An updated analysis finds that not every Western state is living up to its conservation legacy.
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Which Western states are leading and lagging in protecting public lands?
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Tuesday, April 2, 2024
The Owyhee River, BLM Oregon and Washington ([link removed])
An updated analysis from the Center for Western Priorities finds that not every Western state is living up to its conservation legacy. Oregon in particular has a proud conservation tradition, yet a dysfunctional Congress is blocking the largest conservation opportunity in the West ([link removed]) .
The report, Conservation Gridlock ([link removed]) , is an annual update to a 2022 analysis ([link removed]) that looked at the acres of national public land protected over the last 20 years in eight Western states. This year’s update finds that in the last decade, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming have conserved far less land than other Western states. In fact, the three leading states—California, Utah, and Nevada—have protected 14 times more acres of public land than the three bottom states.
"While we’ve seen great progress in many states under the Biden administration, it’s disappointing to see conservation at a standstill in states where the voters overwhelmingly support protecting public lands," Center for Western Priorities Policy and Design Associate Lilly Bock-Brownstein said ([link removed]) in a statement. "Voters want these iconic Western landscapes to be protected from mining, drilling, and other impacts."
Talking public lands extremism with Betsy Gaines Quammen
In the latest episode ([link removed]) of the Center for Western Priorities podcast, The Landscape, Kate and Aaron are joined by author Betsy Gaines Quammen to talk about public lands and extremism. Betsy has written two books about extremism in the West. Her first, American Zion ([link removed]) , looks at the connection between Mormonism and extremism. Her second book, True West ([link removed]) , which came out last year, digs into the myths that define the West.
** Quick hits
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Judge allows industry group to intervene in oil and gas lawsuit
NM Political Report ([link removed]) | Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])
Can locals save Nevada's Ash Meadows from lithium mining?
Nevada Current ([link removed])
Hunt is on for Colorado's next gold rush: Geological hydrogen
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
The great solar build-out
High Country News ([link removed])
Controversial state mandate spurs Wyoming utility to join carbon capture partnership
WyoFile ([link removed])
Trial delayed for burn boss in controversial arrest by eastern Oregon county sheriff
NPR ([link removed])
The newest Colorado adventure spot isn't sure it wants you to visit
5280 ([link removed])
Las Vegas is going all in on its water conservation plan
Smithsonian ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Legislation to protect Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands has been languishing in Congress for a decade. It’s time for elected leaders to work with President Biden to take action to protect this massive and remote landscape for future generations.”
—Lilly Bock-Brownstein, Policy and Design Associate, Center for Western Priorities ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@joshuatreenps ([link removed])
🌸 Life can be like a cactus. Thorny but beautiful. 🌸
If you’ve ever driven through the Pinto Basin in Joshua Tree National Park, you might have seen a strange type of vegetation stretching up high into the sky. This is the Ocotillo (pronounced oh-koh-TEE-yoh), an iconic Southwestern desert plant. Ocotillo can reach up to 20-30 feet in the air and are famous for their strange, coral-like stalks.
If you are visiting the park during a dry period, these plants might look like spiky, brown sticks extending from the ground. But don’t worry! The Ocotillo isn’t dead, it’s just “dormant”. In the desert, Ocotillos photosynthesize slower to conserve water, creating that dry, dead look. Then, when rain arrives, the plant comes back to life!
After rain passes through the desert, the brown branches of these plants will turn green with thousands of slender leaves, and the ends of their stalks bloom with bright red-orange tubular flowers. The Ocotillo is also known as “little torch” in Spanish, which makes sense after seeing these flowers!
The Ocotillo Patch is a scenic pull off along Pinto Basin Road in Joshua Tree National Park where visitors can see these plants up close. Just like the Ocotillo, consider branching out to new areas of the park during the busy season. Some of the most beautiful sights can be seen off the beaten path!
Photo by: NPS Emily Hassell
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