A writer sets out on a geographic journey to understand the imperiled water source.
Water
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
Climate change forced me to leave the place that I love
After finding their dream town, a family fled drought and fire.
Posted inFebruary 5, 2018: Caught Between Crises
‘Atmospheric rivers’ aid the West — and imperil it
Improved storm forecasts could help reservoir managers store more water while avoiding floods.
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The tiny power plant that shapes the Colorado River — merely by existing
The Shoshone power plant is the cornerstone for water rights in the upper river.
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2017 in natural disasters
From massive wildfires to melting ice, the calamities that affected the West this year.
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16 major environmental protections cut in 2017
Climate change initiatives were the most targeted by the Trump administration.
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The 26,000 tons of radioactive waste under Lake Powell
The West’s uranium boom brought dozens of mills to the banks of the Colorado River — where toxic waste was dumped irresponsibly.
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Does a river have a right to life?
No law gives a river a right to exist; at best, laws protect a river from harm caused by new development.
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.
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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 inNovember 27, 2017: Profit and Politics
A tale of two parks: How the Bakken boom transformed a landscape
While a North Dakota national park is an oasis from drilling, a nearby state park is thrown open.
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The turkey industry catches a break with Trump
The EPA’s regulatory rollbacks are helpful for poultry producer profit margins.
Posted inJanuary 22, 2018: A Separatist State of Mind
Fish and Wildlife retracts opposition to Arizona project
As Trump sidelines science, the agency flips on San Pedro River development.
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Standing sentinel over the Umpqua River’s steelhead
A Buddhist fly-angler in Oregon protects fish from death by dynamite.
Posted inNovember 13, 2017: Solace and Perspective
Deer at recess; Stranded in Kanab; A brain-eating mantis
Mishaps and mayhem around the region.
Posted inNovember 13, 2017: Solace and Perspective
‘Helpless and culpable’ while fishing the pink’s peak run
2017 Bell Prize runner-up: A writer reflects on salmon as symbol.
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California Westlands water settlement in limbo
The deal addresses toxic drainage but could fall apart without congressional action.
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What a new report on climate science portends for the West
From wildfires to drought, a look at a warming world.
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In the Southwest, a sustainable breed of cattle
The criollo cow can thrive in hot, dry conditions that are difficult for other breeds.
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A water-bottling plant creates a rift in Montana
Opponents say a proposal is tilting Flathead Valley development toward corporate interests.