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How One Chef in Vietnam Uses Fish Sauce as the Foundation for Flavor

The humble fish sauce has been a staple ingredient in Vietnamese kitchens for centuries

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The taste of banh te — a steamed rice cake with an enticing filling of mushrooms and minced pork — captures the quintessence of northern Vietnamese cuisine: Humble ingredients, prepared perfectly and often enjoyed with a funky fish sauce dip.This balance of flavors is what Quang Dung, the chef and owner of Chapter Dining in Hanoi, sought in his modern take on the dish. His version of banh te is unapologetically fancy. The steamed rice cake is enriched with pork stock and served with a raw scallop and pickled daikon shavings. Freshness comes from coriander used several ways, sweetness from fried shallot oil, and a delicate floral essence extracted from a giant water bug used in northern Vietnamese cooking. And then, a splash of fish sauce — or nuoc mam — brings it all together in a savory broth that suffuses the dish. “Fish sauce is one of the foundations for flavor,” he said.It's also the basis for Vietnam’s diverse and vibrant cuisine. Just a drop of the amber liquid can transform a dish by boosting umami and savory notes. Made by fermenting fish — often anchovies that are getting harder to catch because of climate change — in salt for many months, the taste of each bottle varies depending on factors like the ratio of salt to fish or the length of fermentation. Fish sauce is a staple across Vietnam, used in a variety of dishes. As a dipping sauce for spring rolls or savory crepes called banh xeo. In marinades for grilled meat dishes like Hanoi's pork and noodle classic called bun cha. In salad dressings and in braised meat dishes like the southern classic where pork is cooked in bittersweet caramel and fish sauce. Much of Vietnam’s cuisine is shaped by the decades of hardship during and after the Vietnam War, but today its economy and its cities are booming. And fish sauce is finding its way into unusual applications.In Hanoi, fish sauce is used in some cocktails to add umami, and Dung has used it to add a Vietnamese twist to French hollandaise sauce and even flavor ice cream. “It is very versatile," he said. "A lot of fun to use and to explore.”Dung’s culinary explorations began early. His mother taught him to cook at 10 so he could feed himself while his banker parents worked long hours. He learned how to make rice, fry eggs, and boil vegetables. Soon after, he was braising pork and making spicy fried rice. Growing up, he assumed everyone could cook — after all, his friends in Hanoi could. But it wasn’t until he moved to the United Kingdom as a teenager to finish high school that he realized this wasn’t the case.He eventually studied finance in coastal Devon, but while working part-time in restaurants, he fell in love with all things food: learning from his peers, consuming cookbooks by top chefs, and spending all his savings to eat out at restaurants. “When you’re 18, you’re a sponge. You absorb everything,” he said.He came back to Vietnam in 2013 and got a job working in a bank. But every evening, he worked a second job — as a junior chef for a five-star hotel in Hanoi at night. He eventually quit both jobs in 2015 and started a gastropub in Hanoi. That didn’t go according to plan as he “managed to do everything wrong.” More failures followed — he calls them “lessons in my dictionary” — but in 2021 he opened Chapter Dining, a fine dining restaurant in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter that celebrates local, seasonal produce and the cooking traditions of Vietnam’s mountainous north. The restaurant, with its facade of steel slats, leads to an open kitchen where Dung and his team regularly create a 14-course tasting menu that won it a spot in the coveted Michelin Guide Hanoi in 2023 and 2024.“I can finally call it ... my restaurant, my food, my philosophy,” he said.Central to that philosophy is sustainability. Each menu is seasonal — warm, comforting dishes for the cold months and fresh, lighter dishes in the summer — and the ingredients are locally sourced. Given the erratic weather in the climate-vulnerable country, this means that he can't always be sure of what produce will be available. So the menu adapts, letting nature decide, and the bottle of fish sauce is never too far away.“Fish sauce isn’t just about saltiness. It is as much about umaminess. It is magic,” he said, adding that he hoped more people would cook with fish sauce.A good starting point, he suggested, is to use it to add a bit of that magic to the humble omelet. Three eggs, two teaspoons of fish sauce, a heap of finely diced spring onions all beaten together. Add pork fat to a hot pan and roll the eggs around. “And then you’ve got a very nice fish sauce omelet. That goes down really well with rice,” he said.The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Feb. 2025

Climate
Food
Mountains

Fears 19th Century canal could start to run dry in days

The operators of a 225-year-old canal warn of an "urgent" water shortage without imminent rainfall.

