Environment

Poll Finds NW Residents’ Support For Coal Eroding

Courtney Flatt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:38:57 +0000

A new survey finds support for coal export terminals has dropped over the past year among Northwest residents. It also finds support for a region-wide approach to measuring the environmental impact of exporting coal.

A public opinion poll for EarthFix asked Northwest residents how they felt about transporting coal from Montana and Wyoming through the Northwest. That coal would then be exported to Asia. There are now three proposed export terminals in the region.

DHM Research surveyed 483 residents in Washington, Oregon and Idaho from Friday through Monday.

Army Corps Says Climate Change Won't Be Part Of Northwest Coal Export Reviews

Ashley Ahearn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:35:00 +0000

The federal agency in charge of approving Northwest coal export terminals told a congressional panel Monday it will not be considering the effects of burning coal on the climate.

The Army Corp of Engineers is overseeing the environmental review for the three terminals proposed for Washington and Oregon waterways. Together they could bring 100 million tons of coal to the Asian market from the Powder River basin of Wyoming and Montana.

Senate Will Discuss Klamath Water Conflict As Irrigation Shutoffs Continue

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:32:01 +0000

This week, water regulators are ordering dozens of ranchers along Southern Oregon’s Williamson River to shut down their irrigation pumps. It’s the latest round of shutoffs near the headwaters of the Klamath River. The state says it is necessary to protect treaty rights of tribes who live downstream. But the water shut-off jeopardizes a multimillion-dollar cattle ranching industry.

Why Military-Style Drones Are Searching for Prime Idaho Sagebrush

Samantha Wright — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

The Associated Press reports that scientists in Idaho will fly military-style drone aircraft over the sagebrush, "not in a bid to find terrorists but to locate the best habitat for one of West's smallest mammals, the pygmy rabbit."

Drought Could Be Diminishing Sandhill Crane Population In Idaho

Frankie Barnhill — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:14:45 +0000

The Sandhill Crane may be one species that's seeing the impact of dry conditions. Crane numbers in Idaho have continued to decline in the past three years.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says that decline means a lower number of those birds can be hunted this season. The Pacific Flyway Council (PFC) is the governing body that monitors migratory bird populations in the West. Every September the group oversees bird counts in 11 states and sets rules about hunting.

Pacificorp Offers To Draw Down Reservoirs to Alleviate Oregon's Klamath River Water Shortage

Amelia Templeton — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:10:00 +0000

Power Company PacifiCorp has offered to draw down two of its reservoirs on the Klamath River this summer to try to help ranchers facing a water shutoff in Oregon’s Klamath basin.

Upper Klamath lake is like a giant reservoir at the top of the Klamath River. The bureau of reclamation balances how much water stays in the lake, how is much is diverted for irrigation, and how much is released down the Klamath River to keep migrating salmon cool.

Tribal-Owned Retail Fish Shop Set To Open On Columbia River

Anna King — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:33 +0000

For thousands of years, Northwest tribes have used the Columbia River as a regional center of commerce. For the first time this summer, they’re building a new venue for their ancient tradition – a native-owned seafood shop.

Fresh catch

A silvery shad slips into an icy bath. Its tail flashes twice as it descends deeper into the chilly water. The fish was netted from the Columbia just moments ago.

USDA Says Genetically Modified Wheat In Oregon Appears To Be 'Isolated Incident'

Anna King — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:56:16 +0000

The US Department of Agriculture says stalks of genetically modified wheat found in a field in Oregon look to be an isolated incident.

Why The Snake River In Idaho Runs Dry For Miles

Frankie Barnhill — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:30:00 +0000

If you were to go to the banks of the Snake River downstream of Milner Dam near Burley, you wouldn’t see much more than a trickle of water. That’s because the federal Bureau of Reclamation shut off the river flow on June 4.

For at least 25 miles, there isn’t enough water for a kayaker to paddle through. Idaho Power runs the hydroelectric plant at the dam, and says the zero flow will impact its operations through late July.

New Research Highlights Need For Earthquake And Tsunami Prep In Northwest

Tom Banse — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:41:16 +0000

The earthquake and tsunami threat to the Northwest from the offshore Cascadia fault was in the news in multiple ways Thursday. Canadian researchers have reconstructed a prehistoric record of great earthquakes on that shared fault. It reconfirms that we're due for another Big One.

