10/31 Sooty grouse, sea level rise, warming ocean, bats, Clean Water Act

 

Sooty grouse

Sooty grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus
The Sooty grouse is a large game bird of the wet mountain forests of the Pacific Coast. Females are intricately camouflaged in brown, buff, and white. Males are a steely gray-blue, but during courtship they reveal orange eye combs and yellow-orange air sacs in the neck. They eat needles, buds, berries, and insects. Unlike their close relative the Dusky Grouse of the Rockies, Sooty Grouse display from perches high up in trees. Their deep, rhythmic hooting calls are loud, but can be difficult to locate. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Washingtonians will make their voices heard on climate change on Election Day / So you're thinking of becoming a Canadian resident?

Atmospheric rivers could raise sea levels, drive flooding in B.C., says scientist
More powerful atmospheric rivers could lead to higher storm surges and flooding in the future, finds study. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Could a warming ocean bring more sharks into Puget Sound?
Soupfin sharks were not known to occur in Puget Sound until one was hooked by a fisherman in 2022. Scientists say warming oceans from a changing climate may be bringing more of the species into local waters. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Currents Magazine)

The secret lives of Vancouver’s bats — and the race to save them
Researchers hope a probiotic cocktail on bats’ wings — and public education — will help the ‘invisible mammal’ build resistance to a deadly fungal disease sweeping across North America.  Quinn Bender reports. (The Narwhal)

Iowa AG leads multi-state opposition to court decision on Clean Water Act
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and 24 other states filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday in support of the Port of Tacoma’s appeal of a U.S. circuit court decision that upheld a citizen’s ability to sue individuals for violating the Clean Water Act. The original case involved a citizen-led environmental group in Washington, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, who sued the Port of Tacoma and its tenants for not implementing stormwater controls in accordance with the state-issued pollutant discharge permits. Cami Koons reports. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Thu Oct 31 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: W 8  ft at 14 seconds. A chance of showers with a slight chance of  tstms early this morning, then showers late this morning and  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: E 5 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 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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10/30 Woodrat, Port Angeles cleanup sites, sharks, forestry jobs, BC cruise ships, sea lion rescue

 

Bushy-tailed woodrat

Bushy-tailed woodrat Neotoma cinerea
The bushy-tailed woodrat, or packrat  is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, temperate forests, dry savanna, temperate shrubland, and temperate grassland. Woodrats are found in western North America, ranging from arctic Canada down to northern Arizona and New Mexico, and as far east as the western portions of the Dakotas and Nebraska.(Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Washington State maintains reproductive rights and experiences an influx of patients / Everson development on the Nooksack’s floodplain weighs climate risk with housing need

Ecology updates on eight Port Angeles cleanup sites
The state Department of Ecology has prepared a status update for eight formal cleanup sites in Port Angeles. The sites include the Rayonier Mill; western Port Angeles harbor; Terminals 5, 6 and 7 Uplands (located along Marine Drive); K Ply (also known as PenPly or Peninsula Plywood); marine trades area (at Marine Drive and Tumwater Street); Unocal Bulk Plant; Pettit Oil Company Tumwater Truck Route; and the former Shell Oil Bulk Plant. None of the sites are of particular environmental worry, Ecology communications manager Cheryl Ann Bishop said. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Puget Sound researchers uncover shark secrets, but new questions arise
Ignorance or even outright fear of sharks is turning to fascination in the Puget Sound region, where exciting discoveries are gaining public attention. More people are beginning to understand the true nature of these ancient and perplexing creatures, according to regional shark experts. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

Inside the Fight to Save Forestry Jobs
As mills shutter and companies flee southwards, workers strategize to save the industry. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee)

Record 1.3 million cruise ship passengers arrived in Vancouver this year, port authority says
As the final cruise ship of the year sails away from the city Tuesday, the Port of Vancouver said a record number of tourists arrived in the city by cruise ship this year. (CBC)

Sea lion with netting embedded in his neck, sealing mouth shut, rescued in B.C.
A sea lion has been freed off the coast of Vancouver Island after getting so entangled in netting that rescuers say it's possible he hadn't eaten in weeks or months. Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Society says in a statement the complex operation at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve was one of the most severe entanglements the team has encountered. Ashley Joannou reports. (Canadian Press)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  303 AM PDT Wed Oct 30 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  E wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt, becoming SE  10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain until late afternoon,  then showers with a slight chance of tstms late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  9 ft at 14 seconds. Showers in the evening, then rain after  midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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10/29 White-tailed ptarmigan, BC election, ballot box fires, Site C dam, illegal fishers, Puget Sound Pipeline, marine weather forecasts

 

White-tailed ptarmigan [WDFW]

