3/11 Air plant, SRKW in CA, BC ecosystem protection, BPA power sales, grizzly bears, Peggy Sloan, first 100 days

 

Air plant

Air plant Tillandsia argentea
Tillandsia is a genus of around 649 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of the Neotropics, from northern Mexico and the southeastern United States to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to central Argentina. Their leaves, more or less silvery in color, are covered with specialized cells (trichomes) capable of rapidly absorbing water that gathers on them.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trump administration to advisory council: ‘You’re fired’

Endangered species of killer whale makes surprise appearance on California Central Coast
A federally endangered species of killer whale was spotted in the Central Coast this week, exciting whale watching crews and spurring hope for its survival. Drone footage captured the moment a group of Southern Resident Killer Whales breached the waters of the Monterey Bay as they frolicked and searched for food. Roseann Cattani reports. (Salinas Californian)

Ecosystem Protection Took a Hit in BC’s 2025 Budget
Last month, Eby announced his plans to expedite 19 resource development projects across the province to buffer against the shock of the new trade war. While details on that fast-tracking process remain hazy, Eby has said fast-tracking won’t come at the expense of oversight. “We’re going to do it consistent with our environmental commitments, but we’re going to do it a heck of a lot faster,” he said. Zoe Yunker reports. (The Tyee)

BPA announces intention to join new Southwest energy market
BPA announces intention to split with California and join new Southwest energy market
The Northwest’s largest hydropower supplier announced it intends to join a new day-ahead energy market based in Arkansas over one based in California.  Alex Baumhardt reports. (Washington State Standard)

Could the status of grizzly bears change in the lower 48 states?
There could be updates to how grizzly bears are categorized under the Endangered Species Act. However, grizzlies would still be considered threatened in all of Washington state and parts of Idaho.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services thinks it would one day make it easier to delist grizzlies if the federal government changes things up. In its proposed status change, grizzlies would remain threatened in areas where they currently live or habitat where they could one day live. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Seattle Aquarium Names New CEO
Peggy Sloan, the chief animal conservation officer at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, will begin her new job in May. She replaces Bob Davidson, who will retire after 23 years as CEO. Davidson, one of Seattle magazine’s Most Influential people of 2025, is credited with reinventing the aquarium (it recently opened the Ocean Pavilion and a public rooftop) and was one of the leaders of Seattle $800 million waterfront renovation. Rob Smith reports. (Seattle Magazine)


The First 100 Days

• Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud (Associated Press)
  
• Kennedy Links Measles Outbreak to Poor Diet and Health, Citing Fringe Theories (NY Times)
  
• DC begins removing 'Black Lives Matter' plaza after pressure from GOP (Associated Press)
  
• Trump doubles planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% as trade war intensifies (Associated Press)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  257 AM PDT Tue Mar 11 2025   TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 5 seconds and W 6 ft at  11 seconds. Showers likely early this morning, then a chance of  showers late this morning. Showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 10 to 15 kt, rising to 15 to 20 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  6 ft at 14 seconds. Showers.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/10 Sea biscuit, Sixkiller, herring, bull kelp, Trump's timber, rangers reinstated, SRKWs, mapping from space, 100,000 tires, first 100 days

 

Sea biscuit

Sea biscuit
Sand dollars, also known as sea cookies or snapper biscuits in New Zealand and Brazil or pansy shells in South Africa, are species of flat, burrowing sea urchins belonging to the order Clypeasteroida. Some species within the order, not quite as flat, are known as sea biscuits. Sand dollars can also be called "sand cakes" or "cake urchins". (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Billy Frank Jr.’s teachings endure  /  Ferguson pledges to restore ferry service to pre-pandemic levels by summer

WA Ecology director responds to federal rollbacks
One of the earliest meetings Casey Sixkiller, Washington’s Ecology head, recalls in his career was about the cleanup of the Duwamish, Seattle’s only river. Since that meeting some 25 years ago, a lot has happened.... Sixkiller insists that Washington, the first state in the U.S. to have an environmental regulatory agency, can continue to protect its air, water and land, and its leadership in regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Manuel Villa and Isabella Breda report. (Seattle Times)

Is this fish really disappearing from the Georgia Strait?
First Nations say herring are disappearing. Fisheries and Oceans Canada says they’re stable. So what’s really going on?. Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood reports. (The Narwhal)

New bill aims to protect Washington’s underwater bull kelp forests
Lawmakers seek to raise awareness of the plant’s cultural significance and its role in supporting ecosystems by naming it WA’s official marine forest. Emma Schwichtenberg reports. (CascadePBS)

