ULTIMATE SOLUTION? Desalination May Finally Be Coming of Age in a Thirsty West

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ULTIMATE SOLUTION? Desalination may finally be coming of age in a thirsty West. Take it with a grain of salt. By Tony Davis. Page 14. November 24, 2008 24, November | $4 | | 40 Vol. www.hcn.org No. 21 EDITOR’S NOTE High Country News Peak economy

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paul Larmer EDITOR Jonathan Thompson ART DIRECTOR Cindy Wehling Just a few months ago, you could could be dragged down by the over-eagerness of SENIOR EDITOR Ray Ring walk into the local hangout in Phoenix bankers to hand out mortgages to hope- ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jodi Peterson any little Western town and hear ful homeowners. Today, copper’s selling at $1.50 ASSISTANT EDITOR Sarah Gilman the hanger-outers talk dramati- a pound. Instead of wringing our hands about ONLINE EDITOR Marty Durlin cally about “peak oil,” that long- unleashed growth, we’re worried about entire CONTRIBUTING EDITORS awaited moment when petroleum neighborhoods being abandoned in the wake of a Matt Jenkins, Michelle Nijhuis production would decline enough foreclosure epidemic. Instead of writing about WRITERS ON THE RANGE EDITOR Betsy Marston to throw the world into turmoil. Someone else the rush to gobble up minerals, we’re writing COPY EDITOR Diane Sylvain might have brought up “peak water,” too, what about the rush to the job lines. DESIGNER/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT with global warming and so many people moving When Tony Davis first delved into the murky Shaun C. Gibson to the desert. Another might mention the rush subject of desalination — this issue’s cover story DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Ryan Foster to carve more coal out of the hills to feed our — a few months ago, the economy seemed to be DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Gretchen Aston-Puckett appliances, or more copper or molybdenum to merely in a slump. Today, West Coast plans for DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Alyssa Pinkerton fuel China’s irrepressible growth. But there was desalination remain alive, but one wonders for BUSINESS MANAGER Denise Massart-Isaacson a common theme: Unlimited growth was going how long. After all, as growth slows down, so to run up against the limits of our natural will our collective thirst. FINANCIAL ADVISOR Paul Gibb resources, and economic and social calamity Ed Quillen argues in his column on page 28 CIRCULATION MANAGER Kathy Martinez would result. that the economic illness has its bright side: CIRCULATION Michelle Anderson, Christine Porter, Tammy York Today, those same hangouts are still filled The hunger for the West’s lands and resources INTERNS Andrea Appleton, Rob Inglis, with talk about economic collapse. Only now it’s may diminish somewhat. If so, those who are Emily Steinmetz not imminent, it’s happening. And lack of water, fighting for the region’s water, air and land- MARKETING AND SYNDICATION MANAGER oil or coal is not the problem. Instead, it’s credit scapes may get a break. Still, we can’t be lulled JoAnn Kalenak that has vanished. The world (or at least its into complacency by the bust. Nor should we ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER financial well-being) is indeed ending, but it’s become despondent. We have no idea how long it Sandra Jarrett-Lance ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE not with a loud resource-imploding bang. will last or how bad it will get, but one thing is Angie Riley Instead, it’s with a whimper — all that’s left clear: The “new West” is just as prone to booms SYNDICATION SALES Marla Bishop after an economic bubble pops. and busts as the old West was. In other words, a FOUNDER Tom Bell Last January, copper was selling for more new boom is probably just around the corner — than $3 a pound, and an economic development and a new bust is just around the corner after [email protected] | [email protected] [email protected] | [email protected] official in Miami, Ariz., crowed to me that the that. The West has always been a region on a resurging mining economy was insulated from roller coaster. Maybe the rest of the world is just BOARD OF DIRECTORS Annette Aguayo, economic downturns by the fact that most of the catching up to us. Albuquerque, N.M.; Bob Fulkerson, Reno, Nev.; Wayne Hare, Grand Junction, Colo.; demand came from China, where growth would John Heyneman, Flagstaff, Ariz.; never end. It didn’t occur to him that even China —Jonathan Thompson, editor Laura Hubbard, Hailey, Idaho; Daniel F. Luecke, Boulder, Colo.; Felix Magowan, Boulder, Colo.; David Nimkin, Salt Lake City, Utah; Luther Propst, Tucson, Ariz.; Susan “Tutti” Skaar, Bozeman, Mont.; Jane Ellen Stevens, Winters, Calif.; Dan Stonington, Seattle, Wash.; Luis Torres, Santa WEB ONLY www.hcn.org Cruz, N.M.; Andy Wiessner, Snowmass, Colo.; Florence Williams, Boulder, Colo. An unlikely senator goes to Washington High Democrat Jeff Merkley upsets Country Gordon Smith in Oregon, and talks News to hcn.org about his plans to “change the world.” High Country News is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) independent media organization. Our mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West’s land, air, water and Democrats rise again inhabitants, and to create what Wallace in the Rockies Stegner called “a society to match the scenery.” Why the Dems finally succeeded in (ISSN/0191/5657) is published bi-weekly, 22 times a year, by High Country News, 119 Grand Ave., Paonia, CO 81428. breaking the GOP chokehold on Periodicals, postage paid at Paonia, CO, and other post the West offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to High Country News, Box 1090, Paonia, CO 81428. 800-905-1155. Articles appearing in High Country News are indexed in Environmental Periodicals Bibliography. Can the Forest ANNA M. WEAVER All rights to publication of articles in this issue are reserved. Service get Write for permission to print articles or illustrations. Contributions (manu scripts, photos, artwork) are welcomed The Waiting Game back on track? with the understanding that the editors cannot be held A look at immigrant day laborers in Santa Fe, N.M. Recovering integrity and efficiency responsible for loss or damage. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with unsolicited submissions to ensure after Bush leaves office return. Articles and letters will be edited and published at the discretion of the editors. Subscriptions to HCN are $37 a year, $47 for institutions. “During the past decade, wildlife managers killed 58 federally protected bruins Call 800-905-1155 or see www.hcn.org. High Country News is printed with vegetable based ink in northwestern Montana. That makes biologists the biggest source on recycled paper that contains 30 percent post-con- of human-caused grizzly deaths in the region, ahead of train or car strikes (46), sumer waste, is elemental-chlorine free and is certified by The Forest Stewardship Council. illegal shooting (34), and self-defense (20).” —Jodi Peterson, “A grizzly situation,” hcn.org/blogs 2 High Country News November 24, 2008 CONTENTS

5 8 19 EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; TED WOOD; DIANE SYLVAIN

FEATURE CONTRIBUTORS

Ultimate solution? | 14 PERSPECTIVE Tony Davis is the environmental Desalination may finally be coming of age in a thirsty West. reporter for the Arizona Daily Star. Welcome to hard times | 28 Take it with a grain of salt. BY TONY DAVIS | 19 NEWS COMMENTARY BY ED QUILLEN J. Katarzyna (Kat) Woronowicz Desperate Measures immigrated to the U.S. from Poland in With water shortages a constant, Westerners are looking at wacky the 1980s. She was a (and not so wacky) ways to squeeze more water out of the sky and land. ESSAY | 29 newspaper photogra- BY JONATHAN THOMPSON Real work pher in Sedona, Ariz., before striking out as a BY ANA MARIA SPAGNA freelancer and settling in San Diego, Calif. DEPARTMENTS BOOKS | 30 Rebecca Huntington WORONOWICZ LETTERS | 4 Exodus/Éxodo by Charles Bowden is a freelance writer and Julían Cardona, based in Jackson, Wyo. REVIEWED BY DON WATERS She’s a frequent contrib- TWO WEEKS IN THE WEST| 5 PHOTOGRAPHS BY JULÍAN CARDONA utor to Wyoming Public Radio and PBS’s This On Obama’s coattails BY RAY RING American Land series. The Dem surge BY RAY RING | 7 HEARD AROUND THE WEST | 32 BY BETSY MARSTON Joslyn Green writes SPAGNA AGENCY WATCH from Denver, Colorado. Stuck in the PAWGmire | 8 Ed Quillen lives in How the BLM failed Pinedale. BY REBECCA HUNTINGTON Salida, Colo., where he ● P. 5 publishes Colorado ● P. 19 Central Magazine and UNCOMMON WESTERNER is a regular op-ed columnist for the Weekend Westerner | 11 Denver Post. ● P. 8 WATERS Arthur Kruse rides the range ... in Munich. BY JOSLYN GREEN Ana Maria Spagna is the author of THE HCN COMMUNITY | 12 Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging, ● P. 5 and the Crosscut Saw. A message from Craig Childs, Research Fund, Dear Friends Don Waters is the author of the GREEN GIFT GUIDE/MARKETPLACE | 21 ● P. 14 award-winning story collection Desert Gothic. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M..

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COVER J. KATARZYNA WORONOWICZ www.hcn.org High Country News 3 LETTERS

RISKY GUN BUSINESS that the large majority of these ranchers get sweet subsidized I was shocked by Hal Herring’s deals on the use of the public lands commentary on abandoning gun for grazing, and yet they vilify the control (HCN, 10/27/08). More than efforts to restore the wolf to these the inaccuracies about “the very same lands. They claim great Democrats” being against the economic hardship, yet Defenders Second Amendment and the clear- of Wildlife established a reim- ly mistaken judgment that bursement fund for livestock kills Democrats are declining, it was proven to be wolf-caused. The last upsetting to read the absurd part is key, because many more notion that owning guns protects cattle and sheep die from lack of us against tyranny. Where has this management (no more range rid- author been for the last eight ing and protecting the herds by years? How long would any of us modern ranchers), or disease. That armed with a rifle or a handgun or part is always left out of the propa- anything else have lasted against ganda put out by the cattlemen’s our (thankfully soon-to-be- associations. replaced) tyrannous leaders? I think the final solution will be An Associated Press article to buy out these grazing permits, reporting the Supreme Court’s 5-4 and return these public lands to the ruling last July, which struck TAB, THE CALGARY SUN/WWW.CAGLECARTOONS.COM wild animals that live there. The down the District of Columbia’s ranchers there, for the most part, requirements that firearms in the BIG WATER IN FROM THE WEB can’t make a living without the wel- home have trigger locks or be kept fare given to them by the federal disassembled, noted that half of Regarding your story “Liquid “SELF-ENTITLED KILL FREAKS” government. Most don’t own gun deaths are suicides. In the late Assets,” this summer at Mount enough private land to make it a 1970s through the early 1990s, Shasta I learned from locals that Ranchers’ complaints about wolf viable business. Instead, they could several public health researchers, Shasta Dam releases, in August, reintroduction I can understand, be innovative, and agree that the with support from the Centers for were running at the equivalent of though I think there’s a great deal only grazing on these lands be done Disease Control, investigated the spring flood stage. Why would of adaptation — dogs, mules and by bison. Bison cause much less firearms-related deaths. Their we do that during a drought, in a llamas to guard the herd, for ecological damage and require less studies found that having a gun in period fraught with intense pres- example — that ranchers can do management. And they are much the house increased the risk of sui- sure to build more dams, canals but choose not to (HCN, 11/10/08). better at repelling wolf attacks, in cide by 4.8 times. Similarly, gun and other forms of water infra- The hunters, on the other hand — addition to being a healthier red ownership proved to be a signifi- structure (HCN, 10/13/08)? you might think they’d at least try meat source. cant risk factor for homicide by a I urge HCN to take a deeper not to sound like self-entitled kill- family member or intimate look at water issues in California. freaks, but for crying out loud! I’m Jim Eischeid acquaintance. Water banking may be part of the a hunter; I hunt elk and boar for Of all firearm deaths involving solution; it certainly is to large food. I do not jet-set into Jackson NO FRIENDS OF THE INDIANS a weapon kept in the home water agencies. And so are water with a tag I expect to have filled by Regarding your story “Power to the between 1978 and 1983, 333 were transfer deals, which you’ve also the weekend, I do not presume to First People,” in Montana in the suicides, 41 were criminal homi- reported on — where farmers get think that the wildlife should be 2006 election, it was the seven cides, 12 were unintentional water at a cheap rate from the punctual and considerate of my counties with reservations which deaths, two were justifiable homi- state, and then sell back to water busy schedule in their appearance assured Democrat Jon Tester his cides and seven were self-protec- agencies at significant profits, in my crosshairs, and I do not narrow victory over incumbent tion homicides. Another study, facilitating development. That, expect that the government should GOP Sen. Conrad Burns, a charla- using the same Western site (King combined with the suite of pro- slaughter more of their natural tan good ol’ boy tainted by his County, Wash.) and two others, posed big water projects including predators to accommodate my associations with lobbyist Jack reviewed firearm deaths that were banks, deserves scrutiny. Who recreational preferences! Abramoff (HCN, 10/27/08). The homicides. It found that gun own- gains? Who loses? The long-term Democrats should never forget this ership, with factors such as age, ecological welfare of the state, the William C. Lawton help from the poorest, most income, neighborhood and educa- ultimate public good, is at stake. maligned people of the state. But tion controlled, increased the risk Our long-term water policy, BACK TO BISON they will. The arrogance of of homicide 2.7 times. The public and the projects we engage in now, The ranching and sport-hunting Democratic politicians reinforces has been misled about these risks should include maintaining our communities in Idaho, Montana, the illusion that they are somehow and about many other issues cherished ecosystems by allocating and Wyoming exhibit none of the immune from the realities of con- regarding guns as well. appropriate flows to them, and tolerance of the wolf, much less the necting with their fellow human then dividing up the rest, incorpo- Roberta Hall knowledge, shown by Native beings who have been subjected to rating serious conservation as a Corvallis, Oregon Americans (HCN, 11/10/08). It is the absolute worse of Euro- starting point. hate, sheer hate, that drives these American ethnocentrism. Instead Jessica Hall communities’ actions and led to the of gratitude, our Native peoples Los Angeles, California deliberate extinction of wolves in receive only more ignorant neglect. the last century. If the state wolf Hank Plummer “management” plans were left in place before the latest science- and GETTING OUT THE (GUN) VOTE law-based decision to return the Send letters to the editor to Editor, HCN, P.O. Box 1090, Paonia, CO 81428, wolves to the endangered species As someone who is a “liberal or [email protected]. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. list, there would have been a sec- Democrat” on most issues and an ond extinction. How ironic it is continued on page 10

