Environment ~ Missoula Current

Trump takes first step on drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

April 20, 2018

One of the most pristine natural reserves in North America is in danger of being despoiled after the Trump administration

Scientists strategize to help protect critically endangered whooping cranes

April 19, 2018

The habitat relied upon by whooping cranes as they migrate is being lost at an alarming rate to agriculture and

Montana DNRC names new boss at Missoula-based Forestry Division

April 19, 2018

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation this week named Sonya Germann as head of the agency's Forestry Division,

Missoula gets an ‘F’ for particulate pollution in American Lung Association report

April 18, 2018

Missoula and seven other counties in Montana received grades of “F” for particulate pollution in the American Lung Association’s 2018

“It would be catastrophic:” Missoula officials turn attention to wildfire plan

April 18, 2018

As wildfire becomes a common summer companion in western Montana, both city and county government are working to adapt to

Glacier National Park recommends rebuilding Sperry Chalet at historic site

April 17, 2018

Glacier National Park wants to rebuild Sperry Chalet at its original site, within its 100-year-old stone walls, officials said Tuesday.

Sponsors of Montana mine reclamation initiative revise ballot language

April 17, 2018

The sponsors of a proposed ballot initiative intended to address mine pollution in Montana withdrew their original initiative filing last

Zinke sides with trophy hunters on removing zebra protections

April 16, 2018

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday supported a hunters’ petition to remove protections from a zebra, but denied

Smith, Salmon rivers make list of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers”

April 13, 2018

The Smith River in Montana and the Salmon River in Idaho made an environmental organization’s list of the nation’s most

National parks to bump entrance fees by $5, backing off steep increase

April 12, 2018

Entrance fees at national parks will increase by $5, not the $40 bump that drew loud and widespread opposition earlier

Changes coming for endangered songbird, Washington island butterfly

April 12, 2018

The Kirtland’s warbler songbird has recovered sufficiently to be removed from the endangered species list, but the island marble butterfly, which lives only

International Wildlife Film Festival preview: “Albatross”

April 12, 2018

“On a remote atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, albatross chicks are dying, their bodies filled with plastic. 'Albatross' unflinchingly

Montana among states to weigh in on agency concerns over coal reclamation

April 11, 2018

As America’s coal industry faces a difficult market, a new report from the Government Accountability Office says Congress needs to

International Wildlife Film Festival preview: “The Trouble With Wolves”

April 10, 2018

This story takes an up-close look at the most controversial wildlife conservation issue of our time: the reintroduction of wolves.

Ravalli County residents blast commissioners for supporting Daines’ anti-wilderness bill

April 10, 2018

A group of residents is expanding its opposition to Sen. Steve Daines' push to remove wilderness protection for hundreds of

Lewis and Clark neighborhood sets out to restore Missoula’s backyard wetlands

April 9, 2018

Dave Westfall looks across the Missoula Valley and sees an archipelago of small wetlands that bring a certain wildness and

The countdown begins: 41st annual wildlife film festival looks to challenge and inspire

April 9, 2018

Now in its 41st season, the Missoula-based documentary film festival focused on wildlife and conservation settled on 145 films this

RMEF, family deliver 262 acres of elk habitat to Lewis & Clark National Forest

April 9, 2018

The Lewis and Clark National Forest just gained 262 acres in the Little Belt Mountains that supports a rich diversity

Federal judge says he’ll likely keep sage grouse on threatened species list

April 8, 2018

A federal judge said he will likely overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s withdrawal of the bi-state sage grouse

9th Circuit revives Lower Yellowstone dam designed to aid endangered sturgeon

April 6, 2018

A Ninth Circuit panel on Thursday threw out a court order halting the federal government’s construction of a dam on

15 states – not Montana – suing EPA for not enforcing oil, gas pollution controls

April 5, 2018

Fifteen attorneys general and the city of Chicago sued the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday accusing it of failing to control methane emissions

Missoula Ranger District plans 3 prescribed fires this spring

April 5, 2018

The Missoula Ranger District plans to burn in three areas this spring, two of which are directly adjacent to Missoula.