Trump’s timber directives could sway Oregon forest policy, but market effects remain unclear
New executive orders from the Trump administration last weekend call on federal agencies to fast-track logging projects by circumventing endangered species laws, and to investigate whether lumber imports threaten national security. These directives could influence separate logging policies that are currently in the works. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB)

Washington-based U.S. Forest Service rangers reinstated — for now
Ahead of the busiest season for outdoor recreation, staffing for trail clearing, search & rescue, toilet cleaning and other duties is still uncertain. Dominick Bonny reports. (CascadePBS)

As Southern Resident orca population declines, those who care about them remain hopeful
For Samish Indian Nation Chairman Tom Wooten, the declining population is personal. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

B.C. researcher mapping Vancouver Island spawning grounds from space
Swaths of Salish Sea turned teal by herring milt informs federal fisheries, First Nations. Christine van Reeuwyk (The Free Press)

Sixty years later: More than 100,000 tires from failed reef plan are coming out of Puget Sound
A plan to create artificial reefs in Puget Sound using automotive tires was created by Washington's Department of Natural Resources with the intention of attracting native reef fish in order to bolster recreational fishing opportunities across the state. Tires strung together with polypropylene twine were placed at the bottom of Puget Sound into the 1970s and 1980s. This long stretch of water which varies from one to 5 miles wide, has been home to tens of thousands of car and truck tires. However, the tire reef plan fell flat. Farah Jadran reports. (KING)

The Frist 100 Days

• HHS makes $25,000 buyout offer to most of its employees  (Associated Press)
  
• Elon Musk Proposes Privatizing Amtrak, Calling Rail Service ‘Sad’ (NY Times)
  
• Secretary of State Rubio says purge of USAID programs complete, with 83% of agency’s programs gone (Associated Press)
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  241 AM PDT Mon Mar 10 2025   TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE this afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of  showers.  
TONIGHT  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 2 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening, then rain  after midnight.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/7 Fairy ring mushroom, disappearing butterflies, healthy J62, wildfire season, NW Stream Center, Green Lake cleanup, BPA rehiring, week in review, first 100 days

Fairy ring mushroom

Fairy ring mushroom Marasmius oreades
Fairy rings are common on lawns and playing fields, and are normally caused by the fairy ring champignon Marasmius oreades. The species is quite harmless, unless you require blemish-free turf. A fairy ring marks the outer limit of a single fungus that is hidden away in the soil for most of the year. Just like mould on jam, fungi radiate outwards in circles – the bigger the ring, the older the fungus. (BBC)

Today's top story in Salish Current: San Juan Island Farmers Market kicks off coupon program fundraiser

First national analysis finds America's butterflies are disappearing at 'catastrophic' rate
America’s butterflies are disappearing because of insecticides, climate change and habitat loss, with the number of the winged beauties down 22% since 2000, a new study finds. Seth Borenstein reports. (Associated Press)

Researchers optimistic about health of southern resident killer whale calf
Researchers using a drone captured images of the newest southern resident orca frolicking with its pod and appearing healthy. The encounter on Feb. 17 near the U.S. San Juan Islands east of Victoria showed calf J62 — earlier confirmed to be a female — swimming alongside other members of J Pod, playfully twirling and rubbing her body against her mother, J41, and other family members. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Federal funding chaos is hampering WA state planning for wildfire season, officials say
Local and state agencies say that federal funding freezes and layoffs have thrown a wrench into planning efforts and sown chaos at a crucial time, especially with the state seeing more severe and destructive fires. Becca Most reports. (Bellingham Herald)

Clearwater students experience watershed moment at Northwest Stream Center
The Everett facility provides environmental education focused on watershed and riparian health. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Cleanup at Seattle's Green Lake targets abandoned fishing lines that can ensnare wildlife
Abandoned fishing lines are the focus of a volunteer cleanup effort at Seattle’s Green Lake this weekend. The stray lines are blamed for killing two owls along the water’s edge in recent years. Amy Radil reports. (KUOW)

Bonneville Power Administration offers jobs back to staff fired by Trump administration
Roughly 120 employees were fired from BPA last month - raising alarms from experts in the power grid and Gov. Tina Kotek. They've now been asked to return, but the agency will still be down hundreds of positions since the start of the Trump administration. Courtney Sherwood reports. (OPB)

Salish Sea News Week in Review, 3/7/25: Flapjack Friday, quake, more logging, Forest Service firings, tariffs, BC inspections, EPA water discharge rules, NW power markets, newspaper woes.


