Monday, June 30, 2025

6/30 Thimbleberry, logging protest, public lands sale, 'declaration of dissent,' boosting fossil fuels, Canada LNG, Columbia Basin, lab-grown salmon, democracy watch

Thimbleberry [Native Plants of the PNW]

 

Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus
Rubus is a large genus sometimes collectively known as brambles. It has between 400 and 750 species, including blackberries, raspberries, dewberries, and cloudberries. Thimbleberry is native from southeast Alaska to northern Mexico; eastward throughout the Rocky Mountain states and provinces to New Mexico; through South Dakota to the Great Lakes region. Bloom time: May-June.  Fruit ripens: July-September. (Native Plants of the PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Lessons from the grassroots movement that stopped a nuclear power plant / The bee beat: Keeping bees buzzing

A logging protest in the treetops ends in terror, activists say
The protest, near Olympic National Park in Washington state, is part of a growing movement aimed at saving decades-old trees that aren’t considered old-growth. Joshua Partlow reports. (Washington Post)

A Public Lands Sell-Off Is Struck From the G.O.P. Policy Bill
Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said he would withdraw his proposal after it faced intense intraparty opposition. Maxine Joselow reports. (NY Times)

EPA employees send 'declaration of dissent' over policies under Trump
A group of Environmental Protection Agency employees on Monday published a declaration of dissent from the agency’s policies under the Trump administration, saying they “undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment.” More than 170 EPA employees put their names to the document, with about 100 more signing anonymously out of fear of retaliation, according to Jeremy Berg, a former editor-in-chief of Science magazine who is not an EPA employee but was among non-EPA scientists or academics to also signing. The latter figure includes 20 Nobel laureates. Melina Walling reports. (Associated Press)

WA lawsuit says Trump order disrupts clean energy, conservation
Fifteen states claim the administration has fabricated a “national emergency” as cover to boost fossil fuels. John Stang reports. (Cascade PBS)

Canada is getting a second shot at becoming a major LNG player
Projects in various stages of development could represent capital investment of $109 billion. Paula Duhatschek and Kyle Bakx report. (CBC)

How the Columbia River Basin formed over millions of years
The Columbia Basin has been shaped by forces of unimaginable power. Lava flows, near mile-thick glaciers and ice age floods layered and carved up this landscape. The field evidence of these cataclysms can be seen everywhere — if you know where to look. Fiona Martin and Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

No bones, no scales, no problem: The first lab-grown salmon sold in the U.S.
Wildtype’s cell-cultivated salmon is the first seafood to earn FDA approval, marking a significant milestone for the alternative protein industry. Allyson Chiu reports. (Washington Post)

Democracy Watch

  • Senate GOP tax bill includes largest cut to U.S. safety net in decades (Washington Post)
  • Trump administration ends legal protections for half-million Haitians (AP)
  • DOGE loses control over government grants website, freeing up billions (Washington Post)
  • Supreme Court ruling leaves birthright citizenship in limbo (AP)
  • The Trump administration is building a national citizenship data system (NPR)
  • Canada rescinds digital services tax to advance trade discussions with the United States (CBC)

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  225 AM PDT Mon Jun 30 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas 3 to  5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 seconds.  Patchy fog 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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Friday, June 27, 2025

6/27 Western toad, selling fed land, UBC free speech, Inidgenous control, sovereignty, BC tanker ban, Tacoma dirty dozen, democracy watch, week in review

Western toad [Andrew Nydam]

Western toad Anaxyrus boreas
The Western Toad has all the qualities of a typical toad: warty skin, a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle, and a large toxin-exuding parotid gland just posterior to each eye. Western Toads reach a maximum length of around 12 cm and have a base color that can be any number of shades of green, yellow, black, or brown. The presence of a pale dorsal stripe is a reliable way to identify this toad. Outside of the breeding season, Western Toads are most active at night, occurring in a variety of habitats including meadows and forests. Breeding takes place in the spring when female Western Toads deposit long strings of eggs in shallow ponds that are then fertilized by the male. Western Toads are active for most of the year, depending on the weather, and can be out of hibernation from January through October. (Save The Frogs)

Today's top story in Salish Current: The bee beat: Threats to our bees

If Congress tries to sell WA federal lands, buyers may hard to come by
Hundreds of thousands of acres in Washington could hit the market if Congress approves a proposal to sell off Bureau of Land Management property. However, with restrictions on what the land can be used for and which parcels can be sold, people in the state’s real estate business doubt there’ll be many buyers for the land if the bill passes. Claire Bernard reports. (Seattle Times)

Free Speech at UBC: ‘We're Watching This Case Very Closely
Profs petitioned BC’s Supreme Court to stop land acknowledgments and other ‘political’ statements by the university. That’s dangerous, says a BCCLA lawyer. Katie Hyslop reports. (The Tyee)

