AGP Executive Report

Oregon Climate & Energy: Oregon’s first gubernatorial debate turned feisty as Gov. Tina Kotek and Sen. Christine Drazan traded barbs over affordability, wildfire mitigation, and climate change, with both sides accusing the other of misrepresenting records. Wildlife & Habitat: Oregon and the wider region face fresh pressure on imperiled species and ecosystems, from new research on plankton off the Oregon coast to ongoing conservation work and policy fights over habitat protection. Regenerative Farming: A new study of more than 2,000 farms reports regenerative practices can match conventional yields and profits while storing substantially more carbon in soil—boosting biodiversity along the way. Local Land Use & Public Safety: Portland City Council approved amendments shaping the future of fuel terminals and storage tanks along the Willamette River, responding to earthquake and disaster risks tied to the CEI Hub. Food Waste: Lane County’s “Im(Perfect) Food Faceoff” spotlights how chefs can turn imperfect, commonly wasted foods into meals while teaching practical ways to cut food waste.

Wildlife & Water Quality: Oregon’s governor debate spotlighted climate and wildfire mitigation, with Kotek and Drazan trading barbs over how to respond to drought and fires. Columbia River Impacts: A new report revisits how dredging the Columbia River can harm tribal and aquatic communities by disrupting river habitat. Energy Costs & Climate Policy: States and cities sued the EPA over rollbacks to power-plant greenhouse gas limits, arguing the changes will worsen pollution and raise long-term costs. Oregon Transportation: A public survey shows Oregonians want ODOT to prioritize maintaining highways and bridges and improving safety as the state faces a major budget gap. Local Habitat Restoration: Springfield planted 500 native trees and shrubs at a stormwater pond to cool water, stabilize banks, and filter runoff before it reaches the Willamette. Biodiversity Discovery: Scientists reported two new sea spider species in the Salish Sea, adding to the region’s biodiversity record.

Climate & Clean Air Lawsuits: Oregon joins a coalition of states and cities suing the Trump administration over EPA rollbacks of power-plant greenhouse gas limits, arguing the changes will worsen the climate crisis and public health. Endangered Species Act Fight: Conservation groups update their challenge to the administration’s shift in how “harm” is defined under the Endangered Species Act, saying it effectively legalizes more wildlife killing. Oregon Wildlife Management: Oregon begins killing barred owls at the Elliott State Research Forest to protect northern spotted owls, part of a broader federal effort. Water Quality in Springfield: Springfield planted 500 native trees and shrubs at the Mill Race stormwater pond to cool water, stabilize banks, and filter runoff before it reaches the Willamette River. PFAS Accountability: Oregon AG Nick Brown joins a lawsuit aiming to stop DuPont from moving assets to dodge cleanup costs tied to “forever chemicals.” Local Education & Jobs: Klamath Basin schools received $375,000 in state grants to expand hands-on career and technical education, including new labs and agriculture training.

Wildfire & Drought Signals: A new national drought update points to intensifying conditions in Oklahoma as October begins, with exceptional drought expanding and heat plus limited rain driving worsening impacts. El Niño Weather Shift: The same week’s broader outlook ties changing drought and storm patterns to a rapidly intensifying El Niño, fueling heavy rain in parts of the Southwest while other areas stay hot and dry. AI Power Demand: A new study warns AI data centers run by major tech firms could consume about 1% of global electricity by 2030, raising pressure on grids and energy planning. Oregon Clean Fleets: Oregon’s Department of Energy launched an Oregon Electric Fleet Network to help public agencies and medium- and heavy-duty operators electrify faster, sharing lessons on costs and technical hurdles. Recycling Access in Rural Oregon: Chiloquin Visions in Progress opened a new free RecycleOn Center, expanding drop-off options for materials that don’t fit standard bins. Wildlife Care & Conservation Culture: The Wildlife Center of the North Coast shared a story about a northern pygmy owl patient, highlighting how small predators depend on healthy habitat and careful rehab work.

