8/30 Toggenburg goat, WA forests, aquaculture , BC salvage logging, BC politics, Ocean Pavilion, week in review

 

Toggenburg

Toggenburg
The Toggenburg is a Swiss breed of dairy goat. Its name derives from that of the Toggenburg region of the Canton of St. Gallen, where it is thought to have originated. It is among the most productive breeds of dairy goat and is distributed world-wide, in about fifty countries in all five inhabited continents. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The challenge of merging two tiny home villages

Should WA's foresters harvest timber or sell it for carbon credits?
Small farmers and policy makers work to balance the environment and timber jobs as emphasis moves toward preserving trees for carbon sequestration. Ashli Blow reports. (CascadePBS)

Saltwater Aquaculture Is More Climate-Friendly than Freshwater Aquaculture
As the aquaculture industry grows, new research finds that seafoods raised in marine waters have a smaller carbon footprint than those raised in fresh water. Bárbara Pinho reports. (Hakai Magazine)

5 things to know about B.C.’s lucrative salvage logging industry
Despite the ecological risks, it’s cheaper and easier than ever to clear cut the last living trees in wildfire-impacted forests. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal)

The Political Plot Twist That Rocked the Week
Rustad’s party made social conservatism the coal in the furnace. Falcon added to the fire. Harrison Mooney writes. (The Tyee)

Opening of Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion marks larger milestone
Hundreds of people took in tropical wildlife submerged in some half million gallons of seawater when it opened Aug. 29. Sebastian Robertson reports. (KING)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/30/24: Slinky Friday, BC Parks, tribal stewardship, Site C reservoir, BC tanker traffic, wildfires end, underwater mics, Ocean Pavilion, barred owl kill.

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PDT Fri Aug 30 2024    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  N wind around 5 kt, veering to SE after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 11 seconds. SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail:  W 3 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  NW wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/29 Saanen goat, BC United collapses, barred owls kill, Ocean Pavilion, pumped storage study

Saanen goat

 

 Saanen goat
The Saanen is a Swiss breed of domestic goat. It takes its name from the Saanental in the Bernese Oberland, in the southern part of the Canton of Bern, in western Switzerland. It is a highly productive dairy goat and is distributed in more than eighty countries worldwide. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Quilts and fiber arts bring joy, fun and a way to learn

B.C. United's collapse hinged on 2 decisions, analysts say
As many political watchers noted, Wednesday will likely go down as a monumental day in British Columbia politics — especially for the party formerly known as the B.C. Liberals. What is now known as B.C. United will essentially not be a factor in the upcoming provincial election, after party leader Kevin Falcon's surprise move to suspend the Official Opposition's campaign and throw his weight behind John Rustad's upstart B.C. Conservatives. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Plan finalized to kill thousands of barred owls around Northwest
The federal government will move ahead with plans to kill tens of thousands of barred owls in Washington, Oregon, and California to protect threatened spotted owls. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a decision on Wednesday to adopt a controversial barred owl management strategy that calls for lethal removal of the birds by shooting them with shotguns and, in some cases, capturing and euthanizing them. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

Inside Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion, a high-tech showcase for the tropical deep sea
Years of construction along Seattle’s waterfront is intended to bring people closer to the water and natural beauty of Puget Sound. The opening Thursday of Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion expansion practically puts people in the water, to explore and better understand one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems on the other side of the Pacific. Kurt Schlosser reports. (GeekWire)

Washington to study pumped storage benefits, concerns
Washington state wants to learn more about an old type of battery called pumped storage hydropower. Leaders are conducting a yearlong study about where to build pumped storage. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PDT Thu Aug 29 2024  
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NE late. Seas around  3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt, veering to E after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/28 Pygmy goat, school PFAS, Klamath R dams, Site C dam, underwater mics, BC protests, pipeline opposition, orca attacks

American pygmy goat

 
American pygmy goat
The American Pygmy is an American breed of achondroplastic goat. It is small, compact and stockily built. Like the Nigerian Dwarf, it derives from the West African Dwarf group of breeds of West Africa. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: After the conventions: go back or go forward?

Edmonds school needs to find source of PFAS
Locals are concerned the chemicals will seep into the Deer Creek aquifer, 40 to 50 feet below the school's stormwater wells. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Salmon will soon swim freely in the Klamath River once dams are removed
For the first time in more than a century, salmon will soon have free passage along the Klamath River and its tributaries — a major watershed near the California-Oregon border — as the largest dam removal project in U.S. history nears completion. Hallie Golden reports. (Associated Press)

Flooding begins at Canada’s costliest hydro dam — more than a decade in the making
First Nations and expropriated farmers watch as Site C dam floodwaters start to inundate farmland along B.C.’s Peace River to create a reservoir almost five times the size of Victoria. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

