High Country News – Know the West

A pilot's-eye view of the West

Michael Collier's new book, "Water, Earth and Sky: The Colorado River Basin," combines his beautiful aerial photos of a remarkable landscape with well-chosen words.

Tom Knudson Jan. 31, 2000 From the print edition

'The concept is simple'

In his own words, retired BLM range conservationist Earl McKinney talks about restoration of riparian areas.

Tom Knudson March 1, 1999 From the print edition

'I will try anything'

In her own words, environmentalist Rose Strickland defends the collaborative process.

Tom Knudson March 1, 1999 From the print edition

'I was mocked and set up'

In her own words, environmentalist Kathleen Simpson Myron explains why her disillusion led her to leave the Trout Creek Mountain Working Group.

Tom Knudson March 1, 1999 From the print edition

The ranch restored: An overworked land comes back to life

In an often bumpy process, the Trout Creek Mountain Working Group tries to bring together environmentalists, ranchers and BLM staffers to find a way to restore the badly overgrazed landscape of southeastern Oregon.

Tom Knudson March 1, 1999 From the print edition

We wanted to democratize Western water

In her own words, Denise Fort, chair of the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, defends the water report.

Tom Knudson June 22, 1998 From the print edition

This report could destroy irrigated agriculture

In his own words, rancher Patrick O'Toole explains why he dissented from the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission's report.

Tom Knudson June 22, 1998 From the print edition

Western water: Why it's dirty and in short supply

The new report, "Water in the West: The Challenge for the Next Century," is a remarkably far-sighted federal study that should serve as both a mission statement and a wake-up call about water management in the arid West.

Tom Knudson June 22, 1998 From the print edition

Looking at dams in a new way

An unusual new book put out by the U.S. Geological Survey, "Dams and Rivers: A Primer on the Downstream Effects of Dams," is reviewed by Tom Knudson.

Tom Knudson Feb. 2, 1998 From the print edition

After the fire comes the real devastation

The trauma caused by super-hot fires continues long after the flames are put out.

Tom Knudson March 6, 1995 From the print edition

How the West's asbestos fires were turned into tinderboxes

Decades of over-logging and fire suppression set the stage for deadly, destructive forest fires throughout the West.

Tom Knudson March 6, 1995 From the print edition

FBI was out to get freethinking DeVoto

Writer and conservationist Bernard DeVoto was thoroughly investigated by the FBI.

Tom Knudson Essay Aug. 8, 1994 From the print edition

Edward Abbey got the FBI interested in literature

According to documents made available through Freedom of Information Act, the FBI kept track of Abbey's writing and activities for 20 years, trying to determine whether the controversial author was a security threat to the United States.

Tom Knudson Opinion Jan. 1, 1990 From the print edition

Items by Tom Knudson

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