10/21 Golden-crowned sparrow, oil tanker terminal, SRKW population, Alberta separation, Medicaid cuts.

Golden-crowned sparrow [Gregg Thompson]

 

Golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla 
The Golden-crowned Sparrow has bright breeding plumage with a bright yellow crown flanked with bold, black bars. Golden-crowned Sparrows are most commonly considered a migrant and wintering bird in Washington, and are one of the most common wintering sparrows in western Washington, especially on the coast and up the Columbia Gorge as far as Lyle. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom County’s Kidney Moonshot: A goal within reach

Elbows up in Washington state over Canada’s proposed oil tanker terminal on border
Critics searching for leverage against pipeline project that would carry 1M barrels of oil a day to waiting supertankers in British Columbia. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard)  ‘A whole order of magnitude greater’: San Juan responders prepare for unprecedented megatanker traffic. Sam Fletcher reports. (Salish Current) 

Southern resident orca population inches up, but still low
The latest census of the critically endangered orcas found 76 as of July 1, up from 74 during the same period a year ago. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Alberta Gives Its Answer: ‘The Separation Stuff Is Crap’
Voters soundly reject pursuing a split from Canada. But anti-immigrant proposals were winning. Leah Hennig reports. (The Tyee) 

WA hospitals anticipate losing billions in revenue from Medicaid cuts
New work requirements take effect Jan. 1. Healthcare leaders say this will affect all patients, not just those on Medicaid. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

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-  202 PM PDT Tue Oct 20 2026    
WED  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 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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10/20 Blackeye goby, Bill C-39, Dene Kʼéh Kusān protection, AK bear baiting, MONA climate change, BC daylight savings time, humpback struck, The Digger, democracy watch.

Blackeye Goby [REEF]

 
Blackeye Goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii
The Blackeye Goby is found through the Pacific coasts of the US and Canada including southern California to British Columbia, and is present but uncommon near Alaska. They are typically between 1-4 inches and can grow to a maximum size of 6 inches. Blackeye Gobies are found on sandy areas near rocky outcroppings or structures like docks. They like to make dens in sand or silt, or they may occupy crevices or submerged objects like bottles, jars, or tires. (REEF)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A protest in pictures: Whatcom County says ‘No Kings’

What does Bill C-39 mean for First Nations? Senators question Carney government 
The controversial bill reshapes how Indigenous communities weigh in on major mining, oil and gas and infrastructure projects in Canada — and shortens timelines for environmental review. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

B.C. election casts uncertainty over future of Indigenous protected area 
Dene Kʼéh Kusān, a massive proposed protected area in Kaska territory, would bring the province closer to the BC NDP's conservation goals. But a change in government could mean a change in priorities. Cameron Fenton reports. (The Narwhal) 

Trump administration moves to reopen Alaska national preserves to bear baiting by sport hunters
Sport hunters will be able to bait bears in Alaska national preserves, under a final rule the Trump administration announced on Friday. Bear baiting, which involves use of food stockpiles to attract bears that are then killed and harvested, is a controversial practice. The rule, proposed in March, overturns bans by the Biden and Obama administrations of the practice within National Park Service units. Yereth Rosen reports. (Washington State Standard) /

WWU artists and scientists collaborate to provoke dialogue on climate change
A 6-foot beautiful but broken sea star ravaged by wasting disease. A contour map overlaid with poetic riffs on geologic time. Photographs of neon rectangles illuminating a dense forest to highlight the effects of forest fire. A jewel box installation of a kelp forest. An everyday business suit crafted from a silver emergency wildfire shelter. The artwork in “Surge: A Geography of Flow” at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner comes out of a collaboration between visual artists and climate scientists exploring how art can spark conversations about climate change’s impact on the landscape. Jennifer Nerad reports. (WWU News) 

For thousands of workers, lifelong time-zone math will go out the window when B.C. stops changing clocks
Federal employees among many facing schedule changes as B.C. moves to permanent daylight time Nov. 1. Rhianna Schmunk reports. (CBC) 

Humpback whale struck by BC Ferries vessel near Sunshine Coast, researchers fear collision was fatal
BC Ferries confirmed the Queen of Surrey was travelling between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale when it collided with the whale in waters south of Grace Island. Jeff Lawrence reports. (CHEK) 

Sympathy for the Digger
Tom Cruise’s oil tycoon blames climate change on consumers. I don’t entirely disagree. Nathan Gilles writes. (Columbia Insight) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Dept. charges 28 in California with voting-related crimes (NY Times) 
• Alberta polls close in separation vote testing Carney’s push for Canadian unity (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-  204 PM PDT Mon Oct 19 2026    
TUE  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  5 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 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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10/19 Slippery jacks, Stillaguamish Tribe restoration, Tranquil Creek restoration, emerald ash borer, healing bleached corals, gentrified seafood, smugglers, pirates, democracy watch.

