Magazine
Monumental chaos

October 25, 1999

New Mexico's Petroglyph National Monument is threatened by problems that include the runaway growth of the neighboring city of Albuquerque, disagreements over how to manage the resource, and a controversial, embattled superintendent, Judith Cordova.

Feature

Monumental chaos
New Mexico's Petroglyph National Monument is threatened by problems that include the runaway growth of the neighboring city of Albuquerque, disagreements over how to manage the resource, and a controversial, embattled superintendent, Judith Cordova.
Bones of Contention
Anthropologist Christy Turner has stirred up a lot of controversy with his book, "Man Corn: Cannibalism and Violence in the Prehistoric American Southwest."

Sidebar

We're the good guys
In her own words, Petroglyph National Monument Supervisor Judith Cordova defends her record on the job.
An overall poor attitude
A Park Service team conducted an "oversight review" of Petroglyph National Monument that cited "communication and morale" as big problems for employees.
You have to show you care
In his own words, Albuquerque's Open Space Division director Matthew Schmader discusses the problem of vandalism in the park, and how to prevent it.
It should embarrass the Park Service
In his own words, Dave Simon, Southwest Regional director of the National Parks and Conservation Association, criticizes what the Park Service has done in Petroglyph.
Harsh words from inside the Beltway
A Washington Post columnist hits a nerve in Wyoming when he scolds the state for its dependence on oil and gas, lack of leadership and scarcity of good jobs.

Essays

Finally, a National Grassland Wilderness?
The Forest Service is setting a hopeful precedent by recommending five roadless areas for wilderness designation in national grasslands in North and South Dakota and Wyoming.

Book Reviews

See the secret desert
In Culver City, Calif., the Center for Land Use Interpretation is featuring an exhibit on Nevada's Nellis Air Force Bombing and Gunnery Range, home of the notorious - and mysterious - Area 51.
Powerful Images at the Heard Museum
The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz., is planning three major exhibits on Indian culture for the year 2000.
Home Free
The Humane Society of the United States has begun its own land trust, the Wildlife Land Trust, which is particularly dedicated to wildlife protection.
Living in the outdoors
The completely revised and rewritten book, "The National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Guide" by Mark Harvey, is a well-written guide to being in the forests, deserts and high country.
Environmental Restoration Conference
The Environmental Restoration Conference, "Challenges for the New Millennium," will be held Nov. 11-13 in Tucson, Arizona.
Rivers, Dams and the Future of the West
Utah's Wetlands and Riparian Center holds its second annual conference Nov. 18 in Salt Lake City.
Water aficionados
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute holds monthly video-link seminars in Boise, Moscow, Idaho Falls and Coeur d'Alene.
What should every Westerner know
The Center of the American West wants to know what every Westerner should know and has provided a Web site for discussion and debate.
Conference for the Animals
Animal Protection of New Mexico Inc. hosts a conference for animals Nov. 5-7 in Albuquerque, N.M.
Volunteer work in the nation's parks
Student Conservation Association interns may volunteer to work in the nation's parks through the AmeriCorps program.
River Network
River Network from Portland, Ore., and River Watch Network of Montpelier, Vt., have merged to form a new group, River Network.

Perspective

Keeping 'em down on the High Plains
The incestuous relationship between the oil and gas industry and the Wyoming government is finally being challenged through a state Supreme Court decision that ruled against Exxon.

News

Nevada rebellion ends with a whimper
What was slated to be a big, vigorous wise-use protest, during which sagebrush rebels would open up an old Forest Service road into Nevada's Jarbidge Wilderness, sputters to a halt with fewer than 50 attendees.
The Wayward West
Washington state raises price of Loomis forest; Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Monument to become nat'l park; government buys out Andalex's coal leases in Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat'l Monument; Bruce Babbitt will not be indicted.
Clinton proclaims a far-reaching forest plan
President Clinton announces an initiative to protect 40-60 million acres of unroaded national forests.
Mohave agrees to clean up its act
The Mohave Generating Station in southern Nevada agrees to clean up its operation, which has been notorious for fouling the air over Arizona's Grand Canyon.
The least of these
The federal Fish and Game Service has been working successfully with Utah state agencies to restore the least chub without ever having it listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Water starts fires in Tucson election
In Tucson, Ariz., a mayoral election is heating up over whether the city should try again to make use of the notoriously foul water that comes through the Central Arizona Project.
CAP could feed a new Arizona lake
Arizona's Pinal County wants to use the Central Arizona Project's Colorado River water to finally fill Picacho Reservoir in Picacho Lake State Recreation Area.

Heard Around the West

Heard around the West
Cows in tutus; drinking after driving in Wyo.; no snowboarders on Aspen ski slopes; cell phones on Grand Teton; ATMs at USFS campgrounds; greenhouse heated by tires vetoed in Colo.; litter contest on Calif. beach; tent-hating Yellowstone grizzly.

Dear Friends

Dear Friends
Getting it right (corrections); the golden season brings visitors.

Letters

Uncommon Westerners

A man to match our mountains
Legendary mountaineer and outdoor educator Paul Petzoldt, who founded the National Outdoor Leadership Training School (NOLS) and the Wilderness Education Association, has died at the age of 91.
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