Amid Historic Drought, a New Water War in the West
A drought crisis has erupted in the Klamath Basin along the California-Oregon border, with fish dying en masse and farmers infuriated that they have been cut off from their main…
Read More...Alta Live: Ranchers Fighting Climate Change
Kent Reeves is part of a movement to fight climate change by repairing California’s native grasslands, provided he can rope his fellow ranchers and their cattle into the plan. Reeves and Alta…
Read More...Grim western fire season starts much drier than record 2020
As bad as last year’s record-shattering fire season was, the western U.S. starts this year’s in even worse shape. The soil in the West is record dry for this time…
Read More...Wildfires threaten river networks in the western U.S.
A new study conducted by researchers from The University of New Mexico has found that wildfires—which have been increasing in frequency, severity and extent around the globe—are one of the…
Read More...Climate change could give biochar a boost with farmers
(Subscription) Will 2021 be the year that biochar finally catches fire? Proponents of the charcoal-like material that’s made from trees and other plants say they hope so, as research continues…
Read More...Communicating about climate requires more than facts
Research can inform people to take appropriate action to solve problems, but effectively communicating is key. Faith Kearns, who works on emotional and contentious water-related issues such as climate change,…
Read More...As the West Faces a Drought Emergency, Some Ranchers are Restoring Grasslands to Build Water Reserves
In the face of ongoing drought, western ranchers are restoring diverse, grassland ecosystem practices that can improve the land’s capacity to hold water—and help them hold onto more cattle. Will…
Read More...Climate change may be causing an early start to fire season in the West, experts say
Severe drought during the winter is leading to matchbox conditions in the West. Drought conditions from California to Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico have been so bad that officials began…
Read More...Study shows grasslands are more reliable carbon sinks than forests
A study has found that increased drought and wildfire risk make grasslands and rangelands a more reliable carbon sink than trees in 21st century California. As such, the study indicates…
Read More...Westerners react to ‘America the Beautiful’ 30×30 conservation plan
Despite being called a “federal land grab” by at least one legislator on the far right, landowners from across the West gathered with leaders in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife…
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