Items by Jonathan Thompson

Public lands had a roller coaster month
Public lands had a roller coaster month
Rounding up the Biden administration’s ups and downs on land policy.
Who owns  the West?
Who owns the West?
Increasingly, land is shifting into the hands of billionaires.
An antiquated law rules mining in the West
An antiquated law rules mining in the West
Can the U.S. finally vanquish one of the most enduring Lords of Yesterday?
The West sizzles — even at midnight
The West sizzles — even at midnight
Climate change and the urban heat islands take their toll from Phoenix to Portland.
Public education in the West is running short of funds
Public education in the West is running short of funds
Is the ‘grand foundation’ crumbling?
Public Lands Rule rhetoric gets wacky
Public Lands Rule rhetoric gets wacky
Conservatives aren’t so keen on conservation.
A dizzying look back from Phoenix’s future
A dizzying look back from Phoenix’s future
A sci-fi scenario from 2008 offers insight into present day news.
Geothermal: Hot or not?
Geothermal: Hot or not?
This old, abundant, relatively clean energy source has barely been tapped.
Utah’s latest attack on the Antiquities Act
Utah’s latest attack on the Antiquities Act
The bid to diminish national monuments threatens landscape preservation.
The breakdown on the Colorado River ‘breakthrough’ water deal
The breakdown on the Colorado River ‘breakthrough’ water deal
The agreement isn’t the sustainable, permanent one that’s necessary.
Can the Dolores River be saved?
Can the Dolores River be saved?
A beleaguered Colorado waterway garners new attention.
Seeking sanctuary on a warming planet
Seeking sanctuary on a warming planet
Scientists look to identify, map and preserve climate change refugia.
Biden’s push for power lines
Biden’s push for power lines
Can a flurry of new power lines tame California’s solar conundrum?
A ‘seismic shift’ for public lands?
A ‘seismic shift’ for public lands?
The new Public Lands Rule would put conservation on par with other uses.
Why electrify?
Why electrify?
The push to evict natural gas appliances from buildings, explained.
Atmospheric rivers ease Western drought
Atmospheric rivers ease Western drought
Record-breaking rain and snow bring salvation — and destruction — to a drought-parched West.
The Willow project is part of a larger trend: energy colonialism
The Willow project is part of a larger trend: energy colonialism
Five decades ago, the late Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah described America’s ‘power madness.’
The feds crack down on feral cattle
The feds crack down on feral cattle
Yet grazing fees remain puzzlingly low.
Trains in the West then, now — and someday?
Trains in the West then, now — and someday?
Mapping the state of the rails across the region.
Could Arizona’s new governor shift Colorado River politics?
Could Arizona’s new governor shift Colorado River politics?
There’s a historic reckoning in the Colorado River Basin — and Katie Hobbs is here to play hard ball.
The state of the land: Biden’s mixed conservation record
The state of the land: Biden’s mixed conservation record
The president has riled up just about everyone with his public-land policies. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Plans for a new uranium mill in Utah announced
Plans for a new uranium mill in Utah announced
Fierce opposition to the project is likely.
Save public lands: Put solar on Walmart!
Save public lands: Put solar on Walmart!
Parking lots and big-box store roofs could generate oodles of clean power.
Why are so few talking about the power grid amid extreme winter storms?
Why are so few talking about the power grid amid extreme winter storms?
California’s current deluge highlights huge vulnerabilities.
La Niña expected to serve up a hat trick
La Niña expected to serve up a hat trick
The weather pattern hits the West for a third consecutive winter.
How the West’s public lands fared in 2022
How the West’s public lands fared in 2022
It was a bad year for dams and a good one for ‘green’ metals.
Should we worry about 8 billion people?
Should we worry about 8 billion people?
Breaking down population’s role in the environmental impact equation.
Mythbusting in the Mojave
Mythbusting in the Mojave
The vitality in the vast desert.
Carbon capture convolution
Carbon capture convolution
A complicated process, explained.
Western voters favor public lands
Western voters favor public lands
Trumpism and extremism didn’t fly during the 2022 midterms.
High Country News Classifieds
  • CONSERVATION FIELD ORGANIZER
    Title: Conservation Field Organizer Reports to: Advocacy and Stewardship Director Location: Southwest Colorado Compensation: $45,000 - $50,000 DOE FLSA: Non-Exempt, salaried, termed 24-month Wyss Fellow...
  • UTAH STATE DIRECTOR
    Who We Are: The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Apply by Oct 18. Seeking collaborative, hands-on ED to advance our work building community through fresh produce.
  • 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...
  • 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.
  • LUNATEC HYDRATION SPRAY BOTTLE
    A must for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Cools, cleans and hydrates with mist, stream and shower patterns. Hundreds of uses.