More underwater microphones being installed to protect whales
More underwater microphones that can detect killer whales are being installed in Haro Strait, across from Vancouver Island.  Ocean Wise announced Monday the underwater microphones, also known as hydrophones, will be integrated off the coast of Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island in Washington. Alanna Kelly reports. (Vancouver Is Awesome)

BC’s Secretive Plan to Tighten Protest Response
Amidst Fairy Creek and CGL conflicts, the province quietly re-evaluated how it manages civil disobedience. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

Opposition to northern B.C. pipeline intensifies as construction begins
A brief blockade set up by Nisg̱a’a tribal protectors signals growing resistance to the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline. Indigenous leaders from across the northwest have stated their support for legal and direct action against the project. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Scientists Have a New Theory About Why Orcas Are Attacking Boats
A pod of orcas damaged a boat and left its two-person crew stranded. It was the latest in a string of attacks that research suggests could be used for hunting practice. Lynsey Chutel reports. (NY Times)

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-  219 AM PDT Wed Aug 28 2024    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to N around 5 kt late. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt, backing to SE after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/27 Alpine, tanker traffic, BC wildfires, Lime Kiln songs, Quinault old growth, micro power, TikTok news

Alpine goat

 
Alpine goat
The Alpine is a medium to large sized breed of domestic goat known for its very good milking ability. They have no set colours or markings. They have horns, a straight profile and erect ears. The breed originated in the French Alps. Mature does weigh around 61 kg, and are about 76 cm tall at the shoulder. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Wildfire risk and climate change in the San Juan Islands

Vancouver tanker traffic rises tenfold after TMX project
Data collected by a Simon Fraser University professor shows that tanker traffic in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet has increased tenfold since the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline came online this summer...Publicly available data shows that an average of two tankers loaded oil from Trans Mountain's Westridge Marine Terminal until May of this year...In June and July, the numbers increased to an average of 20 tankers a month. (CBC)

No more wildfires of note burning in B.C.
Weekend rain across a large area of the province has dampened the number and risk of wildfires. (Canadian Press)

Story telling inspires crowd to protect the islands and natural world
Perched on nearby rocks, chairs and picnic tables, islanders and visitors gathered at Lime Kiln State Park Aug. 22 to listen to Coast Salish storyteller, drummer and flute player Chiyokten Paul Wagner. The event was a partnership between Friends of Lime Kiln and the nonprofits Preserving Knowledge of Land, Protectors of the Salish Sea and Alchemy Arts Center as well as Green Drinks and Washington State Park. Heather Spaulding reports. (Journal of the San Juans)

Western Washington tribe could get back 72 acres of old-growth forest under congressional bill
The Quinault Indian Nation could soon help manage one of the last old growth forests in Washington state, which was once part of its reservation — before the land was sold to non-Native townspeople, then later held by the federal government. A new congressional bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) would give those 72 acres of land, located in Grays Harbor County, back to the tribe. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez reports. (KUOW)

How using microbes to mine human waste for power could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels
Biogas created at B.C. sewage plant can be cleaned, sold back to provincial gas provider, researchers say. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Young People Turn to TikTok for News. What Do They Get?
Initially popular for its entertaining dance videos, TikTok — the world’s most downloaded social media app from 2020 to 2022 — is now a place young people are getting their regular doses of news, too. According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s 2024 Digital News Report, news consumption on social media platforms is up, and video in general is becoming an increasingly crucial news source — particularly for young people. With news consumption down on both X and Facebook, TikTok has become one of the leading social media sources of news alongside YouTube and WhatsApp. Sarah Krichel reports. (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-  225 AM PDT Tue Aug 27 2024    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/26 Nubian, bull kelp, BC hot spots, tribe/USFW agreement, derelict boats, gas blockade, Site C dam, sticker ban, climate change

 

Nubian goat

Nubian goat
The Anglo-Nubian is a British breed of domestic goat. It originated in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between native British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa. It is characterised by large, pendulous ears and a convex profile. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: ‘Lynden’ documentary prompts conversations on diversity, division

Whidbey volunteers monitor bull kelp, a key ‘ecosystem engineer’
Volunteers with the Island County Marine Resources Committee’s kelp monitoring program, overseen by the Northwest Straits Commission and supported by the Department of Natural Resources, have circled the island this summer to assess the state of Whidbey’s kelp for a broader project across the Salish Sea. Sam Fletcher reports. (Everett Herald)

B.C. Parks Foundation announces protection of coastal habitats with funding help from Chip Wilson's foundation
More than a square kilometre of land in the Salish Sea is now protected, after the B.C. Parks Foundation announced five newly protected “biodiversity hot spots” on Friday. The areas won't be available for public access until use and management plans are developed. (Vancouver Sun)

