From massive wildfires to melting ice, the calamities that affected the West this year.
Emily Benson
Posted inDecember 25, 2017: Bear Essentials
Celebrating the season and ‘neighboring’ one another
Still no snow, but good times and a bittersweet farewell.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
The geography of the Southwest, painted and illuminated
An artist of Kiowa and Caddo descent blends traditional and modern styles.
Posted inDecember 11, 2017: Scorched Earth
It’s not only trees — wildfires imperil water too
Sediment-choked watersheds and erosion could become more frequent as wildfire activity grows.
Posted inArticles
After Oroville, officials across the West review dam safety
The California dam’s spillways are ready for rain as safety officials prepare for future catastrophes.
Posted inArticles
Comment period ending for sage grouse review
An Interior Department overhaul of collaborative protection plans could sacrifice birds for development.
Posted inNovember 27, 2017: Profit and Politics
High Country News visits Bears Ears
Editorial takes a trip, our holiday party gets closer and welcome new staffers!
Posted inNovember 27, 2017: Profit and Politics
In Utah, public access to state lands comes at a cost
Public access to trust lands varies widely from state to state.
Posted inNovember 13, 2017: Solace and Perspective
Watercolor habitats: An observation of light and color
An artist portrays the greens of mountain lakes and oranges of sandstone arches.
Posted inArticles
California Westlands water settlement in limbo
The deal addresses toxic drainage but could fall apart without congressional action.
Posted inOctober 30, 2017: The Changing Face of Woods Work
Leaf-peepers aplenty, and welcome to a new staffer
Congratulations to staff members, old and new.
Posted inOctober 30, 2017: The Changing Face of Woods Work
Portraits of the protectors of Yellowstone
A collection of rangers, scientists and artists pose in a landscape they love.
Posted inArticles
Interior sends mixed signals on California water project
Without agency approval, the Delta tunnels deal can’t proceed — but conflicting statements make next steps uncertain.
Posted inArticles
A flood of drought news can reduce water use
Drought-stricken California conserved more when media coverage spiked.
Posted inArticles
As sediment builds, one dam faces its comeuppance
Officials at a Colorado reservoir are reckoning with decades of accumulation.
Posted inArticles
One in 30 wells in the West failed in recent years
New research shows just how many wells ran dry between 2013 and 2015.
Posted inOctober 30, 2017: The Changing Face of Woods Work
Why a Colorado River reunion with the sea isn’t a guarantee
To revive a desiccated ecosystem, a U.S.-Mexico agreement looks past ‘pulse flows.’
Posted inArticles
What is the Environmental Protection Agency?
The Environmental Protection Agency is charged with safeguarding human health as well as the environment. This executive branch agency writes and enforces environmental regulations in accordance with bedrock laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. It also conducts basic research on air quality, chemical safety, ecosystems, and managing contaminated land and […]
Posted inArticles
What is the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
The Department of Agriculture is concerned with forestry, food and farming. This executive branch department oversees 17 major agencies, including the Forest Service, which manages national forests and grasslands; the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers, ranchers and other landowners conserve and restore their lands; and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which […]
Posted inArticles
What is the Natural Resources Conservation Service?
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides funding and technical knowledge to help private-property owners, conservation districts and other groups restore and conserve their land. This executive branch agency, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers programs that help with projects such as installing efficient water-delivery systems on ranches and implementing farming practices that improve […]