3/12 Earthworm, NW water, EPA enviro justice, Columbia R treaty, BC coal levies, seafood tariffs, Telegraph Cove, first 100 days

Earthworm

Earthworm
An earthworm is a soil-dwelling terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. Other slang names for earthworms include "dew-worm", "rainworm", "nightcrawler", and "angleworm" (from its use as angling hookbaits). Larger terrestrial earthworms are also called megadriles (which translates to "big worms") as opposed to the microdriles ("small worms") in the semiaquatic families Tubificidae, Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae.

Today's top story in Salish Current: La Conner coffee shop paddles upstream

Snow or no? Northwest’s water outlook gets murky with federal cuts
Federal cutbacks are threatening the Pacific Northwest’s ability to manage its water supplies and keep people safe from floods. Agencies that keep tabs on Northwest rivers and snowpack have been shedding scientists under the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal government. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

E.P.A. Plans to Close All Environmental Justice Offices
An internal memo directs the closure of offices designed to ease the heavy pollution faced by poor and minority communities. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

U.S. pauses Columbia River Treaty talks as trade tensions grow, B.C. minister says
B.C.'s Energy Ministry says the United States has paused negotiations with Canada on the wide-reaching Columbia River Treaty that regulates everything from flood control and power generation to water supply and salmon restoration in the region. The ministry says in a news release that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration "is conducting a broad review of its international engagement." (CBC)

B.C. premier calls for levies on U.S. thermal coal exports in response to Trump tariffs
As President Donald Trump's tariff threats continue to hang over Canada, B.C. Premier David Eby wants the federal government to impose a tax on U.S. thermal coal shipped out of the province as a way to pressure the White House. But after the president lashed out at Canada for Ontario's levies, there are also fears that any more retaliation from provinces could backfire. Yasmine Ghania reports. (CBC)

China tariffs hit B.C. seafood sector struggling with U.S. tariffs
B.C. Seafood exporters had been bracing for China's retaliatory tariffs in Canada's trade dispute over Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum but the decision lands as another major hit. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Rebuild underway for fire-ravaged Telegraph Cove
Telegraph Cove is rising from the ashes. Cleanup of the historic boardwalk on the North Island is well underway and rebuilding of the wharf and other structures destroyed in a devastating New Year’s Eve fire is scheduled to start this month. Darren Koster reports. (Times Colonist)

The First 100 Days

• Elon Musk Seeks to Put $100 Million Into Trump Political Operation (NY Times) 
• Trump withdraws threat of double tariffs on Canadian metals in dispute over electricity (News From The States)
  
• Trump’s 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports go into effect (Associated Press) 
• Researchers are learning the Trump administration axed their work to improve vaccination (Associated Press) 
• EU says its countermeasures to Trump's tariffs will go into effect on April 1 (Associated Press) 
• Under Trump, Social Security resumes what it once called ‘clawback cruelty’ (KFF Health News)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  258 AM PDT Wed Mar 12 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 7 seconds and W 6 ft at  13 seconds. Showers.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW  2 ft at 5 seconds and W 7 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of showers  in the evening, then 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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