7/31 Black mondo grass, WA climate policies, OR offshore wind, Helion fusion, LNG Canada, stream buffering, democracy watch

 Black mondo grass

Black mondo grass Ophiopogon planiscapus 
Ophiopogon planiscapusis a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is a small evergreen perennial growing to 20 cm tall by 30 cm wide. It grows from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of grasslike leaves, from which purple or white flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: People of the pier: walking Little Squalicum

Washington state climate policies face headwinds as Trump aims to ax regulations
Fighting climate change in Washington state could get more difficult if a Trump administration proposal becomes law. Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin announced the proposal to overturn what’s known as the "endangerment finding" — and the anti-pollution laws it enables. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Federal government rescinds Oregon’s offshore wind energy area
The Trump administration is rescinding more than 3.5 million acres of designated wind energy areas nationwide, effectively ending a yearslong effort to generate wind energy off the Southern Oregon Coast — for now. Nearly 195,000 acres off the Southern Oregon coast were previously identified as sites for offshore wind development. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB) 

Everett-based Helion breaks ground on ‘world’s first fusion power plant’
On the banks of the Columbia River in the small town of Malaga, Washington, Everett-based Helion has broken ground on what it says is “the world’s first fusion power plant.” Helion, a nuclear fusion startup backed by Big Tech, said the facility is prepared to begin delivering electricity generated by nuclear fusion by 2028 — and Microsoft has already purchased all of it. Monica Nickelsburg reports. (KUOW) 

Shell-led LNG Canada faces problems as it ramps up production, sources say
Shell-led LNG Canada is experiencing technical problems as it ramps up production at its liquefied natural gas plant at Kitimat, B.C., with one LNG tanker diverting away from the facility without the super-chilled fuel in recent days, according to four sources who spoke to Reuters and LSEG ship tracking data. Marwa Rashad, Curtis Williams, and Amanda Stephenson report. (Thomson Reuters)  

Hearing set for stream buffering
The Washington Forest Practice Board and the state Department of Ecology will meet next Monday to collect comments on a new proposed forestry rule. which would dictate how much buffering is required around non-fish-bearing streams. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Democracy Watch

• US Senate confirms Joe Kent to lead a national intelligence agency (Washington State Standard) 
• Decline in belief Black adults face discrimination: AP-NORC poll (AP) 
• Trump administration announces new private health tracking system with Big Tech’s help (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  440 AM PDT Thu Jul 31 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds. Areas of dense fog  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 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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7/30 Red-winged blackbird, tsunami, fossil fuel subsidies, WA voter poll, sea cukes, Little Bear Cr., Green Cedar LNG, democracy watch

 Red-winged Blackbird [Connor Charchuk]

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. Their early and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Summer programs ground youth in the natural world

Tsunami warnings fade after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. 
One of this century’s most powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a broad section of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast and as far south as New Zealand. Warnings are being downgraded in most areas, though advisories remain in place as more aftershocks are possible. Chile upgraded its tsunami warning to the highest level for most of its 6,400-kilometer (4,000-mile) Pacific coastline. (Associated Press) 

What we know about fossil fuel subsidies in Canada
Billions are given to oil and gas corporations each year, including loans, tax breaks and more. Exactly how many billions is a matter of debate. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal) 

Poll: Washington voters are ‘pretty pessimistic’ about the future
For only the second time in Cascade PBS/Elway poll history, respondents anticipate things will get worse for the country, the state and themselves. Laurel Demkovich reports. (CascadePBS) 

'Unbound by laws': B.C. court gives man 6 years for illegal sea cucumber fishing 
Scott Steer also fined $1.1M after long history of fishing violations in B.C. (Canadian Press) 

County wins award for Little Bear Creek wetland restoration
The 17-acre site in Snohomish County will compensate for future wetlands impacted by transportation projects. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

B.C. government accused of 'greenwashing' as it announces $200M to electrify LNG project 
The B.C. government is taking heat from the B.C. Green Party and a political science professor following its announcement of $200 million in subsidies for an upcoming LNG project majority owned by the Haisla Nation. The Cedar LNG project, a collaboration between Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corp. and the Haisla First Nation, is a floating liquefied natural gas export facility off B.C.'s North Coast set to come online in 2028. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

More on blackberries
Reader Wendy Scherrer shares from 2016 "The Strange, Twisted Story Behind Seattle's Blackberries" (NPR)