White-tailed ptarmigan Lagopus leucura rainierensi
White-tailed ptarmigan are distributed in alpine tundra habitats of western North America. In Washington they are found in the Cascades from Mt. Adams north to the U.S.-Canada border. They are monogamous and the breeding pair defends a territory during the breeding and nesting seasons. Females generally produce a clutch of five to seven eggs. Nest and brood success are usually not very high, but these are compensated for with relatively high survival. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Raising voter awareness about the Charter Review Commission / Gen Z eyes Nov. 5

Slim majority for NDP after Elections B.C.'s final count, Eby forming government
The NDP has 47 seats, the Conservatives 44, and the Greens two pending automatic judicial recounts in Surrey-Guildford and Kelowna Centre ridings. Cindy E. Harnett reports. (Times Colonist)

2 ballot boxes set on fire in Portland and Vancouver
Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in one of the early morning incidents. Investigators say the two acts are likely connected with an attempt to set another ballot box on fire earlier this month. (OPB)

The massive Site C dam has begun generating power for B.C.'s electrical grid
Project will increase B.C.'s electricity supply by 8 per cent, B.C. Hydro says. (CBC)

Mission in North Pacific targets illegal fishers
Operation North Pacific Guard, a two-month mission aboard the Victoria-based Sir Wilfred Laurier, involved armed Canadian fisheries authorities boarding 15 international vessels. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Trans Mountain to shut Puget Sound Pipeline for maintenance
Canadian-government owned oil pipeline operator Trans Mountain on Friday 25 October, 2024, said it will shut the Puget Sound Pipeline from Laurel to Anacortes, Washington, for about seven days in mid-November to conduct planned maintenance, reports Reuters. The Puget Sound Pipeline connects to the Trans Mountain Pipeline at the Sumas delivery point in British Columbia. The line does not connect to the recently opened Trans Mountain expansion. The Puget Sound Pipeline carries Canadian oil to four refineries, including Marathon Petroleum’s Anacortes and Phillips 66’s Ferndale refineries on the western side of Washington State. Isabel Stagg reports. (World Pipelines)

Marine Weather Forecasts Are Getting an AI Upgrade
Machine learning systems—powered by new data—are taking some of the guesswork out of maritime safety. Vanessa Minke-Martin reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  324 AM PDT Tue Oct 29 2024    
TODAY  S wind around 5 kt, backing to SE early this afternoon,  rising to 5 to 10 kt late. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  10 seconds. A slight chance of showers.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  3 ft at 9 seconds. 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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10/28 Pika, BC election, DOT salmon, Skagit culvert, DNR rec plan, Cape Roger Curtis land, fatbergs, AI power for data centers

 

American pika [WDFW]

American pika Ochotona princeps
The American pika, a diurnal species of pika, is found in the mountains of western North America, usually in boulder fields at or above the tree line. They are herbivorous, smaller relatives of rabbits and hares. Pikas have two different ways of foraging; they either directly consume food or they cache food in piles for the winter (haying). The population size of American pika in Washington is unknown. It is a montane talus habitat specialist that may face threats from climate change. (Wikipedia/WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: As La Conner newspaper faces closure, residents step up to save it / Native American Heritage Month offers time to examine lingering issues

Today's absentee ballot count will likely settle B.C. election
More than 22,000 absentee ballots provincewide to be counted Monday, 9 days after election day. (Canadian Press)

Massive WA salmon recovery plan scrutinized with latest $100M project
The Washington State Department of Transportation is planning a giant salmon restoration project here that could require buying out a motel owner, tearing down the building and excavating the highway culvert beneath it, at a price tag of some $100 million.  Yet even after all this work, salmon wouldn’t be able to swim up most of the stream.  As WSDOT races to replace hundreds of culverts by 2030 to meet a court deadline, lawmakers and at least one tribal leader are asking whether projects like this make sense. Mike Richter and Lynda Mapes report. (Seattle Times)

Skagit County finishes project to open more fish habitat
Skagit County wrapped up a culvert replacement project this week that provides fish passage near Conway. The culvert, formerly a 6-foot diameter tube, is now a 21-foot box culvert that allows Fisher Creek to freely move under Starbird Road. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

DNR seeks comment on first-ever recreation plan for WA
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources released its first-ever recreation plan Monday,  seeking new funding for the agency to manage surging interest in outdoor recreation that has also led to abuse of DNR lands and infringed on treaty-protected tribal rights. Gregory Scruggs reports. (Seattle Times) 

Metro Vancouver sells Bowen Island land to conservation group
The Cape Roger Curtis land was part of a Metro Vancouver plan to create a campground on Bowen Island. Rafferty Baker reports. (CBC)

Metro Vancouver removes 50 tonnes of 'fatbergs' from Richmond, B.C., sewers
Every year, Metro Vancouver says it spends more than $2.7 million fixing grease damage in its sewer systems. (CBC)

