Environment
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Clam season likely but numbers down
OLYMPIA - On the up side, it appears likely there will be razor clam digging on the peninsula starting Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. On the down side, the number of clams has plummeted... — Updated 9/21/2023
Wildfire spared endangered pygmy rabbit population
The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit population, nestled in recovery sites near Quincy, was spared from the Baird Springs Fire. The Pacific Northwest native endangered species resides... — Updated 9/21/2023
Blue Lake Fire spreads north of Hwy 20 in 'slopover' of strategic burnout
In its first week, the Blue Lake Fire grew slowly - it was just 290 acres after burning for eight days - but it has nearly doubled in size since Friday, after strategic firing... — Updated 8/31/2023
Scientists monitor juvenile European green crab populations in Drayton Harbor
Scientists are keeping a close eye on Drayton Harbor waters after discovering a sizable population of juvenile European green crabs, indicating growth of the highly invasive... — Updated 8/17/2023
Drought emergency officially declared for Methow, Okanogan watersheds by DOE
The Methow watershed is officially under a drought emergency. Okanogan County is one of 12 counties across the state hit with a drought declaration by the Washington Department of... — Updated 8/2/2023
Combating toxicity in trail culture
Over the last several years, my family and I have been section hiking the Washington portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT is a 2,653-mile trail that starts on the Mexico... — Updated 8/2/2023
Skagit County drought worsens
The drought conditions for Skagit County? Not good. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s website’s weekly report lists almost the entire county in drought by area, 97.5%. Greater La Conner is in a small coastal slice of moderate... — Updated 7/20/2023
DNR leadership preps for worsening wildfires in Washington
With wildfire season already underway in Western Washington, the state's Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said firefighters are better equipped to handle more intense... — Updated 7/20/2023
Experts warn: 'Leave seal pups alone'
As the local harbor seal population enters its annual pupping season, experts urge beachgoers to steer clear of baby seals – even if they appear abandoned. Mother seals give... — Updated 7/20/2023
Floating ban coming to South Fork Nooksack Riverv
Floating down the South Fork Nooksack River will soon be off-limits for the summer. Whatcom County Council approved the ban by a 4-2 margin, with one council member absent, after a... — Updated 7/13/2023
Forest Health Collaborative marks decade of restoration efforts
Two dozen members of the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative celebrated the group's 10th anniversary in May, hailing its effectiveness in accelerating... — Updated 7/6/2023
Wildfire in east Skamania County prompts 'Go Now' evacuation orders, closes part of Highway 14
A wildfire burning near Underwood, Washington, across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon, in rural Skamania County, has closed part of state Route 14 (Highway 14) and... — Updated 7/6/2023
First Japanese beetles of the year detected in Grandview
GRANDVIEW - The Washington State Department of Agricultures (WSDA) has detected their first Japanese Beetle for 2023. The beetle was detected in a trap near the Grandview High... — Updated 6/29/2023
Public Weighs in on Burley Lagoon Geoduck Farming
Update: The Key Peninsula Land Use Advisory Council voted 5-2 to recommend approving shoreline permits to expand the geoduck farm with several conditions May 30. The Gig Harbor... — Updated 6/15/2023
Citizen scientists monitor Birch Bay, Drayton Harbor for red tide
A group of Blaine residents who routinely monitor the toxin levels in Birch Bay and Drayton Harbor took samples last month that indicated shellfish poisoning in local waters. Every... — Updated 6/1/2023
WDFW proposes 'downlisting' state's gray wolf protections
Gray wolves in Washington, now listed as an endangered species under state law, would be reclassified as a sensitive species based on a recommendation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The public is invited... — Updated 5/26/2023
Cause, timeline undetermined after 'catastrophic' slide on road to Mount St. Helens
A massive landslide on Sunday night took out a section of the upper portion of state Route 504, also known as Spirit Lake Highway. As of Tuesday morning, only one thing was... — Updated 5/19/2023
No concrete plans to transport Tokitae, despite hopes
No concrete plans exist to transport Tokitae, the Southern Resident orca currently housed at the Miami Seaquarium, back to Washington waters, federal agencies said this week. In... — Updated 5/4/2023
Legislature passes multiple environmental bills in time for Earth Day
Legislators celebrated Earth Day with the passage of environmental bills in the final hours of the legislative session. The package creates new laws that regulate the use of foam blocks for docks, govern production of hydrogen to... — Updated 4/26/2023
Bills push for improving salmon habitat, removing barriers
Starting at the Olympia Ballroom in the state capital's historic district, students from across Washington carried inflatable orcas and salmon and marched through the streets of Oly... — Updated 3/8/2023
Drayton Harbor Oyster Company seeks oyster farm expansion in face of water concerns
Drayton Harbor Oyster Company (DHO) is seeking to expand its oyster growing operations to add an off-bottom farm in a cleaner area of Drayton Harbor as water quality issues... — Updated 2/6/2023
Blaine without a hornet buzz this year as trapping ends
Washington state scientists are wrapping up their search for the northern giant hornet this year without detections in Blaine or statewide, but are asking the public to remain... — Updated 12/15/2022
70 flood-prone properties tabbed for federal aid
WHATCOM - A total of about 70 flood-prone properties have been identified by the county as eligible to be either bought out or have buildings raised with public money. It's... — Updated 12/8/2022
Three controversial battery energy storage facilities proposed in Skagit
As demand on the electric grid continues to rise and state mandates on clean energy use inch closer, utility providers are scrambling to find alternative storage options for clean e... — Updated 12/1/2022
One year into the Methow climate plan
Switching to energy-saving appliances for heating and cooling. Building a water bank to preserve water for local agriculture. Adding charging stations for electric vehicles.... — Updated 11/17/2022
WDFW records cougar attacks on wolves; four confirmed since 2013
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently reported evidence that cougars are killing wolves in Washington. By using radio collar data, WDFW staff were able to... — Updated 11/17/2022
DNR cancels leases for last 2 net-pen salmon farms in Puget Sound
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has canceled the two remaining finfish net-pen aquaculture leases in Puget Sound, officials announced Monday night. The tw... — Updated 11/17/2022
WDFW acquires shrub-steppe lands in Rendezvous area
Mule deer and other wildlife will benefit from an additional 220 acres of protected shrub-steppe in the Rendezvous area recently purchased by the Washington Department of Fish and... — Updated 11/11/2022
Old Cedars golf course reopens as Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area
What was once the Cedars at Salmon Creek Golf Course officially reopened on Nov. 2 as the Gordy Jolma Family Natural Area. The remnants of sand traps were the only clear signs that... — Updated 11/11/2022
Willapa Bay green crab war enters new phase
OCEAN PARK - They can crawl, but they can't hide. The war on an invasive crab wreaking havoc on Willapa Bay has entered a new phase, with scientists implementing an innovative inter... — Updated 10/27/2022
What's the Deal With: Bellingham's plum shortage?
