Record-breaking heat and drought are frying the West, and
scientist John Harte of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in
Gothic, Colo., warns that this summer is only the kick-off for what
global warming is likely to bring.
Magazine
August 19, 2002
The drought of 2002 has left the West blistered and burnt, scientists predict worse to come. Have we learned anything yet? Also in this issue: This year's drought has killed 10,000 cattle and ravaged the range. But corruption and resentment over earlier attempts to control grazing are stifling reform just when it's needed most.
Feature
Drought is having catastrophic impacts on the Navajo
Reservation, but past history and current politics keep grazing
reform from happening.
On the Walla Walla River In southern Washington and
northern Oregon, local farmers and environmentalists have avoided a
drought-sparked water war with collaboration and innovative
irrigation reform.
Mercilessly hot conditions in the drought-stressed West have aggravated infestations of bark beetles that attack several species of trees -- but perhaps the best response to the epidemic is to do nothing at all.
In the drought-stricken West, water cops, singing
governors and giant walking raindrops are just some of the odd
measures spawned by water-conservation campaigns.
Sidebar
In drought-stricken northern New Mexico, ranchers are
pushing to open the Valles Caldera National Preserve to livestock
grazing.
As Nevada's Walker Lake gets smaller and saltier, the
Paiute tribe, local farmers and the BLM wrestle over water rights
and wonder how to keep the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout
alive without destroying the area's economy.
At Roosevelt Lake in Arizona, endangered southwestern
willow flycatchers are actually thriving as the water level drops
and willow and tamarisk take over.
Essays
At the Burning Man Festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, an eccentric city is created and then destroyed, and lives are sometimes changed along the way.
Perspective
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is in hot
water over his attempt to appeal-proof a controversial thinning
project in his home state, but the situation is more complicated
than his gleeful Republican opponents admit.
Writers on the Range
Living with drought in cities such as Denver, Colo., has
its challenges.
Heard Around the West
Hotchkiss, Colo.; Santa Fe finds bright spots in drought;
"Aspen - The Sitcom"; speeding and religion in Idaho; benefits of
clear-cuts; organic lunches in California schools; biking to work
in Flagstaff; Julia Child in Aspen.
Dear Friends
Drought story brings rain; here's to our readers;
visitors; HCN bids a fond farewell to staffers Anne Miller and
Marion Conger Stewart.
Conservationist Mardy Murie's 100th birthday will be
celebrated with a special gathering at the Murie Center in Moose,
Wyo.
News
The Forest Service blames environmentalists for this
summer's catastrophic Western wildfires, and although Greens reply
that the agency is actually at fault, the push for more logging is
growing in Congress.
Endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow; Park Service
deliberating about snowmobiles; Thomas Slonake's resignation from
Indian Trust Accounts forced; Organization of American States'
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Mary and Carrie
Dann.
Tension is rising between Mexico and the U.S. over the
little water left in the drought-stricken Rio Grande.
The planned Joshua Hills development in Southern
California could hurt neighboring Joshua Tree National Park and the
Coacella Valley Preserve, the only remaining home of the endangered
fringe-toed lizard.
Firefighters are worried that a lawsuit filed against the
Forest Service, blaming the agency for the loss of homes near
Connor, Mont., may make it harder to use backfires to fight
wildfires.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs rescinds the official federal
status of the Chinook Indian tribe.
A draft policy released by the National Marine Fisheries
Service in July does little to resolve the controversy over whether
hatchery salmon and steelhead deserve equal protection with wild
fish.
In California, the International Mountain Bicycling
Association is leery of a new proposal to designate two and half
million acres of wilderness in the state.
Letters
Featured stories
-
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY All positions available: Sales Representative, Accountant and Administrative Assistant. As part of our expansion program, our University is looking for part time work from home...
-
COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Position Title: Communications Associate Director Location: Flexible within the Western U.S., Durango, CO preferred Position reports to: Senior Communications Director The Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF)...
-
HISTORIC HOTEL & CAFE For Sale, 600k, Centennial Wyoming, 6 suites plus 2 bed, 2 bath apartment. www.themountainviewhotel.com Make this your home or buy a turn key hotel [email protected]
-
MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER High Country News, an award-winning news organization covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks a Major Gifts Officer to join our...
-
RUBY, ARIZONA CARETAKER S. Az ghost town seeking full-time caretaker. Contact [email protected] for details.
-
VICE PRESIDENT, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION Basic Summary: The Vice President for Landscape Conservation is based in the Washington, D.C., headquarters and oversees Defenders' work to promote landscape-scale wildlife conservation, focusing...
-
BRISTOL BAY PROGRAM DIRECTOR Seeking a program director responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of the Alaska Chapter's priority strategy for conservation in the Bristol Bay region of...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The National Bighorn Sheep Center is looking for an Executive Director to take us forward into the new decade with continued strong leadership and vision:...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Powder Basin Watershed Council, based in Baker City, Oregon, seeks a new Executive Director with a passion for rural communities, water, and working lands....
-
CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM DIRECTOR Type: Permanent, fulltime Reports to: Executive Director Travel: Some overnight travel, both in-state and out-of-state required Compensation (beginning): $44,000 to 46,500/yr., DOE plus excellent benefits...
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Powder River Basin Resource Council, a progressive non-profit conservation organization based in Sheridan, Wyoming, seeks an Executive Director, preferably with grassroots organizing experience, excellent communication...
-
ADOBE HOME Passive solar adobe home in high desert of central New Mexico. Located on a 10,000 acre cattle ranch.
-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition, based in Ely, Nevada is looking for a new executive director to replace the long-time executive director who is retiring at...
-
STEVE HARRIS, EXPERIENCED PUBLIC LANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY Comment Letters - Admin Appeals - Federal & State Litigation - FOIA -
-
LISA MACKEY PHOTOGRAPHY Fine Art Gicle Printing. Photo papers, fine art papers, canvas. Widths up to 44". Art printing by an artist.
-
LOG HOME IN THE GILA WILDERNESS Beautiful hand built log home in the heart of the Gila Wilderness on five acres. Please email for PDF of pictures and a full description.
-
CARETAKER 2.0 acre homestead needing year-round caretaker in NE Oregon. Contact [email protected] for details.
-
SEEKING PROPERTY FOR BISON HERD Seeking additional properties for a herd of 1,000 AUM minimum. Interested in partnering with landowners looking to engage in commercial and/or conservation bison ranching. Location...
-
COPPER STAIN: ASARCO'S LEGACY IN EL PASO Tales from scores of ex-employees unearth the human costs of an economy that runs on copper.
-
EXPERT LAND STEWART 
Available for site conservator, property manager. View resume at http://skills.ojadigital.net.
