Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Megadrought leaves the West with a water crisis
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, August 5, 2022
Lake Powell is currently at 27% capacity. B ([link removed]) ureau of Reclamation Flickr ([link removed]) .
While about 50% of the country ([link removed]) is experiencing some level of drought, this is nothing new to Western states which are in the midst of a 22-year megadrought ([link removed]) . Decreasing water supply—in addition to extreme heat ([link removed]) and wildfire ([link removed]) —is one of the most alarming results of the historic drought. Precipitation of all kinds has decreased, but Bloomberg News ([link removed]) reports that the massive drop in snowmelt is particularly threatening to the water supply. The West’s mountain snowpacks have shrunk an average of 23% ([link removed]) between 1955 and 2022.
“Much of our water system has been built assuming we’re going to have that snowpack available in a consistent way. Now, that’s shifting,” said Andrew Schwartz, manager of the Central Sierra Snow Lab. ([link removed])
Water levels are currently low enough that reservoirs along the Colorado River are in danger ([link removed]) of no longer being able to produce hydropower or supply water to the seven states that rely on them. Lake Powell, for instance, is ([link removed]) currently at 27% capacity ([link removed]) and will likely drop below the minimum elevation needed to produce hydropower within the next year.
There is no one solution to this issue, and it will require both policymakers and individual residents to recognize that the water system in the West is no longer working.
** Nevada landowners plan to demolish dam at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
------------------------------------------------------------
Private landowners ignored warnings ([link removed]) from the Fish and Wildlife Service and began to destroy an earthen dam in a Nevada wildlife refuge in order to restore a stream on their property. The landowners, who claim they have a right to the water, have a history of disputes ([link removed]) with the federal government. Despite issuing warnings, FWS has yet to intervene, and the landowners say they plan to continue with the demolition. Anti-government activist Pete Santilli, who participated in the Bundy standoff, interviewed one of the landowners and threatened FWS officials, “Don’t make me come back out there. Because I’ll come with Jesus next time.”
Quick hits
** Sinema, Democratic leaders reach deal on changes to health, climate bill
------------------------------------------------------------
Washington Post ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | Politico ([link removed]) | Reuters ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | Axios ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed])
** A new biography resurrects a Western conservation writer
------------------------------------------------------------
High Country News ([link removed])
** Canada lynx protections to get a fresh look
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Report seeks better protections for cultural heritage sites like Chaco, Mesa Verde from oil and gas
------------------------------------------------------------
NM Political Report ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** White House launches Environmental Justice Scorecard
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Forest Service OKs Vail Resorts plan to restore Keystone tundra
------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Court rejects BLM mining plan in the Powder River Basin
------------------------------------------------------------
The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Nevada landowners say they’ve begun razing wildlife refuge dam
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” Our national parks are being adversely affected by ongoing oil and gas leasing and drilling on adjacent lands. The Bureau of Land Management has allowed the industry to lease land right up to the doorstep of many park boundaries, threatening priceless heritage, wildlife, and our public lands.”
—Michael Murray, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, New Mexico Political Report ([link removed])
Picture this
[link removed]
** @Interior ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Today marks the second anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. This landmark conservation law provides resources for maintaining critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and @BureauIndianEdu ([link removed]) schools.
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
