21 Sunday Apr 2024
Posted in Events
June 9
Willamette River, Buena Vista to Independence – Class A – 12 miles
Scenic and varied, with nice resting spots, this is a relaxed paddle. It’s a longer trip, so come provisioned.
Jim Bradley
jim.cascadepaddlers@gmail.com
21 Sunday Apr 2024
Posted in Paddlesport and the Outdoors
Tags
Kayaking, Paddling, Canoeing, Recreation, Government, Access, Outdoors, Parks, Legislation
Climate Change Brings Boating to Death Valley
Death Valley, in Southern California, has a well-earned reputation as an unrelentingly hot, dry place. This year, however, unprecedented rainstorms flooded the valley, and it was briefly possible to float a boat there. The Oregonian details the curiosity: https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/02/go-boating-in-death-valley-rains-replenish-lake-in-one-of-earths-driest-spots.html
Bill Limiting Recreational Liability Passes Into Law
SB 1576, a measure to limit the legal liability of municipalities and others allowing recreation on their properties, was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor in March, effective immediately. Property owners were put on notice by a case arising in Newport, which threatened to greatly expand their liability. This should allow recreation to return to normal on many public properties.
Canoes Found NW of Rome, Oldest Mediterranean Boats
Five canoes found in a submerged, ancient village near Rome are the oldest boats ever found on the Mediterranean. Dating back 7,000 years, the crafts exhibit surprisingly sophisticated construction and design. The Smithsonian has the intriguing details: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/five-canoes-discovered-northwest-of-rome-are-oldest-boats-ever-found-in-the-mediterranean-180984014/
A Canoe on A Moraine Lake – Morning Solitude
The Smithsonian’s photo of the day for April 2 was a lovely composition featuring a canoe and a mountain lake. Find it here: https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/early-morning-solitude-in-a-moraine-lake-canoe/
May 10 – Paddling Film Festival in Eugene
At 6:30 pm on May 10 the Willamette Riverkeeper will be hosting the Paddling Film Festival World Tour at the Wildcraft Cider Works, 232 Lincoln Street. The festival encompasses the breadth of paddlesport, from kayaks, to canoes, to paddleboards, from calm lakes to roaring whitewater and crashing surf. Tickets can be obtained through this link: https://paddlingevents.com/event/2024-paddling-film-festival-world-tour-hosted-by-willamette-riverkeeper/?mc_cid=d7d7fe5aab&mc_eid=98dfc352ff
21 Sunday Apr 2024
Posted in Nature and the Environment
Tags
Counties Across the US Are Banning Solar and Wind Power
In a trend likely as much ideology-driven as NIMBY-powered, governments in many areas are putting barriers in the way of clean energy. It’s particularly troubling since the economics favor renewable, and these impediments promise to raise costs for everyone. USA Today looks at the problem: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/02/04/us-counties-ban-renewable-energy-plants/71841063007/
Thousands of Unregulated Chemicals Found in Plastics
The threat plastics pose is two-fold: they are both physically damaging to organisms and tissues, but also contain a laundry list of potentially toxic chemicals. The full magnitude of the latter problem has only recently come to light, as the Smithsonian explains: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plastics-contain-thousands-more-chemicals-than-thought-and-most-are-unregulated-report-finds-180983967/
Abandoned Oil Wells Monkey-wrench Carbon Storage
After they are decommissioned, oil and gas wells can leak. With some interests planning to pump carbon dioxide underground to mitigate its climate effects, such leaks could be a show-stopper. Undark magazine investigated the situation and the concerns: https://undark.org/2024/03/26/carbon-storage-abandoned-wells/
Proposed Turtle Listing Divides Environmentalists, Farmers
A federal proposal to protect native Western pond turtles is drawing praise from the environmental community, while agricultural interests are lining up in opposition, fearing such a listing will bring restrictions on their practices. The Oregonian examined the matter: https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2024/04/proposal-to-federally-list-native-turtles-in-the-west-draws-sharp-divide-among-environmentalists-farm-groups.html
21 Sunday Apr 2024
Posted in Health, Fitness and Safety
Leaded Gas Has Damaged American IQs
A new study on the effects that the use of leaded gas had on the population concludes that the use of tetraethyl lead stunted the intelligence of roughly half the Americans born during its use. The effects vary for different time frames around the use of the chemical, and for some groups the IQ loss was quite significant. NBC News studied the issue: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/lead-gasoline-blunted-iq-half-us-population-study-rcna19028
Tick-killing Pill Promises to be a New Weapon Against Lyme Disease
For those who recreate in the outdoors, Lyme disease is a ongoing concern. A new medication, though it’s already in veterinary use, promises to make you toxic to ticks. Wired will tell you about it: https://www.wired.com/story/pill-kills-ticks-lyme-disease-babesiosis-anaplasmosis/
Intermittent Fasting Linked to Cardiovascular Death
A study looking at intermittent fasting versus more paced eating found a large difference in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease for the two groups, said to be 91% higher for the intermittent fasting group. Given that intermittent fasting has been promoted as having health benefits, this news comes as a sobering caution. NBC News can fill you in: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/intermittent-fasting-risk-cardiovascular-death-rcna143853
21 Sunday Apr 2024
Posted in Travel, Photography and Animals
Tags
Animals, Environment, Outdoors, Photography, Videos, Wildlife
The British Wildlife Photography Awards
This gallery of winners from the awards captures wildlife across a range of species and environments. It offers some moments of delight and wonder, at the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-68543633
The Smithsonian’s Gallery of Insects
Culling from their ongoing daily photography contest, the Smithsonian has composed a gallery of “creepy-crawly” images. Really, they’re more just fascinating in their detail and poignant in their composition, rather than creepy. Have a look: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/see-incredible-insects-up-close-with-these-creepy-crawly-photos-180983917/
Solitary Orca Kills, Eats Great White Shark
While orcas have been witnessed before working in teams to hunt great white sharks, this marks the first time anyone has seen one whale take down such a shark. What’s more, the orca killed the shark and ate its liver, (the best part), in under two minutes. The BBC has the story and a link to the gripping video: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68446657
Oregon’s Hummingbirds
The Oregonian has put together a nice guide to the state’s 7 species of native hummingbirds. The guide includes photos of each species, as well as recordings of their calls. Get to know our little humming buddies: https://www.oregonlive.com/living/2024/03/oregon-hummingbirds-get-to-know-the-states-7-species-and-hear-their-calls.html
21 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted in Events
April 14
Willamette River, Buena Vista to Independence – Class A – 12 miles
Scenic and varied, with nice resting spots, this is a relaxed paddle. It’s a longer trip, and conditions are variable this time of year, so come prepared.
