Thursday, April 23, 2026

4/23 White-crowned sparrow, Nature Record, WA wolves, grey whales, 'ghost' gear, democracy 'watch.

 White-crowned Sparrow


White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-crowned Sparrows appear each winter over much of North America to grace our gardens and favorite trails (they live in parts of the West year-round). The smart black-and-white head, pale beak, and crisp gray breast combine for a dashing look – and make it one of the surest sparrow identifications in North America. Watch for flocks of these sparrows scurrying through brushy borders and overgrown fields, or coax them into the open with backyard feeders. As spring approaches, listen out for this bird’s thin, sweet whistle. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Poems for the Earth

Trump canceled the National Nature Assessment. Scientists will publish it anyway
Now independent and rebranded as The Nature Record, the assessment was first launched through an executive order signed by then-President Biden in Seattle. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

WA wolf numbers jump after slight decline
Washington’s wolf population grew by 17% last year, resuming an upward trend following a momentary decline in 2024. At the end of 2025, Washington had an estimated minimum wolf population of 270 individual animals living in 49 packs with 23 breeding pairs.  Eric Barker reports. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News) 

‘We're really worried’: 4 grey whales found dead off B.C. coast in 10 days 
Researchers believe dramatic decline in available prey in Arctic feeding grounds may be to blame. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Scuba divers clear Vancouver Island pier of abandoned fishing, crabbing gear 
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says between 2020 and 2025, it has invested more than $58.4 million to tackle ghost gear, which includes fishing nets, lines, traps, and rope. Since 2020, it has removed 2,563 tonnes of gear and more than 985 kilometres of rope from Canadian waters. Peter Ross, a senior scientist at the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, says ghost gear has been "a real thorn in the side of wildlife for a long time," citing the International Whaling Commission's estimate that 300,000 whales and dolphins die yearly from entanglement with fishing gear. Johna Baylon reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch
Everett reactivates Flock camera network after passage of new law (Everett Herald) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  132 PM PDT Wed Apr 22 2026    
THU
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 11 seconds.  
THU NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming N 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 5 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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Wednesday, April 22, 2026

4/22 Plainfin midshipman, rare ecosystem, BC ancient forest, WA coal plant, record=high temperatures, BP refinery, wind and solar projects, sea lions, democracy watch.

 

Plainfin midshipman

Plainfin midshipman Porichthys notatus
Plainfin midshipman are caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound and in embayments along the outer coast. This fish can breathe air when it is out of water and is bioluminescent during courtship. The prominent photopores are used by this nocturnal predator to attract prey. Plainfin midshipman range from Sitka, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay in southern Baja California. They are found from the intertidal to over 366 m (1,200 ft) in water depth. The plainfin midshipman can grow up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom photographer to feature in Seattle concert

Tending to Paradise
A rare prairie ecosystem shaped by humans in Washington State exemplifies a shift in how conservationists envision our relationship with the natural world. Emma Marris writes. (bioGraphic) 

The Forest Quietly Removed from BC’s Old-Growth Deferral List
Most of Vancouver Island has been logged. Now, one of the last ancient forests, in the Tsitika River watershed, is on the chopping block. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Washington’s last coal-fired plant still in limbo
The feds want to burn coal, the state doesn’t, the facility’s owners are caught in the middle. John Stang reports. (Columbia Insight) 

4 B.C. communities see record-high temperatures
Four British Columbia communities set or matched their daily high temperature records on Sunday as warm weather swept across parts of the province. (Canadian Press) 

BP refinery incident being inspected by state labor and air agencies 
The industrial accident at BP Cherry Point Refinery in Blaine on Saturday, April 18, is being inspected by multiple agencies, including the Northwest Clean Air Agency and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Annie Todd reports. (CDN) 

Judge Halts Trump Actions That Have Slowed Renewable Energy 
The Interior Department had imposed restrictions on wind and solar projects across the country, prompting developers to sue. Brad Plumer reports. (NY Times) 

