3/16 Ranunculus, BC old growth, Cascade logging, fire fungi, California offshore drilling, Canada conservation goal, Comox Valley fossil, Rochester BESS, MA windfarm, Wonders of the Salish Sea, democracy watch.

 

Ranunculus

Buttercups Ranunculus
Ranunculus is a large genus of about 1750 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus are known as buttercups, spearworts and water crowfoots. Buttercups usually flower in the spring, but flowers may be found throughout the summer, especially where the plants are growing as opportunistic colonizers, as in the case of garden weeds. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Local groups build networks of solidarity

Panel appointed to map B.C.'s old-growth forests say province is failing to save them
Every member of a former panel the British Columbia government appointed to identify old-growth for potential protection in 2021 now say they're concerned about continued logging in those same rare and "irreplaceable" forests. Brenna Owen reports. (Canadian Press) 

A new plan is afoot to log Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
One of the most visited national forests in the country, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie covers 1.72 million acres on the western flank of Washington’s Cascade Range. Now it’s the site of a proposed forest-thinning project that conservation groups fear could give a green light to logging over a vast but loosely defined area. Nick Engelfried reports. (Colombia Insight) 

How “Fire Fungi” Help Put Burnt Landscapes Back Together
Before plants and animals recolonize after a wildfire, fungi get to work. Hannah Thomasy reports. (bioGraphic) 

Trump administration orders restart of California offshore oil operations 
The Trump administration on Friday directed Sable Offshore to restart its operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System off the coast of California. Ryan Mancini reports. (The Hill) https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5784176-trump-orders-restart-california-oil/

Will Canada meet its goal to protect 30% of land and waters by 2030?
Canada must protect 1.7 million sq. kms, the size of Alaska, to meet 2030 conservation goals. Manitoba is eyeing Indigenous-led plans to get there. Julia-Simone Rutgers reports. (The Narwhal) 

Skeleton crew: How a Comox Valley fossil discovery changed paleontology in B.C.
In late autumn of 1988, Richard Hebda, then head of botany at the Royal B.C. Museum, stepped into the living room of a Courtenay man named Mike Trask, following up on a report of an interesting fossil find on the Puntledge River. Trask’s Comox Valley-based discovery would forever change paleontology in B.C. and would inspire a flood of amateur paleontologists, many of whom would go on to make hundreds of discoveries in the field. Dave Flawse reports. (Times Colonist) 

Examiner approves controversial BESS permit in Rochester 
The Thurston County Hearings Examiner, after previously denying a special use permit for a battery energy storage system in Rochester, has reversed herself and approved the permit in a ruling released this week. Rolf Boone reports. (The Olympian) 

Construction finishes on a major offshore wind farm, the first during Trump’s tenure
Offshore construction was completed Friday night on Vineyard Wind with the installation of the final blades, the first project to reach this stage during President Donald Trump’s time in office. Jennifer McDermott reports. (Associated Press) 

"Wonders of the Salish Sea” is back! 
Celebrate the program's 10th year with a dive into topics such as the powerful convergence of geography, biodiversity, and human activity; the resilience of the Salish Sea; fishes of the shallows; the secret lives of harbour porpoises; sea stars—exposed and explained; gulls—misunderstood and charismatic; Indigenous Food Systems; and a truly remarkable whale tale. March 23, 30, April 13 & 20. 7 - 9 p.m. Online. Registration. 

Democracy Watch

• F.C.C. Chair Threatens to Revoke Broadcasters’ Licenses Over War Coverage (NY Times) 
  
• A media-rating company says a Trump agency is threatening its livelihood (AP) 
• Pentagon tightens controls over Stars and Stripes after calling it "woke" (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-  230 AM PDT Sun Mar 15 2026    
MON  SE wind 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft  at 4 seconds and W 6 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.  
MON NIGHT  S wind 20 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: S  4 ft at 4 seconds and W 7 ft at 11 seconds. Rain.

---


"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