The West’s vital wetlands are in trouble — but states are working to safeguard them.
Natalia Mesa
Natalia Mesa is a freelance journalist who covers environmental science, climate change and social justice. She is based in Brooklyn, New York. Previously, she was a High Country News editorial fellow.
Posted inApril 2025: A Monumental Reckoning
How a crucial homeless shelter in Boise was obstructed by neighbors
The Veterans Park Neighborhood Association sued to halt a shelter’s plans.
Posted inFebruary 2025: Immigrant Stories
Bringing black abalone back from the brink
To save the species, researchers translocated the endangered California mollusk.
Posted inArticles
EPA takes unprecedented step to remove uranium waste from the Navajo Nation
The decision opens the door for new ways to manage uranium pollution on tribal land.
Posted inArticles
What it’s like to be an incarcerated firefighter
Eddie Herrera, a formerly incarcerated firefighter, talks about the job and how he sees what’s happening in Los Angeles.
Posted inArticles
Tribes sue after massive wind farm in Washington gets green light
The Yakama Nation contends that the project, which threatens ceremonial sites and wildlife habitat, is unlawful.
Posted inArticles
The Supreme Court decisions that gutted environmental protections in 2024
Several major cases destroyed federal agencies’ ability to address climate change and pollution.
Posted inArticles
The Biden administration weighs in on Colorado River management
Amid mounting drought, changing federal leadership and stalled state negotiations, new federal proposals aim to chart a forward path.
Posted inArticles
Why did Nevada vote to ban slavery, when California didn’t?
Both states require incarcerated people to work — often for critical and dangerous jobs.
Posted inArticles
Washington voters stand up for climate action
The state’s landmark climate law survived a repeal effort — and has raised billions of dollars. Here’s where that money is going.
Posted inArticles
Taking the long view
After election day, stories to step back and gain perspective.
Posted inNovember 2024: The Once and Future Prairie
In Washington’s Yakima Valley, quinceañeras connect people and place
Teens are making the tradition their own with high-top sneakers, glowing dresses and Tiktok dances.
Posted inNovember 2024: The Once and Future Prairie
Tenis, vestidos brillantes, y bailes de TikTok
En el Valle de Yakima, las jóvenes hacen suya la tradición quinceañera.
Posted inArticles
Migrating birds find refuge in pop-up habitats
A program that pays rice farmers to create wetland habitats is a rare conservation win.
Posted inOctober 2024: Latino Vote
Latino voting power is building in Yakima
Activists in central Washington focus on informing voters and getting them to show up to the polls.
Posted inOctober 2024: Latino Vote
Poder latino
En el centro del estado de Washington, los organizadores latinos están promoviendo el voto y eligiendo a sus propios candidatos
Posted inArticles
Will the Northwest Forest Plan finally respect tribal rights?
Tribal representatives are pushing the U.S. Forest Service to respect treaty rights and bring cultural fire back to the region’s forests.
Posted inArticles
Repeal of the Chevron doctrine will have profound consequences for federal rulemaking
Climate, public lands and tribal law regulations are now likely to face legal challenges.
Posted inJuly 2024
A new documentary confronts water scarcity in the West
In Mirasol: Looking at the Sun, Colorado farmers fight to save their communities.