Public News Service

The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is the second-largest national park in the United States. (Patrick/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 22, 2024

Denial of mining road in Alaska has ripples across U.S. national parks

The Biden administration has blocked a mining road in Alaska, and public-lands proponents see the move as a win for national parks around the country…

Methane emissions were measured from four dams on the Snake River in southeastern Washington. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Report: Lower Snake River dams source of methane emissions

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

S�lo algunas especies de peces cerca de Bradford Island en el r�o Columbia son seguras para el consumo (J-B-C/Adobe Stock)

Presión para acelerar limpieza del río Columbia tras designación de Superfondo

Defensores avanzan lenta pero firmemente en la limpieza de una parte del río Columbia que ha sido declarada zona de Superfondo por la Agencia de …

Only some fish species near Bradford Island on the Columbia River are safe to eat. (J-B-C/Adobe Stock)

Push to clean up Columbia River site faster after Superfund designation

Advocates are making slow but steady progress to clean up a portion of the Columbia River named a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agenc…

Los cr�ticos de PacifiCorp dicen que la compa��a rompi� una promesa en 2004 de modernizar sus represas hidroel�ctricas para incluir pasos para peces. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

¿PacifiCorp cumplirá sus promesas de recuperación de peces?

Al comenzar el nuevo año, Columbia Riverkeeper apoya los esfuerzos de la tribu Cowlitz y la nación Yakama para restaurar la migración …

Critics of PacifiCorp say the company broke a 2004 promise to retrofit its hydroelectric dams to include fish passages. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

Will PacifiCorp make good on its fish recovery promises?

Coming into the new year, Columbia Riverkeeper is supporting efforts by the Cowlitz Tribe and Yakama Nation to restore salmon migration throughout …

An Outstanding Resource Waters designation will preserve portions of the Napeequa (shown here), the Green and the Cascade Rivers and mitigate the effects of climate change. (Richard Droker/Flickr/Creative Commons)

Cascade, Green and Napeequa rivers named 'outstanding resource waters'

Portions of three Washington rivers, the Cascade, Green and Napeequa, now have an extra layer of protection, thanks to a special designation from the …

Culverts under roadways need to be large enough for fish to pass through safely. (Daniel Sztork/Adobe Stock)

Biden Admin Provides Funds for Culvert Fixes in WA

Fish passage is set to improve in the Northwest with an investment from Congress's bipartisan infrastructure law. The Biden administration has …

Salmon from the Columbia and Snake Rivers are a crucial food source for Southern Resident orcas. (RKP/Adobe Stock)

WA Orca Births Good Sign but Population Still Threatened

There's good news for orcas off Washington's coast: Two new calves have been spotted among the endangered population. However, the births also …

The Duckabush River is cut off from nearby floodplains and wetlands by roads on the Olympic peninsula. (Washington Department of Ecology)

Orca Action Month: WA Estuary Restoration Project Helps Whale Recovery

It's Orca Action Month and a restoration project in Puget Sound will help provide more salmon to the aquatic mammals. Highway development has …

The lower Snake River dams are aging, reducing their usefulness especially in energy production. (Samir Arora/Adobe Stock)

Historic Step Forward for Snake River Dam Replacement in WA Budget

Funding in Washington state's budget is pushing efforts forward to remove four lower Snake River dams in order to save salmon. Lawmakers committed …

Las presas de la parte baja del r�o Snake est�n envejeciendo, lo que reduce su utilidad, especialmente en la producci�n de energ�a. (Samir Arora/Adobe Stock)

Paso histórico hacia la sustitución de la presa del río Snake en presupuesto de WA

El presupuesto del estado de Washington impulsa la eliminación de cuatro presas en la parte baja del río Snake para salvar al salmón…

The Bonneville Power Administration is a key partner for building and modernizing Washington state's transmission lines. (Nadia/Adobe Stock)

In DC, Focus on Fish, NW Energy Grid

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's grid. Updating …

There are seven species of Pacific salmon. Five of them occur in North American waters: Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye and Pink, according to the U.S. Geographical Survey. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Issues Water Protection Permits for Columbia River Dams

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

The Nez Perce Tribe finds spring chinook salmon on the Snake River are unlikely to recover without substantial intervention. (Hanjo/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders: Breaching Snake River Dams Necessary, Not Yet Possible

An announcement from Washington state leaders on the future of the lower Snake River dams contained both good and bad news for groups defending native…

The Sams River on the Olympic Peninsula is among the rivers that would be protected by legislation in Congress. (Javin Elliff)

Rivers Month: Calls to Protect Olympic Peninsula's Unique Waterways

June is National Rivers Month, and supporters are calling for greater protections of the Olympic Peninsula's rivers and landscapes. The Wild …