4 High Country News November 24, 2008 TWO WEEKS IN THE WEST

On Obama’s coattails BY RAY RING

esterners inspired by Barack WObama have a right to feel giddy these days: The history-making wave that swept the Democrat into the presi- dency Nov. 4 had a lot of impact around the region. It lifted a surprising number of other Democrats into offices that had long been held by Republicans, many of whom were seen as obstacles to change. The winning Democrats promise to be better on protecting the environment, more supportive of clean energy and more even-handed on immigration and other Western issues. Barack Obama took six of the 11 Western states, spreading the Democrats’ appar- Obama ent majority inland from the West Coast to include Colorado, Nevada and New “understands Mexico. He did it with a record-breaking $1 billion national campaign war chest, what the including hundreds of millions spent by Western unions on his behalf — a huge financial advantage over his Republican opponent, governors ... John McCain — and by running the Barack Obama, Democratic senator from Illinois, greets supporters at a rally in Elko, Nevada, most determined Democratic presiden- where he stopped three times during his successful presidential campaign. understand, tial campaign ever in the West. EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/GETTY IMAGES In Colorado, the Obama campaign that the most had 51 field offices — many in conservative rural areas — and the spark provid- Mexico and Oregon). They took at least gelical; the only other states with totals important ed by the Democratic National six House seats from Western so high are in the South. Politically, Convention in Denver. Obama himself Republicans, while losing no Democratic Utah and Idaho might as well be energy made calls to potential Colorado voters seats in either chamber of Congress. Southern states. corridor on from a field office in a Denver suburb. Democrats also gained more seats on Mormon voters comprise 10 percent Just a few days before the election, he public utilities commissions in Montana of the Wyoming electorate, and the planet is drew more than 100,000 people — said and Arizona, with candidates who vow to Republican Cynthia Lummis, a conser- to be the biggest political crowd in put more emphasis on development of vative Lutheran, made a point of reach- not the Colorado history — to a Denver speech. wind and solar energy. ing out to them in her winning campaign In Nevada, where Democrats sched- But Obama’s hopeful message, his to be the state’s next representative in Persian Gulf, uled a primary in early February to call for fundamental change and unifica- the U.S. House. (She’s replacing spark enthusiasm, Obama made 20 vis- tion, will meet resistance in the West Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin, who it’s the its in all, including three to the mining from here on out, especially on the level didn’t run for re-election.) community of Elko, where he spoke in of local politics. The politics in other Western states American the town park and accepted a shirt bear- remain fragmented by similar hard-line REDOUBTS AND FRAGMENTS West.” ing the name of the high-school football Republican redoubts. In the West’s liber- —Montana Gov. Brian team (the Elko Indians). Nevada State Political pundits use a new word when al-majority coastal states, the redoubts Schweitzer, quoted in the Sen. Dina Titus, a political science pro- they talk about the post-election are inland. In Washington, for instance, Casper Star-Tribune fessor, told the Las Vegas Review- Republican Party. They say the GOP — two-term incumbent Republican State Journal that she won a U.S. House seat due to its hard-line approach to fossil Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland, thanks in part to Obama’s ground game, fuels, the Iraq War and deregulation of a friend of timber and mining compa- “the best she’d seen in 20 years of poli- everything — has had its majority nies, just lost to Democrat Peter tics.” reduced to “redoubts,” mostly in In New Mexico, the Obama campaign Southern states. “Redoubts,” according SNAPSHOT opened nearly 40 field offices. In out-of- to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, are Top states for politically conservative religions the-way Montana — where Obama came small, enclosed defensive positions. (figures show percentage of adult population) within a few percentage points of a rare But the redoubts aren’t all in the Democratic win — he opened 19 and South; the West has a significant num- State Rank Mormons Evangelicals Total made five campaign visits, and his cam- ber. Utah, Idaho and Wyoming haven’t paign dispatched Los Angeles Lakers voted for a Democrat for president since Utah 1 58 7 65 basketball star Derek Fisher to speaking 1964, and this time, they were among Oklahoma 20 53 53 engagements on the Blackfeet the top states in voter percentages for Arkansas 30 53 53 Reservation . McCain. Tennessee 41 51 52 Obama received more votes than the Conservative religious voters are last Democratic candidate for president, largely responsible for the redoubts in Alabama 50 49 49 John Kerry, in 404 of the 413 counties in those states. On average, the most con- Kentucky 60 49 49 the West, indicating that a new order servative voters are either evangelical Mississippi 71 47 48 may be taking command of the region’s Christians or Mormons, whose politics Idaho 8 23 22 45 politics. That impression was reinforced tend to center on opposing abortion and on the congressional level: Western gay rights. About 60 percent of Utah S. Carolina 90 45 45 Democrats took three Senate seats that adults are Mormon, and 45 percent of N. Carolina 10 0 41 41 had been Republican (in Colorado, New Idaho adults are either Mormon or evan- SOURCE: THE PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE

www.hcn.org High Country News 5 Goldmark, a rancher and Ph.D. molecu- GRIDLOCK, SLAM-DUNKS leaders. But high-profile moderates also lar biologist who promises to have better AND CONTRADICTIONS got booted out of federal and state environmental protection policies. That In the legislatures, Republicans still con- offices, including Oregon’s Republican job manages 5 million acres of trol both chambers in Arizona, Idaho, Sen. Gordon Smith. And at least one Washington’s state land and logging on Utah and Wyoming. In fact, some of their extremist won a congressional seat: private land. Sutherland carried the locks got tighter in this election. Jason Chaffetz, who defeated incumbent inland counties, Goldmark carried the Montana Republicans, led by hard-liners, Utah Rep. Chris Cannon in the coastal urban areas. effectively gained control of their Republican primary, will take his In general, Western cities, college Legislature. That means state politics in uncompromising anti-immigration, anti- towns and resort towns tended to vote those legislatures will likely be discon- tax views to the U.S. House. for Obama, while the rural areas went nected from federal politics — a common Wyoming’s new Republican for McCain. Even in Nevada, where problem in Western states — because Congresswoman, Lummis, thinks the Democratic Sen. Harry Reid has led a the Democrats hold Congress and the science isn’t yet clear on global warming revival of his party — there are now White House. Meanwhile, Democrats and wants to extend the Bush tax cuts 100,000 more registered Democrats than have a lock on legislatures in California, despite a federal budget deficit bigger Republicans — Obama won by carrying Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon than the (shrinking) polar ice cap. the urban slivers of metro Las Vegas and Washington. Democratic Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and Reno, even though he lost in the rest In six of the states with such one- a few days after the election, vowed to of the state. party locks, the governor belongs to the continue pushing for a ban on handguns In Arizona, even as Democrats based same party. Such complete dominance in city parks and buildings, despite oppo- encourages show-offish slam-dunks sition from his state’s attorney general rather than a politics of compromise and as well as from the hundreds of thou- consensus. sands of Washington voters who are In states where the governor belongs staunchly for gun rights. to the opposite party from the legisla- Even so, there is an apparent trend ture’s majority, the difference frequently in the West toward pragmatism and pop- means gridlock. Arizona Gov. Janet ulism, and voters seem eager to protect Napolitano, a Democrat dealing with a or improve local amenities and services. Republican Legislature for her six years In Sevier County, Utah, voters took a in office, has vetoed more than 170 bills step toward voting down a Nevada com- that took hard-line stances on immigra- pany’s plan to build a coal-fired power tion, gun rights, abortion and other plant in the county: They OK’d a ballot issues. California Gov. Arnold measure that gives them the right to Schwarzenegger, a Republican dealing make the final decision. That battle with a hard-line Democratic Legislature, extended as far as the Utah Legislature vetoed more than 400 bills this year (which earlier passed a law saying the alone, setting a new California record. locals couldn’t exercise such power) and Such collisions can eventually force con- the Utah Supreme Court (which ruled sensus, but they waste a lot of time and that the law was unconstitutional). effort. The animal-rights movement made Many more of the Western election progress in California, where voters over- results seem contradictory. Religious whelmingly approved a measure to conservatives succeeded in writing bans require more humane conditions for fac- on gay marriage into the California and tory-farm chickens, pigs and calves. Arizona constitutions. But they lost in (Arizona, Colorado and Oregon have Colorado, where voters rejected a tough already passed modest versions.) In anti-abortion measure, and in Utah, voters in metro Salt Lake County John Lewis and in Flagstaff and the Navajo Nation gained Washington, where voters OK’d a “Death OK’d new taxes for improvements to the Stuart Gaffney congressional seats, voters in the Phoenix with Dignity” measure that allows doc- county’s 48-acre zoo and 8-acre aviary, watch election suburbs re-elected famous anti-immigra- tors to prescribe lethal drugs to termi- including new jungle exhibits with birds returns during a tion Republican Maricopa County Sheriff nally ill patients who want to kill them- from Latin America. San Francisco rally Joe Araipo to a fifth term; the sheriff selves. Open-space ballot measures contin- against California Colorado Proposition 8. The promptly vowed to continue his raids on Earlier this year, agencies, ued to be popular: There were 17 major measure banning businesses and local governments that spurred by the Legislature, imposed proposals to impose new taxes for buying same-sex marriage hire undocumented immigrants. Arizona tough environmental regulations on oil open space lands and improving parks in passed 52 percent voters also rejected a ballot measure that and gas companies. But the voters decid- the West, and voters OK’d 14 of them, to 47 percent. would’ve relaxed the state’s tough penal- ed not to impose higher taxes on those according to the Trust for Public Land, PAUL SAKUMA/AP ties against businesses that hire undocu- companies, even though Colorado’s oil- which worked on many of the proposals. mented immigrants. and-gas tax rate is lower than the rates Mass transit also continued to be In western Colorado, Ed Marston, in neighboring states. Colorado’s infra- popular: Voters in California, Seattle, High Country News’ former publisher and structure and its public colleges have Wash., and northern New Mexico a longtime political centrist, invested more been strangled by a tax-limit passed in approved new taxes to expand commuter than a year in running as a Democrat for a 1992, but voters also rejected a measure rail and bus systems. California’s pro- seat on the Delta County Commission. that would have relaxed that chokehold. posal is especially ambitious: The state Competing on strongly Republican turf, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and some plans to issue nearly $10 billion in bonds Marston was smeared by ads claiming he moderate Republicans and business for a down payment on building a high- would flood the area with illegal immi- groups backed both of those pro-tax speed rail network linking Los Angeles grant criminals and squash gun rights, measures. to San Francisco and Sacramento. even though he’d tried to take the gun Among the other reasons for issue off the table by getting a concealed TREND TOWARD PRAGMATISM, MAYBE Obamaesque optimism: American weapon permit. He lost by a 2-to-1 margin Some Western extremists were knocked Indians won 10 seats in Western legisla- — a typical fate for local Democratic candi- out of office — most notably, Republican tures. Denise Juneau, a member of the dates in Republican strongholds on the Idaho Rep. Bill Sali, who was famously Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara tribes, state’s rural Western Slope. called an “idiot” by one of his party’s fended off racial slurs to earn a

4 High Country News November 24, 2008 statewide office, Montana school superin- tendent. Lena Fowler, a Navajo, won a The Dem surge seat on the Coconino County Board of Western Democrats won three Senate seats and at least six House seats Supervisors in Arizona. Todd Gloria, of that had been Republican. the Tlingit-Haida tribes, won a seat on the San Diego, Calif., City Council. In another sign of diversity, wealthy Internet entrepreneur Jared Polis won the U.S. House seat representing the liberal enclave of Boulder, Colo.; Polis is the first openly gay man elected as a freshman congressman. (Other gays in Congress have come out after they were elected.)

LOOKING AHEAD Jeff Merkley Walt Minnick Mark Udall Betsy Markey On the horizon, the Obama wave may Senate House Senate House Degrees from Stanford Former Republican with Son of former Arizona Software entrepreneur, lead to future Democratic wins in the and Princeton, has MBA and Harvard law Rep. Mo Udall, cousin has master's degree in West and increasing political alignment experience in the degree, experience as of Tom, in House since public administration, of moderates in both parties. Young vot- Oregon Legislature, timber CEO, says he’ll 1999, wants a more staff experience with ers (under 30 years old) went for Obama Defense Department, take a bipartisan careful approach to oil three congressmen, Congressional Budget approach shale State and Treasury 2-to-1, as did Latino voters (another Office and Habitat for departments fast-growing segment of the electorate). Humanity But in the short term, it will be difficult for the region — and for any particular state — to truly unify around any plans to address today’s huge crises, including the global economic meltdown. Many people in the Republican redoubts approved of the Bush administration’s relaxation of environmental regulations, and they’re already wary of Obama’s plans to restore such rules. Some of the new players appear KEY determined to find middle ground. Oregon ’s new senator, Jeff Merkley, is REPUB DEM the “son of a millworker (and) the first in his family to attend college,” says the Before After Associated Press. Merkley has proven election election effective as a leader in the Oregon (left) (right) Legislature, pushing for living wages, STILL COUNTING affordable housing and consumer protec- The pie charts show party tion; AP calls him a “populist.” percentages in The new Democratic congressman each state’s total from southern New Mexico is oilman congressional Harry Teague. He’s a high-school delegation before dropout who earned his money in an oil- the election and field services business, and he gives his after. employees good benefits, including college tuition and health insurance. He calls himself a pragmatic populist. Idaho Democrat Walt Minnick won the House seat that had been held by Bill Sali. Minnick — a former timber company executive and onetime Republican, who’d received endorse- ments from business groups — is an avowed centrist. The day after he got elected, Minnick pledged to take a bipartisan approach. Meanwhile, journalists around the West reported a surge in gun sales right after Obama got elected. Some Westerners fear that Obama and the Democratic Congress will pass more gun-control laws. They’re buying semi- automatic assault rifles, Glock pistols Dina Titus Ann Kirkpatrick Tom Udall Martin Heinrich Harry Teague and ammo so fast that gun stores are House House Senate House House running out and manufacturers are Already a pro: 30 years Lawyer and state Son of former Interior Engineer and planner, High school dropout, straining to keep up. Apparently, the as political science legislator, raised in Secretary Stewart served on Albuquerque oilfield-services entre- Old West stereotypes are still alive. n professor at University Mogollon Rim country, Udall, cousin of Mark, City Council, advocate preneur and county of Nevada-Las Vegas, she'll represent the in House since 1999, for open space, public commissioner, his 20 years in Legislature Flagstaff area and four pushes wind and solar lands and wilderness campaign ads told Indian tribes energy voters: “He’s one of us”

www.hcn.org High Country News 7 AGENCY WATCH

BY REBECCA HUNTINGTON Stuck in the PAWGmire How the BLM failed Pinedale

ind-blowing” — that’s what Linda ranchers, conservationists and local government blame much of the trouble on an industry law- Baker recalls thinking when she officials, the group would oversee monitoring, suit that left the group playing catch-up. first learned that the Bureau of make recommendations to the BLM and disclose “The PAWG process on the face of it was Land Management wanted to results to the community. not an honest effort,” says Rollin Sparrowe, a “Minvolve citizens in tracking the impacts of natu- But eight years later, the working group rep- participant in one of the subcommittees. “I think ral gas drilling on the Pinedale Anticline. resents, for many, a broken promise. It has hem- it was doomed to failure from the beginning.” “I was so impressed that the BLM really orrhaged citizen experts, bogged down in litiga- wanted to hear from the community that would tion and bureaucratic red tape, and failed to HEN THE BLM FIRST APPROVED the be most affected,” says the soft-spoken Baker, a function for extended periods. Meanwhile, the WAnticline gas field, it ushered in a new era petite, athletic woman who watchdogs the oil BLM has allowed drilling to continue full throt- of drilling. The area holds more than 21 trillion and gas industry from an office above the tle despite declining wildlife and unprecedented cubic feet of natural gas — enough to heat 12.5 Stockman’s restaurant and bar in downtown air pollution. This September, the agency signed million homes for 20 years — trapped in tiny Pinedale, Wyo. “That’s when I decided that I a new plan to allow 4,400 more wells on 600 pockets of nearly impermeable rock. A combina- wanted to participate.” wellpads and eliminate most seasonal protection of new technology and high gas prices made It was 2000, and the BLM had just opened tions for wildlife. it profitable to go after these reserves. But tap- the Anticline — a sagebrush-covered spine of “We were told when I was there, ‘The cus- ping them meant developing a much denser net- land in western Wyoming — to 700 gas wells. tomers are the companies,’ ” says Steven work of wells, roads and pipelines across the No one knew how drilling would affect the area’s Belinda, a former BLM employee who served as Anticline’s 200,000 acres of rolling sagebrush — abundant wildlife and other natural resources, a liaison to the working group’s wildlife subcom- crucial seasonal range and forage for thousands so the agency planned to monitor environmental mittee. The BLM’s PAWG simply “kept everyone of migratory mule deer and pronghorn as well as impacts, and make “mid-course corrections” if dancing while industry got everything it wanted nesting and breeding habitat for sage grouse. necessary — a practice known as adaptive envi- out in the field.” Because of all the uncertainties involved, the ronmental management. A company consultant says that PAWG par- BLM suggested that the working group oversee That’s where the citizens’ advisory team — ticipants expected more authority than the the process in exchange for the agency gaining known as the Pinedale Anticline Working Group group was allowed. Conservationists, however, more flexibility to manage on the fly. The group, (PAWG) — came in. Composed of drillers, say the BLM disregarded citizen input, and they in turn, divvied up its responsibilities for moni-