What it looks like when Indigenous people take control of climate stewardship on their land
B.C.'s Tsleil-Waututh nation is slowly restoring the health of its local waters, after decades of industry and development in the Burrard Inlet. (CBC)

Here’s what you need to know about Indigenous sovereignty
Indigenous sovereignty and Indigenous-led conservation are both crucial to Canada’s future — but they’re also widely misunderstood. L. Manuel Baechlin reports. (The Narwhal)

B.C. Premier David Eby says he supports the tanker ban on the province's North Coast
Despite Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's push to pump crude oil to British Columbia, B.C. Premier David Eby says his government backs the federal tanker ban that prohibits oil tankers from stopping, loading, or unloading at protected area ports on the province's North Coast. Edzi'u Loverin reports. (CBC)

Are these Tacoma-area industries to blame for pollution in Commencement Bay?
Communities for a Healthy Bay published a “Dirty Dozen” report last month identifying 12 facilities in the South Sound that have violated environmental safeguards required by the Washington Department of Ecology and contributed to stormwater, air, soil and hazardous-waste pollution in and around Commencement Bay.  Becca Most reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Democracy Watch

  • Supreme court paves way for South Carolina and other states to defund Planned Parenthood (The Guardian)
  • With Flu Shot Vote, RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Skepticism Comes Full Circle (NY Times)


Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/27/25: IWW Day, greenhouse gas, Dungeness crab, opening national forests, orca grooming, enviro justice funds, BC trawl fishers, salmon farm lice, glacier melt, wildfires. 

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  214 AM PDT Fri Jun 27 2025    
TODAY
 E wind around 5 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds. A chance of showers early this  morning, then showers late this morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT
 S wind around 5 kt, veering to W after midnight. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds. Showers likely in  the evening.  
SAT
 W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN
 NW wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 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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Thursday, June 26, 2025

6/26 Red rock crab, melting glaciers, wildfires, EV charger funding, Fairy Cr protests, Mount Polley mine, McKensie R, democracy watch

Red Rock Crab [Kirt L. Onthank]
 
Red Rock Crab Cancer productus
Red rock crab, as their name implies, prefer rocky substrates but can also be found in eelgrass, soft-bottom habitat, and shellfish beds from the mid intertidal to depths of about 260 feet. The species is native to North American west coast estuaries from Alaska to Northern Baja California and is common throughout Puget Sound. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local hospice stands out in shift away from nonprofits

Western Canadian glaciers melting twice as fast as they did a decade ago, research shows
Researcher says loss is equivalent to a billion pickup trucks worth of water annually. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press)

How Wildfires Are Speeding the Shrinking of BC’s Glaciers
Researchers with a new study on smoke and the ‘ice albedo effect’ are startled by the quick pace of melting. Kristen de Jager reports. (The Tyee)

Seattle judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze EV charger funding
The preliminary court ruling would unlock the money for more than a dozen states, including $71 million for Washington. Jake Goldstein-Street (Washington State Standard)

B.C. judge rejects class-action lawsuit over Fairy Creek old-growth protests
A B.C. Supreme Court Justice ruled the proposed lawsuit inappropriately covered people who had been lawfully arrested and will 'inevitably collapse into individual trials.' Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

The Xatśūll Fight to Halt Mount Polley Mine's Tailings Expansion
The company could resume adding mine waste to the facility next week. The harm would be irreversible, the First Nation says. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

One way to bring a river back to life? Slow it way, way down
A restoration project on the McKenzie River in Oregon seeks to create prime habitat by remaking a creek more like it used to be, in an effort to help native species and revive river health and boost water quality as the Northwest sees higher temperatures and drought. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump administration says California’s trans sports policies discriminate against girls (AP)
  • A judge resisted Trump’s order on gender identity. The EEOC just fired her (AP)
  • Trump representative Kari Lake on Voice of America’s fate: ‘Scrap the whole thing and start over’ (AP)
  • Trump administration sues entire court bench in Maryland (Washington State Standard)
  • US pulls funding from global vaccines group, saying it has 'ignored the science' (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-  308 AM PDT Thu Jun 26 2025    
TODAY
 SE wind around 5 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 9 seconds. A slight chance of  showers early this morning, then showers late this morning and  afternoon.  
TONIGHT
 W wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of 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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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

6/25 Red elderberry, lowest tide, public land sale, BC trawl fishers, sea lice, democracy watch

Red elderberry

Red elderberry Sambucus racemosa
Red elderberry is widely dispersed in the United States from Southeast Alaska to New Mexico, with other groupings in California and Arizona where conditions are optimal. In Washington state, the red elderberry grows in riparian zones ranging from around 7-20 feet tall as a large tree-like shrub.  Red elderberry has a pale yellow to creamy white flowers in April. Later, in June and July, bright red berries appear with 2-5 seeds per fruit. (UW Bothell)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Five counselors for 2,600 students in Anacortes schools

