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Environment

Oregon DEQ’s Bad Apple Campaign returns to reduce food waste, boost budgets and benefit the environment

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the holiday season approaches, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Bad Apple Campaign returns to help Oregonians take a bite out of inflation, minimize food waste and maximize holiday budgets.  The updated campaign features new resources and advice from people in Oregon who save money by reducing the food they

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Oregon ranked third-most bike-friendly state in the nation by League of American Bicyclists

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The League of American Bicyclists released their biennial 2024 Bicycle Friendly States Report & Ranking on Thursday, and Oregon was ranked as the #3 most bicycle friendly state in the nation. The comprehensive survey and data collection conducted for this report looks at how each state is improving conditions for bicycling—from funding and

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26 more electric school buses will be rolling across Oregon, as EPA awards DEQ $6.54 million

SEATTLE (KTVZ) — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has been selected to receive $6.54 million in funding to assist in the purchase of 26 zero-emission, all-electric school buses through a first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.   “Thanks to President Biden, we are accelerating American leadership in

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Oregon getting federal money to improve habitat for imperiled western monarch butterfly

By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Millions of western monarch butterflies once visited Oregon and other Western states each spring to drink flower nectar, pollinate plants and lay their eggs after wintering in forests in coastal California.  But today just a couple hundred thousand make the journey. To help curb their

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Historic town of Antelope certified as Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Community

ANTELOPE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The historic town of Antelope, Oregon has been certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, making Antelope the first International Dark Sky Community in Oregon, and the fifth International Dark Sky Place in Oregon. They join Oregon Caves National Monument International Dark Sky Park, Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, Prineville Reservoir

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Trash tide rises over the holidays: Deschutes County Solid Waste offers ways to cut waste, celebrate sustainability

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — While the holiday season is often a time for celebrating with friends and family, it is also a time when the Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste sees a significant increase in the amount of trash going into the landfill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family

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Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, partner start work on developing reservation’s first solar power project

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Warm Springs Power & Water Enterprises, which manages the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs’ energy assets and facilities, announced Monday that it will collaborate with renewable energy developer BrightNight to develop the Salmonfly Project, a utility-scale solar energy and battery energy storage project on the Warm Springs Reservation. Though early

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New OSU/USGS Harney Basin model, study sheds light on groundwater declines by linking irrigation decisions

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Sustainable rates of groundwater withdrawal in Oregon’s Harney Basin were surpassed 20 years prior to the time declining groundwater levels were generally recognized, a new analysis found. That lag in realizing the impact of groundwater use is just one insight from a new study linking farm economics and groundwater hydrology in the

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Governor Kotek declares drought emergency in Harney County, Oregon’s fourth this year

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) —  Governor Tina Kotek on Friday declared a drought in Harney County through Executive Order 24-30, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. It’s the fourth such drought declaration this year, following the governor’s earlier actions involving Jefferson, Lake and Wallowa counties. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor,

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Oregon commission approves redo of landmark climate program after gas industry lawsuit derailed it

By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon’s keystone plan to regulate fossil fuel companies and reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution will be reinstated in early 2025 after being derailed for nearly a year by a gas industry lawsuit. The Environmental Quality Commission, which oversees the Department of Environmental Quality, voted unanimously

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Deschutes National Forest’s four wildlife winter range closures go into effect Dec. 1

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Starting Sunday, December 1, four winter range closures take effect across the Deschutes National Forest to provide critical habitat for deer and elk. Beginning December 1, 2024, four annual wildlife winter range closure areas including Cabin/Silver Lake, Metolius Winter Range, Opine Travel Management Area and Tumalo Winter Range will begin. Motorized

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BLM sets aside more than 4,000 acres south of Redmond during review of proposed solar project

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday it is temporarily setting aside about 4,037 acres of public lands associated with the proposed Expedition Solar Project south of Redmond. This means that the lands, located about seven miles south of Redmond off Morrill Road, will be withdrawn from the public land laws for two

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Kids’ lemonade stand sparks a big-time donation to the Deschutes Land Trust – and a big lesson for the grandkids

(Update: Adding video, comments from parent, grandparent, Deschutes Land Trust) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend nonprofit got a generous donation in a novel way – through a lemonade stand. For two girls, Noa and Lila, visiting their grandparents in Central Oregon turned out to have a big impact on the Deschutes Land Trust. The trust received $25,000 from the

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ODF completes massive Santiam State Forest reforestation, planted 2.3 million seedings after devastating 2020 wildfires

LYONS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The four-year effort by the Oregon Department of Forestry to reforest the Santiam State Forest after the 2020 wildfires hit an important milestone this month when the last of more than 2.3 million trees were planted.  “This was a huge, challenging, and long-term project for ODF,” said John Walter, ODF’s State

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