3/31 Forsythia, weather service, health cuts, gas tax, Tesla protests, WA wildfire season, Skagit Queer, first 100 days

 

Forsythia

Forsythia
Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to eastern Asia, but one native to southeastern Europe. Forsythia – also one of the plant's common names – is named after the botanist William Forsyth. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Corrosion problem knocks most Amtrak Cascades trains out of service

More cuts coming to the National Weather Service
Weather balloon flights—and the forecasts they inform—would become less frequent nationwide under a plan revealed internally on Thursday. (John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Vaccine clinics canceled, health jobs cut as feds rescind grants to WA
Federal cuts are beginning to be felt in Washington state clinics, hospitals and public health departments. The Centers for Disease Control immediately ended $130 million “pandemic-related” grants this week, terminating jobs for over 200 employees at the state Department of Health, and potentially more at local health authorities, tribal clinics and community organizations. Scott Greenstone reports. (KUOW)

WA state Senate OKs gas tax hike and budget built on billions of new taxes
Senators want to raise the tax 6 cents per gallon. The House has a 9-cent tax that could be voted on this week. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Growing Tesla protests put pressure on Musk at showrooms in Seattle, U.S.
Protesters gathered at Tesla dealerships throughout Washington and dozens of other locations across the U.S. on Saturday in a coordinated protest against CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the federal government. At the Tesla showroom in Seattle’s University Village, hundreds of people were chanting shortly after 10 a.m. Police had blocked vehicle traffic near the showroom, which is in the popular outdoor shopping mall.  Caitlyn Freeman reports. (Seattle Times)

Budget woes, federal cuts puts WA plans at risk as wildfire season nears
Budget woes, combined with cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trump’s tariff and sovereignty threats against Canada, have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season. In Washington, a $12 billion budget shortfall prompted majority Democrats in the Legislature last week to propose slicing spending on wildfire prevention and fighting by one-third to two-thirds.  Martha Bellisle reports. (Associated Press)

Skagit Queer holds human rights protest in Mount Vernon
Rainbow flags and signs in support of LGBTQ+ rights were on display Saturday during Skagit Queer's human rights protest in front of the Skagit County Courthouse. Cameron Martinez reports (Skagit Valley Herald)


The First 100 Days

• As Trump Tariffs Loom, White House Eyes Costly Farmer Bailouts (NY Times)
  
• Musk hands out $1M payments after Wisconsin court declines to stop him (Associated Press)
  
• Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president (Associated Press)
  
• RFK Jr. forces out Peter Marks, FDA’s top vaccine scientist (Washington Post)
  
• Trump says military force not off the table for Greenland after Danish FM scolds his administration (Associated Press)
  
• Trump's FCC commissioner opens investigation into Walt Disney Co. and ABC for diversity policies (Associated Press)
  
• Trump says he won’t ‘fire people’ over Signal messages, reiterates support of national security team  (Associated Press)
  
• DOGE fires nearly all of staff at U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters  (Washington Post)
  

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-  215 AM PDT Mon Mar 31 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt late this  morning and early afternoon, veering to S late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 3 seconds and W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of showers.  TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 8 seconds.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/28 Grass spider, toxic tire dust, Great Bear MPA, McBarge sinks, coyote, first 100 days, week in review

 

Grass spider

Grass spider Agelenidae
The funnel-weavers, house spiders, and grass spiders represent one of the most common spider families encountered in the Pacific Northwest. Perhaps the easiest recognizable
features of this family are the sheet-like webs they spin with a landing in the front and a conspicuous funnel-shaped entrance in the back.. The spider often hides in the funnel
until an insect lands or crawls over the non-sticky sheet-like web. (WSU)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community stands in solidarity with immigration advocate detained by ICE

Scientists discover ‘potential breakthrough’ in protecting salmon from urban killer
For decades, toxic tire dust has choked coho salmon before they can spawn in their natal streams...Preliminary results from a recently completed study show certain soil mixes can effectively filter a toxic chemical out of stormwater, boosting coho salmon’s survival rates significantly. The key may be in special soil mixes containing sand, coconut fiber and biochar, a charcoal-like organic fertilizer, King County scientists said this week. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

BC Conservative Candidate Targets Great Bear Marine Protection Plan
North Island-Powell River Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn has proposed killing plans for a network of Indigenous-led marine protected areas on the West Coast. Advocates say Indigenous protected areas will increase economic opportunities. Rochelle Baker reports. (The Tyee)

Transport Canada called in as McBarge quietly sinks into Fraser River
The end is near for McDonald's Expo 86 floating restaurant that never quite found a home after global event. David Carrigg reports. (Vancouver Sun)

The Coyote Next Door
What urban wildlife can teach us about cognition, survival, and how to be good neighbors. Betsy Mason reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with ‘improper ideology’ (Associated Press)
  
• Internal White House document details layoff plans across U.S. agencies (Washington Post)
  
• Trump signs executive order to end collective bargaining at agencies involved with national security (Associated Press)
  
• Trump officials working to strip FEMA’s role in disaster recovery by Oct. 1 (Washington Post)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/28/25: Piano Day, WA natural gas, mineral mining, David Suzuki, kids climate suit, metal mining, Growlers, pink salmon, BC consumer carbon tax, BC hydrogen, Columbia R treaty, Fraser geese.

