Washington began a two-year project to restore 270 acres in the South Fork Skagit estuary, reconnecting two islands to natural tidal habitat

Washington began a two-year project to restore 270 acres in the South Fork Skagit estuary, reconnecting two islands to natural tidal habitat

South Fork Skagit River estuary (Image Credit: Instagram/ @thewdfw) Washington has begun a major restoration project aimed at returning 270 acres in the South Fork Skagit River estuary to natural intertidal and marsh habitat. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), construction on the Island Unit Restoration Project began in June 2026…

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<b>ICE arrests Canadian fugitive hiding in US for 3 decades over child sex offences</b>

ICE arrests Canadian fugitive hiding in US for 3 decades over child sex offences

Canadian fugitive wanted since 1991 arrested in Californi. A Canadian man wanted for more than three decades in connection with child sexual assault allegations has been arrested in California by US federal immigration authorities.Charles Peter Billone, 64, was taken into custody in Santa Cruz by officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) San…

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Michigan plans to remove the century-old Sanback Dam in 2026, reopening a half-mile of cold-water stream, restoring 14 wetland acres and protecting more than 70 downstream miles

Michigan plans to remove the century-old Sanback Dam in 2026, reopening a half-mile of cold-water stream, restoring 14 wetland acres and protecting more than 70 downstream miles

A century-old dam that no longer serves a purpose will be removed in Michigan in order to restore natural ecosystems of the region. The Sanback Dam on Beechwood Creek in Rose City was constructed in 1920 to power a flour mill and later a lumber mill. Today, it stands as a crumbling concrete structure and…

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Florida spent about $17 million transforming degraded farmland near Tampa Bay into Robinson Preserve, a 700-acre coastal refuge that now draws about 240,000 visitors annually

Florida spent about $17 million transforming degraded farmland near Tampa Bay into Robinson Preserve, a 700-acre coastal refuge that now draws about 240,000 visitors annually

Robinson PreservePhoto credit: Lindsay Rosegger/NOAA Fisheries On the edge of Tampa Bay, where mangrove forests meet open water and birds call from the treetops, lies a place that was never meant to exist. Robinson Preserve, a 700-acre coastal refuge in Manatee County, Florida, was once degraded farmland slated for development. Today, it is a thriving…

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In 2006, Alaska began rebuilding a creek damaged by decades of gold mining; the first restored stretch was followed by a six-fold rise in salmon runs

In 2006, Alaska began rebuilding a creek damaged by decades of gold mining; the first restored stretch was followed by a six-fold rise in salmon runs

Resurrection Creek, near the small town of Hope in Southcentral Alaska, has a long history of gold mining. Image: U.S. Forest Service For decades, gold mining has done more than alter the scenery around Resurrection Creek in Alaska, it has changed the creek itself. Degradation of riverbanks, alteration of stream channels and loss of wetlands…

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College student Lillie Vehling was reading beside Lake Washington while waiting for the Blue Angels; she saw three girls drowning and rescued them one by one

College student Lillie Vehling was reading beside Lake Washington while waiting for the Blue Angels; she saw three girls drowning and rescued them one by one

Lillie Vehling (Image Credit: YouTube/ KOMO News) College student Lillie Vehling was sitting near Lake Washington in Seattle, reading and waiting for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show during Seafair weekend when she noticed something alarming in the water. Three young girls were struggling to stay afloat beyond the buoy line. Vehling, who had…

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In 1953, construction narrowed Cape Cod's Fresh Brook; a concrete weir then blocked sea-run brook trout from their spawning grounds, and 73 years later it is set to be removed to bring the native trout back

In 1953, construction narrowed Cape Cod’s Fresh Brook; a concrete weir then blocked sea-run brook trout from their spawning grounds, and 73 years later it is set to be removed to bring the native trout back

Trout representative image For more than seven decades, a quiet stream in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, has been held back by a concrete barrier. Fresh Brook, once known as “Trout Brook,” was a thriving habitat for native sea-run brook trout, locally called “salters”, until the early 1950s. Anglers from across the country travelled to Cape Cod to…

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Colorado city uses 15-minute water data from smart meters to catch illegal lawn watering during drought

Colorado city uses 15-minute water data from smart meters to catch illegal lawn watering during drought

Aurora, Colorado, is using smart water meters to enforce drought rules as the city faces severe water shortages. The meters track water use throughout the day. This allows Aurora Water, the city’s municipal utility department, to identify lawns being watered outside the permitted schedule.Under the city’s current Stage 1 drought restrictions, grass can be watered…

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One Last Act of Kindness: A Minnesota church closed after its congregation fell to 26 members, then gave about $600,000 to nonprofits and sold its property for affordable housing

A Minnesota church closed after its congregation fell to 26 members, then gave about $600,000 to nonprofits and sold its property for affordable housing

Image Credit: stmarksuccallentown.org After its congregation dwindled to just 26 members, St. Mark’s United Church of Christ in Bloomington, Minnesota, made the difficult decision to close, turning its final chapter into an extraordinary act of generosity. According to Minnesota nonprofit Loaves & Fishes, which provides meals to people facing hunger, St. Mark’s distributed about $600,000…

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Quote of the day by Bubba Smith: "Well, I'm not a violent person. You have to back off. People sometimes will…" - a lesson in restraint, self-control and knowing when to step back

Quote of the day by Bubba Smith: “Well, I’m not a violent person. You have to back off. People sometimes will…”

Quote of the day by Bubba Smith (Image: Wikipedia) Some people assume that physical size or obvious strength naturally comes with a short temper. Bubba Smith, the former NFL defensive lineman turned actor, suggested something closer to the opposite. “Well, I’m not a violent person,” he said. “You have to back off. People sometimes will…

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