The AI power struggle: Data centers are in a desperate search for energy
The booming electricity demands of the nascent artificial intelligence gold rush boggle the mind and will likely hit ordinary ratepayers in the pocketbook if nothing is done to mitigate the downsides of this impending technological revolution. According to a recent series of articles in The Seattle Times, co-published with ProPublica, businesses, farmers and residents in central Washington are already beginning to feel the pinch on their power supplies and likely facing substantial rate hikes next year. And that is happening before the full impact of artificial intelligence on information services, which some have suggested could increase data-center electricity demands tenfold. Michael Riordan writes. (Seattle Times/Opinion)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  300 AM PDT Mon Oct 28 2024    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Wave Detail: W  10 ft at 13 seconds. Showers with a slight chance of tstms early  this morning, then a chance of showers late this morning. A  slight chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to  7 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 11 seconds. A chance  of showers 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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10/25 Northern flying squirrel, weekend weather, Biden apology, OR wind, world climate, loggerhead turtle, ''Big Dark"

 

Northern flying squirrel

Northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus
Northern flying squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel in Washington, measuring 10 to 12 inches in total length. It is rich brown or dark gray above and creamy below. Its eyes are dark and large, and its tail is wide and flat. These nocturnal gliders are surprisingly common, yet are seldom seen in their forest homes throughout the state.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Faces and perspectives of Bellingham voters

Here comes the wind: 50 mph gusts possible in some parts of Western WA
Wet and windy weekend ahead. (Seattle Times)  Strong winds forecast for B.C. coast before more rain moves in Gusts up to 90 km/h in southwest B.C. starting early Saturday; another 75 mm rain expected for North Vancouver (CBC)

President Biden to issue boarding school apology – at last
More than 150 years after the first Native children were forced to attend Indian boarding schools that robbed them of their families, culture and language, President Joe Biden will issue a long-awaited apology for the dark history that has left generational damage among Indigenous peoples. The president will be at Gila River Indian Community to acknowledge the trauma wreaked by U.S. forced assimilation policies. Mary Annette Member reports. (Indian Country Today)

Offshore wind looked like a sure thing for Oregon — until it wasn’t
A push to bring floating offshore wind technology to the Southern Oregon coast was gaining momentum. And then, in a single week in late September — after years of effort, and less than three weeks before BOEM officials expected to choose a company to develop offshore wind — everything fell apart. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

How is the world doing on climate change? Not great
It’s report card season for climate change. Each year, the United Nations takes stock of whether countries are on track to cut carbon emissions and limit global warming. The grade this year: needs more improvement than ever. Lauren Sommer reports. (NPR)

Loggerhead sea turtle released into California waters
The turtle, nicknamed Moira, was found in February, severely hypothermic and far from the animal’s normal range, Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

The ‘Big Dark’: How Washingtonians weather the gloom & gray
As the daylight hours turn short, Puget Sound area residents recommend staying social, getting outdoors and learning to embrace the drear. Nate Sanford reports. (CascadePBS)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/25/24: Chocolate Friday, BC hydrogen, oil tankers, Klamath salmon, flooding UK, kelp beds, PFAS bans, BC legislature, world climate

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  252 AM PDT Fri Oct 25 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE  TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 4 ft  at 5 seconds and W 2 ft at 10 seconds. A slight chance of rain  early this afternoon. Rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SE 25 to 30 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: E 7 ft at 7 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, backing to SE in the afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 6 seconds.
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft, building to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: W 9 ft at 14 seconds.  Rain in the morning, then showers in the afternoon.

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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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10/24 Eastern gray squirrel, lead exposure, wildfire home risk, Klamath R recovery, BC legislature

Eastern gray squirrel

 

 Eastern gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
The  Eastern gray squirrel is from the deciduous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests of eastern North America, and was introduced into city parks, campuses, and estates in Washington in the early 1900s. They are now the most common tree squirrels in urban areas.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Impacts of immigration realities, policy weighed by panel

More Washington state kids are exposed to lead than we know
Snohomish County’s public health department is trying to get more health-care providers to test their young patients for lead exposure. Babies and toddlers in Washington are less likely to get this testing than in almost any other state. That’s mainly because many health-care providers mistakenly believe there’s not much lead exposure here, “which is not true,” said Dr. James Lewis, Snohomish County’s health officer. Eilís O'Neill reports. (KUOW)

The latest fight over rules to protect homes from wildfire
The State Building Code Council is asking the Legislature to change a law passed earlier this year that limits the ability to change wildfire-related codes. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard) 

If you like to watch: Klamath River reemerges after the removal of four dams
Video captures four Klamath River dam sites before and after a $500 million removal operation. Cassandra Profita reports. (OPB)

BC’s Legislature Hits Gender Parity
For the first time in the province, women will hold the majority of seats. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

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-  243 AM PDT Thu Oct 24 2024    
TODAY  S wind around 5 kt, backing to SE this afternoon. Seas  around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 7 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  2 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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10/23 Western gray squirrel, kelp beds, Skagit battery storage, marbled murrelet, sardine hwy, BC flood, PFAS bans, Duwamish R

Western gray squirrel

Western gray squirrel Sciurus griseus
The Western gray squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in Washington, ranging from 18 to 24 inches in length. It has gray upper parts, a creamy undercoat, and its tail is long and bushy with white edges. This species is found in low-elevation oak and conifer woods in parts of western and central Washington.

