Natural Resources
Does environmental education change behavior?
Measuring the effectiveness of environmental education in changing behavior is a source of optimism and inspiration around the Salish Sea.
Tacoutche Tesse, the Northwest’s great ghost river — Part 2: The flood and building back better
The great flood of 2021 brought massive destruction but also the opportunity to build back better.
Anacortes toxic city dump one of hundreds dotting the state
A landfill for four decades, a site on the edge of a forest in Anacortes is the target of a cleanup plan being negotiated by the City and the Department of Ecology.
Tacoutche Tesse, the Northwest’s great ghost river — Part 1: Not the Columbia
Salish Current is exploring in a series of articles the Fraser River and its rich, varied and threatened life. This week, Part 1: Not the Columbia.
Researchers, growers face the challenge of acidic ocean water
Salish Sea waters are acidifying faster than ever before, but researchers in Washington are leading the world in addressing the looming disaster.
Devastating wasting illness of influential, iconic sea stars still a mystery
Sea star wasting syndrome still threatens area sea stars, but community scientists and researchers are helping to shed light on the mysterious illness.
Can kelp farming help save our marine environment?
SEA2SEED, a Guemes Island nonprofit, sees multiple benefits from kelp, for land and sea.
What’s known, not known about Aleutian Isle recovery
An update on the sunken vessel Aleutian Isle off the west coast of San Juan Island details the extreme hazards involved in recovering the boat.
San Juan Islands National Monument: where’s the plan?
“Beyond slow” delays in developing a management plan for the San Juan Islands National Monument may resolve soon.
Diesel oil from sunken Aleutian Isle ‘nonrecoverable’
A thin sheen of diesel oil — deemed nonrecoverable — remains on the surface of the water following the sinking of a fishing vessel last month off San Juan Island.
Can trees save the Nooksack River?
The stronger positive effects of older forests on streamflows in the watershed are under study, as forest management practices are reconsidered in response to climate change impacts.
‘Salmon People’ dives deep into the past to save the salmon
Inspired to keep alive the work of past generations and influenced by care for future generations, a nonprofit video production group’s current project focuses on the “Salmon People.”
Intalco restart: can ‘green’ aluminum get ‘clean’ power?
Options for a clean-power source are narrowing for a buyout firm with a sustainability ethos that wants to restart and upgrade the Intalco aluminum plant near Ferndale.
Dead gray whale: a sign of what’s to come?
The emaciated body of a dead gray whale washed up on a Salish Sea beach raises questions about food supply and species survival.
Canoe Encampment highlights earth, sky, water threats
The Esqaplh etse Kwelengsen (Gathering of the Eagles) Canoe Encampment is traveling the Salish Sea bringing attention to threats from pipelines, tankers and extractive fossil fuel industries.
Can Southern Resident killer whales have legal rights?
Ecosystem conference: Advocates are promoting ‘rights of nature’ as orca numbers dwindle.