U.S. Department of Interior

Amid Climate And Fed Pressure, Colorado River Water Managers Attempt To Chart New Course

By • Oct 8, 2018
Luke Runyon / KUNC

In 2007, years into a record-breaking drought throughout the southwestern U.S., officials along the Colorado River finally came to an agreement on how they’d deal with future water shortages -- and then quietly hoped that wet weather would return.

But it didn’t.

DOI Policy Will Increase Transparency, Officals Say. Conservationists Are Dubious

By • Oct 4, 2018

The Department of Interior just released a new science policy that it says will increase transparency. But conservationists are concerned. 

Zinke Reorganization Plan Moves Ahead With 12 Interior Regions

By • Aug 30, 2018

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has released more details about his plan to reorganize the Department of Interior. The plan could have big impacts for public lands in the west.

 


Trump Administration Eases Protections For Migratory Birds

By • Aug 14, 2018

You may not have noticed, but a few months ago the Trump Administration stopped using a century-old law to fine industries when birds are accidentally killed by oil spills, power lines or wind farms.

The Latest Shakeup In Zinke's Department Is The FWS Head Leaving His Job

By • Aug 13, 2018

The Interior Department is once again facing change in agency leadership. The acting head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has stepped down. 

Protestors Rally Against Interior Secretary Zinke In Colorado

By • Aug 10, 2018

Some Steamboat Springs, Colorado residents are welcoming the Interior Department Secretary with a protest Friday evening.  Ryan Zinke is the keynote speaker at the Steamboat Institute’s annual ‘Freedom Conference,’ a private event.

Yellowstone Head Softens Tone On Forced Early Departure

By • Aug 10, 2018

The head of Yellowstone National Park is leaving his post next month after the Trump administration forced him to either take a transfer to D.C. or retire early.

When our Mountain West News Bureau first broke that news in June, Superintendent Dan Wenk said he felt “abused” by the U.S. Interior Department.

But during a press conference Thursday, he mellowed his tone.

Zinke Calls Montana Land Deal Controversy 'Fake News'

By • Jun 28, 2018

A federal watchdog group is looking into U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s family land deal with an oil executive. But Zinke is calling the controversy fake news.

Federal Watchdog: Interior Department Scrapped Coal Health Study Without Good Reason

By • Jun 13, 2018

A federal watchdog group said the U.S. Interior Department didn’t give an adequate reason for cancelling a study on the health impacts of coal mining last year.

Statewide Sage Grouse Efforts Enough To Keep Species Off Endangered List

By • Sep 22, 2015
Bob Wick / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The greater sage grouse, a bird whose range spans 11 western states, including Colorado, will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Sally Jewell, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, announced the decision in a video released on Twitter.

Jewell cited the efforts of land-owners and government in states like Colorado and Wyoming, who have invested proactively in plans to protect the sagebrush landscape, which she said was suffering from “death by a thousand cuts.”

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