Oregon DEQ Enforcement: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued six civil penalties totaling $184,387 in August, including actions tied to hazardous waste mismanagement, a diesel spill cleanup failure, and stormwater and wastewater violations. Wildlife & Fisheries: The Columbia River steelhead forecast was downgraded again, with officials now expecting summer steelhead at Bonneville Dam to top out at 56,900—an especially grim outlook given the run’s already-low trajectory. Climate & Clean Transportation: Oregon Department of Energy launched the Oregon Electric Fleet Network to help public agencies and medium- and heavy-duty fleet operators electrify faster, sharing best practices and troubleshooting barriers. Public Lands & Forest Planning: Baker County endorsed “Alternative 2” in the Forest Service’s revised management strategy for the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla, and Malheur national forests, as the comment period closes and a final plan is targeted for early 2027. Prescribed Fire Prep: Fall prescribed burns are planned across multiple Southern Oregon communities, with crews coordinating with DEQ and forestry smoke forecasters and asking residents to avoid burn areas due to smoke impacts. Oregon Zoo: The Oregon Zoo renewed its AZA accreditation for another five years after a multi-day inspection focused on animal care, veterinary services, training, conservation, and risk management.

Chronic Wasting Disease Watch: Oregon is expanding deer and elk testing with new check stations statewide, urging hunters to stop for mandatory sampling to help contain the fatal disease. Wildfire Policy: A U.S. Senate bill would create a clearer, targeted pathway for prescribed fire while protecting air-quality standards for other exceptional events—now headed to the House. Forest Service Restructuring: Retired fire leaders are pushing USDA to pause Forest Service integration and restructure wildland fire management under a unified chain of command. Climate and Weather Signals: Scientists warn this year’s “super” El Niño could reshape global weather, with major U.S. impacts possible. Oregon Carbon Debate: Oregon Republicans and Democrats are revisiting a cap-and-invest approach, weighing it against the state’s current Climate Protection Program. Food & Farming: Portland-based Organically Grown Company’s advocacy/sustainability leader Mike Dill won a national Organic Trailblazer Award. Local Conservation Note: Oregon Realtors’ Good Neighbor nominees include Klamath wildlife rehab volunteer Jennifer Fairfield. Big Picture (Not Oregon-specific): Ken Griffin’s $3B donation to Carnegie Mellon is fueling new Miami and Pittsburgh campus plans.

Wildfire & Air Quality Policy: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to make it easier for states to use prescribed burns without being penalized under Clean Air Act rules, addressing the heavy paperwork burden states say they face when smoke from controlled fires could count against air-quality compliance. Chronic Wasting Disease Watch: Oregon Fish and Wildlife is expanding CWD monitoring statewide with new check stations starting Oct. 3, asking deer and elk hunters to submit samples for testing and offering a rifle drawing for participating hunters. Community Cleanup: SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup drew 1,500 volunteers across Oregon and Southwest Washington, removing about 9,000 pounds of litter and tackling invasive plants as part of 96 restoration projects. Disaster Funding: FEMA approved nearly $43 million for recovery and mitigation across Alaska, Oregon and Washington, including Oregon water infrastructure repairs tied to 2024 winter storms. Local Conservation Support: The Pacific Power Foundation awarded $56,000 to 13 Southern Oregon groups for outdoor education, volunteer efforts, and workforce training tied to environmental work. Prescribed Burns in Central Oregon: The Deschutes National Forest is planning fall understory prescribed burning, including units near Sisters, to reduce wildfire risk while coordinating to limit smoke impacts.

Lane County wildfire rules: Lane County fire officials say there’s still no set date to lift the ban on backyard debris burning, warning conditions may keep it in place until at least mid-October. They’re waiting on more September rain and safer fuel moisture after a record 2.5 million acres burned statewide. Eugene cleanup: Eugene is moving ahead with Trainsong Park soil remediation for dioxin contamination, with work expected next summer and funded by a $1.5 million EPA Brownfields grant. Southern Oregon funding: The Pacific Power Foundation awarded $56,000 to 13 southern Oregon groups for environmental education, volunteer efforts, and community career training. Willamette Pass snowmaking: Willamette Pass is doubling snowmaking guns and expanding coverage by 70 acres to boost consistency for the 2026-27 ski season. Wildlife win: Monarch butterfly populations are up more than 60% in a new report, offering a rare bright spot amid long-running declines. Data center transparency: Oregon lawmakers are among those pressing for more transparency and public input as data centers are proposed on public lands across the West. Health care policy: A new federal bill, the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026, would limit non-physician control of medical practices and tighten noncompete rules.

