3/5 Skunk cabbage, BC smugglers, Aboriginal rights, killer whale moms, high seas, quakes, democracy watch

 

Skunk cabbage

Skunk cabbage Lysichiton americanus
Skunk cabbage is a perennial fleshy herb from upright underground stems with a skunk-like odor which grows in marshes, swamps, streambanks, and forested wetlands. This plant grows from Alaska to California (including British Columbia) and east to northern Idaho and western Montana. This plant grows on both sides of the Cascades crest and at the coast in Washington. (WA Native Plant Society)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lummi Nation appeals for consultation rights in British Columbia port expansion

Trump admin hands legal victory to alleged B.C. defeat device smugglers
'There's no following the law, there's no consistency' says critic of DOJ's environmental law enforcement
Liam Britten reports. (CBC) 

Canada signs Aboriginal rights, fishing and marine management agreements with Musqueam
The federal government has released details of recent agreements with the Musqueam Indian Band recognizing Aboriginal title over an area potentially covering much of Metro Vancouver. The agreements do not have any effect on privately owned land, according to the government. (Canadian Press) 

Killer whale moms struggle to regain body fat with more offspring
Drone photography reveals insights into northern resident orca motherhood. One and a half years of pregnancy, up to two years of nursing, then hunting and sharing food with their adult children who never leave. Anand Ram reports. (CBC) 

The sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study finds
Climate change’s rising seas may threaten tens of millions more people than scientists and government planners originally thought because of mistaken research assumptions on how high coastal waters already are, a new study said. Seth Borenstein and Annika Hammerschlag report. (Associated Press) 

Here’s Where You Don’t Want to Be Living in a Quake
Vancouver’s West End apartments face a deadly reckoning. There are solutions.vPreetish Kakoty and Carlos Molina Hutt report. (The Tyee) 

Democracy Watch

• Judge rules companies are entitled to refunds for Trump tariffs overturned by the Supreme Court (AP) 
• Bill barring law enforcement from wearing masks inches closer to becoming Washington law (KNKX) 
• Body camera footage shows federal response to Portland ICE protests (OPB) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  159 PM PST Wed Mar 4 2026    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING    
THU  W wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain in  the morning, then rain in the afternoon.  
THU NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 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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3/4 Hemlock, BC logging, regulating data centers, Hummingbird Hill, Nanaimo trail, Surrey Speak, frog breeding, democracy watch.

Western Hemlock

   
Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla
Western Hemlock occurs from the southern coast of Alaska to the northern coast of California and the Cascade Range of central Oregon.  It also occurs in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, Montana and Idaho.  Western Hemlock is considered the climax species in most of our area.  That means that, in theory, if forests are left alone and allowed to grow undisturbed indefinitely, Western Hemlock would be the dominant species. The genus name “Tsuga” comes from Japanese words meaning “mother” and “tree.” The species name heterophylla, literally means different leaves. (Native Plants of the Pacific NW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  OPALCO asks to roll back restrictions on Decatur solar site

‘No reason on earth’ to log endangered Canadian rainforest: scientist
Forestry companies hold licences to log in Canada’s inland temperate rainforest, home to endangered caribou and rare lichens. That makes a proposal for a new provincial park more urgent than ever. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal) 

It’s lights out for WA Legislature’s effort to regulate data centers
The bill died Monday amid a barrage of industry opposition. Supporters said it was a crucial step toward protecting the grid and utility ratepayers from the energy-hungry facilities. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Hummingbird Hill in Metchosin to be a bird sanctuary, research centre
The 21-hectare Hummingbird Hill will serve as the Rocky Point Bird Observatory headquarters. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

A Nanaimo trail project reveals how B.C. fails to protect rare ecosystems
Trail construction in Nanaimo, B.C., dug up a rare slimleaf onion patch, exposing the lack of protection for endangered Garry oak ecosystems. Amber Bracken reports. (The Narwhal) 

Inside a Surrey ‘Local News’ Site Run by AI
Surrey Speak published fake news about a mayoral candidate and an AI-generated picture of a real murder victim. Zak Vescera reports. (The Tyee) 

How people are helping breeding frogs dodge cars
Meet the volunteers shuttling northern red-legged frogs across a 4-lane highway in Oregon to lay eggs. Sarah Trent reports. (High Country News) 

Democracy Watch

• Scientists create autism panel, citing RFK Jr.’s politicization of research (Washington Post) 
• FACT FOCUS: Misrepresented images spread after US and Israel strike Iran (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  125 AM PST Tue Mar 3 2026    
WED  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 5 seconds and W 8 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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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) 

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-  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) 

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-  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? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  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) 

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-  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? 
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-  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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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