en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Environment headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 The odds of severe flooding in the Green River Valley have dropped substantially due to repairs on the Howard Hanson Dam. But that relief was followed by barely contained frustration that months of high anxiety have come at great psychic and financial expense - and that the wait for a permanent fix could sap the region further even if a flood never comes. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010213136_greenriver06m.html?syndication=rss Environment Water Washington 11/06/2009 Seattle Times Researchers believe the day is coming when the electricity you use will be your own. Instead of relying on large central generating stations - hydroelectric dams, coal plants and the like - scientists say we're moving toward an era of "personalized solar energy." http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/11/personalized_solar_units_could.html Climate Economy Energy Environment Solutions Sustainable Living Oregon United States 11/05/2009 Oregonian Canada will stage a judicial inquiry into the collapse of sockeye salmon runs on the Fraser River, which have been in a two-decade decline and hit a 50-year low in summer 2009. It has prompted concerns that sockeye are heading for a population failure on the scale of the collapse of Atlantic cod. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Ottawa+plans+inquiry+into+disappearance+sockeye/2188687/story.html Environment Food & Farms Salmon Water British Columbia 11/06/2009 Vancouver Sun Three major retailers have agreed to pay nearly half a million dollars to settle a lawsuit stemming from the companies' sale of toys containing excessive amounts of lead, the California attorney general's office said Thursday. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toys-settlement6-2009nov06,0,6735481.story Environment Pollution & Toxics California 11/06/2009 Los Angeles Times A curious debate has broken out among American environmental groups, as the Senate balkily starts to focus on the threat of climate change. Is this really the time to talk about shrinking glaciers? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110502134.html Cap and Trade Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Green Jobs Policy Pollution & Toxics United States 11/06/2009 Washington Post Twenty years ago, a group of children planted a sugar maple tree behind Boise-Eliot School in North Portland. The tree was supposed to grow tall and spread a graceful canopy, but looks more like a lollypop. The unremarkable tree goes about its remarkable job: cleaning the air of pollution, capturing carbon dioxide and filtering stormwater, while providing shade and a sense of well-being. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/11/a_tree_still_grows_at_boise-el.html Environment Forests Sprawl & Transportation Oregon 11/06/2009 Oregonian On a few islands in western Canada, white 'spirit bears' walk the woods. Now scientists have discovered why these striking animals, a race of black bear, survive. White bears are less visible to fish than their black counterparts, making them 30% more efficient at capturing salmon in the islands' rivers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8344000/8344367.stm Environment Salmon Wildlife British Columbia 11/06/2009 BBC News An Ashland High School graduate has created a reusable takeout container that is being used at 200 workplaces and universities nationwide - including Southern Oregon University. Audrey Copeland, 24, created the Eco-Takeout clamshell container after she was inspired by a college environmental studies project. http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091105/NEWS02/911050315/-1/NEWS01 Climate Environment Pollution & Toxics Sustainable Living Oregon 11/05/2009 Ashland Daily Tidings Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee pushed through a climate bill on Thursday without any debate or participation by Republicans. The move suggests that President Obama and bill supporters will have serious problems assembling the votes needed to enact it when it comes to the Senate floor, probably not before next year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/us/politics/06climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Cap and Trade Climate Energy Environment Food & Farms Policy Pollution & Toxics United States 11/05/2009 New York Times