climate change
A word about property rights and freedom
Commentary: Government, in balancing the peace, health and economic welfare of the people, has an interest when it comes to private property rights.
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.
Islanders grapple with concerns over a finite resource: water
Aquifers around the Salish Sea are at risk from seawater intrusion, exhaustion and the concern that replenishment could become more and more difficult with the changing climate.
Collaborate, adjudicate to settle Nooksack water issues
Summer streamflows in the Nooksack Basin have been declining for decades, while the need for irrigation water grows as summers get hotter and rainfall diminishes.
Faith communities ally for climate justice; to hold Sacred Earth Fair
A grassroots multifaith network is seeking to increase awareness of — and action to address — climate change issues through its Sacred Earth Fair July 31.
Still rising: Planners assess sea level, storm surge risks
Rising sea levels combined with storm surges threaten to inundate shoreline sites such as Bellingham’s Boulevard Park.
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.
‘A Precarious Edge’ evokes climate change truths
Climate change and global warming are front and center in the Museum of Northwest Art’s latest installation, “A Precarious Edge.”
Mother Earth Day celebration will look to the future, through the vision of Indigenous youth
Messages from Indigenous youth with eyes on environmental justice and the future will be featured at a Mother Earth Day celebration presented by Children of the Setting Sun Productions at Bellingham’s Maritime Heritage Park on April 22.
Grant to fund collaboration plan for solutions to Nooksack Basin water issues
Interested parties hope Solutions Table funding approved by the Whatcom County Council this week will spark collaborative work toward holistic solutions for water availability in the Nooksack River basin.
Winter leaves hummingbirds in the cold: dead, alive … or in torpor?
Is that lifeless-looking hummingbird lying on the frozen ground really dead … or in torpor? Wildlife rescue professionals say it’s not uncommon to see Anna’s hummingbirds at their centers during the winter months, as the birds have moved farther north with climate change. Inert-seeming hummingbirds may in fact be alive but conserving energy, and experts advise contacting professionals to find out how to help.
Youth has its day and its say in 42nd District Senate vacancy vote
In a special meeting Jan. 11, the Whatcom County Council appointed Simon Sefzik as the newest — and youngest on record — member to serve in the Washington State Senate, filling the vacant 42nd District seat of the late Sen. Doug Ericksen.
For the people: what local legislators plan for the 2022 session
Dealing with climate change, providing economic relief post-COVID-19 and ensuring sustainability for the Washington State Ferries system made the priority lists of elected officials returning to take care of the people’s business when the 2022 session opens Jan. 10.
Community Voices / Nooksack flood, water solutions to protect families, fish and farms will require collaboration
Whatcom farmers are calling for communitywide collaboration in pursuing solutions to flooding and water supply issues in the Nooksack River Basin.
2021: A look back at some stories from the first full year of Salish Current
2021 was a year like no other, with themes such as public health vis-à-vis COVID-19 and opioid addiction; social justice in the courts, the arts, housing and policing; and climate change and natural resources including water rights management. Salish Current offers a look back via articles published during the nonprofit newsroom’s first full year.
Whatcom farmers face manure management challenges after flooding
Flooding in Whatcom and Skagit counties in November put major stress on local dairies, including lost animals and lost revenues for some. Now there’s another hurdle: With storage lagoons overtopping, where can they store all that manure? Farmers and county and state agencies are stepping up to the challenge, to prevent pollution downstream and restore infrastructure.