Fears historic canal could start to run dry in daysSteffan MessengerEnvironment correspondent, BBC Wales NewsGareth BryerBBC Wales NewsBeacon Park Boats / As You See It MediaThe Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is set to mark its 225th anniversary this yearThe Welsh government has been urged to intervene over fears one of the country's most popular canals could start to dry up within a week.Operators of the 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal have warned of an "urgent" water shortage without the prospect of imminent rainfall.It comes amid debate over how the historic attraction should secure its water supply in future after limits were placed on taking water from the environmentally-sensitive River Usk.The Welsh government said any arrangement between the Canal & River Trust and Welsh Water would be a commercial decision in which it should play no role.The 35-mile (56 km) waterway weaves its way through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park - formerly known as the Brecon Beacons National Park - and the Blaenavon industrial landscape World Heritage Site, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors a year for boating, walking and cycling."Everything the canal supports is at threat - we risk losing the jewel in the crown of south Wales," said Tracey Leake-Jones, who runs the Bridge 46 to Five Locks canal group.Made up of volunteers, the group runs events along the canal and has fundraised to install planters, benches and signs.The prospect of it having to close due to water shortages was "utterly devastating", she said."There has to be a solution found, and my view is that the Welsh government and its leaders are the only people who can bring all the main players together."She pointed to new housing estates being built along the canal with the waterway used as a marketing tool, and said the local council hoped to be able to open up further stretches down to Cwmbran, describing the economic benefits as "unimaginable"."Should we have problems with water supply then what's going to happen to those plans for restoration that we've all been working on for the past three years?"Tracey Leake-Jones says the canal is of vital importance for the local communityNews broke of the difficulties facing the canal in a letter sent to local businesses by Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal and River Trust in Wales, in February.It explained the canal, which once transported iron and coal to Newport docks, had relied on funnelling water from the River Usk and its tributaries which accounted for 80-90% of its water supply.Recent changes in legislation, designed in part to protect rivers in the face of climate change, means licenses are now required, restricting the amount of water that can be taken.Last year, Glandŵr Cymru lost an appeal against some of the conditions stipulated by environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW).The River Usk is a designated special area of conservation protected by law due to its importance for rare wildlife including the Atlantic salmon, which is threatened with extinction from Wales."The canal took around 30% of the total flow of the river in 2022 - which was the last dry year period," said Gail Davies-Walsh, chief executive of Afonydd Cymru which represents river groups across Wales.Limits on abstraction were needed to ensure the species and habitats had sufficient water to survive "particularly during dry summers and low flow periods," she said.New licenses restrict the amount of water that can be taken from the River Usk at times when the river's own levels are lowMark Evans, director of Glandŵr Cymru, said the trust accepted it could no longer continue to abstract water from the Usk at the same level as it had in the past.But recent dry weather highlighted the urgency of finding an alternative supply, he said."The amount of water we can take is starting to really concern us," he explained."It's urgent today, looking at the forecast for the next week."At some point we'll have to stop the boats from using the locks," he warned, adding that both the canal's users and its wildlife would be impacted as levels fell.Discussions have been taking place in recent weeks with Welsh Water over whether it could help to support the canal during periods of prolonged dry weather.But this would come with "financial implications" and the potential of having to pay commercial rates for the water, resulting in a considerable bill the charity could not afford, he claimed.Alasdair Kirkpatrick employs 30 people, hiring out boats he designs and builds himselfAlasdair Kirkpatrick, owner of Beacon Park Boats, said he had already received phone calls from customers who had booked boat trips asking about the impact on them."I never saw this one coming," he said, "it has really shocked us all.""All my customers nip down to the local pubs and restaurants, 25% of them fly in from overseas from places like America and Australia, using local taxis and train services and spending a fortune locally," he added.He urged the Welsh government "to fund Welsh Water to continue to maintain water levels and keep all the operators of this canal in business - it cannot be lost".PADespite being a special area of conservation, rare wildlife in the River Usk is struggling - with salmon among the species facing steep declines Gavin Bown from Natural Resources Wales said regulating water abstraction was "a complex, evidence-based process that carefully balances environmental needs with those of local communities"."Our priority is to protect the integrity of the River Usk and the Severn Estuary, both designated as special areas of conservation," he explained, adding the regulator would continue to work collaboratively with the Canal and River Trust.A Welsh Water spokesman said the River Usk was "one of the primary sources of drinking water to around 250,000 customers across south east Wales".But it remained "one of our least drought resilient supply areas", with limited water resources to deal with the impacts of climate change and population growth."We have proposed in the driest of years to supply some customers with water from the River Tawe through an emergency pumping station and use this spare capacity in abstraction from the River Usk to support the canal," he explained.However this would come at a cost, with discussions ongoing over whether this would be affordable to the trust."To provide this free of charge or risk the future supply of drinking water to our customers, isn't an option for us," he said.The Welsh government said "protecting and enhancing our environment and natural resources is key to addressing the climate and nature emergencies"."The limits placed on the licences were in line with the amounts applied for by the Canal & River Trust," a spokesperson said.They added any arrangement between the canal and Welsh Water would be a commercial contractual decision in which the Welsh government should play no role.

Water
Business
Conservation

Ohio utility retracts energy-efficiency plan despite potential savings

Another proposed energy-saving program is on the chopping block in Ohio. Duke Energy Ohio quietly dropped plans late last year to roll out a broad portfolio of programs that would have boosted energy efficiency and encouraged customers to use less electricity during times of peak demand. The plans, which would have…

Another proposed energy-saving program is on the chopping block in Ohio. Duke Energy Ohio quietly dropped plans late last year to roll out a broad portfolio of programs that would have boosted energy efficiency and encouraged customers to use less electricity during times of peak demand. The plans, which would have saved ratepayers nearly $126 million over three years after deductions for costs, were part of a regulatory filing last April that sought to increase charges on customers’ electric bills. The move came after settlement talks with other stakeholders, including the state’s consumer advocate, which opposes collecting ratepayer money to provide the programs to people who aren’t in low-income groups. State regulators are now weighing whether to approve the settlement with a much smaller efficiency program focused on low-income neighborhoods. The case is the latest chapter in a struggle to restore utility-run programs for energy efficiency after House Bill 6, the 2019 nuclear and coal bailout law that also gutted the state’s renewable energy standards and eliminated requirements for utilities to help customers save energy. Studies show that utility-run energy-efficiency programs are among the cheapest ways to meet growing electricity needs and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Lower demand means fossil-fuel power plants can run less often. Less wasted energy translates into lower bills for customers who take advantage of efficiency programs. Even customers who don’t directly participate benefit because the programs lower peak demand when power costs the most. Energy efficiency can also put downward pressure on capacity prices — amounts paid by grid operators to electricity producers to make sure enough generation will be available for future needs. Due to high projected demand compared to available generation, capacity prices for most of the PJM region, including Ohio, will jump ninefold in June to about $270 per megawatt-day. “At a time when PJM is saying we’re facing capacity shortages, we should be doing everything we can to reduce demand,” said Rob Kelter, a senior attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. Since 2019, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has generally rejected utility efforts to offer widely available, ratepayer-funded programs for energy efficiency. Legislative efforts to clarify that such programs are allowed under Ohio law have been introduced but failed to pass. In the current case, Duke Energy Ohio, which serves about 750,000 customers in southwestern Ohio, proposed a portfolio of efficiency offerings that would have cost ratepayers about $75 million over the course of three years but created net savings of nearly $126 million over the same period.

