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Saturday,  October 26 , 2024
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Photo of Lauren Ellenbecker

Stories by Lauren Ellenbecker

Columbian staff writer

Ecology seeks comment on cleanup of Port of Vancouver property

June 15, 2023, 4:04pm Clark County News

The Washington Department of Ecology opened its public comment period through July 17 concerning the cleanup of an electrical heater facility that leaked chemicals into groundwater. Read story

Workers install a new insulator to a Washougal transmission tower. Damaged equipment is susceptible to sparking, and faults along lines can cause a hot electrical arc.

Bonneville Power Administration employs helicopters, more as it tends power lines in effort to prevent wildfires

Workers install a new insulator to a Washougal transmission tower. Damaged equipment is susceptible to sparking, and faults along lines can cause a hot electrical arc.

June 15, 2023, 6:09am Business

In the late spring heat, Bonneville Power Administration maintenance crews balanced on transmission towers in Washougal’s forested hills, waiting for a helicopter to hand off tools. Read story

Volunteer Elizabeth Stoltz of Heisson waters the Fort Vancouver Garden in Vancouver in 2020.

Washington considering worker protections as wildfires persist

Volunteer Elizabeth Stoltz of Heisson waters the Fort Vancouver Garden in Vancouver in 2020.

June 10, 2023, 6:07am Business

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is considering new protections for outdoor workers, notably for those in construction and agriculture, as wildfires become more frequent. Read story

Pacific lampreys have been in drastic decline in recent decades, a trend that is hard to grasp considering the species' resilience through five mass extinction events, said Monica Blanchard, a Washington lamprey biologist.

Columbia River lamprey ‘critically imperiled’

Pacific lampreys have been in drastic decline in recent decades, a trend that is hard to grasp considering the species' resilience through five mass extinction events, said Monica Blanchard, a Washington lamprey biologist.

June 9, 2023, 6:05am Clark County News

An ancient species, Pacific lampreys have survived five mass extinction events. Now populations of these fish found in the Columbia River are facing a sharp downturn. Read story

Emerald ash borers have killed "tens of millions" of ash trees in more than 30 states. The beetle, native to eastern Asian, may have been introduced in Canada through wood shipping materials about 20 years ago.

Clark County officials on lookout for emerald ash borer

Emerald ash borers have killed "tens of millions" of ash trees in more than 30 states. The beetle, native to eastern Asian, may have been introduced in Canada through wood shipping materials about 20 years ago.

June 8, 2023, 6:03am Clark County News

Federal, state and local tree experts are collaborating in preparation for the eventual arrival of the emerald ash borer, a pest that has killed tens of millions of ash trees nationwide. Read story

A Vancouver firefighter sprays the outside of a burned building Monday, June 5, 2023, on Northeast 68th Avenue in Vancouver. .

Warm, dry, windy weather fans dangerous brush fires in Vancouver area

A Vancouver firefighter sprays the outside of a burned building Monday, June 5, 2023, on Northeast 68th Avenue in Vancouver. .

June 5, 2023, 6:00pm Clark County News Free

Warm, dry and windy conditions fanned several vegetation fires on Monday afternoon, including two that prompted evacuation warnings in two Vancouver area neighborhoods. Read story

Cyanobacteria are microscopic bacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae, that form harmful blooms during the summer. They flourish in warm, stagnant water filled with nutrients, such as Lacamas Lake as pictured in 2021. Blooms often occur in Vancouver, Lacamas and Round lakes.

Clark County lakes play host to blue-green algae

Cyanobacteria are microscopic bacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae, that form harmful blooms during the summer. They flourish in warm, stagnant water filled with nutrients, such as Lacamas Lake as pictured in 2021. Blooms often occur in Vancouver, Lacamas and Round lakes.

June 3, 2023, 6:02am Clark County Health

As summer temperatures intensify, vivid streaks begin appearing in Clark County’s lakes and rivers. Read story

FILE--In this April 8, 2003, file photo, steam rises from Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station, Washington state's only nuclear power plant, near Richland.

Nuclear power may again be on horizon for Clark County

FILE--In this April 8, 2003, file photo, steam rises from Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station, Washington state's only nuclear power plant, near Richland.

June 2, 2023, 6:02am Clark County News

Discussions surrounding potential nuclear projects are making the rounds in Washington as the state works to completely phase out carbon-emitting energy resources, and now talks have landed in Clark County. Read story

Retired landscape painter Ann Ruttan looks over paintings that depict the Eagle Creek Fire in her Portland home studio the morning of April 3.

Wildfires inspire Pacific Northwest artists into action

Retired landscape painter Ann Ruttan looks over paintings that depict the Eagle Creek Fire in her Portland home studio the morning of April 3.

June 1, 2023, 6:06am Clark County Life

Landscape painter Ann Ruttan’s memories — and imagination — stream through her paintbrush, documenting some of the most potent points in her life. Read story

The Little White Salmon watershed is in a unique position, splitting through two different landscapes of the Cascade Range, the westside existing as a relatively wet expanse and the eastside remaining dry.

Groups share concerns over management of Gifford Pinchot’s Little White Salmon watershed

The Little White Salmon watershed is in a unique position, splitting through two different landscapes of the Cascade Range, the westside existing as a relatively wet expanse and the eastside remaining dry.

May 26, 2023, 6:05am Clark County News

Gifford Pinchot National Forest stakeholders are processing the outlook of fire resiliency in the Little White Salmon watershed. Read story