6/22 St. John's wort, WA snowpack, Orcas green crab, McKinley mill, L130/L129, 'Try Wait' marine protected area, democracy watch.

St. John's wort

 

St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum
St. John's wort, perforate St. John's wort or common St. John's wort is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. H. perforatum is the type species of its genus, known for its historical use in folklore and traditional medicine. (Wikipedia)

WA’s snowpack zapped as drought looms, reservoirs sink
Washington’s snowpack is all but finished, weeks before normal, and some major reservoirs are starting to dip as much as a month early. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times/paywall) 

First invasive European green crab discovered on Orcas Island
A male European green crab was captured at Deer Harbor last week, the first of the invasive species to be found on Orcas Island. Kenedy Sanchez reports. (CDN/paywall) 

Northwest company purchases former McKinley mill property
A Washington-based company has agreed to purchase the former McKinley mill property and will undergo an evaluation to determine opportunities to return the industrial area to use. Candelaria Industries LLC, an ownership group led by Rob Janicki, will purchase the property located at 1902 Marine Drive, subject to government approval. (Peninsula Daily News) 

New southern resident orca calf spotted as another vanishes
Calf L130 was seen for the first time Sunday traveling with the female L91 near East Sooke, B.C., by Center for Whale Research biologists, who estimated the young whale was between 1 and 3 months old...Biologists could not locate L129, an L pod calf that was first spotted in February. Greg Kim reports. (Seattle Times/paywall) 

Decade Of Big Island’s ‘Try Wait’ Moratorium Spurs Plenty Fish — And Poaching
Ten years of no fishing has led to a huge recovery on a stretch of the Kona Coast. Now comes the hard part: Protecting those gains.  Marcel Honoré reports. (Civil Beat) 


Democracy Watch

• Battle ramps up over WA ballot measure to bar transgender students from girls’ sports (Washington State Standard) 

Here's your tug weather— West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  153 PM PDT Sun Jun 21 2026    

MON  NE wind around 5 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 7 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 7 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/19 Barn swallow, L130, ocean monitoring, battery farms, B'ham sewer plan, Tofino gold, democracy watch, week in review.

Barn Swallow [Jeff Dyck]

 

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Glistening cobalt blue above and tawny below, Barn Swallows dart gracefully over fields, barnyards, and open water in search of flying insect prey. Look for the long, deeply forked tail that streams out behind this agile flyer and sets it apart from all other North American swallows. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Commentaries: This Juneteenth, practice joy as defiance? / A proclamation is just the beginning

Center for Whale Research confirms new southern resident orca calf in L Pod
The Center for Whale Research has confirmed the sighting of a new calf, designated L130, among the endangered southern resident killer whales of L Pod. (KOMO) 

Trump administration abandons plans to remove ocean monitoring system
The National Science Foundation this month began dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative system, a system of sensors that provide data on ocean conditions. The move was a part of a broader push by the Trump administration to cut climate science operations. But after an intense bipartisan response, the federal science agency said Thursday it would halt its plans and work to redeploy the instruments it had removed.  Mia Maldonado reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Big battery farms encounter resistance across western Washington
Neighbors fear toxic fires. Clean energy advocates and frustrated developers warn that stifling the projects could slow the clean energy transition. Tom Banse reports. Tom Banse reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Bellingham starts sewer system planning process 
Bellingham is about to start reviewing the city’s wastewater system in its entirety, from when waste leaves a home or business all the way to its eventual outflow in Bellingham Bay. But for now, the city will continue burning its waste. Julie Tellman reports.(CDN) 

Near Tofino, a push for gold is colliding with efforts to protect a rare coastal ecosystem
Unpublished documents and a helicopter flight into the Tranquil Creek watershed reveal details about renewed exploration at a long-dormant mine, raising concerns about B.C.’s mining laws, water and Indigenous Rights. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Narwhal) 

Democracy Watch

• WA’s vote-by-mail elections could be reshaped by Trump-backed changes (Seattle Tims) 
• Obama Center opens in Chicago with a call to defend democracy and a celebrity crowd (AP) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, June 19, 2026: Juneteenth!, mifepristone, ticks, ocean monitoring, BC dams, glass sponges, L-pod calf, BLM 'reassignments'

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-  153 PM PDT Thu Jun 18 2026    
FRI  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.  
FRI NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SW after midnight.  Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  S wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  10 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  8 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/18 Greater scaup, L-pod calf, BLM 'reassignment,' crab season, democracy watch.

