5/30 Sechelt Rapids, oil companies sued, Lost Lagoon, beneficial fire, quake and sea rise, waterfront park, Boeing's DEI, watershed motion, Arctic ice, democracy watch, week in review

Sechelt Rapids

 Sechelt Rapids
Skookumchuck Narrows is a 4 mile long passageway, the only link between the inner Inlets, Sechelt, Narrows and Salmon with the open ocean. Glaciology created a unique situation here. Bottom shallowing and an island plug serve to restrict water moving between the Inlets and the ocean. Water speeds up to compensate for the restriction, and the result is North America’s fastest tidal currents, the Sechelt Rapids. (Sunshine Coast Tours)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Community Transitions paves the way to independence, adulthood

Oil Companies Are Sued Over Death of Woman in 2021 Heat Wave
Experts said it is the first wrongful death case targeting fossil fuel companies over their role in global warming. David Gelles reports. (NY Times)

Vancouver's Lost Lagoon is covered in a thick layer of algae. What's being done about it?
The algae blooms on Lost Lagoon — the park's the largest body of water — can lead to low oxygen levels and fish mortality. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

In a world on fire, making the case for burning more
As bigger and hotter wildfires become part of the fabric of life on earth, some wildfire experts argue we need to find a way to get more ‘beneficial fire’ on the landscape. Matt Simmons writes. (The Narwhal)

Double threat of Cascadia earthquake and sea-level rise could change Pacific Northwest coast forever
While the U.S. East Coast is expected to see roughly 11-16 inches of sea level rise by 2050 under a high-emission scenario, our coast will see closer to 3-7 inches. Now scientists working in Oregon are adding a new wrinkle to these presumptions, showing the risks could be far greater. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

Seattle's new Waterfront Park set for summer debut
It has been a transformational six years on Seattle’s waterfront. In 2019, runners and walkers took part in a race, which ended on the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Joy Shigaki, the CEO of Friends of Waterfront Park says the event happened just a few months before the viaduct was torn down. On Saturday, the Meet Me at Waterfront Park 5k takes place, kicking off the 20 acre park’s first full summer open to the public. Emil Moffatt reports. (KNKX)

Boeing puts another DEI effort on ice, cites ‘shifting environment’ in US
Boeing is scaling back some workplace diversity programs to “ensure compliance with the law,” the company’s latest action to more closely align itself with the White House’s campaign against the diversity, equity and inclusion movement. Boeing told employees last week it was pausing events and suspending funding for two internal programs — diversity councils and business resource groups, or BRGs — “in light of the dynamically shifting environment in the United States.” Lauren Rosenblatt reports. (Seattle Times)

Lens of Time: A Watershed in Motion
Where does our water come from, how do the variations in its flow affect the ecosystems it feeds, and how can timelapse photography help land managers understand and protect this valuable resource? Produced by Katie Garrett. (bioGraphic)

Dispatches from the Last Ice Area
The Arctic is losing ice—fast. To better predict the future, scientists headed to the North’s last bastion of multiyear sea ice. Alice Sun reports. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court lets Trump end legal protections for over 500,000 immigrants from 4 countries (AP)
  
• Trump suffered 'mental anguish' from disputed CBS News interview with Harris, lawyer says (AP)
  
• Trump makes 'sanctuary jurisdictions' list public to increase pressure (AP)
  
• Trump Nominates a Former Far-Right Podcast Host to Head an Ethics Watchdog (NY Times)
  
• Judge extends order blocking Trump ban on foreign students at Harvard (AP)
  
• Judge says White House wrongly ended humanitarian parole (AP)
  
• Federal court temporarily reinstates Trump's tariffs on dozens of countries (Politico)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/30/25: Aloha Sun Ra, Columbia R, snowpack, Brian Heywood, Burrard Inlet dredging, grizzly reintroduction, fast-track project bill, tourism 'green fee,' George Floyd 5th.

