Ashley Ahearn

Critics Take Aim At Port Of Seattle's Lease With Shell Oil

Ashley Ahearn

The Port of Seattle has leased space to Shell Oil to dock ships and store Arctic drilling rigs in the off season. City officials and environmentalists question that decision and want Shell out.

A Quinault Indian Nation fishing boat comes in to unload its catch in Grays Harbor at a point not far from the proposed locations of three oil train-to-ship facilities in Washington state.

Washington State County Unsure If It Can Take Wave Of North Dakota Crude

Ashley Ahearn

Once a booming timber area, Grays Harbor County is the site of three proposed oil terminals. The local fishing industry sees the uptick in oil movement as a big risk, with limited economic benefits.

Shrinking Glaciers Could Squeeze Washington's Water Supply

Ashley Ahearn

Washington state is home to more glaciers than any other state in the lower 48. And they're receding faster than ever before.

Colossal Dam Removal Project Frees Washington's Elwa River

Ashley Ahearn

Two dams blocked the river for more than 100 years. The lower dam is completely gone and the last 30 feet of the upper dam were blown up this week. Now, the river is returning to life.

Washington Mudslide Creates Environmental Hazards

Ashley Ahearn

The Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Ecology have moved in to monitor water pollution and hazardous materials. Residents living in the area have expressed concerns.

A geoduck farm near Totten Inlet, Washington.

Pacific Northwest Suffers After China Bans Shellfish Imports

Ashley Ahearn

Earlier this month, China imposed a ban on shellfish imports from most of the U.S. West Coast after finding two bad clams. The move is hitting Washington state particularly hard. State agencies estimate businesses there are losing as much as $600,000 a week.

The Cascades frog is found only in the alpine wetlands of the Pacific Northwest, though its range used to extend down to Northern California and up to British Columbia. Scientists are concerned its range will continue to shrink with climate change.

Climate Change Could Spell Final 'Chuckle' For Alpine Frog

Ashley Ahearn

The Cascades frog used to occupy alpine zones from California to the Canadian border, but its range is shrinking as global temperatures increase and snowpack declines. Scientists are hiking deep into the mountains of the Northwest to study the tiny frog, which makes a call that has been described as a "chuckling" sound.

A group of volunteers is helping biologists see whether there are any martens left in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state.

To Catch A Marten: Seeking Clues In Olympic National Forest

Ashley Ahearn

Scientists are worried about the elusive members of the weasel family that live in parts of Olympic National Forest in Washington state. To see whether martens are endangered, volunteers are installing remote camera traps to take photos of the animals.

Orca L112, also known as Victoria, was 3 years old when she washed up on the Washington coast. An investigation into her death has been inconclusive.

What Killed Orca Victoria? Some Point To Naval Tests

Ashley Ahearn

The U.S. Navy is in the process of renewing its permits to conduct sonar and explosive tests off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. But the recent unexplained death of a young orca who washed ashore in February has thrown a wrench in the process. Experts say injuries to the whale may indicate she was exposed to an underwater explosion or sonar testing.