Environment
Environment
![On top of the Bell M. Shimada's flybridge, scientist Dawn Barlow searches for any signs of whales.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Whales-500x500.jpg)
Watching For Whales – And Their Food
Scientists aboard the Bell M. Shimada keep an eye out for whales. One scientist hopes to help predict where whales will show up by studying the food they eat.
![At least twice a year, scientists board the Bell M. Shimada, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel, to study the Northern California Current ecosystem.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Scientists-Head-To-Sea-500x500.jpg)
To Unravel Some Of The Ocean’s Mysteries, Scientists Head To Sea
At least twice a year, a team of scientists on NOAA’s research vessel Bell M. Shimada survey waters along the Washington and Oregon coast.
![A new draft report says breaching the four Lower Snake River dams would be best for salmon.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/snake-river-dams-500x500.jpeg)
New Draft Report Says Removing The Snake River Dams Would Be Best For Salmon
Breaching the dams would be the best way to remove Snake River salmon runs from the Endangered Species List and the best way to maintain treaty and trust obligations with tribes, according to the report. It could cost from $10.3 billion to $27.2 billion.
![As of June 1, the western half of Washington State is no longer part under a drought order, while the rest of Washington is more of a mixed bag.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/drought-500x500.jpg)
While Spring Rains Help Most Of Washington, Parts Still Under Emergency Drought
Eastern Washington is in for another hot, dry summer. But – spring rains mean the west side of the state will no longer face a drought.
![Scientists Jennifer Fisher and Clara Bird map out sampling stations along the Oregon and Washington coasts.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ocean-1-500x500.jpeg)
Scientists Head To Sea To Learn More About Ocean Conditions
The place where salmon spend most of their lives also is the place scientists know the least about: the ocean.
![Keely Hopkins and Aaron Garcia hunt turkeys on a private property in Rice, Washington. Hopkins participated in a mentored turkey hunt, designed to teach people how to hunt.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/hunting-1-500x500.jpg)
Mentored Hunts Work To Increase Hunters, Solve Fish And Wildlife Funding Problems
Fewer people in the Northwest are learning to hunt, which causes funding problems for state fish and wildlife departments. To solve the funding problem, experienced hunters are teaching newbies how to get involved in the sport.
![During the 2022 Salmon Summit, Jennasys Alaniz, 10, a fourth grade student at Cascade Elementary School in Kennewick, releases a newly tagged young salmon into the Columbia River.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/salmon-500x500.jpeg)
Salmon Summit Teaches Kids About Conservation, Science
A recent salmon field trip has helped students become more curious about salmon.
![Cape Disappointment State Park](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/wa-parks-500x386.jpeg)
Report To Washington State Parks Commission Shows Barriers For Black Community Outdoors
The Washington State Parks Commission says it wants more Black community members to enjoy the outdoors.
![A line of about a dozen people passed buckets of summer chinook salmon to be released into Hangman Creek.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/salmon-study-500x500.jpeg)
$3 Million Will Help Tribes Study Salmon Reintroduction In The Upper Columbia Basin
Bringing salmon back to the Upper Columbia River will take a lot of time and a lot of money, according to the Upper Columbia United Tribes.
![A bill moving through Congress could help state wildlife agencies conserve more species, such as the fisher, a member of the weasel family.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/conservation-funding-500x500.jpeg)
Conservation Funding For States One Step Closer To Becoming Law
A bill that could provide the most significant wildlife funding in 50 years is a little closer to becoming law, according to conservation groups. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act on Thursday passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
![](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/marbled-murrelet-500x500.jpeg)
The Fight For Legacy Forests – Part 4: How A Bird Touched Off Court Battles
Concerns about habitat for the Marbled Murrelet may have touched off the current fight for legacy forests / Photo: USFWS Listen NWPB’s Lauren Gallup continues her series “The Fight For
![A top down image of a forest.](https://www.nwpb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/olena-sergienko-3BlVILvh9hM-unsplash-500x500.jpg)
Reporter Debrief: Discussing The Fight For Legacy Forests
The Washington Department of Natural Resources manages 3 million acres of forest land / Photo by Olena Sergienko, Unsplash In this Facebook Live Reporter Debrief, Northwest Public Broadcasting reporter Lauren