Environment

Thurston PUD will redo water systems

The Thurston Public Utility District is about to launch a $3.9 million project to overhaul the water system serving Tanglewilde and Thompson Place.

Inlet’s water OK’d for shellfish

Water quality in lower Henderson Inlet has improved enough that 240 acres of shellfish-growing tidelands can be opened for harvest without weather restrictions, health officials said Tuesday.

Master Recycler project needs volunteers

Thurston County seeks volunteers for its Master Recycler Program, which trains people to be community educators on solid waste issues such as waste reduction, recycling and composting.

Learn how to help restore Puget Sound

People for Puget Sound will offer a one-day workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Olympia and Feb. 20 in Tacoma for volunteers interested in restoring South Sound estuaries and shorelines. The Sound Stewards class includes such topics as local shoreline history, introduction to ecology, native versus invasive plant identification, weed control and planting techniques.

Educator wins environmental award

Thurston County Public Works educator Colleen Uuereb received a 2009 outstanding environmental educator award from the Environmental Education Association of Washington.

Help shape Olympia's shoreline

OLYMPIA - What should Olympia's waterfront look like?

From lunch trays to the garden

TUMWATER - Lunchtime won't be the same for the students at Michael T. Simmons Elementary and 11 other schools participating in Thurston County's Food to Flowers Program.

Tripled oil tax seen as solution

Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers are teaming up behind a bill that would triple the tax on petroleum and other toxic substances, raising $225 million a year to help close a state budget gap and pay for stormwater projects.

Plan would put waste to work

OLYMPIA - A Maryland-based energy company hopes to break ground by late this year on a power plant in Shelton that would convert wood waste from logging operations into electricity.

Sierra Club speaker to talk about climate

Doug Howell, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, will be the featured speaker at the Olympia Climate Action meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the MIXX 96-FM radio station, 119 Washington St. N.E., Olympia.