Tribe, USFW sign pact for refuges
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a co-stewardship agreement for the Dungeness and Protection Island National Wildlife Refuges, with the Tribe taking over the day-to-day management of the refuges. The Tribe will follow purposes, goals and objectives laid out in the Comprehensive Conservation Plans for the Dungeness and Protection Island National Wildlife Refuges, tribe representatives noted in a press release, including habitat, wildlife and cultural resource management, visitor services, county and state partnerships and volunteer opportunities along with the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Friends group and other partners. Michael Dashiell reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Derelict boats still plague Island coastline
In Canada, owners are prohibited from abandoning their boats or letting them become dilapidated. Failure to comply can result in enforcement actions being taken, he said. Wrecked and abandoned boats cause significant safety and environmental hazards. Transport Canada works with the Canadian Coast Guard to administer the Wrecked Abandoned and Hazardous Vessel Act, passed in 2019. Each year, Transport Canada assesses hundreds of vessels to ensure that vessel owners are following the act. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

Indigenous leaders burn pipeline agreement, set up B.C. road blockade
Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs are blocking a road that leads to a work camp for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, set to begin construction this weekend. Indigenous youth are at the forefront of opposition to the new fossil fuel infrastructure. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

BC Hydro begins filling reservoir as Site C dam megaproject nears completion
It will take up to four months to fill the 83-kilometre-long reservoir, which will cover about 5,550 hectares of land, BC Hydro says. (Canadian Press)

Municipality wants to ban stickers on fruits, vegetables
The B.C. municipality of Summerland wants to peel off non-compostable stickers on fruits and vegetables permanently. Called price lookup codes, the small, ubiquitous stickers are stuck on many types of produce, including apples, avocados, oranges and peppers, for inventory and checkout purposes. But the stickers, which are usually made of or are coated with vinyl, pose a serious problem for compost processors. Cheryl Chan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Research shows that what you call climate change doesn’t matter much
People don't need "climate emergency" or "global boiling" to make them worried. They're already worried. Kate Yoder reports. (Grist)

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-  251 AM PDT Mon Aug 26 2024    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, backing to NE late this morning,  backing to NW early this afternoon, veering to N late. Seas  around 2 ft or less, then around 3 ft this afternoon. Wave  Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds. A slight chance of rain this  morning. A chance of rain early this afternoon, then rain with a  slight chance of tstms late. TONIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 7 seconds and W  4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers in the evening, then a chance of 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/23 Red maple, Electron Dam, death cap mushroom, lost birds list, week in review

 

Red maple

Red maple Acer rubrum
The red maple, also known as swamp maple, water maple, or soft maple, is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees of eastern and central North America. The U.S. Forest Service recognizes it as the most abundant native tree in eastern North America. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: That 'hopey-changey' thing, all over again! / Trail guide to Ptarmigan Ridge

Decision upheld to remove a portion of Electron Dam on the Puyallup River
A portion of the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River has to be removed according to a decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The federal appeals court upheld the decision by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington that a vertical metal wall portion of the dam, a temporary spillway, makes the dam a complete barrier to fish passage and must be removed. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Warning issued after death cap mushrooms spotted in Oak Bay
Around 600 to 700 of the toxic mushrooms have been found and disposed of so far this summer, says Oak Bay’s manager of park services. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Scientists Made a List of Lost Birds and Now They Want Us to Find Them
Some 144 bird species had not been seen in at least a decade, but a project by conservation organizations proposes they all may still be hidden somewhere in the wild. Jim Robbins reports. (NY Times)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/23/24: Gene Kelly, 6PPD, climate change effects, plastic debris, Tokitae remembered, hydropower losses, Lake Washington mud, BP refinery, Brave Little Hunter.

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-  247 AM PDT Fri Aug 23 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt this afternoon.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds and W 2 ft at  17 seconds. A chance of rain until late afternoon, then rain  likely late.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds and W  2 ft at 15 seconds. Rain likely.  
SAT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 9 seconds and W 2 ft at 14 seconds. Rain likely.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at 14 seconds.  SUN  SE wind around 5 kt, veering to SW in the afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/22 Red Delicious, rail shutdown, Brave Little Hunter, WA climate law, Vancouver Island grizzlies, hydropower, shad

Red Delicious apple

 
Red Delicious apple
Red Delicious is a type of apple with a red exterior and sweet taste that was first recognized in Madison County, Iowa, in 1872. Today, the name Red Delicious comprises more than 50 cultivars. It was the most produced cultivar in the United States from 1968 to 2018, when it was surpassed by Gala. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Serving sandwiches and building bonds

National rail shutdown begins as employees locked out at both major Canadian railways
In a first for Canada, freight traffic on its two largest railways has simultaneously ground to a halt, threatening to upend supply chains trying to move forward from pandemic-related disruptions and a port strike last year. Christopher Reynolds reports. (Canadian Press) 

