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Chris Carvalho

@gorgepulse.bsky.social
949 followers 521 following 3.1K posts

News, photography, analysis, and commentary on the Columbia Gorge and the environment. Rectal cancer survivor. Voice of marginalized Gorge communities.

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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 4h
We harvested 8 lb. 2 oz. (3.69 kilos) of balsamroot seed for our restoration plantings this fall. If you tried to buy this seed commercially, it would cost around $800. But because the people doing the work are part of the LGBTQ+ community, you won't hear any recognition of ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
UBC publishes this excellent colorectal cancer newsletter, subscribe at the link below. While focused on Canada, it has information for a global audience. This month: why 45 is the new 50 for screening. www.ccor.ca/newsletter?u...
ccor.ca
Research Digest — Colorectal Cancer Outcomes Research
The trusted source for the latest colorectal cancer research and insights, empowering patients and families with knowledge for better health decisions.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Updated OHA wastewater report shows COVID test positivity at 12.2% as of 9/12, highest level since October 2025.
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Reposted by Chris Carvalho
Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
My comments with the Houston Press www.houstonpress.com/news/whateve...
houstonpress.com
Whatever Happened to COVID Shots for Everyone? - Houston Press
The FDA has only approved COVID vaccines for a particular age range and for people who have underlying risk factors.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
On Sunday, we pulled invasive Cota tinctoria along the Mosier Tunnels Trail. We have been working the site for several years and the bulk of the work is almost done. We still need to return annually to look for seedlings. I discovered the plant and was directed by the Forest ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
On 9/16/26, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,976. Hospitalizations are at 0.3 per 100,000 compared to a national average of 0.7. After a brief drop in wastewater levels, they are rising again. Sustained increases reported in Tillamook, Dallas, ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
More on the project to track migrating monarchs with radio tags: www.opb.org/article/2026...
opb.org
Pacific Northwest monarch butterflies are migrating south. You can watch them on an app
Monarch butterflies are being digitally tracked in the region for the first time. The journey could reveal long-held mysteries about the insects' migration patterns.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Cyclist seriously injured after being hit by Trimet Lift bus in SE Portland: www.kptv.com/video/2026/0...
kptv.com
Cyclist seriously hurt after being hit by TriMet Lift bus in SE Portland
A cyclist was seriously hurt after being hit by a TriMet Lift bus in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on Monday afternoon.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The Bridge of the Gods will celebrate its centennial on Sept. 19 at Marine Park in Cascade Locks. The event runs from noon to 8 pm & will feature live music, historical presentations, family activities, a vintage car show & local vendors. www.oregonlive.com/living/2026/...
oregonlive.com
A century-old bridge across the Columbia River is hosting a free celebration this weekend in the Gorge
The iconic crossing that links Oregon to Washington celebrates its centennial Sept. 19 with music, historical exhibits, family activities and a vintage car show in Cascade Locks.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I adopted a monarch for radio tracking through adoptamonarch.org. It was released in Elkton, OR yesterday. It's not wasting any time. Today, it was tracked south of Port Orford, 79 miles away from where it was released! The organization uses tiny solar-powered radio ...
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Reposted by Chris Carvalho
Bird Alliance of Oregon @birdallianceoregon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🚨Lights Out Alert! Tomorrow night approximately 4.1 million birds will migrate through Oregon's skies. Help keep them safe on their journey by turning off your outside lights and drawing your blinds between 11p-6a. 📷: aeroecolab.com/oregon
Lights Out Alert for September 16, 2026 - 4.1 million birds will be migrating through Oregon skies. Dark skies help keep birds safe on their journey to their wintering grounds. Migration is happening now through approximately October 19 -- if you can turn off your lights and draw your blinds every evening during that time period to assist migrating birds, that would be appreciated.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I’m hearing from drivers for FedEx & UPS that deliveries are delayed by about 5 hours each day due to the I-5 closure in Portland.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
ODOT reports that the McCord Creek Bridge on I-84 eastbound is now fully open to traffic, and the infamous dip in the roadway has been fixed. www.oregon.gov/odot/project...
oregon.gov
Oregon Department of Transportation : Project-Details : Projects : State of Oregon
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This has been a bad year for peaches. Most have been dry & mealy. Columbia Blossom is the exception. Juicy & flavorful, though a bit small. New Seasons has them.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Injured hiker rescued near Triple Falls today: www.kptv.com/2026/09/07/h...
kptv.com
Hiker rescued near Triple Falls in northeast Multnomah County
Multnomah County first responders rescued an injured hiker near Triple Falls on Monday.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Hooded ladies' tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) is an uncommon orchid growing in wet places such as prairies & meadows at all elevations to timberline in the Gorge. It's hard to find except on high slopes around Mt. Hood. Native Americans used it to treat venereal disease ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
A painted lady (Vanessa cardui) nectars on one of my zinnias.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Hood River Bridge closures planned starting 9/21. portofhoodriver.com
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
On 9/2/26, OHA reported 2 new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is now 10,975. A fall wave is now underway, with increasing wastewater levels in many cities & a jump to 8% test positivity from near zero in late spring. Hospitalizations are at 0.4 per 100,000 compared to a ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
OSU study finds high lead levels near the Troutdale Airport. I know 2 people nearby with anemia. Coincidence? www.opb.org/article/2026...
opb.org
Oregon State University study finds elevated lead levels near regional airports
The study looked at air quality surrounding regional airports near Hillsboro and Troutdale, two of the top three lead emitters in Oregon.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Asters are a common late summer & early fall flower in the Gorge. They are great pollinator plants & many will grow in your garden. This one is likely alpine aster (Aster alpigenus), growing in meadows above 3,000 ft. A comma anglewing is nectaring on it.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
One overlooked factor that could be affecting the mathematical & financial disadvantages men experience is CTE from high school & college football. A new study is finding impairment, even in young adults. www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
pbs.org
New study reveals widespread signs of brain trauma among former NFL players
