4/7 Ranunculus, 'Hands Off!,' logging, clean-energy programs, tidal swamps, gray wolves, avian flu, forest management, whale welcome, first 100 days

Ranunculus

Ranunculus
Ranunculus is a large genus of about 1750 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus are known as buttercups, spearworts and water crowfoots.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Transgender rights and inclusion: growing concern

WA protesters call on Trump, Musk to keep ‘hands off’ programs, rights
Opponents and critics of President Donald Trump gathered in large numbers in Seattle, Olympia and other parts of Washington and the U.S. on Saturday, rallying to protest the administration’s policies and actions on the economy, immigration, cuts to government agencies and democracy itself. Nicholas Deshais, Lulu Ramadan and Caitlyn Freeman report. (Seattle Times)  Bellingham turns out for local version of national day of protest against Trump policies (Bellingham Herald)  ‘Hands Off!’ protests in Whatcom, Skagit counties draw thousands (CDN)  Angry protesters from New York to Alaska assail Trump and Musk in ‘Hands Off!’ rallies (Associated Press)

More details surface in Trump administration plan to cut national forests
A Trump administration memorandum issued Thursday declared a state of emergency in domestic timber supply and national forest health, directing the Forest Service to suspend normal environmental reviews and increase logging on more than 100 million acres of national forest, including in the Pacific Northwest. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Trump administration funding freeze of $27B clean-energy program strands local projects
A multibillion-dollar Environmental Protection Agency program designed to spur investment in energy-efficiency improvements nationwide is tied up in a legal battle that threatens to upend planned projects across the United States focused on affordable housing, the adoption of electric vehicles and more. Allison Prang reports. (News from the States)

The West Coast’s tidal swamps are supercharged carbon sinks
The woody wetlands feature a tangle of shrubs, grasses and trees that can trap about nine million tonnes of organic carbon per hectare. Rochelle Baker reports. (National Observer)
 
Gray wolf numbers dip in WA as downlisting debate continues
At the end of 2024, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated there were 230 wolves in Washington, 43 different packs and 18 breeding pairs. The overall population estimate declined 9% compared to 2023 when the state’s wolf count was 254 in 42 packs with 24 breeding pairs. Eric Barker reports. (Lewiston Tribune)

With 8.7M birds dead, B.C. farmers assess avian flu toll, and worry about what's next
Scientists say spring migration of wild birds brings new challenges, B.C. most affected by ongoing outbreak. Brieanna Charlebois reports. (Canadian Press)

Forest management company buys 68,000 acres on North Olympic Peninsula
EFM, a forest investment and management firm based in Portland, Ore., has purchased 68,000 acres on the North Olympic Peninsula with plans of managing the forests through climate-smart practices. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Welcome the Whales
Orca Network presents the Festival & Parade in Langley on April 12. The costume making party kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Langley United Methodist Church. Staging will begin at 1:30 PM at the Whidbey Center for the Arts parking lot at 6th and Camano. (Orca Network)

The First 100 Days

• Amid anti-DEI push, National Park Service rewrites history of Underground Railroad (Washington Post)
  
• Senate GOP passes budget plan, setting up a critical next phase for Trump agenda (NPR)
  
• USDA cuts hit small farms as Trump showers billions on big farms (Washington State Standard)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  302 AM PDT Mon Apr 7 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming SW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 14 seconds. A  chance of showers early this morning, then showers late this  morning and early afternoon. A chance of showers with a slight  chance of tstms late.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 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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