Democracy Watch

• Senate confirms Trump lawyer Emil Bove for appeals court amid whistleblower claims (AP) 
• In a first, the Senate confirms a new CDC director (NPR) 
• US economy rebounds strongly in the second quarter with 3% growth (AP) 

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  224 AM PDT Wed Jul 30 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt. Seas around  3 ft this morning, then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 6 seconds. Patchy dense fog early this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 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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7/29 Himalayan blackberry, greenhouse gases, Canada PFAS, Big Quilcene R., Mt. Benson transfer, democracy watch

Himalayan Blackberry

 
Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacus
Himalayan blackberry can grow in mixed and deciduous forests and a variety of disturbed sites such as roadsides, railroad tracks, logged lands, field margins and riparian areas. It does well in a wide range of soil pH and textures. It is a notorious invasive species in many countries around the world and costs millions of dollars for both control and in estimated impacts. This species spreads aggressively and has severe negative impacts to native plants, wildlife and livestock. (Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Fight continues against sea star wasting disease

EPA set to unravel U.S. authority to regulate greenhouse gases
The Trump administration is set to announce its plans to abolish the U.S. government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases, threatening to strike a deep blow at Washington’s ability to fight climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency will unveil a proposal as early as Tuesday to scrap a landmark determination that planet-warming gases endanger public health and welfare, according to people familiar with the matter. If finalized, the move would lay the foundation to unwind a host of regulations limiting emissions from power plants, oil wells and automobiles. Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Ari Natter report. (Bloomberg) 

Canada wants cities to start filtering toxic forever chemicals from public drinking water, but that’s no easy feat.
Jaela Bernstien reports on the challenges facing water utilities as they try to adapt to new PFAS guidelines. (CBC) 

Grant funding to aid project 
A major floodplain and salmon restoration project on the Big Quilcene River as been approved to move forward. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

700 hectares of land on Mt. Benson transferred to Snuneymuxw First Nation
About 700 hectares of land on Mount Benson west of Nanaimo has been transferred by the province to Snuneymuxw First Nation, who plan to use the area for forestry operations. The lands, known as Mount Benson North, were earmarked for the First Nation under a 2020 reconciliation agreement that will see more than 3,000 hectares of land returned to Snuneymuxw. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump Administration Issues Guidance on Religious Freedom at Work (NY Times) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PDT Tue Jul 29 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 6 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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7/28 Blackeye goby, canoe journey, WA wildfires, fewer birds, WA extreme drought, clearcutting and floods, democracy watch

Blackeye Goby [MaST Center Aquarium]

 
Blackeye Goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii
True to its name, blackeye gobies have prominent black eyes, and a black tip to their first dorsal fin. They can be found throughout the nearshore northeast Pacific from Alaska to Baja California. They are a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum length of just 6 inches. (MaST Center Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Why vote? Primary results affect our daily lives / Truth and news: film series spotlights today’s issues 

Canoe Journey: The paddle to Elwha has begun
Canoe families from across the Salish Sea and beyond have begun their annual canoe journey, this year paddling to Elwha where the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe will host for the first time in 15 years. Nika Bartoo-Smith and Carrie Johnson report. (ICT) 

Drop in state funding for WA’s work to prevent severe wildfires is stoking concerns
The state’s top public lands official is urging lawmakers to restore the spending to previous levels after they cut it by about half this year. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Where did the birds go? Why Oregon’s spring was quieter than usual
Some Oregon birdwatchers say this spring was strangely quiet – and the data backs that up. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB) 

USDA designates three counties primary natural disaster areas
Three Washington counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Asotin, Garfield, and Whitman Counties are now considered to be in a state of “extreme drought” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. (Dept. of Ecology) 

Clearcutting tied to 18-fold increase in flood risk: UBC study 
A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests that clearcut logging can make catastrophic floods up to 18 times more frequent. The study, published in the Journal of Hydrology, analyzed long-term data from one of the world's longest-running forest research sites in North Carolina, the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Shaurya Kshatri reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people (Washington Post) 
• Why building owners don’t want the EPA to ditch Energy Star (Bloomberg) 

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-  325 AM PDT Mon Jul 28 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas around 2 ft or less.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at  6 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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Turkey vulture, BC mills, cedar bough theft, Great Bear Sea, democracy watch, week in review

 

