Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Largest “land back” deal in California history complete
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Monday, June 16, 2025
Estuary of the Klamath River; Linda Tanner/Flickr ([link removed])
The Yurok Tribe has regained ownership ([link removed]) of over 47,000 acres of its ancestral territory along the Klamath River, in the largest “land back” deal in California history.
The effort was spearheaded by Western Rivers Conservancy and began 23 years ago. The forest lands returned to the Tribe once contained ancient redwoods but were heavily logged over the past century. Tribal leaders say they will restore ([link removed]) the forest and improve a watershed that is vital for salmon.
The completion of the “land back” effort coincides with last year's removal of four dams upstream on the Klamath, which enabled salmon to reach spawning areas that had been inaccessible for more than a century.
“We are salmon people,” said Joseph L. James ([link removed]) , chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The river takes care of us, and it’s our job to take care of the river.”
What the monument DOJ opinion really means
President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice released an opinion last week ([link removed]) stating that the Antiquities Act gives presidents the power to shrink or eliminate national monuments. What does that mean, for example, if President Trump tries to undo Chuckwalla National Monument or shrink Bears Ears? Will the opinion stand up in court? Kate and Aaron put these questions and more to John Leshy, professor at UC Law and former Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Clinton, in the latest episode of the Center for Western Priorities' podcast ([link removed]) , The Landscape.
** Quick hits
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Maroon Bells lack water, electricity, and toilets due to budget cuts, staff shortages
Aspen Times ([link removed])
How Senate plan to sell off public lands could affect your state
Nevada Independent ([link removed]) [NV] | Vail Daily ([link removed]) [CO] | Denver7 ([link removed]) [CO] | KTVB7 ([link removed]) [ID] | WyoFile ([link removed]) [WY] | OPB ([link removed]) [OR] | Idaho Statesman ([link removed]) [ID]
Trump to axe power plant emission rules, a potential boon for Wyoming coal
WyoFile ([link removed])
Montanans react to Senate proposal to sell federal land in other Western states
Missoula Current ([link removed])
Proposed gold mine threatens to cut up remote, wild expanse of California desert
SFGate ([link removed])
Meet the controversial activist who shook up Colorado’s water world
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Signs asking national park visitors to report ‘negative’ historic information are causing concern
KUNC ([link removed])
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants your opinion about altering the Endangered Species Act
Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])
Popular Snowy Range road stays closed because nobody can figure out who owns it
Cowboy State Daily ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Don’t take the bait that this is about ‘affordable housing,’ as its proponent claims... It isn’t.”
—David Willms, associate vice president of the National Wildlife Federation, Outdoor Life ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@Interior ([link removed])
“Dad, how much farther?”
“Just around the next bend.” (It never is)
Happy Father’s Day to the dads and father figures who make every step an adventure!
Photo by Nina Mayer Ritchie
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