Sea lions pack Seattle docks, signaling shift in Puget Sound ecosystem 
Sea lions are back in big numbers, crowding docks across Ballard and causing quite a raucous. Marine experts say the chaotic scene could point to something much bigger happening beneath the surface. Joe Gaydos with the SeaDoc Society says their size alone makes an impression. Lauren Donovan reports.(Fox13) 

Democracy Watch
  • ‘If my people': Here’s why the Bible passage Trump will read aloud is so potent and polarizing (AP) 
  • Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments (AP) 
  • Cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood fail in attempt to have Flock camera ruling vacated (Skagit Valley Herald) 
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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  119 PM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026    
WED
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  13 seconds.  
WED NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 12 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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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

4/21 Scotch broom, extreme weather watch, BC mine permits, BC electric ferries, gas prices, coyote parasites, Mel Tonasket, democracy watch.

Scotch Broom
 

Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius
Scotch broom is a perennial, many-branched, shrub ranging in height from 3 to 10 feet tall. This plant is on the Washington State quarantine list. It displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of grassland and open forest. It aggressively spreads to form monocultures, replacing desirable forage grasses and young trees. Seeds are toxic to livestock and horses. (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lopez residents bridge political divide

UW prof in political storm as Trump targets national weather lab
An expert on extreme weather, Shuyi Chen currently chairs the academic nonprofit that manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research. That means she and like-minded scientists are now in a battle with President Donald Trump. Daniel Beckman reports. (Seattle Times) 

Ex-consultants now drafting B.C. mine permit they once promoted
Former consultants helped advance the massive KSM mine in the private sector. Metadata shows they are now drafting its permit from inside the B.C. government. Stefan LabbĂ© reports. (BIV) 

Electric ferry aims to reduce underwater noise, but threats still remain for humpbacks in B.C.
3 humpback whales were found dead last fall in B.C., 2 died from vessel strikes. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Why Gas Prices Go Up Fast and Take So Long to Fall
Fuel station owners take some of the hit for consumers when oil prices surge. On the way down, they try to get their money back. Lydia DePillis reports. (NY Times) 

Outdoors Parasite found in Western WA coyotes puts dogs and humans at risk
Most cities across America coexist with coyotes, whether they know it or not, and the Seattle-Tacoma area is no exception. A new study by a team of University of Washington researchers recently has revealed that over one-third of the coyotes studied across Western Washington carry a deadly tapeworm that can be transmitted to pets and, in some cases, to humans. Gavin Feed reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Mel Tonasket reflects on 55 Years in Indian Country
Mel Tonasket says the modern history of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is defined by a single turning point: the decision to reject federal termination, and the decades of work that followed to rebuild tribal sovereignty and influence. Paul W. Taylor reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch
  • The Onion has agreed to a new deal to take over Infowars (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-  114 PM PDT Mon Apr 20 2026    
TUE
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain likely.  
TUE NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 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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Monday, April 20, 2026

4/20 Oregon grape, Nooksack flooding, BP Cherry Point explosion, BC DRIPA, Louisiana oil gas, spring Chinook fishing, B'ham I-5 rock, Lake Union shipwrecks, Hwy 20 opening, democracy watch.

Oregon grape
 
Oregon grape Berberis aquifolium
Oregon grape, or holly-leaved barberry, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall and 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. It has pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, exhibiting dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries. The berries are a part of the traditional diet of some indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest and the species serves as the state flower of Oregon. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Kidney health for all.

Can Nature Help Solve the Flood Threat Humans Created?
Constraining the Nooksack has had devastating, costly results. US officials aim to give it more space to flow. Tyler Olsen reports. (The Tyee) 

3 people injured in apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery near Ferndale
Three people were injured in an apparent explosion at BP Cherry Point refinery Saturday morning. Whatcom County Fire District 7, whose service area includes the Cherry Point industrial area, said on its social media its firefighters provided “medical transport of three patients to a local hospital” with at least one seriously injured patient and two patients with lesser injuries. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

B.C. government pulls back on DRIPA suspension again amid First Nations opposition
Province walked back proposed amendments to the law again after public appeal from First Nations leaders. Simon Little reports. (CBC) 