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
The most widely distributed vulture in the New World, the Turkey Vulture is a large, predominantly blackish-brown bird. It is most commonly seen soaring overhead. The Turkey Vulture has a 5- to 6-foot wingspan and soars with its wings tilted up, in a dihedral pattern. Unlike most birds, Turkey Vultures have a well-developed sense of smell. As they soar over foraging areas, they scan the ground, searching for carrion or scavengers that might signal the presence of something dead. When they locate food, they eat it in place. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Nonprofit reintroduces bluebirds to San Juan

BC Wants Value-Added Mills. We Discovered a Big Obstacle 
Why does so much community forest timber end up as wood chips instead of higher-end products? Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee) 

Cedar boughs and bark are being harvested illegally. What's the impact?
Cedar bough and bark theft can lead to closures of state property. It harms the trees. It also hurts traditional cultural carvers, like Vincent Feliciano Jr. He’s a member of the Lummi Nation. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Welcome to the Great Bear Sea
After decades of discord, Canada and First Nations are working together to build a network of marine protected areas stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska. Serena Renner reports.(bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• U.S. Quietly Drafts Plan to End Program That Saved Millions From AIDS (NY Times)
• WA sues contractor to prevent sharing of food stamp data with feds (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/25/25: Carousel Friday, gas spill, shooting owls, EPA staff cuts, LNG exports, WA outdoor school, EPA climate, steehead ESA, PFAS. Rayonier cleanup, AI at Sea. 

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  239 AM PDT Fri Jul 25 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 6 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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7/24 Creeping jenny, PFAS, Rayonier cleanup, Tofino rentals, AI on the seas, green energy projects, Ocean spray, democracy watch

 

Creeping jenny [Gardenista]

Creeping jenny Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping jenny is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. Its common names include moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass. (Wikipedia) With some plants there is a fine line between friend and foe and lots of ground covers, by their very nature, fall into this category. Useful plants that will cover banks or unsightly, “tricky” areas can be prone to rapidly colonizing areas too, smothering everything in its path. (Gardenista)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trail development continues on Stewart Mountain

Cleaning up toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in Washington isn’t easy
They get the nickname for a reason: PFAS, manmade chemicals linked to health concerns, don‘t break down easily. But limiting their use is complicated. Connor Zamora reports. (CascadePBS) 

Port Angeles wants full site cleanup
The Port Angeles City Council is in favor of a complete, timely cleanup of the Rayonier Mill site. The council voted 5-0 to direct staff to write to the state Department of Ecology following a special meeting Tuesday night. “What is happening is unconscionable,” Deputy Mayor Navarra Carr said. “It’s been my whole lifetime that this project has been going on, and it will be another lifetime.” Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

‘The Town Will Fail if This Carries On’
Tofino’s council wanted to regulate short-term rentals. But then the pushback started. Nora O’Malley reports. (The Tyee) 

AI Observers Hit the High Sea
New AI analysis systems can count fish and identify species. Could they be key to making fisheries safer and less destructive? Sarah Tory reports. (bioGraphic) 

Trump administration cancels loan guarantee for green energy project 
The Trump administration on Wednesday canceled a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for a new high-voltage transmission line for delivering solar and wind-generated electricity from the Midwest to the eastern U.S., but the company indicated that project would go forward anyway. John Hanna reports. (Associated Press) 

More on Ocean spray
Wendy Scherrer writes regarding yesterday's plant feature: Ethnobotany: Ocean Spray (or Ironwood) is what the Lummi/Coast Salish folks make skewers to cook salmon over a fire pit or BBQ. "Noted for the strength of its wood, it was often used for making spears, arrows, bows, harpoons, nails and digging sticks. The wood was often hardened with fire and was then polished using horsetail. It was also used to make cooking tools, because won’t burn easily. According to  The Jamestown S’Klallam Story, “Women favored ironwood for the digging stick they used. The stick needed a sharp point, gentle curve and a good grip. Most were three to six feet long, with a curved shaft and fire-hardened pointed end. This tool was essential for digging butter clams, horse clams, cockles off the beach, the roots of ferns, wild carrots, wild onions, or the bulbs of camas and tiger lilies.”


