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In the Rockies today, wildfire, wildlife and wolves are in the news.
In the first of a series of articles about wildfires in the West, the Idaho Statesman examines six cities that had wildfires burn to their doorsteps, and just why those communities survived.
Research done by the U.S. Forest Service's top expert on how fires burn structures dispels the "wall of fire" theory that fires blaze through communities and consume everything in their path.
And on the wildlife front, Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development issued a list of recommendations designed to allow energy development in such a way that won't harm wildlife or degrade water quality.
And finally, the three states most impacted by a federal court's decision to return wolves to the endangered species list respond to that decision.
Wyoming wants to assume the same role in management that Idaho and Montana have long had; in Montana, wolves again return to their split-status role; and in Idaho, the head of one sportsmen's group said he feared frustration with the ruling may lead to an increase in illegal killing of wolves.
And in Beyond the Region, Oregon wildlife officials report that that state has a wolf pack now.
Rockies today
Study says billions of dollars wasted fighting wildfires
Cities that use "firewise" techniques have withstood fires, and research suggests that federal agencies' continued effort to beat back wildfires in remote areas is simply a waste of taxpayers' money.
Idaho Statesman; July 22
Hunting, fishing coalition urge slower pace on energy development
Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development, a coalition of conservation, hunting and fishing groups, issued a list of recommendations designed to allow energy development in the Rocky Mountain West to continue and still protect the region's wildlife and water.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); July 22
Agassi, Graf end contract for luxury hotel at Idaho resort
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, along with other investors, cited market conditions and unresolved litigation as their reasons to withdraw from a contract to buy property to build a luxury hotel at the Tamarack Resort in central Idaho.
Twin Falls Times-News (AP); July 22
Wyoming wants larger role in wolf management
Last week's court decision put the federal government back in charge of wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, and now that Wyoming has a wolf-management plan that has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state wants that agency to make it an agent to help manage wolves.
Casper Star-Tribune; July 22
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After wolf decision, Montana agencies' mission shifts
Montana officials and federal wildlife personnel said they were disappointed by the court decision that returned federal protections to wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Missoulian; July 22
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Idaho hunters frustrated by federal decision on wolves
The president of the Idaho Sportsmen's Caucus Advisory Council said he was worried that hunters will take out their frustration about a federal court decision to return wolves to the endangered species list by illegally killing wolves.
Idaho Statesman; July 22
Wyoming cheers Park Service's decision to keep Sylvan Pass open
The National Park Service announced it would keep Sylvan Pass, which leads to the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, open in the winter.
Casper Star-Tribune (AP); July 22
Opinion
It's Wyoming's fault that wolves are back on endangered list
If anyone is looking for someone to blame for last week's federal court decision to return wolves to the endangered species list, Idahoans need only look across the border to its neighbor Wyoming and its faulty management plan.
Idaho Statesman; July 22
U.S. Senate should pass FLAME act
The U.S. House passed H.R. 5541, the Federal Lands Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act or FLAME Act, which would create a fund to fight catastrophic wildfires, which would save U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management funds from cremation during particularly bad wildfire years, and the U.S. Senate should pass this worthwhile legislation, and President Bush must sign it into law. A guest column by Char Miller.
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin; July 22
The Northern Rockies are ready for wildfire season
This wildfire season could be a wild one, but the Northern Rockies Coordinating Group, of which the U.S. Forest Service is a part of, is ready, and homeowners who do their part to make their properties more firewise will aid in the effort. A guest column by Tom Tidwell, U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester for the Northern Rockies Region.
Tom Tidwell, U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester for the Northern Rockies Region.; July 22
Reasons for building pipeline from Lake Powell to Utah dwindling
If the American West gets drier, as many scientists and experts agree it will, the 100,000 acre feet of Colorado River water three Utah counties want to pipe 139 miles to help supplement water supplies may evaporate, and with the cost of the project now nearly three times originally estimated, it's time to dump this bad idea and contemplate conservation.
Salt Lake Tribune; July 22
USDA needs to give Wyoming rancher more time for brucellosis testing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's deadline for the Daniel rancher to "depopulate" his herd after some cows were found to have brucellosis is unrealistic, and given the financial cost to the Wyoming rancher and the state, the federal agency should provide some leniency on the date so testing of all cattle the infected cows may have come in contact with be completed.
Casper Star-Tribune; July 22
Beyond the region
Oregon confirms first wolf pack in a century
Russ Morgan, the wolf coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said he heard two adult wolves and two pups answer his howls in the Umatilla National Forest in northern Union County last Friday.
Spokane Spokesman-Review (AP); July 22
Scientists: Nonnative species in Columbia, Snake rivers threaten salmon
A report requested by the federal, regional and tribal groups working on dam and salmon issues in the Northwest said that hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Northwest have turned those rivers into a series of lakes that provide good habitat for nonnative fish, which eat a lot of baby salmon, pass on diseases and compete for food, all which threaten wild salmon populations.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); July 22
Oregon's solar-power sector heats up
Oregon is reportedly under consideration by at least three big solar industry companies as the location for new manufacturing facilities, which would bring hundreds of new jobs to the state.
Portland Oregonian; July 22
In depth
Montana crews hustle to contain fire near Lindbergh Lake
Montana state fire crews launched an aggressive aerial assault of a 30-acre wildfire on the southwest edge of Lindbergh Lake in the Swan Valley as the wildfire was in an area with a heavy fuel load and a pathway into the Mission Mountain wilderness area.
Missoulian; July 22
Crews contain 2 Montana wildfires
Cloud cover and light winds helped fire crews fighting the Cactus wildfire near Whitehall nearly contain the 650-acre fire and estimates are that the fire will be contained today; crews were mopping up a 100-acre wildfire north of Missoula.
Montana Standard (AP); July 22
Wildfire in Idaho's Owyhee Canyon contained
The Con Shea wildfire burned about 350 acres in Idaho's Owyhee Canyon before crews were able to contain it.
Idaho Statesman; July 22
Lightning sparks wildfire in southwestern Colorado
The House Top Mountain Fire was ignited by lightning early Monday evening about six miles southwest of Parachute, and crews said cedar trees and pinyon were fueling the fire in southwest Colorado that had grown to 150 acres by Tuesday morning.
Grand Junction Sentinel; July 22
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Wyoming nation's hot spot for uranium
BLM: Nitrate poisoning killed Nevada wild horses
Utah university fires up nuclear-engineering program
Denver's 2 largest airlines announce more job cuts
Yellowstone chief promises to work with Montana on brucellosis
Elusive grizzly bears send Montana trapper packing
GAO audit finds millions of dollars of equipment missing at IHS
N.M. congressman, U.S. Senate candidate, pushes for more drilling
Special session of N.M. Legislature set to begin Aug. 15
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Exclusively
on Headwaters:
NewVoices/NewWest:
Culture
Clash: Can the federal No Child Left Behind Act coexist with Montana's
Indian Education for All?
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Regional Conferences
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BLM public meetings on geothermal energy development:
July 22: Albuquerque, N.M., University of New Mexico, Conference Center, Room C, 1634 University N.E.
July 23: Helena, Mont.; Lewis and Clark Main Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch
July 24: Denver, Colo.; PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur Street
July 28: Seattle, Wash.; Seattle Public Library, University Branch, 5009 Roosevelt Way, N.E.
July 29: Portland, Ore.; Multnomah County Library, Central Branch, 801 SW 10th Avenue
Sept. 8-11: The U.S. Geological Survey's Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds, Estes Park, Colo. Read a preview.
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Headwaters
News is a project of the Center
for the Rocky Mountain West at the University
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