Life, Death, and Dollars Spent
The Canadian government and the Ehattesaht First Nation dropped a huge chunk of change trying to save the stranded killer whale kʷiisaḥiʔis (Brave Little Hunter). Now, they’re wondering how to make up the money. Larry Pynn reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Local Governments Voice Support for Retaining Washington’s Signature Climate Law
With the clock ticking to the November election, local governments around Puget Sound are starting to weigh in on a big issue that voters will face when they fill out their ballot. Ryan Packer reports. (The Urbanist)

Grizzly bear cubs seen on Vancouver Island for first time could have big impact
When Catherine Babault captured images of a female grizzly bear with two cubs encountering a herd of elk on Vancouver Island last month, she knew she had witnessed something special. Not only is such a scene uncommon, the likelihood that the cubs were born on the island and didn’t swim there could mean the start of a native-born population with big potential to affect the island’s ecosystem. (Canadian Press)

Hydropower expected to increase throughout the U.S., but climate change could affect how — and when — we use it
The Pacific Northwest could see a slight increase in hydropower generation within the next 15 years, but climate change could affect how and when that energy could be used, a new study suggests. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found hydropower generation, a renewable energy resource that uses the force of moving water to generate power, could increase by 5% by 2039 and 10% by 2059 throughout the United States. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

American shad clog fish ladders, causing trouble for salmon
As salmon and steelhead swim upstream, they’re now facing one more challenge in fish ladders. It’s a non-native fish competing for space: the American shad. At Lower Granite Dam on the Lower Snake River, American shad hang out in the fish ladder. A few years ago, the American shad population exploded into a horde on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) https://www.nwpb.org/2024/08/21/american-shad-clog-fish-ladders-causing-trouble-for-salmon/

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-  237 AM PDT Thu Aug 22 2024    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW around 5 kt late. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely with  a slight chance of tstms this morning, then a chance of showers  this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers.

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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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/21 Vermilion rockfish, L Washington mud, BC landslide, BC wildfires, 'green' aviation fuel, community forest, invasive mussels, lands commissioner

Vermilion rockfish

Vermilion rockfish Sebastes miniatus
Vermilion rockfish range from Zaikof Bay, Montague Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska, to San Benito Islands, Baja California. Adults are found at water depths from 6 to 436 m (20-1,440 ft) and are most common between 50 and 150 m (165-495 ft). Sub-adult and adult vermillion rockfish aggregate on high relief rocky bottoms. Vermilion rockfish can grow up to 76 cm (30 in) in length, and 6.8 kg (15 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 60 years old. Occasionally caught off the Washington coast by commercial harvesters using otter-trawls and longline gear. Rarely caught by recreational harvesters in Puget Sound. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Fun, thrills and food at Lynden’s Northwest Washington Fair, in the waning days of summer

What Lake Washington’s mud can tell us about toxic chemicals
At the bottom of Lake Washington, nearly 200 feet deep in the murky water, below where the giant sturgeon swim, there is mud. And that mud, and the compacted dirt below it, keeps track of us here in the Greater Seattle area when the lake bed accumulates whatever substance floats down, layer after layer. Four years ago, King County scientists took a 16-inch-deep core sample from the mud, encompassing 150 years of history, and analyzed it to see how concentrations of toxic chemicals like arsenic, metals and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, have changed over time. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

B.C. landslide 'dramatically' impacts salmon spawn but conditions improve: task force
Observations from a helicopter show the river flow is "evening out," and murky conditions are getting better, though the flow is still much higher than normal. (Canadian Press)

As the world burns: the art and science of responding to B.C. wildfires
Wildfires impact our lives and our communities — what does science say about how they happen, and how to respond? Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

BP’s Cherry Point Refinery secures nearly $27M for ‘green’ aviation fuel production
BP’s Cherry Point Refinery was awarded nearly $27 million to produce sustainable aviation fuel, using renewable biomass feedstocks, in Whatcom County.  The company estimates that the project will create 96 new jobs and allow them to produce 10 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel annually, according to a news release from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).  Isaac Stone Simonelli reports. (CDN)

Chimacum Ridge Community Forest opening to the public next year
Jefferson Land Trust, which completed the purchase of an 853-acre property in December 2023, plans to open Chimacum Ridge Community Forest to the public sometime next year. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Invasive mussels found in Renton pet store could cost WA millions
At least 12 invasive zebra mussels were found in aquatic moss balls for aquariums sold in a Renton Petco on Aug. 5. The mussels, which are native to freshwater bodies in Ukraine, are capable of causing significant infrastructural and environmental damage, said Becky Elder, spokesperson for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Cannon Barnett reports. (Spokesman-Review)

With 51-vote margin, Washington lands commissioner primary heads to recount
Results showed Dave Upthegrove, a Democrat, leading GOP candidate Sue Kuehl Pederson in the battle for the second-place transfer spot in the race. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

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-  257 AM PDT Wed Aug 21 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, backing to SE late this morning and  afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 12 seconds. A  chance of showers late this morning. Showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 11 seconds. Showers.

