2/4 Sword fern, BC polluter pays, MAHA enviro rules, WA income tax, democracy watch.

Sword fern [Greg Rabourn]

 
Sword fern Polystichum munitum
This is the king of northwest ferns. Its stately appearance and adaptability for almost any site condition, make it one of the most usefull of all native plants. The clump of upright, evergreen leaves has an architectural quality and can be used as a structural element in almost any kind of planting. It can also be used as a ground cover. Does best in organic soils but can stand the most acidic conditions found under cedar and redwoods. As older fronds die they provide excellent amphibian habitat around their base. (King County Native Plant Guide)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Major changes coming to Bellingham’s Marine Life Center 

BC Halts Plans to Make Polluters Pay for Cleanup Costs
The province billed its Public Interest Bonding Strategy as a key step to protect the public from massive cleanup bills. Now it’s on hold. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

MAHA has reshaped health policy. Now it's working on environmental rules
MAHA activists who want to hold corporations accountable for harming Americans’ health have found an unlikely ally in a Republican-led Environmental Protection Agency that has traditionally supported big businesses and less regulation. Sejal Govindarao, Ali Swenson and Michael Phillis report. (Associated Press) 

Income tax debate opens up in WA Legislature
Democrats want to tax personal income over $1 million. Gov. Bob Ferguson says lawmakers’ initial plan doesn’t offer enough tax relief for lower earners and small businesses. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard) 
 

Democracy Watch

• Trump demands $1 billion from Harvard as a prolonged standoff appears to deepen (AP) 
• Honoring Renée Good, Alex Pretti with ceremony (ICT) 

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Here's your tug weather—  
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  221 PM PST Tue Feb 3 2026    
WED  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 15 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 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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2/3 Evergreen violet, 'forever chemicals,' BC oil spill, large vessels, nuke exemption, WA Supreme Court, BC forestry, democracy watch

Evergreen violet

Evergreen violet Viola sempervirens
A creeping violet with evergreen leaves and yellow flowers with purple streaks on lower petals, blooming in early spring. This plant grows west of the Cascades crest and east in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington and from British Columbia to California. (WNPS)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Environmental bills to watch for

A crisis emerges across the US as ‘forever chemicals’ quietly contaminate drinking water wells
Forever chemicals get their name because they resist breaking down, whether in well water or the environment. In the human body, they accumulate in the liver, kidneys and blood. Research has linked them to an increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children. Michael Phillis and Helen Wieffering report. (Associated Press) 

B.C. would struggle to contain oil spill off north coast, research suggests
Decades of research shows waves, wind and darkness would defeat containment efforts for much of the year, raising questions about new oil export plans. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) 

Calling for Salish Sea protection: Victoria talks large marine vessels
Victoria city counselors Matt Dell and Jeremy Caradonna want the city to ask the federal government to undertake a series of actions to protect Canadian waters including: the phase-in of low-sulphur fuel by large marine vessels; developing regulations to prevent the discharge of scrubber wash water; ensuring all regulatory emissions requirements are being followed by large marine vessels. (Sooke News Mirror) 

The Trump Administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
The announcement comes just days after NPR revealed the administration had secretly rewritten safety and environmental standards. Geoff Brumfiel reports. (NPR) 

Another WA Supreme Court justice to retire
After Justice Barbara Madsen’s retirement, a third of the court will turn over by next year. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard) 

B.C. forestry review seeks overhaul, moving focus away from harvest volumes
A government-commissioned review of forestry in British Columbia is calling for the system to be razed and rebuilt with a focus on trust and transparency about the state of the province's forests, shifting away "from managing harvest volumes." Ashley Joannou (The Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump drops demand for cash from Harvard after stiff resistance (NY Times) 
• Trump wants to ‘nationalize the voting,’ seeking to grab states’ power (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather—  West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  220 PM PST Mon Feb 2 2026    
TUE  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 12 seconds. TUE NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at 15 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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2/2 Purple shore crab, fish farm ban, Oly marmots, Thurston Co habitat, Billy Frank Jr. statue, Minnesota media, democracy watch.

