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New plant hardiness map shows only subtle shifts in Oregon

Warming winters impact which plants thrive.

News

Policies guiding Portland police's use of body cameras

The city is one of the last of its size to implement the devices across its police agency.

Portland holiday lights guide

Don't miss the sing-a-long at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Things to Do

Who picks up Portland's trash?

You might have to first pick up the phone.

The first &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plant hardiness&quot; map" data-vars-click-url="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/" data-vars-content-id="179e5613-e624-4044-9e4d-3af2a06c41ce" data-vars-headline="New plant hardiness map shows only subtle shifts in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/" target="_blank">plant hardiness&quot; map</a> published in over a decade — using Oregon State University climate data — shows an overall warming shift that may affect plant choices for gardeners and growers.Why it matters: The USDA map is kind of a bible for farmers and gardeners, helping them understand <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="which plants" data-vars-click-url="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/pages/how-to-use-the-maps" data-vars-content-id="179e5613-e624-4044-9e4d-3af2a06c41ce" data-vars-headline="New plant hardiness map shows only subtle shifts in Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/pages/how-to-use-the-maps" target="_blank">which plants</a> are most likely to survive winter cold in their region.

Budget shortfall could mean snowier roads this winter

ODOT won't be able to deploy snowplows as often.

Transit

As Oregon experienced its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first significant snowfall" data-vars-click-url="https://kpic.com/news/local/cascade-passes-see-first-significant-snowfall-of-the-season-snow-levels-forecast-to-rise-oregon-washington-weather-mount-hood-mt-government-camp-santiam-pass" data-vars-content-id="d57108a1-d1f6-4262-8b22-80ae3537b59f" data-vars-headline="Budget shortfall could mean snowier roads this winter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kpic.com/news/local/cascade-passes-see-first-significant-snowfall-of-the-season-snow-levels-forecast-to-rise-oregon-washington-weather-mount-hood-mt-government-camp-santiam-pass" target="_blank">first significant snowfall</a> this week, state transportation officials warn that a funding deficit will mean fewer snowplows clearing major roads this winter.Why it matters: Drivers may encounter more setbacks and dangerous driving conditions as the weather gets colder and wetter.

An aerial image of a curvy road carved through a forest of snow-capped evergreen trees.

How smokejumpers fight Oregon wildfires: A day in the life

Many of the 50 smokejumpers in Redmond clock over 1,500 in overtime.

Climate

When the siren goes off inside Redmond Air Center, initial attack firefighters — also known as smokejumpers — pack on a parachute, load into a Short C-23 Sherpa plane and get ready to descend into the throes of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an active wildfire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/08/14/cost-of-wildfires-oregon-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="a7c469bd-bc6a-4e2f-bb39-8ed814daf132" data-vars-headline="How smokejumpers fight Oregon wildfires: A day in the life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/08/14/cost-of-wildfires-oregon-climate-change" target="_self">an active wildfire</a>, often in hard-to-reach, rugged terrain.What&#x27;s happening: By the time wildfire season settles down across the West Coast in mid-October, many of the 50 smokejumpers headquartered on the Redmond Smokejumper Base in central Oregon — the only team in the state — have clocked nearly 1,500 hours in overtime.

A person descends onto a wildfire on a forest hillside. 

Camp Creek fire threatens Portland's drinking water

The water is still safe to drink, according to officials.

With higher temperatures expected in the coming days, the Camp Creek wildfire, burning in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bull Run Watershed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.portland.gov/water/about-portlands-water-system/how-bull-run-protected" data-vars-content-id="26dc9099-cbea-43db-860d-6aa59d01ad6e" data-vars-headline="Camp Creek fire threatens Portland&#x27;s drinking water" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.portland.gov/water/about-portlands-water-system/how-bull-run-protected" target="_blank">Bull Run Watershed</a> near Sandy, still poses a threat to Portland&#x27;s primary source of drinking water, according to fire officials.Why it matters: The Bull Run Watershed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="and its reservoirs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.portland.gov/water/about-portlands-water-system/about-bull-run" data-vars-content-id="26dc9099-cbea-43db-860d-6aa59d01ad6e" data-vars-headline="Camp Creek fire threatens Portland&#x27;s drinking water" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.portland.gov/water/about-portlands-water-system/about-bull-run" target="_blank">and its reservoirs</a> supply water to over 1 million people across the Portland area.