8 High Country News November 24, 2008

4 High Country News June 23, 2008 AGENCY WATCH

toring and mitigation plans to subcommittees on wildlife, water and air quality, transportation, cultural resources and reclamation. But before the citizen groups could get off the ground, Yates Petroleum Corp., a New Mexico- based operator drilling on the Anticline, sued the U.S. Department of Interior over the BLM’s decision to impose mitigation measures on drilling if necessary. The lawsuit also argued that the citizens’ group violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA, which sets rules for federal advisory committees in order to keep their advice open and accessible to the public. The government responded by ordering the Pinedale group and its subcommittees to cease work. Energy companies, meanwhile, continued drilling. According to Gene George, a Yates consultant who participated in PAWG subcommittees from 2000 to 2007, the company wanted to make sure that the advisory group did not override Roads and natural gas wellpads (facing page) crisscross the Pinedale Anticline gasfield, just outside of Pinedale, the government’s legal decision-making authori- Wyo. Linda Baker (above) stands in front of compressors and a drill rig on the Pinedale Anticline, today one of the ty. “They jumped off immediately and decided most productive natural gas fields in the West. Baker was a librarian when she first joined the Pinedale Anticline they would also start advising on the (National Working Group to help oversee energy development on the Anticline. Now she watchdogs industry as community organizer for the Upper Green River Valley Coalition. TED WOOD Environmental Policy Act) process and all sorts of other things and that’s where it kind of got urged the BLM to limit habitat disruption by been asked to lead when the PAWG reconvened astray,” George says. requiring that more wells be drilled directionally in 2004. Sparrowe had 22 years of experience Although a U.S. District Court for Wyoming from fewer pads. But he got little response. working as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish dismissed Yates’ complaint, the BLM decided “This is one of the smartest groups of people and Wildlife Service, with jobs ranging from that the Pinedale group needed to be chartered I have ever seen working together. If the BLM research scientist to deputy assistant director under FACA anyway. The agency took four doesn’t listen to the advice of this group, they for wildlife and refuges. years to resolve the suit, write a charter and are making a big mistake,” Hedrick said before When his group got to work, it discovered appoint new members. Under FACA, the he walked out of his last meeting in August that the BLM had yet to review data collected Interior secretary must approve those new mem- 2005. “I get the impression the BLM wished this by industry-funded researchers to see what bers — a lengthy process that still hinders the group would go away.” (Hedrick declined to com- impact drilling was having on local wildlife. group today. ment for this article.) Given the group’s late start, Sparrowe tried to By the time the new PAWG convened in Belinda, who worked for the agency at the make the most of the existing information. One 2004, hundreds of wells had been drilled. The time, backs up Hedrick’s critique. “I was in study showed that drilling had displaced 46 per- Bush administration told the working group numerous (BLM) meetings where people said, cent of the nearly 6,000 mule deer wintering on that it could not pick up where it left off, but ‘We wish this (the PAWG) would just go away,’ ” the Anticline. So the task group proposed that would have to start over, writing new monitor- says Belinda, who ultimately quit in frustration the BLM maintain current deer populations and ing plans. and went to work for a conservation group. forbid development on what undisturbed winter Meanwhile, the BLM had started working on Stenger, who is now retired, says the group’s habitat remained. a proposal from Questar Corporation, an Anticline legal charter limited its authority. The group But despite unanimous agreement between operator, to lift seasonal restrictions on drilling in was allowed to comment only on decisions out- PAWG members, including an oil and gas indus- crucial mule deer winter range. Although the lined in the 2000 plan, not on the newer propos- try representative, Stenger rejected the recom- agency asked for input, PAWG members say what als under consideration by the time it recon- mendations. He offered a counter-proposal to it really wanted was a rubber stamp of approval. vened. BLM officials were careful to consider maintain “the viability of the herd,” which The group’s wildlife subcommittee had neither the how their interpretation of the charter might set would allow for further declines in deer num- time nor the baseline monitoring data to properly a precedent — opening the door to special inter- bers. Stenger says now that the working group evaluate the proposal. ests — for other field offices, Stenger says. overlooked the other factors besides drilling that The Yates lawsuit wasn’t entirely to blame “Out of this PAWG, you have certain people, can affect deer numbers, such as drought, severe for the problems, says Dennis Stenger, who they have a goal and there’s no wavering from winters and hunting. inherited the beleaguered group in 2006 when that goal,” he explains. “Sometimes that gets in When the BLM chose to ignore science that he took over as Pinedale BLM field manager. It the way of what should actually be done on the clearly showed energy development was hurting was also a struggle for the agency to find volun- ground.” deer, Sparrowe says, it seemed there was no teers willing to commit to the time-intensive point in working on protections for sage grouse working group. “You couldn’t even get a quorum OB BARRETT, AN AVID sportsman who and other species on which drilling’s impacts there in the end,” he says. Brepresented the “public at-large” on the were still murky. So the group disbanded for But critics say the BLM drove away volun- group, now wishes he’d followed Hedrick’s lead. more than two years, before reconstituting this teers by ignoring their advice. For example, “I could have made a grand exit and probably March. PAWG member Kirby Hedrick famously quit should have as Kirby did,” he says. But he after concluding that the BLM had no interest stayed on to try to get some protections in place THER SUBCOMMITTEES also foundered. in listening to him. A former vice president of for wildlife. OLinda Baker served on the air-quality group, production for Phillips Petroleum and a U.S. In particular, he supported the work of the which found that the BLM did not monitor nitro- Department of Defense consultant, Hedrick had Wildlife Task Group, which Rollin Sparrowe had gen oxides for four years despite committing in

www.hcn.org High Country News 9 2000 to track the pollutant, which contributes to citizens to communicate with the BLM. He ozone. The agency has since begun monitoring promises to more actively forward the group’s again. Last winter, the town of Pinedale — which concerns to decision makers. still doesn’t have a single traffic stoplight — had Sparrowe doesn’t think Otto can make a dif- its first human health warnings for air pollution ference. “Many BLM employees tried to do what that exceeds federal standards. they knew was the right thing to do,” he says. But some subcommittees have made “According to those employees, they were often progress. The BLM refined and expanded its overruled from either Cheyenne or Washington.” water-quality monitoring based on that group’s In any case, Otto’s actions will be dictated by COURTESY STEVEN BELINDA input, George says. And the water-quality group HUMBOLDT STATE the BLM’s plan to expand drilling on the notified the public in August of the contamina- “We were told Anticline. That document resets the baseline for tion of a stock well. Likewise, the agency hired “The PAWG mule deer and sage grouse at the diminished additional archaeological staff and a law when I was process on the 2006 levels and allows further declines to occur enforcement officer to help protect cultural there, ‘The face of it was before triggering changes to drilling operations. resources. The new drilling decision includes The decision also reduces the role of the protections for the historic Lander Trail, a spur customers not an honest Pinedale group by following the example of the of the Oregon Trail. are the effort.“ neighboring Jonah gas field. Under the new For conservationists like Sparrowe, who now plan, drilling companies have promised to pay companies.’ “ —Rollin Sparrowe, works with the Theodore Roosevelt Conserva- $7,500 per well into a wildlife mitigation fund. A —Steven Belinda, former a participant in one of the tion Partnership, of which he’s a founding mem- subcommittees new group — made up of government agency ber, those successes are not enough. In June, BLM employee representatives — will decide how that money the wildlife advocacy group filed suit against the gets spent to offset impacts to wildlife. The BLM, saying the agency failed to follow through BLM, meanwhile, will evaluate the Pinedale on its commitment to change management of PAWG member and wants to see the group sal- group annually — instead of every two years — the gas field despite clear evidence that drilling vaged. She’s optimistic about the current BLM to decide whether it should continue. The choice was harming area wildlife. The group recently field manager, Chuck Otto, who took the posi- will rest with the Obama administration. amended the complaint to challenge the BLM’s tion just last year. “I just felt like at least he Former PAWG member Barrett, however, has latest expansion plan. was listening,” she says. given up. “I think they should just stick a stake Although Pinedale Town Councilor Nylla Despite the eight years of turmoil, Otto says through the heart of it and just be done with it,” Kunard echoes those complaints, she’s still a the group still plays a vital role as a venue for he says. “Why continue the charade?” n

LETTERS continued from page 4

Abe Lincoln “conservative” on oth- CAN’T SEE THE FOREST stoked fears about your “single for protecting families, eh? ers, I believe it has been a profound FOR THE GUNS issue” — a single issue that is so To those who feel like this arti- mistake for the Democrats to throw low on the priority list that the cle portrays eastern Idaho or I’m frankly flabbergasted that, in away the gun owner’s vote as they next president will never touch it. Mormonism in a negative light, so an era so defined by crises of the have for years (HCN, 10/27/08). I what? It is the honest view of an environment, energy, and econo- William C. Lawton grew up in Ohio plinking with my outsider. If you’re going to pride my, that folks are still voting on dad’s .22. I’m a gun owner with a yourselves on being “in the world useless wedge issues like guns and “HOMOSEXUALS ARE NOT collector’s license for curios and but not of it,” then you can only abortion — and voting for folks SOME CABAL” relics, and a life member of the expect that there will be people that are hopelessly deficient on NRA. I disagree with them about As a gay former Mormon who who find Mormon strongholds like the first three but who pander on most political issues and find them grew up in Idaho Falls, “Prophets Rexburg peculiar and strange. the last two (HCN, 10/27/08). extreme. When I ran for Congress and Politics” perfectly articulates Like any other outsider, they are These issues were made issues by in 2006, I got a questionnaire from why this issue is just as important going to view your life in Idaho Republicans for the express pur- them that would likely have failed outside of California (HCN, through their own lens. And they pose of creating single-issue voters me in their eyes, had I sent it in. I 10/27/08). It pains me to see my might conclude that they don’t like who will cheerfully forget any still do not believe in free and childhood friends who attend the way you do things in Idaho. other problem that affects their unfettered access to .50 caliber BYU-Idaho spending so much time Good for them. Move on. quality of life simply to vote for an rifles with a range of over a mile! and money on this issue with the It made me laugh to see this issue of very little real importance This is a weapon that should be endorsement of the LDS church. I article discuss the gay brunch that they have been browbeaten allowed but controlled, with restric- always hoped that my friendship every Sunday at the Dixie Diner and cajoled into caring deeply tions on subsequent transfer. In and trust with the people I grew in Idaho Falls. Who knew our about. In that sense, I agree with reading the various states’ versions up with and knew in Idaho would weekly tradition would reach such the writer; it makes sense for the of the Second Amendment prior to help them see the human element an audience? The only thing that I Democrats to de-emphasize these the ratification of the Constitution at stake with gay rights and gay would add to this article in terms non-issues to pull the fangs of the in 1787, it is clear that “the right to marriage. I hoped that finally see- of the Idaho Falls gay community Republicans who depend on them keep and bear arms” is an individ- ing and knowing a person who is is that it is much more than just utterly. ual, not a collective, right. It is the affected by laws like California’s an inclusive, tight-knit group. In All of that said, Obama and one area that I disagree with other Proposition 8 would help them so many aspects, they really are Biden are not going to be taking members of the ACLU, the group understand that homosexuals are more of a family than most biologi- anybody’s guns away. I guarantee that sticks up for all of our other not some cabal seeking to overturn cal families I know. And I know it. Regardless of their personal constitutional rights, with the sole the dinner tables of heterosexually that without these people, I would positions on the matter, they’re exception of the Second parented families. I hoped that most certainly be just another going to be too busy attending to Amendment. They unfortunately putting my face on this issue for homeless gay youth statistic. stuff that actually matters — the — and wrongly — look upon the them would make them think Instead, because of those people economy, energy crises — to both- Second Amendment as the only col- twice. Sadly, my trust and friend- mentioned in this article, I have er themselves with an issue that’s lective right, among all the individ- ship with countless numbers of my life together and I’m a con- only raised in times of relative ual rights, in the Bill of Rights. friends and family has been shat- tributing member of society. prosperity and peace. Don’t gam- tered over the past few months Stevan Thomas ble on our ability to face those real T. Turner because of this issue. ... So much crises because of your carefully

10 High Country News November 24, 2008 UNCOMMON WESTERNER Weekend Westerner

ost weekends find Arthur Kruse riding out into the forest or down to the river. With NAME Arthur Kruse his white handlebar moustache, custom Mboots from Livingston, Mont., a hat from AGE 69 the Bitterroot Valley, and a jacket from Texas, he makes a fine figure on a quarter horse. HOMETOWN Several times a month, Kruse does some target Munich, Germany practice with his 44.40 Henry rifle or his Colt Peacemaker revolver and throws tomahawks and OCCUPATION knives with his friends. Not averse to the occasional Consultant to the high- whiskey, he also enjoys socializing over beer and barbe- pressure compressor cue down at the saloon. company where COURTESY SHARON GLIDDEN In Kruse’s case, though, the rifle and revolver are he was sales manager for 32 years. Italian copies, the tomahawks and knives were made in Arthur Kruse on the range in Oklahoma Germany, and the range he rides is rented from the (above) and with the Cowboy Club Munchen STILL MOURNED city of Munich, Germany. For the past 20 years, Kruse in Germany (below). has been a member of Cowboy Club München — the “Flites Gentleman,” Kruse’s quarter horse, who biggest of eight cowboy clubs in the city, one of 160 Henryetta, Okla. “He’s an amazing man,” says ranch had to be put down after such clubs in Germany, and, at 95 years old, the oldest owner Sharon Glidden, who refers to him fondly as “Papa a bad fall on ice just Western club in Europe. Bear.” Whereas Americans often come to the ranch look- before Christmas Eve four For Kruse, being a Westerner is “eine seriöse ing to be entertained, Glidden found jovial, animated years ago. Freizeitbeschäftigung” — a “serious hobby.” Kruse and his group “interested in why we live the way When he was a boy in Germany in the 1940s, Kruse we live. They wanted to know how we check the cattle, OTHER CLUB MEMBERS did what many German boys back then did: He nourished how we work with cowboys, how we operate the ranch.” About 50 men and 35 his imagination on the adventure stories of German writer “What about the Old West draws you to it?” she women — a mix of blue- Karl May (1842-1912). Though May himself never ven- asked Kruse. She still remembers his response: “To us, collar workers, profession- tured west of the Mississippi, he imagined the West of the the cowboy and the Indian in the Old West faced life als, and businesspeople. 1860s so vividly and told such riveting stories about coura- and danger one-to-one,” said Kruse. “That’s the ulti- Some of the men make geous, honorable Old Shatterhand and Shatterhand’s mate show of courage.” their own belts, chaps, hol- Apache friend, Winnetou, that his books have sold more On winter weekends, Kruse and the other club mem- sters and scabbards, and than 100 million copies in German. bers like to gather around campfires at the old-style some of the women make Kruse graduated to James Fenimore Cooper and trappers’ lodges the Cowboy Club has built in its rented their own dresses, bonnets, Sunday afternoons watching Western movies, grew up, forest. Sociability draws them to the campfire’s “common beaded leather jerkins and went to work selling high-pressure compressors for a ground,” says Kruse. But authenticity also matters to dance-hall frou-frou cloth- German manufacturer, married, had children. For 25 these Munich cowboys. So Kruse takes pleasure in wear- ing inspired by historic years, his hobby was scuba-diving. Then, at age 50, Kruse ing the fringed leather jacket that a fellow club member photographs and draw- decided he was ready for a change. Encouraged by a friend made for him using a historically accurate pattern, and ings. who served as the Cowboy Club’s president, he finally he treasures the bison-fetish necklace that a Native learned to ride a horse and became a weekend Westerner. American friend in Oklahoma gave him. For four years, Kruse was the club’s stable master. Then Yes, Kruse enjoys riding horses, target practice, he served as its sheriff for five years and then as president dressing the part of an old-time Westerner, and saying for another five. Today, he is the treasurer. “Howdy.” But his hobby goes much deeper than that. “I wasn’t born a cowboy,” says Kruse. “I can only try Seeking the right words to sum up its appeal in to be a cowboy.” English, he says, “I am dreaming very often from the With each visit to the American West, he grows more Old West in America … and I try to empathize this convinced that being “a Westerner in the old form” is the kind of live.” right hobby for him. On his most recent visit in 2006, Kruse stayed at Tiger Mountain Ranch in BY JOSLYN GREEN

