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Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

This week (April 15-21, 2012) is National Environmental Education Week (EE Week – a sister program of Earth Gauge), the nation’s largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day to inspire environmental learning and stewardship among students and the public. This year’s EE Week theme is Greening STEM: The Environment as [...]

Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste left outside wash down storm drains and into local waters. Pet waste can harm water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, making the water unsafe for drinking. Bacteria and nutrients from pet waste can turn fertile waters green from weed and algae growth, making the [...]

Did you know that yard trimmings and food make up 27 percent of the waste going to landfills in the United States? Putting yard and food waste in a compost pile instead of a trash can lowers the load in our landfills and creates rich organic material that can enhance plant growth and reduce the [...]

Birds are on the move!  Migratory birds are traveling from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America to the U.S. and Canada, where they feast on abundant insects and plant foods during spring and summer.  How do they know when to leave and where to go? Birds that migrate short distances – such [...]

Ah-choo! High pollen levels throughout much of the country mean that millions of Americans are sniffling, sneezing and itching. Spring allergies are usually caused by tree pollen, while grasses are generally the culprit during late spring and summer. Weather and environmental conditions affect the severity of your allergy symptoms. Pollen moves around less when conditions [...]

Mulch is any covering placed around plants. Mulch conserves water because and prevents erosion by slowing runoff and permitting your landscape to better absorb and retain water from winter rains. Mulch also suppresses weed growth, shelters the soil from temperature extremes and improves appearance of your landscape. Viewer Tip: Apply a two- to three-inch layer [...]

November 13-19 is the National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week.  This year’s theme is “The Adventure in Your Community.”  Geography is all around us and varies from region to region in the United States.  Did you know that geography and weather are very closely linked? Explore some of the connections below. (Click on images or [...]

Did you know that the average family spends about 2,200 dollars per year on energy bills? Nearly half of that money goes towards heating and cooling a home or apartment. Viewer Tip: As the weather cools down, try these tips from Energy Star to stay warm while saving energy and money. Get a check-up: Poor [...]

About 80 percent of the United States’ pumpkin supply is available in October, but pumpkin makes an appearance year-round in pies, breads and other foods. Weather can have a big impact on the yearly pumpkin harvest. Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage [...]

In Brief: Semi-periodic shifts in North Pacific sea surface temperature distributions have been linked survival rates of Coho Salmon off the Pacific Northwest coast. Water conditions along the Pacific Northwest coast are controlled by the Northern California Current (NCC) system, which features a strong alongshore northward flow of warm waters during winter and a southward [...]

Although we tend to use more water outdoors during the summer months, up to 70 percent of the water we need at home is used indoors. Viewer Tip: Weather keeping you inside? Keep these water-saving tips in mind: Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the [...]

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NOAA’s National Weather Service are encouraging Americans to “Be Air Aware” this week as part of Air Quality Awareness Week.  Concentrations of air pollution tend to increase on the tail end of high pressure systems, after the center of the high passes by.  High pressure systems affect a [...]

National Public Health Week takes place from April 4-10, 2011.  This year’s theme is “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury Free.” Safety from weather events is central to keeping people well.  A 2009 NOAA study found that floods, extreme heat and rip currents are leading causes of weather-related fatalities. Common causes of weather-related injuries are [...]

Spring is the best time of year for planting trees, shrubs or other garden plants. Native trees and shrubs are an important part of a healthy Pacific Northwest. In the Pacific Northwest we still have lots of evergreen forests. But in our cities and suburbs, birds, animals and fish can benefit from having more native [...]

Spring is the perfect time of year to give your home cooling equipment a check-up.  Fixing any problems now will help you avoid air-conditioning problems when hot weather arrives.  And, well-maintained air conditioning systems cool more efficiently, saving energy and money. Viewer Tip: You can perform a cooling system check-up yourself or ask a professional [...]

March 14 through 20 is the third annual Fix a Leak Week, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the average home every year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool. But stopping leaks is as easy as “check, twist, replace.” Check for leaks. [...]

The 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place from February 18-21. Each year, bird watchers across the country tally the birds they see in backyards, parks and natural areas. Last year, GBBC participants racked up more than 10 million observations! Counting birds during GBBC helps scientists gain a “snapshot” of North America’s winter bird [...]

The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) recently released its 2010 Urban Mobility Report, which provides information about traffic congestion in 439 urban areas in the United States. Based on 2009 data, TTI estimates that congestion costs 4.8 billion hours of extra time and 115 billion dollars worth of delay and fuel expenses each year. In the Portland [...]

Have you noticed higher energy bills recently? Fewer daylight hours, more time spent inside and chilly temperatures in many parts of the country mean that energy bills are on the rise at this time of year. Luckily, Energy Star has easy-to-use tools to help you assess and reduce the amount of energy used at home.  [...]