The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana
The Supreme Court handed a win Friday to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana. The unanimous procedural decision gives the companies a new day in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay upward of $740 million to clean up damage to the state’s coastline, one of multiple similar lawsuits. Lindsay Whitehurts and Jack Brook report. (Associated Press) 

Skagit River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
The Skagit River will open Monday to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook salmon from the Division Street Bridge in Mount Vernon to Gilligan Creek east of Sedro-Woolley. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife the fishery will run through May 15. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Bellingham I-5 rock to be removed in coming weeks
The time has come for a famed Bellingham landmark to move: the painted rock on Interstate 5, marking the “almost there” point in many drives north for Whatcom County residents. Annie Todd reports. (CDN) 

Hidden in plain sight: Robots reveal ‘shipwreck city’ beneath Lake Union
A robotics specialist documents Lake Union's shipwrecks in waters too polluted and dangerous for most divers; historians say that exploration is only just beginning. Dalton Day reports. (KING) 

Work to reopen Highway 20 over North Cascades continues
Highway 20 over the North Cascades is getting close to reopening. According to a Thursday news release from the state Department of Transportation, the eastside and westside crews clearing the highway of snow met Tuesday at milepost 157. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Democracy Watch
  • WA bail reform proposal sparks controversy, public safety concerns (Olympian) 
  • Ordered free, still locked up: Judges fume as Trump administration holds ICE detainees (LA 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-  210 PM PDT Sun Apr 19 2026    
MON
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  12 seconds.  
MON NIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 10 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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Friday, April 17, 2026

4/17 Frangipani, bird migration, Joel Connelly, shrimping, sprawl, gas flaring, violet tunicate, NPR donation, wolves, seal whiskers, 'Big Bertha,' gray whales, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Frangipani

Frangipani
Plumeria, commonly known as frangipani, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae. They are native in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil and as far north as Florida, but are often grown as ornamentals in tropical regions, especially in Hawaii, as well as hot desert climates in the Arabian Peninsula with irrigation. (Wikipedia(

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Should hunting be allowed for mountain goats?


Dramatic rise in bird migration over Washington state prompts 'Lights Out' efforts to protect millions
Washington's night sky will be filled with millions of migrating birds in the coming nights! According to BirdCast data, on the night of April 16, over 165 million birds will migrate across the country, and around 845,000 birds in Washington. Scientists encourage joining the "Lights Out" movement by turning off or dimming non-essential lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during critical migration periods. Ashley Ruiz reports. (KING) 

Joel Connelly, Iconic Northwest Journalist, dies at 78
Joel Connelly, considered by many to be the Dean of Seattle political journalism, died on April 15, the victim of a long battle with diabetes. He resided for many years in Madrona neighborhood and on Whidbey Island. Oddly, as a tough journalist, he was widely loved both by friends and sources, as well as by residents of Horizon House, and particularly his caretakers, where he courageously lived his last few years as his body wore out. David Brewster writes. (Post Alley) 

Shrimping closed for 2nd straight year in waters east of Kitsap
Recreational fishing for spot shrimp will not open in the waters east of Kitsap County in 2026, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced, a rare closure for the second consecutive season due to declining populations found during state testing that one scientist called "unprecedented." David Nelson reports. (Kitsap Sun) 

Living in the Sprawl
As housing developments devour open space in the western United States, can local governments stave off habitat loss? Ben Goldfarb reports. (bioGraphic) 

Malfunctioning Canadian LNG terminal burned more gas than estimated 2024 global record
Exclusive: The LNG Canada plant — the country’s first major LNG facility, owned by Shell, Petronas, Korea Gas, PetroChina and Mitsubishi — is one of the highest sources of global emissions for flaring, undermining claims that Canada produces the cleanest natural gas in the world. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

The Slimy BC Invader That Came from the West
The violet tunicate is a hermaphroditic reproducer that shellfish farmers have been blasting off oysters for nearly a century on the West Coast. Grace Kennedy reports. (The Tyee) 