If you were looking forward to a bountiful plum harvest in Bellingham this fall, you aren't alone if your gathering efforts seem fruitless. Local plum trees might produce less... — Updated 10/13/2022
Volunteers tackling growing amount of roadside litter
Conner Smith added another piece of litter to his already packed trash bag. "It hurts my soul to see people take advantage of a place so pristine," he said while pausing his work al... — Updated 10/5/2022
A 'desperate' year for bears in search of sustenance
Hungry bears have been unusually persistent and destructive in seeking food near homes in the Methow Valley this year, in some cases repeatedly breaking through electric fences to... — Updated 9/29/2022
Aleutian Isle fishing vessel recovered after 39 days
The Aleutian Isle fishing vessel has been removed from the waters off San Juan Island after 39 days, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday night. Efforts to recover the vessel,... — Updated 9/23/2022
Wildfires close trails, bring smoke to valley
The Methow Valley Ranger District has closed additional trails from the Harts Pass area north to the Canadian border and west to the Ross Lake National Recreation Area because of... — Updated 9/15/2022
Jellyfish Stranded in Staggering Numbers
A mass stranding of lion's mane jellyfish shocked Key Peninsula beach walkers during the second week of August - and made swimmers think twice about getting in the water. "I have... — Updated 9/8/2022
Whidbey Island waters dyed red for shellfish health
The waters around Whidbey Island will be dyed red Monday, Sept. 12, to allow the state Department of Health (DOH) to study wastewater movement in the region. DOH will be working in the waters beginning Friday and will remain until... — Updated 9/8/2022
Aleutian Isle fishing vessel still underwater 10 days later
Ten days after it sank, the Aleutian Isle is still on the seafloor. The 49-foot fishing vessel, which sank off the west coast of San Juan Island on Aug. 13, is sitting in waters... — Updated 8/24/2022
Green burial provides families meaningful experience
WHATCOM - A grassy field, open skies, fresh air and birds in song. Trees and plants whose colors change with the seasons. These are ways someone might describe The Meadow. The... — Updated 8/18/2022
World's largest hornet renamed northern giant hornet
Scientists are now asking the public to refer to the world's largest hornets as "northern giant hornets," opposed to the previously dubbed names "Asian giant hornets" and "murder ho... — Updated 8/11/2022
Fish and Wildlife Commission rejects proposed wolf rule
Washington's wildlife commissioners have chosen not to enact a new rule that was developed with the goal of reducing the number of wolves killed under state orders due to conflicts... — Updated 8/4/2022
Cascade Carnivore Project Reports Wolverines Have Reproduced at Mount Rainier for Third Consecutive Year
Wolverines have reproduced at Mount Rainier National Park for a third year in a row, according to an announcement last week by the Cascade Carnivore Project. The news marks another... — Updated 7/28/2022
Yakama Nation, Confederated Tribes launch fish habitat projects
This month, the Yakama Nation and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation began construction for fish habitat restoration projects along the Twisp and Methow rivers. The... — Updated 7/28/2022
Inslee gives Asian Giant Hornets his full attention
Though there are no confirmed sightings of Asian giant hornets yet this year, scientists and entomologists from the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) were ready to talk... — Updated 7/14/2022
Flood victims rebuild: Whatcom County seeks money to buy out, elevate properties
This could be the next image of flood recovery: Houses raised up from their foundations to be repositioned several feet higher, if rebuilt at all. Several homeowners in hard-hit Sumas have taken the action already, without knowing... — Updated 7/7/2022
Lummi Nation awarded $595,000 after 2017 salmon pen collapse
The King County Superior Court jury awarded the Lummi Nation close to $600,000 in damages Wednesday over the 2017 collapse of an Atlantic salmon net pen in Puget Sound. The... — Updated 7/7/2022
First Asian giant hornet nest eradicated in east Blaine now on display at the Smithsonian
A piece of Blaine is now displayed for the world to view at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The first Asian giant hornet nest found and... — Updated 7/7/2022
A New Day for Lakebay Marina
Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz visited Lakebay Marina June 4 in part to celebrate the partnership to save the iconic facility and to see for herself... — Updated 7/7/2022
A new invader: European green crabs pose a threat
Voracious invaders are seeking a foothold in the region's tidelands. And you've been enlisted in the battle. The enemy is the European green crab - considered one of the world's... — Updated 6/2/2022
Researchers look at salmon habitat above Enloe Dam
Tens of thousands of endangered salmon could access high-quality habitat in the Similkameen River watershed if Enloe Dam were removed, but any plans to demolish the dam would have... — Updated 6/2/2022
