5/22 Poison hemlock, WA wildfire, BC wildfire, CDC diseases, Fraser R pinks, Columbia R salmon restoration, microplastics, democracy watch

 Poison hemlock

Poison hemlock Conium maculatum
Conium maculatum is a highly poisonous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to Europe and North Africa. All parts of the hemlock plant are toxic, particularly the seeds and roots, and especially when ingested. Hemlock can be confused with the wild carrot plant (Daucus carota, sometimes called Queen Anne's lace). (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Tidegate repair awaits resolve of continuing legal action

Wildfire season in WA: Above-normal risk in forecast
The summer is anticipated to bring above-normal fire risk, beginning in June, in the more arid grass- and shrublands and ponderosa pine forests of Central and Eastern Washington, and by July, creeping into wetter Western Washington. The state was at about 86% of normal snowpack on April 1, while some areas within the central and northern Cascades didn’t reach 70% of normal. April 1 is considered the peak before spring melt begins. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

How BC Wildfire Service is fighting misinformation with compassion
As more people engage with posts about wildfires on social media, the government agency is trying a new approach to combat the spread of misinformation. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Diseases are spreading. The CDC isn't warning the public like it was months ago
To accomplish its mission of increasing the health security of the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that it "conducts critical science and provides health information" to protect the nation. But since President Trump's administration assumed power in January, many of the platforms the CDC used to communicate with the public have gone silent. Chiara Eisner reports. (NPR)

Pink salmon return expected to boost local fisheries, wildlife
Pink salmon are set to return to the Fraser River in record numbers this year, with the run expected to begin in August and could provide a much-needed boost to fisheries and local wildlife. Jon Hernandez reports. (CBC)

Columbia River salmon restoration hit hard by $1.5B cut to Army Corps of Engineers
The Trump administration has cut tens of millions of dollars from a key Columbia Basin salmon-restoration program run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a move experts say puts the treasured Northwest fish in further jeopardy. The Columbia River Fish Mitigation program attempts to balance out significant harm inflicted by the Columbia River hydropower dam system on endangered salmon and steelhead runs. Henry Brennan reports. (The Columbian)

A Home Made of Microplastics
Caddisfly cases from museum collections reveal that microplastics infiltrated “pristine” freshwater environments far earlier than suspected. Christopher Solomon reports. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

• Trump's big tax bill has passed the House. Here's what's inside it (AP)
  
• If we can’t prosecute Trump’s foes, we’ll ‘shame’ them, DOJ official says (NY Times)
  
• White House officials wanted to put federal workers ‘in trauma.’ It’s working  (Washington Post)
  
• Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block watchdog access to DOGE documents  (AP)
  
• Justice Dept. to End Oversight of Local Police Accused of Abuses (NY Times)
  
• Judge vacates federal rules requiring employers to provide accommodations for abortions (AP)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PDT Thu May 22 2025   TODAY  Light and variable winds, becoming W 5 to 10 kt. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 9 seconds.

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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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