The First 100 Days

• Trump changes course and delays some tariffs on Mexico and Canada (Associated Press)
  
• Elon Musk tells Republican lawmakers he's not to blame for federal firings (Associated Press)
• Trump signs executive order to establish government bitcoin reserve (Reuters)
  

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-  259 AM PST Fri Mar 7 2025    
TODAY  S wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE late this morning and  afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 13 seconds. A  slight chance of rain this morning. A chance of rain early this  afternoon, then a slight chance of rain late.  
TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening, then rain  after midnight.  
SAT  SE wind 15 to 20 kt, becoming S 10 to 15 kt in the  afternoon. Seas 5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 13 seconds.  Rain.  
SAT NIGHT  S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.  
SUN  S wind 10 to 15 kt, veering to W in the afternoon. Seas  5 to 7 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. Rain.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/6 Fairybells, Dave Upthegrove, DNR failure, potash, NW power market, newsprint and AI, sled dog races, Devil in the Desert, first 100 days

Fairybells

 
Fairybells Prosartes spp.
An excellent choice for moist woodland gardens or shaded perennial beds, fairybells’ genus is a member of the lily family. It had previously been classified within the Asian genus Disporum, but further analysis found that North American fairybells differ in several ways and in 1995 were ushered into the Prosartes genus. “Prosartes” means “fastened” in Greek, and refers to attachments of the fruit parts. (Real Gardens Grow Natives)

Today's top story in Salish Current: A legacy of adaptation and evolution at 207 Prospect Street

Lands commissioner plans to keep working with feds
Dave Upthegrove expects to continue to work with U.S. Forest Service, after Trump’s latest executive orders aimed at boosting logging. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald)

Business association says DNR violated its legal responsibility
The Port Angeles Business Association is supporting an argument that the state Legislature and the Department of Natural Resources have not fulfilled their fiduciary responsibility to Clallam County regarding forestland management. Emma Maple reports. (Peninsula Daily News)

What on earth is potash? A massive Canadian export in the eye of the U.S. tariff storm
As tariff talks increasingly focus on Canada’s giant potash supply and its role in U.S. food security, you might be left wondering … what is that exactly? Sharon J. Riley reports. (The Narwhal)

Climate, energy upheavals roil Northwest power market
Heat domes. Cold snaps. Winter storms — even as far away as Texas. Extreme weather events are roiling power markets and spiking power prices for energy providers and their customers. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Tariffs latest blow to newspaper industry; AI fears confirmed
Canada supplies most of the newsprint used in America and there’s no easy way for the U.S. to quickly replace its production. Hundreds of newspapers could close if the newsprint tariff continues for long. Brier Dudley writes. (Seattle Times)

Iconic sled dog races — the ‘spirit of the North’ — face a reckoning
As historic sled dog races face extreme freeze-thaw cycles that put mushers and their dogs at risk, organizers are forced to make tough choices. Trina Moyles reports. (The Narwhal)

Discovering the Devil in the Desert
Experts have identified an intriguing new plant species in Texas. Andrew Coletti reports. (bioGraphic)

The First 100 Days

• 'Read this e-mail immediately': CDC tells about 180 fired employees to come back to work (Associated Press)
  
• Trump grants one-month exemption for US automakers from Mexico, Canada tariffs (Associated Press)
  
• Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Bid to Freeze Foreign Aid (NY Times)
  
• Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from VA (Associated Press)
  
• Trump administration’s 'irreparable' cut in NIH research funds blocked by judge (Associated Press)
  
• Trump administration deletes list of hundreds of federal buildings targeted for potential sale (Associated Press)
  

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-  228 AM PST Thu Mar 6 2025    
TODAY  E wind around 5 kt, backing to NW late this morning,  rising to 5 to 10 kt early this afternoon, becoming W 10 to 15 kt  late. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. A  chance of rain after midnight.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/5 Pink fairy armadillo, BC energy regulators, EPA discharge rule, Discover Pass, egg prices, passenger ferry budget, hogfish, first 100 days

 

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Pink Fairy Armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus
Also known as the Pichiciego, the pink fairy armadillo is the smallest known species of armadillo. It lives in the sandy plains and dry grasslands of central Argentina and other parts of South America. Unique adaptations like an aerodynamic body shape, smooth dorsal shell, and sharp claws mean this creature is able to completely bury itself in the sand in a matter of seconds and then navigate underground with ease. Similar to a mole, the pink fairy armadillo will spend the vast majority of its life underground. It is also nocturnal, only emerging occasionally at night to find food.