Democracy Watch

• Court finds Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional (AP) 
• Supreme Court allows Trump to fire 3 Democrats on consumer safety panel (NPR) 
• Trump’s AI Action Plan removes ‘red tape’ for AI developers and data centers, punishes states that act alone (Washington State Standard) 
• ICE moves to shackle some 180,000 immigrants with GPS ankle monitors (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-  223 AM PDT Thu Jul 24 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 seconds. Widespread dense fog early this morning, then  patchy dense fog late this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 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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7/23 Ocean spray, EPA climate, steelhead ESA, disaster rebuild, BC northern pipe, democracy watch

 

Ocean Spray

Ocean Spray  Holodiscus discolor
Ocean spray is also known as Creambush, Creambush Rock Spirea or Ironwood.  Both Oceanspray and Creambush refer to its cascading, creamy-white flower clusters.  It is called Ironwood due to the strength of its wood. It is native from southern British Columbia to southern California, east to western Montana, Colorado and Arizona.  (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Lopez Library seeks to lift levy lid in Aug. 5 election

E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change
The Trump administration has drafted a plan to repeal a fundamental scientific finding that gives the United States government its authority to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions and fight climate change, according to two people familiar with the plan. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times) 

Deadline set to declare steelhead protection
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has until Dec. 1 to issue its long overdue finding on whether Olympic Peninsula steelhead warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act, according to a recent court order. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Dail News) 

We keep rebuilding after disasters, but should we?
As more British Columbians deal with extreme weather, fires and floods, researchers are helping the government build for a complicated future. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Coastal First Nations in B.C. issue open letter to Carney opposing suggested northern pipeline
Coastal First Nations in British Columbia have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking him to reject any new proposal for a crude oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The move comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new private-sector pipeline that would send crude oil to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia. (Canadian Press) 

Democracy Watch

• ‘One big, beautiful’ law provision on Planned Parenthood funding partly blocked by judge (Washington State Standard) 
• Amid Fear of Retaliation, N.S.F. Workers Sign Letter of Dissent (NY Times) 
• U.S. Olympic and Paralympic officials bar transgender women from Olympic women's sports (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-  116 AM PDT Wed Jul 23 2025   
 TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon.  Seas around 2 ft or less, then around 3 ft this afternoon. Wave  Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 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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7/22 Horse clam, Canada LNG. shooting owls, mountain lion attack, derelict fed ships, outdoor school cuts, Stanley Park trees, fish passage suit, oyster shell biz, democracy watch

 

Horse clam

Horse clam Tresus nuttallii
The horse clam, aka Pacific gaper, has an elongated shell, with the length typically 1½ times the height. It burrows 1 to 2 feet deep in the low intertidal zone in sandy or gravel and cobble substrate, and extends into the subtidal zone. This species of horse clam is found from Kodiak Island, AK south to Baja California Sur. (WDFW) 

Today's top story in Salish Current: Lynden’s aquifer recharge plan ‘laudable’

Here’s how Canada’s LNG exports could make your heating bill go up
Canada’s LNG industry is just getting going, but one expert says the ‘party is almost over’ when it comes to economic benefits. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) 

Plans to shoot thousands of barred owls in doubt after feds cancel grants
A controversial plan to kill up to half a million invasive barred owls to protect endangered spotted owls is in jeopardy after the Trump administration terminated three critical grants funding the program. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Mountain lion attacks child on popular trail in Olympic National Park
A 4-year-old child was attacked and injured over the weekend by a mountain lion while walking with family on a popular trail in Olympic National Park, park officials said Monday. shea Johnson reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

WA, OR taxpayers left to pay for removal of derelict federal ships
Abandoned vessels are piling up in PNW waterways, threatening marine ecosystems and costing the states over $21M combined to remove and destroy. Aspen Ford reports. (Investigate West) 

Washington’s outdoor school programs reel from state funding cuts
The Outdoor Learning Grants program, established by the state Legislature in 2021, offered subsidies for schools to send fifth- and sixth-grade students to the outdoor school programs. But lawmakers zeroed out the grants as they worked to solve a budget gap this year. Enrollment is expected to drop as a result. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Vancouver Park Board staff get approval to advance Stanley Park tree removal
Vancouver Park Board staff have gained commissioners' approval to proceed with the next phase of a tree removal project being done in Stanley Park due to an extensive looper moth infestation. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

