Environment

The view of Bumping Lake from the bank near Chris Maykut's cabin. A Yakima Basin water plan could enlarge the central Washington lake, which would flood a small, shoreline community.

Yakima Water Woes Need More Storage Options, Advocacy Group Says

Courtney Flatt December 23, 2021

Climate change is forcing creative water storage options in the Yakima River Basin to ensure enough water for fish, cities and farmers.

According to a new survey, a majority of people in the Northwest want the four Lower Snake River dams removed.

New Survey Shows Support For Snake River Dams, In Contrast To Earlier Survey

Courtney Flatt December 23, 2021

Two surveys about breaching the Snake River dams show opposing results.

New atmospheric research has found melting sea ice in the Arctic increases the risks for wildfires on the West Coast.

How Melting Sea Ice Increases Wildfire Risk In The Northwest

Courtney Flatt December 17, 2021

Recent atmospheric research may help Northwest forest managers better prepare for wildfires.

In recent years, non-native American shad migrating past Bonneville Dam greatly outnumbered the total salmon and steelhead.

Will A Shad Horde Take Over The Columbia River?

Courtney Flatt December 15, 2021

Columbia River fish could have another challenge to their ecosystem. Growing numbers of American shad could challenge salmon and steelhead.

From left to right, hereditary chief Wilbur Slockish, tribal elder Carol Logan, and hereditary chief Johnny Jackson. The tribal leaders sued the federal government after a sacred site near Mount Hood was destroyed during a highway safety project.

Judges Dismiss Long-Running Court Case Over Sacred Site In Oregon

Courtney Flatt November 26, 2021

A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit from Yakama Nation and Grand Ronde tribal leaders, who claimed a 2008 highway expansion destroyed a sacred site near Mount Hood.

New, tiny batteries, designed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will allow researchers to better study young sockeye salmon above Grand Coulee Dam, part of reintroduction efforts for salmon in the Upper Columbia River.

Smaller Fish Tags To Help Sockeye Studies Above Grand Coulee Dam

Courtney Flatt November 26, 2021

Soon, it could be easier to track young sockeye salmon around dams.

A Canada lynx is released into Washington's Kettle River Range. The Colville Tribes are relocating lynx from Canada, with a goal of transporting 10 lynx per year.

More Lynx Are Coming Soon To Washington’s Kettle Range

Courtney Flatt November 23, 2021

This winter, the Kettle River Range in north-central Washington will be a little more wild.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission suspended the 2022 spring bear hunt season after a split vote to authorize the controversial hunt.

Washington Pauses Controversial Spring Bear Hunt

Courtney Flatt November 22, 2021

Spring bear hunts in Washington are postponed for 2022, following a vote of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in a meeting on Friday.

Casey Baldwin, a research scientist with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, points out a salmon nest, or redd, on the Sanpoil River.

Tribes Ask For More Support For Salmon Reintroduction To The Upper Columbia

Courtney Flatt November 17, 2021

Upper Columbia tribes want help to continue reintroducing salmon above Grand Coulee Dam.

Nathan Rea holds a bottle of the first Salmon-Safe American single malt whiskey. Rea grew the barley used to make the whiskey in Walla Walla.

This Whiskey Is For Protecting Salmon

Courtney Flatt November 15, 2021

Whiskey isn’t just for drinking anymore. A new craft whiskey is turning the old saying: “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is for fighting,” on its head. This whiskey is fighting to save salmon.