Purple shore crab

Purple shore crab Hemigrapsus nudus
The purple shore crab is a common crab of the family Varunidae that is indigenous to the west coast of United States, Canada, and Mexico. H. nudus was first described in 1847 by Adam White, and in 1851, James Dwight Dana formally classified the species. (Wikipedia) Under most rocks on Puget Sound shores you can find tiny black or gray hairy shore crabs ranging in size from smaller than a fingertip to about the size of a half-dollar. These are of two species, Hemigrapsus nudus and H. oregonensis. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  OPALCO surveys suggest renewable energy is popular — with conditions 

Appeals court upholds ban on fish farms in B.C.'s Discovery Islands
Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has upheld Ottawa’s decision to end salmon farming in B.C.’s Discovery Islands. The Jan. 29 ruling, the latest in nearly five years of litigation, stems from a December 2020 decision by then Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan to phase out open-net pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. Stefan Labbé reports.(Times Colonist) 

Olympic marmots under review
The Olympic marmot is being considered for the endangered species list, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service has announced. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

$489,000 state grant backs Thurston County’s salmon recovery planning in south Puget Sound
Thurston County, in partnership with the Thurston Conservation District, has been awarded a $489,000 grant  from the Washington State Department of Commerce to take a broad look at how county programs work together to protect and restore ecosystems such as rivers, wetlands, and forests for salmon populations. (KOMO) 

A Seattle foundry is continuing its work on a Billy Frank Jr. statue. It’s slated to be installed in DC later this year
Billy Frank Jr. is being honored by the state and nation. An 11-foot tall statue and pedestal of him will be installed at the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., later this year. A copy of the full statue will also be installed at Washington state’s Legislative Building. Anna King reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

In Minneapolis, all-encompassing immigration story tests a newsroom in midst of digital transition
With the eyes of a nation upon it, the Minnesota immigration enforcement effort has tested a local newsroom in the midst of a digital transformation — and it hasn't left the local journalists overmatched. David Bauer reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump says feds won't respond to protests unless asked in Democratic-led cities (AP) 
• Trump’s Kennedy Center has no Black History Month events following cancellations (Washington Post) 
• Trump’s Profiteering Hits $4 Billion (The New Yorker) 
• Fact-Checking Trump Officials on Minnesota (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-  252 AM PST Sun Feb 1 2026    
MON  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  7 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming E 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain, mainly in the evening.

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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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1/30 Mickey Mouse, Quatsino First Nation, EPA climate, commercial huckleberry ban, dead corals, 'Streets of Minneapolis,' democracy watch, week in review

 

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large shoes, and white gloves. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Community Voices / Local levies can’t keep covering for the state’s broken school funding system

‘It is possible’: this tiny First Nation’s big renewable energy strategy
 On the tip of Vancouver Island, the sun, wind and tides will power Quatsino First Nation into the future. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal) 

Trump’s biggest climate rollback stalls over fears it will lose in court
Trump officials have delayed finalizing the repeal of the agency’s “endangerment finding” over concerns the proposal is too weak to withstand a court challenge. Jake Spring reports.(Washington Post) 

Why the Forest Service is examining its ban on commercial huckleberry picking
Commercial harvesting was eliminated for 2025. Nine months after announcing a moratorium on commercial huckleberry harvesting, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest wants to gauge public sentiment regarding how well the 2025 ban worked. Steve Lundeberg reports. (Columbia Insight) 

The Curse of Dead Corals
When heat waves bleach reefs, do dead coral skeletons help or hinder recovery? Andrew Chapman reports. (bioGraphic) 

Bruce Springsteen releases anti-ICE protest song ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ 
On Wednesday Bruce Springsteen released a protest song condemning the violence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis. The song memorializes the lives of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by federal agents this month. (NPR) 

Democracy Watch
RFK Jr. picks promoters of debunked vaccine-autism claims for key panel (Washington Post) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 1/30/26: Last concert, WA natural gas initiative, Critical Distance, 400-year old oak, North Coast electrification, Paris Climate Agreement, Goldendale energy storage, logging exemption, 'Streets of Minneapolis.' 

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-  210 PM PST Thu Jan 29 2026    
FRI  SE wind 15 to 25 kt, veering to SW in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at  12 seconds. Rain.  
FRI NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. Rain. SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain in  the evening, then rain after midnight.  
SUN  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 15 seconds. Rain.  
SUN NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  7 ft at 15 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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1/29 Mouse lemur, Goldendale energy storage, logging exemption, heavy rain, LNG flaring, democracy watch

Mouse lemur

 
Mouse lemur Lemur pusillus
The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Mouse lemurs, like all lemurs, are endemic to Madagascar. They live within the treetops in dry deciduous forests, sub-arid thorn scrublands, and secondary forests, as well as in coastal and bamboo forests, making burrows in the tree trunks. There were two known mouse lemur species in 1992; by 2016, there were 24. It was estimated that the 24 mouse lemur species evolved from a common ancestor 18–11 million years ago. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  New plan for trail on San Juan Island