A photo of a mountain free line with smoke in the air.

How an ice storm sent Oregon power outages soaring

Oregonians experienced nearly 25 hours of power outages in 2021.

Oregon customers experienced some of the worst power outages in the country in 2021, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration — mostly due to a catastrophic ice storm that left <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly half a million residents without power" data-vars-click-url="https://www.koin.com/weather/2021icestorm/lessons-learned-from-ice-and-a-half-million-without-electricity/" data-vars-content-id="cbb24d73-ab46-4e7b-b95c-3a3e82774874" data-vars-headline="How an ice storm sent Oregon power outages soaring" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.koin.com/weather/2021icestorm/lessons-learned-from-ice-and-a-half-million-without-electricity/" target="_blank">nearly half a million residents without power</a>, some for several days.Driving the news: Before 2021 (the most recent data available), Oregon&#x27;s power outage rate was mostly below the national average.<ul><li>But in 2021 it was triple the national average. Oregonians experienced nearly 25 hours of power outages that year — up from 5 hours in 2020.</li></ul>

How Oregon State researchers sniff out toxic algae

The Willamette River is especially susceptible to harmful blooms.

Toxic algae blooms are one of the biggest bummers of summer. Not only do they turn <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rivers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/06/30/willamette-columbia-river-swimming-safety" data-vars-content-id="b36b1163-2be9-44d1-acd7-da3e8705c83e" data-vars-headline="How Oregon State researchers sniff out toxic algae" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/06/30/willamette-columbia-river-swimming-safety" target="_self">rivers</a> and lakes a sickly blue-green hue, they can be dangerous (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="and sometimes deadly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.koin.com/news/portland/oha-harmful-algae-bloom-that-can-kill-pets-still-growing-in-willamette-river/" data-vars-content-id="b36b1163-2be9-44d1-acd7-da3e8705c83e" data-vars-headline="How Oregon State researchers sniff out toxic algae" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.koin.com/news/portland/oha-harmful-algae-bloom-that-can-kill-pets-still-growing-in-willamette-river/" target="_blank">and sometimes deadly</a>) for wildlife, humans and pets.<ul><li>However, researchers at Oregon State University believe they&#x27;ve identified a scent-based way to measure the severity of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cyanobacteria" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/habs/illness-symptoms-freshwater.html" data-vars-content-id="b36b1163-2be9-44d1-acd7-da3e8705c83e" data-vars-headline="How Oregon State researchers sniff out toxic algae" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/habs/illness-symptoms-freshwater.html" target="_blank">cyanobacteria</a>, which often causes blooms and affects many of the region&#x27;s popular waterways.</li></ul>

An image of a sign stating "Warning: Blue-green Algae bloom(s) have been spotted in this waterbody!"

Cost of fighting Oregon wildfires grows with climate change

Funding for fighting wildfires depends on where one starts.

As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfire season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/22/oregon-wildfire-season-record-heat-portland-2023" data-vars-content-id="ab7cb283-9d1d-416f-a91c-c3fa7eb1597a" data-vars-headline="Cost of fighting Oregon wildfires grows with climate change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/05/22/oregon-wildfire-season-record-heat-portland-2023" target="_self">wildfire season</a> in Oregon becomes more volatile, in part due to climate change, the cost of fighting fires is also expected to grow for the state and federal governments.Why it matters: The cost of fighting wildfires is not as straightforward as one might think. While labor and fuel make up the bulk of resources needed to fight wildfires, aircraft, third-party contractors and on-site incident management camps can quickly jack up the price.

An image of a firefighter facing away from a fallen tree smoldering. 

How hot is too hot for rides at Oaks Park?

There's a seat temperature limit to prevent burns.