Data Centers on Public Lands: Oregon lawmakers are pressing for transparency as developers eye Bureau of Land Management sites, including in Oregon, raising concerns about environmental review and community input. Federal Funding for Hazards: FEMA released $14.6M for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital to expand a tsunami-resilient facility in Astoria, including a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people. Microplastics Oversight: Rep. Janelle Bynum joined a request for a GAO audit of the EPA’s microplastics work in drinking water and ecosystems, arguing Congress lacks a clear accounting of progress and next steps. Climate Impacts on Wildlife: OSU researchers warn Oregon’s gray whales are struggling to find enough food as climate change reshapes coastal conditions. Wildfire Preparedness: Ochoco National Forest is planning fall prescribed burns through October, with smoke and temporary closures expected. Community Conservation Grants: Pacific Power Foundation awarded $56K to 13 southern Oregon groups for outdoor education, volunteering, and fire resiliency. Water & Health: A multi-state E. coli outbreak tied to raw cheese has sickened 13 people, including cases reported in Oregon. Labor Update: Classified workers at Oregon’s public universities narrowly avoided a strike after reaching a tentative contract with the state.

Wildfire & Forest Policy: A Grasshopper Fire burning in Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest is reigniting debate over “protected” public-land logging plans, after a fuel-reduction project settled a lawsuit and treated thousands of acres that are now burning. Community Solar for Low-Income Households: Construction is underway on an 800 kW community solar array on a restored Portland landfill, expected to cut power bills for up to 140 low-income households by as much as 40%. Water & PFAS in the Data Center Boom: A new report highlights how data centers are driving water demand and pushing operators toward PFAS-linked cooling methods, raising fresh concerns for Oregon’s climate and water future. Public Health: San Diego health officials warned people not to eat recalled raw-milk cheese tied to a multistate E. coli outbreak. Wildlife Safety in Southern Oregon: Ashland is asking residents to report bear and cougar sightings as fall wildlife activity increases. Habitat Work for Steelhead: Volunteers and partners are reshaping pools and adding gravel in Ashland Creek to improve spawning habitat for winter and summer steelhead.

Wildlife & Habitat Restoration: Volunteers in Ashland are adding gravel to Ashland Creek in Lithia Park to improve spawning habitat for winter and summer steelhead, part of a multi-year effort approved by ODFW. Waste & Climate Impacts: Lane County’s stalled CleanLane recycling plan has left advanced sorting tech sitting unused in Eugene, while trash haulers keep trucking waste farther—adding pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Pollution & Health: Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ban PFAS “forever chemicals” from food wrappers and packaging, citing persistence in the environment and links to serious health harms. Water & Drought Signals: Seasonal forecasts increasingly point to warmer, drier conditions for parts of the Pacific Northwest as El Niño strengthens, raising winter weather risk for eastern Washington. Conservation Under Pressure: A new investigation highlights the McDermitt Lithium project threat to sage-grouse habitat in Oregon’s Warner Mountains, as climate change, invasives, wildfires, and energy development shrink the birds’ remaining strongholds. Oregon Circularity: Oregon’s statewide mattress recycling program collected 134,000 mattresses and box springs in 2025, diverting millions of pounds from landfills.

Urban Growth Boundary Fight (Sisters): Sisters is racing to clear final hurdles on its urban growth boundary amendment map, aiming to approve its first expansion in about two decades as it tries to add roughly 2,000 homes over the next 20 years—delays could mean redoing reports and pushing housing timelines further. PFAS in Food Packaging (National): U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strip PFAS “forever chemicals” from food wrappers and packaging, reviving a fight over grease- and water-repellent materials that persist in the environment and the body. Data Centers & Power Demand (National): New reporting highlights how AI-driven data centers are driving steep electricity growth, with projections that could push data centers toward a huge share of U.S. power by the 2030s. Sage-Grouse vs. Lithium Mining (Oregon): A new investigation describes how a lithium project in Oregon’s sage-grouse strongholds is drawing sharp opposition, warning that climate change, invasives, wildfire, and energy development are already shrinking habitat. El Niño Watch (Pacific Northwest): Forecasters say a strengthening El Niño could tilt winter conditions toward warmer, drier patterns in parts of the region, prompting emergency planning for a range of hazards.

