Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Interior Department invests over $10 million in wildfire resilience in Arizona
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Fire-prone buffelgrass in Saguaro National Park in Arizona, National Park Service ([link removed])

Arizona will receive over $10 million from the 2021 infrastructure law to reduce the risk of wildfires on nearly 10,000 acres of land across the state, the Interior Department announced Monday ([link removed]) . The funds will support wildfire fuel treatments, post-fire restoration, and wildfire science ([link removed]) . The funds are part of $103 million allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ([link removed]) to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate impacts, and rehabilitate burned areas. Nationwide, the law will fund wildfire mitigation projects across over two million acres of public land.

The funds will also provide support for physical and mental health resources for federal firefighters and will go towards developing a wildfire risk mapping and mitigation tool.

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau announced the investment at Saguaro National Park, where some of this funding is going towards a buffelgrass fuels reduction project ([link removed]) , a long-term project to remove the non-native grass and restore the land with native, fire-resistant species. Buffelgrass ignites easily and has fueled major wildfires in Arizona, including the Bighorn Fire in 2020 that burned 119,987 acres.

On top of treatments like prescribed burns, removing invasive and fire-prone species is a critical part of fire mitigation. Saguaro National Park superintendent Leah McGinnis says ([link removed]) about three to five years of treatment are required in an area in order to eradicate buffelgrass, and volunteers give 2,000 hours annually to removal efforts at the park. The additional investment from Interior will help fund aerial spray treatments as well as manual pulling.

“As climate change drives harsher heat waves, more volatile weather, and record drought conditions, we are seeing wildfire seasons turn to wildfire years, threatening communities, businesses, wildlife, and the environment,” Beaudreau said in a press release ([link removed]) . "We are investing in Arizona communities, advancing wildfire resilience work across the country, improving resources for the heroic firefighting workforce, and reducing the risk of wildfire.”


** Day off for Look West
------------------------------------------------------------

Don't wait for Look West tomorrow, Center for Western Priorities will be busy at a team retreat. We'll be back in your inbox on Friday!
Quick hits


** On the Colorado River, growing concern for trout and chub
------------------------------------------------------------

Associated Press ([link removed])


** Utah homes needed for 20 desert tortoises illegally removed from wild
------------------------------------------------------------

Fox13 ([link removed])


** Essay: We’re losing the luxury of a summer spent outdoors
------------------------------------------------------------

New York Times ([link removed])


** Tribal leaders urge support for bills to protect cultural, sacred sites
------------------------------------------------------------

Navajo-Hopi Observer ([link removed])


** Colorado ranchers use virtual fences that help sustain public grasslands
------------------------------------------------------------

Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Biden administration seeks public input on controversial Alaska road proposal
------------------------------------------------------------

Anchorage Daily News ([link removed])


** Yak Titʸu Titʸu Yak Tiłhini say it’s time to return Diablo Canyon lands to Indigenous hands
------------------------------------------------------------

High Country News ([link removed])


** Arizona nonprofit plans to plant 14,000 saguaros in wildfire-burned areas
------------------------------------------------------------

Arizona Republic ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” We’ve been doing this for generations, as the remnants of our sacred irrigation systems located in the conservation areas have shown. We have solutions that protect the land and address the impacts of climate on our environments.”
—Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Navajo-Hopi Observer ([link removed])
Picture this


** @KatmaiNPS ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
“Ma! Where do cubs come from?” Your kids might have tough questions, but if it’s bear related, we’ve got you! #FatBearWeek ([link removed]) in the classroom live chat is coming and we need your student questions. Submit them at [link removed] ([link removed]) by September 30. Chat premieres October 4.

============================================================
** 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])