Lowest tide this month to hit Puget Sound Wednesday
The lowest tide is set to hit Wednesday just before 11:20 a.m., measuring -3.89 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A low tide of -3.67 feet is expected Thursday around 12 p.m. Julia Dalles reports. (KIRO)

Public land sale plan covering millions of acres in WA derails in Senate
Republican legislation to require the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of public lands across 11 Western states within the next five years, including 5.4 million acres in Washington, cannot be included as proposed in the Republican budget bill. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard)

Uncovering the Secrets of BC’s Controversial Trawl Fishers
Dragging nets along the ocean floor is like ‘clearcutting an old-growth forest,’ Pacific Wild says. An industry group disagrees. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee)

New paper continues debate over link between lice from salmon farms and B.C. wild salmon
A new paper on sea lice from fish farms and wild salmon in B.C. shows a significant relationship between the two and critics say that contradicts a report from the federal government, which regulates the fish farms. Edzi'u Loverin reports. (CBC)

Democracy Watch

  • Promise of Victory Over H.I.V. Fades as U.S. Withdraws Support (NY Times)
  • Edward Coristine, Key Player on Elon Musk’s DOGE Team, Resigns (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-  314 AM PDT Wed Jun 25 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 10 seconds. A chance of showers early this morning, then a  slight chance of showers late this morning. A chance of showers  this afternoon.  
TONIGHT
 NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W after midnight. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 10 seconds. Showers likely  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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Tuesday, June 24, 2025

6/24 Green anemone, national forest protection, BC logging, killer whale grooming, enviro justice funds, democracy watch

Green Sea Anemone


Green Sea Anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica
Green sea anemones are invertebrates commonly found in North and Central America. They catch their food using stinging cells in their tentacles. Anemones attach to the ground using a muscular foot and can even hold on in strong ocean currents. They also help small crabs find new homes by expelling the leftover shells of the snails they eat. (Aquarium of the Pacific)


Today's top story in Salish Current: Proposed research station to change local ag industry

Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests
The Trump administration said on Monday that it would open up 58 million acres of back country in national forests to road construction and development, removing protections that had been in place for a quarter century. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Clinton-era rule barring road construction and logging was outdated and “absurd.” Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

B.C. logging deal sparks clash over Indigenous rights and endangered owl
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has approved Teal-Jones' interim sale of a Fraser Valley forest licence, leaving endangered spotted owl habitat open to logging before the province consults First Nations. Stefan Labbé reports. (Business Intelligence for B.C.)

Killer whales seen grooming each other with kelp in first for marine tool use
Killer whales have been observed mutually grooming each other with a type of seaweed, the first known instance of a marine animal using tools in a way that was previously thought to be the preserve of primates such as humans. A group of killer whales, which are also known as orcas, have been biting off short sections of bull kelp and then rolling these stems between their bodies, possibly to remove dead skin or parasites. The behavior is the first such documented mutual grooming in marine animals and is outlined in a new scientific paper.  Oliver Milman reports. (The Guardian)

Judge un-freezes environmental justice funds for Northwest
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release $180 million in federal funding for environmental justice projects, including $60 million in the Pacific Northwest. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Democracy Watch

  • Trump administration intervenes in lawsuit against WA’s new clergy law (Seattle Times)
  • U.S. Border Patrol is increasingly seen far from the border as Trump ramps up deportation arrests (AP)
  • Supreme Court lets Trump to swiftly deport migrants away from home countries (AP)
  • GOP attempt to discourage Trump lawsuits has hit a big obstacle (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-  246 AM PDT Tue Jun 24 2025    
TODAY
 W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt late this  morning and afternoon. 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. A chance of 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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Monday, June 23, 2025

6/23 Quaking aspen, at war, greenhouse gas, dangerous heat, BC pipeline, Dungeness crabs, BC ostriches, bomb cyclone, logins leaked, democracy watch

Quaking aspen

Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides
In wetland areas, mature quaking aspens respond well to beavers that chop them down. Afterward, the trees are able to send up suckers, or spread rhizomatously (by spreading sending out shoots nearby), looking more like a shrub than a tree. The trees not only feed beavers, but the flowers feed pollinators and the foliage makes good browse for bear, deer, and elk. It also provides habitat for many birds and small mammals. This tree contains compounds, salicylates that help with anti-inflammatory purposes. Native tribes used to drink a tea of the bark, or use a poultice to apply to sore joints or cuts. (UW Bothell) https://www.uwb.edu/wetland/plants/populus-tremuloides

Today's top story in Salish Current: Fentanyl responders keep foot on the gas despite positive trends

