It’s been nearly a decade since the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources released mountain goats in the La Sal Mountains. And throughout that same decade, critics have consistently called for their removal, saying they are damaging a federally protected alpine ecosystem. Just this week, the U.S. Forest Service released data outlining their concerns about potential impacts from mountain goats, recreation and climate change. Today on the news, why a conservation advocate calls the Forest Service data a ‘watershed’ moment in the ongoing controversy over mountain goats in the La Sal Mountains.

//Plus, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters on their latest stories of the Moab area. Sophia Fisher of the Times-Independent talks addiction recovery resources and the scale of the local opioid epidemic, COVID increases, possible development in Castle Valley and Moab City’s $16.3 million budget. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses a profile on Japanese railroad workers at the turn of the century, farming in the desert at Easy Bee Farm and the return of Canyonlands PRCA rodeo.

// Show Notes

//Photo: Since their introduction to the La Sal Mountain range in 2013, mountain goats have been a source of ongoing controversy in the Moab community. Now the Forest Service has concerns about their potential impacts to the alpine ecosystem. Image from the Utah Division of Wildlife’s 2018 Mountain Goat Statewide Management Plan

// (May 24, 2022) USFS: Alpine Ecosystem Monitoring in the La Sals, Forest Service to Release Summary of Results

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mantilasal/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1027112

// (2018) Utah DWR: Mountain Goat Statewide Management Plan

https://wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/bg/mtn_goat_plan.pdf

// USFS: Rare Plants and Alpine Vegetation of the La Sal Mountains

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mantilasal/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1027112

// (2015) Grand Canyon Trust: Alpine Vegetation Impact Assessment of the Mt. Peale Research Natural Area

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/conservation/success/LaSals_studies.shtml

// Weekly News Reel Mentions

// The Times-Independent: Moab Regional Recovery Center opening in June

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-regional-recovery-center-opening-in-june/

// The Times-Independent: Overdoes, fentanyl plague Grand County

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/overdoses-fentanyl-plague-grand-county/

// The Times-Independent: Grand should be in ‘Medium’ COVID status

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/grand-should-be-in-medium-covid-status/

// The Times-Independent: New residential development in Castle Valley possible

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/new-residential-development-in-castle-valley-possible/

// The Times-Independent: Moab City’s $16.3 budget moves ahead

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/moab-citys-16-3m-budget-moves-ahead/

// Moab Sun News: The untold story of K. Kawanishi

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/05/26/the-untold-story-of-k-kawanishi/

// Moab Sun News: Inside Easy Bee Farm

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/05/26/inside-easy-bee-farm/

// Moab Sun News: Saddle up! Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo returns to Moab from June 3 to June 5

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/05/26/canyonlands-rodeo-returns/