 

Greater Scaup [Frank King]

Greater Scaup Aythya marila
The only circumpolar diving duck, the Greater Scaup breeds across the tundra regions in North America and Europe. They congregate by the hundreds and thousands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts during winter. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Records raise questions about how $100K Bellingham Port PR contract was managed

New calf born to endangered southern resident orcas
Researchers are still trying to determine the mother of the newborn spotted June 14 with members of L-Pod. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist) 

Weakened BLM ‘reassigns’ PIOs ahead of fire season

Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) are the Bureau of Land Management’s public-facing employees that disseminate important information about federal lands, including updates on wildland fire activity. On May 18, the agency sent a “reassignment letter” to at least 13 such workers located in district offices in the Pacific Northwest, removing them from their roles as carriers of vital information. Kendra Chamberlain reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Puget Sound Summer 2026 Crab Seasons Announced
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today that summer crab fishing seasons will get underway July 2 in several Puget Sound marine areas. Other marine areas will open later in July or in mid-August. (NW Sportsman)

Democracy Watch

• 'We will hunt you down,’ Trump says in pre-movie ad that stunned Portland theatergoers (Oregon Live) 
• That Bible verse San Francisco Giants players wrote on Pride caps does not say what they think it does (MSN) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—  
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 PM PDT Wed Jun 17 2026    
THU  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/17 Red crossbill, ancient glass sponges, ESA for NW wildflowers, Musk xAI, democracy watch.

 

Red Crossbill [Michael Stubblefield]

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
A fascinating finch of coniferous woodlands, the Red Crossbill forages on nutritious seeds in pine, hemlock, Douglas-fir, and spruce cones. Their specialized bills allow them to break into unopened cones, giving them an advantage over other finch species. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  San Juan County must address spending

Good News for a ‘Herd of Dinosaurs’ Under the Sea
Scientists believe ancient glass sponge reefs can grow back. If humans let them. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Nonprofit seeks federal protection for two Northwest wildflowers
The Center for Biological Diversity is petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to add two plants native to Palouse and Camas Prairies to the Endangered Species Act list. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

In boost to Musk, Justice Department seeks to dismiss air pollution lawsuit against xAI data center 
The Trump administration is helping one of Elon Musk’s companies fight a civil rights lawsuit that alleges it is illegally running dozens of natural gas turbines to power a $20 billion AI data center in Mississippi. Matthew Daly and Bernard Condon report. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump ramps up Education Department's dismantling with changes on special education and civil rights (AP) 
• $11M in federal aid for WA flood victims handed out as deadline passes (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-  817 PM PDT Tue Jun 16 2026    
WED  NW wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
WED NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE after midnight.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/16 Pelican, Longview spill, highway open, BC dams, 'roadless rule,' BC LNG, NWSF job, new spider, democracy watch.

Brown pelican [Blake Matheson]

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
The Brown Pelican is a comically elegant bird with an oversized bill, sinuous neck, and big, dark body. Squadrons glide above the surf along southern and western coasts, rising and falling in a graceful echo of the waves. 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Hearing set for Point Roberts burial disturbances 

Another tank spilled months ago at site of Longview disaster, records show 
The Longview paper mill where 11 workers died last month in a chemical tank failure was the site of another spill that Nippon Dynawave Packaging described as a “near miss” earlier this spring, according to newly released public records. Joseph O’Sullivan and Lulu Ramadan report. (Seattle Times) 

Lawmakers fight to stop the Trump administration’s dismantling of a $386M ocean observatory project
A group of Democratic senators and one Republican, as well as two Democratic House committees, sent letters Monday to the National Science Foundation asking it to reverse course on its plan to dismantle a sprawling ocean monitoring network, with House lawmakers going further and accusing the agency of acting illegally. Annika Hammerschlag reports.  (Associated Press) 

At last, WA’s iconic North Cascades Highway reopens
The North Cascades Highway reopened on Sunday, restoring an economic lifeline for small communities east of the Cascades. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