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-  219 AM PDT Fri May 30 2025    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to W late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 11 seconds.  
SAT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 6 seconds and  W 5 ft at 10 seconds. Rain, mainly in the morning.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 7 seconds and W  8 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at  10 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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Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


5/29 Nakwakto Rapids, BC fast-track bill passes, Elwah logging, Trump's logging, Utah railroad, Ocean Week, democracy watch

Nakwakto Rapids

Nakwakto Rapids
Slingsby Channel is a strait on the north side of Bramham Island in the Queen Charlotte Strait region of the Central Coast of British Columbia. It is one of only two entrances to Seymour Inlet and the associated maze of waterways inland, which lie to the northeast of Bramham. The other entrance is Schooner Channel, formerly Schooner Passage, on the east side of that island. Through the Slingsby Channel flows the world's strongest current, the Nakwakto Rapids, that has been measured at speeds up to 18.4 miles per hour. The current is so fast at times, that people have tied a rope to Turret Rock, which is located right in the middle of the rapids, and then water-skied. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Uncertainty around sale of once-proposed shredder site

B.C. NDP government narrowly passes controversial bills to fast-track projects
Bills received major pushback from First Nations and business groups alike; Speaker cast tiebreaking vote. Katie DeRosa reports. (CBC)

Court denies request to halt logging in Elwah Watershed
The Clallam County Superior Court denied environmentalists' request for an administrative stay on two local Department of Natural Resources parcels, although it granted a motion to compel information from the state agency. If the stay had been granted, it would have barred logging-related activities for 90 days on the parcel names Parched and Tree Well. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

Saw, Baby, Saw? Trump’s Emergency Threat to our Forests
Pruning regulation and felling trees on the scale that the Trump orders contemplate won’t be a slam-dunk. The path to more logging runs through a tangled thicket of laws and regulations. Dan Chasan writes. (Post Alley)

Supreme Court backs Utah oil railroad expansion
The Supreme Court on Thursday backed a multibillion-dollar oil railroad expansion in Utah, endorsing a limited interpretation of a key environmental law. The 8-0 decision comes after an appeal to the high court from backers of the project, which is aimed at quadrupling oil production in the remote area of sandstone and sagebrush. Supporters said restricting the scope of environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act would speed development. Lindsay Whitehurst reports. (Associated Press)

From the Salish Sea to the stage, Ocean Week Victoria returns
From June 1 to 8, interactive programming aimed at ocean education and conservation will take over Greater Victoria. Tony Trozzo reports. (Saanich News)


Democracy Watch

• Federal trade court blocks Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs (AP)
  
• Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration (AP)
  
• HHS presses health care providers, hospitals to curb gender-affirming treatments for kids (Washington State Standard)
  
• Trump administration cancels plans to develop a bird flu vaccine  (NPR)
  
• These historians oversee unbiased accounts of U.S. foreign policy. Trump fired them all. (Washington Post)
  
• 16 States Sue Trump Over $1.4 Billion in National Science Foundation Cuts (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-  219 AM PDT Thu May 29 2025    
TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 5 seconds and W 5 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain early  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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5/28 Deception Pass, NW hydro, very low tides, Burrard Inlet dredging, early learning cuts, BC mining, Hawaii 'green fee,' penguin cooling, democracy watch

Deception Pass

Deception Pass
Deception Pass is a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island, in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Washington. It connects Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound, with the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A pair of bridges known collectively as Deception Pass Bridge cross Deception Pass. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: New Whatcom County jail could face decreased funding  / Nonprofit cinema to open second location this summer

Hydropower generation in the Northwest expected to rise in 2025
Hydropower in the region is expected to increase about 17% compared to last year, a welcome boost to growing energy demand, but will still be below the 10-year average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Marine life to be exposed during very low tide this week
Low tides will range between -3.4 feet to -4.1 feet, with the lowest occurring at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. Just for reference, last year’s low tide event in June dipped down to around -3.4 feet at its lowest, so this year will be about a half foot lower and noticeably lower. Adam Claibon reports. (KING)

Planning to dredge the Burrard Inlet to maximize oil shipments is underway
UBC ocean pollution researcher and Tsleil-Waututh Nation concerned about environmental impact. Santana Dreaver reports. (CBC)

Federal and state cuts threaten Washington early learning programs
The first months of the Trump administration have brought layoffs, closures and confusion to free preschool programs, compounded by state funding woes. Laurel Demkovich reports. (CascadePBS)

Eby Announces First Nations Mining Partnerships in BC’s Northwest
British Columbia Premier David Eby signalled the intention to attract as much as $30 billion in mining investment to the northwest of the province by working in partnership with First Nations. Andrew MacLeod reports. (The Tyee)

Hawaiʻi Makes History As First State To Charge Tourists To Save Environment
A Hawaiʻi vacation will cost you more in the near future thanks to a new “green fee” that the governor signed into law today. Marcel Honoré reports. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

