Environment

A nameless marsh near Granite Falls could one day be called Holland Marsh. (Chuck Holland)

Granite Falls marsh may be named for Everett college teacher

Andy Holland inspired generations of students to pursue forestry. Now his nephew wants to honor his legacy.

A nameless marsh near Granite Falls could one day be called Holland Marsh. (Chuck Holland)
Researchers and volunteers recently examined a dead gray whale found on a Camano Island beach. (Cascadia Research Collective) 20220411

Dead gray whale on Camano Island beach to stay put for months

The death is the latest in an ongoing unusual mortality event for gray whales. This one appeared to be malnourished.

Researchers and volunteers recently examined a dead gray whale found on a Camano Island beach. (Cascadia Research Collective) 20220411
Speaking from the McLane Creek Nature Trail west of Olympia, Wash. on Wednesday, April 6,2022 Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announces an inaugural carbon project which will be located in selected locations on state trust lands. Joined by regional tribal leaders, representatives from the carbon market industry along with the environmental community. Franz outlined the agency's goals that include offsetting carbon emissions while the preserving thousands of acres of Western Washington's more ecologically valuable forest land. (Steve Bloom/The Olympian via AP)

Editorial: A price on carbon will keep forests saving climate

A new DNR program will use carbon-offset credits to preserve state forestland and bring in revenue.

Speaking from the McLane Creek Nature Trail west of Olympia, Wash. on Wednesday, April 6,2022 Washington state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announces an inaugural carbon project which will be located in selected locations on state trust lands. Joined by regional tribal leaders, representatives from the carbon market industry along with the environmental community. Franz outlined the agency's goals that include offsetting carbon emissions while the preserving thousands of acres of Western Washington's more ecologically valuable forest land. (Steve Bloom/The Olympian via AP)
A site plan shows a new community solar array will be built on city property next to Walter E. Hall Park in south Everett. (Snohomish County PUD)

Solar array in south Everett will have energy to power 40 homes

The Snohomish County PUD project on Casino Road will serve low-income families — even on cloudy days.

A site plan shows a new community solar array will be built on city property next to Walter E. Hall Park in south Everett. (Snohomish County PUD)
Surfgrass Kelp Tongue Point (Bart Christiaen)

A scramble to save Puget Sound’s precious kelp and eelgrass

A new protection zone for marine vegetation in Snohomish County is a big first step toward future efforts.

Surfgrass Kelp Tongue Point (Bart Christiaen)
In this photo made on Thursday, May 6, 2021, a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E is seen as it is charging at a Ford dealer in Wexford, Pa.  Ford is spinning off its electric vehicles and internal combustion businesses into separate units. The automaker said Wednesday, March 2, 2022 that its plan includes two distinct, but strategically interdependent, auto businesses – Ford Blue and Ford Model e.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Editorial: Switch to electric cars making increasing sense

A state goal will require new car sales be for electrics by 2030, but many may want to switch sooner.

In this photo made on Thursday, May 6, 2021, a 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E is seen as it is charging at a Ford dealer in Wexford, Pa.  Ford is spinning off its electric vehicles and internal combustion businesses into separate units. The automaker said Wednesday, March 2, 2022 that its plan includes two distinct, but strategically interdependent, auto businesses – Ford Blue and Ford Model e.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
A grey whale carcass found beached on the west side of Camano Island. (NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region)

Gray whale beached on Camano

Officials said they would perform a necropsy Saturday. The species is experiencing an “unusual mortality event.”

A grey whale carcass found beached on the west side of Camano Island. (NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region)
Brothers T101A “Rush” and T101B “Lagoon." (Ellie Sawyer/Maya’s Legacy/PWWA)

70 killer whales seen in one day in Salish Sea

The sightings of the Bigg’s orcas set a record for the region ranging from Hood Canal to Vancouver Island.

Brothers T101A “Rush” and T101B “Lagoon." (Ellie Sawyer/Maya’s Legacy/PWWA)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
FILE - The sun shines near the Space Needle, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Seattle as Seattle and other cities broke all-time heat records, with temperatures soaring well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius). Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren,File)

Editorial: Chance to slow, adapt to climate change dwindling

A United Nations panel report warns that climate change is speeding up, making it harder to adapt.