Today's top story in Salish Current: FIFA’s green promise for Cascadia extends beyond the soccer pitch

A look inside Puget Sound’s declining bull kelp beds
.... The kelp collects in bunches near the surface, the bed hugs the shoreline of the island and sways with the current. This is just one of the many beds watched closely by the Samish Indian Nation and mapped out yearly using aerial footage and GPS data to show just how fast bull kelp is disappearing throughout the San Juan Island archipelago. The Samish are seeing perhaps a 30% decline over the past couple of decades, said Todd Woodard, executive director of the tribe’s infrastructure and resources. Move south, and the numbers for kelp get worse. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Skagit County holds public hearing on energy storage moratorium
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Monday about an interim moratorium on accepting permit applications for energy generation or storage facilities on county farmland. The moratorium is in place while the county works on a county code amendment that would exclude such facilities, which include battery storage systems and solar farms, on land zoned Ag-NRL. The moratorium began Sept. 23 and will last six months, but it can be extended. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Listening In on the Mysterious Marbled Murrelet
Applying machine learning to forest soundscapes helps researchers pinpoint rare and threatened birds. Moira Donovan reports. (Hakai Magazine)

Heat waves may have opened a sardine superhighway across Pacific
For millennia, two distinct species of sardine lived on opposite sides of the North Pacific Ocean. But climate warming could be mixing up where they live. Research published Wednesday in Molecular Ecology suggests the possibility that marine heat waves are opening up a new passage across the North Pacific. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

How can B.C. protect itself from the next atmospheric river?
Three people are dead, and another person is missing after an atmospheric river washed over B.C.'s South Coast on the weekend. As officials deal with the aftermath of the weekend storm, some are considering what more needs to be done to plan for heavy rainfall as severe weather events become more frequent. (CBC)

More states ban PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ in more products
Legislative momentum against PFAS has surged this year, as at least 11 states enacted laws to restrict the use of “forever chemicals” in everyday consumer products or professional firefighting foam. The legislation includes bans on PFAS in apparel, cleaning products, cookware, and cosmetic and menstrual products. Shalina Chatlani reports. (Stateline)

How the Duwamish Became the River of No Return
Of Native Americans and their world on Puget Sound, here ar the words of John, a Swinomish elder born in the 1880s, who said: “Every river has its people.”  In our tradition, a corollary would be, “Every city has its river.”  Think of Rome, Paris, London, New York, and…Tukwila.  Seattle also has the Duwamish river, but few in Seattle have ever seen it. David Buerge writes. (Post Alley)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  246 AM PDT Wed Oct 23 2024    
TODAY  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 5 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 10 kt, becoming SW after midnight. Seas  around 3 ft in the evening, then around 2 ft or less. Wave  Detail: W 3 ft at 5 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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10/22 Red squirrel, battery storage, city flooding, bloodroot, shoreline flooding, monarch butterfly

 

Red squirrel

Red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
The Red squirrel is about the same size as the Douglas squirrel and lives in coniferous forests and semi-open woods in northeast Washington. It is rusty-red on the upper part and white or grayish white on its underside.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Commercial salmon fishers struggle with low prices

Banking on batteries: Malahat Nation’s plans for energy self-determination could shore up B.C.’s grid
Battery storage could help solve the electricity grid’s biggest climate hurdles. For a small Indigenous community on south Vancouver Island, it could also be a move toward self-sufficiency and welcoming people home. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal)

Rain warns Vancouver municipalities infrastructure improvements needed
Municipalities need to think about infrastructure capable of withstanding the bigger swings in rain brought by climate change. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

This Wildflower Could Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Tuberculosis
In a lab setting, bloodroot has been shown to reduce the growth of the bacteria that cause the disease. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

A Radical Approach to Flooding in the UK: Give Land Back to the Sea
When a huge tract of land on the Somerset coast was deliberately flooded, the project was slammed as “ridiculous” by a local lawmaker. But the results have been transformative. Rory Smith reports. (NY Times)

What it’s like to run the 4,000-km migration route of the endangered monarch butterfly
A documentary follows an Ontario group's project to run and chronicle the path of monarch butterfly migration, drawing attention to the environmental destruction that threatens biodiversity. Elaine Anselmi reports. (The Narwhal)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  238 AM PDT Tue Oct 22 2024    
TODAY  SW wind around 5 kt, backing to SE late this morning,  backing to NE early this afternoon, backing to NW late. Seas 3 to  4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers early  this morning, then a slight chance of showers late this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 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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10/21 Douglas squirrel, flooding, BC vote, oil tankers, women and orcas, BC hydrogen, glass recycle, Klamath salmon, berry farmer fined, Dune Peninsula, WA vote

