NewsRack: flenvcenter/Biodiversity_Regional/Specific-Organisms/Reptiles

The right decision - Salt Lake Tribune

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Published May 17, 2013 01:01AM MDT Gov. Gary Herbert made the right decision last month when he announced he would not sign a controversial agreement that would have given Nevada the go-ahead to mine the precious groundwater under the Snake Valley. He should not renege on it at the behest of legislators and other members of the Utah Water Development Commission. Herbert deserved all the praise he received for withstanding political and legal pressure and refusing to sign away the ancient water that lies deep under the dry soil s... ...

Legos to help Hogle Zoo push habitat protection - Salt Lake Tribune

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Mike Gorrell The Salt Lake Tribune Published Apr 24, 2013 04:39PM MDT Adam Vialpando hoisted his 6-year-old daughter, Gwen, onto his shoulders, then handed her his cell phone so she could take a picture of whatever came out of the wooden crate at Utah’s Hogle Zoo. “A polar bear,” she predicted excitedly, moments before the front panel came off. Sure enough, it was a life-size polar bear — but one formed by 95,000 Legos rather than muscle, teeth and a yen to eat. “If it was a real polar bear, I’d just scream,” Gwen told her dad, of West Valley City. But there was n... ...

Science for the long now - From the Blogs

Marshall Swearingen — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Nevada climate research will inform water planning

Changing of the guard at the Department of Interior - High Country News Most Recent

Jodi Peterson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT

A look back and a look ahead as Ken Salazar hands the reins to Sally Jewell.

How Herbert approached water deal - Salt Lake Tribune

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Michele Straube Published Apr 10, 2013 04:45PM MDT I applaud Gov. Gary Herbert on following good process to make the decision not to sign the agreement to share groundwater under the Snake Valley with Nevada. Understand, I’m neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the decision itself. I’m suggesting that the way the governor went about making the decision epitomizes the core values of good public process. Public decision-making is not easy. There are many differing interests to be balanced. In issues involving water and our environment, in particu... ...

Moench: Water pact an ecological disaster - Salt Lake Tribune

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Brian Moench For The Salt Lake Tribune Published Mar 23, 2013 01:01AM MDT My favorite Elvis Presley song begins, “Wise men say, only fools rush in, but I can’t help falling in love with you.” This song ran through my mind as I read that Gov. Gary Herbert will announce whether he will sign the infamous Snake Valley Water Grab on April 1 — April Fools Day. Herbert’s closest adviser on the issue, Mike Styler, “can’t help falling in love” with the water grab, claiming, against all evidence, that signing the agreement gives Utah the best legal protection. Unless there is ... ...

Governor discusses water battle in Snake Valley - Salt Lake Tribune

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Brian Maffly The Salt Lake Tribune Published Mar 20, 2013 07:43PM MDT EskDale • Gov. Gary Herbert traveled West Desert backroads Wednesday listening to the opinions of Utah’s Snake Valley residents on whether he should sign an agreement with Nevada to split this arid basin’s ground water. Flanked by key aides, Herbert sat in the front row of the tiny EskDale High School’s auditorium as locals argued both ways, always with an eye on the larger concern of how to keep Las Vegas from sucking the valley straddling the state line dry. “It’s kind of an evil project,” sa... ...

Florida hunts for creatures that keep very low profile - Salt Lake Tribune

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

by Lizette Alvarez New York Times News Service Published Jan 24, 2013 10:38AM MDT HOMESTEAD, Fla. • For as long as anyone can remember, hunters here have wielded machetes, knives, rifles and crossbows as they swept past thickets of mosquitoes and saw grass in pursuit of alligators, feral hogs, bobcats and vermin of all sizes. But on the outskirts of the Everglades this month, a different kind of hunt is taking place, and among those on the trail are three men with little macho swagger and zero hunting finery. They drive up gravel roads alongside the brush in a red “man-van” (... ...

The Power Lung Kid - High Country News Most Recent

Cameron Scott — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

A writing teacher discovers that the real difference he makes for disadvantaged kids is through listening and other simple acts.

BLM okays controversial Nevada water pipeline - From the Blogs

Marshall Swearingen — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Las Vegas can pump groundwater from rural Nevada and pipe it across federal land

Roundup, Fla. style Bounty on invasive Burmese pythons - Durango Herald

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES The man known as Alligator Ron has a lifetime of experience in the Florida Everglades, a fleet of airboats at his disposal and knows the habitats of furry prey for large reptiles. He still couldnt lead a pack of hunters to a single Burmese python.

