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Oregon forests are a test case for stripping protections

By Keats Conley

Picture a clear stream where spawning salmon undulate over clean gravels, pressing upstream through waters the iconic fish once vanished…

Joseph Canyon Roadless Area Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, David Mildrexler photo

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Let’s celebrate the trailblazers who can inspire us today

By Heather Hansman

When I was 18 and first worked as a river guide, I assumed I had to be as tough —…

Georgie White running the Grand Canyon in the 1950s

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Wendell Berry, champion of rural life

By Betsy Marston

When Wendell Berry, 92, died this Monday, August 31, the West lost a writer who focused on the importance of…

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Trump administration legalizes extinction of the Gunnison sage-grouse

By Ted Williams

Had Donald Trump been president in 1973, when Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into federal law, the Gunnison…

Gunnison Sage Grouse. Courtesy Bureau of Land Management Bob Wickjpg

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The sadness of a river running dry

By Jacob Richards

I drove to the bluff overlooking the “Gunny” to process the sad news — news that hasn’t yet been made…

Gunnison Gorge Wilderness in wetter times, courtesy Bureau of Land Management

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Public comments count — keep them coming

By Will Pattiz

Trump’s answer to the 20 or so executives in the room was that they raise him a billion dollars. He was specific about the return — more oil and gas leases auctioned on federal land. He called it a deal.

File written by Adobe Photoshop¨ 4.0

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States must not determine the fate of grizzly bears

By Wendy Keefover

It’s no secret that grizzly bears in the Lower 48 live close to the edge of extinction. Now, with little…

Grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park, photo by Wendy Keefover

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Celebrate the nation’s anniversary by speaking up for public land

By Tracy Stone-Manning

As we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s worth celebrating what we the people have in common. What we literally…

Idaho, hiking in the Selkirk Mountains photo by David Gluns

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What keeps you going?

By Pepper Trail

I’ve been asked that question twice recently, in very different contexts. The first time was after I described a hike…

Hiking the rugged Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon, photo by Pepper Trail

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The West is about to inherit more abandoned oil wells

By Will Pattiz

Here’s a true story about the West: An oil company leases some public land, drills a well, pumps the oil,…

Midland Texas pumpjack, Delfino Barbara, unsplash,

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When hiking is touted as a piece of cake

By Marjorie “Slim” Woodruff

Overconfidence can ruin a good hike. When I surf through outdoor sites on social media, here’s the essence of what…

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The Antiquities Act has served Utah and the nation well for 120 years

By Stephen Trimble

This June, the Antiquities Act turns 120 years old. Since Teddy Roosevelt signed the law on June 8, 1906, nearly…

Orderville Canyon, Zion National Park, Utah, Stephen Trimble photo

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What others are saying See More

The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction, Colorado places a premium on content that examines management of public lands and natural resources. We’re big fans of Writers on the Range. The contributors come from all walks of life, but their column always hit home with our readers, for whom access to public lands is an important part of the lifestyle in western Colorado. Cutbacks to the newsroom have seriously hampered our coverage of the environment. Most often these stories are best told by people who have first-hand experience dealing with a particular challenges — from loving favorite trails to death to rebuilding coal communities or threats to the sagebrush sea. Writers on the Range consistently identifies problems and solutions in a thorough and engaging way. We need more of this kind of advocacy journalism on our opinion pages because it fosters understanding and dialogue about the unique living conditions in the American West.

Andy Smith, Opinion Page Editor
Grand Junction Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO

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