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-  234 AM PDT Fri Mar 28 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 8 to 10 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at 4  seconds and W 2 ft at 11 seconds. Showers. Patchy fog late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 3 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Showers.  
SAT  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at  3 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers.  
SAT NIGHT  SW wind around 5 kt, backing to E after midnight.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of  showers in the evening.  
SUN  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft at

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/27 Grasshopper, missing hooligans,BC hydrogen, forest protection, BC flood strategy, Columbia R treaty, dissolved oxygen, fed health funding, lithium mining, goose problem, right whale, first 100 days

 

Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are amongst what are possibly the most ancient living groups of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Islanders hone emergency strategy after earthquake

The case of the missing hooligans: a Cowlitz River mystery
Thousands of Northwesterners were disappointed when they failed to meet up with some hooligans in March...They’re a species of fish with many names, including hooligan, oolichan, eulachon, savior fish, salvation fish, candlefish, Columbia River smelt, and Thaleichthys pacificus. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Documents suggest B.C.'s hydrogen plans under threat as uncertainty halts 'large-scale' projects
Documents released through a freedom of information request reveal that B.C.'s former energy minister was told last September that at least seven "large-scale hydrogen projects" were being cancelled or paused because of issues including electricity supply, high cost and transportation.  Jason Proctor reports. (CBC)

Activists answer call to protect forests
For some people, the auctioning of a timber parcel might seem like the end of the road: no refunds, no returns, no exchanges. Not so for local environmental activists, however, whose cries to save the trees echo well past a parcel’s sale. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

BC Flood Strategy advisor 'unimpressed' by lack of funding to reduce risk
Sto:lo Tribal Council President Tyrone McNeil says he and his colleagues have seen “little to no” action on BC’s new flood strategy. Tyler Olsen reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Trump tariffs, ‘attacks’ over water complicate Columbia River Treaty negotiations
Attacks by President Donald Trump on Canada’s water and sovereignty, and a full-on trade war, have not only upended relations between the countries but have also threatened negotiations over a crucial treaty that governs use of the Columbia River. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

'Natural conditions' are at the center of disputes over dissolved oxygen standards
Oxygen is indisputably essential to aquatic life, but conflicts are brewing over water quality standards mandated in state regulations. This article is part of a series of reports funded by King County about the quest to define healthy oxygen levels in Puget Sound. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

WA is losing $160M in federal health funding. Here’s what to know
Washington state is losing more than $160 million in federal funding designated for public health, mental health and substance use treatment as the Trump administration slashes federal agencies’ budgets. The state Department of Health was notified Monday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was immediately terminating multiple pandemic-related grants, totaling at least $130 million. Taylor Blatchford reports. (Seattle Times) 

BLM rushes review of Oregon lithium mine following Trump’s executive order
A proposed Southeast Oregon lithium project has been under review for three years. Now the Trump administration is giving people until Sunday to comment before proceeding. April Errlich report. (OPB)

The Fraser Valley's supersized goose problem
As communities spend money to addle goose eggs, they're paying the price for a previous breeding experiment gone wrong. Grace Giesbrecht reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

To Discover the World’s First Intersex Southern Right Whale, the Third Test Was the Charm
What you think you know about the world depends on how you’re looking. In 2022, Carla Crossman was analyzing the genes of southern right whales when she came across something unexpected. Vanessa Minke-Martin reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• President Trump announces 25% tariffs on auto imports (Associated Press)
  
• DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show (Reuters)
  
• H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics (NY Times)
  
• Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services (NY Times)
  
• 10,000 Federal Health Dept. Workers to Be Laid Off (NY Times)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  240 AM PDT Thu Mar 27 2025   TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 3 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/26 Eelgrass, pink salmon, BC carbon tax, PRGT pipe, orca calf, OR urban trees, BC shellfish fines, first 100 days

Common eelgrass [Sound Water Stewards]

 

