Magazine
The New Water Czars

March 15, 2004

In Arizona, a historic water deal could give the tiny, impoverished Gila River Indian Community a path back to its farming roots – and turn it into one of the West’s next big power brokers. Also in this issue: Western ranchers rejoice when a federal court jury finds that the nation’s largest meatpacker, Tyson/IBP, has illegally squeezed $1.28 billion from independent cattle producers.

Feature

The New Water Czars
In Arizona, a historic water deal could give the tiny, impoverished Gila River Indian Community a path back to its farming roots – and turn it into one of the West’s next big power brokers
Daniel Kraker March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Sidebar

Tribe defeated a dam and won back its water
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, which defeated a dam that would have flooded tribal farmland, uses water from the Central Arizona Project to grow profitable crops like pecans and citrus fruits
Daniel Kraker March 15, 2004 From the print edition
The great Central Arizona Project funding switcheroo
The state of Arizona and the federal government have long bickered over who should pay for the Central Arizona Project, but a recent agreement reduces the state’s share, and puts money toward funding Indian water projects
Daniel Kraker March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Editor's Note

A tempered victory
The Gila River Indian Community in Arizona is on the verge of a huge and historic water rights victory, but even the most successful Indian crusades for water are always compromises
Matt Jenkins Opinion March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Uncommon Westerners

Persistence frees the Mokelumne: River advocate Pete Bell
Former rock-n-roll drummer Pete Bell is dedicated to keeping California’s Mokelumne River as free-flowing as possible
Tim Holt March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Essays

The charm of a dying place
A South Dakota native ponders the lure of the Dying Plains
Joshua Garrett-Davis Essay March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Writers on the Range

President Bush should consider a "land grab" of his own
A visit to Arizona’s new Agua Fria National Monument – one of those designated by Clinton at the end of his presidency – points up the failure of the Bush administration to protect and preserve the public lands
Paul Larmer Essay March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Book Reviews

A new look at Yellowstone
With its beautiful photographs and fine writing, Pete Bengeyfield’s Incredible Vision: The Wildlands of Greater Yellowstone succeeds in giving readers a new look at an often-photographed landscape
Karen Mockler March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Calendar
Staff March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Heroes for the wild
The upcoming 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act is being celebrated with "Wilderness Hero" award nominations, sponsored by a range of conservation groups
Jodi Peterson March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Can't we all just get along
A new report, Making the Most of Science in the American West: An Experiment, aims at teaching Westerners to work with scientists to avoid environmental conflicts, according to co-author Patricia Nelson Limerick
Jodi Peterson March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Heard Around the West

Heard Around the West
Hot tubs vs. wilderness; Grand Junction, Colo., vs. new logo; teenager survives spectacular snowmobile smash; Michael Jackson in Wal-mart; "For Christ’s sake go vegetarian"; and weakest excuse for speeding
Betsy Marston March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Dear Friends

Dear friends
Adam Jackaway plans film about energy; hcn.org prints letters for discussion; Beth Wohlberg Casper climbs high for cancer; condolences to Brian Maffly on the death of his wife, Karen Sclafani; and corrections
Greg Hanscom March 15, 2004 From the print edition

News

Ranching's worst enemy? It's not greens
Western ranchers rejoice when a federal court jury finds that the nation’s largest meatpacker, Tyson/IBP, has illegally squeezed $1.28 billion from independent cattle producers
Ray Ring March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Follow-up
Campaign to Protect America’s Lands seeks tips from Interior Department employees; Montana Mining Association wants to repeal state’s cyanide ban; Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Davis complain to USDA after they learn Washington mad cow wasn’t a downer; and R
Laura Paskus March 15, 2004 From the print edition
The de-icer that tames Western roads
The de-icer that tames Western roads
Using magnesium chloride on winter highways in Colorado and the West makes mountain driving safer, but critics worry about its impacts on vehicles – and on wildlife, trees, water and people
Allen Best March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Defense company turns from rockets to real estate
Aerospace and defense company GenCorp wants to build a new development on its former rocket-testing site near Sacramento, Calif., but critics are worried about old pollutants in the groundwater
Jodi Peterson March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Gas well slated for state park
Energen Resources Corp. wants to put a gas well on Navajo State Park in Colorado, near Navajo Lake
Joshua Zaffos March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Should the Forest Service be blamed for a snowmobile wreck
Judge Don Molloy finds the Forest Service partly liable in the 1996 Montana snowmobile wreck that injured Brian Musselman, and some snowmobilers are worried about the ruling’s impacts on their sport
Ray Ring March 15, 2004 From the print edition
More lynx, less habitat
Colorado’s lynx reintroduction program has so far been a success, but a new Forest Service management proposal would put energy development, forest thinning, and snowmobile trails ahead of the threatened animal’s habitat
Alex C. Pasquariello March 15, 2004 From the print edition

Letters

Consumption is the issue, not immigration
Josh Chapman March 15, 2004 From the print edition
We can't isolate the West
Bart Geerts March 15, 2004 From the print edition
It's time for action on immigration
Mike McGarry March 15, 2004 From the print edition
Abolish user fees
Scott Phillips March 15, 2004 From the print edition
User fees help land managers
Lynn Scarlett and Mark Rey March 15, 2004 From the print edition
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