Salish Sea News and Weather

Thursday, February 8, 2024

2/8 Short-eared owl, BC weather, razor clam v geoduck, Skagit gas spill, sea-stargazing

Short-eared Owl in flight [Gregg Thompson]

Wing-clapping
For most birds, wings are for flying. But for Rock Pigeons, they’re also for clapping. When the pigeons erupt into flight, some may slap their wings together above their bodies in a “wing clap.” A male Rock Pigeon will also do this when courting. Short-eared Owls, like this one, have evolved wing-clapping, too. When a male displays to a female or attempts to warn off an intruder, he snaps his wings together below his body in a burst of two to six claps per second, producing a sound that sounds remarkably like . . . applause. (BirdNote, December 7, 2022)

Editor's note: We were sad to learn from BirdNote that biologist and photographer Gregg Thompson passed away. Gregg's photos and Birdnote stories with those photos have graced many a News and Weather posting. We will honor Gregg with a week of his photos and BirdNote stories. A donation to BirdNote would be an appropriate gesture to recognize Gregg for his art and spirit.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Is passenger ferry service for the islands possible?

B.C.'s warm, wet and mild winter likely to continue into next month
Despite the current cold snap, long range forecasts still hint at warmer than normal conditions, from the middle of February into March. Nathan Griffiths reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Razor clams, geoducks battle to be WA’s top clam
State Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, sponsored a bill this legislative session that would declare the razor clam the official state clam. The bill cited the clam’s cultural, historical and economic significance across the state. But lawmakers in the House’s State Government and Tribal Relations Committee sidelined it, in part, Chapman said, because geoduck “lovers” felt their clam deserved consideration, too. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Community gathers for meeting on Olympic Pipeline spill
About 50 community members gathered Tuesday night at Conway School to talk with experts about the Dec. 10 gasoline spill from the Olympic Pipeline. There is still a lot of work to do on spill response, starting with the installation of a sheet piling wall in Hill Ditch beginning Wednesday...After removing the sheet piling the third week of March, hauling off equipment, and doing the last of the work, the emergency phase would end in April. Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Sea-stargazers explore low tide nightlife on Edmonds’ Olympic Beach
Over 100 visitors searched for anemones and chitons Tuesday. Volunteers said the event sparks “enthusiasm for the natural world.” Ta'Leah Van Sistine reports. (Everett Herald)

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- 211 AM PST Thu Feb 8 2024
TODAY W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 9 seconds subsiding to 7 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. A slight chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 13 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight 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 mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.  

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Wednesday, February 7, 2024

2/7 Merlin, Tribes 101, tire chemical, BC birds, waste fine, loggerhead turtle, killer whales, 'Bird Alliance of Oregon,' farming octopuses

Merlin readying for takeoff [Gregg Thompson]

Here Come the Merlins
Smaller than a pigeon — but fierce enough to knock one from the air — are the powerful, compact falcons known as Merlins. Climate change is pushing ranges of many birds farther north, but more and more Merlins have been nesting farther south, in towns and cities across the northern United States. (BirdNote, October 15, 2022)

Editor's note: We were sad to learn from BirdNote that biologist and photographer Gregg Thompson passed away. Gregg's photos and Birdnote stories with those photos have graced many a News and Weather posting. We will honor Gregg with a week of his photos and BirdNote stories. A donation to BirdNote would be an appropriate gesture to recognize Gregg for his art and spirit.

Today's top story in Salish Current: The monster of the deep

Tribes 101: About the Native nations that share geography with Washington state
In upholding treaties as part of the “supreme Law of the Land,” the Boldt Decision of 1974 reaffirmed treaty law and tribal sovereignty — concepts still not universally understood. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

B.C. groups request review of tire chemical linked to salmon deaths
Peter Ross, senior scientist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation, says the mystery of coho dying in urban waterways had persisted for years, until a 2020 study uncovered the role of a particular chemical used in tire rubber.(Canadian Press)

Environmental groups celebrate court ruling as a win for at-risk birds in B.C. and beyond
Court case was launched against backdrop of old growth logging protests on Vancouver Island. Jordan Omstead reports. (Canadian Press)

Protecting Canada's at-risk birds nests not enough: court
Canada's decision to protect nests instead of the critical habitat of 24 at-risk bird species — including the threatened B.C. marbled murrelet — was 'unreasonable,' ruled a federal court. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist)