Energy
Waste

In Good Climate News, a Federal Judge Upholds NYC’s Ban on Gas in New Buildings

Cities looking to eliminate fossil fuels in buildings have notched a decisive court victory. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by plumbing and building trade groups against a New York City ban on natural gas in new buildings. The decision is the first to explicitly disagree with a previous ruling that struck down Berkeley, California’s […]

Cities looking to eliminate fossil fuels in buildings have notched a decisive court victory. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by plumbing and building trade groups against a New York City ban on natural gas in new buildings. The decision is the first to explicitly disagree with a previous ruling that struck down Berkeley, California’s first-in-the-nation gas ban. That order, issued by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2023 and upheld again last year, prompted cities across the country to withdraw or delay laws modeled after the Berkeley ordinance.  While New York City’s law functions differently from Berkeley’s, legal experts say that this month’s decision provides strong legal footing for all types of local policies to phase out gas in buildings—and could encourage cities to once again take ambitious action. “This ruling demonstrates that there’s absolutely no reason to interpret the Berkeley decision so broadly.” “It’s a clear win in that regard, because the 9th Circuit decision has had a really chilling effect on local governments,” said Amy Turner, director of the Cities Climate Law Initiative at Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. “Now there’s something else to point to, and a good reason for hope for local governments that may have back-burnered their building electrification plans to bring those to the forefront again.” In 2021, New York City adopted Local Law 154, which sets an air emissions limit for indoor combustion of fuels within new buildings. Under the law, the burning of “any substance that emits 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy” is prohibited. That standard effectively bans gas-burning stoves, furnaces, and water heaters, and any other fossil-fuel powered appliances. Instead, real estate developers have to install electric appliances like induction stoves and heat pumps. The policy went into effect in 2024 for buildings under seven stories, and will apply to taller buildings starting in 2027. Berkeley’s law, on the other hand, banned the installation of gas piping in new construction. The first-of-its-kind policy was passed in 2019 and inspired nearly a hundred local governments across the country to introduce similar laws. But the ordinance quickly faced a lawsuit by the California Restaurant Association, which argued that gas stoves were essential for the food service industry. In April 2023, the 9th Circuit court ruled in favor of the restaurant industry, holding that federal energy efficiency standards preempted Berkeley’s policy. In January 2024, a petition by the city of Berkeley to rehear the case on the 9th Circuit was denied. The denial included a detailed dissent by eight of the 29 judges on the 9th Circuit, who argued that the court’s ruling had been decided “erroneously” and “urge[d] any future court” considering the same argument “not to repeat the panel opinion’s mistakes.” Writing a dissent at all is unusual for an action as procedural as denying a rehearing, Turner noted. “It was clearly drafted to give a road map to other courts to find differently than the 9th Circuit did.”  One year later, that’s exactly what happened. In the New York City lawsuit, building industry groups and a union whose members work on gas infrastructure used the same logic that prevailed in the Berkeley case, arguing that the city’s electrification law is preempted by energy efficiency standards under the federal Energy Policy Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA). This law sets national efficiency standards for major household appliances like furnaces, stoves, and clothes dryers. Under the law, states and cities can’t set their own energy conservation standards that would contradict federal ones. The trade groups argued that EPCA should also preempt any local laws, like New York City’s, that would prevent the use of fossil-fuel powered appliances that meet national standards.  Berkeley’s law, which was struck down by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, banned the installation of gas piping in new construction.Robert Nickelsberg / Getty via Grist “By design, the city set that level so low as to ban all gas and oil appliances,” the groups wrote in their complaint. “The city’s gas ban thus prohibits all fuel gas appliances, violating federal law” and “presents a significant threat for businesses in New York City that sell, install, and service gas plumbing and infrastructure.” Citing the 9th Circuit’s dissent, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed those claims. The plaintiffs’ argument broadens the scope of EPCA beyond reasonable bounds, District Judge Ronnie Abrams wrote in the court’s opinion. Regulating fuel use within certain buildings is standard practice in states and cities, she noted: New York City, for example, has banned the indoor use of kerosene space heaters for decades. “Were plaintiffs correct about the scope of EPCA, these vital safety regulations would likewise be preempted—an absurd result that the court must avoid,” Abrams wrote. The decision could help reassure some states and cities that withdrew electrification plans after the Berkeley case, said Dror Ladin, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, a nonprofit that submitted an amicus brief on behalf of local environmental groups in the lawsuit. “This ruling demonstrates that there’s absolutely no reason to interpret the Berkeley decision so broadly,” he said. The argument brought forth by trade groups “is one that would bar a whole host of health and safety regulations, and alter the power of cities and states in a way that we’ve never seen in this country.” By agreeing with the 9th Circuit dissent’s interpretation of EPCA, last week’s decision bolsters all types of electrification policies, including the one in New York City and those modeled after Berkeley, Turner noted. “This decision we’ve just gotten from the Southern District is more broadly protective,” she said. “Even if the air emissions route is not right for a city for whatever reason, other variations of a building electrification requirement or incentive could pass muster.” The trade groups behind the lawsuit have said they will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, legal challenges using the same arguments brought against Berkeley’s gas ban have been launched against New York’s statewide building code and electrification policies in places like Denver; Montgomery County, Maryland; and Washington, DC.  Judges in those cases will inevitably refer to the Berkeley decision and last week’s ruling by the Southern District of New York, said Ladin—and he hopes they’ll give more weight to the latter. “Berkeley is not a well-reasoned decision, and this judge saw right through it, and I think many other judges will see through it too.”

Climate
Business
Conservation

Smart ways to legally lower your 2025 tax bill

Learn five effective ways to legally reduce your 2025 tax contribution, including Tax-Free Savings Accounts... The post Smart ways to legally lower your 2025 tax bill appeared first on SA People.

