marijuana pot

A sample of marijuana inside the dispensary at Collective Awakenings on Sept. 11, 2014. (Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is concerned about how the state's robust marijuana growing industry is impacting wildlife.

A new study from the agency indicates the proliferation of grow sites has sucked streambeds dry in Northern California. In some watersheds, demand for water to irrigate weed is higher than the streamflow of local creeks. Recently, streambeds have begun going dry as irrigation increases and drought worsens. The findings have spurred legislative action to protect watersheds that flow where pot is grown.

The University of Washington will partner with NASA next year to measure rain and snow in the Olympic Peninsula. Known as the rainiest place in America, the peninsula sits within an active storm track, bringing it regular rough weather. The scientists will use on-the-ground measurements to test the accuracy of a new satellite system that can measure even the lightest precipitation from space.

A federal judge ruled this week that the government must do more to protect marine mammals from Navy war games in the Pacific Ocean. The use of Navy sonar has long been known to be a threat to marine mammals, which also rely on subsurface sound vibrations to communicate with one another. It's not yet known whether the decision will have implications for the Navy's plans to expand the use of sonobouys in training off the coast of Washington, Oregon and California.

-- Kelly House

khouse@oregonian.com

503-221-8178

@Kelly_M_House