The US inserts itself into Israel’s war against Iran and claims ‘severe damage’ at nuclear sites
The United States inserted itself into Israel’s war against Iran by dropping 30,000-pound bombs on a uranium enrichment site early Sunday, raising urgent questions about what remains of Tehran’s nuclear program and how its weakened military might respond. David Rising, Jon Gambrell, Farnoush Amiri and American Madhani report. (Associate Press)

Scientists warn that greenhouse gas accumulation is accelerating and more extreme weather will come
Humans are on track to release so much greenhouse gas in less than three years that a key threshold for limiting global warming will be nearly unavoidable, according to a study to be released Thursday. The report predicts that society will have emitted enough carbon dioxide by early 2028 that crossing an important long-term temperature boundary will be more likely than not. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Eastern half of U.S. braces for more long days of dangerous heat
Tens of millions of people across the Midwest and East braced Sunday for another sweltering day of dangerously hot temperatures as a rare June heat wave continued to grip parts of the U.S. Most of the northeastern quadrant of the country from Minnesota to Maine was under some type of heat advisory Sunday. So were parts of Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi. (Todd Richmond/AP)

B.C. Premier Eby says he's not opposed to privately-backed oil pipeline to north coast
As Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a crude oil pipeline to British Columbia's north coast, B.C. Premier David Eby says he's not simply saying no. Instead, Eby said he's against the public funding of such a pipeline. Lauren Vanderdeen reports.(CBC)

Researchers aim to fill data gaps about Dungeness crab amid concerns of declining population
Lauren Krzus, a research technician at the Hakai Institute, says they're hearing anecdotally that Dungeness crab stocks are declining, and says climate change is poised to further impact them.  Dungeness Crab light trapping project aims to fill knowledge gaps about larvae. Santana Dreaver reports. (CBC)

B.C. ostriches granted stay of cull pending review

The owners of Universal Ostrich Farm in B.C. have been fighting an order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull their flock. The farm’s owners have argued the animals have developed herd immunity against avian flu and are valuable to science. The inspection agency has said the type of avian flu infection at the farm is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada. It remains firm about the need to cull the herd. Ashley Joannou and Darryl Greer report. (Canadian Press)

For a second time, FEMA rejects WA request for bomb cyclone disaster aid
Washington won’t receive federal aid to cover tens of millions of dollars in damage to public property caused by last fall’s bomb cyclone. The Trump administration denied the state’s request for federal disaster relief in April. Washington filed an appeal, but the administration rejected it Thursday. No reasons are given. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Billions of login credentials from Google, Facebook and other sites have been leaked, report says
Researchers at cybersecurity outlet Cybernews say that billions of login credentials have been leaked and compiled into datasets online, giving criminals “unprecedented access” to accounts consumers use each day. (Associated Press)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes (AP)
  • Judge blocks the Trump administration’s National Science Foundation research funding cuts (AP)
  • Judge halts Trump order tying state transportation grants to immigration actions (Washington State Standard)
  • Supreme Court Rules Fuel Producers Can Challenge California’s Limits on Car Emissions (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-  233 AM PDT Mon Jun 23 2025    
TODAY
 W wind around 5 kt, veering to NW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 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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Friday, June 20, 2025

6/20 Dog whelk, rising seas, Jack Hyde Beach, ferry fares, WA cherries, bag ban, jet skier fined, WA EV rebates, lagoon personhood, democracy watch, week in review

Frilled Dog Whelk
 
Frilled Dog Whelk Nucella lamellosa
This snail reaches great abundance in the intertidal zone of Pacific Northwest shores, where it can easily be found resting on rocks when the tide is out. When submerged, this species cruises slowly along on rocks or other hard surfaces such as pilings. It is a carnivore, feeding on shelled invertebrates, including bivalves and barnacles, which it penetrates by scraping with its hard radula. It then releases digestive enzymes into the hole, quickly digesting prey tissue and sucking up the "soup." It may also feed just by inserting its proboscis, with mouth on the end, into a gap in a shell. (Puget Sound Museum of Natural History)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Troubled waters: stormwater bacteria counts stir up concerns

Documenting ancient village sites on Salish Sea a race against time
Keep an eye out for dark soil, unnaturally thick layers of shells piled high, brittle rocks charred dark from fires that burned hundreds — maybe thousands — of years ago. This particular combination amounts to a shell midden site. In essence it’s an old trash pile, set aside by the people who lived here well before settlers called these lands home. Tread lightly if you stumble across one of these sites. Don’t disturb what you find. These places can offer a window back into the past. And as climate change brings rising sea levels, intensifying storm surges and erosion into the beaches of Puget Sound, the windows are closing, deteriorating before we’ve fully had a chance to understand their significance. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Health department issues new warning for bacteria at this Tacoma beach
The waters of Tacoma’s Jack Hyde Beach are off-limits again. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued an advisory Wednesday to avoid swimming or wading at the beach until further notice. Water samples show high levels of bacteria that could lead to gastrointestinal illness, a health department release said. Julia Park reports. (Tacoma News Tribune)