 

Douglas squirrel

Douglas squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii
The Douglas squirrel,  or chickaree, measures 10 to 14 inches in length, including its tail. Its upper parts are reddish-or brownish-gray, and its underparts are orange to yellowish. The Douglas squirrel is found in stands of fir, pine, cedar, and other conifers in the Cascade Mountains and western parts of Washington. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: At Bellingham Co-op stores, Real Change News provides opportunity, interaction

Atmospheric river brings heavy rain, floods to Metro Vancouver
Flooding is widespread across Metro Vancouver, with some streets and intersections closed to traffic. (Vancouver Sun)

B.C. Election Results: Race too close to call as shadow of 2017 election looms large
Voters failed to deliver a clear result Saturday with the NDP one seat ahead of the Conservatives and a handful of recounts possible. Alec Lazenby reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Oil tanker traffic surges in WA waters with Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion
The May opening of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion in British Columbia has led to a sevenfold increase in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Juan de Fuca so far this year. On average before the expansion, which came online this spring, one tanker a week traveled through these transboundary waters. Now, a tanker a day is making the trip. The increased tanker traffic was anticipated, but only in recent months have onlookers realized a concerning development in Canada’s big bet on growing its oil exports: Not all of these tankers are heading for out-of-state ports. Gregory Scruggs reports. (Seattle Times)

What do women and female orcas have in common? A lot in midlife
Seattle author Angela Garbes has found a distinctly Pacific Northwest way to talk about female middle-age: a conversation about orcas, featuring a whale researcher who goes only by Giles. "Like Prince or Madonna," Garbes said of the preeminent Southern Resident killer whale researcher formerly — and formally — known as Dr. Deborah Giles. Katie Campbell reports. (KUOW)

Prince George, B.C., hydrogen project plans put on hold
An Australian-based minerals company is withdrawing from a project in Prince George, B.C., that would have been a key part of the province's plan to scale up production of hydrogen and reach net-zero emissions. The Coyote Hydrogen Project in Prince George would have produced 140,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year but was no longer "commercially unviable." Isaac Phan Nay reports. (CBC)

Clallam, Jefferson counties no longer able to recycle glass
Clallam and Jefferson counties are struggling with external market forces that have rendered them temporarily unable to recycle glass. Sequim, which uses a different glass recycling processor than the rest of the North Olympic Peninsula, will continue to recycle the glass it collects at its two drop boxes. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Salmon return to Klamath Basin in Oregon after more than a century
Wildlife officials this week documented salmon above the former J.C. Boyle Dam in Southern Oregon for the first time in more than a century. It happened less than a month after removal of four Klamath River dams was completed to restore fish passage. (OPB)

State Ecology fines North Whatcom County berry farm for illegal use of water
Operators of a blueberry farm between Lynden and Sumas in northern Whatcom County have been fined for the second time in two years for “unpermitted” water use. RAN General Partnership and its owner, Rick Alamwala, were fined $20,000 for illegally irrigating about 40 acres of crops during the 2024 season, state Department of Ecology spokesman Jimmy Norris said in a statement Thursday. Alamwala was fined $12,000 in 2023 for the same violations, Norris said. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald)

This former Superfund site in Tacoma is ‘Dune’ just fine now, thanks
Dune Peninsula is located at 5361 Yacht Club Road on a triangle of land jutting into Commencement Bay that was, until recently, an EPA Superfund site where American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) ran a 500-plus-foot smokestack for its industrial smelter, filling the area’s air, soil and humans with toxic heavy metals. This engineering marvel/environmental cancer is reportedly one of the primary inspirations for the ecological themes in the eponymous novel “Dune,” as its author, Frank Herbert, was a Tacoma local and grew up in its dark shadow. Tantri Wija reports. (Seattle Times)

Your Vote: WA Statewide Voter Guide 2024
Welcome to your one-stop shop for Washington’s 2024 election. Whether you’re looking for info on the governor’s race, your local legislative district or the U.S. Congress, we can help you make a decision (although we won’t tell you how to vote). (CascadePBS)

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-  230 AM PDT Mon Oct 21 2024    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 10 seconds. A slight chance of showers late this morning. A  chance of showers early this afternoon, then showers likely late.  
TONIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds.  Showers likely, mainly in the evening.