Coquitlam company hit with pollution abatement order, recommend fine
The facility, which collects waste from municipal, commercial, institutional and industrial sites, is located directly north of the fish-bearing Pitt River. Patrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Loggerhead sea turtle found at Pedder Bay
The turtle, typically found much farther south, was rushed to the Vancouver Aquarium suffering from hypothermia. Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

Why are these killer whales increasingly showing up in the Salish Sea?
Traditionally, "resident" orcas have lived in the Salish Sea. They're the orcas we associate with the waters around Seattle. But another variety, "transient" orcas, have generally hung out along the West Coast, away from the interior territory of the locals — at least, that's the way it used to be. Transient orcas, aka Bigg's killer whales, appear to be sticking around the neighborhood more often. Dyer Oxley and John O'Brien report. (KUOW)

Former Audubon group changes name to ‘Bird Alliance of Oregon’
Portland Audubon has changed its name to the “Bird Alliance of Oregon,” in the latest example of a local chapter to do so because of John James Audubon’s views on slavery and his desecration of Native American graves. (Associated Press)

Octopuses are clever. Their fans aren't happy with a plan to farm them for food
Octopuses are capable of sophisticated tasks, from solving puzzles to decorating their dens to remembering people's faces. So when a company in Spain announced that it wanted to commercially farm octopuses to harvest them for seafood, the plan sparked an uproar. Bill Chappell reports. (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- 236 AM PST Wed Feb 7 2024
TODAY NE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of showers in the morning then a slight chance of showers in the afternoon.
TONIGHT W wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of showers in the evening.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

2/6 Ruby-crowned kinglet, snowpack, oil transparency bill, Skagit mine, Electron Hydro, BC housing rules, birds in decline, Black enviros, sea lion racket

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet [Gregg Thompson]

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet Tunes Up
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is one of the smallest songbirds on the continent, weighing in at just a little more than half a chickadee. Mostly green and hard to spot, it hovers in mid-air as it catches tiny insects. In early spring, the kinglet's rollicking song echoes from the forest edge. (BirdNote, April 10, 2023)

Editor's note: We were sad to learn from BirdNote that biologist and photographer Gregg Thompson passed away. Gregg's photos and Birdnote stories with those photos have graced many a News and Weather posting. We will honor Gregg with a week of his photos and BirdNote stories. A donation to BirdNote would be an appropriate gesture to recognize Gregg for his art and spirit.

Today's top story in Salish Current: 50 years after Boldt Decision: new and lingering challenges to salmon recovery

WA’s snowpack languishes with little hope for the months ahead
Snowpack across the entire state sits below normal levels, in some places less than half what an average winter might bring. “It’s worse than I expected,” state climatologist Nick Bond said. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

Out of gas: Inslee’s oil transparency bill stalls in Legislature
The bill was a top climate priority for the governor this session but critics questioned the cost and whether the state could keep sensitive corporate data safe from hackers. Jerry Cornfield reports. (Washington State Standard)

Former Skagit County hearing examiner grants permit for gravel mine
A former Skagit County hearing examiner threatened with jail for failing to issue a decision on a proposed gravel mine granted the permit Thursday. The document filed by Andrew Reeves is only three pages long, with much of it reiterating his issues with the county and the court’s threat of jail. In the decision, Reeves granted “whatever the Applicant was seeking throughout the permit process” and denies “all tangential issues and appeals that have stood in the Applicant’s way.” Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Energy company is back in court for endangering fish on the Puyallup River
Electron Hydro and its CEO last year agreed to pay more than a million dollars in fines for their illegal use of artificial turf in the Puyallup River four years ago. On Tuesday, Electron Hydro’s owners will be back in court – this time in a suit brought by the Puyallup Tribe under the Endangered Species Act. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

New housing rules in B.C. trigger fears of ‘catastrophic’ loss of urban trees
B.C.’s NDP government says new legislation aims to address the housing crisis. Critics say the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach removes local autonomy and threatens urban forests, including Greater Victoria’s endangered Garry oak ecosystem. Sarah Cox reports. (The Narwhal)

