The Obama administration wants to change the rules applying to stormwater running off logging roads, blunting a landmark court ruling that found the muddy water running into salmon streams and drinking water reservoirs should be regulated like industrial pollution.

"They're very industrious and build wonderful things, but it's easy to see they're rodents," said Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council coordinator.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reports it issued 1,205 dredging permits this year, up 30 percent from 934 last year. The number of Californians went from 51 in 2009 to 85 this year, up 67 percent.

Oregon is tightening water quality restrictions on suction gold dredges, which small-time miners use to glean flecks of gold from river bottoms long ago mined of their riches.

Goodpasture Island Road has been closed since the first week of july for a big paving project. Just a few feet away, crews are also restoring fish habitat as part of the Delta Ponds restoration project.

"I found me some gold and that got me hooked. It'll be 20 years in August," said Grants Pass resident Tony Marchisella.

The National Park Service wants to expand Olympic National Park by purchasing 240 acres near Lake Ozette.

It's rare for the PAWS Wildlife Center to care for a baby beaver, but with two of the young animals now growing up at their Lynnwood facility, wildlife experts are used stuffed animals to teach the kits everything from eating to swimming.

Environmentalists are welcoming the sound of chainsaws helping to reduce fire danger and restore ecosystem balance while some Oregon sawmills have adopted green certification because it makes sense for their struggling bottom line.