** National monument proposed for area near Oregon's Painted Hills
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Thursday, November 4, 2021
The painted hills of the Sutton Mountain Wilderness Study Area in central Oregon | B ([link removed]) ob Wick, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])

Yesterday, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced new legislation to protect an area surrounding Central Oregon's Painted Hills as part of a new Sutton Mountain National Monument ([link removed]) . The monument, which has previously been the center of efforts to create a federal wilderness, would include several popular recreation sites.

The monument designation would prevent future mining claims within the boundary, while promoting management to reduce fire risk, increase recreational access, and allow continued livestock grazing ([link removed]) . Senator Merkley said ([link removed]) , “With this legislation, we’ll make sure the public will be able to experience some of Oregon’s most incredible landmarks for generations to come, while also creating jobs and economic opportunities in the county right now.”

Research has found ([link removed]) that national monuments are beneficial to local economies and often increase the number of businesses and jobs in nearby communities. Another study ([link removed]) of 17 Western national monuments found that local economies expanded following monument designation, and found growth in economic indicators such as population, employment, personal income, and per-capita income.

At the same time, protecting America's special places is incredibly popular. 86% of voters ([link removed]) in the United States support President Biden's bold conservation goal of protecting 30% of America's lands and waters by 2030. 84% ([link removed]) of Westerners support creating new protected areas such as national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, and tribal protected areas, while 77% ([link removed]) of Westerners support restoring national monument protections to lands in the West. Many national monuments have become the country’s most celebrated national parks, including Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Acadia, and Olympic National Parks.

The time to protect more lands is now, and there are awe-inspiring outdoor places worthy of further protection all over the country. Some of those iconic landscapes include the Castner Range, Owyhee Canyonlands, and Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) ([link removed]) , along with Sutton Mountain near Central Oregon's Painted Hills.
Quick hits


** Colorado oil and gas regulators dial back rules that keep industry from sticking taxpayers with bill for orphan wells
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Drought stops agency from flooding Grand Canyon to restore beaches as Colorado pushes for new rules to measure water use
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Colorado Sun ([link removed]) [Grand Canyon] | Colorado Public Radio ([link removed]) [Measuring water use]


** Climate anxiety: Feeling hopeless, not wanting to have kids. What can you do about it?
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USA Today Network ([link removed]) | Inverse ([link removed]) [PTSD in wildfire country]


** Private conservation in Eastern Idaho to protect 2,500 acres, wildlife habitat
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Post Register ([link removed])


** Surrendering nature to politics: Are US national parks in retreat?
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Mountain Journal ([link removed])


** California senators request wildlife crossings, signal increased awareness of habitat connectivity needs
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Sacramento Bee ([link removed])


** Utah’s coal miners are becoming extinct. Is there a greener future for them?
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Opinion: Montana public land management should reflect the importance of hunting, fishing, outdoor recreation instead of outdated oil and gas leasing
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Independent Record ([link removed])
Quote of the day
At this point, why have any financial assurances at all? Why not just buy them each a pony and call it a day?... [The commission should] take this second draft and throw it in a lake of fire.”

—Kate Merlin, an attorney for WildEarth Guardians on a revised plan from Colorado oil and gas regulators, C ([link removed]) olorado Sun ([link removed])
Picture this


** @U ([link removed]) SFWSRefuges ([link removed])
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Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is an ideal setting for winter birdwatching. More than 400 bird species, including the painted bunting, have been seen on the refuge just north of the Texas-Mexico border. [link removed]
Camera: Darrell Cochran

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