B.C. eyes two new hydropower dams, including Site E near Alberta border, Dix says
The British Columbia government is looking at building two new hydroelectric dams, including a fourth dam for the Peace River where the Site C project generated opposition and cost overruns. Wolfgang Depner reports. (Canadian Press) 

Senate Republicans propose rescinding ‘roadless rule’ — by tacking it onto federal wildfire bill
A brief moment of bipartisanship in the U.S. Senate turned political on Wednesday, when Republican lawmakers introduced a new provision to a wildfire bill. That bill, called the Wildfire Prevention Act, would mandate increasing prescribed fires and forest thinning in federal forests. That common ground evaporated after Senate Republicans attached a repeal of what’s known as the “the roadless rule” to the bill. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

Could B.C.’s LNG boom squeeze the province’s natural gas supply?
As heat waves increase electricity demand, Energy Minister Adrian Dix says Vancouver Island’s gas supply is being squeezed by an LNG plant under construction. Shannon Waters reports. (The Narwhal) 

Ocean Career: NWSF Executive Director
This is a unique opportunity to lead a well-known and nationally recognized marine conservation organization.  (Eco Magazine) 

New spider species discovered in Columbia Gorge gets a name
Greta Binford, a professor of biology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, made a unique discovery near Wahkeena Falls on the Oregon side of the Gorge. The spider, Trogloraptor tulishpun, is only the second known species in the family Trogloraptoridae, which itself is a recent discovery. Nathan Gilles reports. (Columbia Insight)  

Democracy Watch

• Frustrated by Courts, Trump Weighed Suspending a Constitutional Right (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-  216 PM PDT Mon Jun 15 2026    
TUE  W wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at  8 seconds.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


 

6/15 Black-headed grosbeak, mifepristone, ticks, land stewarship, AI data centers, democracy watch.

Black-headed grosbeak[Bridget Spencer]

 
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus
Black-headed Grosbeaks are hefty songbirds with very large bills that are conical and thick at the base. They have large heads and short, thick necks. A short tail imparts a compact, chunky look. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Commentary: No safe return

Republican attorneys general urge EPA to classify mifepristone as water contaminant
In a letter last Friday, the state officials argued that mifepristone is “a growing threat to the country’s waterways.” A concurrent letter, led by Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, made similar claims and was signed by 18 other GOP members of Congress. Nada Hassanein reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Like it or not, the ticks are advancing and Canadians will have to adapt
Researchers say climate change is the driving force behind the pests' northward push. Kevin Maimann reports. (CBC) 

'The land misses us': How Indigenous land stewardship protects cultural history and forests
Ancestral knowledge indicates that burned forests had better food and medicine. Arden McLeod reports. (CBC) 

Opinion: WA lawmakers should get involved as AI data centers sprout 
Artificial intelligence promises benefits, but its pernicious impacts must be anticipated and mitigated, else vast inequities and disruptions will result. State and local governments must act soon to mitigate these effects, especially in regulating the massive data centers that have blossomed in the Pacific Northwest and across the country to enable AI. Michael Riordan writes. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch
Judge orders Trump administration to restore National Park changes at sites that 'disparaged' US (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-  148 PM PDT Sun Jun 14 2026    

MON  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 7 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/12 Frosted nudibranch, heat wave, El Nino, paper mills, chemical safety, nature stories, NE Hawaiian Islands fishing, democracy watch, week in review.

Frosted nudibranch [Vic High Marine]

 

Frosted nudibranch Dirona albolineata
The frosted nudibranch, also called the Alabaster Nudibranch and White-lined Dirona, has frosty white tips lining the leaf-like cerata on their back. They come in a wide variety of colours, including mauve and peach, but for the most part, they’re a translucent whitish-yellow. The frosted nudibranch thrives along the shores of Japan, Siberia, and Southern Alaska, to Southern California. (Vic High Marine)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  San Juan County braces for lower revenues, higher costs

Vancouver’s first summer heat wave is here — and we’re not ready
As climate change reshapes the seasons, extreme temperatures reveal how unprepared we are for a hotter future. Michelle Cyca reports. (The Narwhal) 

El Nino is here and scientists fear it'll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires
U.S. meteorologists say an El Nino has formed. That's the natural warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather around the globe. Seth Bernstein reports. (Associated Press) 