Higher fares on the horizon for Washington State Ferries
A state transportation panel proposed 3% hikes this year and next, while lawmakers and the governor boosted a surcharge to build boats and added a credit card fee. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

A 'perfect' season for Washington's sweet cherries turns sour because of deportation fears
It was supposed to be a banner year for Pacific Northwest cherries. Cherry production is estimated to be about 10% above last year’s, the fruit is high quality, and California’s shorter-than-usual season meant cherry pickers would be free to migrate north to bring in the crop. The only problem? They never showed up. Monica Nickelsburg reports. (KUOW)

Banning plastic bags works to limit shoreline litter, study finds
Using crowdsourced data from shore cleanups, researchers found that areas that enacted plastic bag bans or fees had fewer bags littering their lakes, rivers and beaches than those without them. (NY Times)

B.C. jet skier fined $5K for approaching dolphins too closely
Fisheries and Oceans Canada fined Stephen Michael White $5,000 for getting too close to a pod of dolphins in violation of a section of the Marine Mammal Regulations. (CBC)

WA spent $45M to boost electric vehicle use — with mixed results
From last August through October, the Washington Department of Commerce offered $45 million in rebates to lower-income residents to help them buy or lease an electric vehicle...But interviews and program data show that the program struggled to target those communities and meet its goal of directing 40% of funding to vulnerable populations and overburdened communities. Elizabeth Whitman reports. (Cascade PBS)

A Spanish Lagoon Was Granted Legal Personhood. Then What Happened?
The protection of Mar Menor was a huge step for the pioneering Rights of Nature movement. But three years on, little has changed. Goldy Levy reports. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump is silent about Juneteenth holiday (AP)
  • US resumes visas for foreign students but demands social media access (AP)
  • Trump extends TikTok shutdown deadline for third time (AP)
  • Trump allowed to keep control of National Guard troops deployed to LA (AP)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/20/25: Solstice! Columbia R. salmon, WA climate pollution data, wildfires and ocean carbon, GOP clean energy, deep-se mining, plastic bag ban, lagoon personhood, BC clear0cut logging.

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-  240 AM PDT Fri Jun 20 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt this afternoon.  Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of  showers.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 9 seconds. A  chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after  midnight.  
SAT
 SE wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  9 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning.  
SAT NIGHT
 S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN
 SW wind 5 to 10 kt. 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.




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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

6/18 Chickweed, ocean mining, guns kill kids, democracy watch

News and Weather encourages all to celebrate Juneteenth. See you on Friday.

Chickweed

Chickweed Stellaria Media
Chickweed is an annual, broadleaf weed that can easily be spotted in lawns due to its tiny white flowers. These flowers are star-shaped and delicate, and they can be found across a bed of oval-shaped leaves that appear from early spring to late fall. The stems of chickweed are thin and often have a single line of fine hairs. Stems frequently get tangled around other plants in gardens, and you can expect this weed to create a matted nightmare if it is allowed to spread across your yard.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local energy capture system exceeds code, leads state

A Canadian company is first in line as Trump vows to fast-track deep-sea mining
The bottom of the ocean is rich with minerals — as well as life forms scientists haven’t even named yet. Vancouver-based The Metals Company is asking for American permission to mine in international waters. Elyse Hauser reports. (The Narwhal)

Guns kill more U.S. children than other causes. State policies can help, study finds
More American children and teens die from firearms than any other cause, but there are more deaths — and wider racial disparities — in states with more permissive gun policies, according to a new study. Nada Hassanein reports. (Stateline) 

Democracy Watch

  • Federal Judge Deems Trump Administration’s Termination of NIH Grants Illegal (ProPublica)
  • Judge says government can't limit passport sex markers for many transgender, nonbinary people (AP)
  • House Policy Bill Would Add $3.4 Trillion to Debt, Swamping Economic Gains (NY Times)
  • Rural & Native stations would bear the brunt of public media cuts  (High Country News)

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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 Wed Jun 18 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. A chance of showers.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail:  W 3 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of 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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Tuesday, June 17, 2025

6/17 Giant hogweed, wildfire smoke, WA natural gas initiative, Senate clean energy, Olympia sea rise, baby heron hunt, H dock sea lions, democracy watch

 

Giant Hogweed

Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum
Giant hogweed forms dense canopies outcompeting native species and increasing soil erosion. It is a public safety hazard as it exudes a clear watery sap which sensitizes the skin to ultraviolet radiation, resulting in severe burns to the affected area causing blistering and painful dermatitis. Scars can last for as long as 6 year and sensitivity to sunlight can continue beyond that.

