Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
U.S. Forest Service
Posted inDecember 9, 2019: Crossing to Safety
NEPA transformed federal land management — and has fallen short
A look back at the ground-breaking legislation on its 50th anniversary.
Posted inNovember 25, 2019: Forever Mines
BLM chief’s wild horse fixation distracts from the real threats to public land
Species extinction, near-constant wildfire and widespread drought are a few dangers William Perry Pendley might consider instead.
Posted inNovember 25, 2019: Forever Mines
Can a campaign for nature and community rights stop aerial spraying in Oregon?
The push for more local control upends the typical pattern of Westerners fighting against regulation.
Posted inArticles
A remote island sees just a third of its pelicans return for breeding season
Low Great Salt Lake levels mean coyotes can get onto the island.
Posted inSeptember 16, 2019: "We can either wait on Mother Nature – or we can give it a shot ourselves."
Trump administration pushes to exempt Tongass from logging restrictions
Clearcutting of old-growth trees in the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest stopped just three years ago.
Posted inArticles
Hiking trails are a path to destruction for Colorado elk
Recreationalists in Vail are having a devastating impact on the local herd.
Posted inSeptember 2, 2019: In Bad Faith
The desert gets a biocrust skin graft
Without its cover of living microorganisms, the desert is eroding.
Posted inArticles
Roadless rule rollback would threaten Utah’s at-risk plants and animals
More than 100 species rely on habitat away from roads and development, according to a new study.
Posted inJuly 21, 2019: A Radical Return
Forest Service might limit public comments
The revision would allow the agency to approve more projects without environmental review.
Posted inArticles
Job Corps program benefits communities, at-risk youth, disaster relief
Trump administration efforts to privatize and close centers met bipartisan pushback.
Posted inArticles
The rise of wildfire-resilient communities
As fire seasons become longer and deadlier, communities turn to urban planning to combat dangers.
Posted inJune 10, 2019: 'None of this happened the way you think it did'
On the Road to 50: Stitching the Northwest back together
The past, present and future of the West, and HCN’s coverage of the region.
Posted inJune 24, 2019: Losing Lake Coeur d'Alene
Mining laws have long been used for recreation
In Idaho, a law meant to boost mining actually allows for its end as recreation transforms the West’s economy.
Posted inJune 10, 2019: 'None of this happened the way you think it did'
Wildfire escape routes? There’s (almost) an app for that.
Scientists are using crowdsourced data to help firefighters flee dangerous flames.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
Bears Ears’ only visitor center isn’t run by the feds
With the monument facing stripped-down protections and sky rocketing visitation, a local nonprofit built its own guerrilla visitor center to educate the masses.
Posted inMay 13, 2019: Atomic Tourists
Coyote diets; anaerobic digesters; poachers caught on camera
Mishaps and mayhem from around the region.
Posted inArticles
Western forests have a ‘fire debt’ problem
Planned burns can reduce wildfire risks, but expanding use of ‘good fire’ isn’t easy.
Posted inArticles
5 reasons to keep geotagging
Public lands face far greater threats than recreational overuse.
Posted inApril 15, 2019: Scene of the Crime
How a tiny endangered species put a man in prison
The Devils Hole pupfish is nothing to mess with.