At least one in four NFL players has CTE when they die, according to a new study that examined the brains of former pro players. CTE is a brain disease thought to be caused by years of sustained head ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The administration that calls itself “pro-life” is causing innocent children to die in Afghanistan by cutting off USAID assistance: www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
pbs.org
A look at the devastating impact of USAID cuts in rural Afghanistan
It's been 18 months since the Trump administration made cuts to foreign aid. One of the countries hardest-hit is Afghanistan. The five years since the U.S. withdrawal have been grim for the people the...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
A fire has started along WA SR-14 near Wishram. Evacuations are underway. share.watchduty.org/i/117714?ts=...
share.watchduty.org
Watch Duty - Wildfire Maps & Alerts
Real-time information about wildfire and firefighting efforts nearby
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
The fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is spinning nests on cottonwood & alder trees in the Gorge right now. They are especially noticeable along I-84 between Troutdale & Cascade Locks. The caterpillars turn into a night-flying moth ...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
2 related stories: Starting Sunday, Trimet will enact sweeping service cuts to ease a $300 million shortfall, mainly from declining ridership: www.opb.org/article/2026... 2nd, Prosper Portland spent $19 million on the now-demolished Centennial Mills building, with nothing to show ...
opb.org
TriMet to enact sweeping service cuts amid a massive budget shortfall
Surging costs and stagnating ridership have forced Oregon’s largest transit agency to shrink some of its rail and bus services.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Yesterday, OHA reported no new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is still 10,973. Hospitalizations are at 0.4 per 100,000, double the national average. COVID is active in OR. Wastewater levels are low, but test positivity is up significantly. A friend just tested positive.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
At high elevations, mountain ash (Sorbus scopulina or S. sitchensis) is beginning to show fall color. This one has a captivating pattern of green veining & magenta, something I've never seen before.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I usually post about gathering huckleberries this time of year. However, this is the worst season in memory. I don't recommend going; leave what's left for the wildlife. In Montana, officials are recommending this. www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/ber...
montanarightnow.com
Berry shortage around Montana brings more bear encounters
Missoula, Mont. — A weak wild berry season across the state has pushed bears and other foragers into more human-populated areas.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
I belong to 3 public radio stations: @opb.org, KWSO, & KSJD. OPB is relentless in sending out renewal requests, the others don't. One of the main reasons a lot of stations struggle is that they don't remind people to renew. OPB should help other stations by letting them use their...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The avalanche lily, Erythronium montanum, lives in subalpine forests & meadows above about 2800 ft. in the west & central Gorge. While it grows in shade, it can be spectacular after a fire in open areas. Mt. Hood is seen in the distance.
Avalanche lily flowers are about 2 inches across and have 6 recurved white petals with yellow centers. Each flower is borne at the end of a slender stem from 3 to 8 inches tall, sometimes branched, with up to five flowers per stem. The leaves are green, basal, and lanceolate with parallel veins.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) has an interesting survival strategy of playing dead when it senses a threat.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Milbert's tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti) is a spectacular butterfly in the Gorge flying in mid-to-late summer. Its larval food plant is nettles, which are very common but in recent years the butterflies have been hard to find. There's no data yet indicating why this is so.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Current FIRMS imagery of the Grasshopper Fire. NIFC reports the state IMT is standing down. Given the looks of this infrared signature, I'm not sure that's a good idea.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Grasshopper Fire update: 34,659 acres, 19% contained, 1,264 personnel. inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-pub...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Current satellite timelapse shows smoke from the Grasshopper Fire drifting both to the SE at upper levels & through the Gorge to the west at lower altitude into Portland. Fires in northern WA are really picking up.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
The Grasshopper Fire is a mess. It looks like it crossed Hwy. 35 moving westward, unless the hotspots are backburns. Mt. Hood Meadows has evacuated. A lot of prime recreational land has been burned, including Flag Point Lookout & Lookout Mtn., one of my favorite butterfly spots.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
If you're a client of Rich's Tree Service in Gresham, their email was hacked this morning & an email went out to customers from them with an attached Excel spreadsheet. Delete this email and do not open the attachment.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Smoke from the Grasshopper Fire is aimed directly at Portland. There's a Red Flag Warning in effect for the western Gorge through Wednesday night. Also applies to southern Willamette Valley. forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The Grasshopper, Shingle, Green Mountain, & Hagen fires are the major ones in eastern Oregon today. This week, winds will reverse & create hot, smoky conditions in the Willamette Valley with forecasted highs near 100 on Wednesday.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Fire weather watches & red flag warnings are in effect for areas east of the Cascades Crest in OR/WA: www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo...
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
So sad. I've been to that lookout many times. Another loss due to the Forest Service's lack of a sound fire management plan with public review.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
On 7/29/26, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,973. Hospitalizations remain low at 0.2 per 100,000, the same as the national average. Wastewater levels are mostly plateaued except for The Dalles, Newport, Woodburn, & Grants Pass.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Smoke from the Grasshopper Fire SE of Mt. Hood yesterday.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Washington's Mt. St. Helens at sunset yesterday, with a veil of orange wildfire smoke.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This isn't just a neighborhood coffee shop closing. Portland's doom loop is the direct result of incompetent government hell bent on catering to white-collar, rich residents at the expense of the middle class. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
oregonlive.com
Daimler Truck will shut Portland factory, lay off 375 and move production to the East Coast
The decision to shutter the factories ends 84 years of truck manufacturing in Portland, dating to Freightliner's founding in 1942.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
There will be a work party at the Gorge Discovery Center on Sunday, 8/2 to remove invasive weeds in their wildflower plot. From 10 am - 1 pm. Please RSVP. Barbara Robinson has maintained the plot for years, but recent fires have allowed invasives to get established.
Subject: Work Party with Barbara on 8/2
Date: July 29, 2026 at 2:41:45 PM PDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Hello, Naturalists!

