Items by Emily Benson

The Supreme Court just made it easier to destroy wetlands and streams
The Supreme Court just made it easier to destroy wetlands and streams
The decision strips federal protections from the ephemeral streams that are crucial for life in the arid West.
‘Roadless rule’ protections for the Tongass National Forest are back
‘Roadless rule’ protections for the Tongass National Forest are back
The Biden administration has reinstated pre-Trump protections in the Tongass. See what’s at stake.
How a hidden cave can help scientists understand the climate
How a hidden cave can help scientists understand the climate
Sometimes learning about the past to figure out the future requires crawling beneath tons of rock.
A new Northwest anthology finds both terror and magic in the darkness
A new Northwest anthology finds both terror and magic in the darkness
‘Evergreen: Grim Tales & Verses from the Gloomy Northwest’ explores landscapes and life from the Inland Northwest to the Pacific.
Idaho denies proposed land exchange
Idaho denies proposed land exchange
The state found that the timber tracts offered in a proposed trade are worth much less than the land around Payette Lake.
Idaho state lands could end up in private hands
Idaho state lands could end up in private hands
How a developer’s proposed large land swap ignited a fight in small but growing McCall.
#BlackBirdersWeek takes on systemic racism
#BlackBirdersWeek takes on systemic racism
‘The whole purpose is to highlight and showcase Black birders, and anybody can do that.’
HCN renews its commitment to covering the West’s complexities
HCN renews its commitment to covering the West’s complexities
We debut a new design as we celebrate our 50th anniversary.
Hunting still holds meaning
Hunting still holds meaning
Fewer people are picking up a rifle or bow, but the act warrants examination regardless.
The latest from our hologram portal
The latest from our hologram portal
We speculate updates to stories and the readers who speak out in 2068.
A dangerous cocktail threatens the gem of North Idaho
A dangerous cocktail threatens the gem of North Idaho
Upstream mining has left a toxic legacy at the bottom of Coeur d’Alene Lake.
Road trips and the importance of reflection
Road trips and the importance of reflection
In New Mexico, tourism illuminates a violent atomic past and threatens a religious sanctuary.
Gay rodeo and the subversion of Western clichés
Gay rodeo and the subversion of Western clichés
A photo exhibit asks viewers to ponder whether, in reclaiming the idea of the cowboy, gay rodeos renounce violence or reinvest in it.
In need of water, an Idaho town turns to its neighbors
In need of water, an Idaho town turns to its neighbors
Does recharging an aquifer solve one of the West’s oldest water problems, or perpetuate it?
Idaho’s new governor: ‘Climate change is real’
Idaho’s new governor: ‘Climate change is real’
Environmentalists hope action will follow new state stance on climate.
Marine mammals and turtles rebound after endangered species protections
Marine mammals and turtles rebound after endangered species protections
A new study shows broad recovery but doesn’t dive into the problems that remain.
The stories that defined the West in 2018
The stories that defined the West in 2018
The year in essays, analysis and investigations from across the Western U.S.
What you lose when you lose local news
What you lose when you lose local news
People are less likely to vote, and politics become more polarized.
New rules limiting clean water protections ignore stream science
New rules limiting clean water protections ignore stream science
What happens to part of a river network affects all of it.
Congress sends bill bolstering earthquake program to Trump
Congress sends bill bolstering earthquake program to Trump
A quake near Anchorage highlights the importance of preparation and monitoring.
Offshore oil drilling could hamper Arctic aurora research
Offshore oil drilling could hamper Arctic aurora research
The risk of rocket parts falling on rigs and workers may limit launches.
How politics could impact future counts of Yellowstone grizzlies
How politics could impact future counts of Yellowstone grizzlies
A ruling restoring federal protections cited a concession to states on census estimates.
National Parks are warming twice as fast as the U.S. overall
National Parks are warming twice as fast as the U.S. overall
Climate change poses the greatest threat to some of the country’s most prized areas.
An Alaska ballot measure could kill Pebble Mine
An Alaska ballot measure could kill Pebble Mine
In November, voters will decide how to balance resource development and salmon habitat protections.
