Snow piles up in the Cascades and more is on the way
Oregon’s Cascade Range passes gained around 14 inches of new snow on Monday and Tuesday — while lower elevations saw a bit less — to help boost Oregon’s snowpack to 108% of normal, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More mountain snow — and even low-elevation snow — appears possible into next week. That’s welcome news for mountain ski resorts that could enjoy a second straight year where winter recreation can last deep into spring. But it also means it could be crowded at those ski areas and sno-parks this weekend. To help avoid stress and heartache, resort officials recommend purchasing passes in advance and hitting the road early to get a parking spot. (Zach Urness/Salem Statesman Journal)
Proposed Oregon predator law prompts pushback
A proposal to let Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission regulate predatory animal controls is moving through committees in Oregon’s Legislature. But Senate Bill 199 could also affect the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s primary jurisdiction over predatory animals that harm crops and livestock, alarming farmers and ranchers concerned about their ability to defend against damage. “Threatened and endangered species are already protected by state and federal law. This bill would allow the commission to unnecessarily restrict management of species that are not at risk but do cause problems to our producers,” said Lauren Poor, vice president of government and legal affairs for the Oregon Farm Bureau. That’s not the goal of SB 199, however, according to Rep. Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale, a chief sponsor. (Mateusz Perkowski/Capitol Press)
Coalition blasts DEQ on proposal to curb air pollution permit requirements
Seven organizations in the Stand Up to Factory Farms coalition submitted comments last week blasting a state proposal to reduce certain air pollution permit requirements for the Threemile Canyon factory farm gas refinery. According to the coalition, the Department of Environmental Quality proposal would allow the facility to emit more dangerous air pollutants including fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases and fails to acknowledge the full extent of the facility’s air pollution. The permit modification follows what the coalition calls repeated violations of Threemile Canyon’s air quality permit between June 1, 2019, and at least Sept. 30, 2020, drawing $19,500 in fines for releasing illegal amounts of health-damaging fine particulate matter. (Michael Kane/East Oregonian)
Oregon winegrowers glean lessons from last year’s untimely frost
Last year, the Oregon wine industry held its collective breath following an untimely hard freeze in mid-April that appeared to cause significant damage in vineyards statewide. The situation looked grim and filled vineyard managers with panic, said Patty Skinkis, professor and viticulture extension specialist for Oregon State University. But bloom came in late June and early July, accompanied by ideal weather and large grape clusters. The key takeaway, Skinkis said, is that vines will grow, even in a frost year. “If we have a frost like this again, the lesson should be: do not delay.” (George Plaven/Capital Press)
Wapato Lake refuge set to celebrate a long-awaited opening
On March 18, the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate a grand opening that has been long in the making. The lake became a designated wildlife refuge in 2013, but it has been slow in opening to the public with the lake and the surrounding land in need of rehabilitation work, including the restoration of the wetland, lakebed and native vegetation. The refuge opened fully to the public on Feb. 1, but staff decided to postpone the official celebration a month to avoid poor weather. Rebecca Gómez Chuck, manager of the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, said the goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been to create a protected space outside Gaston that the public can enjoy. “This is their refuge,” Gómez Chuck said. (Megan Stewart/Portland Tribune)
