The Interior and Agriculture departments announced they will use $20 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deploy advanced
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden administration invests $20M to improve early wildfire detection
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Wednesday, July 24, 2024
2012 Whitewater-Baldy Complex wildfire in Nevada, Kari Greer/USFS ([link removed])
The Interior and Agriculture departments announced ([link removed]) they will use $20 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deploy advanced remote sensing technology in wildfire-prone areas to improve the speed and accuracy of detecting fires. The investment will allow the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and other agencies to use data from NOAA satellites to detect and report wildfires quickly.
“Wildland firefighting will always require highly skilled individuals working on the ground, but with more real-time information we can reduce the risks to crews and pilots and improve our response time to the public,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack ([link removed]) in a statement. The new satellite data will allow for earlier wildfire detection, provide firefighters with a more detailed look at wildfire conditions, enable faster hot spot detection, and provide the ability to track wildfire progression in real time. The funding is part of a $5 billion investment to improve preparedness, mitigation, and restoration in the face of increasing wildfire danger due to climate change.
There are approximately 70 active wildfires ([link removed]) currently burning in the Western U.S., as well as numerous fires in Canada, one of which necessitated the evacuation of 25,000 visitors and residents from Jasper National Park ([link removed]) . Over 20 wildfires in Oregon and Washington have burned more than 621,000 acres and caused evacuation orders for thousands of residents. There are also active wildfires in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado. Air quality advisories are in effect ([link removed]) across many states due to smoke from these fires.
** Quick hits
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How the nation’s driest state is using cash to free up water
Washington Post ([link removed])
Opinion: Mountain bikers push to ride through America’s last protected wilderness lands
Denver Post ([link removed])
A hydrothermal explosion closes part of Yellowstone National Park
Outside ([link removed]) | Sierra Sun Times ([link removed]) | 9News ([link removed]) | KTVH ([link removed]) | The Guardian ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed])
Fourth heat-related hiking death in 2 weeks in southern Utah
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Arizona Tribal leaders: Investments in Indian Country will be part of Biden’s legacy
Arizona Mirror ([link removed])
A casino project sparks conflict over tribal sovereignty and control of sacred lands
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
Chronic illness is depressing bighorn sheep numbers, new study suggests
WyoFile ([link removed])
Hiking in the heat
High Country News ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” President Biden has been a steadfast champion for Tribes across the United States. His legacy will be etched in history with hope and grace, as he stands among the most impactful presidents.”
—Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, Arizona Mirror ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@nevadapubliclands ([link removed])
With nearly 100K visitors per year, Sand Mountain Recreation Area is by far the most visited BLM site in the Carson District.
The big dune, just east of Fallon, is about 3.5 miles long and 600 feet tall! This spot is especially popular for ATVs, sand rails, dune buggies, and other OHV use. But if you can believe it, when I stopped by recently on a random weekday, I had the dunes all to myself!
It’s well worth taking a quiet stroll through the sand to marvel at how this natural feature formed over many millennia. Like it’s dune cousin to the south (Big Dune), Sand Mountain is also home to an endemic species of insect. This is the only place in the world you can spot the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfy. So if you do visit, be sure to stay on designated trails and don’t crush the brush. 🦋
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