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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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10/18 Chicken of the woods, Jill Silver, WA public lands, Canadian fish patrol, plovers, Artist Point road, week in review

 

Chicken of the Woods

Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus sulphureus
Laetiporus is a genus of edible mushrooms found throughout much of the world. Some species are commonly known as sulphur shelf, chicken of the woods, the chicken mushroom, or the chicken fungus because it is often described as tasting like and having a texture similar to that of chicken meat. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Students and experts at WWU delve into U.S. foreign policy one year after Gaza conflict / Native candidates hope to broaden reach in Washington state

West End ecologist presented with environmental leadership award
Jill Silver was presented with the 2024 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership award on Thursday as part of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center’s annual stewardship breakfast. Jill Silver is founder and director of 10,000 Year Institute. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Debating the future of Washington's public lands: Where the candidates stand
The Commissioner heads the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which oversees more than $450 million in revenue and more than 5.5 million acres of public land. The agency is in charge of wildfire preparedness, forest management, and the protection of critical habitat throughout the state. Libby Denkman and Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

New Canadian patrol targets remote high seas to protect salmon
A federal fisheries vessel sailed north this September, some 12,000 nautical miles (22,200 kilometres) to the Aleutian Islands, the first Canadian patrol of its kind in the North Pacific. This newly outfitted Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the Sir Wilfred Laurier, is part of Canada's effort to ramp up monitoring of the North Pacific to protect salmon that may migrate into international waters near Russia and Alaska. Yvette Brend reports. (CBC)

Peekaboo Plovers
Can you spot these baby birds? Text by Marina Wang; Illustrations by Mercedes Minck (Hakai Magazine)

Road closed
The Mount Baker Highway road to Artist Point (HWY 542) was closed for the seasons as of Wednesday morning. (WA DOT)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/18/24: Moby Dick Friday, L128 ailing, new marine sanctuary, BC forest future, orca diet, OR carbon market, nuclear Amazon, BC elections, Artist Point road

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-  241 AM PDT Fri Oct 18 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING THROUGH  LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt with gusts up  to 40 kt late this morning and afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave  Detail: E 5 ft at 5 seconds and W 4 ft at 9 seconds. Rain. Patchy  fog late this morning and afternoon.
TONIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 40 kt, becoming SW  15 to 20 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft  at 11 seconds. Rain. Patchy fog.  
SAT  SW wind 15 to 20 kt. Gusts up to 30 kt in the morning.  Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Patchy fog in  the morning. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 11 seconds.  Rain.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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10/17 Russula, big rain, nuclear Amazon, BC elections, deer 'zombie' disease

 

Russula

Russula
Russula emetica, commonly known as the sickener, emetic russula, or vomiting russula, is a basidiomycete mushroom, and the type species of the genus Russula. First described in 1774, the mushroom has a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, where it grows on the ground in damp woodlands in a mycorrhizal association with conifers, especially pine.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Judge Boldt settled the Fish War but the war never really ended / Did Feds block tide gate fixes in a ploy to take Skagit farmland?

Atmospheric river system set to drench Vancouver Island on election weekend
The storm could bring up to 200 millimetres of rain to parts of Vancouver Island, potentially soaking provincial election day on Saturday, Environment Canada says. (Canadian Press)

Amazon announces nuclear power deals as tech giants scramble for more clean energy
Amazon today announced agreements supporting the construction of a next-generation nuclear power plant in its home state of Washington — marking the latest development in the tech-driven resurgence of nuclear energy. Amazon has a deal with Energy Northwest to fund the initial feasibility phase of a nuclear facility in central Washington, with the right to purchase electricity from the 320 megawatt plant. Lisa Stiffler reports. (GeekWire)

B.C. election: where do the parties stand on key climate and conservation issues?
Here’s where the NDP, Conservatives and Greens stand on the carbon tax, LNG, old-growth forests and other key issues. Shannon Waters and Ainslie Cruickshank report. (The Narwhal)

BC's deer population under threat from 'zombie' disease
Hunters across the province are being asked to turn in deer heads and road-kill samples as part of an effort to stop the spread of “zombie deer disease” in B.C. Denise Ryan reports. (Vancouver Sun)

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-  312 AM PDT Thu Oct 17 2024    
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY  NIGHT    
TODAY  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to S after midnight. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds. 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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10/16 Matsutake, OR state forest for carbon credit market, Skagit and Cascade R coho

Matsutake

 

 Matsutake Tricholoma matsutake
Matsutake is a species of choice edible mycorrhizal mushroom that grows in Eurasia and North America. It is prized in Japanese cuisine for its distinct spicy-aromatic odor. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Flooding on the border: Three years and waiting

If you like to watch: B.C. mushroom picker finds massive matsutake mushroom
Imagine foraging for mushrooms in B.C.'s Interior and finding one that's almost as big as your head. That's what happened to a mushroom picker from Lumby when he unearthed what could be one of the biggest matsutake mushrooms ever discovered.  (CBC)