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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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/20 Red-twig dogwood, Tokitae, ocean plastic, retired ferries, BC salmon return, Stilly Revisited timber, hydropower sales, drone fine, NW bees, lands commissioner race

 

Red-twig dogwood [Native Plants PNW]

Red-twig dogwood Cornus sericea
Red-Twig Dogwood is found throughout most of northern and western North America, extending into Mexico in the west. It usually grows in moist soil, especially along streams and lakesides, in wet meadows, open forests and along forest edges. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Seattle City Light and federal fisheries agency still at loggerheads over fish

One year after Tokitae's death, Lummi Nation and community honor the orca's life
The community came together Sunday to pay respect to Tokitae, who died Aug. 18, 2023, after over 50 years in captivity. Quixem Ramirez reports. (KING)

B.C. tour guides haul 32.5 tonnes of plastic debris from ocean
The crew removed discarded fishing tackle, polystyrene floats, plastic bags and bottles and more from the Great Bear Sea coastline during the 24-day trip. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Two retired WA ferries set sail for Ecuador, ending Puget Sound legacy
After years of sitting idle, two decommissioned Washington State ferries are being towed across 3,700 miles of open ocean to their final destination in Ecuador. The vessels, the Klahoya and Elwha, were sold for $100,000 each in a deal that Washington State Ferries (WSF) officials describe as a win for taxpayers. Lauren Donovan reports. (FOX/AOL)

Report shows salmon numbers slowing from B.C. landslide
A new report is providing some early insight on how last month's landslide into the Chilcotin River affected the run of salmon that swims up the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers every year to reproduce. Monitoring efforts reveal the number of salmon that head upstream during August has slowed — but the exact scale of the disruption isn't yet clear. Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

Legacy Forest Defense Coalition set on halting timber sale near Arlington
The Stilly Revisited timber sale, on state land about 13 miles northeast of Arlington, is largely filled with Douglas firs and western hemlocks — many that have lived for over a century. In a lawsuit filed with the Snohomish County Superior Court last month, the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition and the North Cascades Conservation Council contested the 152-acre sale. The groups argued the state Department of Natural Resources is putting forests on the chopping block it is legally bound to save, as outlined in DNR’s Policy for Sustainable Forests. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Drought in the West has cost hydropower industry billions in losses
Persistent drought in the West over the last two decades has limited the amount of electricity that hydropower dams can generate, costing the industry and the region billions of dollars in revenue. The sector lost about 300 million megawatt hours of power generation between 2003 and 2020 due to drought and low water compared with the long-term average, researchers from the University of Alabama found. That equals about $28 billion in lost revenue. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C. film company fined for flying drone too close to orcas
A Vancouver-based film company and its drone operator have been fined a total of $30,000 for operating a drone too close to a group of killer whales. River Road Films pleaded guilty in July to unlawfully capturing footage by operating too close to a pod of northern resident killer whales "beach rubbing" on Vancouver Island. (CBC)

Here a Bee, There a Bee, Everywhere a Wild Bee
Biologists are finding new bee species all over the Pacific Northwest—highlighting how little we know about native pollinators. Anne Casselman reports. (Hakai Magazine)

WA Public Lands Commissioner primary likely headed for a recount
By Monday evening, Upthegrove had 395,812 votes and Kuehl Pederson had 395,619, a difference of 193 votes – about 0.02% of their total votes. There were an estimated 1,350 votes left to count around the state, including 300 in King County, where Upthegrove got 34% of the vote, and 377 in Benton County, where Kuehl Pederson has received about 34% of the vote. Venice Buhain reports. (CascadePBS)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  249 AM PDT Tue Aug 20 2024    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of  tstms. Showers until late afternoon, then a chance of showers  late.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/19 Rock crab, coho poison, BC water, coast shorelines, island mammoths, fixing ballots

 

Red Rock Crab

Red Rock Crab Cancer productus
Red rock crab, as their name implies, prefer rocky substrates but can also be found in eelgrass, soft-bottom habitat, and shellfish beds from the mid intertidal to depths of about 260 feet. The species is native to North American west coast estuaries from Alaska to Northern Baja California and is common throughout Puget Sound. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Pluralism, respect and the common good

With new facility, Mountlake Terrace to treat chemical that kills coho
Used in tires, 6PPD seeps into streams during storms. A state grant will help the city design a vault to filter it. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Low water levels affecting salmon migration in B.C. streams: DFO
About 40% of B.C. is experiencing drought conditions that could cause economic, environmental impacts. Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

Climate change is already reshaping PNW shorelines. Tribal nations are showing how to adapt
Tribal nations along the coasts of Washington and Oregon are navigating impacts ranging from ocean warming and acidification, which threaten culturally and economically important fisheries, to increased coastal flooding and erosion from sea level rise and storm surges. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