Coincidentally in Oregon, tsunami preparedness is getting a renewed look.

A team of researchers on Vancouver Island analyzed a sediment core taken from Effingham Inlet in Barkley Sound.

Government Report: Coal Companies Are Pocketing Millions At Taxpayers’ Expense

Ashley Ahearn — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:01:43 +0000

The Federal government is missing out on tens of millions of dollars in revenue from companies that mine coal on public lands. That’s according to a new report released by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The new report details inadequate mine inspection practices and a lack of enforcement on the part of the Bureau of Land Management.

Idaho Forests Expected To Burn This Year While Grasslands Will Get A Reprieve

Adam Cotterell — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:04:17 +0000

If you live in southern Idaho you likely won't see the catastrophic fires the area experienced last year.

State and federal agencies came together to give predictions Tuesday on what the state's wildfire outlook this summer could be like.

Ed Delgado manages predictive services at the National Interagency Fire Center. He says there’s a big difference between fires expected in the mountains and those in the desert this year.

Klamath Tribes Call In Their Water Rights

David Nogueras — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:59:38 +0000

With drought conditions worsening in southern Oregon, the Klamath Tribes for the first time are exercising their claim as the most senior water rights holder in the Klamath Basin.

It’s a step that could make water unavailable for farmers to irrigate tens of thousands of acres of crops and alfalfa. The tribes delivered what's known as 'a call' Monday to the Oregon Water Resources Department.

A New Sperm Bank...For Bees

Anna King — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:55:30 +0000

Washington State University scientists are developing a sperm bank to capture the biodiversity of honey bees. The hope is to breed stronger pollinators, since populations keep declining.

Obama Administration Plans To End Federal Protection Of Wolves In Most States

Associated Press — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:36:22 +0000

The Obama administration is proposing to end recovery efforts for gray wolves across most of the U.S. and return management to the states.

Friday's announcement comes after wolves rebounded from widespread extermination during four decades on the endangered species list.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe says ending federal protections would let the agency concentrate on restoring Mexican wolves in the Southwest.

Gray wolf protections previously were lifted in the Northern Rockies and western Great Lakes, which now have more than 6,100 wolves.

Monsanto: Oregon GMO Wheat Could Be Accident

Anna King — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:27:09 +0000

Agribusiness giant Monsanto says genetically modified wheat found in Oregon could be the result of an accident rather than a widespread planting of the controversial seed. In a call today with reporters, the St. Louis-based company says its provided its specific tests to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use in the investigation.

Idaho Cheese Company, EPA Reach Settlement

Associated Press — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:40:05 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] has reached a settlement agreement with Jerome Cheese Company that would have the cheesemaker paying more than $300,000 in fines for dumping too many pollutants into the Snake River.

Idaho Universities Get $20 Million To Study Landscapes, Cities

Glenn Mosley — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:48:23 +0000

The National Science Foundation has awarded $20 million to Idaho researchers to study the connections between society and landscapes.

The research work is aimed at helping Idahoans better understand ecosystems in the state, and to help residents better understand the relationship between people and the environment. The five year, $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation is the seventh in a row to Idaho EPSCor, a statewide program targeting competitive research.

How Fish Screens Help Farmers And Save Fish

Courtney Flatt — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:20:47 +0000

If proper equipment isn’t installed on irrigation pipes and pumps, fish can get sucked into farmers’ fields and drainage ditches. That clogs pipes and kills fish. A new fish screen was just installed on a Central Washington River to prevent this from happening. It's the first of its kind in the state.

When migrating fish and debris get sucked into farmers’ pipes and ditches, it’s bad news for farmers and for fish.

“If a fish goes into a ditch, it’s unlikely it will turn around and get out. It typically will die there.”

Advocates For Klamath Dams Removal Rally In Portland

Sergio Cisneros — Fri, 31 May 2013 18:31:01 +0000

Groups from Southern Oregon and Northern California rallied outside Senator Ron Wyden’s office in Portland Thursday.

They came to show support for a bill proposing a restoration project along the Klamath River. It would spend $800 million to restore fish habitat and remove four dams.

Toni Peters is a member of the Yurok Tribe, which supports the project. “We’re here protesting the dams and the water rights and the fish. Keep our rivers clean for our kids, younger generations, the elders. Keep the river alive. Keep people healthy and safe.”