Environment
Plan to protect vulnerable species in Western state forests moves forward
A plan to protect threatened and endangered species in Oregon’s Western state forests by limiting some logging will move forward, despite a recent attempt to make last-minute changes that could have further delayed it. The Oregon Board of Forestry decided Thursday not to vote on a controversial proposal from Chair Jim Kelly that would have […]
Federal officials will meet with Oregonians about controversial offshore wind energy projects
Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials will meet with Oregonians concerned or curious about potential floating offshore wind energy projects following public and political outcry. Officials will host three in-person meetings in Gold Beach, Coos Bay and Brookings on Sept. 26, 27 and 28. The agency also doubled the public comment period from 30 […]
Third of Oregon counties now in a drought emergency
Twelve of 36 counties, covering half the land in Oregon, are in a state of emergency over drought, with local officials calling for help. Gov. Tina Kotek Wednesday declared the latest drought emergencies in Gilliam, Douglas and Lincoln counties, the 10th, and 12th such declarations of the year. The declarations follow requests for drought aid […]
‘Very strong’ El Niño to bring warmer winter, with scorching ocean water for marine life
A tropical weather system called El Niño is beginning its march up the coast of Oregon, bringing with it a warmer winter and inescapable heat for some marine life. Oregonians on the coast could experience flooding from high tides and rising sea levels. In the mountains, areas hoping for snow are more likely to get […]
Living with wildfire: How to protect more homes as fire risk rises in a warming climate
Humans have learned to fear wildfire. It can destroy communities, torch pristine forests and choke even faraway cities with toxic smoke. Wildfire is scary for good reason, and over a century of fire suppression efforts has conditioned people to expect wildland firefighters to snuff it out. But as journalist Nick Mott and I explore our […]
Oregon Fish and Wildlife approves killing of wolves in eastern Oregon, angering conservationists
State fish and wildlife officials authorized the killing of six gray wolves in eastern Oregon during the past six weeks, bringing relief to ranchers who lost livestock to the wolves and heartache and anger to conservationists who see the killings as inhumane and ineffective. The six wolves were caught with foothold traps and then shot […]
Burns Paiute Tribe in southeast Oregon to receive federal disaster assistance for floods, mudslides
The Burns Paiute Tribe is getting help digging out from heavy spring rains that caused flash flooding, mudslides and major damage to its Jonesboro ranch, a 6,380-acre property in eastern Oregon. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, announced this week that the tribe would receive federal disaster assistance to help with recovery costs following […]
New federal water pollution rule draws mixed reaction
A federal rule limiting agencies’ power to regulate water pollution will severely restrict protections for waters and wetlands throughout the country, but could also be subject to challenges from conservative groups that maintain the new rule exerts more federal jurisdiction than the U.S. Supreme Court intended in a May decision. With the rule published Tuesday […]
Gray whales feeding off Oregon Coast found to have smaller bodies, tails, skulls
Every summer, as thousands of eastern North Pacific gray whales journey 12,000 miles from birthing grounds in Mexico to feeding grounds in the Arctic, a small group peels off to dine along the Oregon Coast. The group of just over 200, called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group, or Oregon’s “summer residents,” represents about 1% of […]
Portland officials monitor wildfire near water source as large blazes rage elsewhere in state
The Camp Creek wildfire near Bull Run reservoirs east of Portland spread in recent days but the water remains safe, Portland officials said Tuesday. The Portland Water Bureau said in a news release that it continues to monitor the fire and that weather conditions are currently favorable though that could change. “Fire in the watershed […]
Oregon, Western companies settle with EPA for sale of equipment used to disable car pollution controls
A northeast Oregon company that manufactured parts used to disable pollution controls in cars will pay a six-figure fine to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. EPA accused Diamond Eye Manufacturing, a custom exhaust and car parts fabricator in Athena, and six companies in California, Washington and New Jersey, of violating the Clean Air Act by […]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates plant on Oregon dunes as threatened species
A coastal plant that’s been hammered by invasive species and recreational vehicles has won federal protection after years of pressure from environmental groups. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week that it declared sand dune phacelia a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also designated 180 acres as protected critical […]