Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Great Bend of the Gila: America's next national monument?
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Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Elias Butler, Respect Great Bend ([link removed])
A locally-driven campaign to protect 370,000 acres of land in Arizona hopes that President Joe Biden will designate Great Bend of the Gila as America's next national monument ([link removed]) . Flowing west from New Mexico through central Arizona, the Gila River is the second-longest river in the state. The national monument proposal is located southwest of Phoenix, where a network of streams join the river as it bends south before joining the Colorado River.
Within the proposed monument boundaries, archaeologists have identified signs of human habitation dating back 11,000 years, including petroglyphs, canals, and building structures. The Yuman and O'Odham people trace their history to the area.
The Arizona Republic's V ([link removed]) alley 101 podcast ([link removed]) takes an in-depth look at the river and its history, speaking with Tribal members, biologists, and archaeologists about why the region needs protection. Learn more from Respect Great Bend of the Gila ([link removed]) .
** Quick hits
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Hualapai Tribe sues BLM over lithium exploration near sacred spring
Arizona Mirror ([link removed]) | KJZZ ([link removed])
Uranium mine remains a flashpoint at the Grand Canyon
KNAU ([link removed]) | Arizona Mirror ([link removed])
Project 2025 push to resume nuclear testing sparks fallout in Utah
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Colorado households are benefiting from federal climate investments, with more on the way
CPR News ([link removed])
Idaho wildfires burned food in wild horse habitats, prompting emergency roundup
Idaho Statesman ([link removed])
Grueling wildfires test resolve of Western fire crews
The Guardian ([link removed])
Watchdog: NPS lagging in effort to add 1,400 new employees
E&E News ([link removed])
Fact check: Do wind turbines or fossil fuel plants kill more birds?
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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”
We’re going to try every way we can to try and stop this operation. It’s kind of scary looking into the future, seeing how these mining companies can kind of get away with this and how the BLM is letting it happen, even when they know how it will negatively impact the tribes and the tribe’s sacred lands.”
—Ka-voka Jackson, director of Hualapai Department of Cultural Resources, Arizona Mirror ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Set to be a blue moon and this year’s first supermoon, Monday’s Sturgeon Moon will appear bigger and brighter in the evening sky. 🌕
From @joshuatreenps ([link removed]) to @acadianps ([link removed]) , America’s public lands are ideal places for watching celestial wonders!
Photo by Brad Sutton / @nationalparkservice ([link removed])
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