Biologists to Capture Grizzly Bears for Research in Yellowstone
Grizzly bear capture operations have been underway in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since Aug. 9 and will continue through Oct. 28.
News Around the West
Pecos National Historical Park Offers Fall Fishing Permits
Pecos National Historic Park in New Mexico will offer fall fishing permits for the Pecos River within park boundaries. The season runs from Sept. 8 to Nov. 14.
Rewilding the American West Report Suggests Wolf Restoration
A first-of-its-kind analysis by 20 leading scientists has identified a network of 11 federally owned reserves where wolves and beavers could be restored across the American West.
Death Valley Experiences 1,000-Year Rain Event, Closes Due to Flooding
A historic rain drenched Death Valley National Park in early August with a year’s worth of rain falling in just three hours, causing widespread flood damage and a closure of all park roads.
Federal government announces historic water cuts as Colorado River falls to new lows
The Interior Department recently announced sweeping changes to the way Colorado River water is doled out in the West.
Why Can’t the Public Access the West’s Biggest Waterfall?
Willamette Falls, the West’s biggest waterfall, is surpassed in the U.S. only by Niagara. It would astound anyone who saw it — if they could see it. But for a century now, industrial structures have blocked access to this natural wonder.
The Colorado Stream Case That Could Revolutionize River Access
From a river-access standpoint, Colorado is among the West’s oddest states. Federal law dictates that the beds of “navigable” rivers — waterways once used as highways for commerce — belong to the states.
BLM Opens Trail at Headwaters Forest Reserve
The Bureau of Land Management has opened the South Side Trail, a winding route that parallels the Elk River in the Headwaters Forest Reserve, located near Arcata, California.
See Inside Lake Powell’s Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam was built primarily to store excess Colorado River water during wet years, so it could be released during dry spells and used to generate power. Now, with aridification depriving the river of those excess flows, both functions are imperiled.
“Summer of Fire” Expected
“The American West is primed for a summer of fire,” warns Popular Science. The magazine reported in May that more than 1.2 million acres of the U.S. burned from wildfires so far this year.