Breaching the Snake River dams is one major way to protect salmon, according to a final federal report announced Friday on salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin. Continue Reading Federal Report Recommends Read More
A growing technology is helping scientists save time and effort when they study rare critters and vast places. Continue Reading With A Few Cups Of Water, Scientists Use eDNA To Study Reclusive, Rare CreaturesRead More
A demolition contractor on Thursday imploded the towering smokestack and 19-story boiler building at Portland General Electric’s shuttered coal-fired power plant near Boardman, bringing a symbolic close to the era of coal-fired power generation in Oregon. Imported electricity generated from coal still flows through transmission wires across the Pacific Northwest, but that Read More
A first-of-its-kind climate resiliency website will help communities understand climate-related risks, the Biden administration said. The new website, launched Thursday, provides real-time information and predictions for local communities that are more vulnerable to disasters, such as wildfires, heat waves and droughts. Read More
If two British Columbia tailings dams fail, it could spell disaster, according to two reports that analyzed the chances of the dams failing. Continue Reading B.C. Tailings Dam Failure Could Spell Disaster For Canada, Washington, Read More
Collisions between vehicles and large animals, like deer, are not only scary. The medical, car repair and cleanup costs really add up. That is according to a new study out of Washington State University that supports the case for building more wildlife crossings on highways. Read More
A much-awaited report said removing the four Lower Snake River dams shouldn't happen right now, but dam removal is the best way to protect Snake River salmon. Continue Reading Breaching The Four Lower Snake River Dams Not An Read More
Even with smoke, you can breathe easier. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have practical tips to keep the air clean inside homes despite the smoke in Northwest skies. Continue Reading Scientists Work To Protect Indoor Air Read More
Professor William Ripple says the wetlands and streams created by beavers act as firebreaks that could slow wildfires, a big issue in the West. Listen Amid droughts, wildfires, and climate… Continue Reading Scientists Release Plan To ‘Rewild The Read More
A federal study ordered by Congress concluded it would be feasible to reintroduce sea otters to the Oregon and northern California coasts. However, that finding doesn't mean the super-cute predators will be relocated into their former ocean habitat anytime soon. Read More
Up on a hilltop in Yakima County, Carole Degrave used to spend hours outside, watching wildlife, eating an apple, and enjoying the calm. In her backyard, wind chimes blow softly in the breeze. A 30-year-old apricot tree shades the center of her yard. Read More
Checking every inch of a streambed for freshwater mussels requires a snorkel and a wetsuit. It’s a messy job, but it’s vitally important as these keystone species are declining throughout the West. Continue Reading CTUIR Read More
Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are tagging and releasing lamprey to learn more about their journey to sea from inland rivers. Continue Reading Scientists Use Tiny Tags To Learn How Young Lamprey Travel Through Read More
To recover healthy salmon populations, one or more of the Snake River dams must be breached, in addition to other actions, according to a new draft report released Tuesday by federal officials. Continue Reading Federal Report Read More
Part 1: To Unravel Some Of The Ocean’s Mysteries, Scientists Head To Sea At least twice a year, scientists board the Bell M. Shimada, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration… Continue Reading Unlocking the Ocean’s Black Box With Read More
Storing renewable energy is critical in the Northwest. A draft review for the region’s largest proposed energy storage project is available for public comment. Continue Reading Comments Sought On ‘One Of Best Pumped Storage Sites’ In Read More
The Bell M. Shimada is designed to gather scientific information. But the collaborative effort of the crew and officers makes scientific endeavors at sea possible. Continue Reading More Than Work: Living On A Ship, Crew, Officers Become Read More
One single-celled oceanic organism could provide big answers to questions about climate change. Continue Reading This Single-Celled Sea Critter Could Help Scientists Learn About Climate ChangeRead More
Phytoplankton make up an extremely important part of the ocean’s food chain, serving as food for organisms that feed young salmon and other fish in the ocean. Continue Reading Growing Phytoplankton To Learn More About The Ocean’s Food Read More
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. Continue Reading Watching For Whales – And Their FoodRead More
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. Continue Reading To Unravel Some Of The Ocean’s Mysteries, Scientists Head To SeaRead More
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. Read More
Four members of the U.S. Congress recently got a close look at Washington’s Snake River dams. Continue Reading Members Of The Congressional Western Caucus Get A Close Look At Snake River DamsRead More
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. Continue Reading While Spring Rains Help Most Of Washington, Parts Still Under Emergency Read More
The place where salmon spend most of their lives also is the place scientists know the least about: the ocean. Continue Reading Scientists Head To Sea To Learn More About Ocean ConditionsRead More
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. Read More
A recent salmon field trip has helped students become more curious about salmon. Continue Reading Salmon Summit Teaches Kids About Conservation, ScienceRead More
The Washington State Parks Commission says it wants more Black community members to enjoy the outdoors. Continue Reading Report To Washington State Parks Commission Shows Barriers For Black Community OutdoorsRead More
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. Continue Reading $3 Million Will Help Tribes Study Salmon Reintroduction In The Upper Read More
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. Read More
The decline of freshwater mussels could have a negative impact of waterways throughout the West CREDIT: Nathan Rott/NPR Listen Courtney Flatt reports on the decline of freshwater mussels in the… Continue Reading Freshwater Mussels Declining Read More
For Corey Dembeck, there is something magical about Palouse Falls State Park. “It’s the Grand Canyon of Washington,” said Dembeck, Olympia resident and founder of Sojournlist, a travel blog.