Common eelgrass Zostera marina
Native in the state of Washington, Zostera marina’s range spans the area from Alaska to California on the West Coast and is also found on the North American East Coast, in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is common in low intertidal and subtidal zones to a depth of 20-30 feet along sheltered areas with sandy or muddy beaches. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Frustrations and flux in Sedro-Woolley schools leadership / Down-ballot elections can changes lives in seismic ways

Abundance of pink salmon may be harming orcas
Pink salmon now comprise nearly 80% of all adult salmon in the North Pacific. This record abundance is coming at a cost to other salmon species such as threatened Chinook, which compete with pinks for spawning territory. A new study shows that the ecological toll may extend all the way to endangered southern resident killer whales. Eric Wagner reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

B.C. scrapping consumer carbon tax altogether on April 1, government says
The B.C. government has announced it will completely scrap the provincial consumer-facing carbon tax on April 1 and is urging gas companies to remove tax from pricing. Andrew Kurjata and Akshay Kulkarni report. (CBC)

Indigenous, community groups take BC Energy Regulator to court over PRGT pipeline approval
Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups are in court this week, arguing the BC Energy Regulator bent its own rules when it green-lighted construction of a new 800-kilometre gas pipeline for the LNG industry. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Orca calf a descendent of one of last killer whales captured
The orca calf’s great-grandmother was one of six whales captured and temporarily held by SeaWorld in Washington’s Puget Sound in March 1976. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Trump administration funding freeze creates uncertainty for Oregon urban tree canopy programs
The Trump administration appears to have frozen at least $40 million in federal payments for Oregon-based urban tree canopy programs, as part of a broader push by the president to cut support for programs related to climate change. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

B.C. shellfish harvesters fined for illegal fishing
A woman from Nanaimo and another from Richmond were found to have retained more than the daily quota for clams and oysters, with some of their catch under the legal minimum size. Darron Kloster reports.(Times Colonist)

The First 100 Days

• Trump signs order seeking to overhaul US elections, including requiring proof of citizenship (Associated Press)
  
• Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down (Washington Post)
  
• Trump administration says it will pull back billions in COVID funding from local health departments (Associated Press)
  
• Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism (Washington Post)
  
• The Atlantic posts Signal chat with attack plans from Hegseth (Associated Press)
  
• Federal cuts squeeze already-struggling food banks, school lunch programs (Statelines)
  

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-  304 AM PDT Wed Mar 26 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: E 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain this  morning, then showers likely with a slight chance of tstms this  afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 4 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/25 Reed canarygrass, WA lege, OR kid climate suit, BC metal mining, Brave Little Hunter, eelgrass, Growlers, extreme heat, news diet, first 100 days

Reed Canarygrass

Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea
Canary grass is a major threat to natural wetlands because it out competes most native species as it forms large, single-species stands, outcompeting other species. Dense stands have little wildlife habitat value. Its invasion can cause siltation in irrigation ditches.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Who speaks truth to Trump’s transgressions?

Democrats in Washington Legislature pitch competing budget plans
Furloughs and taxes, early learning and police hiring are among the matters in need of negotiations between the House and Senate and with the governor. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)  Gas tax increase is key to fueling WA Senate transportation budget Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

US Supreme Court declines to revive landmark climate suit brought by young Oregonians
The decision ends a decade-long fight led by 11 young Oregonians and 10 of their peers across the nation against the U.S. government over climate inaction. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

‘Metals are the new oil’: B.C. fast-tracks critical minerals projects to counter tariffs
Premier David Eby says the province has ‘unlimited’ potential when it comes to critical minerals. Used to make everything from weapons to renewables, critics question whether B.C.'s rush to mine copper, lithium and more could impact the environment and Indigenous Rights. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal)

Hope persists for Brave Little Hunter, one year later
A researcher who was involved in the rescue effort is optimistic that as the days grow longer and the weather improves, there will be more sightings. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

County awarded $500,000 for eelgrass project
Pierce County Planning & Public Works has been awarded a $500,000 grant to help advance eelgrass monitoring along Pierce County shorelines. Starting this summer, PPW and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources will collect data on marine vegetation by using underwater videography at approximately 180 Pierce County sites. The results will be analyzed to identify the distribution of eelgrass beds in the county’s nearshore environment. (Tacoma Weekly)

Comment period open on Growler operations
The U.S. Navy is accepting public comments regarding a draft of its amended analysis to the final environmental impact statement for EA-18G Growler aircraft operations at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island through April 28. The amended analysis was mandated by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. (Peninsula Daily News)

The Vicious Cycle of Extreme Heat Leading to More Fossil Fuel Use
A new report illustrates a concerning dynamic: Record heat last year pushed countries to use more planet-warming fossil fuels to cool things down. Claire Brown reports. (NY Times)