El Niño Watch: Eastern Washington and much of the Northwest are bracing for a warmer, drier winter as El Niño strengthens, with forecasts tilting toward above-normal temperatures and reduced precipitation risk. Wildlife & Water: Oklahoma City’s effort to refill Lake Hefner after drought included a dramatic wildlife moment—otters riding the released water and a bald eagle circling overhead. Local Governance: Multnomah County voters head to ranked-choice voting for District 2 commissioner, with seven candidates running across North and Northeast Portland. Climate Accountability in Oregon: A letter urges Oregon voters to press candidates directly on climate and environmental priorities ahead of the Nov. 3 election, pointing to a SOCAN forum for questions. Pollution & Plastics Policy: Senators reintroduced a bill to ban toxic substances in plastic beverage bottles and push pollution remediation support, with Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley among the co-sponsors. Oregon Energy & Land Use: A rural Idaho county’s renewables ban is under review again, highlighting how local rules can shift as communities reconsider clean-energy tradeoffs. Public Safety: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned against a viral microwave “squishy toy” stunt that can cause severe burns.

Wildfire & public safety: A Grasshopper Fire in Oregon is burning “protected” acres, raising fresh questions about whether current wildfire planning and forest protections are working. Toxic soil cleanup: Eugene is moving ahead with a $1.2 million plan to cap dioxin-contaminated soil at Trainsong Park, using targeted excavation plus an engineered protective cap. Bear conflict management: Sandy River Park will stay closed until next week while Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigates a black bear sighting. Water stress: Wickiup Reservoir is expected to drop to extremely low levels this fall as drought and required flows for the threatened Oregon spotted frog limit releases. Clean energy politics: A rural Idaho county that previously banned renewables is reconsidering its stance, a sign of how local clean-energy bans are shifting. Plastic pollution law: Five U.S. senators reintroduced a bill to ban toxic substances in plastic beverage bottles and steer cleanup grants toward rural and underserved communities. Oregon climate governance: Oregon’s Jeff Merkley and other AGs are pushing Congress for federal AI safety rules, while Cheyenne is weighing an EPA climate plan that critics say could raise costs. Local governance & history: Portland’s Union Station won a federal honor after its Black labor history was recognized.

Toxic Soil Cleanup: Eugene is moving ahead with a $1.2 million plan to cap dioxin-contaminated soil at Trainsong Park, using targeted excavation and an engineered protective cap because the highest concentrations sit around the playground. Wildfire Reality Check: A new report-style look at Oregon’s “protected” forests argues the system is failing—highlighting how areas treated for wildfire risk reduction still burned in the Grasshopper Fire. Water Under Pressure: Wickiup Reservoir is expected to rapidly draw down amid drought, with releases stepped down to meet minimum flows tied to the threatened Oregon spotted frog. Data Centers & Power Costs: Pacific Power reached an agreement under Oregon’s POWER Act that would shift more new energy and infrastructure costs for data centers onto operators, with regulators expected to decide in November. AI Safety Push: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield joined 26 attorneys general urging Congress to set federal AI safety rules, citing incidents where AI systems accessed networks or acted unsafely. Local Conservation & Rivers: Sisters Coffee launched a Deschutes River–supporting roast, donating $2 per bag to the Deschutes River Conservancy to restore streamflow and improve water quality. Wildlife & Public Safety: Sandy River Park remains closed after a black bear sighting while ODFW investigates. Community Youth Support: Eugene’s new Youth HUB opens Sept. 28, bundling education, jobs, mental health help, and basic needs in one downtown space.

Women & Prosperity Agenda: A Portland Metro Chamber forum highlighted that Oregon ranks 49th for private-sector job growth, with the opinion piece arguing the biggest hit is on women—especially in skilled trades and architecture/engineering/construction. Tribal Land Return: Oregon lawmakers’ Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act would add about 18,600 acres of federal forestland to the Grand Ronde reservation, keeping it open for hunting, fishing and recreation while limiting certain gaming and log exports. Plastic Pollution Fight in Court: The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has appealed a Ninth Circuit case challenging Oregon’s Extended Producer Responsibility plastic law, arguing it disrupts supply chains and shifts costs. Clean Energy Funding Model: Eugene voters will consider a Clean Energy Fund modeled after Portland’s PCEF, aiming to accelerate emissions cuts and climate justice projects. Wildfire + Water Adaptation Event: PLAYA in Summer Lake hosts “Wildfire + Water: Artists and Scientists Adapting to Change,” bringing local experts and artists together around wildfire impacts and water access. Forest Resilience in Klamath: American Forests is setting up a seed orchard and forest resilience center near Klamath Falls to support post-fire reforestation, with local school tours included.