In the Rockies today, wolves in Wyoming and Montana, and brucellosis in Wyoming are in the news.
Both Wyoming and Montana are working on wolf-hunt regulations, and on Thursday, the Montana wildlife commission proposed a limit of 75 wolves to be taken during this fall's hunting season.
That quota, which represents about 18 percent of the state's population, won't be set until August.
At a meeting in Jackson on Wednesday, Wyoming's wolf specialist said that state is going to take is slow this year on wolf hunts, allowing 25 to be taken in the northwest quarter of the state.
And just days after another case of brucellosis was reported in Montana, now Wyoming officials fear they have another case on their hands as well.
The state veterinarian says two young adult cows tested positive for exposure to brucellosis, but confirmation that the animals may have actually contracted the disease won't be forthcoming for a couple of weeks.
Today in Headwaters News' A Look Ahead, we offer readers a preview of the U.S. Geological Survey's Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds (ICRW) in Colorado in September.
The early registration deadline for the conference which begins Sept. 8 in Estes Park is June 20, so register now.
Rockies today
Wyoming to start slow on wolf hunt
At a meeting in Jackson on Wednesday, Wyoming Game and Fish Department wolf program coordinator Mike Jimenez laid out the details of the state's first wolf hunt, which bases hunting quotas on 35 percent of the state's wolf population being removed by any means, i.e., hunting, illegal kills or control actions.
Jackson Hole News & Guide; June 13
Montana panel endorses wolf hunt limit of 75 per year
At a meeting on Thursday, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission proposed a 75-wolf limit for the state's fall hunt, but the commission won't make a final decision on that quota until August.
Helena Independent Record; June 13
Wyoming state veterinarian suspects Daniel cattle had brucellosis
Walter Cook, Wyoming's state veterinarian, said preliminary blood tests on two young adult cows from a herd in the Daniel area indicated that the animals had been exposed to brucellosis, although a definite diagnosis won't be made until tissue tests are completed within the next couple of weeks.
Jackson Hole News & Guide; June 13
BLM says it will use Wyoming strategy on sage grouse
Wyoming's sage grouse policy focuses on protecting core populations in strategic areas, while still allowing energy development and other activities, a model the Bureau of Land Management said it intends to follow on federal land in the state.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); June 13
Colorado wildfire scorches 42,000 acres
A wildfire believed to be sparked by lightning Wednesday on the Army's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site had burned 42,000 acres by Thursday evening, but firefighters successfully beat back the flames that had threatened eight ranches.
Denver Post; June 13
Group says Grand Canyon flooding efforts need more study
Grand Canyon Superintendent Steve Martin's statements that manmade floods need to be done about every year or so to remove sediments to restore the Colorado River's ecosystem below Glen Canyon Dam appear to be in conflict with the Interior Department's position that the benefit of such floods is so questionable that there are no plans to regularize the releases, a position one watchdog group said proves that the Interior Dept. is putting power generation concerns over environmental needs.
Arizona Daily Sun (AP); June 12
Montana senator wants review of Plum Creek, USFS road talks
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said he's talked with Mark Rey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary with whom Plum Creek officials have had discussions about road easements in Montana, about having a federal oversight panel determine if those talks should have been public.
Missoulian; June 13
Opinion
Ranchers have only themselves to blame for brucellosis
If ranchers in the Greater Yellowstone Area want to get rid of brucellosis, they need to get rid of Wyoming's feedgrounds which raises the concentration of the infection to about 30 percent of the animals.
NewWest.net; June 13
Guest column:
Nation's policy on horse slaughter needs a dose of common sense
The folks who fought hard to end the slaughter of horses in the? United States probably never asked themselves, "Then what?"--and surely never imagined the consequence of people abandoning horses on public lands, left to fend for themselves, after their owners could no longer feed them.
John A. Baden, Foundation for Research on Economics & the Environment; June 13
Beyond the region
Fate of Asarco's environmental cleanup duties in judge's hands
The federal court trial of bankrupt Tucson copper producer Asarco LLC against Grupo Mexico, the conglomerate that purchased Asarco in 1999 but lost day-to-day control of the company in 2005, has now ended, and the decision issued by U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen may make billions of dollars of difference on Asarco's environmental cleanup obligations.
Arizona Republic; June 13
University of Washington to have College of Environment
The University of Washington Board of Regents voted unanimously Thursday to create a College of Environment, which will bring together six academic units from other colleges under one roof.
Seattle Times; June 13
Exxon Mobil to sell all its gas stations
Exxon Mobil officials announced Thursday the company will follow the industry trend and sell its retail gasoline outlets, although stations that sell Exxon's products will retain its tiger-themed logo.
Denver Post (AP); June 13
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