** Westerners demand climate action, public lands protection
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Friday, February 21, 2020
Arizona's Sonoran Desert National Monument | B ([link removed]) ob Wick, BLM ([link removed])

A new poll ([link removed]) shows that voters in Western states are calling for protection of public lands in the face of threats from climate change and energy development.

The tenth annual Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll ([link removed]) surveyed voters in eight states, and found that a full 80 percent of voters consider stances on water, air, wildlife, and public lands to be important in their decisions whether or not to support an elected official — and 4 in 10 consider these stances a primary issue when compared to health care and the economy.

There is strong bipartisan support ([link removed]) across the West for essential conservation issues such as fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (70 percent support), and the ambitious goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030 (73 percent support).

Climate change has also emerged as one of the top environmental issues ([link removed]) over the ten years of the poll, and majorities of voters ([link removed]) across the West see climate change as a serious problem that requires action.

The poll demonstrates that strong majorities of Western voters reject the Trump Administration’s policies ([link removed]) toward wildlife, such as weakening the Endangered Species and Clean Water Acts.

Two-thirds of Westerners want Congress to protect public lands over allowing more drilling and mining, and strong bipartisan majorities want to see energy development operators held accountable for methane releases and pay higher fees for extraction of public minerals.
Quick hits


** Trump budget calls for slashing climate science center funds
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The Hill ([link removed])


** Westerners demand climate action, public lands protection
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The Denver Post ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Colorado Public Radio ([link removed]) | The Center Square ([link removed]) | Missoula Current ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Colorado National Parks continue popularity surge as funding goes down
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The Gazette ([link removed]) | Montana Free Press ([link removed])


** Climate change is stealing water from the West's most vital river
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The Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Congress eyes acting BLM chief over possible misconduct
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Colorado Times Recorder ([link removed])


** Opinion: Trump gives politically connected farmers more water, at expense of everyone else; California sues
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Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | AP News ([link removed])


** Opinion: How a Trump administration rule could kill millions of birds
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Yale Environment 360 ([link removed])


** Opinion: Public losing on federal timber sales
The Missoulian ([link removed])
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Quote of the day
In politics, voters have wants and they have needs. Smart politicians speak to the things voters consider needs. In the West, having a healthy environment isn’t a want. It is a need — essential. It requires more than just a passing mention from people who are running for office. It requires a sincere and sustained focus... Voters in the West are going to be paying a lot of attention and really scrutinizing candidates this year to see if there is somebody who is really serious about protecting land, air, water and wildlife.”
—Dave Metz, FM3 Research
Pollster for the 10th Annual Conservation in the West Poll
The Denver Post ([link removed])
Picture this


** @U ([link removed]) SFWSMtnPrairie ([link removed])
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Peekaboo! These mule deer are taking a rest in the snow. But laying in the snow doesn’t seem very comfortable right? Mule deer grow a thick winter coat that traps heat from the sun and repels water. More: [link removed] ([link removed]) Photo:@USFWS ([link removed])

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