Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** The West is headed for a bad fire season, federal funding could help
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Wednesday April 13, 2022
Forest fire in Umatilla National Forest, July 2021, Brendan O'Reilly/Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
Wildfire ripped through New Mexico ([link removed]) and Colorado ([link removed]) this week damaging structures, forcing evacuations and closing roads, as Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and National Forest Service Chief Randy Moore traveled to Boulder to announce federal funding to fight wildfires. Moore announced $131 million ([link removed]) will go to 10 Western states to start work on wildfire mitigation efforts, while Haaland focused on $5 billion ([link removed]) that will help bolster the federal fire response
over the next 5 years. The trip is part of a nationwide tour ([link removed]) by White House officials to tout funding for rural America that passed in the infrastructure act.
Colorado is expected to receive over $33 million ([link removed]) in funding—with $18 million going toward treating up to 10,000 acres ([link removed]) across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the Pike-San Isabel National Forests. The $5 billion announced by Haaland will help the firefighters contend with extended fire seasons ([link removed]) , extreme weather, and fires that strain staffing and resources.
The announcement comes as Western states head into late spring and early summer with below-normal snowpack ([link removed]) levels, setting them up for a bad wildfire season. Typically, Western states see a moisture boost from melting snow in the Rocky Mountains, Wasatch Mountains and other mountain ranges. However, USDA and NOAA scientists are pessimistic about snowmelt bringing significant moisture this year. ([link removed])
Quick hits
** Study: California could shrink water use in cities by 30 percent or more
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Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
** Mining lobby doubles spending as Congress focuses on 1872 law
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Roll Call ([link removed])
** BLM begins analysis of proposed large scale solar project in Nevada
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E&E News ([link removed])
** White House launches $1 billion conservation grant program
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Huff Post ([link removed]) | EcoWatch ([link removed])
** Recently-discovered Nevada toad gets rare emergency protection
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High Country News ([link removed])
** Survey finds U.S. Park Police feel unsupported by Interior Department
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Feds aid sage grouse and pronghorn, but courts allow development
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WyoFile ([link removed])
** Youth sue State of Montana over its support of fossil fuels
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The Guardian ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” What remains most inspiring is that he never faltered in his persistence and optimism. Despite his position on the front lines of conservation—witnessing ecosystem loss, unsustainable development, and political challenges like rollbacks firsthand—he remained steadfast in his belief that a better way forward is possible.”
—Rachel Kroner on her PhD advisor and the scientist who coined the term "biodiversity," Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, The Revelator ([link removed])
Picture this
** @I ([link removed]) nterior ([link removed])
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A spectacular meeting of land and sea!
Photo at King Range National Conservation Area by @BLMNational ([link removed])
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