With tax season approaching in mid-July, now is the time to start planning how to minimize your 2025 tax contribution. While South Africa is facing a proposed VAT increase of 1% over two years, there are still legal strategies to safeguard your income. Here are five key ways to maximize deductions and reduce your tax burden. 1. Maximise your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Investing in a TFSA is one of the simplest ways to grow your wealth without worrying about taxation. Earnings from these accounts—whether from unit trusts, fixed deposits, or bonds—are entirely tax-free, provided you stay within the limits: R36,000 per tax year R500,000 lifetime limit 2. Contribute to a Retirement Annuity (RA) Retirement annuities not only secure your future but also offer significant tax deductions. Contributions to pension, provident, and RA funds are tax-deductible up to 27.5% of your taxable income (capped at R350,000 annually). If you have additional cash on hand, topping up your RA can lower your taxable income while building long-term savings. 3. Support a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) Donations to registered non-profits or Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) can earn you a tax break. SARS allows deductions of up to 10% of your taxable income for contributions to approved charities, covering areas like education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. 4. Track your business travel If you receive a travel allowance, keeping detailed records can significantly reduce your taxable income. SARS allows 80% of this allowance to be tax-free, provided you maintain an accurate travel logbook. 5. Join a medical aid scheme Enrolling in a medical aid plan provides monthly tax credits, reducing your overall tax bill. This applies to the main member and extends to dependents, offering a financial advantage for families. By taking advantage of these legal tax-saving strategies, you can optimize your finances and reduce your 2025 tax contribution while staying fully compliant with SARS regulations. The post Smart ways to legally lower your 2025 tax bill appeared first on SA People.

Business
Conservation
Education

Nearly 4m hours of raw sewage dumped in England’s waters last year

Duration of spills by water companies up on previous year, in data described by environment secretary as ‘disgraceful’Raw sewage was discharged into rivers and coastal waters in England for almost 4m hours last year, with waterways that have the highest environmental protections subjected to days of pollution.Data released by the Environment Agency on Thursday revealed water companies discharged untreated effluent for 3.62m hours, a slight increase on last year. Continue reading...

Almost 4m hours of raw sewage was discharged into rivers and coastal waters in England last year, with waterways that have the highest environmental protections subjected to days of pollution.Data released by the Environment Agency on Thursday revealed water companies discharged untreated effluent for 3.62m hours, a slight increase on last year. The data showed that nothing has changed, Giles Bristow from Surfers against Sewage told the Guardian.“The picture is just as bleak. Despite commitments to investment over the past five years, our water is no cleaner.”The increase in the hours of raw sewage dumped into waterways comes as water companies are raising bills by an average of £123 to pay for replacement and upgrading of ageing infrastructure, in the biggest hit to customer pockets since the industry was privatised 36 years ago.The environment secretary, Steve Reed, said: “These figures are disgraceful and are a stark reminder of how years of underinvestment have led to water companies discharging unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas.”While water companies said the number of incidents of discharges had reduced by 2% to 450,398, the duration of raw sewage poured into waterways increased again, to 3.62m hours.Some companies oversaw huge rises in raw sewage dumping. Anglian Water was responsible for the biggest increase, discharging 448,938 hours of raw sewage, in a 64% increase on 2023.As revealed by the Guardian, Thames Water increased raw sewage discharges by more than 50%, to almost 300,000 hours.Rivers and beaches that have the highest environmental protections were subjected to significant sewage discharges. According to analysis of the data by Peter Hammond, between February and March last year Wessex Water discharged raw sewage for 36 days at Chesil Beach. The beach has some of the highest environmental protections, with special area of conservation, site of special scientific interest and Ramsar status.Northumbrian Water discharged raw sewage for 67 days between January and March from the Norham treatment works into the River Tweed, a waterway that has both SAC and SSSI status, according to analysis of the data.South West Water discharged untreated effluent for 107 days between January and April last year from the Salcombe Regis sewage treatment works into the beach at Salcombe Mouth, a popular tourist area.Bristow said: “There is zero justification for sewage pollution at this sickening scale and the bill rises coming in next week are simply forcing a cash-strapped public to throw good money after bad.“The simple truth is our water industry is broken, the public’s trust is long gone, and the only course left is radical reform and the end of profit from pollution.”Storm overflows, which release raw sewage from treatment plants and elsewhere along the system, were designed to be used only in extraordinary circumstances to relieve pressure in the system. But a combination of a lack of investment by water firms, and climate change-induced higher rainfall, mean these overflows are being routinely used across the industry. The data released by the EA shows stop-start times for raw sewage discharges monitored by event duration monitors on 14,285 storm overflows.The government, in its storm overflow reduction plan, has a target for the average spills for each overflow to be reduced to 10 by 2050. But most companies have much higher average spills, ranging from Severn Trent at 25 to South West Water at 41.Some companies did significantly reduce their discharges. United Utilities reported a 31% reduction in hours of sewage discharges, to 450,178 hours, and Southern Water had a slight reduction of 4% in hours of discharge, falling to 304,537. Yorkshire Water also cut its discharges.Reed said Labour had imposed tough measures on water companies, banning unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and introducing criminal charges for lawbreakers.“But we will go further and faster,” he said. “That’s why this government has secured over £100bn of private sector investment to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure.”Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, whose private member bill on the future of water management will be debated in parliament on Friday said: “Water should be considered a national security issue, yet toothless regulation and a debt-ridden private sector monopoly makes it a playground for corporate greed.”A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We’ve just completed a £1m project that will stop discharges from an overflow at Chesil Beach, increasing sewer capacity to redirect flows of rain and foul water to a larger sewer nearby for onward treatment.“We agree that overflows are outdated and we’re spending £3m every month on schemes to reduce how often they operate. This investment will massively increase in the coming years and must be supported by environmental policymaking that promotes better rainwater management at source.”A Water UK spokesperson said: “While these results are disappointing, we are starting to see the effect of investment with many companies reducing the number of spills in their area, despite 2024 being one of the wettest years on record.“From April water companies will invest £12bn to almost halve spills from storm overflows by 2030. This is part of the largest amount of money ever spent on the natural environment to help support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.”

Water
Pollution
Conservation

Mystery solved: our tests reveal the tiny algae killing fish and harming surfers on SA beaches

A harmful algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi made dozens of surfers sick and killed seadragons, fish and octopuses on two South Australian beaches.