NPR receives $113 million from two donors after federal funding cut 
NPR announced a $113 million windfall on Thursday from two charitable donors including billionaire philanthropist Connie Ballmer, a former NPR board member, who gave $80 million, the largest gift by a living donor in the organization’s history. An anonymous donor gave an additional $33 million. Scott Nover reports. (Washington Post) 

Study: Wolves return might impact ecosystems less than previously thought
Predator effects on habitat are real but context-dependent. How do they apply in the Columbia River Basin? Eli Francovich reports. (Columbia Insight) 

How seals' whiskers make them master underwater hunters
A harbor seal sports about a hundred whiskers — which are more than just for show. They provide the animals with key intel on their surroundings. Seals can use their whiskers to pull all sorts of information out of disturbances in the water. They can determine the direction in which something has traveled. Lab studies suggest seals might even distinguish between the movements of different types of fish. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR)

Landslide mitigation to protect salmon habitat begins on Vancouver Island
A First Nation on Vancouver Island has partnered with an environmental group to try to mitigate the harms of a massive landslide — known locally as "Big Bertha" — on salmon-bearing streams in the area. (Canadian Press) 

Gray whales of the Salish Sea
A relatively high number of gray whale deaths in Washington this year has brought attention to one of the Salish Sea's most prominent large whale species. A new, comprehensive overview from the Cascadia Research Collective looks at the status and trends of our local grays, including where they are most likely to be spotted and the threats they face, such as climate change. John Calambokidis writes. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Democracy Watch
  • Federal agency approves concept for Trump’s plan for a Triumphal Arch in Washington (AP) 
  • Trump rails against court decision that once again stalls his White House ballroom project (AP) 
Salish Sea News Week in Review, April 17, 2026: Haiku Poetry Day, tire toxin, WA flood relief, Climate Commitment Act, BC DRIPA amendments, climate change cause, grizzlies, floating hotel, BC toxic drug crisis.

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-  221 AM PDT Fri Apr 17 2026    
TODAY
 S wind around 5 kt, backing to NE early this afternoon,  backing to N late. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  8 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT
 E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of rain.  
SUN
 E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.

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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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Thursday, April 16, 2026

4/16 Finch, Northbound I-5, island outage, floating hotel, forest thinning, stream buffers, Hanford cleanup, BC drugs, pufferball.

House Finch [Greg Lavety]



House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 
House Finches are native to open and desert habitats, but have expanded their range, naturally and through introductions, and now can be found in almost any kind of human-altered habitat. They prefer edge habitat and are absent from dense coniferous forests. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The ocean is not an energy zone

Northbound I-5 cleared for traffic
Northbound I-5 south of Bellingham was opened to traffic Wednesday afternoon after the road was cleared of approximately 7,000 cubic yards of landslide material – comparable, according to WDOT, to filling two Olympic sized swimming pools. (WDOT) 

San juan County-Anacorted power estored
Puget Sound Energy restored service to accounts on Fidalgo Island near the WSF terminal in Anacortes and all of SanJuan County after 8 hour beginning at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The cause of the outage was listed as "equipment failure" by the utility. (Puget Sound Energy/OPALCO) 

Vancouver approves 250-room floating hotel in Coal Harbour
Sunborn Group, a Finnish hospitality company in partnership with local seaplane terminal Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre, received approval from the Vancouver City Council to build a low-carbon vessel with 250 hotel rooms and 200 new jobs in Coal Harbor. (CBC) 

Bellingham approves deal with logging firm to thin trees in protected forest
Bellingham City Council has approved a contract with Janicki Logging and Construction Co. to thin about 80 acres of Douglas fir in the 148-acre North Beaver Creek Preserve on the north slopes of Galbraith Mountain. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

Port of Port Angeles considers court filing on stream buffer expansion  
Port of Port Angeles commissioners signaled support for filing or joining an amicus curiae brief in a legal challenge to a state rule expanding buffers on non-fish-bearing perennial streams that flow into fish-bearing waterways, citing potential economic impacts and questions about how the rule was adopted. The suit challenging the rule change was filed by the Washington Farm Forestry Association and Washington Forest Protection Association. Paula Hunt reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Feds want to cut Hanford cleanup budget
Count efforts to address dangers at the Hanford nuclear site as another potential casualty of America’s global military ambitions. The Trump administration wants to cut $400 million from Hanford’s 2027 cleanup budget as part of a push to add a half trillion dollars to the national defense budget by slashing Hanford funding from a record $3.3 billion to about $2.9 billion. John Strong reports. (Columbia Insight) 

BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis Hits a Grim 10-Year Anniversary
More than 18,000 British Columbians have been killed and there’s no end in sight. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee) 

Pass the Pufferball
California sea lions and other marine mammals engage in complex play that prepares them for life, improves their well-being—and may be just plain fun. Sarah Gilman reports. (bioGraphic) 


Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  217 PM PDT Wed Apr 15 2026    
THU
 W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
THU NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 9 seconds.

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.


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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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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

4/15 Flounder, climate change, fuel cost, allergy season, grizzlies, agritourism, lead exposure, dump water monitoring, crab science, democracy watch.

Starry Flounder


Starry Flounder Platichthys stellatus
The starry flounder ranges from the Seas of Japan and Okhotsk up to the Rom Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands south to Los Angeles Harbor. They are most commonly found on mud, sand, or gravel bottoms from 0 to 375 m (1,230 ft). Starry flounder are most common above 146 m (479 ft). They are usually found near shore and often enter brackish or fresh water. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Former Anacortes candidates hope their campaigns model a new path

Bessent Questions the Cause of Climate Change and Its Economic Toll
The Treasury secretary said it is “difficult to deconstruct” the reasons for global warming, which he described as a belief of the “elite.” Alan Rappeport and Lisa Friedman report. (NY Times) 

Seattle diesel tops $7 per gallon, a record, amid Iran blockade
Statewide diesel prices Friday hit an average of $6.96 per gallon, shattering a Washington record of $6.53 set just a couple of weeks before. Regular fuel prices are still hovering below the state record, with a gallon of unleaded Monday averaging $5.39. Jayati Ramakrishnan and Caitlyn Freeman report. (Seattle Times)  See also: Carney temporarily suspending federal fuel excise tax on gas, diesel and aviation fuel 10 cents on a litre of gas, 4 cents on litre of diesel removed starting Monday Peter Zimonjic reports. (CBC) 

It’s not your imagination — allergy season arrived early in Western WA this year
It’s not just your imagination. According to their 2026 allergy capitals report, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America found that due to climate change, growing seasons now start 20 days earlier and last 10 days longer than they did 30 years ago. Gavin Feek reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Can one of the most endangered grizzly bear populations on the continent be brought back?
In the cross-border North Cascades mountain range, First Nations in B.C. are working to restore an ecological and cultural relationship with grizzlies. Cameron Fenton reports. (The Narwhal) 

In Skagit's agritourism debate, small farmers' livelihoods and preserving farmland at odds
After public hearing, Skagit officials will deliberate on the code April 28. Sophia Gates reports. (CDN) 

Seattle battery manufacturer fined over $200K for exposing workers to lead
Washington state Department of Labor and Industries imposed a nearly $225,000 fine on Dyno Battery for for exposing workers to lead levels more than four times the safety limit and failing to fix the violations. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Monitoring wells to be installed at illegal Cowichan dump to assess risk
The mountain of construction waste and household trash on Cowichan Tribes land has been piling up for years, sparking fears about contamination of groundwater and the Cowichan River. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Swinomish, PNW-led research rebuilds knowledge of a critical fishery
Experts from the Swinomish Tribe and beyond have teamed up to uncover the secrets of the state’s most profitable fishery: Dungeness crab. Several questions about the crabs’ biology, numbers and how they are affected by water conditions have yet to be answered with certainty in the Puget Sound region. Luisa Loi reports. (La Conner Community News) 

Democracy Watch
  • Appeals court orders judge to end contempt investigation of Trump administration deportation flights (AP) 
  • Justice Department moves to toss seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys (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-  247 PM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026   
WED
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  10 seconds. Showers.  
WED NIGHT
 NW wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 10 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.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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