News
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Californians put their money where their meter is
A new California law requires all homes in the state to use water meters by 2025
by Deanna Belch, Dec 06, 2004 -
BLM's crown jewels go begging
The Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System is underfunded, even though more visitors are flocking to BLM- managed lands
by Michelle Nijhuis, Oct 25, 2004 -
Stream leases languish
Efforts to privatize instream-flow protection – to keep enough water in rivers and streams to sustain their ecological functions – face tough going in the West.
by Matt Jenkins, Mar 05, 2007 -
Getting the lead out
Condor 134’s harrowing experience with lead poisoning exemplifies these endangered birds’ greatest challenge – which some advocates hope to ease by banning lead bullets in California
by Mitch Tobin, Mar 05, 2007 -
Man Camp
In Western Colorado, where the energy boom is stretching the resources – and social fabric – of local communities, some companies have turned to portable dormitories to ease the housing crunch.
by David Frey, Jan 22, 2007 -
Under the radar
Homeless families aren’t found only in urban areas. They’re also struggling to survive in the rural West, as shown by the story of Barbara Trivitt and her two children, who lived in a Jeep in Coos Bay, Oregon, this fall.
by Emma Brown, Jan 22, 2007 -
Congress moves on local proposals
Fearing more last-minute monument designations, Westerners have begun working with the Clinton administration to find other ways to protect public lands.
by Michelle Nijhuis and Oakley Brooks, Nov 06, 2000 -
Round two for Steens Mountain development
John and Cindy Witzel want to build a school for outfitters on the 160 acres they own on Oregon's Steens Mountain, an area also being considered for national monument status.
by Jim Witty, Mar 13, 2000 -
Scientists uncover a weevil gourmand
Flower-head weevils released in Colorado's Gunnison National Forest to eat invasive Canada thistles seem to prefer other thistles instead and have no impact on the weeds.
by Beth McElroy, Jul 08, 2002 -
The Steens Riviera?
Environmentalists fear the Cooperative Management Act won't protect Oregon's Steens Mountain from development, unless Congress comes through with enough money to buy up private land.
by Anne Pernick, Jan 21, 2002 -
A Montana county unearths a major welfare queen:itself
Republican County Commissioner Adam Dahlman discovers that for every dollar Teton County taxpayers pay, $2.50 comes back from the federal government.
by Carol Bradley, Jun 12, 1995 -
Road warriors back on the offensive
The Bush administration rolls back a Clinton-era moratorium on RS 2477, a controversial old statute that some Western counties have used to claim designated roads in wilderness areas, parks and monuments
by Michelle Nijhuis, Feb 03, 2003 -
Uber Recycling
Garry and Diann Fulks have been recycling large metal objects for 35 years at their scrap yard in Montrose, Colo.
by Jonathan Thompson, Jun 09, 2008 -
The latest trend in name-calling
Just because you disagree with someone about energy drilling or off-road vehicles doesn’t mean your opponent is a communist pinko – or an eco-terrorist.
by Ed Quillen, Jun 09, 2008 -
Easing into development
A backroom agreement between the Forest Service and Plum Creek Co. leaves Montana counties out of the picture when it comes to access to and development of national forest inholdings.
by Jodi Peterson, Jun 09, 2008 -
Life, liberty and the pursuit of … game?
The National Rifle Association wants to enshrine the right to hunt in state constitutions, but even some hunters have their doubts about the wisdom of doing so.
by Nathaniel Hoffman, Jun 09, 2008 -
Rural West going to the dogs
Despite all the fuss about wolves and other wild predators, feral and free-roaming dogs in the West may actually pose a greater danger to livestock, wildlife and people.
by Troy Anderson, May 26, 2008 -
Fields of overkill
In response to recent E. coli outbreaks, corporate buyers are pushing California farmers to rid their fields of all wildlife and wild vegetation – despite the fact that this could make the food supply even less safe.
by Li Miao Lovett, May 26, 2008 -
Climate cash-in
Western farmers and ranchers using progressive land-management techniques can make a few bucks from the new carbon market – but some critics say it won’t lead to any real reduction in carbon emissions.
by Stephanie Paige Ogburn, May 26, 2008 -
The West’s wacky weather
The West’s weather is full of surprises this spring, with snowstorms, windstorms, rain and wildfires all happening at the same time.
by Jonathan Thompson, May 12, 2008
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