Environment
Environment

New Washington wine research focuses on climate change, sustainability
Sunrise over Red Mountain vineyards in central Washington. (Credit: Andrea Johnson Photography/Washington State Wine Commission) Listen (Runtime 1:03) Read It’s been a slower start to spring in the Pacific Northwest,… Continue Reading New Washington wine research focuses on climate change, sustainability

Oregon nonprofit returns Wallowa land to Nez Perce Tribe
Oregon nonprofit Wallowa Land Trust gave 30 acres of undeveloped land near Wallowa Lake to the Nez Perce Tribe. (Credit: David Jensen) Listen (Runtime 00:53) Read Wildlife will have easier… Continue Reading Oregon nonprofit returns Wallowa land to Nez Perce Tribe

High school students discover invasive crayfish in Idaho
Red Swamp Crayfish have been discovered in the Lewiston Levee ponds, thanks to science students at Lewiston High School. (Credit: istockphoto) Listen (Runtime 00:59) Read Lewiston High School teacher Jamie… Continue Reading High school students discover invasive crayfish in Idaho

More firefighters needed to control wildfire hotspots in Eastern Washington
A tanker airplane drops fire retardant on a wildfire burning near Twisp, Wash. Three firefighters were killed battling the blaze. (Credit: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press) Listen (Runtime 1:07)… Continue Reading More firefighters needed to control wildfire hotspots in Eastern Washington

Wildfire Defense Grants to fund 14 programs in Washington
The Cow Canyon Fire burns near Naches, Washington in August 2022. New funding from the federal government is earmarked to help Northwest communities become more resistant to wildfire. (Credit: Washington… Continue Reading Wildfire Defense Grants to fund 14 programs in Washington

Spring killing: Smaller-than-a-penny Japanese beetle looms large for Northwest agriculture
Adult Japanese beetles can take plants like roses, grapes or hops down to the nubs quickly if infested. The beetle comes from Asia, and doesn’t have many predators in Oregon… Continue Reading Spring killing: Smaller-than-a-penny Japanese beetle looms large for Northwest agriculture

A Northwest dryland wheat farmer looks to the sky, contemplates the coming harvest
Even with all the rain and snow in California this winter, it’s been pretty dry in our region, especially in much of eastern Oregon and parts of eastern Washington. Continue Reading A Northwest dryland wheat farmer looks to the sky, contemplates the coming harvest

Moving up the line: Northwest tribal women and girls gather wild celery amid challenges
Around this time each year, women and girls from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation gather wild celery. They say their ancestors come back through the plant, and the ceremonial dig marks the arrival of spring. Continue Reading Moving up the line: Northwest tribal women and girls gather wild celery amid challenges

Struggling Northwest kelp forests sending out an SOS. Help is coming
There’s a rallying cry at various bays and beaches up and down the West Coast; it’s “Help the kelp!” The towering brown seaweed with the floating bulb on top is in steep decline. That’s alarming because underwater kelp forests provide shelter and food for a wide variety of sea life. The crew now answering the call runs the gamut from seaweed farmers to hammer-wielding scuba divers and might some day include sea otters and octopuses. Continue Reading Struggling Northwest kelp forests sending out an SOS. Help is coming

The buzz: New honey bee vaccine could protect pollinators, improve U.S. agriculture
The new honey bee vaccine from Dalan Animal Health is currently undergoing field trials to gather more data. (Credit: Dalan Animal Health) Listen (Runtime 1:07) Read Honey bees and other… Continue Reading The buzz: New honey bee vaccine could protect pollinators, improve U.S. agriculture

Captive Returns Home: The Story Of Wetxuuwíitin – ‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 42 – With Chairman Samuel Penney
Photo of Sam Penney recording Traverse Talks at the Nez Perce National Historic Park on March 10, 2022. Imagine a stranger took your family’s heirlooms and then offered you an… Continue Reading Captive Returns Home: The Story Of Wetxuuwíitin – ‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 42 – With Chairman Samuel Penney

Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution
Everywhere they look, Pacific Northwest scientists find teeny-tiny plastic pollution. Broken down particles are in our water, falling out of the air, in salmon, shellfish and in our own bodies. Scientists, environmental advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Olympia and Salem have seen enough to make them seek more regulations. Continue Reading Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution