Courtney Flatt

Richland

Environment Reporter at Northwest Public Radio

Environment stories for @nwNewsNetwork

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Articles

Ocean conditions mixed for salmon, leading to average salmon returns

2 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

All signs point to mixed ocean conditions for salmon over the past couple of years, which fisheries biologists said could lead to average salmon runs. The ocean is where salmon spend a large part of their lives. That’s why it’s super important to know what’s going on out there. It helps scientists better understand and predict how salmon are doing. For a long time, scientists have studied what salmon eat. They also know where salmon go and know a lot more about their survival in the ocean.
La región de Tri-Cities quiere saber cómo el clima afecta su vida

2 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

Una ley estatal obliga a ciudades, pueblos y condados a elaborar planes contra el cambio climático. Los dirigentes de Tri-Cities quieren su ayuda. En 2023, el estado exigía a los municipios de Washington que incluyeran planes de cambio climático cuando pensaran en el crecimiento y el desarrollo a largo plazo. “El Departamento de Comercio nos defendió como un ejemplo positivo de cómo se puede trabajar juntos para luchar contra el cambio climático en lugar de que cada ciudad por separado haga algo.
Ecologists help with burrowing owl ‘spring cleaning’ at Umatilla Chemical Depot

2 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

CORRECTION 4/10/25: An earlier version misstated how poisoning, trapping and shooting had affected burrowing owls numbers. The poisoning, trapping, and shooting of burrowing mammals like badgers, who create the burrows in which the owls live, has lowered their population numbers. This time of year, biologists and technicians are doing some spring cleaning of their own at the site of the decommissioned Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon.
How does climate affect your life? Tri-Cities survey open now

3 weeks ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

A state law in Washington means cities, towns and counties have to come up with climate change plans. Tri-Cities leaders want your help. In 2023, the state required municipalities in Washington to include climate change plans when thinking about long-term growth and development.
Canadian leaders hope trade negotiations won’t derail Columbia River Treaty

4 weeks ago | opb.org | Courtney Flatt

FILE - Water spills over the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, which runs along the Washington and Oregon state line, June 21, 2022. The Columbia River Treaty is on “pause” while the Trump administration considers its policy options. However, recent comments by President Donald Trump about Canada have some Canadian leaders coming up with backup plans. The Columbia River Treaty — and what will happen next between Canadian and U.S. governments — has been the talk of the town in British Columbia.
Where have all the sage grouse gone? A conservation mystery in south-central Washington

1 month ago | opb.org | Courtney Flatt

FILE - In this March 1, 2010 file photo, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bi-state sage grouse, rear, struts for a female at a lek, or mating ground, near Bridgeport, Calif. Audubon Washington's Seth Hulett searches Horse Heaven Hills for greater sage grouse, last seen in 2018, aiming to secure ecosystem funding despite challenging detection.
Searching for sage grouse: Looking for a chicken-sized needle in south-central WA

1 month ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

In south-central Washington’s patchwork of sagebrush and agricultural fields, one man is spending his early, early mornings searching for sage grouse. If he finds the quirky birds — that could mean more funding for the ecosystem. But the task isn’t easy. It’s been years since anyone has officially seen the chicken-sized greater sage grouse at their mating grounds — known as leks — in Horse Heaven Hills. “ 2018 was the last time we documented any male grouse on that lek.
Richland Lego robotics team hopes state grants won’t be put on hold

1 month ago | opb.org | Courtney Flatt

Robots have taken over the STEM room at Marcus Whitman Elementary School in Richland, Washington. Little Lego boats, sunken ships and other vehicles are spread out across a table. And each robot has a job to do. It’s sort of like the game Mouse Trap. “Since I was little I loved just using random Legos and building random stuff,” said fourth grader Sergio Preciado. Sergio and his nine teammates named the Lego robots they’ve built: Bob and Gary, the twins.
Richland Lego robotics team hopes state grants won’t be put on hold

1 month ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

Robots have taken over the STEM room at Marcus Whitman Elementary School in Richland, Washington. Little Lego boats, sunken ships and other vehicles are spread out across a table. And each robot has a job to do. It’s sort of like the game Mouse Trap. “Since I was little I loved just using random Legos and building random stuff,” said fourth grader Sergio Preciado. Sergio and his nine teammates named the Lego robots they’ve built: Bob and Gary, the twins.
Snake River water, recreation studies look at the river’s future

2 months ago | nwpb.org | Courtney Flatt

If the four dams on the Lower Snake River were to be removed, a lot of the services they provide would need to be replaced. That includes things like transportation systems, energy generation, recreation activities and irrigation access. To figure out if any solutions are possible, the federal government is studying those areas of concern.