Oregon's Land Board approves plan to put state forest in a carbon market
The decision, which officials said would fight climate change, makes Oregon the second state after Michigan to dedicate an entire state forest to storing harmful emissions while selling carbon credits for revenue. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Coho salmon season extended on Skagit and Cascade rivers
The coho salmon fishing season has been extended on the Skagit River from the mouth to Cascade River Road through Dec. 31 and on the Cascade River from the mouth to Rockport-Cascade Road through Nov. 30. The coho returns for the two rivers are greater than forecasted and allow for the longer seasons. Vince Richardson reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

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-  254 AM PDT Wed Oct 16 2024    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late this  morning, easing to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft.  Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain this morning,  then showers with a chance of tstms this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Showers with a chance of tstms 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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10/15 Fairy ring mushroom, SRKW decline, fin whales and ships, giant hornet

 

Fairy ring mushroom

Fairy ring mushroom Marasmius oreades
The fairy ring mushroom, fairy ring champignon or Scotch bonnet, is a mushroom native to North America and Europe. Its common names can cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grow in fairy rings, such as the edible Agaricus campestris and the poisonous Chlorophyllum molybdites.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Will ranked choice voting come to Whatcom County?

Lack of salmon may not be the problem after all for endangered orcas, report suggests
A key assumption about dwindling numbers of southern resident killer whales pins the blame on a lack of salmon, but a study out of the University of British Columbia has found they have twice the number of chinook available in summer as their much healthier cousins, the northern residents.... Nono Shen reports. (Canadian Press) 

The Coming Collision Between Whales and Tankers on British Columbia’s Coast
Decades after they were hunted to local extinction, fin whales are recovering in the Kitimat fjord system—only to be threatened by a booming LNG industry. Laura Trethewey report. (Hakai Magazine)

Possible invasive hornet reported in South Kitsap, state now investigating
A report of a potential northern giant hornet, the invasive species sometimes referred to as "murder hornets" when they surfaced in Washington state nearly five years ago, is being investigated in South Kitsap. David Nelson reports. (Kitsap Sun)

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-  246 AM PDT Tue Oct 15 2024    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to E this afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 13 seconds. A slight chance of  showers early this morning.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming S 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 12 seconds.  Showers likely in the evening, then rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato at salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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10/14 Morels, L128 ailing, cyanide, forest feud, tree jargon, BC forest futures, oyster reefs, dogs, Wiley Slough, I-2066, Great White Shark, new MPA

 

Morel

Morel
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales. These distinctive fungi have a honeycomb appearance due to the network of ridges with pits composing their caps. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: ‘The Velocity of Autumn,’ a play in one act, comes to Orcas Island / Concerns re rights, housing, millennials’ futures surface at debate watch / Debate night out at Nelson’s Market

Baby orca in L pod is ailing
The newest southern resident baby orca is ailing, and researchers dread a devastating blow to its first-time mom and the struggling population of orcas. ...[T]he Center for Whale Research...reported Friday morning that on Oct. 5 field staff member Mark Malleson saw the calf in an obvious state of decline. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Too much cyanide in Puget Sound? EPA to review state regs
Federal officials have agreed to take another look at how Washington state regulates a deadly poison — cyanide. The lethal substance is often used to make metals, plastics, dyes, and pesticides and to extract gold and silver from mineral ores. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Forest Feud: WA’s fight over the old growth of tomorrow
The conflict now playing out across Washington is over the old-growth forests of tomorrow. These are second-growth forests originating before 1945 and never sprayed with herbicide or replanted to a dense monoculture of nursery-grown seedlings. Linda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

'Legacy' forests. 'Restoration' logging. The new jargon of conservation is awash in ambiguity. And politics
Among enviros, government agencies and logging interests, a war of words is raging over the future of our forests. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight)

Why the future of B.C.'s forests has become a huge election issue
The province's trees are connected to concerns about the economy, climate change and reconciliation. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

How millions of oysters could protect coastlines against climate change
Restoring oyster reefs can reduce the blow of waves on our shorelines, experts say. Catherine Zhu reports. (CBC)

Doggie doo-doos and don'ts. Best etiquette for dog decorum, according to experts
There are now more dogs than children in Seattle, and with all those canines sharing space, things can get tense. Complaints run rampant about dogs off-leash in public, whether businesses allow animals, and poop-disposing etiquette. Libby Denkmann and Hans Anderson report. (KUOW)

Wiley Slough area reopens after delayed construction
The Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit, also known as Wiley Slough, reopened Friday after a 19-month-long closure. The area first closed in March 2023 for repairs after repeated incidents of water overtopping the dike damaged the infrastructure that protects nearby farmland from flooding. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Correcting the Record on Initiative 2066
The Seattle Times editorial board recently endorsed Washington state Ballot Initiative 2066. The board’s reasoning consists of misleading information and gas industry talking points, while eschewing critical facts. Emily Moore writes. (Sightline Institute)

Four-metre-long Great White Shark washes up on B.C. beach
The male shark, which was found on a Haida Gwaii beach, had been feeding on seals, a common prey for great whites. (Canadian Press)