Thank you to everyone who helped with our fire abatement project! We accomplished an incredible amount in the three days, and our building is now much safer if another fire sweeps through. 

I spoke with Barbara this morning, and she would like to wrangle volunteers for a work party this Sunday, August 2nd, from 10:00 to 1:00 at the Discovery Center & Museum. The work will largely consist of weeding – no heavy machinery this time!

Barbara and I strongly ask that folks RSVP to me. I will be out of town, and neither of us wants her out on the grounds alone in case she has a fall. 

Barbara will meet folks in the picnic area of the Discovery Center at 10:00. If you're not able to come until later, which is completely okay, you can find her on the West side of the grounds between the highway and the pond. Please bring gardening gloves!

For day-of communications, especially if you are no longer able to come, you may call Barbara at (541) 705-7767. If she doesn't answer, please leave a voicemail and send a text message. 

We appreciate your support,
Britney

Britney Gitch
Program Director
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
(541) 296-8600 ext. 212
(she/her)
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Mario needed treatment for a wound he got in a fight with another cat. My vet was booked out, but there's a new vet urgent care in South Hillsboro, & they had same-day appointments & did a great job. Check out sprucevet.com He's doing fine.
sprucevet.com
Spruce Veterinary Urgent Care | Urgent Veterinary Care in Hillsboro, OR
Spruce Veterinary Urgent Care provides low stress, urgent veterinary services for dogs and cats in Hillsboro and the Portland metro area. Book an appointment for your pet's urgent medical needs.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Current satellite view of OR/WA with FIRMS infrared. The big action right now is mostly central OR from Warm Springs to John Day. Lots of road closures, check if you're going out.
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Chris Carvalho @gorgepulse.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
City of Portland to launch curbside recycling spy program to check bins for non-recylables: z100portland.iheart.com/featured/por... Scary privacy implications. If you have confidential material, place in bin underneath enough items to prevent inspection, burn it, or bag & put in trash.
z100portland.iheart.com
Portland Starts Recycling Check Program | Z100 Portland | Portland Local News
The City of Portland is starting a pilot program where city contractors will check recycling bins for wrong items, and then let residents know about it.
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