7/14 Red Irish lord, saving orcas, pinks, ivy ban, BC wildfires, Pilchuck R restoration, pulp mills, citizen voting, democracy watch

Red Irish lord [Sara Thiebaud]

 
Red Irish lord Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus
Red Irish lord are common from the Bering Sea, Alaska to Washington, and are rare south to Central California. They are found in shallow rocky waters. Red Irish lord tend to rest on the bottom, blending in with their surroundings. They are found from shallow waters to depths of 450 m (1,476 ft). Red Irish lord can grow up to 51 cm (20 in) in length, and 1.11 kg (2.45 lbs) in weight. Maximum age is at least 6 years old. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Lummi reclaims traditional name for TiLeqw-iLhch at Haida Point / Good medicine, good economic policy

Bolder efforts needed to save Northwest's endangered orcas, report finds
Efforts to save the Northwest’s endangered orcas are not working on either side of the U.S.-Canada border, according to an international panel of scientists. The whale experts say these orcas urgently need comprehensive action for quiet, clean, salmon-rich waters. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Will the pinks arrive on schedule
Twenty-nine million pink salmon could be swimming in the salt water off British Columbia’s coast, waiting for their chance to journey up the Fraser and spawn. Canada’s Department of Fisheries is anticipating a record-breaking number of pink salmon to enter the Fraser River this August. The salmon typically return to spawn every other year, and this year is expected to be one of the best returns on record. But as Murray Ned, executive director of the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance, notes, expectations don’t always turn into reality. Tyler Olsen reports. (Fraser Valley Current)

Washington state bans the sale of common ivy varieties starting in August
The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced it was adding the English (also known as common) and Atlantic varieties of ivy, among other plants, to its noxious weed seed and plant quarantine. On Aug. 9, the sale of the ivy varieties will no longer be legal in Washington. Daniel Schrager reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Nearly one-third of forests in northeast B.C. could burn by year's end: province
Nearly 7,000 square kilometres have burned in Prince George Fire Centre since June. Shaurya Kshatri reports. (CBC)

How the Tulalip Tribes are using a helicopter to restore a salmon river
The Tulalip Tribes are building logjams in the Pilchuck River to accelerate its transition to the way rivers used to be, before they were simplified for agriculture, development and power production at huge cost to fish habitat. Big fish love big wood. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times)

The Nightmare Mess Left by One Closed Pulp Mill
Documents expose the huge cleanup BC faces for Port Alice and 11 more shut mills. Will new projects also slip off the hook? Zoë Yunker reports, (The Tyee)

This measure would make WA residents prove they are citizens when they register to vote
A state GOP leader drafted a 2026 ballot measure imposing new rules that critics warn will deter some residents from registering and kick some voters off the rolls. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Democracy Watch

• How the Trump shooting supercharged beliefs in a divine right of MAGA (Washington Post)
  
• Trump administration sues California over egg prices and blames animal welfare laws (AP)
  
• From Science to Diversity, Trump Hits the Reverse Button on Decades of Change (NY Times)
  
• US Senate GOP under pressure on Trump demand to defund NPR, PBS, foreign aid (NWPB)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  250 AM PDT Mon Jul 14 2025    
TODAY  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt late this  morning and afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  9 seconds.  TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 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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