How Penguin Poop Helps Antarctica Keep its Cool
Ammonia wafting from penguin guano contributes to cloud formation. Matt Simon reports. (Grist/bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch
Musk criticizes Trump's 'big beautiful bill,' a fracture in a key relationship (AP)
Trump Pardoned Tax Cheat After Mother Attended $1 Million Dinner (NY Times)
Trump set to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley (AP)
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Let Him Send Migrants to South Sudan (NY Times)
US pauses scheduling visa interviews for foreign students (AP)
Bureau of Land Management ousts official who reportedly resisted DOGE (Washington Post)
Documents Show E.P.A. Wants to Erase Greenhouse Gas Limits on Power Plants (NY Times)
RFK Jr. ends COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy children, pregnant people (Washington State Standard)

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-  225 AM PDT Wed May 28 2025    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 3 seconds and  W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  TONIGHT  NW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming E 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  4 ft at 11 seconds. 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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


5/27 Surge Narrows, Columbia R, snow melt, L Washington Chinook, Alaska LNG, Brian Heywood, grizzly reintro, fed housing funds, beekeeping, George Floyd fifth, DEI retreat, democracy watch

Surge Narrows [Trip Advisor]

Surge Narrows
Surge Narrows Park is located on the south end of Maurelle Island, east of Quadra Island off central Vancouver Island. With its high tidal changes and many reefs, this park has ideal conditions for marine life. Sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea stars and anemones flourish in these prime conditions.  A unique feature of this park are the tidal rapids caused by the convergence of two flood tides. (BC Parks)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Bellingham woman organizes support for Palestinian families

How we pushed the Columbia, the great river of the West, to its limit
Changes made by humans have pushed this river to the brink. We’ve hammered the habitat. Overfished the salmon. Mismanaged hatcheries. And most of all, harnessed the immense power of this river, turning its cold, fast waters to miles of warm, slackwater reservoirs. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Snow melting fast in WA, American West
On the heels of a winter that left Washington’s mountaintops relatively bare, warm spring temperatures are melting off remaining snowpack far earlier than normal, heightening drought concerns across the state. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Snorkeler counts Chinook salmon in Lake Washington at night — here’s why
Fish ecologist Ashley Townes uses a remote controller to pilot an underwater remote-operated vehicle monitoring endangered Cedar River Chinook juvenile salmon at Be’er Sheva Park in Rainier Beach in Seattle. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

US invites Asian officials to Alaska, eyes $44 billion LNG project
The U.S. has invited officials from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to Alaska to discuss projects including a vast gas pipeline, two people familiar with the planning said, as Asian governments consider U.S. investments in the hopes of relief from President Donald Trump's tariffs. John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Timothy Gardner report. (Reuters)

GOP megadonor planning new round of initiatives on taxes, parents' rights
Brian Heywood, the founder of Let’s Go Washington, has filed new proposals to curb property taxes, create a new school choice funding program, target trans student athletes, and repeal the state Legislature’s recent changes to the “parents’ rights” law. (Jeanie Lindsay reports. (KUOW)

Grizzly reintroduction to North Cascades stalls
The plan was approved last summer, but some northeast Washington residents say their concerns were not represented in the decision-making process. Connor Zamora reports. (CascadePBS)

Housing providers already feeling the impact waiting for federal funds amidst new Trump conditions
New Trump administration conditions regarding gender ideology, elective abortions, DEI and immigration have pulled funding on over $2 million from three federal Housing and Urban Development grants budgeted by Share and Care House, a nonprofit in Pierce County that provides permanent supportive housing to over 140 people. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Island beekeepers face challenges from drought to disease
Summer drought makes it challenging for plants to produce enough of the crucial nectar that bees and other pollinators need to survive. Hannah Link reports. (Times Colonist)

Thousands mark 5th anniversary of George Floyd’s murder as they call for justice and decry Trump
Police reform and civil-rights activists joined thousands of ordinary people Sunday to mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and decry the Trump administration for actions they say set their efforts back decades. Mark Vancleave and Kendra LaFleur report. (Associated Press)

Corporate America's retreat from DEI has eliminated thousands of jobs
The anti-DEI "political climate" has been slowly bubbling up for years — even before President Trump was re-elected, and set things to a hard boil by immediately signing executive orders banning what he calls "illegal DEI." Now scores of employers are in all-out retreat from anything adjacent to the word "diversity" — including the experienced DEI specialists who were once in high demand. Maria Aspan reports. (NPR)

