As overpopulation and climate change diminish water supplies in the West, Oregon irrigation districts are looking at innovation to stop water loss from irrigation ditches…
From grist.org: https://grist.org/parched/ oasis civilization, limits to supply of water, wasteful irrigation ditches, "drought"
A good read here on how our flooding in June exacerbated Montana’s affordable housing crisis, featuring Carbon County’s Fromberg (Gov. Gianforte might do well to read it)…
From High Country News: https://www.hcn.org/articles/north-housing-when-a-housing-crisis-meets-a-megaflood? man-caused climate change, workforce housing, absent state leadership, Livingston, Clark's Fork, Red Lodge
Good news about “agrisolar” and how solar panels and agriculture can work hand in hand…
From IndyStar: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2022/09/13/purdue-leading-research-to-grow-solar-and-crops-together-in-corn-belt/66843196007/ farming, ranching, renewables, dual use of land, climate change, extra income
This year’s floods in the region would have been more devastating and toxic if environmentalists had not demanded reclamation and clean up of mine sites (though it shouldn’t be paid for at taxpayer expense)…
From the Casper Star Tribune: https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/june-yellowstone-flood-could-have-been-worse-if-not-for-mining-cleanup/article_e17fe53d-9cbc-5716-87e5-6ac1a03b13e2.html#tracking-source=home-top-story Superfund, adequate bonding levels crucial, hold mining corporations accountable, mining, EPA, DEQ
From our Man-caused climate change section: climate change is wreaking havoc with an unprecedented drought in the American southwest…
From The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/12/us-west-megadrought-climate-disaster? global warming, drought in the West, drought in Montana, water wars, whiskey's for drinking, water's for fighting
Overtourism is not just a global problem, it has arrived in Montana and the rest of the West…
From The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/20/national-parks-america-overcrowding-crisis-tourism-visitation-solutions Information from Montana Public Radio: https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2022-03-23/most-montanans-think-tourism-is-overcrowding-the-state-survey-says From responsibletourismpartnership.org: https://responsibletourismpartnership.org/overtourism/ adverse experience for both tourists and locals, environmental degradation, decreased quality of...
From our Media failure section: both KPVI and the Billings Gazette have a story on “drought conditions in the upper Missouri River Basin,” with no mention of man-caused climate change…
From KPVI: https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/drought-conditions-worsen-across-upper-missouri-river-basin/article_2af7b8c5-f045-5dcb-9038-a7121d2419d9.html why afraid to report the truth, an inconvenient truth, global warming
Good news: coal, after a dying gasp last year, is again in decline, while renewables continue their surge and now make up 1/4 of our nation’s electricity generating capacity…
And while you can have solar panels on your roof, representing true energy independence, you can't have a fossil fuels plant in your backyard.
Good news: the Red Lodge City Council supports keeping flood prone areas free of buildings, which not only makes long-term financial and environmental sense but has the bonus of creating green spaces for residents and tourists alike…
flooding more expensive when homes and infrastructure present, green spaces improve quality of life and attract tourists
Relevant to our region, and whether to rebuild or how to rebuild after a flood, Grist offers a new report on the cost of buying a previously flooded home…
From Grist: https://grist.org/climate/new-report-quantifies-the-costs-of-buying-a-home-that-has-previously-flooded/ Red Lodge, Gardiner, Cooke City, Yellowstone, climate change, Fromberg