Public Lands/Wilderness / Public News Service

In Colorado, outdoor recreation is considered to be a legally beneficial use of Colorado water. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Revised Colorado Water Plan Prioritizes Conservation

A coalition of conservation groups is giving Colorado's revised state water plan a thumbs-up for its increased focus on protecting Colorado's rivers…

The Glen Canyon Dam currently generates energy for nearly six million households in Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Falling Lake Powell Water Levels Put Wyoming Hydro Power at Risk

Part of the deal Wyoming struck for sending its water down the Colorado River was that state residents would be able to tap electricity generated at G…

The North Fork of the Smith River in Oregon was not included in 1990 protections for the river, which runs through California. (Zachary Collier/Northwest Rafting Co.)

Monday, February 6, 2023

Bill in Congress Would Protect Smith River Watershed in OR

A new bill in Congress would add greater protections to a river and its watersheds in southern Oregon. Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron …

Currently, New Mexico is one of the few Western states without a dedicated land and water conservation funding. (Don/AdobeStock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

NM Legislature Considers Dedicated Funding for Land, Water Conservation

As New Mexico recovers from its worst wildfire in history, lawmakers are considering a proposal to create the "Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund" to …

Since the beginning of 2022, seven Western states have initiated programs to maintain wildlife habitat and safe passage, through fencing, signs, overpasses and underpasses, according to Pew research. (TaborChichakly/Adobe Stock)

NM Lawmakers Weigh Next Step for Wildlife Crossings

Reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions is the goal of a bill before the New Mexico Legislature this session. Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-…

A new study says when a wolf pack leader dies, the chances of reproduction for that wolf pack are reduced by 49%. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Wolf Packs Suffer Greatly When One Dies by Human Action

Wolf packs lose their ability to thrive when one of their members dies as a result of human activity, according to a new study that comes amid calls …

Lowering top wires on fencing to 40 inches or lower decreases the chances of animals becoming entangled as they jump over. (F&J McGinn/Adobe Stock)

Study Locates Fences in SW MT for Sake of Migrating Wildlife

Migrating wildlife can struggle with the extensive fencing throughout the West, and a new study is filling in the gaps on where these fences are in …

This Joshua tree, estimated to be about 900 years old, lies within the boundary of the proposed Avi Kwa Ame national monument. (Russell Kuhlman/Nevada Wildlife Federation)

Proposed NV National Monument Seen as Crucial to Biden '30x30' Campaign

Nevada is still waiting for official designation of a new national monument. In late November, President Joe Biden said he is "committed" to …

The conservation group Keep it Colorado has awarded $197,000 in grants to protect 8,512 acres of lands, including 2,500 acres adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, that would otherwise be at imminent risk of being sold, subdivided or converted to other uses. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants to Help Preserve Iconic Mesa Verde Viewshed

A new grant is expected to help close the deal to protect key parcels of historic ranchlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park…

The Columbia River is renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs. In a year of good returns, over 1 million Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, and summer steelhead travel up the river to spawn in its tributaries. (Adobe Stock)

New Columbia River Protections Under EPA Permits

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, deforestation makes up 12 to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. (Adobe Stock)

New Company Helps Cities with Reforestation

By Sakshi Udavant for Next City.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Researchers followed all 26 elk herds that call the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem home, tapping data from 1,088 GPS-collared elk. (Adobe Stock)

Third of Yellowstone Elk Habitat Not Protected from Development

More than a third of all known elk habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem remains wide-open for human development, according to new analysis …

Inhaling the essential oils of trees or ingesting microparticles of healthy bacteria from soil is believed to boost the immune system. (Ronstik/Adobe Stock)

“Forest Bathing”: A Worthy New Year’s Resolution?

Get in shape. It's a common New Year's resolution, but research shows the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku - or "forest bathing" - has multiple …

High rates of survival and reproduction have allowed the bison population to increase by 10% to 17% every year. That's 10 times faster than the human population grows worldwide, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Group Rallies to Protect Montana Constitution

The new year begins with the prospect of big changes to the Montana state Constitution that have been drafted by GOP lawmakers and opposed by conserva…

Starting next year, the federal government will end noncompetitive oil and gas leasing on federal lands and require lessees to pay higher rents and royalties. (EUDPic/Adobe Stock)

Oil and Gas Leasing Reform to Continue in 2023

New Mexico residents are expected to testify next month in virtual hearings on a draft rule to curb methane pollution from the oil and gas sector…

There are seven species of Pacific salmon. Five of them occur in North American waters: Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye and Pink, according to the U.S. Geographical Survey. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Issues Water Protection Permits for Columbia River Dams

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

Pile burning in Whitaker Research Forest within Redwood Mountain Grove. (Rob York/UC Berkeley)

