Environment
Environment
The Mosquito And The Northwest Orchid: A Love Story. Sort Of.
Don’t feel bad for not noticing the blunt-leaf orchid. Native to bogs in the Pacific Northwest among other places, this unassuming little flower is easy to miss. It’s green all over like the moss it grows out of — right down to its green flowers.
Canadian Court Clears The Way For Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion; First Nations Opposed
The Trans Mountain expansion, which would add more than 600 miles to the pipeline and increase its capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000, has been mired in controversy and legal battles since Canada’s cabinet first approved the project in 2016.
‘You’re Scared To Go Out Without A Gun’: Another Mutilated Cow In Central Oregon Rattles Ranchers
A rancher is rattled by the recent slaying of one of his cows near Hampton, Oregon.
Group Aims To Address Pesticides In Central Washington’s Soil
As more old orchard land in central Washington is converted into housing developments and schools, there are concerns over legacy pesticides in the soil where children play and families live. That’s especially true in Wenatchee and Yakima.
Clean Water Protection Businesses Could Dry Up As Trump Administration Rolls Back Regulations
The Trump administration is stripping clean water protections put in place by President Barack Obama, and some in the industry worry that the regulatory changes will threaten their business.
Low Snow To Snowmageddon: January Dumps Gave Needed Bump To Northwest’s Lagging Snowpack
At the start of 2020, the situation looked dismal. After a dry start to the season, Washington and Oregon had less than half the amount of snow they’d normally see in the mountains. Then came the first few weeks of January.
In Washington’s Skagit Valley, Elk Raise Tensions Between Tribal Members And Farmers
In Washington Skagit Valley, a conflict is unfolding between the Upper Skagit Tribe and farmers as elk are making a comeback there.
New Hydroelectric Turbine Design Aims To Improve Fish Passage At Snake River Dams
For years, engineers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have worked to design a hydroelectric turbine that’s safer for fish. They’ve recently installed a new design that’s improving energy efficiency and improving fish survival along the Snake River, with plans to upgrade more turbines over the next several years.
Northwest Salmon And Steelhead In Peril, And Efforts To Save Them Scale Up In Idaho
With Northwest salmon and steelhead on the brink, there are new efforts being brokered to save the famed fish.
Youth-Led Climate Lawsuit ‘Reluctantly’ Dismissed By Federal 9th Circuit Appeals Court
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Friday the young plaintiffs had “made a compelling case that action is needed,” but they did not have legal standing to bring the case.
Where Have All The Wolverines Gone? Apparently Not On The Endangered Species List (Yet)
Conservation groups say the animals need to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Ten groups want to force the federal government to protect the elusive wolverines. The groups estimate there are around 300 wolverines left, sparsely scattered across the Mountain West, including Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
Washington Supreme Court Deals Partial Blow To Jay Inslee’s Carbon Emissions Plan
The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday reinstated a severely limited version of Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan to cap carbon pollution in the state, a decision the Democrat described as a “clarion call” that lawmakers must act on climate change.
