WASHINGTON — A Montana expert testified Thursday that climate change will increase and intensify wildfires, while members of Congress and U.S. Forest Service officials grappled with how to pay for the increased costs of fire suppression Story: Professor: Fires in West will worsen. By Noelle Straub. Casper Star-Tribune Washington bureau. This should be obvious, but…
This is hardly the first time this has been discussed, but this article goes into detail about what may be the new summer reality in Idaho and other Rocky Mountain states. I have found the good time for outdoor recreation is May and June, not July to mid-Sept (too much smoke). Folks will need to…
Yesterday begreen made a detailed post here about the U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing on wildfires in Las Vegas. Here is the first article I found about the testimony. Climate Change Likely to Increase Fires from Invasive weeds. Associated Press. By Kathleen Hennessey. Related story. Sagebrush recovery efforts under way. By Emily Simnitt. Idaho Statesman. Cheatgrass…
The Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee is holding a hearing in Las Vegas today ~ Thursday, October 11 ~ to discuss threats to the Great Basin. From what I gather, fire and cheatgrass will be highlighted on the agenda. Subscription only article from E & E : The Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee…
There is an important story in the WWP blog. Idaho’s one kinda moderate member of Congress (Rep. Mike Simpson, 2nd district) is stepping in to fill Craig’s stance on grazing and wildfires.
Money is coming to “rehabilitate” the vast acreage burned by the Murphy fire. Unfortunately, it will not all be native seed and they want to build a lot of “temporary” fences. These temporary fences turn out almost always to be permanent to the detriment of wildlife. Story in the Times News. BLM approves $23M to…
Despite the huge wildfires this year in Idaho and Montana, very few homes have been lost. The fire fighters are getting better and better and protecting structures, but it costs a huge, and rapidly growing amount of money. Other people pay for this in terms of reduced forest management due to the exhaustion of funds…
George Wuerthner, who wrote the essay below, is the editor of Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy published by Island Press. He has 33 other books on natural history and ecological topics. This essay is a reflection on the current fire season compared to the past and what should be done. Wildfires in the…
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan’s Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of “Hiking Idaho.” He also wrote “Beyond the Tetons” and “Backpacking Wyoming’s Teton and Washakie Wilderness.” He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.