Work is about to start on the second phase of the Neal Creek Instream Habitat Restoration Project to restore native fish habitat.  The Hood River Watershed Group says this phase of the project will restore habitat diversity and quantity on a ¾ mile stretch of the creek, particularly spawning and juvenile rearing habitat.   This project aims to restore the ecological processes of the Neal Creek Watershed through 640 feet of side channel and floodplain reconnection, the excavation of two off-channel alcoves for juvenile fish, 11 log jams, pool enhancement, and native riparian revegetation.  The Watershed Group has worked with nine private landowners to allow for the implementation of this project on their land, and has partnered with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, which has provided extensive funding for the design and the construction of the project.  Other funding comes from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, U.S. Forest Service, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation Tree Credits.

North Central Public Health District has iHealth COVID-19 test kits available to agencies and the public, and will distribute them on a drive-up basis.  Each at-home test kit contains two tests.  Drive-up distribution is being offered one hour per day the week of July 25-29, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. all five days.  Just pull up to the Annex C building after entering the parking lot at 419 E. 7th St. and someone will bring you a couple of boxes of self-tests.  If you would like at-home test kits, but can’t make it to the drive-up times listed above, please call 541-506-2600 to schedule an alternate pick-up time.

The Hood River Police Department says with the increasing use of electric bicycles on public roadways, they are issuing a reminder that youth under the age of 16 cannot legally operate an e-bike.  An electric bicycle is equipped with an electric motor integrated into the frame and wheel.  It cannot exceed 1,000 watts and is designed to not exceed 20 miles per hour.  E-bikes are considered a bicycle under the Oregon Vehicle Code.  Hood River Police say they are allowed on roadways, lanes, or paths that bicycles are permitted to use.  E-bikes are not permitted on sidewalks.  Hood River Police are encouraging parents to review e-bike laws before purchasing one for a child.      

Wasco County Commissioners approved an outdoor mass gathering permit for the Canyon Vibration art and music festival planned for September 9th to 11th at Justesen Ranch in Tygh Valley.  The event is expected to draw 700 people.  Wasco County Associate Planner Sean Bailey told the Commission they received no responses on the application from nearby landowners.  The only significant point of discussion was around volume levels, but Sheriff Lane Magill says he worked with festival organizers on that issue.  Magill said organizers will take readings at midnight at the junction of Davidson and Tygh Valley roads and keep the decibel level at 60 or less.

The Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency Board has decided to recommend to The Dalles City Council to return a $1.6 million federal grant issued ten years ago for the First Street Streetscape project because it can be finished quicker and for less money without it.  Board members heard a report from Travis Kruger from consultant HDR.  Kruger said the complexities of using the federal grant would add two-to-three years to the project with an estimated cost to the City of $5.1 million, while proceeding without it would only cost $4.3 million.  The Council will receive the recommendation at a September meeting.  The project would reconstruct First Street between Union and Laughlin.

Wasco County and Home At Last Humane Society officials will talk about options for public funding of some of the animal shelter’s services, but the road to get there may be difficult.  Home At Last board president Paul Viemeister and development director Erin Foote Morgan spoke to the County Commission during Wednesday’s public comment period, with Viemeister saying there needs to be more than the current five percent funding from public sources and more collaboration from the County and the City of The Dalles.  But Commissioner Steve Kramer and County Administrative Officer Tyler Stone pointed out that the County has provided the shelter building on River Road, and Kramer noted a tax levy measure could impact other special districts through property tax compression.  Commission Chair Kathy Schwartz asked for a meeting to be set up between County officials and Home At Last.

Hood River County Commissioners told staff to go ahead and keep talking with a company that would like to do testing for a geothermal energy project on County forestlands, but with a dose of skepticism.  GeoX Energy has approached the County about the possibility.  Commission Chair Mike Oates notes they are just doing due diligence, and noted without any of these kind of facilities actually in place it’s hard to know what the potential pitfalls are.  In a presentation to the Commission, GeoX officials said Hood River County has proximity to a heat source, Mt. Hood, and is near a transmission line.

After a cooler and wetter spring than expected, temperatures have warmed in the Gorge during July, and that means fire fuels are drying out.  Oregon Department of Forestry The Dalles Unit Wildland Fire Supervisor Erick Castaneda says hot temperatures and high winds have fire crews on alert.  Castaneda noted last week they had to deal with a 15-acre fire in the Mosier area, but were able to get it knocked down thanks to some wetter fuels underneath trees.  But he expects with continued drying, fire crews will have a busy summer.  

The Mid-Columbia Broadband Speed Survey continues through mid-August.  Mid-Columbia Economic Development District and the Wasco County Broadband Action Team developed the survey.  Carrie Pipinich of MCEDD says the survey is looking to better define gaps in service in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat, and Skamania counties, and explore strategies to improve them.  The survey that asks for connectivity speed information can be accessed at mcedd.org.

Klickitat County Commissioners approved designating Skamania County Community Health as Klickitat County’s provider of mental health crisis response on what is expected to be a temporary basis beginning on August 6.  Klickitat County will now search for a permanent replacement for Comprehensive Healthcare, which announced in June it would withdraw from the role.  During a worksession prior to the vote, County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn said Skamania County only intends to provide crisis services on an interim basis for 90 days, and Klickitat County will have to find individuals to provide the services.  The next step will be to find a permanent solution to start in early November.  Quinn said Skamania County Commissioners next week are expected to sign the agreement.