From Whistler Blackcomb:
World-renowned environmental activist and lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will deliver the keynote address in Whistler at the 20-year anniversary celebration for the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE).
Kennedy, named one of Time Magazine’s Heroes for the Planet,
will discuss the role that natural resources play in work, health and identity.
The U.S. Geological Survey is raising the rates it charges for various maps, effective March 1, the agency announced late Monday.
Here is the rest of the news release:
…The price for the USGS Primary Series topographic quadrangle maps (7.5 minute — 1:24,000, 1:25,000, 1:20,000 scales; 7.5 x 15 minute — 1:25,000 scale; Alaska 1:63,360 scale) will increase from $6 to $8 per sheet.
The price for most other USGS map titles and scales, including 1:100,000-scale series, 1:250,000-scale series and smaller scale topographic maps, will increase from $7 to $9 per sheet.
Washington will receive almost $15 million this year for wildlife and sport fish restoration programs.
The funds are part of the more than $740.9 million that will be distributed nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education. Nationally, nearly $336 million will go to wildlife restoration and the fish restoration apportionment will be more than $404 million.
The announcement was made earlier today by the Department of the Interior.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive more than
…Three local curling teams are just a few days away from earning a spot in the 2010 Olympics.
Only the winners of the men’s and women’s trials in Broomfield, Colo., qualify.
Follow the action on our Olympics blog.
From Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle marathon organizers:
Here’s a link to the course map.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle officially unveiled its race courses today for both the marathon and half marathon events, which are set to run from Tukwila to Seattle on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The courses were formally approved by the City of Seattle Special Events committee last week, and will take in some of the region’s best-known landmarks, charming neighborhoods and urban attractions.
"The Pacific Northwest has an incredibly dynamic running community and we are thrilled that Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle will soon be one of the region’s premiere outdoor events," said Megan Young, Event Manager. "This is a brand new, world class event that will attract participants from across the country. We wanted a route that highlights the many extraordinary Northwest vistas, which will make this race memorable for all participants."
If you are heading up to Paradise this weekend, or any time soon, don’t feed the foxes.
Mount Rainier National Park officials are concerned that some of the Cascade foxes that hang out at Paradise are becoming too habituated to human food.
I talked with Ellen Myers, one of the park’s wildlife biologists, who said the critters are becoming more brazen in their attempts to find food. She said two people had their backpacks "broken into" and food was taken.
The state Fish and Wildlife Commission has created an informational brochure outlining its efforts to reach agreement with Oregon on spring fishing seasons on the Columbia River.
The brochure outlines the new joint catch-sharing policy for spring chinook salmon on the lower River. Fisheries managers for both states recently set fishing seasons for March and April. The final allocation of spring chinook between sport and commercial fisheries later in the season remains unresolved.
From the National Park Service:
Mount Rainier National Park will conduct a test of the Geohazard Warning Siren at the Nisqually Entrance on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at 12:00, noon. The park is testing the new system and attempting to familiarize visitors, local residents and staff with the siren in the event of an actual geohazard.