COURTESY ARTHUR KRUSE

www.hcn.org High Country News 11

4 High Country News June 23, 2008 RESEARCH FUND

THE HCN COMMUNITY Our reporters bring you firsthand news from all corners of the West. Thank you, Your donation to the Research Fund Research Fund gets them out there. contributors, for your generosity

A message from author Craig High Country News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media organization. Childs, an explorer of the Our mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West’s land, air, water and inhabitants. We work to create what West’s many landscapes and Wallace Stegner called “a society to match the scenery.” communities: Since 1971, reader contributions to the Research Fund have made it possible for HCN to investigate and report on the 1 million-square- The West is not New York or mile West’s natural resources, public lands, wildlife, politics, culture and communities. Your tax-deductible gift to the Research Fund Washington, D.C., and it directly supports thought-provoking, independent news and com- requires dispatches from the mentary that you won’t find anywhere else. inside. News here is generated by a distinct landscape, culture and compendium of issues. STEWARD Carol Bernthal and Byron Rot Getting the story depends on Port Townsend, Washington Edward Allen Perry tireless reportage by writers Long Beach, California Robert A. Blome and photographers who are not Nampa, Idaho GUARANTOR Kathleen Church strangers to their subject, but Albuquerque, New Mexico Ann Ghicadus and who live in the thick of it. High Mark Luttrell Patrick and Virginia Desmond Country News does this job — Seward, Alaska Tucson, Arizona and does it well — with pas- Florence Williams James Higgins sion, insight and integrity. It is Boulder, Colorado Burbank, California Jerry Hull not a high-budget operation. BENEFACTOR San Luis Obispo, California While working on stories I have Craig Childs PHOTO BY REGAN CHOI Tutti and Gary Skaar Jan Johnson at times slept on the side of the Bozeman, Montana Carbondale, Colorado road — rather than taking a room — in order to save money. Despite the low Karen and Lloyd Keith Arlington, Washington overhead, a powerful and necessary product is created. Walk into the High SPONSOR In honor of Luidel Bernitt Larry Krause Country News offices, and you immediately sense that this is a publication of Des Moines, Washington Riverton, Wyoming eagerness and spirit. These are good people doing good work, willing to question Renagene Brady Hope Malkan themselves, ready to take on new ideas, and always feeling the pulse of this land. Sammamish, Washington Austin, Texas They are the ones you want delivering the story. Bryan Grigsby and Mark Nechodom and Anne Dougherty Debra Bowen Boulder, Colorado Sacramento, California Please support the good work they do on behalf of the West. Bill and Linda Hardy David A. Nimkin Taos, New Mexico Salt Lake City, Utah Elizabeth Karplus Melanie and Andy Puckett Orinda, California Missoula, Montana Steve Livingston Elizabeth Rada Anchorage, Alaska Denver, Colorado Craig Childs Leonadi Ward Joy and Rudy Rasin Gaviota, California Chicago, Illinois Sandy and Robert Righter PATRON Denver, Colorado In memory of Karen Childers Barrie Ryan Mandeville, Louisiana Tucson, Arizona In memory of Don Sanderson Craig Childs is a writer who focuses on natural sciences archaeology, and mind-blowing Torrey, Utah journeys into the wilderness. He is a commentator for National Public Radio's Morning Joe C. Connaway Delta, Colorado James W. Shaw Edition and has written several books, including The Animal Dialogues, House Of Rain, In memory of Steve Dirks Silverthorne, Colorado and The Secret Knowledge Of Water. His articles and op-eds have appeared in several Tucson, Arizona Bob Shively and Carol Reilly publications besides High Country News, including the New York Times, the L.A. Times, In memory of Laporte, Colorado Men's Journal, The Sun and Outside. He began working as a river guide at the age of 18 Michell Ann Jacobson Ken Smith and has held numerous jobs: beer bottler, gas station attendant, jazz musician, and a visit- Los Altos Hills, California Saratoga, California George and Frances Alderson James Thorne ing writing professor at the University of Montana. You can learn more about his work at Catonsville, Maryland www.houseofrain.com. Davis, California Richard Begley William Tweed Sacramento, California Three Rivers, California

12 High Country News November 24, 2008 DEAR FRIENDS

Marion McKay Walley Ronald J. Espinola Richard Logan Douglas and Joanna Schwilk Fort Wayne, Indiana Henderson, Nevada Wenatchee, Washington Fair Oaks, California Welcome, new board members Thank you, Richard L. Ettlinger Hugh MacMillan James Shannon HCN is happy to announce that Wayne Hare FRIEND Highland Park, Illinois Sedalia, Colorado Upland, California and Jane Ellen Stevens recently joined our board In honor of pikas Ruth E. Fahl Margaret Matter Ed Shirkey of directors. Jackson, Wyoming Anchorage, Arkansas Tucson, Arizona Las Cruces, New Mexico Research Fund A long-ago transplant from the East, Wayne Charles Ascher Mark Ferris Jim and Pamela McCue Ben Shouse La Crescenta, California St. Louis, Missouri Idaho Falls, Idaho Washington, DC became a “native Westerner” while working as a ranger with the Bureau of contributors, John W. Bacon Donald and Nancy Field David and Virginia McIntyre Larry Simon South San Francisco, California Middleton, Wisconsin Idaho Springs, Colorado Pleasant Hill, California Land Management in western Allison Banfield Damian Fleming Marcia and John McWilliams Martha and Ken Simonsen Colorado, patrolling the for your Bozeman, Montana Los Altos, California Bellingham, Washington Santa Fe, New Mexico Colorado River and McInnis Anne and Jim Banks Patricia Forsberg and Stephen Meisenholder Robert and Evelyn Squier Canyons National Conservation Bozeman, Montana S.F. Speckart Manhattan Beach, California Portal, Arizona Area. Prior to that, he spent Ezra Bayles Missoula, Montana John K. Moore Julie Stein several years as an interpretive generosity El Prado, New Mexico Hal and Barbara Goss Sacramento, California Brooklyn, New York ranger and later worked as a Reno, Nevada R. Thomas Beach and Mary Moran Robert M. Storm backcountry ranger with the HARE Barbara Peterson Annette Graener Moab, Utah Corvallis, Oregon Kensington, California Denver, Colorado National Park Service at Kristin Newgard Edward A. Sullivan Canyonlands and Rocky Ted and Betty Bezzerides Sallie Greenwood Troy, Montana San Francisco, California Mountain national parks. Brookings, Oregon Boulder, Colorado Chris Norment Richard H. Sweezey Ruth Bigio Karl E. Hartzell Brockport, New York Mercer Island, Washington Wayne has served as a team- building instructor for Outward Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Corvallis, Oregon Nick and Ann Novich Helga Teiwes Chuck and Barbara Biller Ruth Hellman Sheridan, Montana Tucson, Arizona Bound in Boston and as assis- Albuquerque, New Mexico Centennial, Colorado Thomas and Corinne Nyquist Robert S. and tant director of Outdoor Catherine Blais William Hoover New Paltz, New York Diane Thompson Programs at Dartmouth Park City, Utah West Lafayette, Indiana Craig T. Odegard Enumclaw, Washington College in New Hampshire. STEVENS H. Richard Blank Signe Horvath Plains, Montana Erik Thorkildsen Before he was a ranger, Wayne Spokane, Washington Scottsdale, Arizona Mike Opheim Cambridge, Massachusetts worked on several projects with the National Pete Bond Joe Howard Humboldt, Iowa Ronald Tjerandsen Park Service to increase the cultural diversity Howard, Colorado Nederland, Colorado James and Teresa Orr Seattle, Washington of both staff and visitors to natural parks. He Charles J. Brandt and Brad and Teresa Jennings Fresno, California Teresa A. Ukrainetz has written and spoken about the lack of diver- Timothea Elizalde Glenwood Springs, Colorado Laramie, Wyoming Bill and Claudia Page sity on public lands and its causes and effects. Belen, New Mexico Jim and Veonne Kahlen La Madera, New Mexico Sue Van Hoose Noreen A. and Roger Breeding Clackamas, Oregon Clarkdale, Arizona A journalist for 30 years, Jane began her Dennis Parma career at the Boston Globe. She founded a syndi- Bozeman, Montana Charlotte Kemp New Braunfels, Texas Gillian Walford cated science and technology feature service with Randy Chakerian Portland, Oregon Laurie and Tom Ponte Laramie, Wyoming Corvallis, Oregon Genary Kendall Bend, Oregon Catherine J. Walling 20 newspaper clients worldwide, including the Washington Post and Asahi Shimbun’s AERA Ellen W. Chu Lewiston, Idaho Don and Elizabeth Rea Arcata, California Kirkland, Washington Reida J. and Charles Kimmel Albany, Oregon Anne Ware Magazine. She lived and worked in Kenya and Becky C. Cicoria Eugene, Oregon Donald and Gwen Rippey Aspen, Colorado Indonesia. Jane has written for magazines, San Pedro, California Don Kirby Austin, Texas Michael Waterman including National Geographic, and was among Lindy Cogan Santa Fe, New Mexico William Ritchie Dayton, Nevada the first group of videojournalists at New York Hailey, Idaho Karl Kistner Port Angeles, Washington Rebecca Weed and David Tyler Times Television. She’s done multimedia report- Patrick Creehan Las Vegas, Nevada Patrick and Pamela Rollison Belgrade, Montana ing for the New York Times and Discovery Sacramento, California Kathleen I. Kuehn Saratoga, Wyoming Rev. and Mrs. R. Weissert Channel. Jane taught the first multimedia Marvin and Lela Criswell Evergreen, Colorado Wallsburg, Utah Lin Rowland reporting class at the University of California, Fort Collins, Colorado F. Parks and Lucy Landis Flagstaff, Arizona Ed and Jan Whitney Dr. and Mrs. Eustis, Florida Casper, Wyoming Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism, and Helen Rudie helped set up the Knight Digital Media Center’s Nicholas De Morgan David J. Larson Fargo, North Dakota Dave Wicks Portland, Oregon multimedia reporting workshops. She has El Cerrito, California Stephen and Robin Sans Rye, Colorado Willa H. Drummond E. Harry and Gretchen Leland Winnemuca, Nevada John and Jill Winter worked with several news organizations in the Gainesville, Florida process of transitioning to Webcentric news- Boulder, Colorado Herbert P. Sapp Jr. Tucson, Arizona Don Dunlavy Richard C. Lemon Panama City, Florida Barry Wolf rooms, including the Ventura County Star, Laramie, Wyoming Pound Ridge, New York Anne Sawyer Dallas, Texas National Public Radio and High Country News. Daniel Elsner Paul and Nancy Leonard Minneapolis, Minnesota S.L. Zenian Jane is currently a Fellow at the Donald W. Grand Junction, Colorado Santa Fe, New Mexico Council Bluffs, Iowa Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri.

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ULTIMATE SOLU Desalination may finally be coming of age in a thirsty West. Take it with a grain of salt.

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA

ne after another, city councilmen, about every politician and water district the ultimate solution. legislators, farmers, business leader from Southern California. Nowhere is desalination more popular leaders, tourism promoters “I hope you make your approvals so than in California, where nearly 20 plants and water managers took we can get on building the damn thing,” are in the works. It’s not hard to see why: their turn at the dais and said Carlsbad Mayor Claude “Bud” Southern California’s population has near- spoke. Everybody agreed: San Lewis, in one of many hearings, summing ly tripled to 21.7 million since 1960, but Diego County faces a water cri- up the general sentiment of his col- its water supplies are shrinking. sis, and desalinated ocean water leagues. Today, Southern California gets about should be part of the solution. With Now, after numerous hearings and a 600,000 fewer acre-feet of water from the Odrought and climate change a reality and decade of planning, Lewis may get what Colorado River each year than it did a imported water supplies threatened, resi- he wants. Last November’s vote cleared decade ago. And with the San Francisco dents need a reliable local water source. the way for Connecticut-based Poseidon Bay Delta’s ecosystem collapsing from Conservation is important, they all said, Resources to build the $300 million plant. diversions, drought, invasive species and but it can’t do the job alone. By this fall, the plant had secured all but pollution, a federal judge has ordered For 10 hours last November, the talk one of its needed approvals. The San cuts in water deliveries to Southern went on. But when the hearing was over, Diego Regional Water Quality Board still California to protect the threatened Delta the decision was left in the hands of the must sign off on Poseidon’s plan to offset smelt. Southern California farmers took California Coastal Commission. The the plant’s effects on fish, but that a 30 percent water cut this year, and city group has made enemies of developers for shouldn’t be a problem. dwellers will face reductions next year if, years and built a reputation as one of the Desalination was once regarded as a as expected, the judge decides to protect toughest environmental bodies in the pipedream in the West, like towing ice- more imperiled fish. This spring, Gov. country. But when it voted 9-3 to tenta- bergs from the Arctic or building canals Arnold Schwarzenegger, R, declared a tively approve the largest desalination to divert the Columbia River southward. drought. By this fall, reservoirs had sunk plant in the Western Hemisphere, it did But the technology has since improved, to their lowest levels in 14 years, and so over the objections of at least a half- and now, with the population growing officials were warning that they may dozen environmental groups as well as and fresh water supplies threatened by have to cut statewide water deliveries the commission’s own staff. Their con- drought and global warming, all seven from the California State Water Project cerns about potential fish kills and green- Colorado River Basin states are looking by 85 percent next year. house gas emissions from the plant were seriously at it. So are Florida, Texas and Although desalination offers a guar- drowned out by the vocal support of just even the Northeast. Some officials call it anteed, drought-proof local supply, it