Slippery Jacks Suillus lutes

 
Slippery Jacks Suillus spp.
Slimy or sticky caps are the giveaway. Many have a partial veil or ring on the stem. Strongly associated with specific conifers — pine, larch, or Douglas-fir depending on species. Edible but slimy texture puts many foragers off. Peel the cap skin first. (Salish Mushrooms)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Campus food pantries see increased demand as students struggle with basic needs

Stillaguamish Tribe wraps up its largest-ever salmon restoration project
A final meeting between project managers and tribe members last week wrapped up the Stillaguamish Tribe’s largest project to date, restoring more than 230 acres of floodplain along two miles of the North Fork Stillaguamish River. The Trafton Floodplain Restoration Project removed multiple agricultural levees and cut a side channel through the land that was artificially leveled in the 1960s, northwest of the small unincorporated community of Trafton, east of Arlington along Highway 530. Taylor Scott Richmond reports. (Everett Herald) 

The helicopter-powered quest to save salmon in B.C.
An ambitious restoration project in Tla-o-qui-aht territory is using engineered logjams to rebuild salmon habitat in the degraded Tranquil Creek watershed. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal) 

Invasive beetle arrives in eastern Washington, threatens ash trees
The emerald ash borer, one of the most destructive invasive pests in the nation, has been detected in multiple trees outside of Walla Walla in eastern Washington. While it’s the second statewide detection of the beetle, it’s the first time state officials found it infesting trees. In August, officials confirmed identification of an emerald ash borer on a car windshield in Vancouver. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

To Heal These Bleached Corals, All It Took Was a Little Touch
After sick corals were placed in direct contact with healthy ones of the same genetic makeup, they recovered at “incredible” speed, scientists found. Raymond Zhong reports. (NY Times) 

How Climate Change Is Causing ‘the Gentrification of Seafood’ 
As environmental forces make fishing and harvesting more costly, the price of once-everyday fish has ballooned. Julia O'Malley reports. (NY Times) 

Smugglers have snuck across porous WA-B.C. border for centuries. What's new? 
New history book releasing Oct. 20 follows modern example of age-old crime. Annie Todd writes. (CDN) 

Mossback's Northwest: Pirates of the Salish Sea
In the late 19th and early 20th century, the Salish Sea from Victoria BC to Olympia was filled with elusive pirates on a decades-long crime spree. Knute Berger writes. (CascadePBS) 

Democracy Watch

• Hundreds in Bellingham rally to protect the right to vote during No Kings event (Bellingham Herald) 
• The Greening of Vancouver City Hall (The Tyee) 

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-  136 PM PDT Sun Oct 18 2026    
MON  E wind around 5 kt in the morning, becoming light and  variable. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  NE wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 10 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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10/16 Bushtit, cruise ships and whales, BC NDP old growth, Eleanor Stoops award, Docktober. Snake R walleyes, PS Shipyard, democracy watch, week in review.

Bushtit 

Bushtit  Psaltriparus minimus
The Bushtit is a tiny, gray bird with a long tail. It has a brownish wash on its forehead and a tiny, thin bill. Bushtits inhabit mixed coniferous and deciduous areas with shrubby growth. They commonly use suburban areas and city parks, as well as young coniferous forests with an open canopy. They are mostly found west of the Cascades. They glean food from leaves and twigs, often hanging upside-down to get at the undersides of leaves. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Facing multimillion-dollar shortfalls, county candidates pitch efficiencies and alternatives

Despite efforts, Northwest cruise ships collide with whales, climate
Cruise ship season wrapped up Sunday in Seattle, with close to 1 million people boarding a cruise ship in 2026, a record number, according to the Port of Seattle. Moving these floating resorts through the sea can have big impacts – from hitting whales to heating the planet. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