Edmonds Environmental Council files fish passage complaint
The Edmonds Environmental Council, a community nonprofit, filed a complaint with the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife on July 14, claiming the city of Edmonds’ management of flood diverters on Perrinville Creek is illegal. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Shell company: Victoria venture aims to harness the power of oyster shells
Their first product is a soil amendment made from the shells and coffee waste. But they say one critical way to recycle the shells is to return them to the ocean. Hilary Angus reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Hundreds of NASA Employees Condemn Trump Administration Cuts in Public Letter (NY Times) 
• Budget office says Trump’s tax law will add $3.4 trillion to deficits, leave 10 million uninsured (AP) 
• Judge orders Trump administration to ‘stop violating the law!’ and publish spending details (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-  147 AM PDT Tue Jul 22 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt this afternoon.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds. Patchy dense  fog this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 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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7/21 Hardhack, Indian Cr spill, shooting owls, EPA shutdown, Vancouver is forests, democracy watch

Hardhack

Hardhack Spiraea douglasii
Spiraea douglasii is a species of flowering plant in the rose family. Common names include hardhack, hardhack steeplebush, Douglas' spirea, douglasspirea, steeplebush, and rose spirea. It is native to northwestern North America and is an invasive species in other locales. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trial foot ferry to San Juans ends; return in doubt / How we view disabilities defines our humanity

‘Devastating’ spill in salmon habitat near Port Angeles: What to know 
Hundreds of dead juvenile fish. An oily sheen. The overpowering smell of gasoline. These were the scenes over the weekend near where a fuel tanker truck crashed Friday off Highway 101, spilling some 3,000 gallons of fossil fuels into Indian Creek and prompting a “do not drink” order for Port Angeles tap water that ended Sunday evening. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

A plan to shoot 450,000 owls — to save a different owl — could be in jeopardy
An unusual alliance of Republican lawmakers and animal rights advocates, together with others, is creating storm clouds for a plan to protect one threatened owl by killing a more common one. But the coalition argues the effort is too expensive, unworkable and inhumane. They’re urging the Trump administration to cancel it and lawmakers could pursue a reversal through special congressional action. Lisa Seidman reports. (LA Times) 

EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs
The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees. The agency’s Office of Research and Development has long provided the scientific underpinnings for EPA’s mission to protect the environment and human health. The EPA said in May it would shift its scientific expertise and research efforts to program offices that focus on major issues like air and water. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press) 

Vancouver Islanders call for better access and environmental oversight of private forest lands 
A survey by a private forest management company on Vancouver Island shows thousands of outdoor enthusiasts want better access to forest land — but an alliance of wilderness advocates is also raising concerns about environmental accountability.  Claire Palmer reports. (CBC) 


Democracy Watch

• ICE releases WA green-card holder after 2 months in detention center (Seattle Times) 
• The USDA wants states to hand over food stamp data by the end of July (NPR) 
• Hegseth tells lawmakers about plan to detain immigrants at bases in Indiana and New Jersey (AP) 
  Hegseth replaces Naval Academy superintendent, first woman to hold post  (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-  246 AM PDT Mon Jul 21 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds and W 2 ft at  11 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 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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7/18 Trumpet honeysuckle, gulls, Little Pilchuck, Island Marble butterfly, LA coastal restoration, funding cut, democracy watch, week in review

Trumpet Honeysuckle

 

 Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosa
The common name, honeysuckle, comes from the fact that children enjoy sucking nectar from the base of the flowers for a sweet treat. This species is also known as Orange Honeysuckle, Northwest Honeysuckle, or Western Trumpet. Trumpet Honeysuckle is native from British Columbia to northern California, mostly west of the Cascades; but also can be found in the Idaho panhandle and neighboring Montana; and isolated communities in Utah and Arizona. (Native Plants PNW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: PNW Climate Week kicks off with climate solutions

Coming into the colony
Gulls are perhaps our most familiar seabird. Pick a seashore or even an occasional landfill, and you are likely to see at least a few. But casual sightings don't always paint a true picture of population health. The most accurate science often requires field work, and that can mean getting a little messy. Recently, scientists took to the field to see how glaucous-winged gulls are faring in the Salish Sea. The gulls were ready for them. Eric Wagner writes. (Salish Sea Current)

Little Pilchuck salmon project gets boost from $4.6M state grant
Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office announced Tuesday that Snohomish County received $4.6 million from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board for restoration work near Little Pilchuck Creek. The county’s Surface Water Management team will utilize the grant dollars, along with $800,000 from the county department, to replace four culverts and remove a fifth along an unnamed tributary to Little Pilchuck Creek, north of Lake Stevens. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Back From The Brink
The Island Marble butterfly, or Euchloe ausonides insulanus, is endemic to the coastal prairie that was once common in the Salish Sea ecoregion. With an estimated population of under 500 today, the species only exists on San Juan Island. Sophia Jellinghaus reports. (The Planet Magazine)