North American birds are in decline, but you can help
Bird populations in North America are in steep decline. A new study points to window collisions, cats, and habitat loss—and what you can do to help. Margaret Ashburn writes. (Futurity)

‘She’s out here trailblazing’: these 10 Black environmentalists are building community
Black Canadian scientists, researchers and environmental advocates discuss the importance of mentors, protégés and friends in their fields. Serena Austin reports. (The Narwhal)

Sea lions gather and make a racket off Greater Victoria
“They’re farting, belching, roaring and growling … it’s quite the scene.” Darron Kloster reports. (Times Colonist)

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- 227 AM PST Tue Feb 6 2024
TODAY SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 7 ft at 14 seconds.
TONIGHT SW wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 16 seconds. A chance of rain after midnight.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 

Monday, February 5, 2024

2/5 Western tanager, Boldt 50, snowpack, drought, sewage burning, Oak Bay cleanup, Bigg's killer whales, Wet'suwet'en arrests, Black Press

Western Tanager [Gregg Thompson]

Western Tanagers Are Flashes of Bright Color
Western Tanagers dart from tree to tree, on the lookout for delicious bugs. They’ll find them by scanning the tree bark — or maybe snatching them from mid-air during flight — a tactic called hawking. (BirdNote, May 20, 2023)

50 years after Boldt Decision: new and lingering challenges to salmon recovery
As Washington treaty tribes mark the 50th anniversary next week of the Boldt Decision, challenges to a sustainable salmon population remain. Richard Arlin Walker reports. (Salish Current)

WA’s mountain snow recharges our drinking water, powers our lives. Now it’s turning to rain.
Washington will see more water when it doesn’t need it and less water when it does. The implications for our drinking water and hydropower are big. Conrad Swanson reports. (Seattle Times)

New study says climate change behind drop in Northern Hemisphere snowpack
New scientific research...found climate change-driven snowpack trends in half of the 169 river basins in the Northern Hemisphere, 31 of which they said they could “confidently attribute to human influence.” Blair Miller reports. (Washington State Standard)

B.C. oil and gas producers warned of potential water shortages in drought-stricken areas
Extreme drought continues in northeast B.C., where much of province's natural gas production is concentrated. Karin Larsen reports. (CBC)

Lynnwood pays $550K fine for running afoul of standards for sewage burning
An aging incinerator the city of Lynnwood uses to process waste has become less efficient. At the beginning of 2020, it fell out of compliance with those standards. Now the city has paid more than $550,000 in penalties to the EPA. The city will have to decommission the incinerator to comply with the standards. Lauren Gallup reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) See: Sewage burning? Yes, it’s a thing in western Washington John Ryan reports.(KUOW)

Divers pull up toilet, TV in marine cleanup off Oak Bay
Seachange Marine Conservation Society is conducting an underwater debris cleanup in Oak Bay, with divers in the water helped by a boat, plus a dumpster and excavator at Cattle Point. This week they have collected two tonnes of fishing gear, household garbage, clothing and some surprising items — like a boat toilet and an old television. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Times Colonist)

Record number of Bigg’s Killer Whales sightings in 2023
More than 1,400 Bigg’s Killer Whales sightings were reported in the Salish Sea in 2023, according to the Orca Behaviour Institute. This number surpasses the 2022 record by about 200 sightings, the institute says, and contributes to an eight-fold increase in sightings from 10 years ago. Pippa Norman reports. (Vancouver City News)

BC News obtains never-before-seen RCMP footage of Wet'suwet'en arrests
BC Indigenous has obtained new RCMP footage of 2021 arrests at Coyote Camp on Wet'suwet'en territory, a key location for the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Jackie McKay reports. (CBC Indigenous)

Major Shakeup in Washington State and Hawaii Journalism
The financially-stressed Black Publishing, owners of 35 news outlets in Washington state (including the Everett Herald) and major newspapers in Hawaii, is selling its 144 news organizations. Our local news diet is in doubt. Chuck Taylor and Jim Simon report. (Post Alley)

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- 238 AM PST Mon Feb 5 2024
TODAY E wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 5 ft at 9 seconds.
TONIGHT SE wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. NW swell 7 ft at 9 seconds.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 

Friday, February 2, 2024

2/2 Giant Pacific octopus, toxic tires, big oil transparency, Iona wastewater plant, beaver dams, deer zombie disease, Future Ecologies