Python hunters in contest struggle to find slippery prey - Denver Post: National News Headlines

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES — The man known as "Alligator Ron" has a lifetime of experience in the Florida Everglades, a fleet of airboats at his disposal and knows the habitats of

Everglades python hunt draws hundreds - azcentral.com | news

Chad Gillis — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Everglades python hunt draws hundreds

BLM’s decision on Nevada-Utah pipeline called ‘pure folly’ - Salt Lake Tribune

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT

by Brian Maffly The Salt Lake Tribune Published Dec 28, 2012 05:03PM MDT Las Vegas’ plan to tap billions of gallons of groundwater lurched closer to reality this week after the Bureau of Land Management granted a right of way for a 263-mile pipeline connecting the fast-growing gambling destination with rural basins to the north near the Utah state line. But excluded from this decision, which environmentalists and local ranchers will likely challenge in court, was the contentious matter of whether the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) will tap water from under t... ...

College students turtle project reveals humans darker side - Durango Herald

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT

CLEMSON, S.C. Clemson University student Nathan Weaver set out to determine how to help turtles cross the road. He ended up getting a glimpse into the dark souls lurking in some humans.

College student's turtle project takes dark twist - Denver Post: National News Headlines

By JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT

CLEMSON, S.C.—Clemson University student Nathan Weaver set out to determine how to help turtles cross the road.

McEntee: Utah’s Snake Valley water is worth fighting for - Salt Lake Tribune

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT

by Peg Mcentee Tribune Columnist Published Nov 23, 2012 04:14PM MDT A water expert says pumping Snake Valley groundwater to Las Vegas would amount to “mining” and would leave the valley depleted and its ranchers without the means to survive. So why isn’t Utah putting its foot down and saying we will not be signing an agreement that would create a $15.5 billion project to send Snake Valley water to Sin City? To his credit, Gov. Gary Herbert is still looking at details and holding out, but the potential for a lawsuit from Nevada water officials has to weigh on h... ...

Scientists: Galapagos tortoise can be revived - Denver Post: National News Headlines

By FRANK BAJAK Associated Press — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT

LIMA, Peru—Lonesome George, the late reptile prince of the Galapagos Islands, may be dead, but scientists now say he may not be the last giant tortoise of his species after all.

Rat kill in Galapagos Islands targets 180 million - Denver Post: National News Headlines

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador —The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Ecuadorean authorities say — and

Governor ready to sign water agreement with Nevada - Salt Lake Tribune

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT

by David Montero The Salt Lake Tribune Published Nov 13, 2012 07:46PM MDT A top Gov. Gary Herbert official told a Legislative panel Tuesday that the safest bet for Utah to protect water rights in the Snake Valley was to sign an agreement with Nevada despite objections from Millard and Juab counties. But the State Water Development Commission didn’t make any recommendations on the controversial matter at its meeting in the Capitol — nor did Herbert deputy chief of staff Mike Mower request any endorsement of the agreement. “We are better off with the agreement than with... ...

Act now to stop Las Vegas’ water grab - Salt Lake Tribune

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT

By steve erickson Published Oct 6, 2012 01:01AM MDT The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has completed its environmental review, and will decide soon whether to grant the right-of-way for a 300-mile-long pipeline to pump 57 billion gallons of Great Basin groundwater each year to Las Vegas. Now is the time to add your voice to those of tens of thousands of people nationwide who care about the people, plants and animals of the Great Basin by telling the federal government to put a stop to this destructive boondoggle. The BLM’s Final Environmental I... ...

El regreso de la tortuga grande - From the Blogs

Neil LaRubbio — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT

Billionaires do the work of land agencies

Desert solitaire: Las Vegas bets big on rural water - From the Blogs

Red Lodge — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT

In the high stakes game of Western water supply, Las Vegas doubles down

Pipe Conflict - From the Blogs

Brendon Bosworth — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT

Feds give go-ahead for controversial groundwater pipeline to feed Las Vegas

Rattler that nuzzles may win endangered species status - Denver Post: Local

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT

Rattler that nuzzles may win endangered species status