Coalition Teams Up to Save Sequoias

California's old-growth sequoia trees are dying at an alarming rate - so land managers across the Sierras are mounting an emergency response…

Following defacement of New Mexico's centuries-old La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in January, momentum is growing for permanent protections for Caja del Rio. (sfnfsitestewards.org)

Permanent Protections Sought for NM's Caja del Rio

New Mexico is home to more world heritage sites than any other state, but also a smaller site outside Santa Fe that indigenous leaders and …

The Habitat Montana program is managed by the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks agency. (fwp.mt.gov)

MT Gov's Budget Zeroes Out Cannabis Revenue for Conservation Program

Conservation and hunting groups are concerned about Governor Greg Gianforte's decision in his proposed budget not to distribute revenue from recreatio…

Ecola Point is about three miles north of Cannon Beach, Oregon. (Sepp/Adobe Stock)

Teeming with Life, OR Coastal Areas Receive New Protections

Six stretches of Oregon coast that are home to a diverse array of wildlife are set to receive critical protections. Oregon's Ocean Policy Advisory …

The Department of Natural Resources estimates Wisconsin's wolf population to be around one thousand. (Adobe Stock)

Public Comments Urged for WI Wolf Management Plan

Wisconsin residents have one month left to comment on a new wolf management plan for the state and conservation groups encourage people to express the…

Montana landowners and hunters have butted heads in the past about how to best manage the state's elk population. (kojihirano/Adobe Stock)

MT Trust Proposed to Enhance State Lands, Waters

With Montana lawmakers looking at a large budget surplus, a group of hunters, scientists and landowners is asking them to consider creating a trust …

Industry groups are betting that limiting methane waste at oil and gas operations will help keep natural gas competitive as consumers demand cleaner sources of energy. (Adobe Stock)

Methane Air-Pollution Proposal Taps Wyoming Technologies

A new federal plan to reduce harmful air pollution by limiting methane waste at oil and gas facilities taps proven strategies already at work in opera…

Outdoor recreation added $11.6 billion to Colorado's economy in 2021 and supported more than 250,000 jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Push Investment in Thompson Divide Protections

Outdoor recreation contributed a whopping $862 billion to the U.S. economy last year, according to the most recent accounting by the Bureau of …

The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Council member Johnny Hemmers and Council Secretary Colleen Garcia shared bird songs and dances at Avi Kwa Ame with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Representative Susie Lee in September. (Ashley Hemmers)

NV Tribes, Conservation Leaders Praise New National Monument Plan

Native American tribal communities and conservation groups got a big win Wednesday as President Joe Biden announced he intends to create a new nationa…

According to the Bureau of Land Management, Grand Staircase-Escalante spans across 1.87 million acres of America's public lands in Southern Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Protection of Utah National Monuments Under Attack

Conservation groups are pushing to keep federal protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Boundaries of …

An estimated 64,875 firefighter injuries occurred in the line of duty in 2020, according to the National Fire Protection Association. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Fire Risk Remains High

Nebraska has had a number of deadly and destructive fires this year, and nearly half the state remains in extreme or exceptional drought. If it is as …

Approximately 60% of land in Colorado is privately owned. (Adobe Stock)

New Tools Available to Navigate Conservation Easements

Some three million acres of Colorado lands have been protected through land trusts and their partners, and new online resources launched by the group …

Biologists say there is ample natural winter range for Wyoming's elk populations without continued use of controversial winter feedgrounds. (Adobe Stock)

Getting Priorities on Track to Foster Healthy Elk Populations

After receiving input from stakeholders earlier this year, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has released a list of priorities guiding its initial …

It is said founding father Alexander Hamilton once remarked,

Wild Turkeys in MA: A Model for Conservation Efforts Nationwide

Wild turkeys are not only the official game bird of the Commonwealth but the latest champion of conservation efforts in Congress, where …

In New Mexico, local landowners, tribal leaders, business owners and others are working to protect the Gila and San Francisco rivers as Wild and Scenic. (AdobeStock)

New Mexico Reaps Increasing Benefits from Outdoor Recreation

The Land of Enchantment collects more than $2 billion a year from those who enjoy the outdoors, including camping, hiking, climbing and biking…

Wild turkeys are among the many Nebraska species that would benefit from Recovering America's Wildlife Act funds. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Groups Await Senate Action on Conservation Bill

Nebraska naturalists and hunters are accustomed to seeing an abundance of wild turkeys, but it has not always been the case. Conservation programs …

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials says wild turkeys travel across four to five square miles during the year, although during the winter and nesting season, they often restrict their movements to within their restored habitats of 100-200 acres. (Adobe Stock)