Democracy Watch

• Veterans recoil at Trump plan to end Afghans’ deportation protection (Washington Post)
  
• Trump says he’s pardoning a Virginia sheriff convicted on bribery charges (AP)
  
• E. coli outbreak sickened more than 80 people, but details didn’t surface (Washington Post)
  
• NPR and Colorado public radio stations sue Trump White House (AP)
  
• Texas oil executive on Musk team makes sweeping changes at Interior (AP)
  

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-  241 AM PDT Tue May 27 2025    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt late. Seas 3 to  4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  E wind around 5 kt, veering to SE after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


5/23 Pacific yew, Bill 15, tailpipe emissions, elasmosaur, nuke power, low tides, Big Mama, democracy watch, week in review

Pacific yew

Yews
Taxus is a genus of coniferous trees or shrubs known as yews in the family Taxaceae. The Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, and the Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) of Eastern and Central North America were the initial sources of paclitaxel or Taxol, a chemotherapeutic drug used in breast and lung cancer treatment and, more recently, in the production of the Taxus drug eluting stent by Boston Scientific.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Oso-like landslide preventable for Concrete logging project, experts say

‘Kill the Bill.’ BC Faces Mounting Pressure Against Bill 15
The province is facing a wall of opposition from First Nations and municipalities over legislation meant to fast-track development. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

U.S. Senate vote to nix California tailpipe emissions standard blocks 17 other states
The U.S. Senate voted early Thursday to prevent California from enforcing regulations on tailpipe emission from new cars and trucks, upending state regulations for the nearly 40% of Americans whose states follow California standards. The House has already passed an identical measure, meaning the Senate vote sends the resolution to President Donald Trump’s desk. Jacob Fischler reports. (Washington State Standard)

Extinct marine reptile species named for Courtenay man
The previously unnamed species of elasmosaur is being called Traskasaura sandrae in honour of Mike Trask, who in 1988 discovered fossils in the Puntledge River. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

NW’s only nuclear power plant to undergo $700M upgrade
One of largest electricity producers in Washington state will get a $700 million upgrade that would eventually power about 125,000 more homes.. Plans are in place at the Columbia Generating Station in Eastern Washington to boost electrical output by 162 megawatts within six years by replacing and upgrading reactor equipment, including turbines, heat exchangers and the generator.  Anette Cary reports. (Tri-City Herald)

Puget Sound to see low tides next week
Low tides will range between -3.4 feet to -4.1 feet, with the lowest occurring at 12:21 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. Adam Claibon reports. (KING)

Big Mama's back! Famous humpback whale returns to Washington waters with new calf
The calf was seen traveling alongside its mother, BCY0324, a.k.a. "Big Mama," who is celebrated for her significant role in the recovery of local humpback populations. (KOMO)

Democracy Watch
Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students (AP)
Harvard sues over ban on foreign student enrollment (AP)
Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Arresting International Students or Revoking Visas (NY Times)
Court order blocks Trump from eliminating U.S. Education Department (Washington State Standard)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/23/25: Turtle Day, Green R salmon, Trump's rules, Billy Proctor, WA litter, microplastics, logging protest, wildfire season, Fraser pinks.

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-  239 AM PDT Fri May 23 2025    
TODAY  NW wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas building to 2 or 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8  seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT  NW wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to N in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers  in the afternoon.  
SUN NIGHT  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to E after midnight.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of  showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.  
MON  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  11 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning.

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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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


 

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)
  

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-  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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


5/21 Foxglove, herring harvest, microplastics, public health data, logging protest, whale eyes, World Bee Day, democracy watch

Foxglove

Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove or common foxglove is a toxic species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae, native to and widespread throughout most of temperate Europe. It has also naturalized in parts of North America, as well as some other temperate regions. The plant is a popular garden subject, with many cultivars available. It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin).

