So I know it isn’t Friday – a day where I often feel inclined to pepper this blog with silliness – but this week Thursday will have to do.
I subscribe to the Associated Press’ strange news network and eagerly check any updates every morning. These are gems of delicious silliness – Nude Man Shows Up to Dentist Five Days Late or Turtles Shut Down JFK . Usually I read these things with a sense of isolation, jealous for example, that a turtle march has never shut down the Boise airport. Today a “strange” story came over the wire (through the interconnected world wide network of wires and waves that is) that I could finally feel connected with.
Webster’s dictionary is publishing a new edition with the vocabulary of the 2000s. Locovore, frenemy, flash mob, – words that mean something to some of us of a certain age and maturity level. But would mean diddly-squat to my mom.
Want to be on the cutting edge of hip phrases and words? Check out The Urban Dictionary for new words, on the daily.
For years, bighorn sheep have been dying from diseases carried by domestic sheep, prompting the Forest Service to close certain public land allotments.
In efforts to reopen these allotments, a lobbying group known as the Idaho Woolgrowers Association enlisted the help of Dr. Marie Bulgin, Director of the University of Idaho’s Caine Veterinary and Teaching Center and former head of the Idaho Woolgrowers. Dr. Bulgin testified that there was no scientific evidence that domestic sheep transmit diseases to bighorn sheep in the wild and no reason to restrict grazing. Dr. Bulgin’s testimony was the foundation of a controversial state law that prioritizes domestic sheep over bighorn sheep.
Dr. Bulgin is now under investigation by the University of Idaho for potential conflicts of interest. In the meantime, Fish and Game was forced to shoot a sick bighorn ram that had been seen mingling with domestic sheep. Samples for disease analysis were taken to (you guessed it) the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center.
Congress continues to weaken the energy bill that could give us energy security, reduce our dependence on foreign sources of power, and significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
It makes me think the entire 111th Congress is living in a hole where they cannot access any information from the outside world.
Several groups have recently released studies demonstrating that investment in clean energy could create over a million American jobs and significantly lower the national unemployment rate. One report states that Idaho could see a net increase of about $690 million in investment revenue and the creation of 9,000 jobs.
Meanwhile, scientists are finding global warming is happening much faster that we thought. The Obama administration also just released information detailing the affects of climate change in the U.S. and around the world, including higher temperatures, “reduced frost days, increased frequency and intensity of heavy downpours, a rise in sea level, and reduced snow cover, glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice.”
So why does Congress continue to weaken legislation that would reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs? We could help solve two of the most crucial problems of our time with one piece of legislation.
I spent Memorial Day Weekend trekking in Fish Creek on the Clearwater National Forest. While hordes of people were riding the waves and white water on the Lochsa River, the scene in Fish Creek—a tributary of the Lochsa—was much more mellow, save the torrent of run off coming down the stream.
Indeed, the white water on the Lochsa is a blast. But the Clearwater National Forest has a lot to offer. While my sidekick and I spent the evenings in Wilderness Gateway Campground with floaters from Lewiston, Moscow Missoula and even Boise, we only found two other people about 6 miles up Fish Creek. The trailhead is a short three miles away by car from this popular campground. Only the rushing waters of Fish Creek reminded us that we had a sense of hearing.
The scenery was just as spectacular as the water was loud. Southern slopes had burned some years ago and fresh tree growth was sprinkled with old burnt out cedar stumps. The wet northern slopes held just about every species of pine, fir and other conifers found in the entire State of Idaho.
Its places like Fish Creek in the Clearwater Country that remind me why protecting it is so important. This place that challenged Lewis and Clark on their monumental journey remains more like it did in 1803 than anywhere else in the country. Yet it is also the largest unprotected landscape left in the lower 48 states.
Yesterday, Boise’s Mayor Beiter announced the creation of a new tool for green entrepreneurs. The aptly named, Green House, will provide support and office space for emerging green businesses.
This sounds like a great idea; I just need a bit more information. For example, what does “green business” mean to the city of Boise? How does this further the City’s commitment to sustainability?
To that end – I appreciate the city of Boise’s efforts to build LEED certified buildings, improve recycling programs, offer electronic recycling days, and the like. But what I would really appreciate, is a website that tells me how I can get involved and gives tools for citizens, businesses, and developers.
I think Boise is poised to step up its sustainability game. We get it – it will save us money and it will improve the economic stability of the City. Now – how can we help?
Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to spend 6 exciting days on the Main Salmon during high flows. All river stories of gargantuan holes and towering waves aside, the trip got me to thinking about my job – of all things.
We are lucky we are to live in Idaho. We are lucky to enjoy the unrestrained, undammed, torrent of the Salmon in May. This productive river is in the middle of the biggest chunk of connected and pristine wilderness in the nation. It may also end up being the last refuge for northwest salmon as climate change shrinks available habitat for these fish.
I spend a lot of time working with communities to try and promote policies that conserve energy and protect air and water quality. Sometimes, one experience will trigger a slew of connections for me. In this case, it was the Salmon River.
Take a second and think about how you are connected to the Salmon River. Do you fish? Do you boat? Do you see the connection between northwest commerce, commercial salmon fishing, hydroelectricity, and health of our wildlands?
Check out this High Country News article and see how you are connected to the Salmon River and the salmon.
Did you know that Boise ranks #4 in the nation for bike commuters per capita?
I ride my bike to work most days and enjoy the daily commute. Here at ICL we are celebrating May in Motion and the bike rack is overflowing.
I rode by the “ghost bike”- honoring a cyclist who died on Orchard Street. Two cyclists died last week and this should remind us to slow down, look for cyclists, pedestrians and others who share the road.
It’s been almost two weeks since Barry Rosenberg, the charismatic director of Kootenai Environmental Alliance, stepped down and retired to his cabin in the woods.
Check out the Spokesman-Review’s recent profile of the long-time activist. Barry left KEA in good shape – the organization, which was established in the early ‘70s, has grown and is well-known as a defender of the forests, Kootenai County’s waterways, and, in recent years in particular, the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.
Barry may out of the headlines now, having turned operations over to the very capable Terry Harris, a land use attorney who moved here last fall from Maryland. Welcome Terry to North Idaho’s conservation community!
The mussel-covered boat named “Hello” was apprehended about 2 p.m. Tuesday in Spokane after someone read our blog post. The boat, which reportedly came from mussel-infested Lake Mead, is now in the custody of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and is scheduled to be power-washed and decontaminated this week.
The same day “Hello” was found, the state of Idaho announced its new aggressive plan to keep other mussel-infested boats out of Idaho waters, the Spokesman-Review reported today. State officials approved emergency measures this week that will allow them to stop vehicles pulling boats for inspection and decontamination, with inspection stations planned for around the state.
As Hello has demonstrated, the need for inspections and public awareness cannot be underestimated in this effort to keep new and destructive aquatic invaders out of our waterways.
Posted by Courtney Washburn 
Posted by John Robison 
Posted by Courtney Washburn 