When mammoths walked the Island: New study shows elephant's ancestor was here
A study found that mammoths lived on Vancouver Island for a long time, much longer than originally thought. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Fixing rejected ballots could tip balance in WA lands commissioner race
Ten days after the primary, Dave Upthegrove and Sue Kuehl Pederson are still in a close battle for the second spot. They are both trying to chase down voters who cast ballots with problems that can be fixed. Bill Lucia reports. (Washington State Standard)

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-  222 AM PDT Mon Aug 19 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain late  this morning and early afternoon. Rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 10 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/16 Belgian hare, sea stars, coastal cleanup, pipeline safety, toxic limits, week in review

 

Belgian hare

Belgian hare Oryctolagus cuniculus
The once famous Belgian Hare is the breed responsible for the United States’ domestic rabbit movement. Although the original rabbits can be traced to Belgium, the credit for their perfection is given to the British. The London Zoological Gardens imported a few rabbits for display as early as 1856, but it was Winter “William” Lumb and Benjamin Greaves who had the greatest impact on the development of the breed after their importation of several animals from Antwerp in early 1873. Some claimed the Belgian Hares were actually a fertile mule – a cross between a rabbit and the European hare – however, Winter Lumb prevailed in his stand that it was a rabbit bred to resemble wild hares.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Youth leadership the focus of 2024 canoe journey

San Juans’ sea stars start long crawl back from near-extinction
Twenty pint-sized predators—the first of their kind to be bred in captivity and released into the wild—are now crawling around the San Juan Islands. The colorful sea creatures are called sunflower stars. The fastest of all sea stars, they are thought to be the most endangered as well. A mysterious wasting disease killed an estimated 5 billion of them, or 90% of their global population, over the past decade, disrupting underwater ecosystems from Alaska to Baja California. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Funding will help Island projects clean up the coast
Vancouver Island communities and several capital region beaches will benefit from cleanup projects through the Clean Coast, Clean Waters initiative. Ten Island projects are among 17 around the province that received a total of $8 million in funding on Wednesday. They will be carried out in concert with First Nations, small businesses and non-profits to focus on dealing with marine debris and plastic pollution. Jeff Bell reports. (Times Colonist)

Bellingham-based pipeline safety oversight group awarded $1 million federal grant
A Bellingham-based organization that monitors the safety of fuel pipelines nationwide received a $1 million federal grant this week. The Pipeline Safety Trust was formed with $4 million from fines levied in the wake of the June 10, 1999, Whatcom Falls Park disaster, when 273,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from an underground pipeline and ignited in a massive fireball, fatally burning 10-year-old Wade King and Stephen Tsiorvas and killing 18-year-old Liam Wood, who was overcome by fumes and drowned while fly-fishing in Whatcom Creek. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

State sets new limits for toxic chemicals in water
With this rule, Washington has limits for 42 chemicals. This includes limits for both marine and fresh water, and limits to protect aquatic life from both immediate (acute) effects, such as death, and long-term (chronic) effects, such as changes in growth and reproduction. Ecology developed these changes to the state’s aquatic life toxics criteria based on updated science and new research, new methods and modeling tools, and recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Tribal governments. (Dept. of Ecology)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/16/24: Roller coaster Friday, tribe refuge management, sniffing invasives, Capitol Lake, WSF, biotoxins, Bigg's whales, oldest humpback.

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-  156 AM PDT Fri Aug 16 2024    
TODAY  NE wind around 5 kt, backing to W this afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds. TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds.  
SAT  N wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SW after midnight.  Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 7 seconds. A  chance of showers in the evening, then showers after midnight.  
SUN  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 7 seconds. Showers.

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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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/15 Canada goose, energy storage, oldest humpback, wildfire logging, election deepfakes

Canada goose

Canada goose Branta canadensis
This big 'Honker' is among our best-known waterfowl. In many regions, flights of Canada Geese passing over in V-formation -- northbound in spring, southbound in fall -- are universally recognized as signs of the changing seasons. Once considered a symbol of wilderness, this goose has adapted well to civilization, nesting around park ponds and golf courses; in a few places, it has even become something of a nuisance. Local forms vary greatly in size, and the smallest ones are now regarded as a separate species, Cackling Goose. (Audubon)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Settlement agreement reached on lawsuit

Concerns expressed about proposed energy storage facility
Opposition to a proposed energy storage facility just east of Sedro-Woolley was clear Tuesday during public hearings at the Sedro-Woolley Community Center. Goldfinch Energy Storage wants to build a battery energy storage facility on 14 acres at 25080 Minkler Road. Safety and environmental concerns were raised time and time again Tuesday at what is known as the Goldeneye Project. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