Jim Bradley
jim.cascadepaddlers@gmail.com
21 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted in Paddlesport and the Outdoors
Tags
Access, Canoeing, Government, Kayaking, Legislation, Outdoors, Paddling, Parks, Recreation
And Spring Arrives
By some estimations, paddling season begins with the advent of spring. If that is so, then the season is off to an auspicious start.
So far the year has been wet and cool, and the snowpack is healthy, even robust. But that pack is precarious, depending on the whims of the weather; a week of warm temperatures could mortally deplete it.
So, get out there and enjoy the resource while it is abundant, for as the sun is to making hay, so stream flow is to paddling.
21 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted in Nature and the Environment
Tags
Can Sinking Seaweed Cool the Climate?
Seaweed soaks up a lot of carbon as it grows. Researchers are working to sink such seaweed into the ocean’s depths, theoretically tying up that carbon for up to centuries. Much remains unclear, such as the effectiveness of the technique, or it;s environmental consequences. Eos Magazine can fill you in: https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/river/station/flowplot/flowplot.cgi?SLMO3
Fewer Pollinators Makes Plants Cut Back on Nectar
We’ve looked, before, at how pollinator species are in decline worldwide. Tied to human activities, the loss of pollinators is apparently being felt by the affected plants, which French investigators found to be producing less nectar than in previous times. Questions abound as to what this means to the plants, the pollinators, and the environment. Ars Technica has the details: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/with-fewer-pollinators-plants-are-cutting-back-on-nectar-production/
22 Million Acres of Federal Land Opened to Solar
The US Government has added 22 million acres to lands in the West identified for solar power development. This includes lands in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Electrek magazine has the full story: https://electrek.co/2024/01/18/us-govt-opens-22-million-acres-federal-lands-solar/
21 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted in Health, Fitness and Safety
Exercise Boosts Brain Volume – May Slow Memory Loss
Researchers found that even moderate, regular exercise led to measurably larger brains for subjects in a study of over 10,000. As larger brains are associated with better brain health, the results were eye-catching. In addition, benefits were found to accumulate in portions of the brain associated with memory and cognition. This free Calgary Sun page has the intriguing, paywalled Washington Post story: https://calgarysun.com/health/diet-fitness/how-exercise-increases-brain-volume-and-may-slow-memory-decline
The Case for Power Naps
While sleep experts seem vary on the value of napping and its advisability, most seem to agree it can be of benefit, as long as it isn’t being used as a band-aid for not getting enough sleep. Here with the full argument supporting the benefits and applications of napping is the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240126-why-power-naps-might-be-good-for-our-health
Antifungals Overused, Losing Effectiveness
Following a trajectory that seems to mimic that of antibiotics, antifungal treatments appear to be over-prescribed and fungi are developing resistance to them. A recent study of prescription data for Medicare recipients pointed to concerning levels of use. At the same time intractable fungal infections have burgeoned. Ars Technica can tell you more: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/antifungals-are-going-the-way-of-antibiotics-overused-hitting-resistance/
21 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted in Travel, Photography and Animals
Tags
Animals, Environment, Outdoors, Photography, Videos, Wildlife
Travel Photographer of the Year
The gallery of Travel Photographer of the Year winners the BBC provides is big on breathtaking landscape images, punctuated with more intimate photos characterizing places and people. Enjoy: https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-68021767
James Webb Telescope: Two Years in 14 Images
Stunning hardly begins to encompass the beauty and grandeur captured in the 14 images the BBC has chosen for their gallery commemorating the second anniversary of the James Webb Telescope. The captivating photos can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-611525eb-3a0c-4a68-bf54-485df138b6f6
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