NEW MEXICO A deadly fish disease that has been spreading across the West now has a foothold in New Mexico. Three state hatcheries recently tested positive for whirling disease, prompting New Mexico Game and Fish officials to begin testing streams, rivers and lakes. Whirling disease spores, now known to be present in 10 Western states, […]
Robyn Morrison
Posted inMarch 27, 2000: The last wild river
Tax-averse Wyoming hurts itself
As other Western economies boom, Wyoming is trying to rein in a large budget deficit without raising taxes. The Equality State Policy Center, a nonprofit public-policy advocacy group, doesn’t share Wyoming’s romance with “no new taxes,” and says taxes on the state’s minerals industry are an overlooked source of revenue. A report released by the […]
Posted inMarch 27, 2000: The last wild river
Preserving the westward way
The National Park Service wants to preserve everything from vistas to wagon ruts, graves and campsites along 13,000 miles of historic Western trails. A plan completed last fall provides guidelines for protecting the Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails. But saving a trail system that crosses 12 states isn’t easy, says Jere Krakow, superintendent […]
Posted inMarch 27, 2000: The last wild river
Forest chief steers agency down a rocky road
Forest supervisor warns that Dombeck’s policy will spark civil disobedience
Posted inMarch 13, 2000: Libby's dark secret
Neighborly mining negotiations sour
MONTANA Environmental groups and a Montana mining company failed to see eye to eye over a “good neighbor” agreement after eight months of talking, and negotiations have stopped. Stillwater Mining Co. and three citizens’ groups agreed that the platinum and palladium mine, located on public and private lands in the Beartooth Mountains, would be around […]
Posted inFebruary 28, 2000: Acre by acre
Fed-bashing investigated
Gloria Flora got the ball rolling. After she resigned as supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in November (HCN, 11/22/99: Nevadans drive out forest supervisor), the Forest Service sent a team to investigate her charges of “anti-federal fervor” and “fed-bashing” in Nevada. Although the team’s report says that working conditions for Forest Service employees throughout […]
Posted inFebruary 28, 2000: Acre by acre
Dog doesn’t get its day
NATION Ranchers, farmers and land developers can breathe a sigh of relief; the black-tailed prairie dog won’t be listed as an endangered species – at least not yet. Citing a lack of money and staff and a long list of species in greater need, the Fish and Wildlife Service ruled that protection for the black-tailed […]
Posted inJanuary 31, 2000: Searching for pasture
Judge rules on Indian money mess
A federal judge says he’ll personally oversee the Interior Department’s effort to untangle a mess of mismanaged Indian trust money. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth’s decision settled the first half of a class-action lawsuit, led by banker Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet tribe. She and others charged the federal government with losing track of billions […]
Posted inJanuary 31, 2000: Searching for pasture
Off-road riders told to stay on the road
Off-road vehicles, from 4×4’s to motorcycles, are under the gun. For years ORV users have been free to ride across public lands in the West unless signs designated an area closed. But concerns about erosion, damage to wildlife habitat and renegade road building could turn this policy on its head. In November, the Forest Service […]
Posted inJanuary 31, 2000: Searching for pasture
Cooling the waters
If the EPA has its way, Potlatch Corp. pulp mill in Lewiston, Idaho, will cool its wastewater and reduce toxic compounds flowing into the Snake River (HCN, 12/06/99). A lawsuit filed by several Idaho environmental groups prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to release a draft of a more stringent water pollution permit. It says Potlatch […]