Environment

The invasive rusty crayfish was discovered in Lake Granby, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is concerned because of its proximity to the Colorado River.

Cities throughout the Colorado River basin are looking to stretch out their existing water supplies in the face of climate change and steady demand. Some are turning to direct potable reuse, which treats wastewater until it's clean enough to drink.

Fall means it’s hunting season for many residents in our region. One popular way to hunt and fish is to lease land from private property owners for a more one-of-a-kind experience, and technology is changing the way people find these opportunities.

The public comment period for a proposed BLM rule on oil and gas leasing ends this Friday. Among other changes, the proposal would increase bonding requirements for cleanup costs and increase royalty rates.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a serious issue in bodies of water across the West. In Idaho, USGS scientists have developed a tool that harnesses satellites to help detect where such blooms could be cropping up. That could make time- and resource-intensive detection efforts more efficient.

The U.S. Forest Service is spending nearly $19 million to fight invasive species threatening the nation’s forests, including several in the Mountain West.

The BLM is exploring two new revised plans, both would close a much larger proportion of land in Western Colorado to oil and gas leasing than its originally approved plan, set to go into effect in 2024. The BLM is seeking feedback from the public through public meetings and its website.

A recent U.S. House hearing that centered on a relatively unknown segment of federal energy policy quickly evolved into a discussion on how much the government should prioritize mining.

A group led by the Interior Department has released recommendations to reform mining practices on public lands.

Wildlife biologists in Utah are trying to bolster the state's population of roundtail chub, a fish endemic to the Colorado River system. The fish is listed as a sensitive species in Utah due to habitat loss and competition with invasive species.