The mountains are calling

Mountain snowpacks around the world are on the decline, and if the planet continues to warm, climate models forecast that snowpacks could shrink dramatically and possibly even disappear altogether on certain mountains, including in the Western U.S., at some point in the next century. A new study led by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analyzes the likely timing of a low-to-no-snow future, what it will mean for water management, and opportunities for investments now that could stave off catastrophic consequences.

“The story of climate change on the Colorado is really a story about less snow,” said Zach Frankel, executive director of the Salt Lake City-based Utah Rivers Council. “Climate change is increasing winter air temperatures, which are resulting in less snow in the Utah, Colorado and Wyoming mountains that lead to less melted snowpack water that flows into the river.”

As it plans a multiyear shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy on public lands, employees—several of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation—say the exodus of senior leaders has drained the agency of experienced scientists and regulators. Replacements have struggled to get up to speed. Divisions that once coordinated across cubicles in the same D.C. office are now more isolated from one another after headquarters positions were scattered across about a dozen cities in the West. Trump “destroyed the effectiveness of the agency,” said a BLM employee, one of the 41 former headquarters staffers who relocated to Western posts. “Everything’s broken down.”

The “Energy Capital of the Nation” is making economic gains with youth sports and big events, yet remains vulnerable to a diminishing fossil fuel industry.

Wildlife biologists are proposing select winter closures in the Tetons in an effort to protect locally-endangered bighorn sheep. Some backcountry skiers aren’t happy about it.