14 High Country News November 24, 2008 L U T I O N ?

needs more energy — and churns out War vet and former high school teacher Water District of Southern California and p The Encina more greenhouse gases — than virtually once told an interviewer that his greatest the San Diego County Regional Water Power Station in any other water source in the state. The passions are “the love of my wife and Authority. And for the last decade, he Carlsbad, Califor- pipes that suck seawater into many desal family, the love of Jesus Christ, and my has also been one of the biggest boosters nia, site of the proposed Carlsbad plants kill billions of fish larvae annual- love for the city of Carlsbad.” of Poseidon’s desalination plant. Desalination ly. And because desalinized water costs When Lewis moved to this placid “I told environmentalists that if I had Project, which so much, some activists worry that it will stretch of Southern California coastline it my way, I would kick all of you people would turn put this basic necessity out of reach of in 1954, there were 3,000 people here. He out. But you can’t do that. You have to saltwater from the the poor. was first elected to the Carlsbad city plan for the future. Water is planning for Pacific Ocean into drinking water. Desalination plants are fiendishly council in 1970 and became mayor in the future. This plant takes care of 10 per- J. KATARZYNA complex. Tom Pankratz, a Houston-based 1986. During his tenure, Carlsbad’s pop- cent of our water needs, and it is truly a WORONOWICZ expert, calls desalination “the most com- ulation has exploded; today, 103,000 peo- blessing,” Lewis says. “But talking about plicated kind of infrastructure there is.” ple live on 42 square miles. Fifteen golf- it is one thing and getting it is another.” The plants have to both pre-treat and gear manufacturing companies call Lewis put his political muscle behind treat water to render it drinkable. One Carlsbad home, along with 65 high-tech the plant, even arranging for buses to Long Beach official calls the city’s pilot and biotech firms. There are 3,000 hotel take dozens of project supporters to pub- plant “an O&M (operations and mainte- rooms in the city, with nine new hotels lic hearings. Poseidon has done its part nance) nightmare.” It took three years for on the way. as well. The company has spent about Carlsbad city officials and Poseidon just In the early 1990s, growth and $595,000 on lobbyists in Sacramento to come to terms on how to run their pro- drought collided in Southern California, since 2001. And it gave nearly $2,000 to posed plant. and water use was slashed by up to 30 San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ 2006 But the appeal of salt water won’t go percent. Lewis began to think seriously and 2008 election and re-election cam- away. After all, it comprises 94 percent of about meeting his city’s water needs. He paigns. Poseidon is also tied to the San the world’s water supply, and it isn’t run- was an architect of the city’s growth- Diego mayor’s office through a political ning out. management plan, which caps the popu- consulting firm that has worked closely lation at 120,000. But stopping growth with both the company and Mayor UD LEWIS, THE MAYOR of alone, he says, is not enough to solve the Sanders. BCarlsbad, is a balding, mildly blus- city’s water problems. In recent years, The proposed plant — which would tery man who has lived in Carlsbad for Lewis has learned a lot about water; he pump out 50 million gallons a day, more than half a century. The Korean served on the boards of the Metropolitan enough to quench the thirst of 300,000

www.hcn.org High Country News 15 people — would lie just north of the giant ket for seawater. And it says Poseidon imported water. As a result, Carlsbad Encina Power Station’s dark gray stack. will dedicate nearly 15 acres around the and eight other cities and water districts It would suck water from a serene-look- lagoon to hiking trails, a fish hatchery have signed contracts with the company. ing neighboring estuary, Aqua Hedionda and beach access. It’s a stiff challenge. Colorado River (“stinky water” in Spanish) Lagoon, The video also contains an assurance and State Water Project water costs any- which hosts oyster and mussel farms. from Scott Jenkins of the Scripps where from $250 to $700 per acre-foot The company Poseidon’s plant would join some Institution of Oceanography. A marine (325,851 gallons). Poseidon, meanwhile, predicts that 13,000 desalination facilities worldwide, engineer who works as a consultant to estimates that it can produce water at which collectively produce almost 15 bil- Poseidon, Jenkins says that “the environ- $946 per acre-foot, and it will get a $250 over time, as lion gallons a day, a number that’s grow- mental impacts of these plants have been per acre-foot subsidy from the Southern ing by about 10 to 15 percent each year. studied all over the world … providing California Metropolitan Water District demand There are over 2,100 such plants in the scientists with a vast body of data which (ultimately paid for by water consumers United States, but they’re generally has confirmed that these plants do not in six counties). That figure is hotly dis- grows, the small facilities that treat brackish harm the marine environment.” puted, however, in part because of high cost of groundwater rather than ocean water. Finally, the video explains that the energy prices: The Coastal Commission’s Together, they provide less than one-half plant’s filters will remove impurities so staff warns that today’s desalination cost imported of one percent of all U.S. water supplies. small they can’t be seen by the naked eye. is closer to $1,400 an acre-foot. (In fact, If the Carlsbad plant is built and its “The membrane converts sea water into water from a host of new desalination water will operation proves financially feasible, how- two streams: ultra high-quality drinking plants in Australia costs twice that.) ultimately ever, it could open the door to new facili- water and concentrated sea water, which The company predicts that over time, ties up and down the coast. As a result, is then mixed with sea water leaving the as demand grows, the cost of imported surpass the the battle over the plant has become the power station to the ocean. The entire water will ultimately surpass the cost of front line in the nationwide war over process takes 20 minutes.” desalination. But environmentalists and cost of desalination. Perhaps. But getting a plant built and other critics remain dubious, and warn The company chose a good location to running properly — even in Carlsbad — that Poseidon could ultimately cost desalination. make its stand. Not only is the region will take much, much longer. ratepayers much more than they bar- But environ- thirsty, but Carlsbad is also home to 35 gained for. desalination-related companies, employ- HIS IS GOOD STUFF,” Pete Take the Tampa Bay region on the mentalists and ing more than 2,000 people. “TMcLaggan says as he downs a cup- Gulf Coast of Florida, for example. In “San Diego County is to desalination ful of freshly desalinated water from his 1996, the court ordered a reduction in other critics and reverse osmosis as Silicon Valley is company’s pilot project, a miniature ver- groundwater pumping by more than 30 remain to computer chips,” says Peter sion of the proposed Carlsbad plant. He percent by 2008, because it was drying McLaggan, Poseidon’s executive vice hands me a cup, too, and I notice a up wetlands and allowing saltwater to dubious. president. The company’s promotional slightly sweet taste. Between the ocean invade freshwater aquifers. Three years video says the plant will boost Carlsbad’s and my cup, the water had to go through later, Tampa Bay Water, the regional desalination economy by bringing 2,100 a reverse osmosis system, including a utility, opted to build a desalination plant construction jobs, more high-tech and series of filters to remove debris, and about half the size of the proposed biotech employers and $37 million a year then 8,000 highly pressurized mem- Carlsbad plant. It was to open in 2002 at in revenue. It also warns that if the branes that remove salt. a production cost of less than one-fourth water shortages aren’t fixed, thousands Because of such technological the cost of the plants coming on line in of local jobs will be lost. improvements, desalination today costs Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Flashing back and forth from testimo- about a third of what it did 30 years ago. Poseidon was put in charge of the project. nials to scenes of surf, sand and sun, the Poseidon is so confident about the eco- But in the next four years, three of video points out that half of San Diego nomics of desalination that it has prom- the plant’s contractors went bankrupt. County’s residents live less than 10 miles ised that its customers will never have to Some filters lasted only four days, and from the ocean, making it a growing mar- pay more for desalinated water than for membranes that should have lasted five

16 High Country News November 24, 2008 t The Carlsbad pilot desalination project. From left, the area where pipes would bring water from the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon into the proposed desalination plant; operating engineer Dan Marler drawing a glass of water from the pilot project; filter for the reverse osmosis process; desalinated water fresh from the plant is pumped back into the lagoon. J. KATARZYNA WORONOWICZ

to seven years had to be replaced after mals and other large organisms get all in all, I think they are doing a master- two years, recalls Ken Herd, the plant’s pinned against or otherwise caught in ful job,” Raimondi says of the San Onofre director from 2002 to 2008. In May 2002, huge intake pipes. Others squeeze wetlands restoration. He adds that after the second bankruptcy, Tampa Bay through the intakes, but die inside the Poseidon’s wetlands restoration, if it goes Water decided to take control of the near- facilities, from the heat or from high- as planned, will compensate for the ly half-finished plant. But the problems speed collisions with one another or by plant’s effects on fish. “The wetlands continued. By the time the plant was smashing against the sides. along the coast are so degraded, we need ready to operate in December 2007, the “Everything that goes in, dies,” says to fix them. This may not be the p.c. way water district had sunk another $48 mil- Raimondi, a University of California at to do them, but it may be the only way.” lion into it, and the cost of the water had Santa Cruz biology professor who has A recent federal court ruling, howev- nearly doubled. reviewed Poseidon’s plans for the Coastal er, says those efforts may not be enough. Who was to blame? Nobody could Commission. The 2007 Riverkeeper II ruling curbed agree. But officials in Carlsbad say they’ll The San Onofre nuclear power plant the freewheeling use of seawater intakes insulate themselves from the kind of north of Camp Pendleton kills an estimat- to bring in power-plant cooling water, problems that plagued Tampa by giving ed 6 billion to 7 billion fish larvae annual- and required the “best technology avail- the company total control. Still, that puts ly, Raimondi says. Another 4 billion a year able.” Plants must recycle the seawater, a crucial public resource into private die at the Carlsbad power plant, as well as or install a dry cooling system that runs hands, which critics say is dangerous. “As at the one in Huntington Beach. boiler steam through radiator-like coils. a utility, you can shift the financial risk Desalination plants can take fish on a The ruling also made it clear that creat- to the private sector,” warns Tampa similarly fatal ride; in fact, many desal ing wetlands or other manmade projects Bay’s Herd, “but you can’t shift the plants share water intake systems with to offset the fish kills wasn’t enough. responsibility of providing drinking water neighboring power plants. As a result, the Encina Power Plant, to your customers to the private sector.” Power plants have tried to mitigate for one, plans to modify its plant with a kills by putting screens on intake pipes, dry cooling system in the next few years. RITICS OF THE CARLSBAD pro- and they’ve tried to offset damage by A quarter of all coastal California plants Cposal, from the Sierra Club to coastal restoring wetlands elsewhere. Southern have said they’ll shift to less damaging environmental groups like San Diego California Edison, which operates the San cooling methods, says Tom Luster, a Coastkeeper and Surfrider, worry about a Onofre nuclear plant, is building a 150-acre Coastal Commission staffer. West Coast repeat of the Tampa Bay fias- wetland restoration project in Del Mar Unfortunately, desalination plants will co. But they have an even bigger concern: north of San Diego. Meanwhile, Poseidon not be able to piggyback onto those sys- billions of dead fish. has agreed to construct a 55-acre wetland tems because the dry cooling technology In the early 1970s, researchers dis- restoration, but it has yet to specify a site, won’t supply enough water. Instead, the covered millions of dead fish near power and critics are dismayed by the fact that it new desalting plants will have to rely on plants in the East and the Deep South. has up to seven years to complete it. the same fish-inhaling intake pipes that The kills were blamed on the practice of Then again, the San Onofre nuclear the old power plants did. pulling power-plant cooling water out of power plant didn’t even start building its Whether Riverkeeper applies to the ocean with large intake pipes, distrib- wetlands until 2006, decades after it start- desalination plants is still up in the air; uting it to the plant through a condenser ed operating. Today, the company is the ruling doesn’t specifically mention and discharging it back into the sea at roughly half-finished restoring a tidal wet- them. But an analogous state law does elevated temperatures. land in and around the city of Del Mar, cover desalination plants, and it is So California fish biologist Pete bringing back to life an area that has been stronger than the federal Clean Water Raimondi wasn’t surprised when, 15 all but destroyed by roads, freeways, an Act. Environmentalists have sued to get years ago, as he started studying how airport and subdivisions. Biologists for the Riverkeeper applied to Poseidon, and if marine life responded to the state’s 22 Coastal Commission hope this project will they succeed, it will likely put the kibosh coastal power plants, he saw oodles of serve as a model for Poseidon. on the plant. dead fish. Some fish, birds, marine mam- “We’ve had some disagreements, but “There’s so few fish left,” says Conner

www.hcn.org High Country News 17 Everts, a Santa Monica activist who grew from elsewhere. Less water would need to equivalent amount of imported water. In up in Southern California during the be pumped from the north or the east, August, the full Coastal Commission fol-

1950s and ’60s. “When I was young, we meaning reduced demand on the Colorado lowed suit, voting overwhelmingly to side r were catching yellowtail, bonita, halibut River and California Delta, less energy with Poseidon on that issue and on the s and sand bass off the piers out here. You use, and a decrease in the quantities of wetlands mitigation plan. e rarely see those anymore. The stuff they greenhouse gases spewed into the air. Afterward, Everts decided to go to g By simply catch now — Spanish mackerel, croaker, Still, the 4,000 kilowatt hours or more work with the Los Angeles Department Tommy cod — they are small fish that we that it takes to desalt an acre-foot of of Water and Power, promoting landscap- cutting its would have thrown back or used for bait.” ocean water is about twice the power it ing water conservation. He was drawn to a- water use to takes to get an acre-foot of Colorado that agency because this year it dropped ng VERTS IS DIRECTOR OF THE River water to San Diego County, accord- desalination from its long-range plans in L.A.’s levels, ESouthern California Watershed ing to the Pacific Institute, an environ- favor of conservation and wastewater j- Alliance and co-chair of a coalition of envi- mental and economic think tank. So to recycling. Even after getting $1.5 million Carlsbad alone ronmental groups that questions desalina- make up for the difference, Poseidon says in state and federal grants to design a - could save tion. He works in a cubbyhole of an office it will also rely on solar power and invest pilot desalination facility, the department m space in the back of a Santa Monica store- in a variety of carbon offset projects. decided a plant would be too energy- some 5 million front. He was schooled in conservation Critics, however, point out that any intensive, and would cost several million o back in the 1970s, when he worked on the imported water that is given up by the dollars more to build and have more com- gallons of Maine homestead of back-to-the-land pio- utilities that opt for desalination will plex environmental issues than expected,

neers Helen and Scott Nearing. He later soon be gobbled by growth here or else- a department spokeswoman said. water each worked for the city of Pasadena as a con- where. After all, throwing water at “There is enough water to be saved day, reducing sultant. While there, Everts engineered a Southern California and asking it not to out there, and when you save water, host of conservation programs during an use it to grow is akin to throwing oxygen you’re not only saving energy, you’re cut- the need to extended drought, bringing the city’s total and tinder-dry brush at a wildfire and ting down on runoff,” Everts says. “You’re water use down by 27 percent from 1986 asking it not to burn it up. So even a fulfilling multiple objectives, and you’re turn ocean to 1991. His staff installed low-flow toilets giant desalination plant producing at full getting multiple benefits. When you do and worked with commercial laundries, capacity may not ultimately reduce desal, you are creating impacts and only water into the Rose Bowl, golf courses and restau- demand on other water sources. creating high-cost water.” drinking water. rants to get them to conserve. “We know we are at a historic Conservation, he says, is the answer drought that is the result of climate TILL, SOME DESALINATION to Carlsbad’s water problems, not desali- change,” said San Diego Coastkeeper SPLANTS have run into less resistance. nation. Each person in San Diego County director Bruce Reznick at one of the For 10 years, the city of Long Beach has uses between 175 to 185 gallons per day, Poseidon hearings. “Why in God’s name worked on its own pilot plant. Since 2005, he says, compared to 128 daily inside the would we approve the most energy- it has run 300,000 gallons a day through city of Los Angeles. By simply cutting its dependent and energy-intensive project the plant — enough to supply a town of water use to L.A.’s levels, Carlsbad alone to create local water and exacerbate the about 4,000 people. Because officials are could save some 5 million gallons of very problems we are trying to fix?” regularly varying the water’s quality for water each day, reducing the need to Such arguments were whisked aside testing purposes, it is not used for drink- turn ocean water into drinking water. by the Metropolitan Water District, how- ing; it’s simply routed back to sea. Proponents of the plant see things dif- ever. The massive utility agreed to subsi- Long Beach doesn’t expect to operate ferently, however. For them, every drop of dize Poseidon’s plant by $14 million annu- a full-scale plant until about 2015, and it ocean water that’s desalted results in ally because the water agencies using the will produce no more than 10 million gal- another drop of water that is not imported desalinated water will forgo the use of an continued on page 20

u San Dieguito River Park in Del Mar, California, part of Southern California Edison’s mitigation for environmental damage caused by its San Onofre nuclear plant. J. KATARZYNA WORONOWICZ

18 High Country News November 24, 2008 Desperate 7 measures 4 10 With water shortages a constant, Westerners are looking at wacky (and not so wacky) ways to squeeze more water out of the sky and land.

