Environment

Idaho’s Carbon Footprint Up, But Remains Low Nationally

Frankie Barnhill — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:26:34 +0000

The U.S Energy Information Administration studied the amount of carbon dioxide that was pumped into the atmosphere between 2000-2010. Idaho contributes a low amount, respectively, compared to other states. Only California, Vermont, New York and Washington D.C. have smaller carbon footprints per capita.

But Ben Otto at the Idaho Conservation League says this report doesn’t show the full picture.

How Higher Nitrate Levels Could Impact Idaho’s Water

Frankie Barnhill — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:11:18 +0000

The United States Geological Survey recently studied nitrate levels in streams around the country. The study found that nitrate – which can be dangerous in drinking water – can affect water systems for decades.

Although none of these study areas were in Idaho, Michael Lewis says the study is worth a closer look.

Wildfire Managers Prepare For An Active Season In Idaho

Frankie Barnhill — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:11:49 +0000

Firefighters continue to battle a large blaze in southern California that started last week. At its most dangerous, the wildfire threatened about 4,000 homes and has moved quickly in the dry and windy conditions.

In Idaho, the National Interagency Fire Center predicts a slightly milder – but still above average – fire season.

Cold Spring Makes For Slow Melt, But Idaho Water Supply Remains Low

Frankie Barnhill — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Later today, the Natural Resources Conservation Service will release a full report on snowpack and water levels in Idaho so far this year. The report will help paint a clearer picture of a complicated water scenario.

Water specialist Ron Abramovich says this year’s snowpack started off strong, but quickly dropped off. That makes for diverse stream levels.

Obama Touts Interior Nominee, REI CEO, As Climate Expert

John Ryan — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:42:53 +0000

President Barack Obama has nominated the head of retail chain REI to lead the U.S. Interior Department.
Fifty-six-year-old Sally Jewell is the chief executive at REI in Kent, Washington, and a resident of Seattle.

VA College Student Uses Grant To Study Value of Boise Foothills

Frankie Barnhill — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:14:23 +0000

Niall Garrahan loves Boise’s foothills. So much so, he decided to spend a portion of his summer last year studying them.

Garrahan is a junior at The College of William and Mary in Virginia. In 2011, he received a grant to conduct research on a topic of his choice. But it wasn’t until he went on a hike while visiting his aunt in Boise that he decided what he would evaluate. He wanted to figure out how much the foothills were worth, and how their value might affect future conservation efforts.

Signs Of The Times Buried In Holiday Trash Heaps

Jessica Robinson — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 16:13:50 +0000

Now that presents have been opened, it's time for another tradition of the holiday season: bags upon bags of trash. One garbage collector in north Idaho says he sees reflections of the economy in this year’s haul.

At the transfer station in Shoshone County, Idaho, signs of the holidays are all around Vince Peterson.

“Mostly the amount of cardboard, plastic," he says. "Wrapping paper goes wild.”

Idaho Author's Recovery From Stroke Revealed In New Book

Sadie Babits — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Twelve years ago, Boise writer Mike Medberry took off with friends to hike in Craters of the Moon National Monument in eastern Idaho.

They camped that night, staying up to recite poetry. Medberry – a longtime advocate of conservation – tells Sadie Babits the next morning he tried to tell more poetry but couldn’t find the words. He stumbled a bit but didn’t think anything of it as the group began their hike through the lava. Medberry says what happened that day is the basis for his new book “On the Dark Side of The Moon.”

Sea Lions At Bonneville Dam Kill Estimated 2,500 Sturgeon

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:33:41 +0000

Biologists say the sea lions that scoop up fish at the foot of Bonneville dam on the Columbia river have killed more sturgeon this year than salmon.

Two different species of sea lions like to feast at Bonneville. California sea lions only eat salmon. But Stellar sea lions arrive earlier in the year. While they wait for the spring salmon run to start, they snack on sturgeon.

Biologists with the Army Corps of Engineers estimate that this year, the Stellar sea lions ate about 2,500 sturgeon.

Long Overdue Rain Creates Flood Worries In Idaho's West Central Mountains

Sadie Babits — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:51:00 +0000

There's a hint of sage in the air this morning as rain falls across the Treasure Valley. These long overdue rain showers today though have created concerns for floods and mudslides.

Drought, Wildfires Force Ranchers To Look For Efficiencies

Tom Banse — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:44:29 +0000

The people who raise cattle destined to become steak or hamburger on your dinner plate are feeling the pinch. Wildfires this summer have scorched more than a million acres of Northwest rangeland. In addition, the Midwest drought is driving up feed costs across the board.

