Items by April Reese

The return of the endangered Mexican wolf
The return of the endangered Mexican wolf
A program that places captive-born pups into wild dens is helping North America’s rarest wolf subspecies reclaim its native territory in the Southwest.
There’s a new boom in the Permian Basin — wastewater
There’s a new boom in the Permian Basin — wastewater
As freshwater supplies shrink, interest in recycling water leftover from fracking is growing. Others aren’t so sure.
New Mexico’s oil boom has made rural roads deadly
New Mexico’s oil boom has made rural roads deadly
As oil wells multiply in the Permian Basin, the influx of heavy vehicles exacerbates risks for those living in the area.
Can a grazing buyout program ease life for wolves and ranchers?
Can a grazing buyout program ease life for wolves and ranchers?
A fledgling effort in New Mexico's 'Yellowstone of the South.'
A former energy company lawyer now fights for the other side
A former energy company lawyer now fights for the other side
Attorney Lance Astrella represents landowners coping with oil and gas development on their doorsteps.
States rev up ORV rules
States rev up ORV rules
While federal public-land agencies dither, some Western states are cracking down on off-road vehicle problems.
Conservation or cop-out?
Conservation or cop-out?
A lack of participation could scuttle voluntary conservation agreements designed to protect species like New Mexico’s lesser prairie chickens and sand dune lizards.
Who’ll clean up when the party’s over?
Who’ll clean up when the party’s over?
There are efforts to reclaim oil and gas drilling sites, but many fear it’s too little, too late.
The leasing protest game
Conservationists can file formal protests when the BLM wants to auction off public land to energy companies, but the differences between regional management plans and styles make the protest game little more than a crapshoot.
Home is where the guilt is
In Santa Fe, N.M., April Reese wrestles with the question of whether owning a new house is worth being responsible for the bulldozing of pinon and juniper trees.
Environmental change
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., does an about-face and moves to protect New Mexico’s Valle Vidal from oil and gas drilling
As states ponder protection, roadless forests unravel
Western states debate the best way to look after their roadless areas even as logging, drilling and mining move in on formerly protected lands
Energy company stakes out wildlife refuge
Yates Petroleum Co. plans to drill two gas wells in New Mexico’s Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
States lead charge against global warming
With the federal government dragging its feet, Western states are beginning to take action to deal with greenhouse gas emissions and global warming
Wolf man John
John Morgart works for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, overseeing the recovery of Mexican wolves in the Blue Range of New Mexico and Arizona
Western governors wary of roadless forest mess
The Bush administration says its revision of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule rule will increase local control over national forests, but as Western governors read the fine print, they begin to have doubts
One BLM district grabs the bull by the horns
On the Upper Deschutes area of Oregon, the Bureau of Land Management is working to move cows off the public land
The Big Buyout
Tough economics, drought, and increasing clashes with other public-lands users are leading some ranchers to consider taking the "golden saddle" – a check from conservationists in exchange for their grazing permits
Nun calls the faithful to an 'ecological ministry'
Sister Joan Brown of Albuquerque, a Franciscan, believes Christianity needs to go beyond the doors of the church and into the natural world
Butterfly escapes endangered species net
Cloudcroft, N.M., creates its own conservation plan to protect the rare Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly without waiting for an endangered species listing
Drilling done right?
Ted Turner's Northern New Mexican Vermejo Park Ranch is a showcase for "responsible" gas development, but critics fear the neighboring Valle Vidal won’t get the same five-star treatment.
National preserve is in hot water
GeoProducts wants to build a geothermal plant in New Mexico’s Valles Caldera National Preserve and sell power to Los Alamos National Laboratory, but some say the whole plan is a scam to get money from the Forest Service
Voters swipe at sprawl
A 10-year-old plan to build a controversial expressway through Petroglyph National Monument hits a "stop" sign, when Albuquerque voters refuse to pay for it
Right and wrong on public lands
From Conquest to Conservation: Our Public Lands Legacy by Michael P. Dombeck, Christopher A. Wood and Jack E. Williams takes a hopeful view of the ecological future of the nation’s public lands
Plains tribe harnesses the wind
Even as the Rosebud Sioux Reservation works on building and marketing "wind power," the pressure is on to exploit traditional energy sources in Indian Country
Golden State gets a green power surge
Under a new law, California's three investor-owned utilities must buy 20 percent of their power from alternative energy sources such as wind and solar.
High Country News Classifieds
  • DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
    Areas of Responsibility: The Development Director collaborates with the Executive Director, other HEAL Utah staff, board, and supporters to continue building one of Utah's most...
  • DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
    Position Summary Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring an organized and creative Digital Engagement Specialist to join our Marketing and Communications Team. The Digital Engagement...
  • 92 ACRE EASTERN WASHINGTON GEM
    Welcome to Lost Creek Sanctuary... a true hidden gem in the heart of the Palouse. 1900 square feet, the main house is warm and charming,...
  • WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR SALE
    Vibrant, financially successful 1,100 print run, community-focused subscription newspaper in beautiful Pacific Northwest Washington seeks owner/s. It is time to retire. Now, your Norman Rockwell-like...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY - WILDLANDS AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM
    Job Opening Announcement: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Staff Attorney Reports to: Wildlands and Wildlife Program Director Location: Pacific Northwest, ideally in Eugene, Oregon, Portland, Oregon,...
  • HEAD OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT
    The Head of Project Management will oversee our project execution to ensure that we are providing our partners around the world with the field data...
  • LEGAL DIRECTOR
    Trustees for Alaska is the only nonprofit environmental law firm founded and based in Alaska. We are seeking a Legal Director, full-time based in Anchorage....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Fund for People in Parks seeks leader to identify, develop, fund, and facilitate high-impact projects in western National Parks. Remote position with some travel....
  • GRASSROOTS REGIONAL COORDINATOR
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. The...
  • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MANAGER
    Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a women-led national grassroots organization that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. Position...
  • GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR
    The Grassroots Leadership (Director) oversees the training, guidance, and support of volunteer Broadband Leaders. (Broadbands are women-led grassroots chapters, with 40+ across the country.) They...
  • FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANT NEEDED
    We would like to invite you to participate in a 60-minute focus group to help us enhance the New Mexico Courts website (https://www.inside.nmcourts.gov/). Our aim...
  • GILA GRASSROOTS ORGANIZER
    New Mexico Wild is seeking a Gila Grassroots Organizer who is passionate about public lands and community engagement. The Gila Grassroots Organizer will take a...
  • 20/40 ACRES IN ARIZONA WINE COUNTRY
    Chiricahua riparian ecosystem: 5100 ft elevation:18+ inches of rain/year: 1/4 mile creek through property: The Chiricahuas' have been called: "The most biologically diverse place in...
  • SMALL CABIN WITH 260 ACRES
    Adorable quaint cabin on the Arizona Strip, on the foothills of the Kaibab Plateau with 260 acres bordering BLM lands on two sides of the...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY
    Food & Water Watch works to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust,...
  • ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION RELATIONS
    What We Can Achieve Together: Based in Phoenix, AZ, the Associate Director of Development for Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) works closely with the State...
  • ASSOCIATE DIR OF DEVELOPMENT
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Associate Director of Development (ADoD) works closely with the State Director, Director of Development, development team and program leaders...
  • LUNATEC HYDRATION SPRAY BOTTLE
    A must for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Cools, cleans and hydrates with mist, stream and shower patterns. Hundreds of uses.
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