7 ways to cultivate a healthy news diet
Media literacy and mental health experts from the University of Washington offer their suggestions to fight brain rot, headline anxiety and misinformation. Sireen Abayazid, Nimra Ahmad, Sophie Grossman & Madeline Happold report. (CascadePBS)

The First 100 Days

• Judge bars DOGE access to sensitive personal information at 3 federal agencies (News From the States)
  
• Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist (Associated Press)
  
• In His Second Term, Trump Fuels a ‘Machinery’ of Misinformation (NY Times)
  
• Transgender Americans aim to block Trump’s passport policy change (Associated Press)
  
• GOP-led states push for control of federal education money under Trump (Associated Press)
  

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-  801 AM PDT Tue Mar 25 2025    
REST OF TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail:  W 5 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain early this morning, then a  slight chance of rain this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 5 ft at 15 seconds.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/24 Surf grass, WA natural gas, mining, David Suzuki, Oly wetlands, BC best bird, reefnetting, Frank Chopp, first 100 days

 

Surf grass [Sound Water Stewards]

Surf grass Phyllospadix
Surf grass likes high energy areas where it is bonded to the rocks by tiny root hairs. The roots and rhizomes may be covered by sand that has washed over it, but beneath that, their attachment will be to rock. Three species of Phyllospadix can be found in low intertidal and subtidal zones on Pacific Northwest beaches. (Sound Water Stewards)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local counties face climate vulnerabilities

Judge overturns Washington natural gas measure approved by voters
Opponents argued Initiative 2066 was unconstitutional because it dealt with multiple unrelated subjects. Supporters say they’ll appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Can the rush for clean energy overcome a legacy of pollution?
The technologies needed to usher the world into a new energy paradigm require minerals: Copper. Lithium. Cobalt. Nickel. Manganese. Graphite. Mining these materials is an inherently dirty and extractive process. It comes at a steep cost, disproportionately paid by communities that have dealt with legacies of contamination. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

‘Absolute self-destruction’: David Suzuki has bad news about the environment
In 1962, a young Canadian geneticist started reading “Silent Spring,” Rachel Carson’s damning treatise about the dangers of using pesticides to control insects...Six decades later, Suzuki stands at the precipice of an ecological catastrophe clanging alarm bells as Carson once did. Elliott Almond reports. (Seattle Times)

Could wetlands be in the way of proposed 39-home project in NE Olympia? Officials to find out
Tacoma-based housing developer Pacific Lifestyle Homes has plans to build 39 market-rate homes on a 7-acre property in northeast Olympia known as Springwood Gardens. But nearby residents are speaking out against the proposed neighborhood expansion with concerns about increased traffic, as well as wetland and natural habitat loss. Ty Vinson reports. (The Olympian)

Best Bird in B.C. contest returns for a second year
Wildlife Rescue hopes a songbird sing-off competition will help educate people about B.C.'s birds. Bridget Stringer-Holden reports. (CBC)

Behind Origins’ latest season, ‘The Last Reefnetters’
Filmmaker Samuel Wolfe shares what sparked his curiosity about the centuries-old fishing technique and who still practices it on the Salish Sea today. Paris Jackson reports.(CascadePBS)

Frank Chopp, former WA House speaker and tireless advocate, dies at 71
Frank Chopp, the longest-serving House speaker in Washington state history and a fierce advocate for working families and low-income housing, has died. He was 71. Jim Brunner reports. (Seattle Times)

The First 100 Days

• USDA halts millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks (Politico)
  
• Homeland Security revokes temporary status for 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (Associated Press)
  
• I.R.S. Prepares to Help Find Immigrants Targeted for Deportation (NY Times)
  
• Columbia University’s Concessions to Trump Seen as a Watershed (NY Times)
  
• Under Trump, the news industry faces challenges from all directions (Associated Press)
  
• How Trump uses disinformation in his trade war with Canada (CBC)
  
• With New Decree, Trump Threatens Lawyers and Law Firms (NY Times)
  
• DEI purge: Pentagon scrambles to remove then restore content (Associated Press)
  
• Showdown at the Institute of Peace (NY Times)
  
• ‘Chaos and Confusion’ at the N.I.H., the Crown Jewel of American Science (NY Times)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  333 AM PDT Mon Mar 24 2025    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE late this morning,  rising to 10 to 15 kt this afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave  Detail: SE 2 ft at 6 seconds, W 5 ft at 11 seconds and W 2 ft at  19 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 3 seconds, W 5 ft at 11 seconds and W 3 ft at 17 seconds.  Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/21 Narcissus, AK drilling, climate grants, BC leaks, BC carbon tax, Trump's logging, carbon storage, Ralph Munro, first 100 days, week in review