Today's top story in Salish Current: School districts push back against threats to cut federal funding

Documents reveal over 1,000 potential infractions left unchecked by B.C.’s energy regulator
Hidden records reveal a widespread pattern of lax enforcement of laws and regulations intended to protect the environment and communities. Matt Simmons and Kate Schneider report. (The Narwhal) One oil and gas site was ‘stinky,’ another was ‘gurgling.’ B.C. officials gave them a pass anyway  (The Narwhal)

Supreme Court strikes down EPA rules on discharge of water pollution
The justices ruled that the agency cannot impose generic prohibitions against violating water quality standards. Justin Jouvenal and Maxine Joselow report. (Washington Post)

Washington may raise Discover Pass price to $45
The passes provide access to state parks and other public lands. Fees for them have been $30 since they were introduced about 14 years ago. Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero (Washington State Standard)

Why are eggs so expensive in Washington right now?
Local producers are taking precautions against avian flu, but people scrambling to buy might also be a factor in increased price and scarcity. Jadenne Radoc Cabahug reports. (CascadePBS)

Lawmakers propose $50 million for passenger ferries
In 2024, island communities worked with the Legislature and the state Department of Transportation to form the Fix Our Ferries Coalition, which advocates for funding more boats, addressing staffing shortages, and increasing accountability and transparency within Washington State Ferries. Juan Jocom reports. (WNPA News Service) 

Red Fish, Blue Fish
Mexican hogfish change colors—and sex—as they grow, perplexing scientists and attracting admirers. April Reese reports. (bioGraphic)


The First 100 Days

• New Secretary Linda McMahon unveils ‘final mission’ for U.S. Department of Education (News From The States)
  
• $75 million was awarded to plant trees in places that badly need them. In anti-DEI push, that's over (Associated Press)
  
• Trump may put hundreds of federal buildings up for sale, including FBI, USDA, DOJ (Washington State Standard)
  
• Trump administration also pauses flow of intelligence to Ukraine (Associated Press)
  

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-  244 AM PST Wed Mar 5 2025   TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to E late. Seas 4 to 6 ft.  Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain.  
TONIGHT  NE wind around 5 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W  6 ft at 13 seconds.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/4 Fairy tern, tariffs, Bigg's whales, Indian County cuts, fed forest logging, EFSEC, Thurston County climate, first 100 days

Fairy tern [Honolulu Zoo]

Fairy tern Cygis alba rothschildi
Fairy terns (Manu-o-ku) possess black eyes and a long, conical beak. Their feathers are completely white and they fly on sleek, blade-like wings that can stretch 2 feet from tip to tip. They spend the day hunting at sea as far as 120 miles from their roost, before returning home in the afternoon. Ancient voyagers relied on sightings of these birds as a sign that land was close at hand. (Honolulu Zoo)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Postal Service to address Whatcom mail delays / The rule of law

US tariffs take effect and Mexico, Canada and China retaliate with their own tariffs on the US
President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ North American allies. Josh Boak, Paul Wiseman and Rob Gillies report. (Associated Press)

U.S. tariffs on Canada set to take effect today. How will they affect B.C.?
The B.C. government has estimated that tariffs could lead to a cumulative loss of $69 billion in economic activity in the province between 2025 and 2028. It has also estimated that tariffs would result in 124,000 job losses by 2028, an annual decline in corporate profits of between $3.6 billion and $6.1 billion and a reduction in annual government revenue between $1.6 billion and $2.5 billion. (CBC)

Killer whales amaze Seattle onlookers with a rarely seen bird hunt
A pod of orcas swam close to shore and amazed onlookers in Seattle by treating the whale watchers to the rare sight of the apex predators hunting a bird. The pod of Bigg’s killer whales visited Elliott Bay and were seemingly on a hunt underwater just off Seattle’s maritime industrial docks. Manuel Valdez reports. (Associated Press)

For Indian Country, federal cuts decimate core tribal programs
President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to the federal workforce and government spending have reverberated across Indian Country, leaving tribes with deep uncertainty about their health clinics, schools, police agencies and wildfire crews. Native officials say the cuts could hit a vast array of core public services in tribal communities — even though the federal government is legally required to provide those services. Alex Brown reports. (Stateline)

What Trump’s order on cutting federal forests could mean for the Pacific Northwest
It’s unclear what direct effect the order will have on forests of the Northwest — or anywhere. The order contradicts federal laws for management of federal forests, and protection of species. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

The obscure state agency that referees WA’s green energy battles
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council has power to overrule local zoning laws – putting it at the center of a backlash to renewable energy. Brandon Block reports. (CascadePBS)