Today's top story in Salish Current: ‘No Kings’ protests call for upholding the Constitution

Wildfire Smoke May Be Disrupting Ocean Carbon Storage
New research from the University of British Columbia reveals that wildfires could be fundamentally altering how our oceans store carbon, potentially turning a crucial climate ally into a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. (ScienceBlog)

WA natural gas initiative may go to state Supreme Court
The journey is not over for a voter initiative that took aim at Washington’s natural gas and energy policies. Initiative 2066 was narrowly passed by voters by about 52% in November, but was struck down by a King County Superior Court judge in March. Now, the state Attorney General Nick Brown and the Building Industry Association of Washington have asked the state’s Supreme Court to weigh in. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Many Hoped Senate Republicans Would Save Clean Energy. They Mostly Didn’t.
A Senate tax package softens some blows imposed on renewables by a House version of the bill. But it still terminates many credits for clean power. Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer report. (NY Times)

Federal funding to address sea level rise is uncertain. How will that affect downtown Olympia?
The City of Olympia might not seek FEMA accreditation, which would allow a number of downtown properties susceptible to flooding to bypass insurance requirements and higher building standards...une 6 to discuss a staff recommendation to not pursue accreditation. Natalie Weiss, a Climate Resilience specialist, shared a number of reasons for the recommendation, including federal funding uncertainty and an overall limited benefit to the city’s goal of adapting to sea level rise. Ty Vinson reports. (Olympian)

Eagles hunting baby herons in idyllic Victoria park is just nature at work
Herons nest close to eagles as their presence helps deter other predators from disturbing the heron's nests, according to the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin. “This strategy comes with risks because eagles are still predators and need to feed their young. Small birds, including baby herons, can sometimes be a part of their diet, and you may see an eagle swooping down and catching a baby heron,” the agency noted. (Goldstream News Gazette)

Sea lions just won’t quit on this Seattle dock
About 50 sea lions were hanging out earlier this month on H dock near the plaza at Shilshole Bay Marina — and they are loud! The sea lions have been coming to the marina for around the past three years.  They usually show up in December and leave around May. Then they head south to San Francisco and San Diego. Ellen M. Banner reports. (Seattle Times)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump directs ICE to target 3 big Democratic cities for raids (Washington State Standard)
  • RFK Jr. fires ‘Washingtonian of the year’ from CDC vaccine panel (Seattle Times)
  • Trump says he won't call Minnesota Gov. Walz after lawmaker shootings (AP)
  • President Trump fires a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NPR)
  • Reagan-appointed judge says some of Trump's NIH funding cuts illegal, cites discrimination (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-  219 AM PDT Tue Jun 17 2025    
TODAY
 E wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to S late. Seas 3 to 4 ft.  Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of showers.  
TONIGHT
 S wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to W after midnight. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 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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Monday, June 16, 2025

6/16 Puget Oregonian, Columbia R salmon, WA climate data, AK heat advisory, WA nutrient pollution, big pix, democracy watch

 

Puget Oregonian

Puget Oregonian snail Cryptomastix devia
The Puget Oregonian is most commonly found in moist coniferous forests, often occurring within riparian areas and seeps and springs.  It is strongly associated with large bigleaf maples, often interspersed with native conifer trees or groves of maple and other deciduous forest, as well as sword ferns.  Within these forests, the snail is found under and among leaf litter, woody debris, mosses, and on the lower trunks of bigleaf maple.  They may also be found under rocks, and young snails may be found under mosses. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Road to post-Putin Russia crosses through Orcas Island

The president just unraveled years of work on tribal rights, salmon and clean energy. So what happens next?
Less than two years ago, the administration of President Joe Biden announced what tribal leaders hailed as an unprecedented commitment to the Native tribes whose ways of life had been devastated by federal dam-building along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest...The agreement is now just another of those broken promises. Tony Schick reports. (OPB)

Washington’s climate pollution data slow to see light of day, despite new law
In Washington state, it is hard to know how well climate solutions are working. The state takes up to four years to disclose whether it is keeping its promise—and legal mandate—to slash its climate-damaging pollution. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Alaska's first ever heat advisory issued for Fairbanks area
For the first time ever, parts of Alaska will be under a heat advisory — but you can put an asterisk at the end of that term. It’s not the first instance of unusually high temperatures in what many consider the nation’s coldest state, but the National Weather Service only recently allowed for heat advisories to be issued there. Mark Thiessen reports. (AP)

Ecology shares plan to clean up Puget Sound nutrient pollution
Ecology is accepting public comments on the draft plan from now through Aug. 27. The draft plan, supporting materials and information on how to comment is available on Ecology’s Reducing Nutrients webpage.  (My Edmonds News)