Major Gorge energy development gets fed go-ahead
The hotly contested Goldendale Energy Storage Project, located near Goldendale, Wash., has been awarded a key 40-year construction and operations license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The decision comes after a five-year application process. Yakama Nation leaders continue to oppose pumped hydropower storage project in Klickitat County. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Federal judge ends oft-used exemption to environmental review for logging on federal land
A 34-year-old rule exempting some commercial logging projects on federal lands from environmental review is unlawful because it lacked statutory limits, a federal judge recently ruled. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle) 

Storms bringing heavy rain, high stream flows to Island
People are being warned to be cautious around rivers and behind the wheel, with more than 100 millimetres of rain expected on west Vancouver Island. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

‘How do we correct this?’ Kitimat residents seek solutions to LNG Canada flaring fiasco
For some locals from the northwest B.C. town, confirmation that LNG Canada burned more gas than planned brings relief — and renewed frustration over the noise, emissions and unanswered questions. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump's use of AI images pushes new boundaries, further eroding public trust (AP) 
• More 'No Kings' protests planned for March 28 as outrage spreads over Minneapolis deaths (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-  217 PM PST Wed Jan 28 2026    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON   
THU  SE wind 20 to 30 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  9 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
THU NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: SE  4 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at 13 seconds and W 8 ft at  14 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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1/28 Mouse deer, offshore wind project, Paris Climate Agreement, democracy watch

 

Mouse deer

Mouse deer 
Chevrotains, or mouse-deer, are small, even-toed ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, and are the only living members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera,but several species also are known only from fossils. The extant species are found in forests in South and Southeast Asia; a single species, the water chevrotain, is found in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. In November 2019, conservation scientists announced that they had photographed silver-backed chevrotains (Tragulus versicolor) in a Vietnamese forest for the first time since the last confirmed sightings in 1990.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom's Search and Rescue seeks permanent facility

Judge rules Massachusetts offshore wind project halted by Trump administration can continue
U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy ruled that a nearly completed Massachusetts offshore wind project can continue, as the industry successfully challenges the Trump administration in court. Jennifer McDermott and Michael Casey report.(Associate Press) 

America Officially Leaves the Paris Climate Agreement. For the Second Time.
As of Tuesday, the United States is no longer a party to the Paris agreement on climate change, becoming the only country in the world to abandon the international commitment to slow global warming. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Chuck Sams on ‘biggest tragedy’ of Trump’s gutting of National Park Service (Columbia Insight) 

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-  241 PM PST Tue Jan 27 2026    
WED  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 4 seconds, SW 3 ft at 11 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain.  
WED NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft, building to  7 to 10 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 5 seconds, SW  3 ft at 14 seconds and W 9 ft at 15 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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1/27 Deer mouse, reservoir management, historic tree, north coast electrification, Garry Oak seeds, democracy watch.

Deer mouse [USDA]

 
Deer mouse is a North American species. It is distributed from the northern tree line in Alaska and Canada southward to central Mexico. It occupies many different ecological zones throughout its range. In captivity, deer mice can live as long as eight years. However, in the wild, life expectancy is much shorter, usually less than a year. Finally, deer mouse is a host for strain of hantavirus called Sin Nombre virus, which can be contracted by humans and causes an often fatal disease termed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Community Voices / AltaGas poses high risk

Climate change poses challenges for reservoir management
Snohomish PUD discusses how recent weather patterns narrow the margins of error for Spada Lake. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Tumwater’s historic oak tree protected by court order 
Community activists worked for more than a year and a half to protect a Garry oak tree in Tumwater, Washington, that the city estimates is 400 years old. A superior court judge ruled in late December that the city’s Historic Preservation Commission has the final word on what happens to the tree, not the city. Bellamy Paithorp reports. (KNKX) 

Who will pay to electrify North Coast LNG and mining projects? All of us, it turns out
Energy minister’s order could exempt North Coast transmission line customers from paying millions — and shift the cost to the rest of us. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Native plant seeds from critically endangered Garry Oak ecosystems to be preserved
Seeds from the meadowlands will be preserved in the event of an environmental disaster. Hope Lompe reports. (Gabriola Sounder) 

Democracy Watch

• In their words: An examination of statements Trump officials made about what led to Pretti’s death (AP) 
• A 250-year echo: ‘We’ve seen this before’ (ICT) 
• Trump administration threatens to block funds to Minnesota over trans athletes (Washington Post) 

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 PST Mon Jan 26 2026    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH  TUESDAY EVENING    
TUE  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, with gusts to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 2 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft  at 13 seconds. Rain in the afternoon.  
TUE NIGHT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds, SW 4 ft at 11 seconds and W 2 ft at  15 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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