Anthony RowlandConfronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches – and disturbing reports of “more than 100” surfers and beachgoers suffering flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray – attracted international concern last week. Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. Today we can reveal the culprit was a tiny – but harmful – type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi. The SA government sent us water samples from Waitpinga Beach, Petrel Cove Beach, Encounter Bay Boat Ramp and Parsons Headland on Tuesday. We studied the water under the microscope and extracted DNA for genetic analysis. Our results revealed high numbers of the tiny harmful algal species – each just 20 microns in diameter (where one micron is one thousandth of a millimetre). While relatively common in Australian coastal waters, blooms of K. mikimotoi occur only sporadically. But similar harmful algal blooms and fish kills due to K. mikimotoi have happened in the past, such as the 2014 bloom in Coffin Bay, SA. And this latest one won’t be the last. Sick surfers and dead marine life from strange sea foam (ABC News) Harmful algal blooms Single-celled, microbial algae occur naturally in seawater all over the world. They are also called phytoplankton, because they float in the water column and photosynthesise like plants. “Phyto” comes from the Greek word for plant and “plankton” comes from the Greek word for wanderer, which relates to their floating movement with ocean currents and tides. Like plants on land, the microalgae or phytoplankton in the ocean capture sunlight and produce up to half the oxygen in our atmosphere. There are more than 100,000 different species of microalgae. Every litre of seawater will normally contain a mixed group of these different microalgae species. But under certain conditions, just a single species of microalgae can accumulate in one area and dominate over the others. If we are unlucky, the dominant species may be one that produces a toxin or has a harmful effect. This so-called “harmful algal bloom” can cause problems for people and for marine life such as fish, invertebrates such as crabs, and even marine mammals such as whales and seals. There are hundreds of different species of harmful algae. Each produces its own type of toxin with a particular toxic effect. Most of these toxic chemical compounds produced by harmful algae are quite well known, including neurotoxins that affect the brain. But others are more complicated, and the mechanisms of toxicity are poorly understood. This can make it more difficult to understand the factors leading to the deaths of fish and other marine life. Unfortunately, the toxins from K. mikimotoi fall into this latter category. Introducing Karenia mikimotoi Karenia mikimotoi under the microscope. Shauna Murray The species responsible for recent events in SA beaches, K. mikimotoi, causes harmful algal blooms in Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. These blooms all caused fish deaths, and some also caused breathing difficulties among local beachgoers. The most drastic of these K. mikimotoi blooms have occurred in China over the past two decades. In 2012, more than 300 square kilometres of abalone farms were affected, causing about A$525 million in lost production. Explaining the toxic effects Microalgae can damage the gills of fish and shellfish, preventing them from breathing. This is the main cause of death. But some studies have also found damage to the gastrointestinal tracts and livers of fish. Tests using fish gill cells clearly show the dramatic toxic effect of K. mikimotoi. When the fish gill cells were exposed to intact K. mikimotoi cells, after 3.5 hours more than 80% of the fish cells had died. Fortunately, the toxin does not persist in the environment after the K. mikimotoi cells are dead. So once the bloom is over, the marine environment can recover relatively quickly. Its toxicity is partly due to the algae’s production of “reactive oxygen species”, reactive forms of oxygen molecules which can cause the deaths of cells in high doses. K. mikimotoi cells may also produce lipid (fat) molecules that cause some toxic effects. Finally, a very dense bloom of microalgae can sometimes reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water column, which means there is less oxygen for other marine life. The human health effects are not very well known but probably relate to the reactive oxygen species being an irritant. K. mikimitoi cells can also produce “mucilage”, a type of thick, gluey substance made of complex sugars, which can accumulate bacteria inside it. This can cause “sea foam”, which was evident on beaches last week. South Australia’s marine emblem, the leafy seadragon, washed up dead on the beach. Anthony Rowland Unanswered questions remain A question for many people is whether increasing water temperatures make blooms of K. mikimotoi more likely. Another concern is whether nutrient runoff from farms, cities and aquaculture could cause more harmful algal blooms. Unfortunately, for Australia at least, the answer to these questions is we don’t know yet. While we know some harmful algal blooms do increase when nutrient runoff is higher, others actually prefer fewer nutrients or colder temperatures. We do know warmer water species seem to be moving further south along the Australian coastline, changing phytoplankton species abundance and distribution. While some microalgal blooms can cause bioluminescence that is beautiful to watch, others such as K. mikimotoi can cause skin and respiratory irritations. If you notice discoloured water, fish deaths or excessive sea foam along the coast or in an estuary, avoid fishing or swimming in the area and notify local primary industry or environmental authorities in your state. Shauna Murray receives funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the New South Wales Recreational Fisheries Trust, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program. She is President of the Austalasian Society of Phycology and Aquatic Botany and past chair of the NSW Shellfish Committee.Greta Gaiani does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Chemicals
Government
Health

A budget splash to conserve 30% of Australia’s lands will save species – if we choose the right 30%

Protecting 30% of Australian lands sounds good – but what matters much more is whether we’re protecting dwindling habitat for endangered species.

