Smart Penguin!

Wow! I have some amazing and great things to share. The pictures are of a starling stealing quarters from a vending machine (probably for his money grubbing girlfriend). Now if he could only find a way to put those into a food vending machine!












The video was forwarded to me a couple of days ago as were the pics. The video is especially worth watching... Penguin being chased by killer whales has unique escape strategy.

Thrice Buried Once Removed - Stream Daylighting in Seoul

In 2003 Seoul Korea's major highway was moved to daylight a stream that was buried in 1955. A construction company chief ran for mayor and won on the platform of daylighting (he won the presidency in 2007). Now that is progressive. The water of course (a pun!) has to be pumped at this point but maybe not for ever.

Researchers looking at stream bank erosion in Pennsylvania

This video is great.

Over 8000 dams in Pennsylvania have been removed making the state the nations leader in stream restoration. But is it working. There is a theory that mill dams and mill ponds as old as 400 years may be causing modern day erosion. Dorothy Merritts and Bob Walter of Franklin and Marshall College believe that many restorationists have misdiagnosed the actual issue. Erosion is key and residual (or legacy) sediments left over from mill pond removal erodes and allows streams to reconnect to their floodplains (a good thing for a fish and a bad thing if it takes out your house). As a test they removed a LOT (30,000 cubic yards) of dirt down to the presettlement level on a deeply incised stream. Native species are thriving! Floodplain reconnection was achieved, it didn't look like they added large wood either!.

From our own work I find that many restorationists want to stabilize banks and this video points out what I have long suspected, stable banks aren't necessarily a good thing.

Low Elevation Cities in....

Over their heads, deep water, you thought I was going to say peril. ;) http://maps.risingsea.net/ Check out the link, I am still looking for either a global or pacific nw map of sea-level rise and will add it if/when I find it.

If at first you don't succeed...

So I've been trying to introduce the buffet in Portland's backyard to the next generation, my five-month old son. Other than his being an integral part of getting the garden ready for the season (which chiefly has included us trying to keep him from putting compost in his mouth), he's gone along on a few mushroom hunting excursions as well.

One of the best things about mushrooms is that - provided you've been successful and have actually found a few - they distribute their spores while you're walking through the forest. Therefore, it's important to use a canvas, mesh, or paper bag so the spores can make their way out and provide for the future. As I'm relatively new at this, my success thus far has been limited to chanterelles in the fall (and those are exciting - much like a giant wilderness-wide orange Easter egg hunt). I gave a shot at the grey morels this weekend with no luck.... It seemed like we had perfect conditions: a few days of 70 degree weather, cooler in the evenings, rain the night before.... But after a morning spent searching under hardwoods, we had no luck. Maybe the rest of Portland had the same idea and got there before we did. Not that it actually seems to matter. Even without any product of our efforts, we still came home happy and nettle-stung, the dog sopping wet with Columbia River water.

California Considers Easing Hunting Regulations on Black Bears

"The population has roughly quadrupled over the last two decades, and some Fish and Game officials say it would remain robust with expanded hunting regions and caps."

"But officials at the state Department of Fish and Game say they proposed the changes because California's black bear population is flourishing and spreading."

God forbid a species flourish and spread, except for our own of course ;) Hopefully habitat restoration and reconnection will allow bears to flourish without danger to human settlements.

Comment on the Forest Plan Revision Malheur Umatilla and Wallowa Whitman

The Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests are combining efforts to revise their Land Management Plans (also referred to as Forest Plans). The current Plans are near the end of their intended 15-year life, and will be revised to address the substantial resource and social changes on the three Forests as well as new scientific information.

PROPOSED ACTION RELEASED!

The proposed action for the land and resource management plan for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests is now available for public comment. This initiates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the forest plan revision. Using public comment, the planning team will develop alternatives to the proposal and analyze the effects of the proposal and alternatives on the environment. The result will be a draft environmental impact statement, which is expected to be released to the public for comment in 2011. The final decision is expected in 2012.

Public Meetings to explain the proposal, the NEPA process, and how to make effective comments will be held around the area in April.

Meeting Schedule:

April 6 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Federal Building, Juniper Hall, 431 Patterson, John Day, OR

April 7 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Harney County Senior & Community Services Center, 17 S. Alder St., Burns, OR

April 13 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Pendleton Convention Center, Rooms 3 & 4, 1601 Westgate, Pendleton, OR

April 14 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Saint Patrick Senior Center, 182 N. Main, Heppner, OR

April 15 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Public Use Building - Columbia Co. Engineer’s Office, 1 No. Pine, Dayton, WA

April 20 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Sunridge Inn, One Sunridge Lane, Baker City, OR

April 21 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Eastern Oregon University, One University Blvd, Hoke Hall, Room 309, La Grande, OR

April 22 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m Civic Center, 102 E 1st St., Joseph, OR

April 28 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Red Lion Convention Center, 1021 NE Grande Ave., Portland, OR

April 29 - 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Franklin County PUD, 1411 West Clark, Pasco, WA

Gateway CPAC Meeting.

The Gateway Regional Center Program Advisory Committee meeting will hold a regular bi-monthly meeting, Wednesday, April 21, 2010, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, at the East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106^th Avenue. The meeting agenda is posted at the following website:

http://www.pdc.us/ura/gateway/membs-mins-notes/pac-info/pac-minutes.asp

Please contact Justin Douglas, (503) 823-4579, douglasj@pdc.us, with questions.

Earth Day on the Oregon Coast

Join NCLC on Saturday, April 24 for Earth Day at Circle Creek, an all-day celebration at our 364 acre Conservation Center property in Seaside. From seed starting to tree planting, tours of the Sitka spruce forest to tours of amphibian habitats, there will be activities for people of all ages looking to Celebrate Earth Day by connecting with this beautiful and unique landscape on Oregon’s North Coast.

Earth Day at Circle Creek schedule of events:

• 9:30 a. m. The Forest Remembers: Memorial program in the Circle Creek spruce grove to honor those who have been remembered with a gift of support to NCLC.
• 10-00- 10:30 Welcome! Enter to win the raffle, Start seeds to take home, Enjoy morning refreshments and displays while deciding which fabulous tour to attend.
• 10:30-11:30 Field programs on the land. Sitka spruce tour with NCLC Conservation Director Neal Maine, Habitat Development tour with NCLC Executive Director Katie Voelke, Amphibian tour with North Coast Ecologist and NCLC Volunteer Mike Patterson.
• 12 noon -1:00 BBQ ($4 suggested donation, or bring your own sack lunch). More opportunities to start seeds, meet other outdoor enthusiasts, and learn if you are the winner of the 2010 Earth Day raffle!
• 1:00-3:00 Planting the Pasture: hands-on tree planting project led by NCLC Stewardship Director Celeste Coulter. Join us as we add to the over 8,000 native trees and shrubs that have been planted at Circle Creek so far. Celebrate Earth Day by planting trees that will live a lifetime on conserved land.

To learn more about the day's events, please the NCLC website.

See you outside!

Water in Peril! (Wow this is getting redundant)

"It is clearly one of the worst disasters, environmental disasters of the world. I was so shocked," Said Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, regarding the disappearance of the Aral Sea.

I agree. I also would add to that list every other major river that has been diked, dammed, and diverted to other uses. The Colorado River delta is another example. Where once there was a vibrant fishing-culture, now is a dying community struggling to feed their families. All for power and money. Oh well. What is there left to do?

Carnivorous Plants in Peril!

"Scientists in the UK are reporting evidence that consumption of insects contaminated with a toxic metal may be a factor in the mysterious global decline of carnivorous plants." Read the entire article on Science Daily at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100331122648.htm