The Big Picture 2025
From the beautiful to the bizarre, this annual photographic showcase shines a light on some of our planet’s most breathtaking species and places. Text by Skylar Knight and Krista Langlois. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump Shifts Deportation Focus, Pausing Most Raids on Farms, Hotels and Eateries (NY Times)
  • Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions came (AP)
  • Trump directs ICE to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities (AP)
  • ICE using no-bid contracts, boosting big firms, to get more detention beds (AP)
  • Man accused of assassinating Minnesota legislator is apprehended (Minnesota Reformer)

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-  232 AM PDT Mon Jun 16 2025    
TODAY
 W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  8 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming NW 5 to 10 kt after

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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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Friday, June 13, 2025

6/13 White-crowned sparrow, Columbia R deal, EV policies. WA carbon market, gray whales, 'tree equity,' public media cut, democracy watch, week in review

White-crowned sparrow [Wikipedia]

White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-crowned Sparrows appear each winter over much of North America to grace our gardens and favorite trails (they live in parts of the West year-round). The smart black-and-white head, pale beak, and crisp gray breast combine for a dashing look – and make it one of the surest sparrow identifications in North America.

Today's top story in Salish Current: A century of drag: Bellingham’s queer legacy on- and off-screen

Trump breaks historic Columbia River deal
In an order issued Thursday, Trump said he would withdraw the U.S. from a 2023 deal made with tribes and environmentalists to end lawsuits over fish losses. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Oregon Capital Chronicle) 

WA, other states sue Trump administration for blocking EV policies
President Donald Trump on Thursday blocked a series of policies across the country promoting electric vehicles, and Washington state joined in a lawsuit attempting to thwart the moves. Trump signed joint resolutions of Congress revoking a series of waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that allowed California to promote increased sales of EVs and the phasing out of gas-powered vehicles in the coming years. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

WA’s carbon market prices tick up
The state’s two most recent auctions in March and June raised just over $552 million by selling over 11 million carbon emission allowances. One allowance represents 1 metric ton of emissions. Allowances cost $58.51 in the June auction and $50 in March, signaling a rebound since the program faced a recall in November. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)

Gray whales along the Pacific west coast appear to be in trouble
Scientists say they’ve seen a surprising number of gray whale strandings this year during their migration up the west coast – 13 as of late May in Washington alone, which is more than twice the normal average. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Latest federal budget bill would sell Oregon public lands, boost logging
The federal government could start selling off thousands of acres of Oregon public lands if provisions added to the Big Beautiful Bill win Congressional approval. A draft of the legislation was released Wednesday by U.S. Senator Mike Lee, R-Utah, who since at least 2022 has repeatedly pushed to sell off public lands for housing development. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

'Tree equity' on the chopping block in Washington state
The federal government, historically the biggest funder of community tree planting, is no longer a reliable source of cash as the Trump administration seeks to downsize or eliminate many federal programs. The administration aims to stop funding what’s known as urban or community forestry: the planning, planting, and care of trees in the midst of human developments. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

House votes to kill funding for public media

The House of Representatives narrowly approved legislation Thursday to eliminate the next two years of federal funding for public media outlets. The measure passed largely along party lines, 214 to 212, with two key Republican lawmakers switching their votes from "no" to "yes" to push it over the finish line.  Deirdre Walsh and David Folkenflik report. (NPR)

Democracy Watch

  • Judge blocks Trump’s election executive order (AP)
  • Judge questions legality of Trump’s deployment of troops to LA (Washington State Standard)
  • Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return control of National Guard to California (AP)
  • Trump Tells Farmers ‘Changes Are Coming’ to Immigration Crackdown (NY Times)
  • A popular climate website will be hobbled, after Trump administration eliminates entire staff (NPR)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/13/25: Softball, Skagit dam relicensing, tribal salmon, Columbia R salmon cuts, science brain drain, BC 'fast-track' permits, Trump's national monuments, AI conservation, Puget Sound oxygen, honey bee bar

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-  249 AM PDT Fri Jun 13 2025    
TODAY
 SW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to W late. Seas 5 to 7 ft.  Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 7 seconds.  
SAT
 W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 6 seconds.  
SUN
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  7 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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Thursday, June 12, 2025

6/12 Bleeding heart, Puget Sound oxygen, BC LNG, honey bee bar, Port Angeles cleanup, Trent R fish habitat, public media funding, ChatGPT, democracy watch

Pacific bleeding heart [USFS]

Pacific bleeding heart Dicentra formosa
Dicentra formosa is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. With its fern-like foliage and inflorescence of drooping pink, purple, yellow or cream "hearts", this species is native to the United States' Pacific Northwest and West Coast of North America. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: World buzzes over Lynden honeybee accident

A century of warming has reduced dissolved oxygen in Puget Sound
A University of Washington study outlines the strong link between dissolved oxygen declines and increasing water temperatures, raising questions about the effect of future climate change on Puget Sound. Sarah DeWeerdt reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