Extreme summer weather is starting to reshape the theme park industry, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="writes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/31/extreme-heat-amusement-parks" data-vars-content-id="e14b91f4-93d0-4faa-be62-3e959df528db" data-vars-headline="How hot is too hot for rides at Oaks Park?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/31/extreme-heat-amusement-parks" target="_self">writes</a> Axois&#x27; Hope King.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oaks Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oakspark.com/" data-vars-content-id="e14b91f4-93d0-4faa-be62-3e959df528db" data-vars-headline="How hot is too hot for rides at Oaks Park?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oakspark.com/" target="_blank">Oaks Park</a>, Portland&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nonprofit amusement park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oakspark.com/about-us" data-vars-content-id="e14b91f4-93d0-4faa-be62-3e959df528db" data-vars-headline="How hot is too hot for rides at Oaks Park?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oakspark.com/about-us" target="_blank">nonprofit amusement park</a> that&#x27;s been entertaining folks for more than a century, has a magic number: 130 degrees.

A ferris wheel next to another amusement park ride with a clear blue sky in the background.

Columbia River hatchery investments fail native fish

Wild populations of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin continue to decline.

Wild populations of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin continue to decline despite decades of spending to try to save the species, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a recent study" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289246" data-vars-content-id="51cd6caa-6d2d-4c1f-a23f-239f2b54a36d" data-vars-headline="Columbia River hatchery investments fail native fish" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289246" target="_blank">a recent study</a> from Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey.Why it matters: Researchers found that hatcheries and habitat restoration efforts dating back 40 years cost taxpayers an estimated $9 billion (adjusted for inflation), but were unsuccessful in boosting native fish populations.

A photo of a person holding a salmon underwater. 

More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon

Meanwhile, air quality advisories are in effect in Central Oregon.

There are currently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="25 wildfires" data-vars-click-url="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/83f2c1698e4c4e3e8cce2eaa6d148d08/page/Fire-Statistics/?views=Fires-Overview" data-vars-content-id="c548363f-327f-497c-b6b8-1a20a6825158" data-vars-headline="More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/83f2c1698e4c4e3e8cce2eaa6d148d08/page/Fire-Statistics/?views=Fires-Overview" target="_blank">25 wildfires</a> burning in Oregon, including the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bedrock Fire" data-vars-click-url="https://centraloregondaily.com/bedrock-fire-fall-creek-lake/" data-vars-content-id="c548363f-327f-497c-b6b8-1a20a6825158" data-vars-headline="More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://centraloregondaily.com/bedrock-fire-fall-creek-lake/" target="_blank">Bedrock Fire</a> east of Eugene in the Willamette National Forest and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flat Fire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.currypilot.com/news/flat-fire-update-human-caused-blaze-spreads-to-23-678-acres/article_b1faf1ea-2ca5-11ee-801a-f78002de2f42.html" data-vars-content-id="c548363f-327f-497c-b6b8-1a20a6825158" data-vars-headline="More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.currypilot.com/news/flat-fire-update-human-caused-blaze-spreads-to-23-678-acres/article_b1faf1ea-2ca5-11ee-801a-f78002de2f42.html" target="_blank">Flat Fire</a> down south near Agness.<ul><li>Across the Columbia River in Klickitat County, Washington, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Newell Road Fire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management" data-vars-content-id="c548363f-327f-497c-b6b8-1a20a6825158" data-vars-headline="More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.klickitatcounty.org/249/Emergency-Management" target="_blank">Newell Road Fire</a> has burned more than 61,000 acres — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="larger than the size of Seattle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/jul/27/evacuations-continue-as-newell-road-fire-surpasses-61000-acres/" data-vars-content-id="c548363f-327f-497c-b6b8-1a20a6825158" data-vars-headline="More than two dozen wildfires burning across Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/jul/27/evacuations-continue-as-newell-road-fire-surpasses-61000-acres/" target="_blank">larger than the size of Seattle</a>.</li></ul>

A photo of two firefighters spraying water at the line of the Nessel Road Fire in Washington.

Climate 🌿