Hans Wismeijer/ShutterstockIn 2022, Australia and many other nations agreed to protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030 to arrest the rapid decline in biodiversity. Since then, the Albanese government has protected large new areas of ocean, taking the total up to 52% of territorial waters. In tonight’s federal budget, the government is expected to announce A$250 million in funding to protect an additional 30 million hectares of land over the next five years. At present, Australia protects 22% of its lands through its National Reserve System. This would take the total to 30%. You might expect conservationists to be ecstatic. But we’re not. Large new areas of desert and arid areas are likely to be protected under this scheme, because these areas have minimal population and are not sought after by farming. But these ecosystems are already well protected. We have to come back to the point of the 30 by 30 agreement: protect biodiversity. That means the government has to protect representative samples of all ecosystems – including in areas sought for farming or other human uses. This cropped map shows Australia’s protected lands and waters as of 2022. Subantarctic islands are not included. Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, CC BY Buying land is only a fraction of the task For years, Australia’s National Reserve System of national parks, state parks and Indigenous Protected Areas has languished. The last big infusion of funding and political interest came between 2007 and 2010 under a previous Labor government, when Peter Garrett was environment minister. Then, the government expanded the reserve system, grew Indigenous Protected Areas and ensured new reserves would preserve a representative sample of Australia’s ecosystems. Since then, conservation efforts have largely not been up to scratch. Funding has stagnated. National parks are riddled with invasive species and other environmental problems. On funding grounds alone, the $250m announced by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is welcome. It is, however, just a fraction of what’s needed to properly protect the right areas. In 2023, environmental organisations called for a $5 billion fund to buy and protect important habitat – and to pay for maintenance. The purchase of land represents perhaps 10% of the overall cost of conservation. If you buy land and do nothing, it can be overrun by invasive species. Australia’s ever-larger number of threatened species are often threatened because of these species, as well as the growing threat of land clearing in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Fire management is another cost. Feral pigs and other invasive species place pressure on many ecosystems. Russ Jenkins/Shutterstock Which lands actually need protection? As successive governments have backed away from conservation, non-government organisations such as the Australian Land Conservation Alliance, Bush Heritage Australia and Australian Wildlife Conservancy have stepped up. These organisations are doing fine work in protecting land and doing the necessary on-ground land management to safeguard threatened species and ecosystems, but they do not have access to resources at a government scale. So how will this government funding be used? It’s likely we will see further growth in Indigenous Protected Areas – areas managed by Traditional Owners alongside authorities to protect biodiversity. These areas are often located where low rainfall often means they are not viable for farming. This means there’s less conflict over what to do with the land. If our government is determined to meet the 30% target as quickly and cheaply as possible, we may well see more arid lands and desert protected. When you set a target of 30% protected land by 2030, governments often see the top-line figure and aim for that alone. But the text of the international agreement stresses the need to prioritise “areas of particular importance for biodiversity”. Governments have a choice: the easy, less effective way or the hard but effective way. The recent growth in marine protected areas suggests the government is taking the easy path. Even though the science is clear that marine parks bolster fish stocks in and outside the park, they are still controversial among fishers who believe they are being locked out. As a result, Australia’s marine park system has made greatest gains where there are very few humans who might protest, such as quadrupling the protected areas around the very remote Heard and McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic region. (The government has expanded marine parks at a smaller scale closer to population centres too.) This same story may well play out on land. What would it look like if our government was willing to do what was necessary? It would involve actively seeking out the ecological communities in clear decline, such as native grasslands, brigalow woodlands and swamps, and buying up remaining habitat. The oceans off Heard and McDonald Islands are now better protected – but was this the easy option? Pictured: Heard Island from satellite. zelvan/Shutterstock Saving here, clearing there On the one hand, 22% of Australia’s land and 52% of seas come under some form of protection. But on the other, over the last two decades an area the size of Tasmania has been cleared – largely for livestock farming and mining. Satellite analyses show land clearing is actually increasing in many parts of the country. Land clearing places further pressure on threatened species. In fact, most species considered threatened with extinction are largely in this situation because the land they live on has attributes prized by farmers or graziers, such as grass and water. Australia’s environment faces real challenges in the next few years. Intensified land clearing, worsening climate change and whiplash drought-flood cycles, to say nothing of ballooning feral populations. If we protect the right 30% of Australia, we have a chance to ensure most of our ecosystems have areas protected. But if we protect the wrong 30% and leave the rest open to bulldozers, we will only lock in more extinctions. James Watson has received funding from the Australian Research Council, National Environmental Science Program, South Australia's Department of Environment and Water, Queensland's Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as well as from Bush Heritage Australia, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Birdlife Australia. He serves on the scientific committee of BirdLife Australia and has a long-term scientific relationship with Bush Heritage Australia and Wildlife Conservation Society. He serves on the Queensland government's Land Restoration Fund's Investment Panel as the Deputy Chair.

Climate
Conservation
Energy

Mysterious foam on South Australian beaches caused by bloom of tiny but toxic algae

Algae blooms can be a problem for marine life and people but it’s not yet clear if warmer oceans and nutrient runoff are causing more of themConfronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches – and disturbing reports of “more than 100” surfers and beachgoers experiencing flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray – attracted international concern last week.Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. We can reveal the culprit was a tiny – but harmful – type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi. Continue reading...

