Environment ~ Missoula Current

Montana FWP investigates illegal kills of deer, bull elk near Whitefish

September 20, 2018

Most recently, wardens responded on Wednesday to a report that a white-tailed buck had been shot and killed in a

Going-to-the-Sun Road fully reopens as Howe Ridge fire continues to ‘creep and smolder’

September 17, 2018

More than a month after it was closed and thousands of visitors were evacuated during a firestorm, the Glacier National

Wildlife refuge opens on Colorado superfund site, despite lawsuit

September 17, 2018

By dawn on Saturday, Sept. 15, a dozen cars were parked at the newly opened Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge and

District Court judge extends block on grizzly bear hunt for another 14 days

September 13, 2018

A court suspension of state grizzly bear hunts will now continue through most of September. With just hours remaining on

Durango, Colo., residents sue railroad company over 54,000 acre fire

September 12, 2018

Witnesses say they spotted the first spark of what became known as the 416 Fire in the morning of June 1, right

EPA looks to roll back Obama-era rules on climate-changing methane

September 11, 2018

The Trump administration released a proposal on Tuesday to roll back Obama-era rules designed to reduce leaks of climate-changing methane

Legislative committee endorses working group to oversee Montana’s stream gauges

September 11, 2018

Next spring, Montana may take the first steps toward stabilizing its system of stream gauges. On Monday, the Legislative Water

Seeley Lake: Forest Service to log 3,494 acres burned by Rice Ridge fire

September 10, 2018

The U.S. Forest Service will log 3,494 acres burned by the Rice Ridge fire, hoping to salvage some of the

Lolo Forest supervisor takes regional post; Alexander named interim supervisor

September 10, 2018

Leadership changes are afoot at the Lolo National Forest. On Monday, forest supervisor Tim Garcia was named director of state

Citizens, scientists want Superfund cleanup to begin now at former pulp mill

September 7, 2018

Sampling continues around the former Smurfit-Stone Container mill site in Frenchtown, but some are questioning why the U.S. Environmental Protection

Glacier Park’s Sun Road reopens on west side Friday with limited access

September 6, 2018

Once again, visitors to Glacier National Park will have a chance to witness the spectacular vistas afforded by the west

UM ecologists: Forest Service should use wildfires to thin, restore forests

September 5, 2018

Because wildfires are going to happen with increasing regularity as summers get hotter and drier, the U.S. Forest Service should

In a warming world, summer of 1988 could be the rule in Yellowstone

September 4, 2018

Even forests that are well-adapted to large, severe fires are at risk in a warming world. By the late 21st

Missoula federal judge stops Wyoming’s grizzly bear hunt

August 30, 2018

Missoula U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen issued a restraining order to stop Wyoming’s grizzly bear hunt scheduled to start

U.S. District Court in Missoula: Attorneys debate Yellowstone grizzly delisting

August 30, 2018

During a hearing Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen said he had already waded through the history of grizzly

Ancient plants shed light on climate change of today

August 30, 2018

Without data from the future, it is difficult to predict all of the ecological impacts of global climate change. But

Missoula: Grizzly bear delisting at center of 6 lawsuits in U.S. District Court Thursday

August 28, 2018

Grizzly bear advocates are descending on Missoula in advance of Thursday’s trial hearing on the delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly. On

Evacuation warning canceled for Apgar as Glacier wildfire ‘creeps’

August 28, 2018

“Smolder and creep” was the byword Tuesday on the 12,420-acre Howe Ridge fire in Glacier National Park, mild enough behavior

Glacier Park: Rising Sun limited to hard-sided camping after bear rips into tent

August 27, 2018

Effective immediately, Rising Sun Campground along the Going-to-the-Sun Road on the east side of Glacier National Park will temporarily be

Glacier Park: Rain, snow buy firefighters time but won’t put out the fires

August 26, 2018

The incident management team now responsible for fighting five wildfires in Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest wants

Glacier’s Howe Ridge fire grows on 2 fronts; new fire closes backcountry near border

August 25, 2018

A pair of wildfires in Glacier National Park – including a newly detected lightning start in the park’s remote northwestern

Verizon admits data throttling of firefighters battling 426,000-acre California wildfire

August 25, 2018

Firefighters battling what is now the largest wildfire in recorded California history found themselves hamstrung by data throttling caused by

Tourist who taunted bison banned from Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier national parks

August 23, 2018

The Oregon man who left a trail of crimes against his fellow tourists and the wild places they were visiting

Glacier National Park: Firefighters work to protect Trail of the Cedars from wildfire

August 23, 2018

Firefighters worked Thursday to protect Glacier National Park’s irreplaceable Trail of the Cedars, should an advancing wildfire make a run

Flooding shows need for more sediment removal along Clark Fork River

August 23, 2018

This spring’s flooding showed why the remedy used for heavy metals contamination along the upper Clark Fork River will likely