 

Narcissus

Narcissus
Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring flowering perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus, and jonquil, are used to describe some or all members of the genus. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: Neighbors offer vision for Samish Crest / Hidden in plain sight

Interior reopens millions of acres in Alaska for energy development
The Interior Department on Thursday said it will expand drilling opportunities for fossil fuels in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the neighboring National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska to support President Donald Trump’s vision of “American energy dominance.” David Jordan reports. (QC-Roll Call/Seattle Times)

Court blocks EPA attempt to cancel $20B of climate grants, protecting tribal energy funding
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from terminating billions in climate funding awarded during the Biden administration, a decision that protects $1.5 billion committed for tribal energy projects alongside other clean energy initiatives. The ruling delivers a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle key climate programs. Brian Edwards reports. (Tribal Business News)

44 ‘serious’ leaks reported at B.C. oil and gas sites in the past year
Hydrogen sulphide, methane and potentially contaminated water leaks from natural gas wells in B.C. were all registered in an obscure government database. Matt Simmons and Zak Vescera report. (The Narwhal)

End of consumer carbon tax leaves $1.5-billion hole in B.C. budget
British Columbia's budget shows that the impending end of the province's consumer carbon tax will leave a roughly $1.5-billion hole in its revenue streams, with one expert saying "there will be both winners and losers" from the change.make sure B.C. is "able to accommodate this commitment within the budget." Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

Trump wants to log more trees. He’ll need states’ help
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders to increase logging in national forests and on other federal lands. Trump’s orders direct federal agencies to set aggressive targets for timber harvests and to circumvent environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act that protect critical habitats. Alex Brown reports. (Washington State Standard)

How much carbon is stored in B.C.'s forests? Audit finds government data is lacking
A new report from B.C.'s auditor general has found that some of the Forests Ministry's carbon modelling practices for how carbon in B.C. forests is stored and released were not adequately documented and not transparent. The audit, which was released Tuesday, said the government's lack of a defined methodology to calculate the carbon benefit of forest investment projects had a negative effect on the credibility of the ministry's reporting. (CBC)

Remembering Ralph Munro, five-term Washington secretary of state and statesman
Ralph Munro, Washington’s longest-serving secretary of state and a moderate Republican who achieved unusually broad popularity across the political spectrum, died early Thursday at his convalescent home in Lacey. He was 81 and had struggled with multiple health issues for the past several years. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard)

The First 100 Days

• Trump orders plan to dismantle Education Department (Associated Press)
  
• Colleges facing Trump crackdown on DEI cut ties with The PhD Project (Associated Press)
  
• Pentagon Set Up Briefing for Musk on Potential War With China (NY Times)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/21/25: Poetry Day, NOAA science, Carney on climate, BC landslides, carbon emissions, Makah whaling, plastic birds, whale songs.

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-  216 AM PDT Fri Mar 21 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 10 ft decreasing to 5 to  8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 12 seconds. Showers early this  morning. A slight chance of tstms until late afternoon. Rain late  this morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  7 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the evening.  
SAT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  12 seconds. Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 2 ft at 5 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and  W 5 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/20 Chocolate lily, brain damaged birds, whale songs, iceberg, Billy Frank Jr. statue, first 100 days

Chocolate lily

Chocolate lily Fritillaria affinis
The chocolate lily is a highly variable species of flowering plant in the lily family Liliaceae native to western North America. Its habitat includes oak or pine scrub or open woods and thickets near the coast. It prefers low to mid-elevation, shade or part shade, dry summer dormancy, and good drainage. The roots or bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked. Historically, the bulbs of this plant were eaten steamed by Salish Native American peoples. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The paradox of plastic

Plastic Meals Leave Seabirds with Brain Damage
Sable shearwater chicks are developing Alzheimer’s-like symptoms and other hidden health impacts. Patrick Greenfield reports. (bioGraphic/The Guardian)

Northwest research reveals some whales avoid detection from predators by keeping their songs reeaaal low
New research from University of Washington marine scientist Trevor Branch has revealed a defense mechanism some baleen whales appear to use to protect themselves against attack. They’ve evolved to become baritones — essentially the Paul Robesons of the whale world — they sing really, really low. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

A huge iceberg broke off Antarctica. What scientists found under it startled them.
Crustaceans, snails, worms and fish are among the dozens of creatures that deep-sea explorers discovered under a massive Antarctic ice shelf. Dino Grandoni reports. (Washington Post)

