In the Rockies today, the Los Angeles Times continues its series on the escalating costs of fighting wildfires, and this component delves into development in the wildland-urban interface as a contributing factor.
A story in the Billings Gazette today about an Idaho man who lost his home to wildfire two years ago and the family cabin in Montana to the Cascade Fire burning now in that state provides further evidence of the cost of living in the woods.
Also so in the news, Utah begins to map its renewable energy resources and what changes will be needed in its transmission grid to accommodate new electricity generated by those resources.
And in Colorado, the state reclamation division is sealing off abandoned mines near Silverton to protect hikers and off-road vehicle riders from hidden danger.
Rockies today
Wildland-urban development drives up cost of wildfires in the West
An analysis done by the U.S. Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin found that, between 1990 and 2000, 61 percent of the homes built in Oregon, Washington and California--more than 1 million all told, were built in the wildland-urban interface, and according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, nearly 40 percent of the state's more than 12 million homes are on lands that are extremely fire prone. Another in a series.
Los Angeles Times; July 31
Group begins to map out Utah's renewable-energy resources
A group of 20 representatives from the Utah state government, utility companies and advocacy groups set to work on Wednesday to map out areas of the state that show the greatest potential for development of solar, wind or geothermal power and what transmission needs will be if such resources are developed.
Salt Lake Tribune; July 31
Colorado seals off 20 mines to protect hikers, ATV riders
The Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety are sealing off 3 mine shafts and 17 entrances to mines to protect visitors to the Little Great Basin near Silverton from the hazards those remains of long-ago activity present.
Durango Herald; July 31
Utah's innovative bridge renovation work invites national attention
Utah's fast-track method used to replace 20 highway bridges this year by building components off-site and sliding the fixes into place using skids made of African ironwood greased up with dish soap, has invited the attention of highway builders from around the nation, and even the filming of a segment for National Geographic Channel's the "World's Toughest Fixes."
Salt Lake Tribune (AP); July 31
State officials, environmental group spar over Colorado roadless plan
At a hearing before the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee on Wednesday, Colorado officials said the state believed its plan for managing 4.4 million acres of federal roadless lands protected those areas, but the acting director of Environment Colorado said the public comment process is moving too quickly, and said Idaho's plan got 16 events, while only eight are scheduled in Colorado.
Denver Post; July 31
Opinion
Partnership to combat illegal dumping in New Mexico a fine idea
Folks who dump their old washing machines, tires and garbage in New Mexico don't much care whose land they're dumping it on, and a coalition of federal, state, city and private groups are taking a unified approach to combat the problem which costs taxpayers about $6 million each year in New Mexico, a sound idea since a unified front will more likely succeed. You may have to view an ad to read this article.
Albuquerque Journal; July 31
Beyond the region
Exxon Mobil posts record-breaking $11.68-billion profit
The second quarter of this year was very good for Exxon Mobil and the stockholders of the world's largest publicly traded oil company, as it reported a record-breaking $11.68 billion in profits.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (AP); July 31
Royal Dutch Shell's profits up $3B from last year
High oil prices helped propel profits at Royal Dutch Shell during the second quarter of this year to another record, $11.6 billion, up from $8.67 billion reported in the second quarter of 2007.
Los Angeles Times; July 31
Public's buy-in makes Calif. water recycling project unique
Orange County's $480 million Groundwater Replenishment System that turns treated wastewater into purified drinking water isn't thoroughly unique, as communities other than the California county have similar projects that have been in operation for some time, but the lack of opposition by the public to the system has intrigued officials from other communities.
Christian Science Monitor; July 31
Mop-up phase begins on Washington state wildfire
The Cold Springs Wildfire burned across nearly 7,800 acres in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and on the Yakama reservation in Washington state, and with mop-up operations expected to continue until September, the cost of fighting the wildfire, already at $9.4 million, is expected to increase.
Yakima Herald; July 31
In depth
Yellowstone Park fire forces closure of Grand Loop Road
The LeHardy Fire, which was caused by a downed powerline that has burned 600 acres in Yellowstone National Park, is just the third wildfire reported this year in the park.
Billings Gazette and Associated Press; July 31
Boy Scouts lend a hand on Wyoming wildfire
About 1,000 members of the Boy Scouts of America who are working on forest restoration projects in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, took a break from that work to lend a hand on the New Fork Lakes fire north of Pinedale, which grew to about 2,000 acres on Wednesday; the Gunbarrel Fire, had burned across more than 4,000 acres west of Cody.
Casper Star-Tribune; July 31
Crews have fire on Montana wildlife refuge nearly contained
A wildfire that has burned about 300 acres in the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in Montana is about 75 percent contained, and crews anticipate the fire will be fully contained by tomorrow.
Great Falls Tribune; July 31
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