Environews, Regulars and Shorts

Environews: Bear River dam permit denied

By Amy Brunvand

The federal government has recommended denial of a permit for a 109-ft.-tall hydroelectric dam on the Bear River in Idaho.

–by Amy Brunvand

That’s good news for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem (and Ski Utah as well) since Bear River is the largest tributary to the lake. Great Salt Lake is currently at record low levels, and Utah’s snow pack (our drinking water) and ski industry depend on lake-effect snow.

Bearrivermap

More November Environews:

Tim DeChristopher calls for end to public lands oil leasing

Climate justice activist Tim DeChris­topher, who famously went to prison for protesting oil and gas leasing in Utah in December 2008, has become the public face of a coalition of activists who are calling on President Obama to end all new fossil fuel leasing on public lands

Sage grouse decision sparks political tantrums

This fall, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced a landmark decision not to put sage grouse on the Endan­gered Species List because collaborative conser­vation efforts by federal and state agencies and private landowners seem to be working. The success of these efforts should be something to celebrate.Ski resorts demand climate change action

Ski Utah, the marketing arm of the Utah Ski & Snowboard Association, is getting worried about the effects of climate change

Bishop kills Land and Water Conservation Fund

Utah Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT-1) used his position as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources to kill off the Land and Water Conser­vation Fund (LWCF), a popular conservation program that uses money from offshore oil and gas leases to purchase new public land for conservation and recreation

Neighborhood byway through Liberty Park 

Construction is underway to turn 600 East through Liberty Park into a “Neighborhood Byway,” also known as a bicycle boulevards

 

This article was originally published on November 5, 2015.