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Environment

‘This year has been challenging’: Central Oregon farmers discuss how their summer crops are faring

(Update: Adding video, comments from farmers, KTVZ.COM Poll) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) —  Farmers in Central Oregon are doing their best to raise their crops amid a late snowfall and this summer’s record heat and early, smoky wildfire season.  At RainShadow Organics and Well Rooted Farms, farmers shared with us Monday their recent experience growing crops in Central

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Deschutes County still part of latest Oregon DEQ air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued a new air quality advisory Monday that again includes Deschutes County, due to smoke from fires in Oregon. The following areas are affected: Deschutes County Northern Harney County Northern Jackson County Northern Klamath County Lake County The agencies

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Oregon DEQ extends air quality advisory for Deschutes County, other areas of state due to continuing wildfire smoke

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued an air quality advisory on Friday due to continued smoke from wildfires burning around the state. The following areas are affected: ·        Deschutes County ·        Central and eastern Douglas County ·        Southern Grant County ·        Northern Harney County ·        Klamath County ·        Lake County

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Tumalo ranch’s horse arena to go solar thanks to $92K assist from USDA, among Oregon recipients totaling $2.18 million

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) –  Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $2,182,023 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, and $3,176,875 in a REAP loan, to support renewable energy projects in the state, including a rooftop solar array for the horse arena at JGW Ranch in Tumalo.

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Fires’ smoky impacts linger: Deschutes, Klamath counties in latest air quality advisory from Oregon DEQ

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued another air quality advisory Wednesday for Deschutes, Klamath and eastern Lane counties due to smoke from fires in Oregon. The agencies said they expect the air quality advisory to last until at least Friday afternoon. DEQ and partner

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Oregon DEQ’s revised air quality advisory lists Central Oregon counties as getting only ‘intermittent’ smoke

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued an air quality advisory Monday due to smoke from wildfires across Oregon, but for the first time in a while, all three Central Oregon counties are expected to see only “intermittent” smoke. The following areas are affected: ·        Eastern

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Central Oregon Irrigation District to receive up to $15 million from USDA for Water Saving Commodity Program

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement of $400 million to address drought through investments at the irrigation district scale in 12 Western states. The Central Oregon Irrigation District was selected for this innovative funding opportunity in Oregon. “As climate chaos fuels long-term drought in Oregon

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Merkley, Wyden introduce legislation to create more EV charging stations at highway rest areas

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Senator Jeff Merkley — along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) — introduced on Thursday the Recharge your Electric Car on the Highway to Alleviate Range Gaps Effectively (RECHARGE) Act. Currently, locations for electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations along interstate highways are limited by federal law that constrains commercial

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Lower Deschutes River to remain open to summer steelhead fishing amid highest run in nearly a decade

THE DALLES, Ore. (KTVZ) —The popular Lower Deschutes River will remain open for steelhead fishing under permanent regulations. More than 21,000 unmarked summer steelhead have passed Bonneville Dam since July 1. The run to date is the highest in nearly 10 years, though still well below the 20-year average as the upriver summer steelhead run

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Oregon DEQ continues air quality advisory for Deschutes County, ‘intermittent’ for Jefferson County starting Sunday

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued a new air quality advisory Friday due to more smoke from wildfires in Oregon, California, Idaho, Washington and Canada. The following areas are affected: Deschutes County Eastern Douglas County Grant County Harney County Klamath County Lake County Eastern

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Oregon DEQ seeks public comments on revised, ‘stronger’ draft Climate Protection Program rules after court ruling

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality published the draft rules for the Climate Protection Program for public comment Tuesday. The draft rules set an enforceable declining limit, or cap, on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels in Oregon that will reduce emissions by 50% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.“This program

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Two shark species documented in Puget Sound for the first time by OSU researchers

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon State University researchers have made the first scientific confirmation in Puget Sound of two distinct shark species, one of them critically endangered. The presence of the broadnose sevengill shark and endangered soupfin shark in the sound, the southern portion of the Salish Sea, may indicate changes in what biologists in

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Interior-Environment spending bills pass House, advance in Senate, include funds for five Central Oregon projects

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Two members of Oregon’s congressional delegation on each sides of the aisle pointed in recent days to advancing legislation that will if they make the final version will send millions to five Central Oregon projects and numerous others around the state. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted for an Interior Department appropriations bill that

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Oregon DEQ issues new air quality advisory for Deschutes, other counties as wildfire smoke continues to impact state

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an a new air quality advisory Friday for the following areas due to smoke from wildfires: Baker County Deschutes County Eastern Lane County* Eastern Wheeler County Grant County Harney County Klamath County Lake County Malheur County *The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency expects the air

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Forest Service in NW to permit use of heavy equipment, fire retardant in some protected roadless, wilderness areas

 PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to the intense wildfire activity in the Pacific Northwest, Forest Service leaders in the region said Sunday they have authorized the use of heavy equipment and fire retardant to suppress wildfires in roadless and wilderness areas, on a case-by-case basis. “These aggressive suppression actions are only used when they are

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How well does tree planting work in climate change fight? It depends, study by OSU, other researchers shows

CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Using trees as a cost-effective tool against climate change is more complicated than simply planting large numbers of them, an international collaboration that includes an Oregon State University scientist has shown. Jacob Bukoski of the OSU College of Forestry and seven other researchers synthesized data from thousands of reforestation sites in

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