2/14 Sanderling, Upthegrove, PFAS fertilizer, EPA lockout, Stanley Park trees, whale songs, fish bladders, OR climate grants, counting fish, first 100 days, week in review

Sanderling

Sanderling Calidris alba
The sanderling is a small wading bird. The name derives from Old English sand-yrðling, "sand-ploughman." The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific, alba, is Latin for "white." Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community responds to ramping ICE arrests

New Washington Public Lands chief defends pause on logging ‘almost old-growth forests’
As one of his first acts on the job, Dave Upthegrove, Washington’s new Public Lands commissioner, did what he promised to do on the campaign trail — pause the harvest of timber from 70,000 to 80,000 acres of older forests that don’t yet qualify as “old-growth” but still are old enough to provide valuable habitat. Libby Denkmann and Alec Cowan report. (KUOW)

Should WA test human waste fertilizer for PFAS?
In Washington — particularly King and Pierce counties — experts say the PFAS problem isn’t nearly as pronounced. The contaminants are likely present, they’re even detectable in rain water across the world, but probably not in such high concentrations as to be dangerous, they say. But here’s the thing: We don’t know for sure. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

'The purge has begun.' Environmental justice workers locked out of EPA Seattle office
Nine Environmental Protection Agency employees in Seattle have been put on leave by the Trump Administration because they work on environmental justice. Their jobs involve helping communities that breathe, eat, and drink more than their fair share of pollution. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Vancouver faces another legal challenge over tree removal in Stanley Park
The Vancouver park board began removing thousands of trees in late 2023, saying they are dying because of a hemlock looper moth infestation. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Some whales sing low enough to be 'acoustically invisible' to predators: research
New research suggests male baleen whales looking for love sing a different tune when attracting a mate, and it all depends on if they are more likely to fight or flee from a predator. Ashley Joannou reports. (Canadian Press)

How Mexican cartels and Chinese criminal networks are moving 'cocaine of the sea' through Canadian ports
Chinese organized crime networks and Mexican cartels are using Canadian ports to trade highly lucrative fish bladders for the precursor chemicals needed to produce fentanyl, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. Michelle Ghoussoub reports. (CBC) 

With Oregon’s 2 largest federal climate grants on hold — for now — state agencies are left at a standstill
Denying Oregon these investments “would blow essentially a $200 million dollar hole in our budget,” says an environmental nonprofit leader. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB)

Are There Plenty of Fish in the Sea? Ask an Elephant Seal
Counting deep-sea fish is difficult, but elephant seals can make it easier. Annie Roth reports. (bioGraphic)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/14/25: Fredrick Douglass Friday, herring, nature report, NOAA climate, Nevada bird flu, global climate, snowpack, BLM Sgamma, 'Gulf of America,' EPA purge.

The First 100 Days
Trump dismisses Seattle-based U.S. attorney as part of nationwide purge  (Seattle Times)
Hegseth team invites far-right activist Jack Posobiec on overseas trip (Washington Post)
Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Trump’s health chief after a close Senate vote (Associated Press)
State Department halts plan to buy $400M worth of armored vehicles from Musk’s Tesla (Associated Press)

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