The U.S. gets a new national marine sanctuary, the first led by a tribe
More than 4,500 square miles of ocean will soon be protected by the federal government off the Central California coast, creating a new national marine sanctuary, which will be the third largest in the U.S. The new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will be managed in partnership with tribes and Indigenous groups in the area. Lauren Sommer reports. (NPR)

‘They keep coming up’: A banner year for mushrooms
Mushroom fruiting on the Island started in August, and cycles of dry and wet conditions have made for a prolific season. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

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 Mon Oct 14 2024    
TODAY  SE wind around 10 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 7 seconds and W 7 ft at  15 seconds. Patchy fog this morning. Rain this morning, then a  chance of rain early this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 14 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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10/11 Pumpkin, northern lights, Stanley Park trees, Cama Beach cabins, Bainbridge tribal pole, week in review

Pumpkin

 

 Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita. The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, though it does not possess a scientific definition and may be used in reference to many different squashes of varied appearance. The use of the word "pumpkin" is thought to have originated in New England in North America, derived from a word for melon, or a native word for round. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with "squash" or "winter squash." (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Initiative backers hit with $20,000 fine by Washington campaign finance watchdog

A powerful geomagnetic storm is underway that could trigger intense northern lights tonight
Last geomagnetic storm to be this intense was on May 10-11. Nicole Mortillaro reports. (CBC)

Vancouver park board to keep removing dead trees from Stanley Park
The park board heard from dozens of citizens and experts opposed to the plan to log thousands of trees killed by looper moth larvae. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

WA State Parks won’t reopen Cama Beach cabins
The Washington State Parks Commission voted unanimously Thursday not to reopen the Cama Beach cabins on Camano Island due to risks from sea-level rise and the presence of Indigenous human remains. The 33 cabins have been closed since Feb. 26 when a winter storm damaged a seawall and compromised the park’s septic system. Gregory Scruggs reports. (Seattle Times)

Bainbridge welcomes tribal pole at Sound to Olympics Trail
About 200 people gave a warm welcome to a new piece of public art Oct. 9 that will mark the start of the Sound-to-Olympics trail: a 14-foot carved cedar pole. The totem on Bainbridge Island depicts Shweabe (shway-bay), father of Chief Sealth (known as Seattle) and a historic leader of the Suquamish tribe.  Molly Hetherwick reports. (Kitsap News Group) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 10/11/24: Egg Day, SRKW, Canada goose, declining orca population, shipping containers, CO2 pollution, quakes, Climate Commitment Act, BC pipe, bees.

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-  240 AM PDT Fri Oct 11 2024    
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: E  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft at  4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain after midnight.  
SUN  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  11 seconds. Rain likely.

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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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10/10 Orange, PDC penalty, WA voters guide, Climate Commitment Act, BC pipeline, terramation, deep-sea droid

Orange

Orange
The orange, also called sweet orange to distinguish it from the bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium), is the fruit of a tree in the family Rutaceae. The orange originated in a region encompassing Southern China, Northeast India, and Myanmar; the earliest mention of the sweet orange was in Chinese literature in 314 BC. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Secrets — revealed — of Whatcom County artists

Initiative backers hit with $20,000 fine by WA campaign finance watchdog
The Public Disclosure Commission ruled Let’s Go Washington failed to report payments to vendors involved in signature gathering and was too slow providing documents to investigators.  Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

WA Statewide Voter Guide 2024
Welcome to your one-stop shop for Washington’s 2024 election. (Cascade PBS)

(Re)explaining Washington’s Climate Commitment Act
Understanding the cap-and-invest law that Washington Initiative 2117 would repeal. Emily Moore reports. (Sightline Institute)

Unravelling the complicated past of B.C.’s newest pipeline conflict
B.C. has until the end of November to decide if the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line requires a new environmental assessment. That means taking on a decade-old quagmire involving Indigenous Rights, climate promises and the province’s industrial future. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Conservation effort uses soil from terramation
Auburn-based human composting company Earth Funeral is seeking to make a third option available, as an alternative to cremation or traditional burial. Earth Funeral owns a 5-acre piece of old logging land in Quilcene, said Morris. The company is using the land for restoration and conservation efforts supported by soil coming from the terramation process. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Canada’s newest deep-sea droid embarks on multi-day sea trial along our coastline
Plunging into the Pacific Ocean along the Island’s west coast, a deep-sea droid dubbed ‘Jenny’ has embarked on its first major expedition to collect ocean-floor data this fall with Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) and Canpac Marine Services Inc.  Jenny, a roughly $8 million remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of reaching depths of 6K metres, is off completing key maintenance tasks on ONC’s offshore subsea 800-kilometre-long cabled observatory infrastructure. Norma O'Malley reports. (Capital Daily)

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-  211 AM PDT Thu Oct 10 2024    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  4 ft at 10 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato at 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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