Louisiana cancels $3 billion coastal restoration project
Louisiana on Thursday canceled a $3 billion repair of disappearing Gulf coastline, funded by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement, scrapping what conservationists called an urgent response to climate change but Gov. Jeff Landry viewed as a threat to the state’s way of life. Jack Brook reports. (Associated Press)

House approves Trump's $9B cut to public broadcasting and foreign aid
The House gave final approval to President Donald Trump’s request to claw back about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid early Friday as Republicans intensified their efforts to target institutions and programs they view as bloated or out of step with their agenda. Kevin Freking and Mary Clare Jalonick report. (Associated Press)

Democrat Watch

• Trump administration hands over nation's Medicaid enrollee data to ICE (AP)
  
• Senate panel approves federal judge nomination for Emil Bove, who defended Trump  (NPR)
  
• For Sale: Trump is leveraging power of his office to reap profits for family businesses (AP)
  

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/18/25: Nelson Mandela, pinks return, ivy ban, climate change reports, Cowichan R salmon, beach fecals, orca count, Pebble Mine.

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-  228 AM PDT Fri Jul 18 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 9 seconds. 
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 8 seconds. 
SAT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  7 seconds. 
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 7 seconds. 
SUN  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the morning, then  around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 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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7/17 Flattop crab, orca count, Pebble Mine, roadless rule repeal, Clearwater mining, public broadcasting clawback, Nextdoor, democracy watch

Flattop crab [Alexandra Tyler]

 
Flattop crab Petrolisthes eriomerus
Petrolisthes eriomerus is a species of marine porcelain crab found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the flattop crab. It is a flattened, rounded animal, with a carapace up to 20 mm (0.8 in) across. It is a filter feeder, and also sweeps food from rocks. This crab is found on the shore and at depths of up to 90 metres (300 ft) on the western coast of North America from California to Alaska. It prefers areas with strong currents and can be found under rocks, especially those embedded in sand or shingle, among seaweed and in beds of mussels on both exposed and sheltered coasts. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Downward dog and second chances

Annual orca count grows by one, as the Puget Sound whales stay on the hunt for food
Although an official census report is not due until October, it appears that the population of our southern resident killer whales has increased by one over the past year. That slight increase is the net result of four births and three deaths, according to the Center for Whale Research, which is responsible for the annual census on July 1 each year. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

Trump administration hints at a lifeline for embattled Pebble mine project
After a landmark veto, Trump administration officials say they’re “open to reconsideration” and are negotiating a potential settlement of a lawsuit filed by Pebble’s developer. Max Graham reports.(Northern Journal)

How Roadless Rule repeal could affect forests like Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie
The Trump administration plans to roll back a 2001 rule protecting over 58 million acres of national forest, including areas in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie area. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Clearwater, B.C., braces for potential of massive mine that could nearly double its population
B.C. Developer Taseko Mines says the Yellowhead Project could create about 2,000 jobs during the construction phase. It's being proposed for a location about 150 kilometres northeast of Kamloops, just east of Clearwater, B.C. And with a population of 2,500, Clearwater could be on the front lines of that growth. Maryam Gamar reports. (CBC)

Senate passes Trump bid to claw back $9 billion
The Senate has passed on a 51-48 vote about $9 billion in federal spending cuts requested by President Donald Trump, including deep reductions to public broadcasting and foreign aid, moving forward on one of the president’s top priorities despite concerns from several Republican senators. (Associated Press)

Nextdoor social site, looking for a revival, pins hopes on partnership with local news providers
Nextdoor, the social media site that aims to create connections among neighbors, announced a partnership Tuesday with more than 3,500 local news providers who will regularly contribute material to the app. David Bauder reports. (Associated Press)
 
Democracy Watch

• ICE Is Moving Immigrants Arrested On The Mainland To Honolulu (Civil Beat)
  
• Psychedelics like MDMA are finding a warm embrace from Kennedy (AP)
  
• Federal judge would block Trump's birthright citizenship order nationwide (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 Thu Jul 17 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft  at 9 seconds. Areas of dense fog this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 9 seconds. Patchy fog in the evening.

