Environment

Gypsy moth trapping under way across state

The annual gypsy moth summer trapping program is under way by the state Department of Agriculture.

Woodard Creek work party part of restoration project

A work party sponsored by the Thurston County Stream Team to weed and mulch newly planted seedlings in a Woodard Creek stream restoration project is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Learn to monitor stream bugs at free training workshop

The Thurston County Stream Team will offer a free training workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday for volunteers to monitor stream bug populations in South Sound streams this summer.

Add to online photo mosaic for Fish & Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is encouraging friends and families to grab their cameras and head outdoors to participate in the creation of an online photo mosaic project called “Let’s Go Outside,” which runs through Labor Day.

Next Science Cafe meeting to cover infectious diseases

New and emerging infectious diseases will be the topic of the next Science Cafe of Olympia meeting beginning at 7 p.m. July 14 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1530 Black Lake Blvd. S.W., Olympia.

Oxymoron term ‘clean coal’ embraced by Obama

Dear EarthTalk: As I understand it, “clean” coal really isn’t – yet the Bush administration gushed strongly for it. What is Obama’s take on it? – John Zippert, Eutaw, Ala.

Puget Sound orcas could be helped by California

WASHINGTON – A plan to restore salmon runs in California’s Sacramento River could also help revive killer whale populations in Puget Sound, as federal scientists struggle to protect endangered species in a complex ecosystem that stretches along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska.

Lake Washington sockeye returns too weak to fish

SEATTLE – The number of sockeye salmon returning to Lake Washington this summer is one of the lowest on recent record, dashing chances of any recreational or commercial fishing this year in the area.

Tide turns for Capitol Lake, estuary

A committee charged with helping to shape the future of Capitol Lake lined up Thursday squarely in favor of turning it back into the Deschutes River estuary after five years and $1.7 million worth of study and debate.

EPA lets states set emissions limits

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted California and 13 other states, including Washington, authority Tuesday to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from new cars and light trucks.