Thurston County falling short of key climate goal, open letter warns
The Thurston County region is not on track to reach its greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 and 2050. Rebecca Harvey, the county’s Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager, shared the news with the Board of County Commissioners during a briefing earlier this month. Martin Bilbao reports. (The Olympian)


The First 100 Days

• Linda McMahon confirmed as Trump’s secretary of Education (News From the States)
  
• US tariffs take effect and Mexico, Canada and China retaliate with their own tariffs on the US (Associated Press)
  
• For Indian Country, federal cuts decimate core tribal programs  (Stateline) 

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-  309 AM PST Tue Mar 4 2025    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 15 to 25 kt late this  morning and early afternoon, then becoming SW 10 to 15 kt late.  Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 4 ft at 4 seconds and W 4 ft at 14  seconds. A chance of rain early this morning, then rain late this  morning and afternoon.  
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 15 kt, becoming S 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: SE 3 ft at 4 seconds and W  5 ft at 12 seconds. Rain.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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3/3 Fairy shrimp, quake, NOAA firing, increase logging, WA bill cutoff, Forest Service firings, ocean acid, WA bird flu, West Van dolphins, first 100 days

 

Fairy shrimp [EEK!]

Fairy shrimp
Anostraca is one of the four orders of crustaceans in the class Branchiopoda; its members are referred to as fairy shrimp. They live in vernal pools and hypersaline lakes across the world, and they have even been found in deserts, ice-covered mountain lakes, and Antarctic ice. They are usually 6–25 mm long. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Why losing Roberta Flack hit so hard during this Black History Month

4.5 magnitude earthquake wakes up residents around western Washington
An earthquake struck in the waters surrounding the San Juan Islands early Monday morning. The 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit at 5:02 a.m. just off Deer Beach on Orcas Island, according to the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). The quake was measured at a depth of 10.13 miles, per USGS data. (KING)

NOAA firings in Seattle include orca-saving employee of the year
Until Thursday afternoon, Hanna Miller focused on protecting whales from oil spills, ship strikes, and fishing gear. In 2022, she helped a multiagency team make sure endangered orcas didn’t swim into the diesel fuel belching out of the sunken Aleutian Isle fishing boat off Washington’s San Juan Island. In 2023, Miller was awarded employee of the year for NOAA Fisheries in the western United States, and in March 2024, she was promoted. On Thursday she and hundreds of scientists and policy specialists received termination emails as the Trump administration began downsizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

Trump Moves to Increase Logging in National Forests
The president wants to circumvent environmental regulations to expand timber production, something sought by homebuilders and the construction industry. Lisa Friedman reports. (NY Times)

Latest deadline in Washington Legislature fells more bills
More legislation fell by the wayside Friday in the Washington Legislature, including bills on signature gathering for ballot initiatives, free school meals and ballot box tampering. Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero and Jake Goldstein-Street report. (Washington State Standard)

How Trump’s firing of Forest Service staff affects recreation in WA
The Trump administration’s February dismissal of 125 U.S. Forest Service personnel in Washington, coupled with a Biden administration decision not to hire seasonal employees, amounts to a double whammy for the Evergreen State’s trails. The job cuts, predominantly to recreation staff, were part of the new administration’s firing of thousands of federal workers on Valentine’s Day.  Gregory Scruggs reports. (Seattle Times)

New study links storm season intensity to ocean acidification in Strait of Georgia
The ocean water in the Pacific Northwest is more vulnerable to rapid acidification, where the carbon dioxide levels are naturally higher. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

How much has bird flu spread in WA?
Bird flu has been confirmed in more than 166 million U.S. commercial, backyard and wild birds since January 2022, the start of the outbreak that has quickly grown into the worst the country’s ever seen. About 2.2 million of those birds were found in Washington state, where 52 backyard flocks and three commercial flocks have tested positive, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elise Takahama reports. (Seattle Times) 

Rare dolphin sighting delights West Vancouver onlookers
A pod of about 30 dolphins near the West Vancouver seawall was caught on video. (CBC)


The First 100 Days

• Trump Berates Zelensky in Fiery Exchange at the White House (NY Times)
• Trump fired hundreds at NOAA, Weather Service. Here’s what that means for forecasts. (Washington Post)

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-  302 AM PST Mon Mar 3 2025   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH  TUESDAY EVENING    
TODAY  SW wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to W this afternoon. Seas  4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 6 ft at 12 seconds. A chance of showers  this morning, then showers likely early this afternoon. A chance  of showers late.  
TONIGHT  S wind 5 to 10 kt, backing to SE after midnight. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of showers  in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.

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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)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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