California tunnel plan also introduces water uncertainties for farms and cities.
Gov. Brown slashes Sacramento Delta environmental protection
Posted inArticles
Lessons of drought and cheetahs in the grass
On a walk through the coastal hills north of the Golden Gate this April, you could be forgiven for doubting all the talk of a record-breaking California drought. Grassy slopes glowed an emerald green, wildflowers erupted from among the wild oats, and the blossoms of madrone, manzanita and mountain lilac drew marble-sized bumblebees to their […]
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What wildlife scat can tell us about how to protect open space
A Santa Cruz study of carnivore diets reveals how animals respond to human disturbance.
Posted inMay 11, 2015: The Wetland Wars
Counties use a ‘coordination’ clause to fight the feds
An obscure provision in two environmental laws is the weapon of choice in a bureaucratic Sagebrush Rebellion.
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Ranch Diaries: Early spring grass brings unexpected challenges
Roping a sick calf on a green colt.
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New research on cumulative ecological impact of oil and gas
Drilling has stripped bare three Yellowstones worth of land in recent years.
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Of sex and death in the rain
Getting teenagers to embrace environmental stewardship can be a challenge, especially when those teenagers are cold and wet. One way to grab their attention is to present a drama of sex and death. For 21 years, that’s been the strategy of Salmon Watch, a field program that allows middle- and high school students to observe […]
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Recapture Canyon protesters found guilty in Utah
County commissioner and co-defendant face up to a year in jail for illegal ATV ride.
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Rants from the Hill: Will the real fake John Muir please stand up?
Searching for authentic identity in Chautauqua season.
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Hundreds of lapsed permits found on Forest Service land
Expired water permit for Nestlé draws attention to flawed federal supervision.
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Tom Udall tries to fix the nation’s toxic chemicals law
Greens oppose the bill, though it’s brokered by a champion of the environment.
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Video: Guardian dogs
What the right livestock dogs can mean for the maintenance of large predators, like the wolf, on the landscape.
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State bills to study federal-to-state land transfers
A rundown of the legislation in each state and a look into the motives behind them.
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For the love of trains
On May 9, Train Day 2015, I’ll be in the bar-observation car aboard the Southwest Chief. The board game “Mexican Train” will be spread out on many tables, and there’s always room for one more player as the tiles are drawn. The Southwest Chief is a popular train, traveling between Los Angeles and Chicago, and […]
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For rural Oregonians, protections from herbicides come up short
Aerial spray regs remain the West Coast’s weakest after the death of a key law.
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How do you define “wild” in the West?
Our most memorable excursions often involve glimpses of wild creatures: “It was amazing, we crested the hill and the bear was as startled as us. …” Or “The beaver was dragging a giant branch and never noticed us” and “first we heard the bugling, then the elk appeared … huge.” We all revel in these […]
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Plans are percolating to remake the management of southern Utah
Before he leaves office, President Barack Obama has the chance to significantly alter the landscape of Utah by using his ace in the hole, the Antiquities Act, which was signed into law in 1906 by my hero ¾ Republican President Theodore Roosevelt. He could set aside thousands of acres in southern Utah as a new […]
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Huge new ‘communities’ planned for Tucson, Albuquerque
Sprawl rises from its slumber, but urban renaissance is still thriving.
Posted inApril 27, 2015: Lost frontier
Wyoming tough?
A recent article in Time magazine reported that the best place to be an old person is a city, primarily because of easy access to health care. If Time’s experts on aging are correct, those of us who choose to live in remote Western places will feel increasing pressure to urbanize, abandoning the landscapes that […]