Salmon on the Snake River continue to struggle, despite actions like spilling more water at the river's dams. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders Ask for Comment on Dam Removal Proposal

A report from leaders in Washington state lays out how the services of four dams on the lower Snake River could be replaced in order to save ailing sa…

Southern Resident orca, which live along the West Coast, have been listed as endangered since 2005. (Valmedia/Adobe Stock)

Young People Gather to Save NW Salmon, Call for Dam Removal

Young people are leading the charge this weekend in the call to remove four dams conservation groups believe will aid the survival of salmon in the No…

The totem pole made about a dozen stops in Idaho, Oregon and Washington over the past three weeks. (House of Tears Carvers)

Totem Pole Takes Journey for Salmon, Struggling Puget Sound Orca

A totem pole from Washington state promoting a free-flowing Snake River has nearly completed its 2,500-mile journey around the Northwest. The Spirit …

The are economic benefits for rural communities that host fishing include tourists buying bait, fuel, meals and lodging on their excursions. (Denise Walker/Adobe Stock)

Fishing Guide: WA Dams Contribute to Salmon Season Shutdown

The salmon-fishing season on the lower section of the Columbia River was shut down a week ago, prompting folks to call for more action to save the …

An ocean pattern known as La Ni�a is providing colder waters for salmon in the Pacific Ocean. (Naturecolors/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Good Ocean Conditions Not Enough to Recover Salmon

Recent data on ocean conditions could be good news for struggling salmon in the Northwest. But advocates for the species warn this isn't enough to …

The Clark County Clean Water Restoration Fund distributed nearly $4.5 million to 25 projects on the Columbia River. (Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership)

Seven Years On, Columbia River Benefits from Water Pollution Lawsuit

A fund created seven years ago in the wake of Clark County's violation of the Clean Water Act is helping improve salmon habitat and cleaning up stormw…

Salmon need unobstructed culverts so they can swim upstream to the places where they spawn. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill Includes Investments for NW Salmon Passage

SEATTLE -- The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress is a boon not just for people. It also could help wildlife such as endangered salmon …

Ensuring that stormwater is recycled quickly is key to preventing polluted water from reaching salmon. (PNPImages/Adobe Stock)

"Salmon in the City" Explores Urban-Design Approaches to Clean Water

SEATTLE -- How water flows in cities affects salmon swimming far away. An event this week is exploring how urban centers can better treat their water …

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has proposed $1 billion in culvert removal and restoration for salmon in the budget-reconciliation bill. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Outfitters, Guides Close Doors as Salmon, Steelhead Numbers Drop

SEATTLE -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. Steelhead …

Struggling salmon also are bad news for the orcas of the Northwest that rely on them. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

NW Heat Boils Salmon, Drives Rallies Across Region

SEATTLE -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

By 2025, 77% of Snake River Chinook salmon could be on the brink of extinction, according to a report this year. (randimal/Adobe Stock)

Dry Summer Warnings Signal Trouble for NW Salmon

SEATTLE - There are signs this summer could be a bad one for the native salmon of the Northwest. Already, drought has gripped the region, causing …

People are advised not to eat non-migratory fish within a mile upstream of Bonneville Dam, because of contamination from PCBs. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

States, Tribe Call for Superfund Site on Columbia River

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Oregon, Washington and the Yakama Nation are asking the Biden administration to list one stretch of the Columbia River as a …

The Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington would be breached under a proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

WA Groups: Infrastructure Plan 'Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity' for NW

SEATTLE - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. It aims to restore what …

Some Seattle restaurants secure their salmon supplies months in advance, to ensure they can serve this iconic Northwest fish. (Aldo/Adobe Stock)

NW Infrastructure Plan Could Bolster WA Restaurants

SEATTLE -- If the Pacific Northwest has a taste, it's for the region's salmon, but as the iconic fish species dwindles, it also effects a food chain …

Some groups in the Northwest say four dams in southwest Washington need to come down in order to save the region's native salmon populations. (Ryan Hagerty/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

After ID Salmon Workgroup, a Push for Regional Recovery

SEATTLE -- Idaho Gov. Brad Little's workgroup to consider what to do about dwindling salmon numbers has wrapped up, as conservation groups in …

Temperatures have been above 68 degrees Fahrenheit at dams along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, which is dangerous for cold-water fish species. (Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife/Flickr)

Salmon Struggle to Beat Heat in Columbia River Basin

SEATTLE -- Salmon in the Columbia River basin have been feeling the heat -- and experts say it's pushing fish species to the brink of extinction…

The sockeye salmon runs of Bristol Bay, Alaska, are world-renowned. (BB Armstrong/The Nature Conservancy)

Feds' Approval of AK Mine Raises Concerns for Salmon, Environment

SEATTLE - Conservation, tribal and fishing groups are condemning the Army Corps of Engineers' recommendation to permit the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay…