Billy Frank Jr. statue brings modern representation to U.S. Capitol
Washington state is sending a statue of an Indigenous activist it arrested more than 50 times to the Halls of Congress. The statue of Billy Frank Jr. will be the first contemporary depiction of an Indigenous person in National Statuary Hall, since Oklahoma put a statue of movie star Will Rogers there in 1939. Freddy Monares reports. (KNKX)

The First 100 Days

• A list of the Social Security offices across the US expected to close this year (Associated Press)
  
• As Trump attacks DEI, UC bans ‘diversity statements’ in faculty hiring (LA Times)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  204 AM PDT Thu Mar 20 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 15 to 20 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at  4 seconds, SW 6 ft at 11 seconds and W 5 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt, veering to SW after midnight. Seas  6 to 9 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 4 seconds and W 8 ft at  13 seconds. Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


 

3/19 Tube anemone, whale hunt, CleanBC, Canada water, WA budget, Gateway Program, urchin harvest, first 100 days

Tube anemone [Pat McMahon]

Tube anemone Pachycerianthus fimbriatus
The tube anenome is found in the parts of the Salish Sea where they can easily burrow into soft sediment. They secrete a protective tube around themselves for protection from predators who are mainly the giant nudibranch (Dendronotus iris). The nudibranch will feed on the tentacles of the anenome and lay its eggs on the tube providing an easy first meal for its young. This colorful animal lives at depths of up to 800' and can live for 10 years. (Courtesy Pat McMahon)

Today's top story in Salish Current: How Black PNW artists find peace in a changing world

Makah Tribe applies for permit to resume its traditional whale hunt
The Makah Tribe has applied for a permit to resume its traditional whale hunt this July. The tribe, based in Neah Bay in the northwest corner of Washington state, has conducted a permitted hunt only once in the last 25 years, despite its exclusive treaty right to whaling. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

B.C. spent $3.5B to reduce carbon emissions over 7 years. That plan has failed
CleanBC sought to cut greenhouse gases, but emissions are the same as they were in 2007. The province says emissions targets are no longer ‘workable’ — advocates say B.C.’s push for LNG projects is part of the problem. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Is Trump Coming for Canada’s Water?
An abandoned water project known as the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA) was tabled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s. It’s considered a zombie project, always resurfacing, never dead. The $80 billion plan proposed construction of 369 structures that would divert water from the Yukon, Liard and Peace Rivers through a “Rocky Mountain trench” connecting Alaska to the Mississippi and Colorado River basins, and Alberta to the Great Lakes. Tricia Stadnyk reports. (The Tyee)

WA's latest budget outlook shows another $845M dent in revenue
The latest forecast shows that money flowing into the state’s operating budget during that time is expected to be nearly $900 million lower than projections released in November. Revenues for the remainder of this budget cycle show a modest, $54.4 million increase from the November figures. When taking this into account, revenue is down $845 million through 2029. Jake Goldstein-Street and Bill Lucia report. (Washington State Standard)

Major Puget Sound area construction project could be delayed amid funding concerns
The Puget Sound Gateway Program, which spans King and Pierce counties, is experiencing an approximate $155 million funding gap, the Washington State Transportation Commission was told March 18. The state told commission members if it delayed the project by a year, it could make that money up through tolling portions of state Route 509 and 167. Kipp Robertson and Tess Wagner report. (KING5)

Company probed for urchin harvest
A company that offloaded 1,400 pounds of green sea urchins worth $2,000 at Port Angeles Boat Haven is under investigation for receiving the spiny delicacy without the proper paperwork...Among the charges the WDFW is pursuing are first-degree unlawful fish and shellfish accounting, a Class C felony, and operating without a valid commercial wholesale license. Paula Hunt reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

The First 100 Days

• Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients (Associated Press)
  
• RFK Jr.’s Prescription for Bird Flu on Farms: Let It Spread (NY Times)
  
• Federal judge blocks Trump effort to ban transgender troops from military service (NPR)
  
• Amid ‘DEI’ purge, Pentagon removes webpage on Iwo Jima flag-raiser (Washington Post)
  

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-  209 AM PDT Wed Mar 19 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM PDT EARLY THIS  MORNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, rising to 20 to 25 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to 8 ft this  afternoon. Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 6 seconds and W 3 ft at  12 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 7 to 10 ft, subsiding to 5 to 7 ft after midnight.  Wave Detail: SE 5 ft at 6 seconds, W 6 ft at 13 seconds and SW  4 ft at 13 seconds. Rain, mainly in the evening.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/18 Yellow fritillary, EPA science, new Tacoma pier, PRGT pipeline, BC landslides, Tla'amin village site, Perrinville Cr, caddisfly, border traffic, BC toll, first 100 days

