Public Lands News 2/13

Logging Nightmares, BLM Woes, Tongass Debates, Hope for Ocmulgee Mounds, and more.

I had an actual nightmare last night about old growth being logged. Never had one of those before. The powerless feeling that accompanied it was dreadful and motivation to be a part of the resistance to the forces that are working against our public lands. We are hard at work on some tools we hope will empower folks to do something more to combat these assaults on our shared natural heritage but in the meantime sharing the news still feels important. Knowing is the first step toward action. In that spirit, shall we dive in to this week’s news?

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A Top Oil & Gas Champion Nominated to Head the BLM – Sigh. In a near-blinding whipsaw (from the previous administration’s conservationist leader), Kathleen Sgamma, who serves as the President of the Western Energy Alliance, is now the likely next chief of the agency that oversees the 250 million most vulnerable acres of our public lands. It seems our entire public lands apparatus will be turned over to the very wolves who want to harvest them for quick profits.

The Initial Salvo from Wyoming’s Legislature to Steal Our Public Lands Has Failed - The state’s own Senate rejected the bid by the state House. While this renewed war for America’s public lands is sadly only in the beginning phases, we’ll take any victory we can get.

National Park Service to Be Allowed to Hire “Some” Seasonal Positions – In another small win, a vaguely defined loophole has emerged in the federal hiring freeze to allow “some” seasonal hiring in national parks. This follows a letter sent by a group of independent and Democratic senators to the new Interior Secretary, warning of dire consequences, including park shutdowns.

Ocmulgee Mounds Didn’t Become a National Park in ‘24 But Momentum Continues Into ‘25 – There’s still reason to be hopeful for an Ocmulgee Mounds National Park this year, as bipartisan support persists.

Tongass National Forest Management Plan is Inviting Public Comment – We’ve done a lot of work with the US Forest Service creating messaging around the importance of public input on forest management plans. In fact, we created this helpful video on the topic:

These plans are essentially the guiding principles of how the forest will be managed for the next quarter-century or so, making them critically important. If the forest prioritizes recreation in the plan, that’s what they’ll do. If they prioritize extraction, that’s what they’ll do. Even if you’ve never been to the Tongass, I invite you to see what they’re up to and leave a public comment. Tourism has become the region’s top economic driver, so preserving the forest should be the top priority rather than carving up our old growth for the highest bidder (my nightmare). If you feel the same way, please leave a comment by February 24th.

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Senator Proposes Bill to Allow National Forests to Keep a Portion of Ski Revenue – This bill, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden, is a no-brainer and something I strongly support. These ski resorts pay next to nothing to operate multi-million-dollar businesses. Despite shrinking winters, they can afford to profit-share with the public that allows them the privilege of using our lands to turn a (renewable) profit. Let your congressional representatives know that you support the SHRED Act.

Yosemite Reservation System Now in Limbo – Yosemite’s reservation system may be a bit of a headache for road trippers, but the sad reality is that due to crowd surges, it has become a necessity. Or has it? The new administration is reconsidering. The park remains mum on whether the system will renew after February 23. If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite, keep an eye on this. My hunch is that we’re in for trouble.

Too Many Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park? – What seems like great news for wildlife enthusiasts visiting the park is less so for park ecologists. RMNP’s massive elk population (unchecked by extirpated natural predators) has long been the nemesis of park wetlands. Now it seems the growing moose population is also having a negative impact.

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Thanks for tuning in to this week’s newsletter. Every bit of awareness and action helps protect these places for future generations. We’ll keep bringing you updates, tools, and opportunities to get involved. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and please spread the word.

Until next time!
Will