Friday, March 27, 2026

3/27 Merganser, BC climate agency, Klamath chinook, Port of Vancouver, BC at-risk lists, Chehalis dam, Gulf ESA oil exemption, democracy watch, week in review.

 

Common Merganser [Jay McGowan]

Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Common Mergansers are streamlined ducks that float gracefully down small rivers or shallow shorelines. These large ducks nest in hollow trees; in winter they form flocks on larger bodies of water. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Whatcom riders brace for WTA fare increase 

BC Cuts Climate Agency, Sends Some Staff to Work on Pipelines
B.C. has quietly eliminated its Climate Action Secretariat, the long-running agency that produced and implemented climate policy across government ministries. Zoë Yunker reports.(The Tyee) 

Chinook salmon found naturally hatching in Upper Klamath River for first time in a century
The Klamath Tribes’ Ambodat Department documented the first naturally hatched Chinook salmon within the Upper Klamath Lake in more than a century, as observers witness promising signs of the species’ return following dam removal. Justin Higginbottom reports. (Jefferson Public Radio) 

As Canada diversifies trade partners, Port of Vancouver records its strongest year
Port's success and planned expansion challenges local industrial developers to keep up. Paul Richter reports. (CoStar) 

Just 14 Species Have ‘Genuinely’ Improved on BC’s At-Risk Lists
That’s out of 2,642 struggling species tracked in a new wildlife study. Sarah Cox reports. (The Tyee) 

A new dam could imperil one of Washington’s last unobstructed rivers
A “flow-through” dam on the Chehalis just south of Pe Ell would create an artificial reservoir during major flooding events. Also known as perforated dams, flow-through dams are constructed solely for the purpose of flood control. Unlike reservoir dams, the spillway (opening) is built at the same height as the riverbed level, allowing the river to continue its natural flow in normal conditions and allowing fish to pass through except during floods, when openings seal shut. Nick Engelfried reports. (Columbia Insight) 

Trump administration seeks Endangered Species Act exemption for oil, gas projects in Gulf
As the Trump administration wages war on Iran, it’s citing national security to seek an exemption from the Endangered Species Act for expanded oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico — a move alarming environmental groups who say it could set a dangerous precedent for future fossil fuel projects. Alexa St. John reports.  (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch
  • Trump defends use of mail-in voting, saying he did so ‘because I’m president.’ (NY Times) 
  • AI is giving bad advice to flatter its users, says new study on dangers of overly agreeable chatbots (AP) 
Salish Sea News Week in Review 3/27/26: Escher Day, artificial turf, WA coal plant, lege session, David Suzuki, Ash Grove Cement, orca capture, bullfrog man, banned refrigerant, Chinook Tribe.

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Here's your weekend tug weather— 
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  114 AM PDT Fri Mar 27 2026    
TODAY
 E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW this afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 11 seconds.  
TONIGHT
 NW wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 11 seconds.  
SAT
 W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at  10 seconds.  
SAT 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 9 seconds. A  chance of rain after midnight.  
SUN
 NW wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 8 seconds and W  2 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning, then rain  likely in the afternoon.
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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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