Here’s a thought…
“The competition between Nature and the economy is deep and broad.
In the short term, the economy usually wins. In the long term …?”
BILL APPEL
Larsen insists Coast Guard act to protect Salish Sea
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement: “People I represent need answers on how the
CWR encounters multiple families of Bigg’s
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 01:20 PM ObservEnd: 04:45 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss Other Observers: Rachel John, Lily, Aspen Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered:
News Brief | Pacific gray whales facing ‘catastrophic’ die-off as climate crisis hits food supply
||| FROM THE GUARDIAN ||| The whales are in “very, very serious trouble; the stranding numbers last year and this year are enormous compared to their annual average.” The estimates are most dire for 2025
Have a garden question? Ask an Orcas Master Gardener
Wednesday July 22nd at the Market Garden Nursery ||| FROM JULIA TURNEY and JAY LUCAS for ORCAS MASTER GARDENERS ||| Do you have a question about your soil, have a problem with your fruit tree,
Stranded orca freed following coordinated response in Strait of Juan de Fuca
||| FROM KGW.COM ||| FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. A young killer whale that stranded on a beach in the Strait of Juan de Fuca freed itself Thursday after a coordinated response from Washington leaders. A team
Larsen’s water resources bill clears committee hurdle
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026) passed out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Exchange Update | Styrofoam, swap meet, beach cleanup, more
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING SERVICE ||| Styrofoam Recycling Update In last month’s newsletter, we shared our mission to keep Styrofoam out of the landfill by using a Styrofoam densifier. This month, a team from The
News Brief | Gray whale deaths near record levels in WA
||| FROM KREM 2 NEWS via YOUTUBE |||
Thor Hanson book signing scheduled for Market Garden
||| FROM ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Join award-winning conservation biologist and local author, Thor Hanson for an engaging talk and signing of his most recent bestselling book, Close to Home, The Wonders of Nature Just
Land Bank July 2026 meeting and agenda
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting Friday, June 17. The meeting is scheduled from 8:45am – 11:10am via Zoom. The meeting will also be available
Letter to Editor | Thank you from Orcas Island Garden Club
||| FROM EVANGELINE O'SULLIVAN for ORCAS ISLAND GARDEN CLUB ||| Our hearts are joyful after another wonderful Garden Tour event this past June, 2026. On behalf of the Orcas Island Garden Club, we are delivering a
Want to sign this petition to end public fireworks on Orcas Island?
||| FROM THOM CARNEVALE ||| We, the undersigned, respectfully call upon our local leaders and event organizers to end public fireworks displays. While fireworks have long been associated with festivities, the significant harm they cause
Waste Tire Disposal | San Juan County wants to hear from you
Resident input needed on possible waste tire collection event ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| Do you have old tires you'd like to dispose of? Let the County know! San Juan County's Solid Waste
CWR encounter #46 • Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 04:35 PM ObservEnd: 05:10 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit Other Observers: TAR, AKC, NAZ, LLK Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T124A, T124A1A,
CWR encounter #45 • Bigg’s Killer Whales
||| FROM CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH ||| Full Encounter Report ObservBegin: 03:20 PM ObservEnd: 04:10 PM Vessel: KCB III Staff: Dave Ellifrit Other Observers: TAR, AKC, NAZ, LLK Pods: Bigg's killer whales IDsEncountered: T46B, T46B2,