Interior Department proposes ending protection for threatened species

April 5, 2018

The U.S. Department of the Interior proposed a rule to the White House this week that would effectively rescind most

Missoula County endorses FWP plan to expand Travelers’ Rest State Park

April 4, 2018

Missoula County on Wednesday placed its official backing behind a proposal by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to purchase a 20-acre parcel

Friends of Animals files suit to protect wild Pryor Mountains mustangs

April 4, 2018

An international advocacy group claimed in federal court Tuesday that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could place wild mustangs

Judge: Government plans to recover Mexican gray wolf in Arizona insufficient

April 3, 2018

The Mexican Gray Wolf is nearly extinct in the United States, pushed to the brink by mostly hunters and livestock

Zinke backs off dramatic fee increases at Yellowstone, Glacier national parks

April 2, 2018

Inundated by more than 100,000 angry comments, the Interior Department is stepping back from a proposal to significantly increase entrance

9th Circuit: Feds must change Columbia River dam operations to protect salmon

April 2, 2018

The federal government must heed a federal court ruling that found it was not doing enough to protect endangered salmon

Forest Service proposes 20-year withdrawal of Yellowstone area mining claims

March 30, 2018

A draft environmental review released by the U.S. Forest Service is proposing a 20-year withdrawal of 30,000 acres of public

Scientists lay out plan to use CO2 emissions for good, when we can capture them

March 30, 2018

While scientists develop ways to affordably capture CO2 waste and convert it into useful molecules for industry, a team of

Portions of Mount Jumbo open Friday; violators and unleashed dog owners face fines

March 29, 2018

At least 50 elk remain in Jumbo’s South Zone and trail users and their pets must stay on trails and

What lies beneath? Missoula County not satisfied with EPA sampling of Smurfit dumps

March 28, 2018

Missoula County commissioners on Wednesday said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has failed to address both human and ecological health concerns in

Scientists uncover 13,000-year-old footprints off Canada’s Pacific coast

March 28, 2018

A report, published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE, supports previous research that suggests humans migrated from Asia to the Americas

Time to remove food attractants as bears emerge from dens

March 28, 2018

Montana is home to grizzly and black bears that roam the mountains and valley floors from spring through late fall

Remembering Lee Metcalf: Montana senator, national progressive leader

March 27, 2018

For Montanans, there’s not much question about the importance of Lee Metcalf’s legacy. Thanks to his work in the U.S.

600 inches and counting: Sperry Chalet inundated by snow, but walls stand tall

March 26, 2018

Sperry Chalet is filling with snow, but its talus-stone skeleton remains intact, an overflight of the historic Glacier National Park

‘Endlessly superlative’ Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness marks 40th anniversary this week

March 26, 2018

In describing the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a vast, high plateau in southwestern Montana encompassing nearly 1 million acres, people tend to

Montana DEQ holds Hecla mining in violation of state’s “bad actor” law

March 21, 2018

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued letters of violation to Hecla Mining Co. and its president, Phillips Baker, Jr.,

Spring arrives Tuesday after “a really wet winter;” mountain snowpack high

March 19, 2018

The arrival of spring at 10:15 Mountain Time on Tuesday will close the books on what meteorologists are calling a

Forest Service proposes replanting 1,633 acres burned in Lolo Peak fire

March 16, 2018

Lolo National Forest managers want to replant native ponderosa pine and western larch on 1,633 acres burned so severely in

Tester, Gianforte call for Yellowstone mining protections in 2018 spending bill

March 16, 2018

Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Greg Gianforte are urging congressional leaders to include protections for 30,000 acres north of Yellowstone

Hardrock mining: Missoula County joins state to urge cleanup reforms at U.S. House hearing

March 15, 2018

Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier joined the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, along with state officials from Colorado and the

Stewardship bill wins support; advocates urge Daines and Gianforte to get on board

March 15, 2018

Advocates of a public lands bill are rallying behind Sen. Jon Tester and urging other members of Montana's congressional delegation

Glacier Park superintendent wants Sperry Chalet rebuilt starting this summer

March 13, 2018

Glacier National Park hopes to rebuild Sperry Chalet in two construction seasons, starting this summer, Superintendent Jeff Mow said Tuesday

Missoula City Council approves changes to restrictions during wildfire smoke crises

March 12, 2018

Missoula health officers will no longer need to quietly circumvent local air pollution rules during unhealthy air episodes caused by

Missoula County struggles with questions surrounding wildfire smoke’s costs, culprits

March 12, 2018

As dense smoke from wildfires spread through communities across western Montana last summer, public health agencies faced an indoor problem,

Missoula County proposes forest thinning, development guidelines in new wildfire protection plan

March 12, 2018

Prodded by last summer’s wildfires, Missoula County is revising its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, a document that identifies wildfire risks

Sustainable Missoula: Faith communities rise to climate challenge

March 9, 2018

Over the last three years, Faith and Climate Action Montana has grown into an interfaith network of more than 150

Daines to conduct Senate hearing on sexual harassment in U.S. Forest Service

March 8, 2018

Montana Sen. Steve Daines on Thursday said he’ll conduct a hearing on sexual harassment in the U.S. Forest Service in

U.S. Forest Service chief resigns amid allegations of sexual misconduct

March 8, 2018

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke abruptly resigned late Wednesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct. In a 5:16 p.m. (ET)

Missoula's News Journal

Environment

Contribute

Latest in Environment

As Missoula's garbage piles up, the race is on to find ways to reduce waste