Tamarisk removal 1 Tamarisk — which infests some 1 million acres in the 2 West — chokes out willows and cottonwoods, and ruins 1 beaches. It also slurps up lots of water — some say a single tamarisk drinks 200 gallons per day. Estimated cost to remove it? $3,000 per acre, though newer methods, such as tamarisk-eating beetles, are cheaper. Logging for water 2 In 2002, as Colorado was racked by drought, the state proposed something drastic: Clear-cutting its forests to increase runoff. Fewer trees, the theory goes, would 5 result in more snow on the ground — it was proven on a small scale in Wyoming. Most people just laughed at the 3 idea because of the high cost and environmental impacts. The Big Straw 3 Hear that sucking sound? This scheme would have 11 had a 200-mile pipeline carrying Colorado River water from the Utah border back, uphill, to the Front Range of Colorado. The idea was born in the 1980s, discarded, 6 then reborn during the 2002 drought. It’s dead again, at 9 least until the next devastating dry spell. “Oregon’s Oil” 4 The Colorado River provides water to about three 8 times the population of Oregon and Washington combined, but it has less than one-tenth the water of the Northwest’s Columbia River. So why not pipe water from the Columbia down to the Southwest? It’s been consid- ered since the 1960s, and just last year, Oregon State Sen. DIANE SYLVAIN David Nelson began pushing the idea in earnest again to Strange brew generate revenue for his state. He figures sending some 1 7 Conceived in the 1950s, the North American Water fund cloud-seeding efforts in Colorado, power companies million acre-feet of water southward would net his state and Power Alliance would have moved water from Canada support it in Idaho and Los Angeles County is forking out about $3 billion per year. The salmon may not like the to the Southwest and Great Plains via an ambitious network $800,000 this year to seed clouds over the San Gabriel idea, but if it’s not done, says Nelson, “Oregon will of pipes and canals, including a giant pump in Montana to Mountains. Problem is, it may not work: It’s true that become the Appalachia of the West.” clear the Rockies. It actually gained favor on a federal level introducing particles into moisture-laden clouds can help in the 1960s, but faded into wacky water obscurity by the create raindrops, but there’s not enough conclusive evi- Pipe dreams 1970s. In recent years, the idea has surfaced again. dence to determine if and how much extra precipitation 5 The idea of funneling water from one river basin to this may create in a specific spot. And if it does work, is it another is pretty old hat. But these days, thirsty Western Bonanza! just stealing rain from those downwind? A five-year study communities are getting more ambitious. Utah’s proposed 8 While studying the source of a couple of wells, in Wyoming, costing more than $8 million, is under way Lake Powell Pipeline would move 100,000 acre-feet of Sandoval County, N.M., officials recently discovered an in hopes of answering these questions. Regardless of its water across 177 miles to three booming counties in south- aquifer near the rapidly growing city of Rio Rancho that actual effectiveness, it’s valuable as a sort of meteorologi- western Utah at a cost of at least $1 billion. There’s also contains some 4 million acre-feet of water, or enough for cal placebo: Ski areas tout cloud-seeding programs in their the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s $2 billion-$3.5 bil- a city of 300,000 people for 100 years (75,000 people marketing propaganda, and water managers get to say lion proposal to pump up to 167,000 acre-feet of ground- now live in the city). Rio Rancho officials now have visions they’re actually doing something about the weather. water from the state’s basin and range country through of even more growth. Problem is, the water’s brackish, so Meanwhile, conservation-minded folks say that it would 327 miles of pipeline to Las Vegas. In Colorado, business- it must be desalinated. Cost to build the pumping and make more sense to spend that money on efficiency man Aaron Million has proposed a privately financed $2 desalting facility? $47 million. measures, such as low-flow toilets and showerheads. billion-$4 billion, 400-mile-long pipeline that would trans- port water from Utah’s Flaming Gorge Reservoir through Off the roof Pluviculture Wyoming to Colorado’s Front Range cities. 9 In order to harvest rainwater in Colorado, one must 11 Modern-day cloud seeding may have its roots in the navigate onerous state water laws. Not so in one arid Arizona mysterious craft of Charles Mallory Hatfield. Back in the Bagging it city. In October, Tucson became the first city in the U.S. to early 1900s, Hatfield built a tower in the San Gabriels 6 During dry 2002, Alaska businessman Ric Davidge require commercial developments to harvest rainwater. Under from which he disseminated his secret concoction of 23 proposed filling giant poly-fiber bags with 13 million gal- the law, which takes effect in 2010, developers will have to chemicals into the air in order to create rain. After a lons of water each from Northern California’s Gualala get half of their landscaping water from the roof. storm came, local ranchers paid him $1,000 for his “mois- River, and then towing them with barges and tugs all the ture acceleration” talents. Later, the city of San Diego way down the coast to San Diego. The Gualala locals Seeding the clouds hired him. A few days after he set up his tower, a deluge weren’t so happy, and when the California Coastal 10 Of all the unconventional solutions to drought, struck, breaking a dam and wreaking havoc. The city Commission voted to oppose the measure, Davidge with- “seeding” rain clouds with silver iodide to increase precipi- never paid him. drew the plan. tation is the most widely implemented. Ski areas —Jonathan Thompson

www.hcn.org High Country News 19 Desalination continued from page 18

lons a day. But the finished plant will run on a new technology, called dual- stage nanofiltration, that’s drawn a lot of interest in the water world. In research slated to be published this fall, the department, working with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, con- cludes that its new technology — known as “the Long Beach Way” — is 20 to 30 percent more energy-efficient than reverse osmosis. That’s because its membranes are looser and require less pressure to push the water through. Five miles from the plant, city officials have just started testing another new technology: underground “beach wells.” The wells are actually perforated pipes, poking 15 to 20 feet underground, designed to draw in seawater without “We believe killing fish. The system is modeled on a 13.2-million-gallon a day desalination that desal is plant in Fukuoka, Japan, whose wells lie 2,000 feet out at sea underneath 7 feet of p Conner Everts at the jetty where ocean the future, and sand and graded gravel. water is drawn into the Encina Power Plant for there’s no “We believe that desal is the future, and cooling. Warmer water is returned to the sea. there’s no arguing the opposite,” says Ryan t Carlsbad wouldn’t need a new desalination arguing the Alsop, government and public affairs direc- plant, and the hazards it brings to fisheries, if tor for the Long Beach Water Department. it would conserve water. opposite. But “But right now, a number of major issues J. KATARZYNA WORONOWICZ are hindering its development. We’re tak- right now, a ing the opportunity to build one of these ant, two recently built brackish-water number of things in a measured, transparent way, to plants are running smoothly in central position ourselves for building a larger one California, several new seawater plants major issues when the time is right.” are in the works in Florida, two plants Environmentalists joined the Coastal are under construction in Massachusetts, are hindering Commission staff in urging Poseidon to and a wind-powered facility is under its develop- follow the Long Beach Way. But Poseidon study in Texas. refused, saying its tests found that it Yet Pankratz agrees with other ment.” would need 200 beach wells over seven experts that all desalination plants must miles. That would have been economical- be handled with extreme care and con- —Ryan Alsop, govern- ly infeasible and also might damage off- structed at deliberate speed because of ment and public affairs shore kelp beds. their cost and complexity. director for the Long Heather Cooley of the Pacific A variety of researchers have joined Beach Water Department Institute agrees. Beach wells are “very, California officials and the Coastal very site specific,” says Cooley, a senior Commission in endorsing desalination, at researcher for the Oakland-based insti- least in theory. Both the National tute. “In terms of the very large, 50-mil- Academy of Sciences and the Pacific lion-gallons-a-day plants, beach wells are Institute, an environmental think tank, not likely an option.” say they believe it will be part of the $15 million worth of cracks in the welds West’s water future. But they also agree LOT DEPENDS ON WHETHER of many pipes. Nevertheless, they hope to that a long list of uncertainties about cost, ACalifornia’s drought continues. restart the Yuma plant at about one- energy and environment must be resolved. Desalting facilities are the norm in places third of capacity next year. Poseidon has “In the end, decisions about desalina- that lack other water sources, such as the another desal plant up its sleeve, as well: tion developments will revolve around Middle East and Australia. The few a proposed plant up the coast in complex evaluations of local circum- plants that exist in the U.S. were origi- Huntington Beach for which the company stances and needs, economics, financing, nally built during or right after dry expects to get final state approvals by environmental and social impacts, and spells, but were later mothballed when next summer. Environmentalists will available alternatives,” says the Pacific the need for water proved less imminent. fight it, too, as will many Huntington Institute in a 2006 report. Today, however, with water becoming Beach residents, although the city council Conner Everts says that desalination more and more precious, some of those supports it. is tantamount to a religion in San Diego. plants may come back to life. In El Paso, Texas, water officials That may be so, but with plenty of In 1992, a $250 million plant in opened a 27-million-gallon-a-day ground- heretics worried about fish, energy use Yuma, Ariz., that treats brackish groundwater plant last year. It’s only running at and expensive water, it might pay to take water was shut down due to flood dam- a fraction of capacity right now, but at desalination with a grain of salt. n age almost as soon as construction was full tilt it should end the area’s long his- completed. Last year, the U.S. Bureau of tory of water shortages, and guarantee This article was made possible with sup- Reclamation tested the 100-million-gal- enough for a huge expansion at neighbor- port from the William C. Kenney lon-a-day plant at 10 percent of capacity ing Fort Bliss Army Base. According to Watershed Protection Foundation and the for three months. Authorities have found Tom Pankratz, the desalination consult- Jay Kenney Foundation.

20 High Country News November 24, 2008 Green Gift Guide

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www.hcn.org High Country News 21 classifiedsGreen Gift Guide

<#>22 HighHighCountryCountryNewsNewsNovemberOctober 27,24, 2008 THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE

Explore red-rock A historical and personal canyons, sandstone exploration of North arches and aspen- Dakota’s Sheyenne River: covered mountains immigration, Indian on the Colorado wars, small towns, grass- Plateau. Visit a region lands. “King deftly leads of 40 national parks us from reflections on the and monuments and past of the entire Great millions of acres of public land. Captions Plains to reflections on provide GPS coordinates and road condi- the future of the area.” tions to plan your adventure. — Linda Hasselstrom 2009 EXPLORING THE COLORADO STEPPING TWICE INTO THE RIVER: PLATEAU: Thirteen month calendar – Following Dakota Waters January 2009 thru January 2010 Robert King Jim Ridge, author and photographer: 203 pages, softcover, $19.95 $12.95 University Press of Colorado, 2005 Light Rain Productions, 2008 ISBN 0-87081-792-2 ISBN# 978-0-09714312-6-3 www.upcolorado.com www.extcp.com, 314-651-3607 http://robertkingpoet.com

When our nation was The Homeowner’s in the depths of the Handbook provides Great Depression, an clear guidelines for army of young men improving the efficien- went to work on our cy of new and existing public lands creating homes. It shows readers the visitor-friendly how to evaluate their places we have today. homes, embark on sim- This is the story of ple do-it-yourself proj- their work on the Colorado Plateau. ects, and take the first steps towards reducing their utility costs by WITH PICKS, SHOVELS, AND HOPE: 50 to 75 percent. The Legacy of the CCC on the Colorado Plateau THE HOMEOWNER’S HANDBOOK TO Wayne K. Hinton and Elizabeth A. Green ENERGY EFFICIENCY 304 pages, softcover, $30.00 John Krigger and Chris Dorsi Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2008 Pages 256, softcover, $24.95 ISBN# 978-0878425464 ISBN: 978-1-880120-18-7 www.mountain-press.com, 1-800-234-5308 Published by Saturn Resource Management, www.homeownershandbook.biz

The letters collected in this Songs for the Earth, A book document the 50-year Tribute to Rachel mountaineering career of Ruth Carson celebrates the Dyar Mendenhall. “A priceless mother of the mod- collection of letters and ern-day environmen- accounts by one of the first tal movement with women climbers in America,” songs by Pete Seeger, says Lynn Hill. Malinda Tom Paxton, Cindy Chouinard of Patagonia calls Kallet, Tish Hinojosa, Magpie, Walkin’Jim Woman on the Rocks “an Stoltz, and many others. All profits go toward important addition to American women’s grants that support environmental projects. climbing history.”

WOMAN ON THE ROCKS: The Mountaineering SONGS FOR THE EARTH: A TRIBUTE TO Letters of Ruth Dyar Mendenhall Edited by Valerie Mendenhall Cohen RACHEL CARSON 352 pages, softcover, $18.95 Musicians United to Sustain the Publisher: Spotted Dog Press, Inc. 2007 Environment (MUSE) ISBN# 978-1-893343-15-3 CD, 18 songs, $14.00 http://spotteddogpress.com/shopsite_sc/ Visit the Web site for MUSE at 800-417-2790 www.musemusic.org.