 

Yellow fritillary

Yellow fritillary Fritillaria pudica
The yellow fritillary is a small perennial plant found in the sagebrush country in the western United States. Another common (but somewhat ambiguous) name is "yellow bells", since it has a bell-shaped yellow flower. It may be found in dryish, loose soil; it is amongst the first plants to flower after the snow melts, but the flower does not last very long; as the petals age, they turn a brick-red colour and begin to curl outward. During his historic journey, Meriwether Lewis collected a specimen while passing through Idaho in 1806. The corm can be dug up and eaten fresh or cooked; it served Native Americans as a good source of food in times past, and is still eaten occasionally. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Indigenous youth and women shaping environmental futures

Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm
More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Puyallup Tribe and NWSA enter historic pact to create new pier at Port of Tacoma
The Puyallup Tribe of Indians entered into an historic agreement Monday with the Northwest Seaport Alliance, which will include developing a new berth on the Blair Waterway at the Port of Tacoma. Debbie Cockrell reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

PRGT pipeline hit with warning letter for environmental violations
Pipeline workers failed to properly assess endangered bat habitat before clearing land in northwest British Columbia. The project could be fined up to $1 million, according to a warning letter sent by B.C. officials. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Half of 2021 landslides in B.C. linked logging, wildfires: study
Study finds nearly half of 1,300 landslides that occurred during B.C.'s November 2021 atmospheric river event started in areas burned by wildfire or disturbed by logging. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

First Nation gets village site back from pulp company on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast
Tla'amin First Nation say village holds historical and current significance to its people. (CBC)

Examiner to decide route of Perrinville Creek
Closing arguments were submitted last week in a hearing that could determine if the creek will be passable for salmon in the next three years. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Learn about the caddisfly with ecologist Judy Li
Oregon State University professor emeritus Judy Li’s lifelong love of all the critters that make their homes in our local creeks is contagious. One of Li’s favorites is the under-appreciated caddisfly. Not only are these stealthy invertebrates near-miraculous in their ability to transform from tiny, underwater insects into winged flyers, they also play an important role in keeping our watersheds clean and healthy. Jule Gilfillan reports. (OPB)

Cross-border trips to the U.S. reach COVID lows with nearly 500,000 fewer travellers in February
The number of trips hasn't been this low since the COVID-19 era. John Paul Tasker reports. (CBC)

British Columbia introduces toll measure to counter tariffs
The government of British Columbia filed legislation Thursday that would permit the province to levy tolls on vehicles between the Lower 48 and Alaska... The bill does not automatically impose fees on vehicles, but it “just gives BC the tools to do so down the road if Trump continues to escalate his threats towards BC and Canada,” according to a statement from the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Transit. James Brooks reports. (Washington State Standard) 

The First 100 Days

• Proposal would force millions to file Social Security claims in person (Washington Post)
  
• Trump administration plans a 25 percent staff cut at IRS taxpayer help office (Washington Post)
  
• Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm (NY Times)
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  202 AM PDT Tue Mar 18 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE  WEDNESDAY NIGHT    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE early this afternoon,  rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 13 seconds. A chance of showers early this afternoon. Showers  likely late.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Showers likely in the evening, then rain  after midnight.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


3/17 Shamrock, NOAA cuts, Columbia R Treaty, BC herring, Mark Carney, butterflies, BC wastewater, Vitalus expansion, first 100 days

 

Shamrock (White clover)

Shamrock
A shamrock is a type of clover, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg ([ˈʃamˠɾˠoːɡ]), which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and simply means "young clover". At most times, Shamrock refers to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser/yellow clover, Irish: seamair bhuí) or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán).

Today's top story in Salish Current: American and Canadian jiu-jitsu competitors clash in Lynden

After Cuts, Former NOAA Chief Scientist Says U.S. Science Risks Becoming a “Backwater Enterprise”
With its first wave of firings, the new Trump administration has decimated NOAA. Madeline Ostrander reports. (bioGraphic)

U.S. pauses Columbia River water-sharing negotiations with Canada amid Trump threats
The nations were trying to finalize updates to the 61-year-old Columbia River Treaty governing shared, cross-border water and hydropower management. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

On board: Navigating the choppy waters of B.C.'s herring fishery
First served in feudal Japan, herring roe, known as kazunoko, gradually became an integral part of Osechi, the traditional Japanese New Year's feast. This ceremonial delicacy, costing upwards of $200 per kilogram, varies in quality, with the most sought-after roe sourced from Canada’s Pacific coast, known for its superior quality compared to its Atlantic counterpart. Olivier Laurin reports. (Victoria News)

