Landscape
Biden Admin “pauses” public land lease sales, putting one drilling proposal in southwest Colorado in limbo
The administration is putting the brakes on new oil and gas leases on public lands. The move is being met with cheers from conservation groups and legal threats from the fossil fuels industry.
The legendary Colorado Orange apple returns
An apple varietal long thought to be extinct is coming back to life in Colorado. Next stop: your grocery list.
Citizen’s group makes inroads on mine cleanup, despite lack of federal action
Little has been done at the congressional level to clean up abandoned mines in southwest Colorado. But members of one community advisory group say they’re making progress with the federal government.
Gold King Mine spill: Five years on, are we any closer to cleaning up old mines?
Five years ago, the Gold King Mine spill ignited hope that old and abandoned mines around Silverton, Colorado, would finally be cleaned up. But progress is moving slowly.
Renewed effort underway to rename Colorado place names
Colorado is full of place names that people find troubling. Some are obvious ethnic slurs. Others commemorate people we now know to be “bad actors.”
A report card on black bears in southwest Colorado
While you worried about the coronavirus, a familiar presence awoke from its winter slumber and went looking for dinner. I spoke with a Colorado wildlife official about the health of our ursine population and how to be more “bear aware.”
A new era at Hanging Lake
The popular trail east of Glenwood Springs is now only accessible by permit and shuttle bus from Glenwood Springs. It’s part of a new reservation system following years of preparation and research.
Hanging Lake permit system launches in attempt to reduce overcrowding
A new reservation system to limit the human impact on the enormously popular lake in Glenwood Canyon began on April 1. It ends years of unregulated access and caps daily visitors at 615.
More people report getting caught in avalanches in 2019
Three of the four avalanche victims in Colorado this winter have been from the Roaring Fork Valley. But behind this statistic lies another sobering reality: Record numbers of people are reporting being involved in snow slides this year.
CO River District considers vote to free up tax revenue
Mark Duggan interviews Brent Gardner Smith of Aspen Journalism about funding problems facing the Colorado River Water Conservation District.
Jonathan Thompson reflects on cause and fallout of 2015 Colorado mine spill
The environmental writer talks about his book detailing the 2015 Gold King Mine Spill, which polluted hundreds of miles of rivers in parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. River of Lost Souls details the toxic legacy of mining in southwest Colorado and what led to the spill.
The machine gun nest on Imogene Pass
When the snow melts on a certain San Juan Mountain pass, a dark chapter in Colorado labor history is revealed.
Roadside shrines
They dot the Southwest landscape, paying tribute to lives lost and dreams shattered.
Colorado’s black bears interacting with more humans as they bulk up for hibernation
Colorado is home to more than 19,000 black bears, bringing them into more contact and conflicts with humans.
Colorado forests ripe for major wildfire, despite efforts to increase prevention funding
Millions of acres of forest in Colorado are ripe for burning in the future. But the Forest Service and other agencies lack the funds for more fire prevention.
Orange River Blues
On August 5, 2015, the toxic secrets of The Gold King Mine high in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado spilled forth when workers breached a plug containing mine wastes. Three million gallons of heavy metal-laden wastewater spilled into area watersheds and flowed through downstream towns. I lived about three blocks from the Animas when it happened.
Southwest Colorado bear study brings new insight into ursine behavior
Black bears in Colorado are spending less time in hibernation and living closer to human development. They still prefer nuts and berries over garbage. And their numbers are decreasing. Those are some of the key findings of a recently-concluded Colorado Parks & Wildlife study of bears living near Durango.
Bear’s Ears: Two conflicting ideas for land management in the new West
Two proposals are competing on managing a large swath of federal land in southeast Utah.
Living among the “Methane Hot Spot”
A giant, concentrated plume of greenhouse gas hovers over the San Juan Basin region of the Four Corners.
Of wild men, mustangs, and mountain ranges
Producer Cindy Meehl on the many meanings of the movie “Unbranded.”
“The talk of the phantom”
From a 2010 interview with author Chuck Bowden, who died on September 1.
Arizona cotton ‘A successful business,’ despite challenges
Arizona is still part of the Cotton Belt, with about 259,000 acres devoted to the crop. But it’s not easy to grow it in the desert. I talked to two cotton farmers about the challenges they face and how technology has changed the business.
Oracle State Park Gets a new lease on life
Arizona State Parks became a budget target for legislators a few years ago. They diverted funds from from the agency to help pay for a statewide budget deficit. Many parks were left with a skeleton staff and limited hours. A few, like Oracle State Park northeast of Tucson, closed entirely, until a group of volunteers opened their wallets to re-open the park.
Reviving a great American river
The Colorado River is the world’s most regulated waterway, with 25 dams on a 1,500-mile course. The river stops flowing in Mexico and never reaches the sea. National Geographic explorer Wade Davis has a solution for restoring the flow and reviving the once-verdant Colorado River Delta.
‘Green Fire’ examines the legacy of conservationist Aldo Leopold
The documentary Green Fire looks at the life of conservationist Aldo Leopold and explores how he developed his ideas on wildlife management and environmental ethics.
A Kartchner Caverns tour with Gary Tenan
Most people see Kartchner Caverns as part of a tour guided by a volunteer docent. The experience is a little different for the man who discovered the cave.
Wildfires leave Arizona forests in a delicate state
Large wildfires are now the norm in the West’s timberland. Millions of acres have burned in Arizona in the past decade alone. Forestry officials say these new super fires will alter wildlife migration and watershed patterns for years to come. Mother Nature begins her repairs quickly, though, and among the new growth in burn areas comes a chance to learn more about fire behavior.
Smuggling tunnels proliferate under Nogales
The DeConcini Port Of Entry at Nogales, Ariz. is a busy place. But only part of the activity happens above ground.
Tree workers a tight community of serious competitors
Arizona tree workers test their climbing skills at an annual competition. In the mock rescue drill, climbers are graded on safely getting an injured co-worker to the ground. But the competition is also about having fun.
Old economies vs. new in ‘The Global West’
Jonathan Thompson of High Country News studies the West’s economic boom and bust cycles. He finds a global appetite fuels the latest energy boom. But another bust could be looming.
Author Byrd Baylor celebrates the desert
Author Byrd Baylor still writes by candlelight in her rural desert home. It’s just enough light, she says, to see the ink on the page.