Salish Sea Communications

Thursday, September 10, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review September 11 2026

Ground Zero

9/11

The September 11 attacks, colloquially known as 9/11, were a coordinated series of suicide attacks perpetrated by the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. A total of 19 terrorists planned and subsequently hijacked four airliners, then flew one into each of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field during a passenger revolt. (Wikipedia)

As Carney advances Metro Vancouver port expansion, environmentalists raise concern for at-risk species
The federal government is advancing the process to potentially designate the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion in Metro Vancouver as a project of national interest.

Fishers empty-handed following dismal Fraser River sockeye run
Many Fraser River sockeye salmon fishers are coming home empty-handed, following a dismal run that shut down fisheries this season.

Washington has had a record-breaking year for wildfires, and it's not over
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove and state forester George Geissler reflected on lessons so far from one of the most intense wildfire years on record.

A timeline of Metro Vancouver's $3.86B wastewater treatment plant
New North Shore plant 6 years behind schedule with building costs well over original estimate.

WA sues to prevent federal changes that would undercut Endangered Species Act
Washington state is challenging federal changes that would clear the way for more oil drilling and mining in habitats where endangered species live and slash other protections.

Inside the search for a mysterious salmon killer
For years, scientists and First Nations couldn’t explain the rash of coho deaths that followed heavy rain. Now it’s been traced back to car tires — and they’re racing to keep highly toxic chemicals out of the water.

These news clips are a selection of weekday clips collected in Salish Sea News and Weather which is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe at no cost to the weekday news clips, send your name and email to msato(at)salish-current.org .Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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Friday, September 4, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review September 4 2026

Aloha Macadamia Nut Friday!

Macadamia nuts are native to Australia, and are named after chemist John Macadam, who promoted their cultivation there. They are also sometimes known as Queensland nuts, taking their name from the second largest Australian state. In about 1890, they were brought to Honolulu from another Australian state—Tasmania. In Hawaii, their trees were first used just for ornamentation, but after about forty years they began being used for culinary purposes. They have since become one of the largest crops of Hawaii.

'Disastrous': Historic, dominant Fraser River sockeye run collapses
Sixteen years ago the Fraser River saw more than 28 million sockeye salmon return for its dominant run. This year, just four life cycles later, the run has collapsed to 2.8 million fish.

'This event looks to be extreme’: Low oxygen kills ‘extensive’ Hood Canal marine life
Friday, the Washington Department of Ecology documented a “fish kill,” a sudden and unexpected die-off of many fish and other marine life.

Draft NW region power plan lays road map to meet soaring demand
The draft plan calls for 11,000 megawatts of new generation capacity across four states in the Columbia River basin through 2032, including: 9,000 megawatts of renewable resources; 5,000 megawatts of storage; 2,100 megawatts of natural gas; and around 1,870 megawatts from energy efficiency and conservation.

FortisBC wants to dramatically expand the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta, B.C.
The urban project is raising concerns about air pollution, emissions and impacts on the Fraser River.

E.P.A. Moves to Curb Public Input on Data Centers
Under the proposal, states would no longer need to provide public notice or solicit comments on air pollution permits for data centers and other projects.

San Juan County, Islands Trust join forces against proposed oil sands pipeline
San Juan County Council is preparing to link arms with British Columbia’s Islands Trust in formal opposition to a proposed Canadian oil pipeline that would send more than a million barrels of Alberta oil sands crude a day to a marine terminal on the Strait of Georgia.

What the devastating glacier collapse in Nepal tells us about Canada’s rapidly changing ice
As experts work to understand a devastating Himalayan disaster, a Canadian hydrologist says the impacts of melting glaciers here include worsening wildfire, drought and threats to blocked highways.

Lakewood waste service fined $1 million for improper hazardous material handling
Crystal Clean, Inc., a national waste management company, was issued $1.04 million in penalties by the Washington Department of Ecology for the improper handling of hazardous waste at its Lakewood location.

Friday, August 28, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review August 28 2026

Aloha Bow Tie Day
Bow Tie Day is a day for the necktie that resembles a bow. The roots of the bow tie go back to the 17th century, when Croatian mercenaries during the Thirty Years' War wore scarves around their necks to hold together the openings of their shirts. The upper class of France began wearing the scarves, which were then known as cravats, and were popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is from cravats that the modern-day bow tie descends.

