Migratory visitors
Around 35,000 sandhill cranes visit the Basin
OTHELLO — People from throughout the Pacific Northwest gathered in and around Othello to catch a glimpse of an annual phenomenon. Whether they crept down backroads with binoculars and cameras poking out of windows or followed trumpeting and croaking noises to their quarry, visitors to the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival were looking for the majestic bird.
Discover Pass fee increase considered by WA legislature
OLYMPIA —Washington State Senate Bill 5390, which proposes to increase the cost of the Discover Pass and day-use permits, was the subject of discussion during a recent hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations. The bill aims to update fees that have remained unchanged since their implementation in 2011 and address a growing budget deficit in state recreational programs. The bill passed the Senate with a 29-20 vote. Senate Democrats voted in favor, with the exception of Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground. All Republican senators voted no.
Birding adventure
Join the Central Basin Audubon Society at Sun Lakes State Park Saturday
COULEE CITY – As the sun peeks over the horizon on an April morning, the air is alive with the sounds of chirping birds, signaling the arrival of spring migration. Join the Central Basin Audubon Society for an exciting bird walk at Sun Lakes State Park, where participants can witness golden eagles and a variety of migratory bird species in their natural habitats.
Airborne adventure
Moses Lake Airshow returning June 20-21
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Airshow will take to the skies again June 21-22.
Fire safety, preparation important in an RV
MOSES LAKE — Among many other things, summer is a good opportunity for a road trip – or road trips – in the trailer, maybe out in the woods or to the beach, maybe a multi-state adventure, maybe setting up camp at a family event. Unfortunately, fire does not respect road trips, and in some ways trailers or recreational vehicles present different hazards than a house does.
Soap Lake Conservancy meeting highlights challenges for lake health
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake Conservancy held a special meeting Saturday to discuss Soap Lake water level trends. The meeting brought in experts from the Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District. “A couple of years ago, a few of the people in this room started calling the Department of Ecology with concerns,” DOE Eastern Region Contact, Jaime Short said. “The lake level was going down. What's going on?”
Officials are tracking an earthquake swarm at Mount Rainier but say there is no cause for concern
SEATTLE (AP) — Officials are tracking the largest swarm of earthquakes in more than 15 years on Washington's Mount Rainier but say there is no indication that the cluster of quakes is cause for concern.
Soap Lake updates Smokiam fee schedule
SOAP LAKE – The Soap Lake City Council updated the fees for Smokiam Campground and allowed for future changes to be done by resolution instead of changing the city code.
Nearly 80,500 acres burning in WA on Monday
MOSES LAKE — Washington’s fire season is heating up with nearly 80,500 acres burning across the state as of Monday. “Part of the reason that you are seeing a lot of those large fires on the landscape is because we had several lightning storms that moved through during red flag conditions,” Department of Natural Resources Public Information Officer Ryan Rodruck said. Despite this, the fire season is still under the 10-year average of about 470,000 acres with the state sitting at around 122,300 acres this year.
WDFW takes over Beezley Hills Preserve
EPHRATA – In a move for conservation efforts in Washington State, the Nature Conservancy has transferred ownership of the 9,000-acre Beezley Hills Preserve to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The goal is to bolster habitat conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species such as the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, and provide opportunities for low-impact public recreation, according to WDFW Communications Contact Nicole Jordan.