Today's top story in Salish Current: Two local mayors face challengers in November election / A kidney for Alfredo: one man’s hope

Squamish Nation celebrates return of herring harvest
As the small silvery fish return to Squamish waters, the nation is rekindling food and cultural traditions. Amy Romer reports. (IndigiNews/The Narwhal)

What Experts Want You to Know About Microplastics
Scientists say it could be years before we have a full understanding of how these tiny plastic particles are affecting human health. But we do know they have been found from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the heights of Mount Everest. And we know that plastic is accumulating in our bodies, too. Nina Agrawal reports. (NY Times)

Washington state groups sue Trump administration over sweeping public health data erasures
Three Washington state groups that represent health care workers have joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the sweeping deletion of federal public health data, calling the removals “arbitrary, capricious, and unreasoned.” Plaintiffs say the erasures have caused irreparable harm to health care systems, which rely on that data to respond to patient needs and public health matters.(KUOW)

Logging protest continues with climber in tree
An injunction hearing regarding the parcels has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday in Clallam County Superior Court. If a 90-day injunction is issued, the tree climber will remove themselves from the tree. If the decision is not in favor of the environmentalists, the climber likely will stay up there indefinitely. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

What a Whale Does Not See
A whale’s grapefruit-sized eye reveals the reason humpbacks keep swimming into fishing gear. Marina Wang reports. (bioGraphic)

On ‘World Bee Day,’ the bees did not seem bothered. They should be
Bees and other pollinators have been on the decline for years, and experts blame a combination of factors: insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. Daniel Riemann, Fanny Brodersen and Michael Proust report. (Associated Press)

Democracy Watch

• Noem Incorrectly Defines Habeas Corpus as the President’s Right to Deport People (NY Times)
  
• Official Pushed to Rewrite Intelligence So It Could Not Be ‘Used Against’ Trump (NY Times)
  
• New Trump vaccine policy limits access to COVID shots (AP)
  
• Supreme Court orders Maine House to restore vote of GOP lawmaker who ID-ed trans teen athlete online (AP)
  

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-  252 AM PDT Wed May 21 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 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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5/20 Nettles, USACE spending plan, Columbia Basin dams, Canada Post strike, spot shrimp season, democracy watch

Stinging nettle

 
Stinging nettle Urtica dioica
Urtica dioica is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide. The plant has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and textile raw material in ancient (such as Saxon) and modern societies. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: San Juan Islands ferry terminal troubles

Red states win, blue states lose in Army Corps spending plan
The Army Corps of Engineers is directing a disproportionate amount of its construction funding to Republican states under the full-year fiscal 2025 stopgap spending law, according to data compiled by Democratic staff for the Senate Appropriations Committee. Overall, nearly two-thirds of Army Corps of Engineers construction funding is going to red states, a sizable shift from former President Joe Biden’s final budget request and the initial fiscal 2025 House and Senate Energy-Water appropriations bills, which were all closer to an even split.  Aidan Quigley reports. (CQ-Roll Call)

Fears over Columbia Basin dams, hydroelectricity grow as agencies lose hundreds of employees
Hundreds of federal employees managing the nation’s main hydropower corridor have retired, resigned or been released due to Trump orders and hiring freezes. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Canada Post workers issue strike notice, poised to hit picket lines Friday
Canada Post received a strike notice Monday from the union representing more than 55,000 postal workers, with operations poised to shut down by the end of the week — for the second time in six months. Christopher Reynolds reports. (Canadian Press) 

Spot shrimp season opens Wednesday
Local Marine Areas opening include Marine Area 5 (western Strait of Juan de Fuca): Open daily beginning Wednesday through Sept. 15; Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles Harbor, eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open this Wednesday through Friday, June 6-7, June 20-21 and July 18-19; Marine Area 7 East (northern Rosario Strait, Bellingham Bay, Sucia and Matia Islands, Strait of Georgia): Open this Wednesday through Friday and June 6-7; Marine Area 7 West (San Juan Channel, Speiden Channel, Stuart and Waldron Islands): Open this Wednesday through Friday, June 6-7, June 20-21 and July 18-19; Marine Area 8-1 (Saratoga Passage, Deception Pass): Open this Wednesday and June 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Democracy Watch

• U.S. Supreme Court lets Trump end protected status for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants (Washington Post)
  
• Trump alleges 'genocide' in South Africa. Afrikaner farmers and others scoff (AP)
  
• Federal judge blocks Trump's takeover of U.S. Institute of Peace (NPR)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  301 AM PDT Tue May 20 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 10  to 12 ft subsiding to 5 to 7 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: W 12  feet at 13 seconds. A slight chance of tstms. Showers, mainly  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 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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5/19 St John's wort, Mt St Helens, Green R salmon, Trump's rules, real time weather, Billy Proctor, Bryde's whale WA litter law, WA CoastSavers, democracy watch