Washington paper mills mum about chemical safety after Longview disaster
It's been two weeks since Washington's worst industrial accident in nearly a century. More than a half-million gallons of a caustic liquid known as white liquor flooded through the Nippon Dynawave pulp mill in Longview after a storage tank imploded. Eleven people were killed. Kim Malcolm and John Ryan report. (KUOW) 

After deadly chemical spill, Longview official wants new safeguards
A district in Cowlitz County was key to flushing out the corrosive chemical spill that threatened to contaminate Longview's drinking water after a catastrophic tank implosion. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

From neon mosquitoes to winged migrations, top images captured by scientists
New discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines. Ari Daniel reports. (NPR) 

Trump Reopens Protected Hawaiian Waters To Commercial Fishing
Dealing a blow to environmentalists, Papahānaumokuākea and two other Pacific marine monuments will be partially reopened by presidential proclamation. Marcel Honoré reports. (Civil Beat) 

Democracy Watch

• Port of Bellingham passes limits on civil immigration detainments, detention centers on its property (CDN) 
• Ballmer’s philanthropy commits to funding 10,000 affordable housing units in WA (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 6/12/26: Superman, Van Is kelp, gray whales and kelp, sea-stars, vibrocompaction, killer tires, killing owls, Brad Pitt, wolf kill, Longview explosion, El Nino.

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-  224 AM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 8 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind around 5 kt, backing to S around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
SAT  E wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to NE in the afternoon. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  NW wind around 5 kt, veering to NE after midnight.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  E wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt in the afternoon.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 8 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/11 Shaggy mouse, warm Wednesday, Longview plant, BC amphibians and reptiles, Horse Heaven project, democracy watch.

 

Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch [Zoe O’Toole]

Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch Aeolidia loui
True to their name, shaggy mouse are covered in two dense rows of cerata that give them a fuzzy appearance. Shaggy mouse nudibranchs can come in several color morphs that range from a dark gray or brown to a light beige. Commonly around 5 cm long, shaggy mouse nudibranchs can grow up to 10 cm. Ranging from British Columbia to Mexico, shaggy mouse nudibranchs live in mid intertidal and subtidal habitats. (Haystack Rock Awareness)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Cascadia Daily signals shift with firing of Judd

Did you enjoy that warmer Wednesday?
Sunny days are here again, and so is a great stretch of weather for getting out and about and thoroughly enjoying that 'So Northwest' lifestyle. We'll head into the low 70s in Seattle and Tacoma on Thursday, and the middle 70s by Friday. Perfection for biking, hiking or just digging around in the garden! By the weekend? Some like it hot. (KOMO) 

Longview plant implosion: A moment-by-moment breakdown of disaster 
Two weeks ago, a tank imploded at a Longview paper and pulp mill, releasing hundreds of thousands of gallons of caustic chemicals that killed 11 people and injured at least a dozen more. The industrial disaster is near the top of Washington’s deadliest in a century. Paige Cornwall reports. (Seattle Times) 

5 million amphibians and reptiles moved for B.C. development, with no requirement to track survival: study
Millions of amphibians and reptiles are displaced and relocated from their habitats because of development projects in B.C., according to a new study. But researchers say there’s no monitoring requirement in place to determine whether the animals survive the move. (CBC) 

Massive clean energy project caught in legal crosswinds at WA Supreme Court
Opponents are challenging aspects of how the state approved the planned 72,500-acre installation in south-central Washington. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Gov. Bob Ferguson announces proposal to ban cellphones in public schools (KNKX) 
• B.C. premier calls Trump's comments on not renewing CUSMA 'lame' sequel to 1987 book (Times Colonist) 
• Billions for Trump’s deportation campaign signed into law (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-  310 PM PDT Wed Jun 10 2026    
THU  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 4 seconds and  W 3 ft at 10 seconds.  
THU NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 3 ft at 5 seconds and W  4 ft at 9 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/10 Sea lemon, Whatcom Cr, killer tires, screech owl, wolf kill, reef net film, BC gold mine, Ksi Lisims LNG, democracy watch.