A place where geogra- Songs on the aptly phy has defined history, titled Wilderness bear Wallula Gap is that nar- such a strong sense of rowing of the mighty place, a connection to Columbia River midway the physical geography between the Rocky of the land and the Mountains and Pacific psychological contours Ocean. This new book tells the geological, of a restless soul in natural and human history of this remark- pursuit of some degree able gateway to the Columbia Plateau. of grace and definition –– David McGee, theBluegrassSpecial.com. WHERE THE GREAT RIVER BENDS: Featuring songwriter/wildlife biologist A natural and human history of the Randy Riviere and several special guests — Columbia at Wallula including Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame Edited by Robert J. Carson Member James Burton. 240 pages, 264 illustrations, softcover, $35.00, 11”x 8.5” full color WILDERNESS Keokee Books • November 2008 Mad Buffalo ISBN 978-1-879628-32-8 CD, 12 songs www.KeokeeBooks.com or 1-800-880-3573 www.madbuffalo.com

www.hcn.org High Country News 23 MARKETPLACE

NOTICE TO OUR ADVERTISERS: natural legacy. Crag is hiring an associate bases. This individual will have responsibil- land-use regulations; analyzing develop- Ad submissions must be received no later attorney with one to three years’ litigation ity for establishing and implementing the ment proposals, site design plans, and land- than 5 p.m., Nov. 24, for insertion in the experience and a demonstrated commit- strategic and operational direction for the use applications for compliance with regu- Dec. 8 issue. Call Sandra for display ads and ment to the public interest for a two-year foundation’s fund-raising and communica- lations, standards, and statutes; preparing Angie for line ads and for the media land- fellowship. Visit www.crag.org for more tions programs. For more information on and presenting staff reports for the scape at 800-311-5852, or e-mail advertis- details. the position, please e-mail the UWACF Planning and Zoning Commission and [email protected]. For more information about Executive Director, Robert Hasenyager at Board of County Commissioners; compre- our current rates and display ad options, “FRIENDS OF THE DESERT MOUN- [email protected]. hensive and long-range planning processes; select “Download Our Media Kit” at TAINS,” a land-trust organization in Palm customer service and teamwork. www.hcn.org/advertising.jsp. Desert, Calif., is seeking a CEO/Executive DEPUTY PLANNING ADMINISTRATOR — Candidates must be highly organized and Director. FODM’s mission is “acquire, pre- PICTURESQUE TETON COUNTY, IDAHO, be able to maintain effective working rela- ADVERTISING POLICY: serve and protect lands in the Coachella is an all-season recreation wonderland tionships with other departments, public We accept advertising because it helps pay Valley area and increase awareness/support located on the quiet side of the Teton officials, state agencies and organized the costs of publishing a high-quality, full- for these efforts and for the Santa Rosa and Mountains. The county has been experi- groups. The position supervises the plan- color newsmagazine where topics are well- San Jacinto Mountains National encing development pressures, more than ning and technical staff of the department. researched and reported in a balanced, in- Monument.” FODM owns 13,000 acres of doubling population in seven years. The A bachelor’s degree in urban or regional depth manner. The percentage of the maga- land and is involved with 30,000 in land Planning, Zoning, Building and GIS planning or a closely related field and three zine’s income that is derived from advertis- deals involving millions of dollars. Position Department currently has an opening for a years of planning and zoning experience is ing is modest, and the number of advertis- is full-time, salaried, with benefits. Résumés Deputy Planning Administrator. This posi- needed; a master’s degree in planning or ing pages will not exceed one-third of our to [email protected]. tion assists with the planning and zoning related field is preferred. A full job descrip- printed pages. We are proud of the profes- functions of the office and requires skill in tion is available on the county Web site. sional relationships our advertising staff has ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ADJUNCT cultivated with marketers and strive to FACULTY for courses at Prescott College in bring information on products and services the beautiful mountains of Arizona. Issues that serve our readership. of global food production –– spring 2009. All advertisements are subject to the M.A/M.S. required. For more details, visit publisher’s approval upon determination us at www.prescott.edu/jobs. that the products or services are in keeping with High Country News’ philosophy. The DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COM- publisher reserves the right to reject or can- MUNICATIONS, UTAH WILDLIFE AND cel any advertisement, insertion order, space CONSERVATION FOUNDATION — reservation, or position commitment at any Organization: The Utah Wildlife and time without cause. The publisher reserves Conservation Foundation (UWACF) is a the right to insert the word “advertisement” Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation above or below any copy. founded in March 2007. UWACF has two primary focuses, to promote appreciation EMPLOYMENT and conservation of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and to ensure the future of ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY — The Crag Law Utah’s 75 “at risk” native wildlife species. Center is a nonprofit client-focused law Position: This is a new, full-time position center that supports community efforts to created to enhance awareness of the foun- protect and sustain the Pacific Northwest’s dation and expand and diversify its funding

24 High Country News November 24, 2008 Starting salary is $55,000 annually. Submit prepare maps, figures and spatial analyses cable statistical software (e.g. R, S-Plus, SAS). RESENTATIVE/NATIONAL COAL CAM- application and résumé to the Teton upon request by and in coordination with This position will be based in Bozeman, PAIGN/ALASKA: Experienced campaigner County Planning Administrator at 89 scientists and other program staff. Assist GIS Mont. AA/EOE. Women and minorities are to lead a team in Alaska that’s creating a North Main Street # 4, Driggs, ID 83422 or administrator with developing tools for encouraged to apply. To apply, visit path to a new energy future for Alaska by e-mail to [email protected]. analysis, management of information and www.worldwildlife.org/about/jobs.cfm, job moving away from coal and energizing the Applications can be found at www.teton- dissemination of the same to staff. Basic #29080. development of renewable energy. countyidaho.gov. Position open until filled. requirements: An undergraduate degree in Candidates will have experience develop- geography, environmental sciences or related SIERRA CLUB OPENINGS, CLEAN ENER- ing strategy for public education cam- GIS LANDSCAPE ANALYST, NORTHERN field, including appropriate coursework in GY/NO COAL CAMPAIGN IN NORTH- paigns and evaluating their effectiveness, GREAT PLAINS — World Wildlife Fund landscape ecology, GIS and/or remote sens- WEST AND ALASKA — Sierra Club is representing organizations to the public, (WWF), the global conservation organiza- ing. In addition, two years’ experience work- looking for talented, experienced organiz- media and government officials, and expe- tion leading international efforts for a living ing in GIS and experience developing, com- ers and a Senior Campaign Representative rience with budgets and fund raising. planet, seeks a GIS Landscape Analyst to be pleting and evaluating spatial analysis proj- for its Northwest Clean Energy/No Coal Deadline to respond: Wednesday, Nov. 26. responsible for contributing to the research, ects required. High-level knowledge of ESRI campaign. The Sierra Club strives to For more information, contact Dan spatial analysis and map-making needs of the ArcGIS 9.2 and knowledge of other pro- reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by Ritzman [email protected]. No Northern Great Plains Ecoregion Program. grams that interface with ArcGIS during 2050 and replace dirty fossil fuel energy calls, please. Send résumés to This position will maintain a functional and analysis (MS Excel and Access) required. with clean energy efficiency and renewable [email protected]. Sierra Club is an up-to-date GIS database and GIS lab. Will Preferred master’s degree in geography, envi- sources such as wind and solar. Campaign equal opportunity employer committed to perform periodic updates and general lab ronmental sciences or related field, five years staff will work with coalition partners, vol- a diverse workforce. Explore, enjoy and maintenance; provide support to programs of related work experience, knowledge of the unteers, the media and government offi- protect the planet. by doing research and appropriate analyses; Northern Great Plains ecoregion and appli- cials to ensure policies that meet these goals at the local, state and federal level. FOUR CORNERS SCHOOL OF OUTDOOR ASSOCIATE REGIONAL REPRESENTA- EDUCATION (FCS) seeks a Bioregional TIVE PORTLAND: Energetic organizers Outdoor Education Project (BOEP) pro- will recruit, train and involve volunteers gram manager to be based in Monticello, on public education campaign to move Utah. BOEP is an award-winning teacher the Pacific Northwest beyond coal and professional development program work- achieve clean energy solutions. Write cam- ing with teachers/schools in the four-state paign materials, plan media events. SEN- Colorado Plateau to create sustainable IOR CAMPAIGN REPRESENTATIVE outdoor, place-based education programs (SEATTLE OR PORTLAND): The Senior in K-8 public and BIA schools. Candidates Campaign Representative has overall pro- should have at least a bachelor’s degree in gram management responsibility, and pro- education (master’s preferred), teaching vides experienced leadership and strategic certification, and at least five years of envi- planning for the Northwest component of ronmental education experience and the Western Clean Energy/ No Coal administrative/financial experience. This is Campaign. Candidates will have experi- a full-time, year-round salaried position ence developing strategy for public educa- with benefits. For more information, call tion campaigns, representing organiza- 1-800-525-4456 and request a hiring pack- tions to the public, media and government et, or download a packet from officials, and experience with budgets and www.boep.org. Applications due Dec. 1; fund raising. SENIOR CAMPAIGN REP- start date Jan. 2.

www.hcn.org High Country News 25 SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR — The Nature management on public and private lands enjoy outdoor recreation and environmen- national conservation organization. Success Conservancy is seeking a Pacific North within the southern portion of the Greater tal education. Request job description from with the Trust requires maturity, independ- America Conservation Region (PNACR) Yellowstone Ecosystem. Responsibilities [email protected]. Applicants: Send cover letter, ence, high ethical standards and a dedica- Senior Policy Advisor. This position devel- include leading a staff of eight in evaluating résumé, and contact information for three tion to preserving the enduring resource of ops, coordinates and implements strategies and advocating public policy issues; devel- references to [email protected]. wilderness. General tasks include develop- to further the work of the Conservancy and oping strong member, community and gov- ing and stewarding new donor contacts and its conservation partners through direct ernment relations; fund raising; working CHARTER SCHOOL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the existing donor portfolio across the interaction with the U.S. Congress and fed- closely with a volunteer board; and ensur- Aldo Leopold High School is a small, inno- United States to grow donor support to eral agencies. S/he identifies conservation ing continued organizational success to vative charter school emphasizing direct match our significant programmatic suc- policy and funding opportunities, evaluates maintain harmony between human activi- experience, inquiry learning, stimulation of cess. This is an exceptional opportunity to the potential for TNC and NGO partner ties and the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, sce- the creative process, and involvement in the join a very well respected, stable and growing involvement, and develops and implements nic and other natural resources. Salary and community and natural environment. national organization where individual and these strategies at the regional and national benefits DOE/competitive with similar- ALHS is located in Silver City, N.M., the team success matter. Five years of progres- level. The ideal candidate will possess a sized organizations in the region. Send gateway to the Gila National Forest and sively responsible leadership in fund raising bachelor’s degree in political science, public cover letter and résumé to: E.D. Search, Wilderness Area. Maximum enrollment is and conservation are required. A graduate policy, government relations or related field Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, P.O. 120 students. Contract begins July 1, 2009, degree and specific experience developing and seven to 10 years’ government rela- Box 2728, Jackson, WY 83001, or at the latest. Salary $80K + DOE. Full posi- major gift programs are highly valued. Please tions/external affairs experience or equiva- [email protected]. Deadline: Until tion description available at e-mail a cover letter, résumé and three refer- lent education and experience acceptable filled. No phone calls, please. www.aldoleopoldhs.org. ALHS is an equal ences to Reid Haughey, President, at and experience with current political and opportunity employer. [email protected]. Please write conservation trends and issues in the CARPENTERS — 15 years’ minimum expe- Development Director in the subject Western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. This is a rience. Trim, frame, concrete. Housing NATURALIST RIVER GUIDE — Entry-level line. For more information about our regional position and can be located in San available. 435-335-7535. River Apprentice, camp cook/caretaker, and organization and for a full job description, Francisco, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Bend, Ore.; intern positions for Canyonlands Field please visit our Web site at www.wilder- or Seattle, Wash. To view the entire job HEAL UTAH SEEKS AN OUTREACH Institute outdoor education programs in nesslandtrust.org. Location is flexible. description and to apply, please visit DIRECTOR to engage the public and our Moab, Utah, and on the Colorado, Green Applications are due by Nov. 30. www.nature.org/careers. Job #10630. membership in policy decisions pertaining and San Juan Rivers. Apply NOW for Application deadline is Dec. 5. EOE. to nuclear waste and Utah’s energy policy. March through October 2009. Some hous- SEASONAL COOK — Remote biological Full job description at ing provided. http://www.canyonlandsfield- field station in the Chiricahua Mountains EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – The Jackson Hole healutah.org/who/jobs. To apply, submit inst.org/about_cfi/3about_employ.html. of southeast Arizona needs full-time, sea- Conservation Alliance, a nonprofit environ- résumé, cover letter and writing sample to sonal, experienced cook (March 1 – Oct. mental organization at the gateway to [email protected]. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT — THE 31), groups of 20-75, breakfast, lunch, din- Yellowstone and Grand Teton national WILDERNESS LAND TRUST is recruiting a ner. Must have experience cooking for vege- parks, seeks a passionate and skilled EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ORIENT LAND seasoned professional to serve as its tarians. Housing, meals, medical, retire- Executive Director to lead the organization TRUST — Orient Land Trust seeks dynamic Director of Development. The Director is a ment benefits and salary. For more infor- into its fourth decade of partnering for a individual committed to preserving open member of the Trust’s core management mation, contact Dawn Wilson, wild and beautiful valley. With 2,000 mem- space, wildlife habitat and recreational team. In conjunction with the president, Southwestern Research Station, P.O. Box bers and an annual budget approaching resources. ED guides OLT, implementing the Director of Development is responsible 16553, Portal, AZ 85632; 520-558-2396; $700,000, the Alliance is a respected and strategic plans and adding to our 2,100 pre- for the development program of the Trust, [email protected]. knowledgeable voice, inspiring people to served acres. See www.olt.org for mission which is focused on major gifts. This is an stand up for responsible growth. Our focus statement and operation details. OLT is opportunity to grow the program of an DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR — The involves land-use planning and wildlife supported by a broad contributor base who established, respected and well-funded Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance seeks a

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www.hcn.org High Country News 27 PERSPECTIVE Welcome to hard times

irst, there’s the dark cloud: The economy of the Mountain West is F going into the tank for a few years, and there’s not much that anybody — including the Democratic Congress and President Barack Obama — can do about it. But then there’s the silver lining: As our regional economy tanks, the West will become a better place to live. Consider what has been driving the NEWS economy of the rural West in recent COMMENTARY years. Start with the “energy boom,” BY ED QUILLEN with its oil- and gas-drilling rigs sprout- ing across once-remote areas. Add increasing demands to develop oil shale and a lot of prospecting for uranium. Now look at the price of crude oil, which serves as an indicator for energy prices in general. Crude peaked last summer at $140 per barrel, and now it’s below $60, with no immediate prospects for substantial increase. Americans are consuming less, and the global economic decline means less demand from emerg- In fact, many of these new houses on where they’ll build their dream home. ing markets like China and India. Western acreages are the full-time But they’re depending on somebody else Hoping to halt the price plummet, homes of retirees rather than vacation selling his home for $1.6 million to be OPEC is considering production cut- retreats, but their construction has the able to buy their house, and so on down backs. same effect on local economies. the line. If values are collapsing there, if A lot of projects that make economic And that’s a bigger one than we people can’t get those mortgage loans, STEVE KELLEY EDITORIAL CARTOON ©2008. USED WITH THE PERMISSION OF STEVE KELLEY SYNDICATE.AND CREATORS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. sense when oil is $140 a barrel and often realize. A couple of years ago, I then we don’t have those buyers here.” climbing make no sense when it’s $60 heard Jim Westkott, Colorado’s senior So even if there aren’t many foreclo- and dropping. Energy companies will state demographer, explain that we sures here, she said, “we’re already feel- have to cut back on exploration and should regard residential construction ing the pinch.” And where there are a drilling, meaning fewer man camps in as a major industry, something like a lot of foreclosures, she said, “then there our backcountry, less social disruption huge mine. The work sites may be scat- might be a solution to the affordable- in many rural towns, and reduced tered across the countryside rather than housing problem.” demands on school districts and sheriffs’ concentrated at a portal, but the effect Thus there aren’t nearly as many departments — not to mention easier is the same, since this industry employs construction jobs as there were a year times for our now-stressed wildlife. an army of carpenters, masons, glaziers, ago. But though I don’t like seeing any- Oil, natural gas, uranium — they all electricians, plumbers, architects, land- body lose honest work, there’s some sun- follow what economists call the “com- scapers — everything from heavy-equip- shine in this gloom. modity price cycle.” As demand rises, so ment operators to interior designers. Illegal immigration will fade as an does price, until it reaches the point How’s the “mortgage meltdown” issue. The Mexican consulate in Dallas where it’s profitable to invest in new affecting this industry? My contractor says unprecedented numbers of Mexican production. The new production comes friend Kirby, who specializes in upscale citizens are seeking the paperwork to on line. Supplies rise, and prices drop. rural residences, had four houses under return home because they can no longer Companies worry about being able to construction a year ago. Today he has find work in America. sell what they’re already producing; only one, with nothing new on the Life will get a little easier for those they don’t go out prospecting for new immediate horizon, and he’s had to lay of us who stay. When I called Gary the sources. off most of his employees. Plumber last year, he said it would be a So the current boom will fade, I asked a local realty agent. She said while before he could get to me, and although its collapse might not be as the financial collapse hasn’t visibly observed that he much prefers new con- dramatic as that of May 2, 1982, when affected those very rich people who want struction to contorting himself in my Exxon, after spending more than $1 bil- to build mansions hereabouts. But once cramped cellar. When I called last lion in western Colorado, pulled the you move down the financial food chain, month, he was here in a few minutes. plug on its proposed $5 billion Colony you start to see problems. Meanwhile, as our economy recedes, oil-shale project. “I’ve talked to a lot of people who the greedheads who were just here to As for mining in general, note that had been planning to retire to the make a quick buck will quickly migrate gold, silver, molybdenum and just about mountains,” she said, “and now they’re to greener pastures. The people who every other thing we dig up also follow telling me that their 401(k)s have stay — the folks that Wallace Stegner the commodity price curve. Their prices tanked and they’re going to have to keep called “stickers” — will be those who soared, production went up — and now working, so they won’t be moving here really want to live in the West, and they WEB EXTRA Read more from the prices are sliding as inventories anytime soon.” will find a way to make it work. Quillen and all our grow. Don’t look for new mineral booms. There’s a domino effect on real So there’s a dark cloud over the commentators on the The other major economic driver, the estate, she said. “A California couple West right now as the boom turns to HCN blogs at one that preceded the most recent ener- might want to sell their home for, say, bust. Hard times loom. But we’ll be bet- www.hcn.org gy boom, is “second-home construction.” $2.5 million, and move to the Rockies ter for it, if we stick it out. n

