** December, in brief
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Americans are hungry for new places to recreate outdoors and want to see Western lands protected. Unfortunately, the rate of congressional land protections has slowed over the past decade ([link removed]) .


** Key news from December
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* At the conclusion of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada, almost 200 countries reached an agreement ([link removed]) to protect 30 percent of the planet by 2030 in hopes of preventing irrecoverable biodiversity loss and catastrophic ecosystem collapse. The 30x30 pledge is in line with the Biden administration's America the Beautiful Initiative ([link removed]) , which set the goal of conserving 30 percent of the nation's lands and waters by 2030.

* The Senate will not have sufficient time left in the session to confirm Laura Daniel-Davis as the Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management ([link removed]) . Daniel-Davis has been waiting more than 500 days for confirmation, having endured two full confirmation hearings before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. When Congress returns in 2023, President Joe Biden will have to nominate Daniel-Davis for a third time or choose a new nominee for the position. Earlier this month, over 100 women who have worked with Daniel-Davis ([link removed]) throughout her career called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring her nomination up for a vote in the Senate before the end of the year, when her nomination expires.
([link removed])

* At the annual Colorado River Water Users Conference, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was broad agreement that the river is in crisis but no agreement yet as to what to do about it. Meanwhile, between overallocation of the river's water and an ongoing drought, reservoirs continue to shrink. Federal officials now warn ([link removed]) that in two years, Lake Mead could reach "dead pool"—a water level so low that water will no longer flow past Hoover Dam to users downstream. Despite the widely-acknowledged seriousness of the situation, negotiators have not yet come to a voluntary agreement that would make meaningful cuts to water use. If water managers from across the Colorado River Basin cannot reach an agreement, the federal government may impose ([link removed]) drastic and mandatory cuts.

* The number two official at the Bureau of Land Management told Congress that the agency supports a bill to protect the Dolores River ([link removed]) and surrounding landscape in southwest Colorado. The legislation would protect more than 68,000 areas of public lands, including 45,000 acres of BLM-managed lands and 15,000 acres of national forest. Nada Wolff Culver, BLM's deputy director of policy and programs, testified during a committee hearing for the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act ([link removed]) . The bill is backed by Democratic senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper in the Senate, and all three of Colorado's Republican representatives, Lauren Boebert, Doug Lamborn, and Ken Buck, introduced identical legislation in the House
([link removed]) .

* Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's attempt to build a makeshift wall out of shipping containers on national public land came to an abrupt halt ([link removed]) , leaving a trail of environmental destruction and traffic snarls in its wake. The about-face came as the federal government sued the state ([link removed]) over Ducey's stunt, and after around 20 protesters started camping in front of the wall ([link removed]) , which was located in the Coronado National Forest. Ducey had said he planned to spend $95 million in taxpayer money to set up 3,000 shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County.


** What to watch for in January:
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* Will President Biden re-nominate Laura Daniel-Davis as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management?
* When will President Biden follow up on his commitment to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument?
* Will President Biden designate Texas' Castner Range as a national monument?

From the Center for Western Priorities:


** Americans to Biden: Think bigger, create more national monuments
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On the heels of President Biden's pledge ([link removed]) to designate Avi Kwa Ame as America's next national monument, the Center for Western Priorities released a new ad ([link removed]) encouraging the president to keep up the momentum and create more national monuments in order to achieve his goal of protecting 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030.

The ad, "Future Lands ([link removed]) ," ran on MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN in Washington, DC, Wilmington, Denver, Albuquerque and Reno. It recognized President Biden's progress so far, which includes his designation of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.

“This ad was inspired by Americans’ passion for more protected spaces, which we hear about all the time in the West,” said CWP Executive Director Jennifer Rokala. “We know that conservation is popular with voters on both sides of the aisle. Now is the time for President Biden to capitalize on the momentum he generated from Camp Hale with more national monument wins.”

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** It’s time for President Biden to go big on public land protections ([link removed])
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** Americans are hungry for new places to recreate outdoors and want to see Western lands protected.
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[link removed]

Aaron and Kate talk to Drew McConville and Sam Zeno ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress about their new report ([link removed]) , which identifies the top 8 actions Biden can take to meet his America the Beautiful goal of protecting 30 percent of American lands and waters by 2030.
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Renowned nature photographer Pete McBride joins Aaron and CWP’s Director of Campaigns and Special Projects Lauren Bogard on the Landscape ([link removed]) to discuss his work documenting the Colorado River.
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Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala and CWP Director of Campaigns and Special Projects Lauren Bogard join Aaron and Kate to go over the past year in public lands ([link removed]) . From the passage of the largest climate bill in U.S. history (which includes major oil and gas leasing reforms) to a new national monument to the launch of a new conservation funding program, 2022 was a big year for public lands. The CWP team talks about what all of these developments mean and how they will continue playing out in 2023.
Best Reads of the Month


** Officials fear 'complete doomsday scenario' for drought-stricken Colorado River as Compact turns 100
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** The fight for Castner Range National Monument in Texas
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The New Yorker ([link removed])


** Opinion: Voters have spoken—protect land and climate
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])


** Prioritizing equitable access supports biodiversity and climate goals
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Hispanic Access Foundation ([link removed])


** Anti-Bears Ears activists live on public land rent-free
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** The time is right to ban uranium mining in the Grand Canyon. But the Senate needs to hurry
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Grist ([link removed])


** We're still here: What it means to be a Native American working for the National Park Service
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National Parks Conservation Association ([link removed])


** Communities, Tribes have seen historic funding for conservation during Biden administration
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Center for American Progress ([link removed])
Quote of the month


** “A monument designation for Avi Kwa Ame... allows us to fight climate change through conservation, protect critical wildlife habitat and species that depend on it, support local economies and quality of life, and, above all, honor Indigenous culture and history. At last month’s summit, Biden promised “respect” to Indigenous people and tribal nations — respect for tribal sovereignty, respect for tribal consultation in federal decision-making, and respect for Indigenous knowledge. The designation of this monument would be a tremendous example of fulfilling that promise.”
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** —Timothy Williams ([link removed]) , Chairman of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Nevada, Arizona and California
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Picture this
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** @nationalparkservice ([link removed])
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Snow your roll…

Slow down, there. Pace yourself. Snow rollers, also known as "snow bales," "wind snowballs," or "snow donuts," are the cold weather equivalent of tumbleweeds. They form when wind pushes snow across the ground, gathering it into a hollow cylinder, some might say, donuts? (Mmm…Donuts!) Larger snow rollers can be a few inches wide and travel a couple feet, leaving behind long trails in their wake.

Image: Several snow rollers form at @yellowstonenps ([link removed]) during a previous winter.

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