Sea lemon [Seattle Aquarium]

 
Sea lemon Peltodoris nobilis
While most nudibranchs sport bright colors, sea lemons are deep yellow to burnt orange. Black spots mingle with protruding bumps called tubercles on the sea lemon's back. Fleshy antennae and a rosette of gills protrude from the back of a sea lemon's slim, flat body. A nudibranch's bright colors are usually a warning—eat me at your own risk. Predators scorn the sea lemon's penetrating, fruity odor and acidic taste. (Monterey Bay Aquarium) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Millions of FEMA dollars coming for flood recovery

Readers remember: Whatcom Creek, June 10, 1999

Remember the day the pipeline exploded in Whatcom Creek, and the days afterward? Salish Current asked readers to share their memories  around the June 10, 1999, catastrophe. We’re grateful for the responses, and not surprised that they echo the community’s response at that time, of compassion and grief fueling action — “never again”— that pushed establishment of new safeguards. (June 7, 2024 Salish Current)

Tire companies race to replace deadly tire chemical
A chemical found in tires is leading to the deaths of untold numbers of coho salmon in Puget Sound every year. Chemical companies are searching for an alternative but say the unique chemistry and function of 6PPD are major challenges. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Current Magazine) 

In Pursuit of a Tiny Owl Nicknamed Brad Pitt
Western screech owls are disappearing from BC. Join researchers on a tricky night mission to find out why. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

Controversial plan to kill owls is underway in WA. Here’s who’s leading the way 
Two years since the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife released its barred owl management plan, only the Yakama Nation Tribe in South Central Washington has initiated barred owl management on reservation lands and is actively killing the once-protected species. Gavin Feek reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

State order to kill wolf in northeast Washington is canceled
Agency Director Kelly Susewind authorized staff on May 22 to kill one wolf. A week later, on May 29, he withdrew the order and moved the agency into an evaluation period, stating if another attack on livestock occurs, lethal removal would be reconsidered.  Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Film on ancient Salish Sea fishing tradition nets Emmy wins
An ancient fishing practice that was once used across the Salish Sea has earned new recognition through a Freeland filmmaker. A documentary series, “The Last Reefnetters,” exploring the history, culture and future of reef net fishing, known as the sxwo’le, received four Northwest Regional Emmy awards on May 30.  Marina Blatt reports. (Whidbey News) 

Province didn't properly consult First Nation on northwest gold mine, B.C. Supreme Court judge says 
KSM Mine project, near Stewart, B.C., has been under review and development for over a decade. Catherine Garrett reports. (CBC) 

2 First Nations in B.C. withdraw legal challenge of Ksi Lisims LNG project
Project has tentative agreements with German buyers to take natural gas from B.C. Lauren Krugel reports. (Canadian Press)

Democracy Watch

• Pentagon revises religious classifications amid backlash from LDS Church (USA Today) 
• House passes $70B bill to fund immigration enforcement for 3 years, sending to Trump (AP) 
• Homeland Security retreats on plan to get data on mail-in voters (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-  202 PM PDT Tue Jun 9 2026    
WED  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft  at 4 seconds and W 5 ft at 9 seconds. WED NIGHT  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 10 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/9 Hooded nudibranch, invasive pests, BC LNG, OR gray whales, vibrating ghost shrimp, stream buffer rules, Lk Whatcom property, democracy watch.

Hooded Nudibranch [Race Rocks Reserve]

 

Hooded Nudibranch Melibe leonina
One of about 89 different species of nudibranch or sea slug in our waters, This is one of the very few in the world that can actually swim. They possess many unusual characteristics. They have both male and female reproductive organs. Their eggs, as many as 30,000 are fertilized internally. They can escape from predation by dropping one of their cerata, and there’s more. (Sound Water Stewards) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A new kid on the playground

Washington begins annual invasive pest survey
Washington state’s annual search for over 130 invasive insects, weeds and plant pathogens has begun. Employees with the state Department of Agriculture are traveling across Washington to set traps for species such as spongy moths, Japanese beetles and apple maggots. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

LNG Exports May Expose BC to Legal Risk
A growing body of climate lawsuits poses a threat to oil and gas aims of the province and Canada, a new report suggests. Zoë Yunker reports. (The Tyee) 

The unexpected connection between gray whales and kelp on the Oregon Coast
Why a population of grey whales lives off the Oregon Coast year-round instead of migrating, and their unexpected connection with kelp. Stephani Gordon reports. (OPB) 