B.C. company pressures feds to pave way for $750M gas export facility in Prince Rupert
Trigon says project is in the national interest but is still facing legal hurdles at the Port of Prince Rupert. Andrew Kurjata reports. (CBC)

New honey bee energy bar tested in Washington offers hope for struggling hives
Honey bees are vital to agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. But it’s increasingly difficult to keep colonies alive from year to year, causing concern about the future of our food systems. But now an international team, including researchers at Washington State University, has developed a new supplemental food source that could keep hives strong when deployed on agricultural land. Jes Burns reports. (OPB)

Cost-sharing pact approved for western Port Angeles Harbor cleanup
Port of Port Angeles commissioners approved a provisional cost-sharing and cooperation agreement that outlines the funding, coordination and decision-making process related to the cleanup of western Port Angeles Harbor. Under the agreement, approved unanimously on Tuesday, the port and five other entities identified as potentially liable parties — the city of Port Angeles, Georgia-Pacific, Merrill & Ring, Nippon Paper Industries and Owens Corning — will each contribute one-sixth of the cost of the entire cleanup. Paula Hunt reports. (Peninsula Daily News) See also: Public comment period opens for cleanup at former Rayonier Mill site (Peninsula Daily News)

Courtenay man fined $60,000 for damaging fish habitat
David Tingley was fined for failing to correct the work he had done illegally on his property, which is bisected by the Trent River. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Public media funding up in the air as House prepares to vote on claw backs
The House of Representatives is expected to approve legislation Thursday to claw back two years of federal funding for public media outlets. President Trump has asked Congress for this rescission. He has labeled NPR and PBS and their affiliates as ideologically biased and the move to strip them of federal support is part of the president's continued attacks on mainstream media outlets.  Deirdre Walsh and David Folkenflik report. (NPR)

‘This is coming for everyone’: A new kind of AI bot takes over the web
As consumers switch from Google search to ChatGPT, a new kind of bot is scraping data for AI. Nitasha Tiku reports. (Washington Post)

Democracy Watch

  • Trump’s top general contradicts his assessment of Putin, L.A. unrest (Washington Post)
  • Kennedy’s new CDC panel includes members who have criticized vaccines and spread misinformation (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-  236 AM PDT Thu Jun 12 2025    
TODAY
 SW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to W late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of showers this  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 8 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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Wednesday, June 11, 2025

6/11 Beach hopper, BC fast track, BC social housing, WSF apprenticeship, AI conservation, Trump's nat'l monuments, Oak Bay sculpture, democracy watch

Beach hopper (Sand flea)

Beach hopper Traskorchestia traskiana
The Pacific beach hopper is a species of amphipod from the family Talitridae. It hops around like a flea on wracks of seaweed left stranded by tides on upper levels of beaches. When the seaweed dries out, the beach hoppers retreat into the moist center of the pile or dig into the sand, and hop out if disturbed. They break down organic materials and serving as a food source for various shorebirds and other predators.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Pipeline explosion: Book about Bellingham disaster is in the works / Now is not the time to move backward on pipeline safety

‘Horrific impacts’: as B.C. prepares to fast-track projects, a mining watchdog warns past mistakes could be repeated
Mining regulations and environmental assessments were developed to protect the environment and public health and safety. If projects are allowed to forego those processes, B.C. could set the stage for catastrophic impacts. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

From $2,600 to $775: how social housing is changing lives — and fighting climate change
Can new homes be energy efficient, low emission, climate resilient and affordable? B.C. non-profits show it can be done. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal)

New apprenticeship program boosts Washington State Ferries workforce
Washington State Ferries is aiming to tackle its staffing shortage by building future captains and engineers through a program that teaches every fromm from loading cars to sailing the boat. Dahlia Bazzaz reports. (Seattle Times)

The Potential and Perils of AI for Conservation
AI can help experts sift through datasets that are otherwise unmanageable, but the technology threatens to undermine other ways of knowing. Jim Robbins reports. (bioGraphic)

US Justice Department says Trump can cancel national monuments
Lawyers for President Donald Trump’s administration say he has the authority to abolish national monuments meant to protect historical and archaeological sites across broad landscapes, including two in California created by his predecessor at the request of Native American tribes. (Associated Press)

Sculpture of a man on a toilet sparks conversation in Oak Bay
Fashioned from recycled stainless steel cookware, “Modern Man Does Research” in Causton’s Green has a cigarette in his mouth and is staring at a smartphone. Yeorgios Prontzos reports. (Times Colonist)

Democracy Watch

  • California Governor Newsom: Trump is a threat to democracy (AP)
  • Army restores the names of seven bases that lost their Confederate-linked names under Biden (AP)
  • US Justice Department says Trump can cancel national monuments (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-  234 AM PDT Wed Jun 11 2025    
TODAY
 SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft  at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 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.




Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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