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| Snowy owl [Wikipedia] |
Snowy owl Bubo scandiacus
The snowy owl, also known as the polar owl, the white owl and the Arctic owl, is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. (Wikipedia)
Today's top story in Salish Current: Bellingham Police’s new drone program takes flight
Vehicle restrictions in place at Orcas Island ferry terminal
****November 10, 2026 UPDATE: Repairs to our Orcas Island ferry terminal transfer span are expected to take up to two weeks. Design work is complete, and crews will use bolted connections and steel plates instead of welding to speed up repairs. A contractor will begin installing scaffolding Tuesday, Nov. 10. We are exploring options to shorten the timeline and allow larger vehicles to cross the bridge before final repairs are complete. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. (WSDOT)
Ocean Shores declares emergency after storm erodes shoreline, threatens homes
The city of Ocean Shores declared a state of emergency after last Saturday's storm, as high winds and a storm surge knocked out power and threatened homes and public infrastructure. The declaration is expected to remain in place for weeks, with king tides forecast to hit the Washington coast the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Drew Mikkelsen reports. (KING)
Realistic? Conservationists call for international reforms to protect salmon
As the 40-year-old Pacific Salmon Treaty is debated, some want to upend the delicate balance it maintains. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight)
‘A gold rush’: 1,618 mineral tenures staked in proposed Indigenous protected areas across B.C. since 2019
Buying out mineral claims in proposed Indigenous protected areas could cost millions. Cameron Fenton and Kira Lamont report. (The Narwhal)
Washington residents call on Gov. Ferguson, Director Sixkiller, and state agencies to oppose Pacific Link Pipeline and supertankers
Between October 5 and November 4, 2026, 1,240 people, including 1,052 residents of Washington State, signed Friends of the San Juans’ petition calling on Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller to use every available regulatory, diplomatic, technical, and legal avenue to oppose the proposed Pacific Link Pipeline. (Friends of the San Juans)
No newts is bad news, environmental group says after Crater Lake survey
Mazama newt populations have plummeted, but efforts to restore the lake’s only native amphibian species continue. (OPB)
After statewide tour, report details flaws in WA mental health system
A report published this week about involuntary commitment, backed by King County’s top prosecutor and a range of legal and mental health organizations, boils the issue down to three main problems — and pushes legislators to make investments outside of forcing people into treatment. The report followed a two-year “listening tour,” spearheaded by the King County prosecutor’s office and the Bellingham-based Chuckanut Health Foundation. Jayati Ramakrishnan reports. (Seattle Times)
Skagit County Commissioners Adopt Restrictions on Data Centers
All data centers are now prohibited in unincorporated areas except for the Bayview Ridge light and heavy industrial zones, subject to additional regulations and limitations set forth in Skagit County Code Chapter 14. Size and electrical load limitations restrict data centers to small-scale operations, such as typical business server rooms. (Skagit County)
Democracy Watch
****November 10, 2026 UPDATE: Repairs to our Orcas Island ferry terminal transfer span are expected to take up to two weeks. Design work is complete, and crews will use bolted connections and steel plates instead of welding to speed up repairs. A contractor will begin installing scaffolding Tuesday, Nov. 10. We are exploring options to shorten the timeline and allow larger vehicles to cross the bridge before final repairs are complete. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. (WSDOT)
Ocean Shores declares emergency after storm erodes shoreline, threatens homes
The city of Ocean Shores declared a state of emergency after last Saturday's storm, as high winds and a storm surge knocked out power and threatened homes and public infrastructure. The declaration is expected to remain in place for weeks, with king tides forecast to hit the Washington coast the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Drew Mikkelsen reports. (KING)
Realistic? Conservationists call for international reforms to protect salmon
As the 40-year-old Pacific Salmon Treaty is debated, some want to upend the delicate balance it maintains. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight)
‘A gold rush’: 1,618 mineral tenures staked in proposed Indigenous protected areas across B.C. since 2019
Buying out mineral claims in proposed Indigenous protected areas could cost millions. Cameron Fenton and Kira Lamont report. (The Narwhal)
Washington residents call on Gov. Ferguson, Director Sixkiller, and state agencies to oppose Pacific Link Pipeline and supertankers
Between October 5 and November 4, 2026, 1,240 people, including 1,052 residents of Washington State, signed Friends of the San Juans’ petition calling on Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller to use every available regulatory, diplomatic, technical, and legal avenue to oppose the proposed Pacific Link Pipeline. (Friends of the San Juans)
No newts is bad news, environmental group says after Crater Lake survey
Mazama newt populations have plummeted, but efforts to restore the lake’s only native amphibian species continue. (OPB)
After statewide tour, report details flaws in WA mental health system
A report published this week about involuntary commitment, backed by King County’s top prosecutor and a range of legal and mental health organizations, boils the issue down to three main problems — and pushes legislators to make investments outside of forcing people into treatment. The report followed a two-year “listening tour,” spearheaded by the King County prosecutor’s office and the Bellingham-based Chuckanut Health Foundation. Jayati Ramakrishnan reports. (Seattle Times)
Skagit County Commissioners Adopt Restrictions on Data Centers
All data centers are now prohibited in unincorporated areas except for the Bayview Ridge light and heavy industrial zones, subject to additional regulations and limitations set forth in Skagit County Code Chapter 14. Size and electrical load limitations restrict data centers to small-scale operations, such as typical business server rooms. (Skagit County)
Democracy Watch
- Democrats Plan Investigation Into Climate and Science Cuts Under Trump (NY Times)
Salish Sea News Week in Review 11/13/26: Friday the 13th, BC sharks,
2026 fire season, global warming, paper mill suits, PSE LNG, emission
claims, tracking cormorants, floating wave-energy centers, selling
public lands., Pacific Salmon Treaty reform.
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Current?
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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 1245 AM PST Fri Nov 13 2026
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 8 ft at 19 seconds. Rain likely until late afternoon, then a chance of rain late.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 10 ft at 19 seconds. Rain.
SAT SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 17 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to S 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 7 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.
SUN S wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 11 to 13 ft, building to 14 to 16 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 5 seconds and W 10 ft at 16 seconds. Rain.
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca- 1245 AM PST Fri Nov 13 2026
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 8 ft at 19 seconds. Rain likely until late afternoon, then a chance of rain late.
TONIGHT SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 6 seconds and W 10 ft at 19 seconds. Rain.
SAT SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 9 ft at 17 seconds. Rain.
SAT NIGHT SE wind 25 to 30 kt, veering to S 20 to 25 kt after midnight. Gusts up to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 13 ft. Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 6 seconds and W 7 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.
SUN S wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 11 to 13 ft, building to 14 to 16 ft in the afternoon. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 5 seconds and W 10 ft at 16 seconds. Rain.
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"Salish Sea News
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