Once Threatened, Wild Turkeys Now Thrive in New Hampshire

Turkey may be the star of Thanksgiving meals throughout the Granite State, but the wild turkey has become a focal point of new conservation efforts …

Backers of the Public Lands Act said it would improve public access to nature for millions living in densely populated areas of Los Angeles. (Daxiao Productions/Adobe Stock)

CA Outdoor Recreation Worth $54 Billion Per Year: Federal Data

California is number one in the country for dollars spent on camping, hiking, climbing, and biking, according to the latest federal data. The most …

The River Democracy Act would double the number of river miles currently protected as Wild and Scenic. (Jeffrey Schwartz/Adobe Stock)

OR Rivers Vital to State's BIPOC Communities

Oregon is home to a plethora of rivers, but those waterways are not always accessible to every community. A new video series highlights how …

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a wild turkey can see about seven times better than humans and hear about 10 times better. (Roger Hill/Iowa DNR)

Iowa's Wild Turkeys: A Success Story for Endangered Species

CORRECTION: Wild turkeys were not on the Endangered Species List, as it had not been created at the time they were hunted to near-extinction…

The site of the old Orick Mill has been a top priority for conservation groups because it is a scar on the landscape in California's old-growth redwood forest. (Save the Redwoods League)

Work on Gateway to Redwood National Park Winds Down for 2022

Crews are making progress in building a new gateway to Redwood National Park in Humboldt County. Work has just wrapped up for the year at the site …

Boating and fishing added nearly $890 million to Washington state's economy in 2021. (AshleyBelle/Adobe Stock)

'Wow' Factor: Outdoor Rec Adds Loads of Dollars to WA Economy

Outdoor recreation continues to contribute to Washington state's economy in a big way. That's according to new data from the Bureau of Economic …

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the new policy is expected to increase financial costs for state BLM offices as habitat connectivity is assessed. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Prioritizes AZ Habitat Connectivity for Wildlife

The Bureau of Land Management says it will prioritize habitat connectivity of public lands in Arizona and other states, to improve migration routes …

In draft legislation for a Chesapeake National Recreation Area, the National Park Service would be able to acquire land through voluntary donation, purchases from willing sellers, and exchanges or transfers from another agency in consultation with a CNRA Advisory Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Draft Legislation Would Create Chesapeake National Recreation Area

Newly drafted legislation would combine swaths of land in Virginia and Maryland to create the Chesapeake National Recreation Area. Although it's …

Advocates say the creation of a new national monument at Spirit Mountain would be a boon to the outdoor economy in Southern Nevada. (Kirk Peterson)

Feds to Hold Public Meeting Today on Proposed National Monument

The proposed national monument to be called Avi Kwa Ame is getting a big boost today as the top leaders of the Bureau of Land Management hold a public…

Experts say populations of the sage grouse have plummeted in part because of fragmentation of their habitat. (Dale/Adobe Stock)

Bureau of Land Management Prioritizes Wildlife Connectivity

The Bureau of Land Management, which controls 67% of public lands in Nevada, said it is now going to make it a priority to protect wildlife corridors…

Conservation-minded lawmakers face an uphill battle in the Montana Legislature, where Republicans will control more than two-thirds of seats in 2023. (Galyna Andrushko/Adobe Stock)

A Green Wave Seen in MT Election?

Candidates supporting conservation efforts held strong in last week's election in Montana. While Republicans captured a supermajority in the state …

Hundred-year-old trees, such as those found in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, continue to soak up carbon over time, according to research published in the journal Nature. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia Groups Rally to Protect Old-Growth Trees

The U.S. Forest Service plans to chop down what conservation groups say are large swaths of old-growth trees in the Monongahela National Forest…

Sampling stations are open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., test results will be available within four weeks. (Adobe Stock)

Some MO Deer Hunters Face Mandatory CWD Sampling This Weekend

As the November portion of firearms deer season opens in Missouri, the Department of Conservation is reminding hunters about mandatory sampling for …

As buffalo herds graze, they inspire new vegetative growth across vast tracts of lands in a natural process that mimics the onset of spring. (Adobe Stock)

Buffalo Restoration Key to Wildlife Economy, Tribal Health

By Jake Bullinger for Bitterroot Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

The Stibnite mine project is located in portions of the Payette and Boise national forests. (Ecoflight)

Conservation Groups Wary of Central ID Mine Proposal

A proposed mining operation in central Idaho is raising concerns about possible damage to nearby fish and wildlife habitat. The U.S. Forest Service …

Some global scientists report that current pledges to cut carbon emissions are

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Coloradans Launch 'Fracking Fuels the Flames' Campaign

As Colorado experiences bigger and more frequent wildfires, prolonged drought and other impacts of a changing climate, a coalition of community …

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