Deschutes County joins a growing list of Oregon counties—now 15 deep—designated by Gov. Kate Brown as drought emergencies following today’s announcement. With today’s addition of eight counties, nearly half the state is experiencing an official drought emergency. In addition to Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Morrow, Umatilla, and Wasco counties have been added. “The majority of our state […]
drought
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Washington Declares Drought Emergency—Is Oregon Next?
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency today, OPB reports. The emergency status was brought about by low snowpack. Insley said that while the state should have sufficient water for drinking, crops and fish may be threatened, and wild fires are an increased risk. California has already declared a drought emergency. Is Oregon […]
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Side Notes 5/14-5/21
OSU-Cascades announced that Emilie Cortes will give the commencement speech for the Class of 2015 on Sunday, June 14. Once a San Francisco investment professional, Cortes left her 17-year career to follow her passion for adventure travel and mountaineering. She now serves as the president for Call of the Wild Adventures, Inc., which leads adventure […]
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A Sign of the Apocalypse
Droughts, droughts everywhere, but how many drops are being conserved?
One of the impacts of global warming is the prolonged droughts on the West Coast—and the corresponding shortage of water for growing food and flushing toilets. In California and Oregon, snow packs have traditionally been critical water sources when they melt in the springtime. But, reduced to less than one-tenth of normal levels, those resources […]
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Side Notes 3/18-3/25
Oregon’s newly minted Gov. Kate Brown made history Monday by signing a bill to register all voting-age Oregonians with DMV-issued IDs to vote. The legislation, which Brown had initiated while still Secretary of State, allows residents to opt-out of voter registration, instead of requiring them to opt in. The move is expected to add about […]
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What in the World: Drought Increases, Journalists Captured in Ukraine and Immigrant Children Housed in Portland
DROUGHT: Drought conditions are intensifying and scientists say it’s due to climate change. Currently, 33 percent of the United States is experiencing some degree of drought, and 46 percent of the nation is abnormally dry. (NY Times) UKRAINE: A freelance journalist working for CNN was detained by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine CNN has so far unsuccessfully lobbied for Anton […]