How the world’s oldest humpback whale has survived is a mystery
When Adam A. Pack, a marine mammal researcher at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, was photographing whales in Alaska’s Frederick Sound in July, he instantly recognized the flukes of an old friend. Emphasis on old. The tail — mostly black, with a wash of white speckles near the edge — belongs to a whale named Old Timer. First spotted in 1972, Old Timer is now a male of at least 53 years, making him “the oldest known humpback whale in the world,” said Pack, who is also the co-founder and president of The Dolphin Institute. Emily Anthes reports. (NY Times)

Logging after wildfires is a hot industry in B.C. Could it do more harm than good?
Forestry companies get a slew of profitable perks to harvest areas burned by B.C. wildfires. They're also allowed to log living trees that could be key to species and ecosystem recovery in burn zones. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal)

See why AI detection tools can fail to catch election deepfakes
Artificial intelligence-created content is flooding the web and making it less clear than ever what’s real this election. Kevin Schaul, Pranshu Verma and Cat Zakrzewski report. (Washington Post)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  209 AM PDT Thu Aug 15 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/14 Spud, eelgrass superpower, Bigg's orcas, shellfish biotoxins, OR offshore wind power, lumber duty

 

Idaho potato

Idaho potato
Russet potatoes are sometimes known as Idaho potatoes in the United States, but the name Idaho Potato is trademarked by the Idaho Potato Commission and only potatoes grown in the state of Idaho can legally be referred to by that name.

Today's top story in Salish Current: A delicate balance: the controversial plan to protect the spotted owl

Researchers discover eelgrass superpower in Puget Sound
Emerald green and resplendent with glittering baby fish and tiny crabs, eelgrass meadows are among the most productive and ecologically important places in Puget Sound. Already highly valued as nurseries for sea life, researchers have discovered a new eelgrass superpower, as living urban systems that reduce human pathogens in seafood by as much as 65%. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Transient orcas thriving in Salish Sea, as southern residents continue to struggle
Bigg’s orcas are becoming so plentiful and active in the Salish Sea that hardly a day goes by without multiple sightings, according to a research group. The Orca Behavior Institute said Tuesday that the transient orcas have been spotted in local waters every day since March 12. July was particularly noteworthy, with 214 unique sightings of Bigg’s killer whales. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Shellfish harvesters are having to consider biotoxins later into fall and winter
It used to be the case that people who harvest shellfish could breathe a sigh of relief in late autumn. Spring, summer and even early fall have long presented the right conditions for harmful algae to grow and produce biotoxins in waters along the Washington state coast and into Puget Sound. But in recent years, recreational and commercial harvesters, state agencies and tribes are noticing biotoxin outbreaks more commonly in the winter, too. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Southern Oregon floating offshore wind clears one bureaucratic hurdle in a long process
Oregon’s coast is inching closer to generating renewable electricity using floating offshore wind turbines, though any construction is still years away. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, announced it has finalized an environmental assessment. The assessment looked at potential impacts from issuing leases to develop floating offshore wind in the region. BOEM is the federal agency tasked with identifying, proposing and leasing the ocean areas. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

U.S. nearly doubles duty on Canadian softwood lumber
The sharp increase in duty was signalled in February, but the 14.54% rate went even higher than expected. Rafferty Baker reports. (CBC)

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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 AM PDT Wed Aug 14 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/13 Boxwood, culverts, climate funding, Capitol Lake, Nisga'a pipeline, humpbacks freed, Jill Yoneda, BC mines, pumpkinseed fish, WSF

 

Oregon Boxwood

Oregon Boxwood Paxistima myrsinites
Oregon Boxwood is found from British Columbia to Marin County, California and in the Rockies from Alberta to New Mexico. Oregon Boxwood is most often found in the mountains in relatively dry, open, sunny sites or open forests.

Today's top story in Salish Current: High energy costs, delayed tax credit pose hurdles for PNW hydrogen hub project

Why WA is demolishing a 60-year-old family auto shop for salmon
Ron Ricker remembers hauling 5-gallon buckets full of small smooth stones — the right size for spawning salmon. It was 1961, and he was preparing to replace gas pumps over a stream through Lake Forest Park. The new pumps would sit above a three-sided concrete culvert, with Lyon Creek flowing through it, along a gravel streambed intended to welcome migrating fish. Today, the state is taking that same portion of Ricker’s property through eminent domain, also to help salmon. It will force the demolition and closure of his business, Ballinger Automotive, after more than 60 years of operation. Mike Reicher reports. (Seattle Times)

Pacific Northwest tribes fight for funding to protect against climate change
Coastal tribes in the Pacific Northwest experience some of the most severe effects of climate change — from rising seas to severe heat — but face an array of bureaucratic barriers to access government funds meant to help them adapt, a report released Monday found. (KNKX/Associated Press)

55k dump trucks of sediment and how much money? Details emerge on estuary restoration
The end goal of the project is to remove the 80-foot tide gate and 420-foot earth infill dam that connects west Olympia to downtown and restore tidal flow. The project also is designed to increase the city’s climate resiliency and reduce economic impacts from flooding. Ty Vinson reports.(The Olympian)