28 High Country News November 24, 2008 ESSAY

BY ANA MARIA SPAGNA Real work

epending on your perspective, my Tools, partner Laurie’s résumé is either skills, impressive or disturbing. In her 20s, results. D she worked as a wilderness ranger, At hiking miles with a too-heavy pack, digging first, even drain dips and toilet holes. In her 30s, she our parents worked on a trail crew, chopping roots, sawing glamorized it. logs, clearing brush. Nowadays she works in an A summer in the historic apple orchard, pruning, weeding, thin- woods seemed like ning. Not surprisingly, she’s often in pain. But a healthful way to like most people who do real work, she rarely sow some wild oats complains. She didn’t, at least, until last year, before heading home to when her wrists got so bad — stiff and sore and a mortgage, a marriage, bone-achy through sleepless nights — that she a commute and a cubi- could no longer work. Then she faced a dilemma. cle. None of them saw She could go to the doctor on her own tab, or the change coming, she could put in a worker’s compensation claim. the slow shift toward The problem with paying herself wasn’t the cost permanence. None of of the visit; it was what the doctor might say. us did. Ten years What if it was carpal tunnel syndrome? What if passed. Then 20. it required surgery? What if the condition was After a while, our degenerative, debilitating? families began to ask us “You have to make a claim,” I said. gingerly: “But what do She groaned. you plan to do with your Among bureaucrats, an injured worker is too life? What about when your often presumed a faker, greedy, lazy and tricky. body wears out?” What’s worse, among other workers, a claimant We didn’t answer. We didn’t even listen. is too often seen as a failure, not tough enough or Or most of us didn’t. careful enough. Real work is about bucking up. My friends still stack rocks and saw trees Endurance is a source of pride. But Laurie had and sleep in the dirt. They get laid off in the been bucking up long enough. So she sighed and winter and save their money. Some have health filled out a dozen forms. She took a day off, had insurance, and some don’t. They are stubborn orchard. X-rays taken, and finally sat in a swivel chair to as hell. They will not quit. She was mad explain her job to an overweight orthopedist. But I did. at the truth: that labor is undervalued. What’s He waited impatiently for her to finish. After 15 years maintaining hiking trails, I galling isn’t that she’s underpaid or underin- “You aren’t going to like what I have to say,” was restless and sore, and I had the chance, as sured, only that as a white American woman, he began. “Your frame is too small for what you a writer and an online teacher, to eke out a liv- she is expected to expect more. do. Your muscles and your skeletal structure are ing in the woods less painfully. Nowadays, Real work is too dirty and difficult. Real overtaxed.” when I run up against a problem at my so- workers are disposable. She shrugged. She’d heard it before. We all called job, someone always quips: “It was a lot “I think I’ll just try some exercises and see had. easier sawing up logs, wasn’t it?” how it goes,” Laurie said. But it wasn’t. Not by a long shot. Sure, real Laurie’s claim was rejected. The cause of AURIE AND I HAVE lots of friends, men work is more straightforward: a task you can her pain, wear and tear over 25 years, was Land women, all over the West, who do sea- see, a task you can finish. But nothing, not one apparently too hard to pinpoint or verify. She sonal work in the woods. We came to the moun- thing, you do in front of the computer is as hard started an appeal, but eventually she gave up. tains from the great ubiquitous suburbs of as physical labor. The fact that labor is harder The whole ordeal, she said, was taking time America — products of sitcoms and state uni- than you ever imagine, harder maybe than your away from real work. versities — because we wanted to be outside. body can endure, is what makes it so satisfying. Giving up the claim was indulgent and Not just some of the time. Who knows where probably stupid. We have friends who have suc- the desire came from? Maybe it was something AURIE GLARED at the orthopedist. cumbed to chronic pain, to clerking part-time at in our genes, all those farmer ancestors. Or L “What can I do about it?” she asked. She the mini-mart, to depending on a spouse for maybe it was plain middle-class privilege, the was thinking rest, ice, physical therapy, maybe income. But she didn’t care. freedom we had to say: To hell with upward as last resort, surgery. She stood to leave the orthopedist’s office, to mobility! “You can get some Mexicans to do that head back to work, to the orchard where she You can see it on our faces in photos: the work for you,” he said. belonged, pain and lasting damage be damned. glee, the luster, the passion. We loved the pretty Now she was angry. Not just at the doctor. “You’re going to look like hell in 10 years,” places we landed — who wouldn’t? — and we It’s no secret that, anymore, non-whites do all he said. loved the work: the independence, the chal- the physical labor for Americans, whether in a She didn’t say what she was thinking: You lenge, the chance to use both brain and body. Chilean vineyard or a Washington apple already do. n

www.hcn.org High Country News 29 BOOKS

Bearing witness on the border

There are many ways to write about piece for Mother Jones that formed the es on pink backgrounds so that people illegal immigration. One way is to shuf- basis for this incredible, well-document- will remember the dead.” In the fle through Immigration and Customs ed journey. Arizona desert, ragtag groups of Enforcement reports, cherry-pick the Together, the authors spirit us into Minutemen gather at night with hol- latest data and file an article from a the colonias of Juárez and into the stered guns and a sense of purpose. safe distance. Another way is to step homes of migrant workers in Northern Two El Salvadoran men stand at the into the fray, boots-on-the-ground, and California. They bring us from the border in Nuevo Laredo, heading to act as an eyewitness. Author Charles plains of Kansas to the thunderous New Orleans. They know they can find Bowden and photographer Julían immigration marches on the streets of work re-building that destroyed city. Exodus/Éxodo Cardona have chosen to be two such Phoenix, and give us the faces and sto- Throughout, Bowden intersperses Charles Bowden, witnesses, and their stunning book ries of ilegales crossing the desert. vignettes from General Pancho Villa’s Julían Cardona Exodus/Éxodo is a pointed reminder of Bowden frames the journey in apoc- life during the Mexican Revolution, off- 312 pages, 115 the heartbreak and struggle at our alyptic language. Nowhere along the set in italics, portraying him as a revo- black-and-white back door. border, it seems, is safe. He draws on lutionary hero and a philanderer, not photos, “Mexico,” Bowden writes, “is our extreme circumstances, and it’s hard much better than the government that one intimate brush with the majority of not to feel shattered by the aftershock. he fights. Some readers will need a hardcover: $50. the planet where people have little or Known for his toughened, grizzled brief seminar in Mexican history to University of Texas nothing and the future of their home- prose, Bowden enlarges the lens, paus- lend context to the seemingly random Press, 2008. lands promises even less.” ing for brief moments of fact-dropping anecdotes. Both Bowden and Cardona know — smugglers earn around $1,700 per While Bowden provides the book’s our southern border region well. person for safe passage across the bor- soundtrack, Julían Cardona gives us Cardona is based in Juárez, a city der, for instance — and then zooming frames from the movie, distilled into famous for drug cartel violence and the in on personal stories of tragedy and moments of grace and desperation. In disappearances — and deaths — of hope, which is where he excels as a sto- one picture, he has captured the griev- hundreds of young women. Bowden, ryteller. ing face of a mother at her daughter’s from Tucson, is the author of six nonfic- A family’s 17-year-old daughter is funeral; in another, immigrant women tion books and dozens of articles on the found dead in Juárez while her sister are afforded prenatal care in California. border and the Southwest, including a “goes around town painting black cross- Cardona’s 115 black and white photo-

Protesters march in the Great American Boycott in Los Angeles.

30 High Country News November 24, 2008<#> High Country News Date, 2008 graphs are searing and artful, and very migratory workers,” Bowden writes of few of the faces bear a smile. the unstemmed tide. “They are The authors don’t offer up pat solu- refugees from a collapsing economy tions to the immigration crisis, nor do and a barbarous government and their they find fault with Border Patrol offi- journey is biblical and we should call it cers, Minutemen volunteers, or immi- Exodus.” grants who “come north rather than BY DON WATERS die in place.” The only culprits left to blame are old and familiar ones: inef- fectual U.S. foreign policy, the pres- Three mothers and sures of globalization, and the failure their children stop of the Mexican government. before crossing the There is a clear sense of outrage desert, near the and sadness in these words and pic- border town of tures. Bowden, especially, distrusts a Sásabe, Sonora government that “exports its people,” (above). Women in to the tune, he often reminds us, of $20 the volunteer billion a year in remittances, sent back group Voces Sin home to care for family members and Eco (“Voices build dream homes — homes that often Without Echo”) remain unoccupied because their own- search for mur- ers are unable to return safely over the dered girls in the border. desert near Juárez, Exodus/Éxodo is an astonishing Mexico, after a work of witness, documenting how the spate of killings “biggest migratory phenomenon in the (left). world” has come head-to-head with the 21st century. “They are no longer

Relatives of miss- ing Juárez girls wait in the morgue to identify bodies (center). Salvadoran Luis Ángel Ramírez waits to cross the Rio Grande in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (left). He broke his arm in a fall from the “train of death” in San Luis, Mexico. JULÍAN CARDONA PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PRESS

www.hcn.org High Country News 31 HEARD AROUND THE WEST

WYOMING money-maker to fight cancer. Brown The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle in Cheyenne donates 10 percent of the gross price of every bottle for cancer research, and since featured the headline “Which is scarier?” 2007, he’s featured the photos of smiling on its front page Oct. 29, followed by a breast cancer survivors on his label. Six subhead that echoed some of the nastier were chosen this year, and you can read campaign literature making the rounds their stories on the vineyard’s Web site: of the region: It asked readers to choose cleavagecreek.com. The group, Brown said, between “a black president or a bleak is “like a sisterhood of survivors.” economy.” COLORADO MONTANA Back-of-the-beyond recreation was recently Dan Cooper, the co-founder and president celebrated by Durango’s InsideOutside of Cooper Firearms of Montana, a small magazine in a 10-year anniversary issue. gun manufacturing company in The southwestern Colorado publication Stevensville, was forced to resign recent- featured dozens of grassroots writers who ly after stirred-up gun advocates called MONTANA Just how grizzly was it? ALLISON LINVILLE shared stories about how they worked as him a traitor and threatened reprisals little as possible in order to ski, snow- against his business. Cooper’s blunder? fox to a nearby hospital, where the animal test- board, hike, fish, hunt, bike, climb or otherwise He told USA Today that he supported Barack ed positive for rabies. Both the jogger and an hang out. But as Luke Auld-Thomas recalled, Obama for president and had donated to his animal control officer — who was also bitten by living in a tin can of a trailer got less comfort- campaign. He also criticized the Republican the fox — received rabies vaccinations. able as winter set in: “ … every inch of pipe in it Party for moving too far to the right, and said had frozen solid. What’s more, I had three feet the gun lobby had mischaracterized Obama’s THE NATION of snow filling up my wood stove, and my girl- position on gun issues. Outrage spread fast on Starting in January, you can get paid to ride friend had just left me for someone with a bet- Internet gun blogs. Attacks on Cooper grew so your ter heater.” Lisa Jones remembered: “I thought intense that the company’s board of directors bicycle to work. It’s all thanks to the $700 bil- that all the empty space outside my living room issued a statement saying that it did not share lion bailout passed by Congress to goose our window was just for the looking at; the land- his political views, reports the Associated Press. failing economy back to productivity. Workers scapes are just scenery, rather than places you Later, the statement was removed from the who use their bikes as primary transportation actually occupy, places from which you need to company’s Web site. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, D, to and from their jobs will be eligible for $20 a somehow make a living.” But one writer urged offered to help the company and its 40 employ- month from their employers. In return, employ- living the dream, no matter the cost. In his ees weather any boycott that emerged. He com- ers can deduct the expense from their federal “how to” essay on becoming a ski bum, Wayne pared the political pressure to Halloween, when taxes. Bike advocates have lobbied for the tax Sheldrake said, “It’s better to ask yourself if you “a lot of the goblins are out,” and assured the break for seven years, but it took the bailout really have the chops to balance skiing and col- company that “things will cool down, they package to get the biking benefit “squeezed in,” lege. If not, save everyone else the headaches — always will.” reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The federal government is expected to receive $1 million skip college and go ski.” ARIZONA less in taxes because of the subsidy. BY BETSY MARSTON A woman in Prescott, Ariz., deserves a prize for CALIFORNIA [email protected] pluck: She ran a mile with a fox firmly fastened As Capital Press put it: to her arm. The fox had run out and bitten the “Winemaker Budge Betsy Marston is editor of Writers on the Range, a service jogger in the foot, reports the Associated Press, Brown is on a mission — to find a cure for breast of High Country News in Paonia, Colorado. Tips of and when the woman grabbed it by the neck, it cancer — and he’s doing it one bottle at a time.” Western oddities are always appreciated and often shared squirmed and bit her arm. Wanting the animal After his wife, Arlene, died of breast cancer three in the column, Heard around the West. years ago, Brown, who grows grapes in tested for rabies, she ran back to her car with it WEB EXTRA For more from Heard around California’s Pope Valley, decided to buy a wine “locked on her arm,” then drove herself and the the West, see www.hcn.org. label called Cleavage Creek and turn it into a

The Forest Service can play a decisive role in helping High Country “communities and natural landscapes adapt to the effects News of climate change ... In fact, that work should drive everything For people who care about the West. the Forest Service does. High Country News covers the 11 Western Chris Wood, in his essay “Can” the Forest Service get back on track?” states. In addition to its magazine, published from Writers on the Range, www.hcn.org/opinion.jsp 22 times each year, High Country News produces a weekly column service, special reports, books and a Web site. With in-depth, independent journalism, High Country News passionately and intelligently covers the important issues and stories that are unique to the American West. For editorial com- ments or questions, write High Country News, P.O. Box 1090, Paonia, CO 81428, e-mail [email protected] or call 970-527-4898. Find us on the Web at www.hcn.org. 32 High Country News November 24, 2008