WA oyster farmers say ‘vibrocompaction’ may help control ghost shrimp
Biologists at the University of Washington have been testing equipment used in large-scale concrete pours on shrimp-filled mudflats in southwest Washington. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX) 

Skagit County weighs in on lawsuit over stream buffer rules
Skagit County commissioners authorized the county’s participation in an amicus brief in Washington Farm Forestry Association et al v. State Forest Practice Board, siding with the owners of private timber land, who argue that rules that increase the size of stream buffers unnecessarily remove land from timber harvest. The increase in buffers was intended to keep shade around creeks to prevent water temperature increases. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

City of Bellingham buys 30-plus acres near Lake Whatcom, plans to demolish house
As part of its effort to protect the Lake Whatcom watershed from further development, Bellingham is buying three shoreline sites totaling 30.69 acres for $1.023 million. Robert Mittendorf reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

Democracy Watch 

• Trump administration $100,000 visa fee for highly skilled foreign workers struck down (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-  215 PM PDT Mon Jun 8 2026    SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH  TUESDAY AFTERNOON    
TUE  W wind 20 to 25 kt, easing to 15 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 6 seconds.  Rain.  
TUE NIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 9 seconds. Rain  likely, mainly in the evening.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.org. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/8 Opalescent nudibranch, stop Elwha logging, Vancouver Is kelp, Edgemoor subdivision, Skagit farmland protection, gray whale deaths, sea star births, leaking chemicals, democracy watch.,

 

Opalescent nudibranch [Wikipedia]

Opalescent nudibranch Hermissenda crassicornis
The opalescent nudibranch, also known as the thick-horned nudibranch, is a species of brightly coloured sea slug, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae. This nudibranch lives from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Northern California.  (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Local malls transform through economic concerns

Environmental groups sue to stop 400 acres of logging in WA’s Elwha Watershed
The lawsuit argues that the state failed to study possible environmental harms of cutting the forests, which include trees that are 140 years old. Aspen Ford reports. (Washington State Standard) 

UVic data highlights devastation of Vancouver Island kelp forests from climate change
New research from the University of Victoria has revealed that kelp forests around Vancouver Island started disappearing far earlier than scientists previously thought. The discovery highlights the fact that climate change has been altering our ecosystems for longer than most people have been aware of the problem, the report said. Rory Dickinson reports. (Victoria Buzz) 

Edgemoor subdivision approved despite years-long opposition from neighbors

The Bellingham Hearing Examiner on Friday approved a proposal by The Woods at Viewcrest project to develop 38 single-family home lots and three open-space tracts on about 38 acres of land situated near an area known as the Mud Bay Cliffs, which rise above the Chuckanut Bay estuary below. Rachel Showalter reports. (Bellingham Herald) 

Another 154 acres of Skagit County farmland protected from development
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners approved Monday the payment of $335,000 to three property owners for placing perpetual conservation easements protecting 154 acres of agricultural land through the county's Farmland Legacy Program, bringing the total amount of farmland protected in the county to about 15,550 acres since the program was established in 1997. Cameron Martinez reports. (Skagit Valley Herald) 

In a warming Arctic, gray whales struggle to find nourishment
Doug Nussbaum is a retired logger whose morning rituals include a walk down to the bluff behind his house that overlooks a bend in the Willapa River... On April 1, he heard a breeching sound, then was stunned to see a gray whale — some 35 feet in length — swimming in circles. Hal Bernton reports. (Washington State Standard)  Emaciated grey whales washing up on B.C. beaches 'canary in coal mine,' researcher warns Two dead emaciated grey whales on Haida Gwaii part of concerning trend worldwide, DFO says. Catherine Garrett reports. (CBC) 

A record die-off of sea stars was followed by something that stunned biologists 
Six months ago, Bruce Menge’s team published exciting research – five-legged sea stars were undergoing a significant “baby boom.” The tide pools were denser than they had been before the disease, and the juveniles were eating mussels and clearing space for other species. Casey Parks reports. (Washington Post) 

Leaking chemicals found at another WA mill, records show 
Toxic and highly corrosive chemicals — similar to those spilled in the fatal disaster at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill late last month — are leaking out of another pulp mill, Cosmo Specialty Fibers in Cosmopolis, some 90 miles to the northwest, federal records show. Conrad Swanson report. (Seattle Times) 

