“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.
News Around the West
Havasu Falls Remains Closed Through 2022
The famous Havasu Falls near Grand Canyon National Park will remain closed to tourists for at least the rest of 2022.
Yellowstone Closed Due to Severe Flooding
All entrances to Yellowstone National Park are closed temporarily due to heavy flooding, rockslides and extremely hazardous conditions, the National Park Service reports.
Too Many Wild Horses & Burros, BLM Says
Despite year-over-year decreases, recent population estimates of wild horses and burros roaming BLM-managed public lands are still too high, the bureau says.
Yellowstone Renames Mount Doane, Now First Peoples Mountain
Yellowstone National Park’s Mount Doane is now First Peoples Mountain. According to the National Park Service, the announcement comes after a 15-0 vote affirming the change by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Drought Prompts Utah, Wyoming & Oregon to Cut Game Tags
This spring, Oregon enacted emergency measures to close three controlled deer hunts in the state, losing nearly 1,000 deer tags. Wyoming and Utah have similar measures of their own.
Lake Powell Getting a Boost
The Bureau of Reclamation announced in early May urgent drought responses that will help prop up Lake Powell by nearly 1 million acre-feet through April 2023.
As Water Levels Drop, Human Remains Found at Lake Mead
In early May, the National Park Service reported multiple instances of human skeletal remains found at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Transcontinental Railroad Anniversary Celebrated
The 153rd anniversary of the completion of the world’s first transcontinental railroad was celebrated May 7 and 10 at Golden Spike National Historical Park in Promontory Summit, Utah.
Yellowstone Wolves Killed in Record Numbers
This winter saw the most wolves from Yellowstone National Park killed in nearly a century.