Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** The Owyhee Canyonlands are the biggest conservation opportunity in the West
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Monday, May 6, 2024
Afternoon view of the Owyhee River Canyon Wilderness Study Area: Source: BLM, Flickr ([link removed])
The Owyhee Canyonlands are a huge, nearly roadless area ([link removed]) in southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho. The area holds some of the last pristine sections of the rapidly declining sagebrush habitat that once dominated much of the West. It has remained wild despite little federal protection thanks to its remote location.
But the Owyhee is under threat. ([link removed]) To the north of the canyonlands, the population in Idaho’s Treasure Valley and Boise is growing. The south end of the area is threatened by a new mining boom. And, inside the canyonlands, invasive weeds have taken root, creating bigger and hotter wildfires that are turning portions of the region from sagebrush to grasslands.
Efforts to protect the area have stalled in Congress ([link removed]) , so now a local coalition is calling on President Joe Biden ([link removed]) to designate just over 1 million acres in the Owyhee Canyonlands as a national monument before the end of the year. “If somebody other than Biden is elected, the opportunity for a monument is lost,” Ryan Houston, executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association told Inside Climate News ([link removed]) .
Idaho revokes permit for Stibnite mine
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has pulled back an air qualilty permit ([link removed]) granted last year to Perpetua Resources for its planned gold and antimony mine at Stibnite in Valley County. The Nez Perce Tribe and other groups appealed the permit, saying it allowed excessive dust-based toxic air pollution beyond the mine’s boundaries, threatening the public with carcinogens like arsenic.
The board unanimously voted to pull the permit back to DEQ to be reworked. It’s not clear how the decision could affect ([link removed]) Perpetua’s planned site operations. The air permit is one of a handful of ‘major’ permits needed to fully operate.
** Quick hits
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A rare dose of hope for the Colorado River as new study says future may be wetter
KUNC ([link removed])
Discord over House leadership tanks bad mining bill, at least for now
Nevada Independent ([link removed])
Editorial: Biden expanded two national monuments in California. Three more to go
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
Two Mexican gray wolves are released in southern Arizona's Sky Islands
Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Tribes are submitting Colorado River ideas so they’re at the table, not ‘on the menu’
KUNC ([link removed])
An environmental justice coalition for all
High Country News ([link removed])
Can forests be more profitable than beef?
New York Times ([link removed])
New documents show oil executives promoted natural gas as green—but knew it wasn't
Grist ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” The importance of designating national monuments goes beyond broad numbers of saving this square footage or percentage. It goes into saving and recognizing our history.”
—Mark Magaña ([link removed]) , founding member of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition and founding CEO of GreenLatinos
** Picture This
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@brycecanyonnps_gov ([link removed])
📅Today’s the day…
The day Bryce Canyon Visitor Center hours extend from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Now you’ll have more time to stop in and say “hi” to a ranger, watch the park film, visit the Museum, and buy a souvenir. You can also find restrooms (during Visitor Center hours) and water-fill stations.⏰
🚌The Bryce Canyon Shuttle currently runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. but will extend their hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 10.
⚠️You can find more information on operating hours and important dates at go.nps.gov/BryceHours.
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