FILE - The sun shines near the Space Needle, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Seattle as Seattle and other cities broke all-time heat records, with temperatures soaring well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius). Weather extremes like this will increase in frequency and intensity in North America the coming years as global warming accelerates, according to a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren,File)
United Airlines Flight 310 to Los Angeles is refueled using biofuel at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on June 5, 2019. The demonstration flight, powered by a fuel mixture containing 30 percent biofuel, was intended to be the greenest possible flight, testing several sustainability initiatives. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Boeing buys 2 million gallons of aviation biofuel

Made in part from agricultural waste, the fuel will power Boeing test flights and airplane deliveries in Everett and elsewhere.

United Airlines Flight 310 to Los Angeles is refueled using biofuel at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on June 5, 2019. The demonstration flight, powered by a fuel mixture containing 30 percent biofuel, was intended to be the greenest possible flight, testing several sustainability initiatives. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
Members of the Skagit River System Cooperative circle a net to temporarily catch and count fish in the restored estuary of Leque Island near Stanwood. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210817

Near Stanwood, thousands of fish discover a restored estuary

A $6 million project at Leque Island is already seeing “overwhelmingly positive” signs of a healthier ecosystem.

Members of the Skagit River System Cooperative circle a net to temporarily catch and count fish in the restored estuary of Leque Island near Stanwood. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210817
The mouth of the Snohomish River and Possession Sound. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Save salmon, create jobs: A new plan for Snohomish watershed

Hilary Franz, of the state Department of Natural Resources, unveiled a “tree to sea” approach in a 100-page paper.

The mouth of the Snohomish River and Possession Sound. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jeff Brown, of PAWS, releases crow 20220004 back into the wild after its rehabilitation from an injured wing Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at the UW Bothell campus in Bothell, Washington. The crow immediately flew upper into a tree and began calling out to other birds in the area. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Broken wing healed, a crow passes test flight at UW Bothell

The injured crow rejoined its murder Friday, following surgery at the PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood.

Jeff Brown, of PAWS, releases crow 20220004 back into the wild after its rehabilitation from an injured wing Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at the UW Bothell campus in Bothell, Washington. The crow immediately flew upper into a tree and began calling out to other birds in the area. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Trumpeter swans and Canada geese take flight from a field while others continue to graze Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Silvana-area in Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Nature’s soap opera: Swans are wintering around Snohomish County

For a few more weeks, here’s where to find visiting swans. If you’re lucky, you might see a “rare bird alert.”

Trumpeter swans and Canada geese take flight from a field while others continue to graze Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Silvana-area in Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Elusive Dream sank again in 2020, knocking down another boat and spilling upwards of 214 gallons of diesel fuel. (Department of Ecology)

Ecology again fines boat owner $70K for fuel spill in river

This time, the state was sterner about the spill in Steamboat Slough. They called Ron Barber’s actions negligent.

The Elusive Dream sank again in 2020, knocking down another boat and spilling upwards of 214 gallons of diesel fuel. (Department of Ecology)
Darlene McApline, an administrative coordinator with Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's street outreach team, dumps a bottle of water on her head to cool off while loading supplies on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Deadly NW heat wave prompts effort to boost air conditioning

In Washington, lawmakers are exploring a bill that would expand air conditioning in senior care homes.

Darlene McApline, an administrative coordinator with Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's street outreach team, dumps a bottle of water on her head to cool off while loading supplies on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)
Looking east toward the U.S. 2 trestle as cars begin to backup on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Everett, Wa. The aging westbound span needs replacing and local politicians are looking to federal dollars to get the replacement started. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Democrats unveil 16-year, $16.8 billion transportation plan

Culvert fixes, car-free transit improvements and designs for a U.S. 2 trestle replacement are in the proposed budget.

Looking east toward the U.S. 2 trestle as cars begin to backup on Thursday, March 1, 2018 in Everett, Wa. The aging westbound span needs replacing and local politicians are looking to federal dollars to get the replacement started. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Dr. David Kirtley at the new Helion headquarters, Antares, in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022  (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Can fusion-powered Helion Energy change the world — from Everett?

The company, which is relocating from Redmond, is on a multibillion-dollar quest to produce clean electricity.

Dr. David Kirtley at the new Helion headquarters, Antares, in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022  (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019

At deadly Glacier Peak, one last hurdle for new seismometers

Federal agencies consider the volcano a “very high” threat. The early warning system is severely lacking.

Glacier Peak, elevation 10,541 feet, in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Snohomish County, Washington. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald) 2019