St John's wort

St John's wort Hypericum perforatum
St John's wort is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. The species produces numerous chemical compounds that are highly active. These chemicals are harmful to large animals, especially sheep, and help to deter herbivores from consuming the plant. Other chemicals in the plant, such as hypericin and hyperforin, have various uses in medicine. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: La Conner passes a nuclear disarmament resolution

45 years later, Washington geologist remembers visiting Mount St. Helens the day before it blew
On May 17, 1980, geologist Carolyn Driedger stood beneath a volcano she knew intimately — and one she was beginning to fear. The summit of Mount St. Helens towered above, its graceful, snow-covered slopes gleaming in the sun. But her eyes were fixed on something else: a grotesque bulge protruding from the mountain’s north face. Ian McCluskey reports. (OPB)

U.S. Sen. Murray says Trump zeroes out $500M for WA fish passage project
Washington’s U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is raising the alarm over a new spending plan by the Trump administration that doesn’t include $500 million in funding for a fish-passage project on the Green River near Seattle. Lynda Mapes reports, (Seattle Times)

Trump orders the government to stop enforcing rules he doesn’t like
Critics say the administration is breaking the law and sidestepping the rulemaking process that presidents of both parties have long followed. Maxine Joselow, Hannah Natanson and Ian Duncan report. (Washington Post) 

Trump budget would cut ocean data and leave boaters, anglers and forecasters scrambling for info
President Donald Trump wants to eliminate all federal funding for the observing system’s regional operations. Scientists say the cuts could mean the end of efforts to gather real-time data crucial to navigating treacherous harbors, plotting tsunami escape routes and predicting hurricane intensity. Todd Richmond reports. (Associated Press)

Billy Proctor, ‘Heart of the Raincoast,’ dies at 90
Billy Proctor, a fisherman known for his work to restore Pacific salmon and his personal museum featuring artifacts gathered from a lifetime in the Broughton archipelago, died Tuesday at 90 years old. He spent his life in the remote island community of Echo Bay on Gilford Island, off the coast of northern Vancouver Island. He was a hand-logger, commercial fisherman, beachcomber and artifact collector, but more than anything, he was a wealth of knowledge and the glue that held together the community of Echo Bay, said his longtime friend, Alexandra Morton. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Rare whale washes up on Vancouver Island, in possible 1st sighting of species in B.C.
In a possible first for B.C., a Bryde's whale — a species not generally seen north of California — has washed up on Vancouver Island. Experts brought in to examine the body confirmed it as a young Bryde's whale, a baleen whale that uses filter feeding, similar to humpbacks, generally found in tropical to temperate waters, though there have been stray sightings of individuals as far north as Washington state in the past. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

New WA law increases penalties for litter, delays plastic bag requirements
A new law signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Saturday toughens the punishment for littering and delays requirements for retailers to offer thicker bags for sale from Jan. 1, 2026 until 2028.  Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero reports. (Washington State Standard)

A grassroots movement trying to keep the Washington coast clean
Megan Juran is the coordinator for Washington CoastSavers, where she organizes the state’s largest annual beach cleanups, with the most recent one held on April 19, Earth Day weekend. In 2025, 584 volunteers removed over 13,000 pounds of marine debris from sites along Washington’s Pacific coast.  Juan Jocom reports. (KNKX)

Democracy Watch

• DHS considering reality show in which immigrants compete for citizenship (Washington Post)
  
• Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to resume quick deportations of Venezuelans under 18th-century law (AP)
  
• Trump appointee pressed analyst to redo intelligence on Venezuelan gang  (NY Times)
  
• Court lifts block on Trump order to strip federal workers of union rights  (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-  235 AM PDT Mon May 19 2025    
TODAY  S wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to SW 15 to 20 kt this  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  4 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely early this morning, then a  chance of showers late this morning. Showers with a slight chance  of tstms this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  7 ft at 13 seconds. Showers.