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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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7/16 California lilac, beach fecals, Jpod return, life in Kitimat, tracking tiny fish, democracy watch

California lilac

 
California lilac Ceanothus
California lilac (not a true lilac) blooms in May and attracts bees. It's an evergreen with small, glossy, dark green leaves. It is hardy to about 5 degrees F. In the Puget Sound area it can get 6-8 feet tall on its own. Pruning every two years will keep it as low as you like and will keep it densely branched and very floriferous. It makes a stunning screening hedge. (Calendula Farm)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Tagging nearly complete on most elusive Salish sharks

Poopy beaches? Three-quarters of tested WA shores saw unsafe fecal contamination
About 76% of tested Washington beaches showed potentially unsafe fecal-contamination levels on at least one testing day last year, according to the findings by Environment America Research and Policy Center. In addition, 30% of the state’s 63 monitored beaches had possibly unsafe contamination on at least a quarter of all testing days in 2024, per the July 7 report. Simone Carter reports. (The Olympian)

Orca-strated return: B.C. southern residents make surprise Salish Sea arrival
After 75 days away, the killer whales were sighted in the Salish Sea on World Orca Day. Ben Fenlon reports. (Penticton Western News)

B.C. town ‘built by industry’ adjusts to life with LNG
A 90-metre flare lit the skies over Kitimat as LNG Canada readied its systems in late June. The first of 170 ships per year has now set sail, its belly filled with liquefied natural gas. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Teeny Tiny Trackers Take to the Water
A new generation of petite, submersible tracking tags offers a fresh look at the lives of little fishes.  Moira Donovan reports. (bioGraphic)

Democracy Watch

• US Senate Republicans advance bill stripping funds from NPR, PBS, foreign aid (Washington State Standard)
  
• Federal government accuses nine Spokane protesters of violence against ICE (Spokesman-Review)
  
• Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across ten states, union says (AP)
  
• Trump Administration Resumes Third-Country Deportation Flights (NY Times)
  
• Transgender asylum seeker released from ICE custody after order from federal judge (AP)
  
• Trump tells Texas Republicans to redistrict to help keep GOP House majority (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-  258 AM PDT Wed Jul 16 2025    
TODAY  SW wind around 5 kt, veering to W late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 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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7/15 Bushtit, heat advisory, climate report, Cowichan R die-off, Klamath R voyage, democracy watch

Bushtit [Tom Grey]

 
Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
The Bushtit is a tiny, gray bird with a long tail. It has a brownish wash on its forehead and a tiny, thin bill. Adult females have white eyes. Adult males and juveniles have dark eyes. Bushtits inhabit mixed coniferous and deciduous areas with shrubby growth. They commonly use suburban areas and city parks, as well as young coniferous forests with an open canopy. They are mostly found west of the Cascades. Highly social birds, Bushtits are usually found in flocks of 40 individuals or more. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Leveling the playing field with accessible activities / So much for sailing being for the privileged 

Heat advisory issued for Puget Sound region as highs in the 90s expected this week
Dry and hot conditions return to western Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing an elevated risk of heat-related illness and fire danger. (KOMO)

Trump administration says it won’t publish major climate change reports on NASA website as promised
Earlier this month, the official government websites that hosted the authoritative, peer-reviewed national climate assessments went dark. Such sites tell state and local governments and the public what to expect in their backyards from a warming world and how best to adapt to it. At the time, the White House said NASA would house the reports to comply with a 1990 law that requires the reports, which the space agency said it planned to do. But on Monday, NASA announced that it aborted those plans. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Cowichan River could see another mass fish die-off
Warm temperatures, low river flows and declining water quality are sparking fears of another mass fish die-off in the Cowichan River this summer. The Cowichan Watershed Board issued a statement Monday saying river conditions this summer “mirror” those of 2023, when an estimated 84,000 to 100,000-plus fish died after prolonged drought and heat. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist)

Native American teens kayak major US river to celebrate removal of dams and return of salmon
As bright-colored kayaks push through a thick wall of fog, voices and the beats of drums build as kayakers approach a crowd that has formed on the beach. Applause erupts as the boats land on the sandy spit that partially separates the Klamath River from the Pacific Ocean in northern California. Brittany Peterson reports. (Associated Press)

Democracy Watch

• Supreme Court allows Trump to resume Education Department layoffs (AP)
  
• 24 states sue Trump admin to unfreeze more than $6 billion in education grants (NPR)
  
• Workers at the CFPB watch hopelessly as the GOP undoes the work they did to help consumers (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-  258 AM PDT Tue Jul 15 2025    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to W late. Seas 3 to 5 ft.  Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 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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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)
  

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-  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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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