SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently fined a Prineville man more than $30,000 for storing about 6,000 old tires on property east of Bend. A DEQ official said in a Dec. 30 notice sent by certified mail that Martin Hernandez Soto of Prineville was previously issued a warning letter last
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By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — A 34-year-old rule exempting some commercial logging projects on federal lands from environmental review is unlawful, a federal judge recently ruled. Judge Michael McShane in the U.S. District Court in Medford earlier this month struck down the exemption, and with it, reversed recent approvals for three
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Winter is the most effective time to prevent wildlife conflicts before they start, Central Oregon’s Think Wild reminded property owners on Monday. “With many species less active, homeowners have a limited opportunity to address entry points, complete humane exclusions, and install habitat features that reduce conflicts before spring nesting and activity
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Natural Resources will begin accepting applications for its 2026 Sweat Equity Bin Rental Program on Sunday, Feb. 1. Officials say the program helps local communities remove fire fuels and improve defensible spaces around homes and other structures by covering the cost of trash bin rentals. Funds set aside for
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SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The city of Sisters has launched an outdoor lighting rebate program for residential property owners, to help defray the costs of replacing outdoor lighting fixtures with ones that comply with the city’s Dark Skies lighting ordinance. The city said the goal of the rebate program that began on Friday is to
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LAKEVIEW, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Monday for Lake County and southern Klamath County and extends the advisory for southern Deschutes County due to stagnant air conditions trapping smoke and other air pollutants near the ground where people breathe. DEQ said expects the air quality advisory to last through
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Move brought outrage from conservation groups, while drawing praise from ranchers and Republicans VALLEY FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Trump administration is moving to permanently delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act, a decision spotlighting the struggles of a Southern Oregon ranch family at the heart of the nationwide debate. A Wolf at the Fence Line
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Hayden Homes Amphitheater has been recognized by Live Nation as the top outdoor venue in the United States for sustainability based on results from the 2025 concert season. According to the venue, Hayden Homes Amphitheater diverted 93.5 percent of its waste from landfills this year. That included recycling more than
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend and Housing Works said Friday they have partnered to replace more than 100 high-volume toilets at Summit Park Apartments with high-efficiency models, aiming to save water and reduce utility bills. The retrofit is expected to save Housing Works approximately $10,600 annually, or $105 per toilet. The outdated
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MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Portland General Electric and The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs said Thursday they are undertaking a complex project to replace the original turbine shutoff valves at their jointly owned Round Butte Hydroelectric Facility. “This critical infrastructure upgrade demonstrates PGE’s and CTWS’s commitment to maintaining reliable, clean hydroelectric power generation while supporting
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) As part of the City of Bend Public Works Department’s recent move into the new Public Works Campus, the city’s water lab successfully transferred its Oregon laboratory accreditation from its former location at the city’s Water Reclamation Facility. City officials said in Thursday’s announcement that “the water lab ensures the city provides
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(Update: Video Added) PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management says it is continuing a very successful prescribed burns season, with more than 18,000 acres treated since the beginning of September. The Bureau says these burns are necessary, natural, and contribute to the health and preservation of the lands and their ecosystems. Read
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Record-high temperatures are keeping Mt. Bachelor from opening as planned, leaving the slopes bare well into December and raising questions about what the delay means for Central Oregon’s winter tourism.
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Earlier this year, Deschutes County amended its outdoor lighting ordinance to reduce light pollution and protect Central Oregon’s night skies while maintaining public safety. They take effect in less than two weeks.
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SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ viewer Paul Evenson shared another Sunriver traffic report with us on Tuesday. He said these elk were on the move Tuesday morning, no doubt taking advantage of the unusually mild winter weather to do some traveling.
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest has finalized its plan to allow Class 1, pedal-assist e-bikes on most than 160 miles of mountain bike trails for much of the year, except for winter. The forest announced Tuesday it has signed the final decision on the Class 1, Pedal Assist E-bikes on Select Trails located on
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It has been nearly a week after the expected opening day and Mt. Bachelor and this year is off to a slow start. The current base depth reads at just 2 inches. Mt. Bachelor had an incredible 2024-2025 season. The resort opened early, on November 15th, which was the earliest open in 26 years. Don’t
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SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Water Resources Department is now accepting grant applications for the Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund to help low- to moderate-income homeowners with the cost to repair or replace and abandon a dry well or a well damaged or destroyed by wildfire. WARRF provides up to $40,000 per grant to
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BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Solid Waste is expanding options for residents to recycle items that can’t be placed in curbside recycling bins. Starting Tuesday, more recycling containers will be available at county transfer stations and at Knott Landfill for: Plastic bags Plastic lids from items like yogurt and sour cream tubs Shredded paper
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CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Researchers at Oregon State University said this week they have developed a quick-setting, environmentally friendly alternative to concrete they hope can one day be used to rapidly 3-D print homes and infrastructure. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3-D printing is already being used to help solve construction challenges such as the
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