BOATING -- Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) check stations will be set up this weekend in several locations in Eastern Washington, the state Fish and Wildlife Department announced this afternoon. These are mandatory stops for anyone on the road with watercraft of any kind. Officers will…
BOATING -- North Idaho has five invasive species boat inspection sites open through Sept. 9 to check boats for zebra and Quagga mussels that could infest the state's waters. The state Agriculture Department's Invasive Species Program is operating the sites 7 a.m.-7 p.m. as follows:…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Even though only about a dozen wolves roam in the state, the Oregon Senate gave unanimous approval today for a bill authorizing a comprehensive livestock compensation and wolf coexistence program. Gov. Kitzhaber is expected to sign the legislation, which passed the House…
COLUMBIA RIVER -- Miles of inviting sandy beaches are beckoning campers at Lake Roosevelt, but rapidly rising lake levels warrant caution when pitching tents. Lake Roosevelt's level is at elevation 1,268 feet today, and it's expected to be up to about 1,280 feet on July…
STEELHEAD FISHING -- The steelhead are running, but very slowly compared with last year. Maybe the fish are waiting for this spring's enormous flows to subside a bit. Stay tuned.
SALMON FISHING -- Fish managers are extending the fishing season for hatchery spring chinook heading up the Yakima River, since high, turbid flows have been thwarting the regular season action. The season will extend through July. Read on for details from the Washington Fish and…
ENVIRONMENT -- A coalition of sportmens groups this week strongly criticized the House Transportation Committee for passing legislation that would dramatically weaken the Clean Water Act and undercut four decades of progress in restoring the nation’s waters and wetlands and conserving valuable fish and wildlife…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Congressman Doc Hastings, R-WA, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is promoting a Republican plan that would remove restrictions on motorized access to 43 million acres of public land nationwide. A tip of the hat to the Backcountry Hunters and…
PUBLIC LANDS - The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests will release proposals for revising their forest plans Thursday, triggering a 60-day public comment period. The joint project encompasses nearly 5 million acres in northcentral and northeast Washington. National forests update their land management plans every…
PUBLIC LANDS - More volunteers are needed for upcoming outings that combine learning traditional skills and the camaraderie of group camping with maintaining popular northeastern Washington trails. Three projects organized by the Washington Trails Association and Conservation Northwest include: Bead Lake Trail, June 25-27. Salmo-Priest…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
