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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Colorado Moves to Keep Wildlife Migration Corridors Open

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Thursday, August 22, 2019   

IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. – Increased development in Colorado is creating major obstacles to migration corridors for several native animal species, but a new state program aims to keep them open.

Gov. Jared Polis recently issued an executive order to preserve Colorado's historic migration corridors, requiring state agencies to coordinate with federal, state and local governments, private landowners and conservationists to protect wildlife.

Brien Webster, chapter coordinator of Colorado and Wyoming Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, says the state's development can be a threat to numerous animals, including bighorn sheep, mule deer and even trout.

"In Colorado right now, we have subdivisions, roads, trails, energy fields – all sorts of things – that are being developed throughout the Colorado landscape,” he states. “A lot of that development is occurring near or on important wildlife habitat such as migration corridors.”

Members of several sports and recreation organizations met Wednesday in Idaho Springs to show support for the governor's order.

Webster says the executive order balances out the economic interests in the state while preserving family hunting and fishing traditions for future generations.

He says the executive order calls for a long-term effort to direct state agencies to explore scientific mapping, historic information and partnerships that will streamline habitat-protection efforts.

"Healthy wildlife populations depend on healthy, highly functional habitat,” he points out. “And this executive order demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that we'll do what we can now to better understand what quality habitat looks like and how we can better protect it."

Webster says it allows agencies to incorporate planning, public education, and more efficient use of government resources in protecting wildlife.

"These migration corridors take place across the landscape on state lands, on federally managed public lands, on private lands,” he explains. “Mule deer don't care whether it's Forest Service land or state land or private land."

He says hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related recreation opportunities are a large part of the Colorado economy, generating a $5 billion economic impact on the state.

Disclosure: The Pew Charitable Trusts - Environmental Group contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Climate Change/Air Quality, Consumer Issues, Endangered Species & Wildlife, Energy Policy, Environment, Health Issues, Public Lands/Wilderness, Salmon Recovery. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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