Glacier Park: Firefighters burn, thin fuels in path of Howe Ridge fire

August 22, 2018

Firefighters are aggressively clearing fuels from the path of a wildfire that’s already claimed a dozen historic buildings, closed Lake

Trump administration scales back Obama coal emission standards

August 21, 2018

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is scaling back Obama-era constraints on coal-fired power plants, to “empower states, promote energy independence,

Glacier National Park: Howe Ridge fire grows to 11,172 acres despite cooler, wetter weather

August 21, 2018

The arrival of a cold front in Glacier National Park was a mixed blessing of fire-moderating rain showers and fire-feeding

Glacier Park wildfire more than doubles in size; Apgar put on evacuation warning

August 20, 2018

A wildfire in Glacier National Park more than doubled in size over the weekend, prompting more evacuations and a warning

Court: Feds must reconsider endangered status for Arctic grayling in Montana

August 17, 2018

The Ninth Circuit ruled Friday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service incorrectly denied endangered listing to a cold-water fish living

Glacier’s Lake McDonald Lodge closed for season because of wildfire

August 17, 2018

Lake McDonald Lodge closed for the season on Friday, not quite a week after all guests and employees were evacuated

Lolo Peak trails to reopen after post-burn rehabilitation

August 17, 2018

A new landscape will greet the thousands of hikers who’ve waited patiently for more than a year to revisit the

Beachfront: MRA inks final design contract for Broadway Island in Clark Fork River

August 16, 2018

The Missoula Redevelopment Agency's board of directors approved a $110,000 service agreement with Morrison-Maierle to complete the project's final design,

Health, climate groups launch website to help Montanans endure wildfire smoke

August 16, 2018

While wildfires endanger lives and homes, smoke silently attacks those beyond reach of the flames, health officers said Thursday in

Glacier Park: Firefighters brace for weather change as Howe Ridge fire grows to 3,500 acres

August 16, 2018

The Howe Ridge fire continues to grow – by day and night – around Glacier National Park’s iconic Lake McDonald.

Fire fears: Lolo National Forest set to begin Pattee Canyon maintenance project

August 16, 2018

The Lolo National Forest will move forward with plans to treat 1,700 acres in the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area using

Federal judge orders review of Keystone XL Pipeline

August 16, 2018

A federal judge ordered an environmental review of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline Wednesday, pushing back an attempt to fast-track construction

Federal judge: No mountain bikes in Sapphire, Blue Joint wilderness study areas

August 15, 2018

A federal judge’s clarification has caused backcountry groups to resume their tug-of-war over areas in the Sapphire Mountains. Missoula U.S.

Seeley Lake resident appears in Missoula court to stop $15M sewer project

August 15, 2018

A District Court judge will determine whether a Seeley Lake resident has met the threshold needed to stop the Seeley

Glacier National Park: ‘Heartbreaking’ losses at historic camps on Lake McDonald

August 14, 2018

More than a dozen historic and much-loved buildings on the north shore of Lake McDonald were lost in a firestorm,

Evacuations, trail closures expand in Glacier National Park; historic cabins lost in firestorm

August 13, 2018

Evacuation orders and trail closures expanded in Glacier National Park Monday after extreme fire behavior pushed the Howe Ridge fire

Lake McDonald Lodge evacuated, Sun Road closed by explosive wildfire

August 12, 2018

Glacier National Park officials ordered the evacuation of Lake McDonald Lodge and all nearby buildings at 9 p.m. Sunday as

Lightning sparks multiple wildfires in Glacier National Park

August 12, 2018

Firefighters, including rapellers and smokejumpers, were on the line and en route to Glacier National Park Sunday morning after lightning

Mount Sentinel to close Monday due to extreme fire danger, Pearl Jam concert

August 10, 2018

At the request of fire officials, all public lands on Mount Sentinel will be closed on Monday and Tuesday because

Ninth Circuit orders EPA to ban harmful pesticides within 60 days

August 10, 2018

The Ninth Circuit blasted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday for failing to follow federal guidelines and ordered the

Trump suspends laws to give Calif. water it doesn’t need to fight wildfires

August 9, 2018

Despite repeated assurances California has enough water to fight the currently 18 major fires raging throughout the state, the Trump

Missoula’s legacy: Groups kick off campaign for open space bond, stewardship levy

August 8, 2018

To Missoula residents, open space is more than just accessible woodlands, rivers and trails. It’s about leaving a legacy for

Stage 2 fire restrictions take effect in west-central Montana, including Missoula city limits

August 8, 2018

As the hottest, driest week of the summer unfolds in west-central Montana, agencies at all levels will impose Stage 2

Missoula Compost Collection: Private business plays key role in Zero Waste by 2050 goal

August 7, 2018

Sean Doty sifted and sorted through mountains of food scraps, water bottles, aluminum cans, and paper cups and plates during

Northern Continental Divide: Montana FWP to set population targets for delisted grizzlies

August 7, 2018

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is taking the next step toward delisting grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem

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