Confronting images of dead seadragons, fish and octopuses washed up on South Australian beaches – and disturbing reports of “more than 100” surfers and beachgoers experiencing flu-like symptoms after swimming or merely breathing in sea spray – attracted international concern last week.Speculation about the likely cause ranged from pollution and algae to unusual bacterial infections or viruses. We can reveal the culprit was a tiny – but harmful – type of planktonic algae called Karenia mikimotoi.The South Australian government sent us water samples from Waitpinga beach, Petrel Cove beach, Encounter Bay boat ramp and Parsons Headland on Tuesday. We studied the water under the microscope and extracted DNA for genetic analysis.Our results revealed high numbers of the tiny harmful algal species – each just 20 microns in diameter (where one micron is one thousandth of a millimetre). While relatively common in Australian coastal waters, blooms of K. mikimotoi occur only sporadically. But similar harmful algal blooms and fish kills due to K. mikimotoi have happened in the past, such as the 2014 bloom in Coffin Bay, South Australia. And this latest one won’t be the last.Harmful algal bloomsSingle-celled, microbial algae occur naturally in seawater all over the world.They are also called phytoplankton because they float in the water column and photosynthesise like plants. “Phyto” comes from the Greek word for plant and “plankton” comes from the Greek word for wanderer, which relates to their floating movement with ocean currents and tides.Like plants on land, the microalgae or phytoplankton in the ocean capture sunlight and produce up to half the oxygen in our atmosphere. There are more than 100,000 different species of microalgae. Every litre of seawater will normally contain a mixed group of these different microalgae species.But under certain conditions, just a single species of microalgae can accumulate in one area and dominate over the others. If we are unlucky, the dominant species may be one that produces a toxin or has a harmful effect.This so-called “harmful algal bloom” can cause problems for people and for marine life such as fish, invertebrates such as crabs, and even marine mammals such as whales and seals.K. mikimotoi causes harmful deadly algal blooms in Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Photograph: Anthony RowlandThere are hundreds of different species of harmful algae. Each produces its own type of toxin with a particular toxic effect.Most of these toxic chemical compounds produced by harmful algae are quite well known, including neurotoxins that affect the brain. But others are more complicated, and the mechanisms of toxicity are poorly understood. This can make it more difficult to understand the factors leading to the deaths of fish and other marine life. Unfortunately, the toxins from K. mikimotoi fall into this latter category.Introducing Karenia mikimotoiThe species responsible for recent events in South Australia, K. mikimotoi, causes harmful algal blooms in Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America, as well as Australia and New Zealand. These blooms all caused fish deaths, and some also caused breathing difficulties for some beachgoers.The most drastic of these K. mikimotoi blooms have occurred in China over the past two decades. In 2012, more than 300 sq km of abalone farms were affected, causing about A$525m in lost production.Explaining the toxic effectsMicroalgae can damage the gills of fish and shellfish, preventing them from breathing. This is the main cause of death. But some studies have also found damage to the gastrointestinal tracts and livers of fish.Tests using fish gill cells clearly show the dramatic toxic effect of K. mikimotoi. When the fish gill cells were exposed to intact K. mikimotoi cells, after 3.5 hours more than 80% of the fish cells had died.Leafy seadragons were among the dead sea creatures that washed up on South Australian beaches. Photograph: Anthony RowlandFortunately, the toxin does not persist in the environment after the K. mikimotoi cells are dead. So once the bloom is over, the marine environment can recover relatively quickly.Its toxicity is partly due to the algae’s production of “reactive oxygen species”, reactive forms of oxygen molecules which can cause the deaths of cells in high doses. K. mikimotoi cells may also produce lipid (fat) molecules that cause some toxic effects.Finally, a very dense bloom of microalgae can sometimes reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water column, which means there is less oxygen for other marine life.The human health effects are not very well known but probably relate to the reactive oxygen species being an irritant.K. mikimotoi cells can also produce “mucilage”, a type of thick, gluey substance made of complex sugars, which can accumulate bacteria inside it. This can cause “sea foam”, which was evident on beaches last week.Unanswered questions remainA question for many people is whether increasing water temperatures make blooms of K. mikimotoi more likely.Another concern is whether nutrient runoff from farms, cities and aquaculture could cause more harmful algal blooms.Unfortunately, for Australia at least, the answer to these questions is we don’t know yet. While we know some harmful algal blooms do increase when nutrient runoff is higher, others actually prefer fewer nutrients or colder temperatures.We do know warmer water species seem to be moving farther south along the Australian coastline, changing phytoplankton species abundance and distribution.While some microalgal blooms can cause bioluminescence that is beautiful to watch, others such as K. mikimotoi can cause skin and respiratory irritations.If you notice discoloured water, fish deaths or excessive sea foam along the coast or in an estuary, avoid fishing or swimming in the area and notify local primary industry or environmental authorities in your state.

Pollution
Chemicals
Health

Spring classical season includes musical meditations on forests and a lost Oregon waterfall

Highlights include several concerts inspired by precious natural resources, and an Oregon symphony performance based on Celilo Falls.

