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The Buzz About Colony Collapse: What's Killing Washington's Honeybees?

Colony Collapse Disorder and a multitude of other factors are plaguing honeybee colonies, and researchers are trying to figure out how to mitigate their impacts.

FieldNotesSeptember 16, 2024honeybees, bees, climate change, colony collapse disorder, washington state university, wasu, wsu, washington, pesticides, agriculture, environment, farming, global warming, native plantsComment

Perpetual Smoke in the Methow Valley

Drier conditions and rising temperatures are driving more wildfires in the North Cascades, and local communities are finding ways to combat the worsening air quality.

FieldNotesJune 5, 2024climate change, pnw, washington, washington state, methow vallet, methow valley, clean air, wildfire, wildfires, sourdough mountain, sourdough mountain fire, air quality, north cascadesComment

Igniting Cultural Sovereignty: The Need for Tribal Collaboration While Conducting Prescribed Burns Throughout Washington State

Controlled burns in Washington State are being conducted without tribal collaboration – a concerning decision due to the practice’s roots in Indigenous science.

FieldNotesMay 21, 2024indigenous, indigenous sovereignty, forest fires, fires, controlled burning, tek, traditional ecological knowledge, wildfires, washington, pnw, washington stateComment

Washington's PFAS Problem: Grappling With Issues Of “Forever Chemicals” In Drinking Water

The use of “forever chemicals” has created serious problems for cities across Washington State, impacting both human and environmental health.

FieldNotesMay 16, 2024pfas, forever chemicals, fire, washington, pnw, environmental health, environmentComment

Environmentally Smart or Socio-ecologically Misguided? The Controversial Nature of Hydroelectric Infrastructure on the Snake River

Since their construction, the Snake River Dams have sparked controversy. As the need for renewable energy infrastructure grows, however, scientists, politicians, and civilians continue to debate over the sustainability and ethicality of these dams and their impacts on Indigenous sovereignty.

FieldNotesFebruary 20, 2024snake river dam, pnw, washington, renewable energy, indigenous, indigenous sovereignty, salmon, boldt decision, snake river, sustainability, fish, fisheriesComment

Could Bat Boxes be the New Bird Houses?

If you think birds are boring, and bees have made you blue, then bats may be your new best beau for a biological backyard habitat.

FieldNotesMay 14, 2021bats, backyard, washington