"Salmon have persisted in these often volatile Northwest rivers for millennia. Through volcanic eruptions, landslides, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis and certainly flooding, salmon have evolved and adapted. But now humans are changing things faster than ever before..." ✍️: @isabellabreda.bsky.social

Buried in WA river, scientists' tools could hold secrets to salmon survival

Before December's record rainfall, researchers had buried boxes and chains in a Puget Sound river to mimic salmon spawning nests.

seattletimes.com

Recently I created a #cutaway diagram of a glacier in retreat, and what causes/accelerates melting. Also, #illustrations of animals and plants that may disappear as alpine meadows are lost 🏔️ Drawn digitally in pen-and-ink style. Read more at www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... #sciart #climate

"Yakama Nation, which has plans for solar and other energy projects, has championed climate laws and supported clean energy development. But the nation has been clear that a project here would cause irreparable harm." www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Federal energy regulators OK pumped-storage project on Columbia River

A renewable energy project along the Columbia River, at a Yakama Nation sacred site, secured a key federal license.

seattletimes.com

MLK Labor is likely to take up a resolution this week calling on Wilson to open up the selection process for a new City Light CEO to include union workers.

David Kroman@kromandavid.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Alluded to this in the story with @isabellabreda.bsky.social last week, but the electrical workers' union is not pleased with Mayor Wilson firing Dawn Lindell as City Light CEO, saying they never got the opportunity to make their case. Sounds like some will show up in council chambers this afternoon

Simply put, his role over the years was to ensure the fundamental principle of the nation’s Superfund law: The polluter pays for the cleanup. He hadn’t tied his retirement to a specific age, or an amount hitting his savings, but rather to seeing some of his cases through.

He worked in Seattle with the EPA for decades. Then the Trump administration fired him

Ted Yackulic spent 35 years at the agency, ensuring pollution cleanups in the Northwest. This summer, he joined 150 colleagues in a dissent letter.

seattletimes.com

NEW TWIST: data centers in farm country may accelerate nitrate contamination from agricultural sources with big implications for public health. Studies are needed to confirm or refute this finding. Lack of transparency, monitoring, regulations makes it tough. www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...

'The Precedent Is Flint': How Oregon's Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis

Amazon data centers constructed in eastern Oregon's farmland have worsened a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.

rollingstone.com

Judge Pechman wrote: “ …allowing a change in an administration to upend multiyear grants would cause unnecessary chaos across the vast world of government-supported endeavors undertaken by states, universities, nonprofits & others.” www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... @isabellabreda.bsky.social

Dam operations on the Columbia and Snake have been fought over in one of the longest-running unresolved legal fights in the region. At issue is the extinction of Northwest salmon and the impacts to wildlife, people and industries that rely on them. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Environmental groups, Oregon turn to courts to help Columbia Basin salmon

It's the first big development in a decadeslong battle since the Trump administration blew up a deal that had provided a path to dam removal on the Snake River.

seattletimes.com

It’s difficult to find the words to express how our unit is feeling right now, but we’ll take a stab at it: shocked, disappointed, angry, gutted. @cascadepbs.bsky.social’s choice to eliminate long-form written reporting is a massive loss for our community in a critical moment. tinyurl.com/LayoffFund

Donate to Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed, organized by Isabella Breda

On Monday, Sept. 22, Cascade PBS announced that it would be s… Isabella Breda needs your support for Support Cascade PBS journalists after online newsroom axed

tinyurl.com

NEW from @isabellabreda.bsky.social - Four weeks after ICE arrested him while he worked the Bear Gulch fire on the Olympic Peninsula, immigration officials released firefighter Rigoberto Hernandez from the detention center in Tacoma. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Firefighter arrested at Bear Gulch blaze released from ICE detention

The firefighter had spent nearly four weeks detained by immigration officials. His attorneys argue that was he wrongfully arrested and his constitutional rights were violated.

seattletimes.com

Scientists assessed several speculative climate hacks that have been promoted recently, and none of them measured up to the hype—or to a rigorous set of feasibility standards.

Geoengineering Won’t Save Us From Global Warming, New Study Says - Inside Climate News

New research by a team of top ice and climate scientists debunks some speculative technological climate fixes for preserving the polar ice caps.

insideclimatenews.org

Most questions remain unanswered, including whether businesses or firefighters were targeted in the criminal investigation, and whether the investigation was connected to the arrests. Firefighters said it felt like a setup. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Border Patrol: Firefighters arrested at Bear Gulch fire illegally entered U.S.

The statement is the first time the federal government has commented on the arrests that sparked outrage from elected leaders across the Northwest.

seattletimes.com

🚨Border Patrol arrested two firefighters who were actively fighting a wildfire at the time. When the other members of the crew asked for a chance to say goodbye, a Border Patrol agent told the crew member “you need to get the f*ck out of here. I’m going to make you leave.”

Constantine@ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 11mo ago

ICE took 2 firefighters OFF THE FUCKING FIRE LINE!?

There aren't many stories that prompt gasps at our editors' daily budget meeting. But this was one.

Constantine@ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 11mo ago

ICE took 2 firefighters OFF THE FUCKING FIRE LINE!?

Border patrol, and other federal agents, arresting firefighters on a red flag day. This isn’t normal.

