-
Some politicians in the Mountain West are renewing calls to transfer federal lands to state and local governments as a way to ease the affordable housing crisis. They argue that such transfers could provide much-needed space in fast-growing communities hemmed in by public lands.
-
The Mountain Neighbor Handbook is a collaboration of government agencies, advocacy groups and other nonprofits in the area, and it tries to lay out a path for sustainable living in one of the nation’s most sensitive ecosystems. It has rules about keeping away from wildlife, plus sections on how to manage waste and water, reduce your carbon footprint and recreate responsibly.
-
Officials in Jackson sent notices last month asking property owners to cut back on water use following a record-breaking July for the town’s pumping system. Carlin Girard, Executive Director of the Teton Conservation District, said collective action can make a massive difference.
-
The real estate market in Teton County is beginning to “normalize” after it broke records during the pandemic. That’s according to Jackson realtor Devon Viehman, who said properties are staying on the market for longer and cash purchases are occurring less frequently.
-
Yellowstone National Park saw visitation decrease by almost half last month compared to summer 2021, and one gateway community is feeling the slump too.Last year in June, Yellowstone saw 938,845 visits, and this year it had 536,601 visits. According to a park press release, this is largely because of the historic flooding that shut down the park in early June.
-
The western side of the state, specifically areas near Jackson, Alta and Pinedale, have seen on and off again smoke and haze this week from regional fires.Jackson-based meteorologist Alan Smith said it is coming from two large wildfires. The Moose Fire is near Salmon, Idaho and is more than 38,000 acres. Additionally, the Oak Fire is near Yosemite National Park, and at almost 19,000 acres is California’s largest wildfire.
-
Multiple fire stations in Teton County are in disrepair to the extent of needing full replacement as demand for their services increases.
-
Jackson Lake will see historically low water levels this summer, according to an announcement from federal water managers.Nearly all of the reserve water stored in the lake will be released into the Snake River to meet the downstream irrigation needs in Idaho. Legally, Wyoming only has rights to four percent of water in the Snake River system.
-
The Jackson Hole Airport is closing for 78 days to replace its runway, but tourism and supply chain impacts are expected to be minimal.
-
A settlement has been reached over groundwater violations by the Hoback RV park, and an investigation is ongoing to see any potential damage caused.