Democracy Watch
Trump issues pardon to former Republican congressman convicted of insider trading (AP) 
Park Service orders removal of ‘woke’ quotes at Boston’s Bunker Hill monument (Washington Post) US Senate blocks Trump’s SAVE America Act, thwarting restrictions on voting (Washington State Standard) 
Republicans push $70B for immigration enforcement through US Senate, with no limits on ICE (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-  122 PM PDT Sun Jun 7 2026    

MON  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 10 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  N wind around 5 kt, backing to W after midnight.  Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds. A chance of  rain in the evening, then rain likely after midnight.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato.  To subscribe? Questions? Email msato(at)salish-current.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/5 Poppy, white liquor, coal bailout, nuke power, fuel spill settlement, data center gas demand, wildfire smog, democracy watch, week in review.

Poppy (Wikipedia)

 

Poppy Papaveroideae
Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the source of the narcotic drug mixture opium, which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drug. It also produces edible seeds. Following the trench warfare in the poppy fields of Flanders, Belgium, during World War I, poppies, specifically the red poppy, have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime, especially in the UK, Canada, Australia, Africa and other Commonwealth realms. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A student protest and the promises that remain

Why is dilution a cleanup strategy for the Longview mill disaster? 
After a tank containing about 600,000 gallons of “white liquor” imploded in Longview on May 26, killing 11 people, cleanup efforts have largely consisted of diluting affected waterways. The Washington State Department of Ecology, which is helping manage the response, and an independent expert say that it comes down to the composition of white liquor. Greg Kim reports. (Seattle Times) 

Trump announces $700 million in new support for struggling coal industry
President Donald Trump is again seeking to boost the struggling U.S. coal industry, announcing a plan Thursday to spend nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports. Trump said the administration will use authority under a Cold War-era national defense law to support 13 coal plants across the country and help build coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia — the first new U.S. coal plants since 2013. Matthew Daly reports. (Associated Press) 

The return of nuclear production is being planned at Hanford
A uranium enrichment plant is expected to begin operations at the Hanford nuclear reservation in roughly two years. However, it appears that either few officials in Washington know much of anything about it, or are willing to talk about it. What is known is that the enrichment company—General Matter of San Francisco—signed a lease with the U.S. Department of Energy in February for the use of a huge, never-used building in southern Hanford. John Stang reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Heiltsuk Nation reaches $12.2M settlement with company involved in 2016 tugboat fuel spill
Kirby Corporation members also scheduled to take part in washing, healing ceremonies after devastating spill. Catherine Garrett reports. (CBC) 

Data centers are driving demand for gas from Northwest utilities, reports find
Electric utilities in Oregon and Washington are increasingly leaning on the use of gas generators to help data centers meet their energy demands, as well as buying more gas-powered electricity from other states. Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds
A new study finds that smoke from larger wildfires is reversing more than a decade of American improvements in smog. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Democracy Watch

• WA transgender ballot initiative could require genital exams for students (KNKX) 
• Kennedy Center moves to erase Trump references after judge said they were illegally added (AP) 
• Foes of WA income tax race to collect initiative signatures (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review, June 5, 2026: Environment Day!, public lands raods, BC greenhouse gas, gray whale decline,Seattle birds, Skagit data centers, BC logging, ocean monitoring, OR hunting and fishing ban.

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-  147 AM PDT Fri Jun 5 2026    
TODAY  SW wind around 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 11 seconds. Rain this morning. A slight chance of tstms  late this morning and afternoon. Showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to S after midnight. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 10 seconds. Rain.  
SAT  S wind around 5 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds. A  chance of rain in the morning, then a chance of showers in the  afternoon.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W  5 ft at 9 seconds.  
SUN  SW wind around 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 8 seconds.

---


"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)rockisland.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/4 Primrose, Oregon petition, Longview implosion, Big Red Barn Farm, paddle race, democracy watch.

