6.4 earthquake strikes off Oregon coast
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake was recorded 150 miles off the Oregon coast Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The quake struck at 5:37 p.m., the U.S. Geological Survey said. A tsunami is not expected, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.
Police dispatchers in several coastal communities said they had yet to receive any calls from people who felt the quake. The U.S. Coast Guard also reported no quake-related problems.
POCATELLO, Idaho
Agreement to protect cutthroat trout stream
A land trust in eastern Idaho has signed an agreement with a local landowner to protect a key Bonneville cutthroat trout spawning stream and 700 acres that surround it.
The land includes the headwaters of Mink Creek, which is a tributary of the Bear River.
“It’s incredible property, and it’s right adjacent to Forest Service land,” said Deb Mignogno, temporary executive director of the Pocatello-based Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust. “The fellow doesn’t want a lot of publicity about it, but it does support Bonneville cutthroat trout, which is a species of concern.”
David Teuscher of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said a study conducted on the headwaters of Mink Creek showed that it contained genetically pure Bonneville cutthroats. Habitat loss and stocking of rainbow trout has diluted Bonneville cutthroat strains in other areas.
The land trust obtained the conservation easement last month after the anonymous owner donated the development rights in an agreement that will protect the land from development in perpetuity.
KETCHUM, Idaho
Sun Valley skier survives avalanche
An avalanche that buried a 13-year-old skier on Sun Valley Resort’s Bald Mountain last weekend was a fluke and the resort doesn’t plan to do anything differently when it comes to avalanche control in the future, an official said.
“We were prepared and we did our job probably as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Rich Bingham, snow safety director for Sun Valley Resort, said Wednesday. “There will always remain little pockets of instability and people need to be cognizant of where they’re going and ski with friends.”
Hailey resident Nicholas Weber, enjoying 19 inches of fresh powder on the central Idaho mountain on Saturday, survived unharmed after being buried about 3 feet for more than 10 minutes by a 60-foot wide and 75-foot long avalanche.
Sun Valley Ski Patrol Director Mike Lloyd said only about 11 minutes passed from the time of the avalanche to Weber being freed.
“He didn’t do anything wrong and was skiing in-bounds,” Sun Valley marketing director Jack Sibbach said. “In fact, one thing he did that was extremely smart was skiing with friends.”
SEATTLE
Washington to overhaul Evergreen State ferry
The state ferry system is taking the 54-year-old Evergreen State out of service for an engine overhaul, hull repairs and other maintenance.
It will be replaced Jan. 16 by the Hiyu on the San Juan Islands interisland route.
The Evergreen State can carry 87 cars and 983 passengers. The Hiyu is the smallest ferry in the state fleet with a capacity of 34 cars and 200 passengers.
The Evergreen State should return to service in April.
GREAT FALLS
Wildlife officials OK killing two more wolves
State wildlife officials have authorized the killing of two more wolves from a pack that has been killing cattle on private land near the Middle Fork of the Dearborn River northwest of Wolf Creek.
Fish, Wildlife and Parks said a total of six cattle have been confirmed killed on the same ranch in 2007 and one calf was reported missing. The ranch is west of Bowman’s Corner, the intersection of U.S. 287 and Montana 200.
The livestock incidents began in January 2007 and continued through March. In late November and early December, additional cattle losses were confirmed and three wolves were killed.
Three more incidents in which cattle were run through stout fences occurred between late December and early January. One heifer was euthanized.