Dam leak turns Bend’s Mirror Pond into mudflat
Repairs to begin in early November
Bend residents visiting Mirror Pond recently saw exposed berms and portions of the bank normally covered by water, after a … Read more
Federal money flows into Deschutes Basin piping projects
USDA-backed project gets going near Tumalo, others planned
With the summer irrigation season winding down and the winter snowfall still on the horizon, … Read more
Changing climate could bring larger fires to Oregon
Climate report portends global changes sooner than anticipated
A report on climate change from a United Nations environmental panel suggests serious impacts could … Read more
Metolius preserve will now be managed by Central Oregon environmentalists
Land contains unique habitat, plants from Eastern, Western Oregon
CAMP SHERMAN — Along the banks of a far-flung stretch of the Metolius River, where … Read more
Dam lawsuit battle moves closer to a conclusion
Federal judge upholds prior decision for Pelton-Round Butte Dam complex
The yearslong battle over one of Central Oregon’s oldest dam complexes could be nearing a … Read more
Dropping water reveals decades of trash at Wickiup
“Wickiup Pickiup” to take advantage of low water levels at reservoir
Declining water levels at Wickiup Reservoir have shattered records and prompted concerns from irrigation districts … Read more
Ponderosa pines coming down outside Sisters
ODOT crews start cutting down hazardous trees
Work crews with the Oregon Department of Transportation began cutting down standing dead and dying … Read more
Environmental groups push to ban ‘cyanide bombs’ in Oregon
Cyanide capsules also harm pets, humans, groups tell state, federal agencies
Nearly 100 private citizens and environmental groups in Oregon and beyond are pushing back against … Read more
Study: Climate change could more than halve Mt. Bachelor ski season
What climate change means for snow sports
Within the next 70 years, snow melt triggered by climate change could devastate snow sports … Read more
Drought marks one of Central Oregon’s warmest summers
Summer months are the fifth-driest in Bend history
Saturday marked the formal transition to fall, officially ending one of the hottest and driest … Read more
Building dams to help beavers return
Volunteers build dams that encourage beavers to return to historic habitat
Beavers play an important role in salvaging Central and Eastern Oregon watersheds that have been … Read more
Smoke keeps visitors away from Crater Lake
Visits to national park down almost 9 percent through August
Smoke from wildfires has caused problems across Oregon this summer, canceling events and forcing residents … Read more
Fewer fires started by people in August, state agency says
10 percent fewer fires started by people on ODF-managed land in August
It’s been an up-and-down summer for Oregon fire managers trying to limit the number of … Read more
Wickiup Reservoir at lowest level since early 1990s
Reservoir levels prompt concern from farmers, irrigation districts
Water levels at Central Oregon’s largest reservoir are lower than they’ve been in 27 years. … Read more
Forest Service finds rotting timbers on Wildcat Camp Bridge
Bridge is closed to vehicles over 5 tons
The only route into one of the most popular campgrounds in the Ochoco National Forest … Read more
East Lake Campground closing for tree removal
East Lake campground and boat launch will close on Thursday in preparation for a U.S. … Read more
Magistrate recommends rejection of plan for Ochoco trails
A U.S. District Court judge must still rule on the plan, however
A controversial proposal to establish a network of trails for off-highway motorized vehicles in the … Read more
Wolf pups spotted in north Central Oregon
Pups could help form region’s first pack in decades
Central Oregon’s first resident gray wolf pair in decades was spotted earlier this month with … Read more
Increased use brings trash, fire risk to Phil’s Trailhead
Concerns about problems near popular trails west of Bend
About 100 yards from the road leading to Phil’s Trailhead, a large pile of 2-year-old … Read more
Smoky conditions to linger for at least one more day
State environmental agency extends smoke advisories for Central, Eastern Oregon
The wildfire smoke in Bend and across Central and Eastern Oregon is likely to linger … Read more
Oregonians could see more smoke in spring and fall
State proposes looser restrictions on controlled burns
More smoke from prescribed fires could be on the way to Central Oregon and other … Read more
New rules would allow slacklining, drones in parks
New rules proposed at Bend parks would come with restrictions
Slackliners, drone-hobbyists and other groups may soon have more clarity about what they can and … Read more
Fires to the north bring smoke back to Central Oregon
Smoke in Bend mostly from fires in Washington, British Columbia
Central Oregonians awoke Monday morning to a new round of wildfire smoke blanketing the area. … Read more
Pilot Butte faces years of rehabilitation after Fourth of July fire
State plans demonstration habitat in burned area
About six weeks after a fire on the Fourth of July ravaged the base of … Read more
Rebuilding a creek where redband trout can thrive
Deep Creek restoration to make river less ‘monotonous’
After decades of ranching and logging left a creek deep in the Ochoco National Forest … Read more
Wildhaven Preserve land transfer hits snag
Nature Conservancy still waiting to transfer land to Forest Service
Nine months after The Nature Conservancy announced plans to donate Wildhaven Preserve to the U.S. … Read more
Collaboration, not litigation, for environmental groups, irrigation districts
Memo touts shared vision of Upper Deschutes
Environmental organizations and irrigation districts hope a new agreement could help discussions about managing flows … Read more
What happens to material that was once recyclable?
Recycling meeting highlights effects of concurrence program
The problem at Madras Sanitary Service isn’t the 210-ton stash of cardboard, plastic and other … Read more
Concerns raised about weedkiller near Sisters prior to use
Public documents show Forest Service knew Perspective could impact ponderosas
Documents from the U.S. Forest Service and other public agencies show that many of them … Read more
Evacuating homeless campers provided extra challenge to those fighting Bessie Butte Fire
Tents, trailers a common sight along China Hat Road
At the very edge of the black scar created by the Bessie Butte Fire, southeast … Read more
Bottle redemption centers report spike in use in Bend and beyond
Bottle, can redemption especially key with recycling changes overseas
The percentage of bottles and cans going to Bend’s redemption center has skyrocketed in the … Read more
Central Oregon reservoirs a cause for concern
Wickiup, Prineville reservoirs below average, following dry winter, spring
Barely 18 months after Central Oregon’s first above-average snowpack in years, its large reservoirs are … Read more
Crooked River Ranch residents fear wildfire in nearby wilderness area
Walden bill would allow thinning trees with chain saws on 800 acres
A Congressional bill could help protect a Central Oregon community at high risk for wildfire, … Read more
Bend conference spotlights brewpubs that cut plastic waste
China’s rejection of recyclables spurs businesses to use less
With the specter of massive changes to recycling looming on the horizon, a couple of … Read more
More dead ponderosa pines linked to weed-killer
Dead trees near Sunriver prompt questions about widespread use of Perspective
A weed-killer responsible for killing thousands of trees outside Sisters has also been linked to … Read more