Now ranches and feedlots are looking to cut their feed costs in the short term. And longer term, have an eye on making the cattle themselves more efficient.

Federal Energy Commission Makes Statement on Wind Energy

Aaron Kunz — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:04:08 +0000

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said Idaho Power must honor its obligation to purchase energy from wind farms. But it stopped short of taking enforceable action while the Idaho Public Utilities Commission decides how to rule on the case.

Gene Fadness is a spokesman with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. “This order comes even before we’ve made a decision," explains Fadness. "The wind developers wanted something before a commission order hoping that that would perhaps sway the commission in their deliberations.”

One Type Of Gold Mining in the Northwest Raises Concerns

Aaron Kunz — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:56:19 +0000

A recreational gold miner in Idaho now has the exclusive right to mine for gold on a stretch of the Salmon River. But the lease process approved by the Idaho Land Board this week raised some questions about the process he will use to get the gold.

There are hundreds of miles on the Salmon River where the only noise you’ll hear is rushing water and wildlife. But in certain places during the summer you might hear engines.

Wildfire Evacuees In Idaho Go Home, Temporarily

Sadie Babits — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 18:50:46 +0000

Residents of Pine and Featherville -- who've been evacuated because of a wildfire - were temporarily allowed back in their homes Tuesday. Officials say it's still too smokey and risky to let them back in for good.

Wildfire Near Salmon Forces Mandatory Evacuations

Sadie Babits and Samantha Wright — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 05:10:34 +0000

Updated August 24, 2012 at 1:41 p.m.:

The Mustang Complex Fire near Salmon grew dramatically Thursday. That prompted an evacuation order for Spring Creek and Indian Creek residents. In fact, it grew so fast that firefighters had to leave their posts around 11 p.m. last night.

Crews Stand By As Fire Creeps Toward Idaho Town

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:45:36 +0000

Fire crews in southern Idaho are now at a standoff with a fire that’s surrounded the resort town of Featherville. It’s been clear for days that the town’s businesses and summer homes are in the path of the 90-thousand-acre Trinity Ridge Fire east of Boise. But fire managers say they have to wait for the blaze to creep to lower ground before crews can fight it head-on.

Meanwhile, about 30 residents refuse to leave Featherville, despite an evacuation order over the weekend. Fire information officer Steve Till says sheriff deputies cannot force anyone out of their homes.

Report: ‘Extremely Unsafe’ Tactics At Blaze That Killed Firefighter

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 00:32:30 +0000

Managers at a blaze in north Idaho were warned about hazardous conditions the day before a 20-year-old firefighter died on the job. That’s according to an informal report by the head of a federal hotshot crew, which refused to work on the fire.

Idaho Fires Grow, Featherville Evacuates

Sadie Babits and Scott Graf — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 04:47:03 +0000

Updated: August 20, 2012 4:45 p.m.

A thick smoke that's hovered over the Pine and Featherville areas for days now, lifted somewhat today giving fire crews and residents a break. But that smoke acted like a blanket, keeping the fire quiet. Now that blaze is knocking at Featherville's door. Mary Christensen is a fire information officer. She talks in absolutes. It's not a matter of "if" but "when" this 90,664 acre fires moves through Featherville.

Clean Water Act’s Next Role Plays Out On NW Logging Roads

Amelia Templeton — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:23:38 +0000

When he was a kid, Mark Schmidt would fish for steelhead and salmon on the Molalla river. He’s stay with a friend in a little cabin on the banks.

“If we could so much as hear the raindrops on the shingles in the night, we were aware that we would not be fishing in the morning.”

The Molalla flows from the west slope of the Oregon Cascades. About half watershed is private forest land. Schmidt says in the 60s, the area was being heavily logged. When it rained the logging operations sent sediment pouring down the river.

“It kind of looked like orange wet cement.”

Wildfire Northwest Of Stanley Prompts Evacuations

Sadie Babits — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:43:59 +0000

Large wildfires continue to burn in Western states including in California, Oregon and Idaho. Hot temperatures and high winds have made fighting these fires tough.

It’s been especially tough for crews working on a wildfire burning 18 miles Northwest of Stanley. The fire, which has been burning since late July, picked up steam. And Tuesday night evacuation notices went out to people living along Highway 75 between what’s called Joe’s Gulch and the small community of Sunbeam. Evacuations have not been ordered for Lower Stanley.