Relay team swimming 1,375 km down B.C.'s Fraser River to promote rivershed protection
Since early August, Michelle Connelly's been part of a relay team that’s swimming the 1,375-kilometre length of the Fraser River to bring awareness to the importance of protecting the Fraser rivershed.

Over 50 new wildfires reported in PNW after weekend lightning, wind
More than 50 wildfires sparked in the Pacific Northwest this weekend, including the Colwash fire, which prompted evacuations and burned over 60 square miles near Sunnyside, according to the Northwest Coordination Center.

Earth is simmering in its hottest water temps on record, and that’s bad for fish and us
The world’s oceans simmered to their hottest temperatures on record over the weekend and are likely to warm even further in the next few months, putting stress on life in the water and on land too, the European climate service Copernicus announced Monday.

The world inches closer to catastrophic climate events
Earth is being heated by massive amounts of greenhouse gases being pumped into the atmosphere, leading to a gradual rise in average global temperature.

In the Fraser Valley, a New Oil Pipeline Faces Mountains of Challenges
Getting through the steep, narrow stretch cost Trans Mountain billions. But Alberta’s plans to avoid a repeat is full of holes.

How a WA lab tests shellfish for dangerous toxins
At the Washington State Department of Health’s humble (read: small) public health lab, scientists process hundreds of samples of shellfish each week to help keep people safe from illness.

New hatcheries will see up to 1 million more salmon raised and released into Fraser and Skeena Rivers annually
Feds have announced $53M in contracts for hatcheries in Prince George, Gitanyow and Tŝilhqot'in territory.

Ruptured tank at Longview paper mill was being worked on, scheduled for replacement before incident
The chemical tank that collapsed in late May, killing 11 people at a paper mill in Longview, Washington, was being worked on and scheduled for replacement at the time of the incident, according to statements from staff at the facility released by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office.

'Visual symbol of climate change': Mount Robson's Berg Glacier no longer reaches lake
Researchers have observed the iconic glacier has separated from the lake and may no longer form icebergs.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review August 21 2026

Aloha Kool-Aid Day
National Kool-Aid Day coincides with the first day of Kool-Aid Days, which is always celebrated on the second weekend of August in Hastings, Nebraska, the city where Kool-Aid was created. Edward Perkins lived in Hastings and spent his time experimenting with making products in his mother's kitchen and selling them by mail-order. He created the Perkins Products Company in 1920 and created Fruit Smack, which he made in a powdered form in 1927, being inspired by Jello-O. The name was first changed to "Kool Ade," production was moved to Chicago in 1931, and Perkins trademarked the name Kool-Aid in 1934.

A line in the forest: B.C. is logging its last old growth. Protesters are trying to stop it
Only 20 per cent of Vancouver Island’s productive old-growth forests remain, according to the Sierra Club, and most of that is still open to logging.

Billions of sea stars have died. A Northwest tribe is trying to save the species
Sunflower sea stars are critically endangered in the Pacific Ocean. University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to bring this 24-armed creature back from the brink of extinction.

Massive skeletons coming together for Telegraph Cove whale centre's re-opening
The centre reopened on Aug. 1 with fanfare being saved for next May, when the building — previously destroyed in a fire — is hoped to be finished.

BC Is Quietly Planning to Split Forest Lands into Three Use Zones
British Columbia’s government is contemplating carving the province into three zones to “provide greater clarity” to the timber industry, and discussions have so far left out First Nations. The zoning plan is outlined in an email sent in early July to public servants in the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

Trump administration advances plan to rescind protections for nearly 45 million wild acres
The Trump administration will move ahead with plans to end more than 25 years of sweeping protections for tens of millions of wild, federally managed acres across the U.S. Brooke Rollins, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Tuesday filed a rule to rescind “in its entirety” the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

Snoqualmie battery project developer seeks to sidestep local regulation
After hitting permitting snags, a controversial battery project near Snoqualmie is taking its application to the state level, a move that could sidestep local regulations. Jupiter Power, the developer of the proposed 45-acre battery facility, said Tuesday it was planning to pursue site certification with the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council.

Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M
In the span of a month, firefighting costs for 20 wildfires burning across Washington have totalled $207 million, according to data from the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

How hard would an Alaskan tsunami hit WA? New model full of surprises
Twenty-foot waves cresting off Westport. Swift and dangerous currents coursing through Hood Canal. Tsunami water pushing down to Olympia and up to Washington’s northern border with Canada. For the first time, state researchers have modeled the impact of a tsunami sparked by a magnitude 9.2 quake along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone.

Invasive beetle that has wiped out millions of ash trees confirmed in Washington
One of the most destructive invasive pests in the nation has arrived in southern Washington, posing a grave threat to ash trees.

How Trump Is Trying to Crush California’s Environmental Policies
At least a half-dozen federal agencies have taken action against the state that has led the nation in environmental protections.

Sharing Our Water Knowledge Festival
Salish Current, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County, presents a day of art, music, and honest conversation about protecting the water we all share. Come to the Whatcom Museum on Friday, Sept. 4, for a free day of fun, and stay for serious discussions about our responsibility to protect this valuable life source.

Friday, August 14, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review August 14 2026

Aloha Wiffle Ball Friday

The wiffle ball was invented by David N. Mullany at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1953 when he designed a ball that curved easily for his 12-year-old son. It was named when his son and his friends would refer to a strikeout as a "whiff". The Wiffle Ball is about the same size as a regulation baseball, but is hollow, lightweight, of resilient plastic, and no more than 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) thick. One half is perforated with eight .75-inch (19 mm) oblong holes; the other half is non-perforated. (See also: "Batter up! End-of-summer charity Wiffle Ball tournament returns to Bellingham")

Commercial and recreational Dungeness crabbers tussle over finite resource
As tribal commercial, state commercial and recreational crabbers divvy up a finite resource, no one is 100% satisfied with harvest shares, enforcement or scheduling.

First Nations chiefs in B.C. call on Carney, Smith to halt advancing West Coast pipeline
Group says expanding the oil industry will accelerate climate change, natural disasters.

A pillar of environmental enforcement is targeted by Trump and Musk’s AI company
Right-leaning legal activists along with Elon Musk ’s artificial intelligence company have brought sweeping challenges against a cornerstone of legal enforcement in the United States: the right of private groups, people and local governments to sue over violations of many major laws.

Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says
The contiguous United States sizzled to its hottest month ever last month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

WA wanted clean energy. But utilities plan fleet of gas plants
By 2045, state law requires all electricity sold in Washington to be carbon-free, one of the most aggressive deadlines in the country. But to meet skyrocketing electricity demand, utilities are preparing to build a fleet of power plants fueled by natural gas.

Top Science Body Deletes Climate Chapter From Judges’ Manual
The nation’s top scientific body has removed a chapter on climate science from a reference manual for judges after an outcry from critics on the right, including President Donald Trump.

UW study: Ditching Roadless Rule would degrade drinking water
The proposed rescission of the rule has proven wildly unpopular.

Rare Whidbey prairie protected forever
One of Whidbey Island’s most ecologically significant properties near Coupeville has been permanently protected under a conservation easement preserving 143 acres of rare prairie, Garry oak savanna and mature forest while ensuring continued public access to the land’s trail system.

Scientists Warn Carney’s Changes Will Bring ‘Wilful Extinction’
Proposed amendments to make building ports and pipelines easier could destroy entire species.

Friday, August 7, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review August 7 2026

History.com

Aloha Beer Friday!

Beer making can be traced to about 6,000 years ago in ancient Sumeria. At the time beer was cloudy because of lack of filtering, and it was drunk through a straw. By 2000 BCE, the Babylonians were brewing 20 types of beer. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans made beer, although wine became much more popular with the Romans. They considered beer to be the drink of the Barbarians; beer was only popular on the edges of the Empire. Germanic groups were brewing beer by 800 BCE. Beginning in the ninth century, in Germany, hops began being introduced, standards were set up for beer, and it began being mass-brewed. The 1516 Beer Purity Law—Reinheitsgebot—said a certain level of quality must be met for German beer. All beer could only be made with water, hops, malted barley, malted wheat, and yeast.

