12/16 Snowberry, Skagit dams, Abbotsford flooding, F-150 Lightning, democracy watch

 

Common Snowberry [Native Plants PNW]

Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Common Snowberry is found from southeast Alaska to southern California; all across the northern United States and the Canadian provinces. Snowberries are high in saponins, which are poorly absorbed by the body.  Although they are largely considered poisonous, (given names like ‘corpse berry’ or ‘snake’s berry’), some tribes ate them fresh or dried them for later consumption. (Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Could Mount Baker be tapped for geothermal energy?

Army takeover of Skagit dams lowers flood waters
As the Skagit’s flood waters were building, the Army Corps took over Ross Dam, a 540-foot tall concrete dam owned by Seattle City Light, and Upper Baker Dam, a 300-foot high concrete dam, owned by Puget Sound Energy. As flows surged into the reservoir known as Ross Lake, engineers turned off Ross Dam spigot.The dam held back 99% of water flowing into the reservoir, according to Army Corps officials. (John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Feds defend response to flooding in B.C. after Abbotsford mayor slams inaction 
The federal minister responsible for handling natural disasters defended her government in the wake of criticism about how it has responded to flooding in B.C.'s Fraser Valley. At a news conference on Friday, Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens accused the federal government of inaction following the 2021 floods and failing to address mitigation needs and prevent a similar disaster. Nick Logan reports. (CBC) 

Ford pulls the plug on the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck
Ford Motor Company has ceased production of the F-150 Lightning, its flagship full-size electric pickup, and will focus instead on hybrid vehicles and a future line of smaller, cheaper EVs. Battery plants once intended to supply Ford trucks will now be sending batteries to bolster the electric grid instead. Ford says the move is following customer demand, and reflecting the reality that the Lightning was a money-loser — and Ford, concluded, it always would be. Camila Domonoske reports. (NPR) 

Democracy Watch
Trump 'very strongly' considering loosening federal marijuana regulations (Washington State Standard) 
Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  520 PM PST Mon Dec 15 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING  
GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY  MORNING    

TUE  SW wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming S 25 to 30 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S 4 ft at 5 seconds and W  7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 30 to 40 kt with gusts up to 50 kt. Seas 7 to  10 ft, building to 10 to 14 ft after midnight. Wave Detail: SW  4 ft at 8 seconds and W 14 ft at 11 seconds. Showers in the  evening, then rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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