Giant Pacific Octopus [NOAA]

Giant Pacific Octopus Enteroctopus dofleini
The Giant Pacific Octopus is the largest species of octopus in the world. It is found in the northern Pacific Ocean from the northwest coast of the continental United States to Japan, including Puget Sound. Giant Pacific octopuses live up to their names: They're the largest octopus species in the world! Adults can weigh from 40 to 100 pounds, with a relaxed tip-to-tip dimension of 12–14 feet. Although less common, larger animals weighing up to 160 pounds have been found. An octopus at that weight would have a tip-to-tip measurement of about 25 feet—roughly the height of a two-story building. (Seattle Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Amid controversy and turmoil, Orcas fire commissioners plan for a new levy proposal

Lawsuits fly, as regulators come to grips with a toxic tire chemical
A lawsuit filed against 13 of the largest tire manufacturers in this country seeks to ban the chemical 6PPD from its universal use in tires, or else force tire companies to pay for stormwater-mitigation measures that can remove the chemical or otherwise protect salmon. The lawsuit alleges violations of the federal Endangered Species Act, which is designed to prevent extinction of threatened and endangered species. Christopher Dunagan reports. (Salish Sea Currents Magazine)

High gas prices drive 'big oil transparency' legislation in Olympia
Legislation to require more transparency from big oil companies has survived this week’s legislative cutoff and is moving forward in Olympia. The bill (SB 6052) would create a new Petroleum Market Oversight division within the state Utilities and Transportation Commission. It’s similar to legislation recently passed in California, with required reporting from oil companies on their margins and pricing. Bellamy Pailthor reports. (KNKX)

South Vancouver residents weigh in on considerations for Iona replacement proposal
South Vancouver neighbours of Metro Vancouver’s Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant are raising the alarm about options to build a barge terminal as part of the plant’s $10-billion replacement project. Metro wants to build the terminal to barge in thousands of tonnes of sand, gravel and other materials to the construction site and neighbours fear the favoured of three options is directly across the Fraser River’s north arm from Deering Island. Derrick Penner reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Conservationists building beaver dams to help restore B.C.'s drying Columbia Wetlands
Dams help maintain wetland but beavers have vacated certain areas, contributing to loss of important habitat. Corey Bullock reports. (CBC)

2 cases of 'zombie deer disease' have been confirmed in B.C. Here's what you need to know
The B.C. government says chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in two deer, a first for the province. Nicknamed zombie deer disease, CWD is a fatal and incurable illness that affects cervid, or deer family members, such as moose, caribou and elk, and has been spreading rapidly through western Canada. (CBC)

Future Ecologies: A podcast with soundscapes from around the Salish Sea
B.C.-based nature podcasters pursue subjects outside the standard focus of most nature shows. Stuart Derdeyn reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 2/2/24: Groundhog Friday, plastic bag ban, J60 presumed dead, TM pipe delay, BC population growth, BC LNG, Samish kelp, toxic tire lawsuits.

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- 610 AM PST Fri Feb 2 2024
TODAY SE wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds. Rain likely in the morning then a chance of rain in the afternoon.
TONIGHT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of rain in the evening then a slight chance of rain after midnight.
SAT E wind to 10 kt becoming SE 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 12 seconds. A slight chance of rain.
SAT NIGHT E wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft at 11 seconds.
SUN E wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. NW swell 5 ft at 10 seconds.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

2/1 Red fox, Samish kelp, Puget Sound Chinook, BC Ferries, mega-cruise ships

Cascade red fox [Rollin Geppert/WDFW]

Cascade red fox Vulpes vulpes cascadensis
The Cascade red fox is a subspecies of red fox. Cascade red foxes commonly occur in three color phases: red, cross, and silver/black. All three phases have been reported within a single litter of pups. The Cascade red fox occurs only in alpine and subalpine habitats in montane environments of the Cascade Range in Washington. Subalpine meadows, parklands, and open forests are primary habitats. The species avoids wet, dense forests of the westside Cascades and tends to prefer the open, drier subalpine forests on the east side of the Cascade crest.