Primrose (Brittanica)

 

Primrose Primula
Primrose is a flowering plant of the family Primulaceae, with 490–600 species, chiefly occurring in the Northern Hemisphere in cool or mountainous regions. The plants are low-growing, usually perennial herbs; a few are biennials. Many species are cultivated for their attractive flowers. (Brittanica)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  The real Dirty Dan Harris

Oregon petition to ban hunting and fishing moves closer to November ballot
Initiative Petition 28, led by Portland-based animal rights activists, aims to expand animal cruelty laws and criminalize injuring, breeding or killing animals except in cases of self-defense or for veterinary care, such as spaying, neutering or administering euthanasia. Mia Maldonado reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Bipartisan deal restores safety board funding after Longview implosion 
Congressmembers struck an eleventh-hour deal to preserve funding for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, the independent agency charged with determining what caused the catastrophic implosion at the Longview paper mill. Amunita Kaur reports. (Seattle Times)  Millworkers at site of Longview tank implosion to be paid until early August (Washington State Standard) 

Land trust purchases historic Dungeness farm
The North Olympic Land Trust purchased the 135-acre Clallam County Big Red Barn Farm at the end of 2025 after the Hunt (nee Dick) family sought a full-market-value sale to prevent the 112-year-old farm from being converted into a 27-lot residential development. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Almost anything goes in bonkers paddle race across Puget Sound 
Hopping into a small watercraft and paddling across the Puget Sound might sound like madness to some Washingtonians, but it’s a fairly common and regular occurrence in our part of the world. Indigenous tribes have been doing it for thousands of years, as well as the University of Puget Sound crew team. And Tacoma-born “Dune” author Frank Herbert once rowed from Tacoma to the San Juan Islands when he was 9 years old. Gavin Feek reports. (Tacoma News Tribune) 

Democracy Watch
US House approves measure to restrain Trump action in Iran (Washington State Standard) 
Attitudes toward same-sex marriage and transgender issues are shifting, Gallup poll shows (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-  142 PM PDT Wed Jun 3 2026    
THU  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft  at 3 seconds and W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  THU NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming SW 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at 3 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain after midnight.

---


"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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told


6/3 Iris, Chemical Safety Board, BC logging, whale strikes, Canada household emissions, ocean monitoring, detecting pollution, democracy watch.

Iris

 
Iris
Iris is a flowering plant genus of 310 accepted species with showy flowers. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also widely used as a common name for all Iris species, as well as some belonging to other closely related genera. A common name for some species is flags, while the plants of the subgenus Scorpiris are widely known as junos, particularly in horticulture. It is a popular garden flower. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A trip across Mars

U.S. Chemical Safety Board faces steep cuts during Longview probe 
As federal investigators descend on Longview to make sense of the catastrophic implosion at a pulp and paper mill, Congress is weighing a proposal to cut the investigating agency’s budget by more than 40%. Anumita Kaur and Rebecca Moss report. (Seattle Times) 

The ‘Reckoning’ Coming for BC Logging Licences
Corporations have logged less than they’re entitled to for years. Here’s why. And what it means for the future of forestry. Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee) 

Researchers call for more collaboration to stop whale strikes in B.C. 
New whale detection system and app in San Francisco Bay offer insight into what B.C. could do. Alanna Kelly reports. (CBC) 

Natural gas companies lobbied against Canada’s latest plan to reduce household emissions: documents
Fossil fuel lobbyists pushed back on an updated federal building code, saying it could 'ban' natural gas use in new homes. Carl Meyer reports. (The Narwhal) 

Trump Administration to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System
The $368 million network of instruments collecting data in both the Atlantic and Pacific has been critical to climate and ocean research. Eric Niiler reports. (NY Times) 

UW Bothell professor was finding sources of dangerous water and soil pollution
Melanie Malone is an environmental scientist at the University of Washington, Bothell. She led a research project to identify and study contamination sites along the lower Duwamish River. Then the Environmental Protection Agency canceled her grant. Sachi Kitajima Mulkey reports. (NY Times) 

Democracy Watch

• Nearly $1.3M already raised by WA Supreme Court candidates. The stakes are high (The Olympian) 
• White House seeks to impose political test on billions in federal grants (NY Times) 
• Trump administration is scrapping $1.8B fund plans, Blanche says (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-  200 PM PDT Tue Jun 2 2026  

WED  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: NW 2 ft at  5 seconds and W 3 ft at 12 seconds. WED NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 8 seconds and SW 2 ft at 12 seconds.

---


"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.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told