Environment
Noxious weed warriors: Sign up for grant money now
Gardeners, if you think you’ve got a problem controlling dandelions, take note: Oregon watersheds, wildlife habitat and farm land are threatened by dozens of noxious weeds. Troublesome plants vary by region. In the northeast, Wallowa County has battled welted thistle that threaten alfalfa fields, while on the coast, Curry County is waging a war against […]
Oregon’s new wildfire czar explains his job – Q&A
Last week, Doug Grafe wrapped up orientation at his new job as state wildfire programs director. He takes on his new job after 17 years at the Oregon Department of Forestry, appointed by Gov. Kate Brown. He will advise her on preventing wildfires and carrying out the mandates of Senate Bill 762. That legislation, passed […]
Future of clean trucks, buses facing key agency vote in November
A future with electric garbage trucks and school buses and less polluting freight trucks is up for a vote in November by the state Environmental Quality Commission. The commission is considering two new rules for manufacturing cleaner and zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses and vans sold in the state. Vehicles that would be covered […]
Oregon entomologists brace for the arrival of ‘murder hornets’
This summer a pair of Oregon entomologists traipsed through the woods in northern Washington on the hunt. They were looking for a dangerous predator: Asian giant hornets. Native to south and east Asia, they’ve earned the name “murder hornets” for their ability to decimate a honey bee hive in an hour or two. They can […]
Auditors find that Oregon state agency handled wildfire cleanup well despite complaints
A report released Wednesday by state auditors largely praises how the Oregon Department of Transportation handled debris removal after the largest natural disaster in state history. The transportation department and the contractors it hired to remove tens of thousands of damaged trees from along 120 miles of state highways in the Santiam Canyon and McKenzie […]
Oregon State professor lands grant to clean up wood burning stoves
In the leadup to winter, researchers at Oregon State University are teaming up with the Nez Perce tribe and local manufacturers to develop a cleaner way to burn wood in stoves. They have received $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to research and develop a cheap device that can be put into a […]
Oregon says drop, cover and hold on in an earthquake. Some specialists disagree.
Seismic experts agree that one day the state will be smacked by a massive earthquake off the coast that will cause widespread damage. They also agree that Oregonians need to prepare. But they disagree on what the state should advise. On Thursday, the state holds its annual Great Oregon ShakeOut drill aimed at raising awareness […]
Plan for one of Oregon’s largest chicken farms draws criticism; hearing set
Eric Simon got into chicken farming 20 years ago after a career as an electronics technician because, he said, he was poor. With his wife and two young kids, he moved 30 miles from Corvallis to rural Brownsville and bought a house on 40 acres on the edge of town. He built barns and then […]
Conservation work in Oregon forests gets federal boost
Two state agencies have been awarded a $750,000 federal grant to continue work on a state plan for protecting endangered species and species that could become endangered in the next 70 years in Oregon’s northwest forests. The Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife share the grant, which will be […]
Oregon shows how workers can be protected when they face extreme heat, smoke
As a result of climate change, the United States experienced a particularly dangerous and hot summer this year. New record highs were set all over the country and the Pacific Northwest was particularly hard hit. As of September 2021, according to the National Weather Service, the state of Oregon had a record 88 days over […]
Oregon’s climate efforts need robust push from governor, state commission
In any given year, some Oregonians thrive while others struggle. Lately though, no one is untouched by society-wide crises, one after the next, breaking on us like waves in a relentless tide. People all express similar feelings: overwhelmed, tired, and at a loss. The global pandemic continues to disrupt our lives. The dangerous heating of the […]
Report shows parts of Oregon spent months last year with elevated air pollution levels
Klamath Falls had as many elevated pollution days as cities like Phoenix, Cincinnati and San Antonio in 2020, according to a new report. The non-profit Environment America, part of the left-leaning Public Interest Network, used EPA air quality data taken from monitors in every state. Despite fewer Americans using cars every day or undertaking major […]