OPB’s First Look: Oregon’s only biosphere turns 50

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Good morning, Northwest.

This weekend, scores of people are expected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Oregon’s only UNESCO biosphere region.

Located at the estuary of the Salmon River near Cascade Head and Lincoln City, the area designated by the global organization has served in recent years as a community experiment of sorts to reverse years of agricultural practices along the river.

OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil reports on those efforts and what it means to be a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

In other news, Portland has released a draft proposal for a term sheet aimed at keeping the Trail Blazers in Portland for at least 20 more years.

Here’s your First Look at Friday’s news.

— John Hill

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Sand art is an example of something that enhances Cascade Head UNESCO Biosphere, without imposing a long-term footprint. Unidentified artist, July 7, 2021
*Duncan Berry*

Oregon’s UNESCO biosphere celebrates 50th anniversary

Fifty years ago, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated a coastal area near Lincoln City as a biosphere region.

That designated area is Oregon’s only such region and one of hundreds around the globe. Their aim is to provide a testing ground for ideas that balance people with nature.

Communities participate voluntarily and not much happened at Oregon’s biosphere region for decades. In recent years, though, the community has been working to restore the estuary near Cascade Head to its condition before large-scale human intervention.

“We have a very unique land-sea connection,” site co-director Duncan Berry, said. “There’s nothing like it on the West Coast. It allows us to do a lot of things that are more holistic than just land-based or just sea-based.” (Kristian Foden-Vencil)

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3 things to know

The Moda Center on Oct. 22, 2025 in Portland, Ore.
*Saskia Hatvany / OPB*

The Portland City Council has released a draft proposal for a term sheet intended to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland for at least 20 more years, just weeks before a deadline to take action on the Moda Center, the home to the Trail Blazers, Portland Fire and numerous concerts every year. (Rob Manning)
Faced with languishing worker complaints and a shortage of staff, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries convinced state lawmakers in March to send a cash infusion its way. Now, a trio of business groups is suing, arguing the law didn’t get the supermajority support it required. (Dirk VanderHart)
Vancouver is in the home stretch of construction for a new shelter — whose working name is Bridge Shelter — that will accommodate about 120 unhoused adults once it’s complete. (Elena Neale-Sacks)

Northwest headlines

Jerrid Weaskus of the Nez Perce Tribe holds a lamprey before releasing it in a waterway near Hills Creek Dam on June 24, 2026. Oakridge City Planner Guen DiGioia watches on from the shore.
*Brian Bull / KLCC*

• Wildfire in Wasco County leads to Level 3 evacuations for city of Antelope (OPB staff)

• Umatilla County wildfire spurs Level 3 - Go Now! - evacuations for 1,700 people (Antonio Sierra)

• BLM looks to hire 130 staff in Oregon to accommodate increase in timber sales (Zac Ziegler, KLCC)

• Oregon tribes and conservationists team up to help lamprey slither back to greatness (Brian Bull, KLCC)

• Farmworker wage complaints in Washington caught in state agency backlog, report finds (Aspen Ford, Washington State Standard)

• Portland Fire hold the Mystics to 29% shooting in a 75-56 rout (Associated Press)

Listen in on OPB’s daily conversation

“Think Out Loud” airs at noon and 8 p.m. weekdays on OPB Radio, opb.org and the OPB News app. Today’s planned topics (subject to change):

Today’s planned topics:

Topics subject to change.

• Portland OB-GYN new memoir ‘Labor’ highlights abortion access and providing medical care in a mobile health clinic

One more look

Chris Mortali puts the finishing touches on his mascarpone strawberry fraisier cake during the Big Portland Bake Show on June 27, 2026. The cake was decorated with the life cycle of a strawberry – going from flower to ripe strawberry – all with elements harvested from a friend’s backyard.
*Crystal Ligori / OPB*

Big Portland Bake Show puts a PNW spin on a British baking competition

Gathered underneath a red-and-white-striped marquee tent, Oregonians are recreating the celebrated Great British Bake Off with a series of weekend competitions in June, July and August at Pix Pâtisserie in Portland.

Cheryl Wakerhauser, the pastry chef and owner of Pix Pâtisserie, is the mastermind behind The Big Portland Bake Show, which is her riff on the popular British reality TV show. In early May, she put out the call to amateur bakers around Portland and was shocked at the response.

“It was supposed to be 50 contestants, but the system let more people in, so we ended up with 64 people,” she said.

The competition will take place twice more this summer with a new set of six bakers each weekend, July 18-19 and Aug. 29-30. Each of the three grand prize winners will take home a brand-new stand mixer. (Crystal Ligori)