap-and-trade system to begin operating as soon as next year. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Meet Eba, the San Juan Island dog that excels at sniffing out orcas for science
A Skagit County dog is giving new meaning to the term “working dog.” Eba, an 11-year-old corgi-pit bull mix, doesn’t guide the blind or sniff for bombs — she sniffs for orcas. Julia Hawkins reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

What's the Deal With: The Marine Life Center tank camera? 
Spare a moment of your day for a sea star crawling by or fish zipping around. Annie Todd reports. (CDN) 

Record-breaking owl migration in northern B.C. leaves bird banders scrambling
Boom in mice and voles may have helped produce an unusually large wave of young saw-whet owls near Mackenzie. Tom Popyk reports. (CBC) 

Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center to shut down after season
After 30 years of providing education on the Skagit River watershed, the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center in Rockport is shutting down at the end of the 2026/2027 season. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Hawaiians nurture community by harvesting kalo in the Pacific Northwest
Growing kalo feeds families while helping them learn Hawaiian words and cultural practices around the native plant. Jireh Deng reports. (OPB) 

Democracy Watch

• Hegseth says national security, military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms (AP) 
• Trump can't force election changes by blocking counterterrorism funds to states, judge says  (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-  740 PM PDT Mon Sep 28 2026    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON    
TUE  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at  6 seconds and W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the morning.  
TUE NIGHT  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 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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