Here’s where Canada’s new prime minister stands on the future of oil and gas
Prime Minister Mark Carney has been a key international deal maker on climate action. Mike De Souza and Carl Meyer report. (The Narwhal)

Butterfly populations have declined, but there's hope
A first-ever comprehensive study of butterfly populations across the United States shows dramatic declines in most species. Overall, about 22% have died off in just 20 years. And 114 species have declined by 40% or more. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Under the microscope: Looking at B.C.'s wastewater surveillance for viruses
Testing wastewater for diseases and viral activity gained prominence during the pandemic, but scientists are concerned that funding for such work could be threatened. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Vitalus expansion to come online in 2027
Vitalus Nutrition’s Abbotsford plant currently processes cream and butter, and produces milk proteins and prebiotics. The expansion of an Abbotsford plant aimed at turning milk into proteins, prebiotics, and butter is likely to be complete by the fall of 2027—and local dairy farmers have been told to prepare to up their production. Grace Kennedy reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

The First 100 Days

• Trump signs order to cut staff at Voice of America and other US-funded media organizations (Associated Press)
  
• Trump tapped Kari Lake to run VOA. Then he dismantled it. (Washington Post)
  
• DOGE Cuts Reach Key Nuclear Scientists, Bomb Engineers and Safety Experts (NY Times)
  
• U.S. to Withdraw From Group Investigating Responsibility for Ukraine Invasion (NY Times)
  
• Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants, despite court order (Associated Press)
  

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-  233 AM PDT Mon Mar 17 2025   TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds and W  6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds and W  6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely, mainly in the evening.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


4/14 Sanddab, NOAA cuts, WA bike lanes, WA bills dead/alive, wildfires, Salish Sea Wonders, Canadian beaver, first 100 days, week in review

Pacific sanddab

 
Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus
A left-eyed flatfish with an elongate to oval body shape. The eyed side is dull light brown, mottled with brown or black and sometimes yellow or orange, while the blind side is off-white to tan. Pacific sanddab range from the Sea of Japan, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea, south to Cape San Lucas, Baja California.  Pacific sanddab can grow up to 41 cm (16 in) in length, and 0.91 kg (2 lbs) in weight, however most weigh less than 1/3 of a pound. Maximum age is 9 years old. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Beyond obstacles: artists with disabilities express healing through creativity

More cuts coming to US oceans agency and its Olympic Coast sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to jettison 10 buildings it leases in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as the agency prepares to eliminate another 1,029 employees nationwide. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Trump administration takes aim at bike lanes, other WA projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation has ordered state officials to scrutinize all projects that received federal grant spending over the past four years on bike lanes, electric vehicle charging stations and other “green infrastructure,” with an eye toward potentially canceling any project that doesn’t align with the Trump administration’s goals. Nicholas Deshais reports. (Seattle Times)

What bills are still dead and alive in the Washington Legislature
Lawmakers in the Washington Legislature spent the past week and a half passing bills off the House and Senate floors ahead of a Wednesday deadline. Measures that didn’t make it through their chamber of origin by that cutoff are likely dead for the year. Jake Goldstein-Street and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero report. (Washington State Standard)

We know how to protect homes from wildfires. Why don’t more people do it?
It’s not a mystery why some houses survive catastrophic fires while their neighbours burn. Still, few people follow FireSmart recommendations — these experts are trying to fix that. Chloe Williams reports. (The Narwhal)

Salish Sea Wonders.
Zoom in on Salish Sea geology; tides and currents; intertidal ecology; plankton, herring, salmon & sharks; Race Rocks Ecological Reserve; and a message of recovery and hope. March 31, April 7, 14, & 28, 7 – 9pm; $30 for the series, group rate and subsidies available.
Information here.

The dam, the myth, the legend: 50 years of the beaver
An exploration of the buck-toothed, flat-tailed, landscape-shifting icon celebrating 50 years as Canada’s national symbol. Brian Banks reports. (Canadian Geographic)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/14/25: Pi Day, herring status, space fish count, 100,000 tires EPA enviro justice, EPA reg ban, Columbia R treaty, seafood tariff.

The First 100 Days

• Trump asks Supreme Court to intervene in birthright citizenship case (News From The States)
  
• Hundreds of federal offices could begin closing this summer at DOGE's behest (Associated Press)
  

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-  236 AM PDT Fri Mar 14 2025  
TODAY  E wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SE 15 to 20 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 5 seconds and  W 6 ft at 12 seconds. Rain likely.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: E  3 ft at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  S wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft, building to 5 to 8 ft in the  afternoon. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 13 seconds. Showers.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W  8 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft  at 14 seconds. Rain.

---


"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



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told