A single phrase is often used to define the Indian health system: “Government-run.” Add those two words to any discussion about health care or reform and most people reach an immediate conclusion about the merits of the agency. Now it is time for the phrase to disappear because it no longer accurately describes the Indian […]
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New Mexico gets most back from Washington
Since this is an election year, it’s time to ponder politics. Let’s ignore policy and platforms for the moment, and look at money. Which state’s congressional delegation is best at delivering the dollars? The champion team is in the West. According to statistics compiled by the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C., New Mexico’s representatives and […]
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Rants from the Hill: A thousand-mile walk to home
“Rants from the Hill” are Michael Branch’s monthly musings on life in the high country of Nevada’s western Great Basin desert. Three summers ago I blew out a lumbar disc while running a jackhammer in the desert near my house—an accident that was the result of simple bad luck, with the odds perhaps skewed by […]
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Who is the California Farm Water Coalition?
Editor’s note: David Zetland, a water economist at the University of California, Berkeley offers an insider’s perspective into water politics and economics. We will be cross-posting occasional posts and content from his blog, Aguanomics, here on the Range. Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, has often commented (or been quoted) on this blog and […]
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The data story: How much? How many?
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Every agency that serves American Indians and Alaska Natives must answer these questions in order to fuel the decision-making process: How much will it cost? How many people are served? And, by the way, who is an Indian? None of the answers are easy. The demand for federal services is growing as […]
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Another way to see immigration
A friend pointed me to an interesting article about immigration from Mexico, especially into the American Southwest. In essence, it argues that this is not some internal U.S. law-enforcement issue that can be resolved by intensive policing, like Arizona’s controversial recent effort. Instead, our Southwest is typical of borderlands throughout the world, and the current […]
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Who’s burning the forest?
High Country News’ recent feature on arson (The Fiery Touch, August 2nd edition) provides a fascinating look into changing attitudes toward citizens who light wildfires without official permission. Wildfire arsonists have gone from something like hero status to criminal status … at least in urbanized areas. But what interested me more was senior editor Ray […]
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Colorado’s bizarre primary
About 20 years ago, the Colorado General Assembly moved the state’s primary election from September to August. Cynics figured there was a reason, something like this: Coloradans are on vacation in August, or at least getting outdoors at every opportunity, so they’re not paying attention to politics the way they would in September. An August […]
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Big Ag sells to Big Urban
Editor’s note: David Zetland, a water economist at the University of California, Berkeley offers an insider’s perspective into water politics and economics. We will be cross-posting occasional posts and content from his blog, Aguanomics, here on the Range. I’ve been participating in an email discussion about Westland’s plan to sell 50-100,000 acre feet of water […]
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Over the River controversy continues
The Bulgarian-born artist Christo specializes in gigantic installations — like wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin, or arranging hundreds of fabric gates in New York City’s Central Park. For the past decade or so, he’s had plans to return to Colorado with “Over the River.” (His first Colorado project, an immense curtain in Rifle Gap, was about […]
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Thinking broadly about dams in the West
It’s been a bad press week for dams. Last Saturday the Lake Delhi dam gave way, and the previous Tuesday the Tempe Town Lake dam literally exploded. The former disaster involved heavy rains swamping a 1920s-era dam on the Maquoketa River, while the latter resulted from a giant rubber bladder popping on the Salt River. […]
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A water economist’s hot links
Editor’s note: This link roundup comes from David Zetland, a water economist at the University of California, Berkeley. We will be cross-posting occasional posts and content from his blog, Aguanomics, here on the Range. David Zetland Speed Blogging for Tuesday, July 27, 2010 Hattips to RT and JWT Originally posted at Aguanomics.
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The meaning of marmot whistles
How about replacing Groundhog Day with a Feb. 2 Marmot Day?
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New national monument is an idea worth considering
By Bill Schneider, NewWest.net guest blogger, 7-15-10 Back in February somebody leaked seven pages of a “vision document” conceived within the Department of the Interior and created quite a political uproar. OMG! Top brass in the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service (all Interior Department agencies) and a few […]
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Rants from the Hill: Greetings from Nevada
“Rants from the Hill” are Michael Branch’s monthly reflections on life in the high country of Nevada’s western Great Basin desert. I live with my wife and two young daughters in the high desert of the western Great Basin, at 6,000 feet on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, on a desiccated hilltop so […]
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HCN Reader Photo – the Palouse
This reader photo spotlights a beautiful section of the Northwest, the Palouse. Photographer Joe Rocchio points out that the now-agricultural region was once a prairie; it must have been incredibly beautiful then, too. Browse eh existing images and add your photos to our HCN Flickr pool; we periodically feature them on the Range community […]
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The Mojave National Preserve Conservancy
Chris Clarke could see the entire northern part of the Mojave National Preserve from the summit of Kessler Peak. Light from that magical hour around sunset highlighted distant mountains and ridgelines. The view was spectacular. But as the sun dipped below the horizon he realized the path he’d taken to climb to the top was […]
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Push polls in the Rockies
I had read about “push polls,” but until last week, I had never been exposed to one. A “push poll” may sound like a real poll at first, but as the questions proceed, it’s obvious that the pollster is trying to influence your thinking, rather than find out what you’re thinking, which is what legitimate […]
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Environmental Law’s Greatest Tragedy
Ask John or Jane Q. Public about how the environmental laws in this country are implemented, and you’re likely to get a blank stare. No one really knows, but with the BP spill and Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant leaks in the headlines, people are sure the system isn’t working. As a practicing environmental lawyer, […]
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Going by the law
With production supposed to start soon, I’ve encountered even more criticism of the Nestle bottled-water operation in Colorado’s Chaffee County, where I live. To make up for the water taken to the bottling plant, water that would have otherwise flowed down the Arkansas River to other users with senior water rights, Nestle made a deal […]