Continue Reading Visitors React to Palouse Falls ClosureRead More
More natural gas could be pumped through Washington State to meet demand Listen Read By Bradley Parks The Canadian company T-C Energy wants to increase the flow of natural gas… Continue Reading Company wants to expand flow of natural gas through Read More
Efforts to keep a toothy, invasive fish behind Grand Coulee Dam are paying off. Continue Reading Northern Pike Suppression Efforts Push Back Invasive Fish In Lake RooseveltRead More
New homes built in Central Washington could be constructed on top of old orchards, where soils might contain the remnants of pesticides from the early 1900s. Continue Reading Pilot Project Aims To Clean Up Some Central Washington Soil Read More
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will reconsider a controversial spring bear hunt that the commission had recently postponed. Continue Reading Washington Commission To Reconsider 2022 Spring Bear HuntRead More
A new bill in the Washington Senate aims to stop a controversial policy in Klickitat County, where the sheriff deputized six hound handlers to track and kill any cougars he deemed to be a safety threat. Continue Reading Washington Read More
The Army Corps of Engineers is investigating whether the start-up of Dworshak Dam’s turbines are responsible for the deaths of around 30 steelhead, according to a press release from the Army Corps. Continue Reading Around 30 Steelhead Found Dead Near Read More
For the first time, a wolf wearing a radio collar traveled south of Interstate-90 into Washington’s Southern Cascade Mountains. Photo Credit: Eric Kilby Flickr – Tinyurl.Com/Gngh5n7 Listen Read For the… Continue Read More
Climate change is forcing creative water storage options in the Yakima River Basin to ensure enough water for fish, cities and farmers.
Continue Reading Yakima Water Woes Need More Storage Options, Advocacy Group SaysRead More
Two surveys about breaching the Snake River dams show opposing results. Continue Reading New Survey Shows Support For Snake River Dams, In Contrast To Earlier SurveyRead More
Recent atmospheric research may help Northwest forest managers better prepare for wildfires. Continue Reading How Melting Sea Ice Increases Wildfire Risk In The NorthwestRead More
Columbia River fish could have another challenge to their ecosystem. Growing numbers of American shad could challenge salmon and steelhead. Continue Reading Will A Shad Horde Take Over The Columbia River?Read More
Soon, it could be easier to track young sockeye salmon around dams. Continue Reading Smaller Fish Tags To Help Sockeye Studies Above Grand Coulee DamRead More
This winter, the Kettle River Range in north-central Washington will be a little more wild. Continue Reading More Lynx Are Coming Soon To Washington’s Kettle RangeRead More
Spring bear hunts in Washington are postponed for 2022, following a vote of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in a meeting on Friday. Continue Reading Washington Pauses Controversial Spring Bear HuntRead More
Upper Columbia tribes want help to continue reintroducing salmon above Grand Coulee Dam. Continue Reading Tribes Ask For More Support For Salmon Reintroduction To The Upper ColumbiaRead More
One family’s continuous wildfire preparation paid off this summer in North Central Washington. Continue Reading During Fire Season, One Family Learns To Save Trees, You Must Cut Some DownRead More
Washington’s state vehicles soon will plug in instead of gas up. Continue Reading In New Climate Order, Inslee Says Washington State Vehicles To Plug InRead More
Whale watchers have spotted a record number of humpback calves in inland Pacific Northwest waters this season. There was also a record streak of Bigg's killer whale sightings that just ended, according to a local whale research nonprofit. Those observations offer some good news to offset the ongoing concern about the survival of the Northwest's iconic, but critically Read More