The Seattle Times@seattletimes.com · 11mo ago

Federal agents showed up northeast of Lake Cushman to check identification of crew members fighting Washington's largest active wildfire.

Context that didn't make it into the story, a quick 🧵 About 60,000 people are currently in custody across the country, said Matt Adams, legal director for the nonprofit Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. 1/9

The Seattle Times@seattletimes.com · 11mo ago

Federal agents showed up northeast of Lake Cushman to check identification of crew members fighting Washington's largest active wildfire.

“The real question is will the Army follow state cleanup law,” said Greg Caron, a manager for the state’s hazardous waste and toxics reduction program. “And they’ve never answered that question.” www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA ramps up pressure on Army over PFAS contamination near Yakima

Washington state officials say the U.S. Army is violating state law over its lack of action on PFAS contamination in East Selah, Yakima County.

seattletimes.com

The number of sockeye returning to the Baker River continues to grow. Interventions including concrete ponds, chutes, an elevator, a fish taxi and a hatchery have changed how the fish navigate the river system—but the method is working. nwtt.co/o4

Baker River sockeye storm back in record run

As other salmon runs edge toward extinction, including Lake Washington sockeye, the Baker River is beckoning in a record run this summer.

nwtt.co

A TSUNAMI WATCH is now in effect for Washington state. If you are on the coast, be prepared to take action & stay tuned for more instructions. This alert level will update once more is known. Find details here: tsunami.gov/events/PAAQ/... #TsunamiWatch #WaWX

A fuel tanker crashed off Highway 101 on Friday and began leaking fuel into a major tributary for salmon, trout and the water supply for Port Angeles. It's a pretty devastating spill. From @isabellabreda.bsky.social and me: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Tanker crashes, spills fuel into Elwha tributary near Port Angeles

A fuel tanker truck went off Highway 101 into Indian Creek, a tributary of the Elwha River, on Friday morning.

seattletimes.com

“Part of the reason why climate is such a factor here is because we’ve damaged the natural processes, and we prevented the river from being resilient like it was before,” said Ryan Miller, a member of Tulalip Tribes board of directors. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... @isabellabreda.bsky.social

Tulalip Tribes' project gives Northwest’s salmon a chance at surviving extreme weather changes

Pacific Northwest rivers evolved with big wood. It looked something like this.

seattletimes.com

It's hot, dry and about to get windy! www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA wildfire danger: Red flag warning issued

Wildfire danger across Eastern Washington will remain high through Wednesday evening as fires burn across the state. Much of the east side of the state is under a red flag warning from the National We...

seattletimes.com

The OBBB is expected to contribute an additional 470 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2035, the annual equivalent of more than 100 million gas-powered cars on the road. insideclimatenews.org/news/0307202...

'Big Beautiful Bill' Set to Slash Through U.S. Climate and Justice Drive - Inside Climate News

Trump’s legislation will hurt clean energy, boost fossil fuels and end investment in environmental justice. Climate advocates vow to continue the fight.

insideclimatenews.org

Thank you @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social @isabellabreda.bsky.social & Lynda Mapes for capturing the story of one of the most inspiring scientists and human beings I know. @noaa.gov and all of us have lost. The dreams Trump is taking away from so many - those are the ones that made America great.

‘They took away my American dream’: A federal biologist in Seattle let go of her job to save benefits

Anna Kagley began her science career with the federal government 38 years ago. Suddenly, it was over.

seattletimes.com

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

EV charger network could get a jump start when Seattle judge rules on Trump freeze

Congress appropriated $5 billion, but the Trump administration stopped it from reaching states. Washington is leading the legal fight to access the money.

seattletimes.com

Plans to open a South Seattle Community Food Hub aimed at supporting local farmers and hunger relief groups were canceled due to funding uncertainty under Trump.

South Seattle food hub canceled amid Trump’s federal funding ‘chaos’

Plans to open a South Seattle Community Food Hub aimed at supporting local farmers and hunger relief groups were canceled due to funding uncertainty under Trump.

seattletimes.com

www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

WA braces for a ‘complicated’ wildfire season

The summer is anticipated to bring an above-average fire risk, beginning next month in Central and Eastern Washington, and by July, creeping into wetter Western Washington.

seattletimes.com

Is Washington state on its now whenever the next natural disaster strikes? Emergency managers don't know and the federal government isn't saying. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Trump cuts leave WA emergency managers playing 'budgetary Russian roulette'

State and local governments are facing a type of budgetary Russian roulette as federal officials withhold or stall disaster grants and funding, officials say.

seattletimes.com

The canceled program, called the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, was responsible for a plan to reduce illness and save lives in extreme heat in the wake of the 2021 heat dome, among other things. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Trump administration pulls plug on UW climate research partnership

A research collaborative hosted at the University of Washington has worked alongside communities to help them adapt to climate change.

seattletimes.com

This sucks. “What seems so strange to me,” said Jason Vogel, deputy director of the Climate Impacts Group and co-director of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, “is that what initially appeared to be an attack on climate science [...] is becoming an attack on vulnerable communities.”

John D ❌👑@everythingisjake.bsky.social · last yr.

The canceled program, called the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, was responsible for a plan to reduce illness and save lives in extreme heat in the wake of the 2021 heat dome, among other things. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...