This spring’s classical music calendar includes concerts featuring the instruments that led the way to the future: string quartets (in the 19th century), percussion (in the 20th), and electronic (21st). It also offers remembrances of injustices past and present, and, right in season, music inspired by nature.Here’s a look at the season’s highlights:‘Requiem For The Forgotten’ – Cappella Romana & 45th ParallelInspired by encounters with homeless people in his neighborhood, famous requiems of the past, religious faith (some text comes from the biblical Book of Lamentations), a contemporary poem about Ukraine, and more, California composer Frank La Rocca’s “Requiem For The Forgotten” offers not just mourning but also comfort and hope. The superb singers from Cappella Romana will also perform an earlier Mass by 19th century composer Josef Rheinberger, who dedicated it to Pope Leo XIII, known for his social justice advocacy.2 p.m. Saturday, March 29, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1739 N.W. Couch St., Portland, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 30, Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Lake Oswego; $5-$58, cappellaromana.org. Members of PUBLIQuartet will perform “What is American: Rhythm Nation” on April 6 at Beaverton’s Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.Lelanie Foster‘What Is American: Rhythm Nation’ – PUBLIQuartetThis New York-based foursome specializes in contemporary music that leaves room for improvisation. That means delightfully unconventional programs like this fascinating Friends of Chamber Music show of mostly African diasporic music, which includes jazz, of course, (Duke Ellington, Alice Coltrane, Pulitzer winner Henry Threadgill) but also global sounds (Guinean composer Lassana Diabaté, Venezuelan composer/violinist Eddie Venegas), pop (Betty Davis) and even contemporary classical (Julia Perry, Imani Winds composer/hornist Jeff Scott) influences. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton; $32-$59, focm.org.‘Pergolesi: Stabat Mater’ – Portland Baroque OrchestraPoor Giovanni Pergolesi didn’t even live as long as Mozart, dying of tuberculosis at age 26 in that earlier non-vaccination year 1736. But the Italian prodigy still managed to produce enough masterworks to be considered one of the finest Baroque composers, and his famous “Stabat Mater” (performed here by PBO and guest singers) one of the great monuments of sacred music. The concert also includes vocal music by JS Bach, earlier Italian Baroque master Alessandro Scarlatti, and a seasonal Vivaldi concerto.7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, First Congregational Church, 1126 S.W. Park Ave., and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, Kaul Auditorium, 3017 S.E. Woodstock Blvd.; $28-$77, pbo.org.‘People Into Trees’ – Third Angle New Music, Portland Percussion GroupPlanetariums typically show us the stars, but this time, OMSI’s dome immerses us in, well, our planet — specifically its forests. Those images will accompany contemporary percussion compositions by Portland’s own master composer/percussionist, Andy Akiho, Stanford University wild card composer Mark Applebaum, the great Scottish solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie, and more, including rising next-gen stars Molly Joyce and Meg Day (a world premiere for percussion quartet and American Sign Language poetry), Quinn Mason, Juri Seo, and Inti Figgis-Vizueta. This collaboration with local accessibility advocates CymaSpace provides wearable haptic vests to give Deaf/Hard of Hearing audience members access to the pulsating music.7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, April 16-17, Kendall Planetarium, OMSI, 1945 S.E. Water Ave.; $35-$40, thirdangle.org.The string quartet Brooklyn Rider will perform co-founder/composer Colin Jacobsen’s original song cycle “Chalk & Soot” on April 18 at Beaverton’s Patricia Reser Center for the Arts.Erin Baiano‘Chalk & Soot’ – Brooklyn RiderFor 15 years, string quartet Brooklyn Rider has carried on the avant-garde tradition that stretches back to art movements like its renowned near namesake, the early 20th century collective Blue Rider. BR co-founder/composer Colin Jacobsen’s original song cycle “Chalk & Soot” sets to music a Dada-inspired text by Blue Rider member and immortal painter Wassily Kandinsky, and the program includes a quartet from the era by another famed Blue Rider, Arnold Schoenberg. The show also looks forward with four new works, co-commissioned by Beaverton’s own Reser Center, by leading contemporary composers including Clarice Assad, Tyshawn Sorey, Giovanni Solima, and Portland’s own Gabriel Kahane.7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, 12625 S.W. Crescent St., Beaverton; $35-$55, thereser.org.‘Grounded’ – FearNoMusicEvery year, the groundbreaking Portland new music ensemble produces a Locally Sourced Sounds concert — and each one has been so different from the others that they collectively form a testimonial to the diversity of Portland contemporary classical music. This year’s program focuses on electronic music, blended with violins and piano, and features established composers Kirsten Volness and William Campbell, with emerging voices Ravi Kittappa, Caroline Louise Miller, and Anwyn Willette.7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, Eliot Chapel, Reed College, 3203 S.E. Woodstock Blvd.; $25 suggested donation, fearnomusic.org.‘Treasured Resources: Water and Music’ – 45th Parallel UniverseEqually enamored of the natural and musical worlds, Deena Grossman has found an ideal position to meld them as composer-in-residence with the environmental organization Columbia Riverkeeper. “Waterways,” the latest in her series of increasingly evocative nature-inspired composition premieres in this concert featuring Oregon Symphony musicians and esteemed local pianist Maria Garcia. The program also includes acclaimed Japanese composer Yuko Uebayashi’s playful, lyrical “Au-Dela du Temps.”7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, The Old Madeleine Church, 3123 N.E. 24th Ave.; $26-$36.50, 45thparallelpdx.org.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wskrTSOT4‘Heavens Full of Stars: Music of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ – Oregon Repertory Singers Since Portland’s Oregon Repertory Singers became the first American choir to bring Ēriks Ešenvalds to the U.S. in 2012, the then-rising Latvian composer has become one of the brightest stars in the choral music firmament. His ethereal setting of Sara Teasdale’s “Stars” (enhanced by tuned wine glasses) has become a popular choice for choirs worldwide. ORS (which recorded it) will sing it here, as the choir also does at every Christmas concert, along with Northwest premieres of standout compositions and a trio of new works setting words by Oregon poet laureate emerita, Paulann Petersen.4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, First United Methodist Church, 1838 S.W. Jefferson St.; $30-$50, orsingers.org. ‘Found Sounds’ – Cascadia ComposersPercussion isn’t really an instrument but rather a whole passel of sound makers. This program of duets performed by Florian Conzetti and Wanyue Ye includes conventional percussors like marimba and vibraphone, as well as flowerpots, brake drums, wind chimes, and more. The lineup features new music by Eugene composers Paul Safar and John Hidalgo, Portlanders Brian Magill, Nicholas Yandell, Lisa Neher, and more.7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, The Old Madeleine Church, 3123 N.E. 24th Ave.; $10-$30, cascadiacomposers.org.Members of Resonance Ensemble will perform “We Are Still Here” as part of the 10th Vanport Mosaic Festival in early June. The work combines song, art and memories from survivors of Japanese American incarceration during World War II, and is a world premiere commission from Portland’s own Japanese American composer Kenji Bunch.Photo by Rachel Hadiashar‘We Are Still Here’ – Resonance EnsembleAs part of the 10th Vanport Mosaic Festival, the socially conscious Portland choir will use song, art (by Chisao Hata), and memory (from survivors of Japanese American incarceration and their descendants) to “reclaim and heal” the site where almost 4,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly detained during World War II. The performance includes historical photographs and video projections, a communal altarpiece, and musical and theatrical offerings — including a world premiere commission from Portland’s own Japanese American composer Kenji Bunch. 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive; $5-$40, resonancechoral.org.Oregon Symphony principal cellist Nancy Ives collaborated with Native storyteller Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), photographer Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) and Portland Chamber Orchestra in a commemorative multimedia composition, “Celilo Falls: We Were There.” The work will be performed by the Oregon Symphony in early June.Photo courtesy of The Oregon Symphony‘Scheherazade’ and ‘Celilo Falls’ – Oregon SymphonyFor 15,000 years, Celilo Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, was a vital trading center for Indigenous communities from throughout the Pacific Northwest. It took only months for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to inundate it by building the Dalles Dam in 1957, depriving the original inhabitants of their traditional salmon fishing grounds, livelihoods and ancient cultural home. In 2022, Oregon Symphony principal cellist Nancy Ives collaborated with Native storyteller Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock), photographer Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) and Portland Chamber Orchestra in a commemorative multimedia composition, “Celilo Falls: We Were There.” The OSO will play this new version for full orchestra along with one of the most colorful works in all of classical music, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s magnificent “Scheherazade.”7:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, Smith Auditorium, 270 Winter St. SE, Salem, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Monday, June 7 and 9, and 2 pm Sunday, June 8, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Portland; $25-$59; orsymphony.org.

Forests
Water
Nature

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