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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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5/16 Snake plant, Alouettte R, Bill 15, Axial Seamount, Lynne Barre, crayfish, week in review, democracy watch

Snake plant

 

Snake plant Dracaena trifasciata
Dracaena trifasciata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword, mother-in-law's tongue, and viper's bowstring hemp, among other names. Until 2017, it was known under the synonym Sansevieria trifasciata. This plant is often kept as a houseplant due to its non-demanding maintenance; they can survive with very little water and sun. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Tribal court warrants to be enforceable by state authorities

86 per cent of a river gone: First Nation calls on BC Hydro to let more water through
Katzie First Nation wants BC Hydro to let more water into the Fraser region's Alouette River, as it faces pollution, drought and decreased salmon. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

Bill 15: this ‘blank cheque’ legislation could dramatically change how B.C. approves major projects
Premier David Eby says new legislation won’t degrade environmental protections or Indigenous Rights. Critics warn government would have ‘extraordinary powers’ to push projects through. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

Marine life's latest hotspot could be an underwater volcano primed to erupt off Oregon
An underwater volcano in the Pacific Northwest is expected to erupt sometime this year for the first time in 11 years — and it could stir up lots of activity for marine life in the area. The volcano, Axial Seamount, lies about a mile below the ocean's surface, about 300 miles from the coast of Astoria, Oregon. Ayana Archie reports. (NPR)

Whale Trail Spring Gathering: Celebrating Lynne!
Celebrate with the Whale Trail Lynne Barre's retirement from NOAA following 25 years of dedicated service, plus whale updates, on May 29 from 7-9:30 p.m. at C&P Coffee Company, West Seattle. Brown Paper Tickets.

New crayfish species discovered in WA lake
A graduate student came across a reddish-brown creature with claws that was tangled up in fishing line at a north central Washington lake — and it turned out to be a new species. Its scientific name is Pacifastacus okanaganensis, but it’s known commonly as the Okanogan crayfish. Sara Schilling reports. (McClatchy)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 5/16/25: ESA Friday, fossil fuel suit, green energy dreams, dredging Burrard Inlet, Snake R dams, drinking forever chemicals, NW energy forecast, NOAA scientists cut, SnoCo critical areas.

Democracy Watch

• Asylum-seekers left in limbo after Trump's crackdown (AP)
  
• GOP states double efforts to stamp out DEI (AP)
  

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-  222 AM PDT Fri May 16 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE  2 ft at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
TONIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to W after midnight. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 6 seconds and W 5 ft at  11 seconds. Rain likely.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 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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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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5/15 Pacific treefrog, NOAA cuts, SnoCo critical areas, digital equity grant cut, Blue Carbon Green Fields cut, new WA ferries, Helion fusion, Enbridge pipe, democracy watch

Pacific treefrog [WDFW]

Pacific treefrog Pseudacris regilla
Pacific treefrogs are able to utilize a wide variety of habitats and persist even within urban and disturbed areas, where pockets of undeveloped habitat exist. This species is prolific and the tadpoles are usually the most common amphibian larvae at any breeding site. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Spring Chinook run continues to grow

NOAA senior scientists in Seattle depart amid Trump cuts
Scientists behind some of the most important breakthroughs in Northwest scientific research over the past two decades have left their jobs in the wake of budget cutting by the Trump administration...The science center has lost about 30 people, according to Nick Tolimieri, president of the fisheries chapter of the IFPTE Local 8A (a union leader for about 200 center employees in the bargaining unit). While science still continues at the center, many of those lost were scientists with significant experience. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Snohomish County Council passes controversial critical habitat ordinance
Despite overwhelming opposing testimony, the Snohomish County Council passed a controversial amendment alongside its new Critical Areas Regulations ordinance on Wednesday afternoon. Council members approved the ordinance, along with what is known as Amendment 3, by a 3-2 vote, with Megan Dunn and Strom Peterson voting against it. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Trump administration cancels $16 million WA digital equity grant
The Trump administration has rescinded a $16 million grant to create a new cybersecurity literacy program in Washington. The state Department of Commerce received word of the canceled funding Friday. That was one day after President Donald Trump called the Digital Equity Act that created the grant program “racist” and “unconstitutional.” Jake Goldstein-Street reports. (Washington State Standard)

UW project took nuisance seaweed from shellfish farm to help growers. The USDA cut its funding
The Blue Carbon, Green Fields project received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote climate-smart farm practices. The project was launched in March 2024. In its first year, the team harvested nearly 17,000 pounds of wet seaweed. [Project director Sarah] Collier says there was so much interest that they were ready to include more farms in the pilot when she learned the grant was cancelled. Ruby De Luna reports. (KUOW)