Pacific Northwest Wildfire Tracker
Wildfire potential is tracking above normal through September in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.

Snohomish County is building the state's largest battery plant
The battery system will add capacity to the electric grid, support renewable energy and help keep prices down. But other such Washington plants have stirred controversy.

B.C. researchers discover deadly bacterial disease in wild chinook
The new study, by scientists at UBC and the Pacific Salmon Foundation and published in Scientific Reports, says tenacibaculosis — a bacterial disease that causes lesions and death in fish — was found in 16 per cent of the 99 chinook sampled. Tenacibaculosis has been well documented in farmed Atlantic salmon, but not found in wild-caught Pacific salmon until now.

Fish and Wildlife Commission probe finds wrongdoing, doesn’t recommend punishment
The monthslong investigation into the Washington state panel found a group of commissioners flouted transparency laws and conflict of interest rules.

'Ceremonies change lives' Nisqually youth learn and guide through paddling
Tribal families from around the Northwest paddled to Nisqually for this year's canoe journey. “It teaches a lot of our youth that we still have culture,” said youth skipper Aliya Choke.

Appeals Court Says E.P.A. Cannot Block Billions in Climate Grants
An appeals court on Tuesday handed a victory to a group of federal grant recipients that the Trump administration has prevented from spending billions of dollars in climate funding for over a year.

Ottawa moves to list Alberta-backed West Coast pipeline as national interest project
Naming a project in the national interest under the Building Canada Act allows the government to fast-track approvals and skirt some environmental laws.

Big oil companies continue to post banner profits as fighting in Iran drives prices higher
Six of Europe’s largest oil companies posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, more than 40% higher than last year. Profits at BP, based in London, more than doubled to $3.9 billion in the second quarter, the company said Tuesday.

Ferry construction begins in Florida on WA’s new hybrid-electric vessels
The first delivery is still estimated for 2030, testing the patience of ferry riders.

Friday, July 31, 2026

Salish Sea News Week in Review July 31 2026

Aloha Avocado Friday!
Avocados are native to Mexico and to the area south of there down to the Andes Mountains. They can range in size from that of a hen's egg to up to about four pounds, depending on their variety. The Aztecs are known to have eaten avocados. For a long period of time, avocados were only eaten in Central and South America and in the Caribbean, where they gained the name "alligator pear." In 1833, horticulturist Henry Perrine became the first to plant avocados in Florida. They were first planted in California in the 1880s. By the turn of the century, orchards were established, and avocados first gained commercial importance.

Trump administration admits grants for clean energy were canceled based on politics
The Trump administration has again acknowledged in court documents that it terminated $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” in this case, 16 states that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Washington state’s clean-energy bottleneck leads to calls for reform
Despite its green reputation, the Evergreen State trails every other U.S. state in adding wind and solar power to its electrical grid, according to a 2025 investigation by Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica.

Calling Carney’s Carbon Capture Bluff
He pretends the technology is a serious response to the climate crisis. Here’s the reality.

Annual census could show an increase of two killer whales among southern residents
Pending one final check, it appears that this year’s census of the endangered southern resident killer whale population will show a positive increase of two orcas — an annual increase equaled only four times in the past 20 years.

75 of these whales remain. A new West Coast pipeline would be 'devastating' for them, experts say
Environmental groups are voicing concerns about the impact the Alberta government's proposed route for a new oil pipeline could have on an already endangered species of whale.

WA shellfish growers worry for future after Hood Canal closure
Hood Canal, a pillar of the state’s shellfish economy, a popular draw for recreational harvesters and stewarded by Native people for millennia, has been closed to harvest all summer because of a potentially deadly biotoxin.

LNG Canada dropped commitments to operate ‘without routine flaring,’ docs reveal
For years, LNG Canada made environmental commitments in documents submitted to B.C.’s energy regulator. It removed them before the facility launched — then the flaring started.

2026 Canoe Journey: Duwamish Tribe’s canoe family launches from West Seattle on Wednesday
July 29, marks the beginning for the Duwamish headed to Canoe Journey 2026, Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch.

Oil companies are expected to reap big profits because of US-Iran conflict
Analysts are expecting major oil companies to report large profits while fighting between Iran and the U.S. impeded petroleum shipments.