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