The long, strange trip of Deer 255
The long, strange trip of Deer 255
The 242-mile migration underscores the need to protect wide tracts of land that sustain migrating wildlife.
In the Southwest, ‘drought’ doesn’t tell the whole story
In the Southwest, ‘drought’ doesn’t tell the whole story
Why ‘aridification’ is a better term for our new, more parched reality.
Tribal nations hold some of the best water rights in the West
Tribal nations hold some of the best water rights in the West
But to use them, tribes often must negotiate settlements that need federal approval.
All (climate) politics is local
All (climate) politics is local
During a dry spring, Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet visits rural Colorado to talk economics and agriculture.
A flurry of research illuminates snow’s foes
A flurry of research illuminates snow’s foes
New studies detail how hotter temperatures, humid air and wind-blown dust can pummel the Western snowpack.
HCN welcomes a few new faces
HCN welcomes a few new faces
Winter interns have arrived, as well as a new office mate.
High Country News Classifieds
  • INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS EDITOR - HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
    High Country News is hiring an Indigenous Affairs Editor to help guide the magazine's journalism and produce stories that are important to Indigenous communities and...
  • STAFF ATTORNEY
    Staff Attorney The role of the Staff Attorney is to bring litigation on behalf of Western Watersheds Project, and at times our allies, in the...
  • ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
    Northern Michigan University seeks an outstanding leader to serve as its next Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. With new NMU President Dr. Brock...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Clark Fork Coalition seeks an exceptional leader to serve as its Executive Director. This position provides strategic vision and operational management while leading a...
  • GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT MANAGER
    Help uphold a groundbreaking legal agreement between a powerful mining corporation and the local communities impacted by the platinum and palladium mine in their backyard....
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Feather River Land Trust (FRLT) is seeking a strategic and dynamic leader to advance our mission to "conserve the lands and waters of the...
  • COLORADO DIRECTOR
    COLORADO DIRECTOR Western Watersheds Project seeks a Colorado Director to continue and expand WWP's campaign to protect and restore public lands and wildlife in Colorado,...
  • DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: WYOMING, MONTANA AND UTAH
    Digital Media Specialist - WY, MT, UT OFFICE LOCATION Remote and hybrid options available. Preferred locations are MT, WY or UT, but applicants from anywhere...
  • GRANT WRITER (PART-TIME, FREELANCE CONTRACT) HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
    High Country News seeks an energetic, articulate and highly organized grant writer to support a growing foundations program. This position works closely with our Executive...
  • EXPERT COMPUTER & TECH HELP, PROVIDED REMOTELY
    From California, I provide expert tech help remotely to rural and urban clients. I charge only when I succeed. Available 7 days. Call for a...
  • ACCOUNTING AND OPERATIONS GENERALIST
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Accounting and Operations Generalist provides accounting and operations related services, including lease administration and compliance support, to the Arizona...
  • LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST
    Landscape Ecologist, Arizona What We Can Achieve Together: The Landscape Ecologist provides technical and scientific support and leadership for conservation initiatives and strategies in landscape...
  • MULESHOE RANCH PRESERVE STEWARD
    What We Can Achieve Together: The Muleshoe Ranch Preserve Steward lives on site in housing provided by The Nature Conservancy and performs and coordinates construction...
  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY - INDIGENOUS HISTORIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST
    Whitman College seeks applicants for a tenure-track position in Indigenous Histories of the North American West, beginning August 2024, at the rank of Assistant Professor....
  • DAVE AND ME
    Dave and Me, by international racontuer and children's books author Rusty Austin, is a funny, profane and intense collection of short stories, essays, and poems...
  • CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
    Rural Community Assistance Corporation is looking to hire a CFO. For more more information visit: https://www.rcac.org/careers/
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    The Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation (ABWF) seeks a new Executive Director. Founded in 2008, the ABWF is a respected nonprofit whose mission is to support...
  • CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE
    Field seminars for adults in natural and human history of the northern Colorado Plateau, with lodge and base camp options. Small groups, guest experts.
  • COMING TO TUCSON?
    Popular vacation house, everything furnished. Two bedroom, one bath, large enclosed yards. Dog-friendly. Contact Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.