WA boat builder suggests splitting electric ferry bid with Florida rival
Two days after its bid to build a new hybrid-electric ferry came in nearly $90 million over an out-of-state competitor, Washington-based Nichols Brothers Boat Builders urged Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday to let both companies build the state’s new electric ferry fleet. In a letter to Ferguson, Nichols CEO Gavin Higgins pitched his idea as beneficial to all involved, including his company’s rival in the bid process, Eastern Shipbuilding Group from Panama City, Fla. Nicholas Deshais reports. (Seattle Times)

Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval
The CEO of an Everett-based fusion energy company said legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday will help his company clear potential hurdles to build the world’s first commercial fusion power plant. Helion CEO David Kirtley said the fusion energy facilities bill approved by the governor will give the Everett company the option of presenting plans for a clean-energy power plant to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. If the group recommends the site, it would go to the governor’s desk for approval, bypassing any local community opposition. Randy Diamond reports. (Everett Herald)

Enbridge sells stake in Westcoast pipeline to First Nations group
Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance Limited Partnership will invest $715M for a 12.5 % share. (Canadian Press)

Democracy Watch

• D.H.S. Requests 20,000 National Guard Members to Help With Immigration Crackdown (NY Times)
  
• Under pressure, HHS reinstates hundreds of occupational health workers (NPR)
  

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-  259 AM PDT Thu May 15 2025   TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 11 seconds. A slight chance of rain early this morning, then  rain late this morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.

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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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


5/14 Salamander, tree sitter, Snake R dams, drinking forever chemicals, carbon credits, pumped storage, NW energy needs, dead whale, Clipper cuts, BC forestry, democracy watch

Long-toed salamander [Charles Peterson]

Long-toed salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum
In Washington, long-toed salamanders are the most widespread, possibly the most common salamander species and occur in all ecoregions. Occurrences are sparse in coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest Coast Ecoregion and in the driest portions of the central arid shrub-steppe zone of the Columbia Basin Ecoregion. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local attorneys reaffirm commitment to the Constitution / Bids to build new plug-in ferries come in high

Activist remains in tree to block cut of Elwha forest
An activist is continuing their vigil about 80 feet up a grand fir in an effort to stop logging of an older forest on state lands in the Elwha watershed. The tree sitter, 25, a Port Angeles resident who declined to be identified, first ascended the fir in the early morning hours of May 8 a few miles outside of Port Angeles to protest planned logging of the state’s Parched timber sale. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

New energy secretary supports Snake River hydropower dams
The nation’s new energy secretary is “passionately in support” of leaving the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington intact, he said at a hearing last week in Washington, D.C. Annette Cary reports. (Tri-City Herald)

EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on so-called forever chemicals in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some so-called forever chemicals in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. Michael Phillis reports. (Associated Press)

Microsoft purchases Peninsula credits
The forest investment and management company EFM has finalized an agreement with Microsoft for the purchase of millions of carbon removal credits, some of which will be derived from Olympic Peninsula forests. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Dail News)

Washington’s draft report on pumped storage hydropower finds ways to do less harm
Pumped storage hydropower has been around for decades. It acts as a battery and stores energy for when it’s needed on the grid. But Washington lawmakers wanted to know more about it. So, they asked for an informational study. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Higher prices, rolling blackouts: The Northwest is bracing for the effects of a lagging green energy push
Northwest leaders pushed strict green energy mandates but neglected problems with the electrical grid. Residents are already feeling the consequences. Tony Schick and Monica Samayoa report. (OPB)

Second dead grey whale in less than a week washes ashore in B.C.
Last week, another dead grey whale was found near Tofino, belonging to a population already considered at risk. (CBC)

Clipper to cut in half number of summer sailings between Victoria and Seattle
The ferry company is also laying off staff as it worries about inflation and tensions about border crossing contribute to a drop in passenger numbers. Andrew A. Duffy reports. (Times Colonist)

It’s Not Just Trump’s Tariff War Hurting BC’s Forest Sector
The legacy of provincial policies and industry decisions is equally to blame. Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee)

Democracy Watch

• In rare move, Congress pushes back on Trump over Library of Congress (Washington Post)
  
• U.S. House Republican plan would force states to pay for a portion of SNAP benefits (Washington State Standard)
  
• FDA moves to ban fluoride supplements for kids, removing a key tool for dentists (NPR)
  
• DOGE Removes Dozens of Resurrected Contracts From Its List of Savings (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-  245 AM PDT Wed May 14 2025   TODAY  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft  at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told