NEWS and FEATURES
EXCLUSIVE: SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER WANTS MILE-WIDE FUEL BREAKS IN GIFFORD PINCHOT
The plan to widen cuts along roads in the national forest would redirect federal timber revenue to county coffers
Columbia Insight
May 4, 2026
NEW GAS PIPELINES IN GORGE, E. WASH. COULD DIRECTLY SUPPLY DATA CENTERS
An Oklahoma company wants to expand its natural gas network in Washington as tech companies turn to fossil fuels to power AI
Columbia Insight
March 26, 2026
EXCLUSIVE: A CALIFORNIA WINEMAKER IS FIGHTING TO ROLL BACK GORGE PROTECTIONS. AND WINNING
A battle between conservation and commerce is underway in the National Scenic Area. At stake is the Gorge’s future
Columbia Insight
March 4, 2026
NOT SO FAST: CELEBRATIONS OVER DELISTING ENDANGERED PLANTS MIGHT BE PREMATURE
Validating local botanists’ concerns, rare PNW plants have experienced steep declines since removal of federal protections
Columbia Insight
February 12, 2026
BATEMAN CAUSEWAY: DECADES-OLD SALMON BARRIER FINALLY BEING REMOVED
Tribes and conservationists cheer Corps of Engineers decision that brings closure to a hard-fought campaign on the Yakima River
Columbia Insight
December 16, 2025
OREGON COURT INVALIDATES STEALTH CHANGES TO FISH PASSAGE RULES
Ruling says ODFW violated public notice requirements when it redefined fish passages to include trap-and-haul methods
Columbia Insight
December 8, 2025
SHOULD THIS DAM ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER BE CERTIFIED ‘LOW IMPACT’?
Tribes, environmental groups and the state of Washington challenge Douglas County PUD’s bid for low impact certification for Wells Dam
Columbia Insight
November 24, 2025
DIVIDE AND CONQUER: TRUMP’S PLAN TO STOP LOGGERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS FROM TALKING
Administration seeks to eliminate forest collaborative programs intended to ease tensions between conservationists, timber industry, USFS
Columbia Insight
August 7, 2025
PACIFIC LAMPREY HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE
The Columbia River’s most misunderstood fish faces challenges as conservation funding dries up and dams block their path
Columbia Insight
July 17, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: FOREST SERVICE PLANS TO REPLACE TREE PAINTING WITH BROAD GUIDELINES FOR LOGGERS
The federal agency change will give timber companies more control over deciding which trees get cut down and which get saved
Columbia Insight
June 12, 2025
DEFUNDING THE GORGE: WASHINGTON BUDGET BATTLE THREATENS NATIONAL SCENIC AREA
A Washington House amendment could dissolve the decades-old, bi-state commission that manages the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia Insight
April 24, 2025
A FUEL BREAK PROJECT NEAR MOUNT HOOD COULD REMOVE OLD-GROWTH, CRITICS SAY
Lack of hi-res data is at the core of a challenge to a logging project conservationists say could cause unnecessary damage
Columbia Insight
February 13, 2025
THE FOREST SERVICE IS USING THE THREAT OF WILDFIRES TO MEET TIMBER TARGETS
The agency has sought to minimize environmental oversight and used authorities critics say incentivize the logging of older trees
Columbia Insight
February 6, 2025
THE DESCHUTES RIVER HAS TROUBLE. IS THIS PGE WATER TOWER TO BLAME?
Water temps are increasing. Insect populations are declining. Alan are blooming. A local group is pointing a finger at electric utility operations
Columbia Insight
July 4, 2024
SHOULD THE GOLDEN PAINTBRUSH HAVE BEEN DELISTED AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?
Key scientists who worked on the plant’s assessment say no, and they could have the numbers to prove it
Columbia Insight
June 13, 2024
HUNTERS AND ODFW AREN’T THE ONLY ONES TO BLAME FOR GEARHART ELK KILLINGS
From ‘elk selfies’ to continuing habitat encroachment, the Oregon Coast has a long way to go to address human/elk conflict
Columbia Insight
May 9, 2024
CONTROVERSIAL RETROFIT OF WALLOWA LAKE DAM WOULD ELIMINATE FISH PASSAGES
Enviros, Nez Perce and Umatilla Tribes have filed a motion to suspend the implementation of a new Oregon rule they say harms salmon
Columbia Insight
February 22, 2024
Oregon’s Drinking Water Is at Risk From Clearcutting
NASA report confirms concerns about logging in watersheds and spurs community efforts to buy them
Sierra Magazine
November 30, 2023
Could Fire Be the Solution to the East Coast’s Tick Woes?
How researchers hope to use an old technology to stop the spread of tick-borne diseases
Sierra Magazine
October 2, 2023
UPDATE: ODFW Commission sued over salmon policy change
Enviros and Nez Perce Tribe join forces in claim that board didn’t provide appropriate public notice before making significant revisions
Columbia Insight
August 31, 2023
State of Oregon keeps reasons for salmon policy change under wraps
State claims attorney-client privilege protects release of records regarding what one critic calls “a bizarre effort to distort the science”
Columbia Insight
August 31, 2023
Data center on Columbia River would nearly double town’s energy consumption
The Bonneville Power Administration has confirmed Cascade Locks mayor’s concerns about proposed new construction
Columbia Insight
March 20, 2023
EXCLUSIVE: BUSINESSMAN PROPOSING DATA CENTER ON BANKS OF COLUMBIA RIVER HAS HISTORY OF TROUBLED DEALS
City mayor says “things aren’t adding up” with deal being pursued by Port of Cascade Locks and tech startup
Columbia Insight
May 9, 2023
FISHY REVISION TO OREGON SALMON RULES SPARKS OUTCRY
A “last-minute” rule change to Oregon’s Fish Passage Law has environmentalists, Tribes and fishers concerned
Columbia Insight
Feb 20, 2023
AT CONFLUENCE OF YAKIMA AND COLUMBIA A BARRIER TO SALMON MAY FINALLY BE REMOVED
Another federal report says the Bateman Causeway needs to go. Should we believe it this time?
Columbia Insight
Feb 16, 2023
Nathan Gilles 