9/21 Mountain huckleberry, Arctic oil threat, war canoe racers, Roadless Rule, Seattle birds, quagga mussels, democracy watch.

Mountain Huckleberry [Native Plants PNW]

 
Mountain Huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum
There are about 450 species of Vaccinium worldwide, about 40 in North America with about 15 in the Pacific Northwest. It is Idaho’s State Fruit. The flavorful, juicy berries were collected by natives, eaten fresh or cooked, mashed and dried into cakes.  Mountain Huckleberry is the dominant species of huckleberry consumed by Grizzly Bears and Black Bears; they eat the berries, leaves, stems and roots.  Elk, moose and deer will also browse on the foliage.  Small mammals, grouse and other birds also eat the berries as well as use the shrub as cover. (Native Plants PNW) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Removal underway for sinking boat in Lake Whatcom 

Oil interests threaten life in Arctic refuge’s fragile coastal plain 
The coastal plain of the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge, one of the most fragile and fought over pieces of public land in our country, is caught in a fight that has continued over the same thing for decades. Oil. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times) 

Asia Youngman's new docuseries takes you out on the water with war canoe racers 
War canoe racing is a traditional style of paddling that has been a way of life for Coast Salish and other Pacific Northwest communities for thousands of years. Racing Waters, a new nine-part docuseries, introduces us to the modern version of the sport, taking viewers into the world of First Nations war canoe and outrigger racing. Ruby Cornish reports. (CBC) 

Foresters, activists dispute federal Roadless Rule claim
The U.S. Department of Agriculture claims that a 25-year-old conservation measure, the “roadless rule,” blocks preventative wildfire work, but some foresters and activists disagree. “The argument that there are more fires in roadless areas versus non-roadless areas is false,” said George Geissler, who oversees the state Department of Natural Resources’ forest resilience and wildland fire program. Taylor Scott Richmond reports. (Everett Herald) 

Why are Seattle’s birds in decline?
Across the eight sites — which included flagship parks like Seward Park, Discovery Park, Golden Gardens Park and Magnuson Park — the diversity of bird species declined by 18% and the average number of birds observed in each survey declined by 21%. Seward Park was a bright spot in the survey results. Amanda Zhou reports. (Seattle Times)  

How Idaho hopes to eradicate its quagga mussel invasion — before it reaches the Columbia River
Idaho has taken an aggressive approach to try to rid the Snake River of invasive mussels before they reach the Columbia River. And they said their approach is working. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Democracy Watch

• MS NOW, CNN and Politico say their journalists were denied access to White House after Trump ban (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-  133 PM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026    

MON  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at  13 seconds.  
MON NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 12 seconds.

---


"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