Nisga'a Nation, Western LNG apply for major route change of $6-billion pipeline
It's not clear if the application for a route change will create any delays, or increase or decrease costs of the estimated $6-billion pipeline. Gordon Hoekstra reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Rescuers free humpbacks who got tied together off B.C. coast
A pair of humpback whales tied together with prawn fishing gear were disentangled during a five-hour rescue operation in the Discovery Islands near Campbell River. Paul Cottrell, lead on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Marine Mammal Rescue Unit, said Monday it was a potentially dangerous situation for both whales and “extremely rare” that the pair would be tangled in the same lines. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Health complications halt B.C. swimmer's record-breaking attempt across Salish Sea
Jill Yoneda had to cut short her 109-kilometre swim from Brentwood Bay to Vancouver’s Jericho Beach on Friday after her lungs began filling up with fluid. Michael John Lo reports. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C. is home to ‘high-risk’ toxic mine waste sites. Here are 5 you need to know about
Mining operations in B.C. store wet waste in tailings 'ponds' shored up by a dam. A dam failure could be catastrophic for watersheds and communities. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

Mass die-off of fish reported in North Cowichan lake
A mass die-off of an invasive fish species in North Cowichan’s Somenos Lake is believed to have been caused by a lack of oxygen, stewards of the lake say. Thousands of dead pumpkinseed fish were found belly-up on the lake on Sunday. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

The Past and Future of Washington’s Ferries
From the mosquito fleet of yore to the hybrid ships to come. Ryan Packer writes. (Seattle Met)

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-  225 AM PDT Tue Aug 13 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW late this morning,  rising to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon. Seas around 2 ft or less.  Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at  7 seconds and W 2 ft at 11 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/12 California poppy, Upthegrove, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Snohomish R, Chilcotin debris, invasive mussels, citizen science, ocean acid, seagrass filters

 

California poppy

California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
In spite of the beauty of its blossom, the California Poppy is considered to be a weed by many people. Native to North America, scattered wild populations of this plant are found in most states. However, since it was first collected on a Russian exploratory voyage to the west coast of North America in the early 19th century, it is likely that most of the eastern populations are the result of seeds and plants brought back from the west, rather than from native populations in those areas. The California Poppy is the state flower of California.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Review: Queer documentary ‘Break the Game’ to play at the Pickford

Upthegrove edges into second place in Washington lands commissioner race
Democratic lands commissioner candidate Dave Upthegrove inched into second place in the race on Friday night, supplanting Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson who had held the spot since election night. Upthegrove led Pederson by 4,446 votes in Friday night’s tally around 6 p.m. Bill Lucia reports.(Washington State Standard)

Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe poised to help manage key Salish Sea wildlife refuges
The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe is close to finalizing an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to co-manage two Clallam County wildlife refuges: the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, both key breeding places for Salish Sea animals. Gustavo Sagrero Álvarez reports. (KUOW)  See also: Tribe poised to co-manage Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge Does it make sense for an entity that seeks to financially profit from the use of a federal resource, to be given co-management powers of that resource? Al Bergstein writes. (Olympic Peninsula Environmental News)

Snohomish River climate projects get $21M federal boost
Climate resiliency projects in the Snohomish River delta received a $21 million boost this summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced last month. Snohomish County plans to use $16.7 million to restore 430 acres of tidal wetlands at Chinook Marsh. Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

Debris from Chilcotin slide reaches Metro Vancouver and Salish Sea
Officials are warning boaters on the Fraser River to be wary as debris from the Chilcotin landslide has reached the Lower Mainland. Metro Vancouver staff urge people to stay off the Fraser River and away from the river banks. The regional district adds that debris has reached Langley, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Surrey. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Sniffing out invasive mussels to protect Washington’s waters
Fin is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mussel-smelling dog. He’s about 4 years old and is a Catahoula leopard dog, blue lacy and Australian kelpie mix.  Like a drug or bomb-smelling dog, his nose is particularly good at sniffing out tiny, invasive mussels. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Citizen scientists track impact of climate change on Island
Citizen ­scientists are observing and documenting how climate change is ­hitting Vancouver Island’s forests and plant species. Hope Lompe reports. (National Observer)

Fish harvesters help with research on rising acidity of oceans
Scientific research is expanding along the B.C. coast to better understand the effects of ocean acidification, and how to respond. Hope Lompe reports. (National Observer)

Seagrasses filter human pathogens in marine waters
An international team of researchers discovered that coastal urban seagrass ecosystems can significantly reduce human bacterial pathogens, including those with widespread antibiotic resistance, in marine bivalves—a vital food source for people around the world. (Cornell University/PhysOrg)

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 AM PDT Mon Aug 12 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds. TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 5 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 salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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