2/17 Red beaded anemone, WA clean energy fund, BPA staff, Gaida Gwaii title, Mosquito Fleet, hydrofoils, WA Fish&Wildlife, zebra mussels, e-plane, WA natural gas, Tumwater tree, first 100 days

Red beaded anemone

 

Red beaded anemone Urticina clandestina
This is a fairly large anemone with a diameter to about 6 inches. The column ranges from brick red to bright red but is rarely visible because sand and bits of shell cling to and cover it. Tentacles are short, blunt, and banded, often red and gray. Look for Urticina clandestina in areas of coarse sediment low in the intertidal of rocky beaches and divers can find it to a depth of 50 feet. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Poetry, for a ‘churning, burning world’

Washington state clean-energy funding re-frozen by Trump White House
More than $500 million in federal funding for clean energy in Washington state is being held up by the Trump administration. Washington state leaders say Trump officials have ignored court orders to release that congressionally mandated funding....Washington Commerce officials said they were not notified the state’s $156 million “Solar for All” grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had been frozen a second time. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Bonneville Power staff departures under President Trump raise concerns about Northwest electrical grid
Linemen, engineers among hundreds of staff to leave Bonneville Power Administration as Trump trims workforce. Tony Schick and Courtney Sherwood report. (OPB)

Canada recognizes Aboriginal title over Haida Gwaii off B.C. in historic agreement
The federal government will recognize Aboriginal title over the archipelago of Haida Gwaii off British Columbia's northern coast in a historic agreement with the Haida First Nation. (Canadian Press)

'Mosquito Fleet Act' could bring small ferries to more Puget Sound communities
House Bill 1923 would let small communities along Puget Sound create "mosquito fleets" of passenger-only ferries. The boats would likely carry up to 149 people each. Currently only Kitsap and King counties have passenger-only lines like that. [The bill] also includes a grant program to help pay for them. Joshua McNichols reports. (KUOW)

Return of the hydrofoil: Puget Sound passenger ferries in the works
Belfast, Northern Ireland-based Artemis Technologies is partnering with Delta Marine, a local maker of luxury yachts, with promises of a new fleet of walk-on “efoiling” ferries for local travelers. Nicholas Deshais reports. (Seattle Times)

Ferguson wades into WA Fish and Wildlife Commission turmoil
The governor withdrew two appointments to the panel that former Gov. Jay Inslee made on his way out of office. The move comes amid calls for the commission to be overhauled. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

The feds tried to hold the line in an invasive species battle — and lost. What’s next?
Riding Mountain National Park was the frontline of the westward invasion, but Parks Canada now says stopping zebra mussels at the park is ‘no longer an achievable option.’ Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal)

WA electric plane startup halts operations in blow to green aviation
Arlington-based startup Eviation, which flew the first flight of its sleek all-electric airplane at Moses Lake in fall 2022, laid off most of its staff last week after failing to attract new funding, according to two employees who were among those cut. Dominic Gates reports. (Seattle Times)

Judge won’t compel state panel to scrap building codes targeted by gas initiative
A builder group says the voter-approved measure is not being followed. A second lawsuit challenging the legality of Initiative 2066 will be heard in March. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Historic Tumwater tree could stay, report says. Council to make final decision in March
The newest assessment of the historic 400-year-old Davis Meeker Garry Oak tree that partially hangs over Old Highway 99 south of Tumwater was released on Feb. 7. It turns out, the tree is healthier than previously thought, and cutting it down doesn’t necessarily have to happen. Ty Vinson reports. (Olympian)

The First 100 Days

• Trump Suggests No Laws Are Broken if He’s ‘Saving His Country’ (NY Times)
• Trump’s Funding Freezes Bruise a Core Constituency: Farmers (NY Times)
• Musk Team Seeks Access to I.R.S. System With Taxpayers’ Records (NY Times)
• IRS to lay off thousands of probationary workers amid tax season (Associated Press)
• Top federal prosecutor in Washington previously defended Jan. 6 rioters (NPR)
• Trump's government cuts: 20 immigration judges fired from backlogged courts without explanation (Associated Press)
• AP reporter and photographer barred from Air Force One over ‘Gulf of Mexico’ terminology dispute (Associated Press)
• Trump begins firings of FAA air traffic control staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash (Associated Press)
• DOGE reversal: Firings of US nuclear weapons workers halted (Associated Press)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  233 AM PST Mon Feb 17 2025    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft  at 15 seconds. A chance of rain early this morning, then a slight  chance of rain late this morning. A chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft  at 14 seconds. Rain likely after midnight.

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