Commercial and recreational fishing supports about 60,000 jobs on the Washington coast. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Coastal Restoration: A Lifeline for WA Communities

SEATTLE -- An infrastructure bill in Congress would give a big boost to restoration projects along the Washington coast. Dr. Erin Meyer, director of …

The Nooksack River is crucial salmon habitat for the Northwest. (Patrick McNall/Flickr)

WA Dam Removal Brings Hope for NW Fish, Orcas

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Construction crews have begun work to remove the Middle Fork Nooksack Dam near Bellingham, restoring a crucial river for salmon…

Northwesterners are concerned salmon fishing could be a dying industry if historically low return rates continue. (Nan Palermo/Flickr)

NW Residents Concerned Feds Not Doing Enough to Save Salmon

SEATTLE -- Federal agencies have released a report on management plans in the Columbia River basin to save endangered salmon species, rejecting …

Dwindling salmon numbers in the Pacific Northwest have hit Southern Resident orca populations hard. (j.c. winkler/Flickr)

Conservation Groups, Utilities Partner Up on Snake River Dams' Future

SEATTLE -- Energy companies and conservation groups want to bridge the divide on a contentious issue in the Northwest: the future of four Snake River …

Gov.Inslee's Southern Resident Orca Task Force has recommended considering the impacts of four lower Snake River dams on salmon populations. (Bonneville Power/Flickr)

Gov. Inslee Report Weighs Future of Snake River

SEATTLE - A report on the future of the Snake River in southeast Washington comes out today. The Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholder draft report …

A new film underscores the plight of the remaining 73 Southern Resident orcas in the Northwest, by examining their primary food source. (Peterson Hawley Productions)

Film Finds Momentum for Removing Dams to Save Orcas

SEATTLE – A new documentary film argues that removing dams in eastern Washington would help the Northwest's dwindling population of orcas…

Nearly three-quarters of western Washington municipalities are making progress toward controlling polluting stormwater runoff. (Seattle.gov)

Scorecard Spurs WA Cities to Control Stormwater Pollution

SEATTLE – After years of work, cities in Washington are doing more to protect Puget Sound from its biggest source of pollution: stormwater …

Only 73 orcas remain in the Northwest's endangered Southern Resident population. (fletcherjcm/Flickr)

Calling for Protections During Orca Action Month

SEATTLE – Advocates for a healthier Puget Sound are bringing awareness to the precarious future of orcas in the Northwest this month. Now in …

Salmon recovery in Puget Sound is critical for the survival of Southern Resident orcas. (Puget Sound Partnership)

Puget Sound, Orca Advocates in D.C. to Urge Fed'l. Funding

SEATTLE - Supporters of Puget Sound, salmon and orcas are in the nation's capital to advocate for federal investments in the Evergreen State…

The Northwest's Southern Resident orca population is down to 75, the lowest number in 30 years. (Ingrid Taylar/Flickr)

More Spill at NW Dams Proposed to Help Starving NW Orcas

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Washington state is proposing to increase the volume of water spilled over Columbia and Snake River dams to aid salmon recovery…

There are 74 Southern Resident orcas in the Northwest, their lowest population in nearly three decades. (Candice Emmons/NOAA)

Public Comment on Orca Saving Recommendations Ends Sunday

SEATTLE – The Washington state Southern Resident Orca Task Force's recommendations for saving the killer whale population are open for public co…

Environmental groups say removing four lower Snake River dams would restore salmon populations, providing food to Northwest orcas. (Save Our Wild Salmon)

Floaters Want Free Flowing Snake River to Help NW Orcas Recover

CLARKSTON, Wash. – The fourth annual Free the Snake Flotilla begins tomorrow and one focus of the event is the role a free-flowing Snake River …

There are only about 75 Southern Resident orcas left in the Northwest. (C. Emmons/NOAA Fisheries)

With Death of Calf, Time Running Out to Save NW Orcas

SEATTLE – The death of a calf among the Northwest's iconic Southern Resident orcas is highlighting the grave situation the whales are in…

There are only 76 killer whales left in the Northwest's iconic Southern Resident population. (NOAA/Wikimedia Commons)

Governor-Led Orca Recovery Effort to Hold First Meeting

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An orca conservation team convened by Gov. Jay Inslee is holding its first meeting on Tuesday. The Southern Resident Killer …

The Lower Monumental Dam is one of four Snake River dams that could get protections from Congress. (samonrecovery/Flickr)

Wash. Dams Would Get Federal Protection Under House Bill

SEATTLE – The U.S. House is set to vote on Wednesday on a bill that would add federal protections to four lower Snake River dams. Conservation …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 23, 2024

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WA: Salmon Recovery