Today's top story in Salish Current: Strengthening local food ties in COVID’s wake

Reviving the Samish Tribe’s kelp
Researchers are documenting the decline of once-plentiful kelp beds in an effort to reverse the trend. Natalia Mesa reports. (High Country News)

WDFW Talks Puget Sound Chinook At Special New Early NOF Meeting
North of Falcon kicked off a month early last night as WDFW held a special new meeting to talk about Puget Sound Chinook management with anglers and others. Andy Walgamott reports. (Northwest Sportsman)

B.C. Ferries optimistic that summer season will go smoothly
B.C. Ferries is optimistic the upcoming summer season won’t see a repeat of disruptions seen last year, which sidelined major vessels and disrupted plans for travellers. But while B.C. Ferries refines its vessel repairs and sailing schedules, the ongoing issue of crew shortages remains. Carla Wilson reports. (Times Colonist)

In Graphic Detail: Colossal Cruise Ships
Last week, Royal Caribbean International launched the largest cruise ship in the world, the Icon of the Seas. This leviathan, which departed from Miami on a seven-day tour, can carry up to 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members. At 250,000 gross tonnage, the colossal ship is about five times larger than the ill-fated RMS Titanic, and at 364 meters, the ship is longer than the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Andrew Engelson reports. (Hakai Magazine)

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- 232 AM PST Thu Feb 1 2024
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
TODAY SE wind 10 to 20 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 13 ft at 14 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. A slight chance of rain in the morning then rain likely in the afternoon.
TONIGHT SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 11 ft at 12 seconds subsiding to 9 ft at 12 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

1/31 Red squirrel, BC LNG, Snake R dams, protesters sued, BC old-growth, WA Indigenous curriculum, BC population

Red squirrel [jmarcinik/iNaturalist/CreativeCommons]

Red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
The Red squirrel is about the same size as the Douglas squirrel and lives in coniferous forests and semi-open woods in northeast Washington. It is rusty-red on the upper part and white or grayish white on its underside.

Today's top story in Salish Current: High water in Whatcom ... and getting higher?

The door to B.C.’s liquefied natural gas export sector is about to open. Here’s what you need to know
As LNG Canada completes construction and prepares to bring operations online, the export facility could 'open a gateway' for other projects to proceed. But B.C.’s gas export sector faces stricter emissions policies, unpredictable market shifts and climate disasters as it tries to maintain its place in an uncertain future. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal)

Allegations of ‘secret’ deal to remove Snake River dams aired by U.S. House GOP
Republicans on a U.S. House panel blasted the Biden administration Tuesday for an agreement they said paved the way for removing four dams from the Snake River in eastern Washington state. The agreement to take steps to restore salmon populations in the Snake River that President Joe Biden announced in December with the states of Oregon and Washington and four tribes in the region would lead the way to removing four dams on the river. Jacob Fischler reports. (Washington State Standard)

15 Fairy Creek protesters face civil suit from logging company
The suit says those named in the lawsuit have caused Teal Cedar a loss of profit and goodwill and damaged the company’s reputation. Roxanne Egan-Elliott reports. (Victoria Times Colonist)

B.C. counted poorly protected old-growth forests toward conservation targets, researchers say
The province counted most old-growth management areas towards its 30-by-30 conservation targets. A new report says a lot of that land isn’t actually protecting old-growth forests. Ainslie Cruickshank reports. (The Narwhal)

Speaking Lushootseed: WA’s Indigenous curriculum may be renamed
A bill would name the Native history program after the late advocate, longtime state Sen. John McCoy (lulilaš), who inspired its creation. Jadenne Radoc Cabahug reports. (Crosscut)

Washington lawmakers hope to tweak new wildfire protection rules for homes
Critics say updated standards set to take effect in March would drive up housing costs and are based on a map that overstates fire risks in many areas. Laurel Demkovich reports. (Washington State Standard)

BC population to hit 7.9 million by 2046, as growth rate soars: report
The new B.C. government report based on publicly available data predicts a 44-per-cent population increase compared to the 2023 population of 5.5 million. (Canadian 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- 248 AM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON
TODAY SE wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. SW swell 7 ft at 12 seconds building to 9 ft at 12 seconds in the afternoon. Rain.
TONIGHT E wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. SW swell 13 ft at 12 seconds becoming W 11 ft at 13 seconds after midnight. Rain in the evening then rain likely after midnight.

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Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

  Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told 