B.C. NDP backsliding on commitment to preserving old growth, scientists say
Ecologist Karen Price spent months as part of an advisory panel tasked with identifying the old growth forest in B.C. most at risk and in need of protection.  Now she's watching the province auction off some of those areas to logging companies. Tara Carman reports. (CBC) 

Stewardship starts with inspiration
Florian Graner and Laura Tucker both say they came to their current line of work by accident. Graner, a cinematographer and executive director of Sound Water Stewards of Island County, gave the keynote speech at Wednesday’s annual Stewardship Breakfast, hosted by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Tucker, who was presented with this year’s Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award on Wednesday, also harbored an early interest in biology. Christy Carley reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Docktober invites folks to join citizen scientists in peeking under docks
Luan Roberts' mission is to get more folks involved in the emerging citizen science known as “dock fouling” with Dock of the Month Club meetups around Puget Sound. This month, she’s inviting everyone to join the Doctober global bioblitz to document wildlife living under docks worldwide. Ian McCluskey reports. (OPB) 

Walleye numbers in the Snake River are increasing rapidly. That could be a problem for salmon and steelhead
Scientists are seeing way more invasive walleye in the Snake River. That could mean trouble for salmon. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

US Navy to Move Forward on $15 Billion Puget Sound Shipyard Expansion
Until the upgrade is complete, Washington-based Ford-class supercarriers that need drydock maintenance will need to sail all the way to Virginia. Peter Suciu reports. (The National Interest) 

Democracy Watch

• Amazon, Microsoft and T-Mobile among top donors to Trump’s ballroom (Seattle Times) 
• Trump administration sues California to block state from counting alleged noncitizen mail-in ballots (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/16/26: Feral cats, Olympia protection, Comox drought, Elwha land transfer, whale entanglements, SRKW population, Vancouver cruise ships, BC NDP enviro record, seawater mining, ship-whale collisions, Docktober.

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-  218 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NE late this morning,  backing to NW this afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW 10 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SW 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  11 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 11 seconds.  
SUN  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  12 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


10/15 Hooded nudibranch, BC NDP enviro record, mining seawater, hunting and hiking, sea blob.

Hooded nudibranch [Drew Collins]

 

Hooded nudibranch Melibe leonina
The Hooded nudibranch looks like a jellyfish but is actually a sea slug. They can grow to be about 3 to 4 inches long and are characterized by an imposing hood which is lined with inward-facing, short tentacles. The oral hood is used as a net to catch prey and help them to move through the water. The hooded nudibranch can often be found living in eelgrass meadows, a habitat that provides them with food and shelter from prey. (Sea Doc Society)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Commentary: San Juan County council candidate’s approach to the budget

Fact-checking the B.C. NDP's environmental record
The B.C. NDP campaign released its environmental commitments over the weekend. During the last campaign two years ago, the party made pledges on everything from methane emissions to habitat protection to preserving old-growth forests. Here's how they fared. Tara Carman reports. (CBC) 

Mining seawater? Northwest researchers see a motherlode of critical minerals in the waves
Salt may be the first mineral that comes to mind when we think about seawater, but in every drop, there are actually dozens of elements and compounds. Calcium, silicon, copper, uranium and even silver and gold are all there, albeit in trace amounts. Given the sheer volume of the oceans, even trace amounts could add up to significant quantities — if we could get them out of the water. Yes Burns reports. (OPB) 

How hikers and hunters can coexist on Washington public lands this season
As fall progresses, so does hunting in the Pacific Northwest. Hikers and hunters will coexist on Washington’s public lands more so than at any other time of year. Gavin Feek reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

This Brainless Sea Blob Has No Ears, but It Feels Sound
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum examined sea squirts and how they show behavioral responses to low-frequency, vibroacoustic stimuli. They found that sea squirts responded with contractions to stimuli between 50 and 800 Hertz. Ted Malone reports. (AZ Animals) 

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-  146 PM PDT Wed Oct 14 2026    
THU  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds.  
THU NIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 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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10/14 Pink mountain heather, orca population, trees value, BC cruise ships, salary survey, 'lost' species, democracy watch.

Pink Mountain Heather

 
Pink Mountain Heather Phyllodoce empertriformis
Pink Mountain Heather is found in mountainous regions of western North America in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. Its southern range includes the Klamath Range in northern California and Oregon. Phyllodoce empetriformis is a low matting shrub with distinctive leaves which roll under themselves so tightly they resemble pine needles. It bears attractive flowers in shades of pink and purple. This common (in its native bioregion) evergreen alpine shrub bears its red-purple flower clustered at the end of the stem in leaf axils. (Calscape)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  ‘A whole order of magnitude greater’: San Juan responders prepare for unprecedented megatanker traffic

Southern resident orca population increases by two; no adult deaths reported in latest census
Four new calves were reported during the recent census year, ending in July, but only two of them have survived. That raises the official population count to 76 whales in 2026, as reported by the Center for Whale Research in its annual census report. If this rate of population growth could be sustained, the endangered orcas might be on a path to recovery. But, given their history, that remains just a hope. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

Trees as Public Health Infrastructure
New research shows that meeting tree canopy goals could prevent more than 67,000 premature deaths in the United States.Ashley Braun reports. (bioGraphic) 

Vancouver sees record-setting number of cruise ship passenger visits in 2026, expects growth next year
Vancouver’s port authority is anticipating even more growth in 2027 after a record-setting year for cruise ship tourism in the city, which the authority says injected more than $1 billion into the local economy. Arden McLeod reports. (CBC) 

Gov. Ferguson calls for salary survey after WA ferry sickout
After a sickout crippled Washington’s ferry system last week, Gov. Bob Ferguson ordered a new evaluation of its engineers’ salaries ahead of wage negotiations with union workers next summer. Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Nevada scientist among those logging ‘lost’ species as fewer endangered species are listed
Across Nevada, 20 modern animals, from towering American bison to diminutive Pyramid Lake pebblesnails, that once called the region home have been extirpated. Some species continue to live in other areas; others were endemic to Nevada and are now extinct. Nearly 50 more of the state’s plants and animals, listed on the federal endangered species list or recognized as threatened, aren’t far behind. Another nearly 600 plants and animals have a half dozen or fewer population groupings in the state. Amy Alonzo reports. (AP/The Nevada Independent) 

Democracy Watch

• Immigration arrests linked to WA driver data ‘off the charts’ (Seattle 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-  146 PM PDT Tue Oct 13 2026    

WED  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  3 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the  morning.  
WED NIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 4 ft at 12 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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

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10/13 Sea lettuce. Elwha return, whale entanglements, legacy forest protection, Dee[ Bay, milt meal, democracy watch.

 

Sea lettuce [California Sea Grant]

Sea lettuce Ulva Lactic
The sea lettuces comprise the genus Ulva, a group of edible green algae that are widely distributed along the coasts of the world's oceans. The type species within the genus Ulva is Ulva lactuca, lactuca being Latin for "lettuce". Contamination with toxic heavy metals at certain sites where it can be collected makes it dangerous for human consumption. (Wikipedia]

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Ferries: I’ll keep fighting for improvements

Elwha River dam removal project nears capstone with land transfer to tribe
Where a dam once stood, life coursed through. Kingfishers trilled as they zipped through the canyon, and young salmon darted in the pools below. Lower Elwha Klallam tribal families have returned in recent years to this free-flowing river, bringing laughter to the shore and fish home to eat. Twelve years ago, the last piece of two Elwha dams came down, in what was at the time the world’s largest dam removal project. It was hard-won by the tribe after generations of declining salmon runs and community health. Now, the so-called project lands, where the dams were blasted and a river freed, are slated to return to the tribe, marking the capstone of the federal project. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

Washington among 4 states with highest rate of whale entanglements, report shows
Of the Pacific coastal states with the most reports in 2025, California had the highest at 27.6%; Alaska had 23.7%; Hawaii, 15.8%; and Washington, 11.8%. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Does Wash. have enough money to protect legacy forests?
State budget cuts put older forests in limbo and complicate conservation goals. Nick Englefried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

'We hunt for places like this': Trusts help raise funds for Deep Bay land
The goal is to protect 50 hectares of forest, wetland, estuary and shoreline in Deep Bay. Dave Flawse reports. (Times Colonist) 

Milt Meal
Marine creatures will do almost anything for a meal—including feasting on the sperm and eggs of spawning invertebrates. Tony Wu and Adrienne Mason report. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Elon Musk quietly becomes biggest known donor in midterm contests as he tries to save Republicans (AP) 
• Judge orders the Trump administration to cancel taxpayer-funded promotional TV 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-  207 PM PDT Mon Oct 12 2026    
TUE  E wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  13 seconds. A chance of showers.  
TUE NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 3 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers  in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.

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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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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