KZMU News

A group of climate scientists from UC Santa Barbara’s geography department have linked the 2018 Four Corners Drought to human-caused climate change. The drought was characterized by limited surface water as well as poor soil and vegetation conditions. The team found that 60 to 80 percent of the region’s increased potential for evaporation stemmed from human-induced warming alone, causing additional warming of 2 degrees Celsius. And later in the news, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has moved the hands on the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Science Daily, ‘2018’s Four Corners drought directly linked to human-caused climate change’ –

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200123152606.htm

Study: Quantifying Human-Induced Temperature Impacts on the 2018 United States Four Corners Hydrologic and Agro-Pastoral Drought –

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Quantifying-Human-Induced-Temp-Impacts-on-2018-Four-Corners-Drought.pdf

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists –

https://thebulletin.org

KDNK, ‘Doomsday Clock Closest to Midnight in 75 Years’ –

https://www.kdnk.org/post/doomsday-clock-closest-midnight-75-years

A group of climate scientists from UC Santa Barbara’s geography department have linked the 2018 Four Corners Drought to human-caused climate change. The drought was characterized by limited surface water as well as poor soil and vegetation conditions. The team found that 60 to 80 percent of the region’s increased potential for evaporation stemmed from human-induced warming alone, causing additional warming of 2 degrees Celsius. And later in the news, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has moved the hands on the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Science Daily, ‘2018’s Four Corners drought directly linked to human-caused climate change’ –

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200123152606.htm

Study: Quantifying Human-Induced Temperature Impacts on the 2018 United States Four Corners Hydrologic and Agro-Pastoral Drought –

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Quantifying-Human-Induced-Temp-Impacts-on-2018-Four-Corners-Drought.pdf

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists –

https://thebulletin.org

KDNK, ‘Doomsday Clock Closest to Midnight in 75 Years’ –

https://www.kdnk.org/post/doomsday-clock-closest-midnight-75-years

Utah wildlife officials report that Moab’s rare melanistic deer – nicknamed ‘Coal’ by some locals – died of Chronic Wasting Disease. Since July 2019, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has confirmed 16 positive cases of CWD, six of them occurring near Moab. The disease is highly contagious among the species and state officials worry that locals feeding urbanized deer may make the situation worse. And later in the news, where does the resignation of Moab City’s Sustainability Director leave the pending Sustainability Action Plan? Plus, Utah’s 2020 Legislative Session kicks off with some warning remarks about “governing by referendum.” Tune in.

Show Notes:

Chronic Wasting Disease in Utah (Map) -

https://wildlife.utah.gov/diseases/cwd/2018-positive-distribution-map.pdf

2019 Sustainability Action Plan (Draft) –

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019-Sustainability-Action-Plan-Executive-Summary-Final-2.pdf

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sustainability-Report-FINAL-6.21.19.pdf

Signature Totals for Utah Referendum –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

Utah wildlife officials report that Moab’s rare melanistic deer – nicknamed ‘Coal’ by some locals – died of Chronic Wasting Disease. Since July 2019, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has confirmed 16 positive cases of CWD, six of them occurring near Moab. The disease is highly contagious among the species and state officials worry that locals feeding urbanized deer may make the situation worse. And later in the news, where does the resignation of Moab City’s Sustainability Director leave the pending Sustainability Action Plan? Plus, Utah’s 2020 Legislative Session kicks off with some warning remarks about “governing by referendum.” Tune in.

Show Notes:

Chronic Wasting Disease in Utah (Map) -

https://wildlife.utah.gov/diseases/cwd/2018-positive-distribution-map.pdf

2019 Sustainability Action Plan (Draft) –

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019-Sustainability-Action-Plan-Executive-Summary-Final-2.pdf

https://www.kzmu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sustainability-Report-FINAL-6.21.19.pdf

Signature Totals for Utah Referendum –

https://voteinfo.utah.gov/initiatives-and-referenda/

The Environmental Protection Agency has redefined which waterways are covered under the Clean Water Act, and how much pollution can be dumped into them. The rollback of Obama-era protections will affect streams throughout arid portions of the West. And later, Public Lands Corner features an interview with Moab's mayor, Emily Niehaus, about attempts to reduce the noise and conflict associated with UTVs. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Clean Water Act –

https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act

Public Lands Corner –

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/current/?type=flow

https://www.ksl.com/weather/snowpack

The Environmental Protection Agency has redefined which waterways are covered under the Clean Water Act, and how much pollution can be dumped into them. The rollback of Obama-era protections will affect streams throughout arid portions of the West. And later, Public Lands Corner features an interview with Moab's mayor, Emily Niehaus, about attempts to reduce the noise and conflict associated with UTVs. Tune in.

Show Notes:

Clean Water Act –

https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act

Public Lands Corner –

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/current/?type=flow

https://www.ksl.com/weather/snowpack

After a pair of land parcels in the Sand Flats Recreation Area were nominated for oil and gas leasing, many local residents cried foul – citing concerns over impacts to the economic engine that is the Slickrock Bike Trail as well as potential hazards to Moab’s sole source aquifer. Right now, the parcels will be up for lease in the Bureau of Land Management’s June oil and gas sale. Moab Sun News editor Maggie McGuire joined Get An Earful to give the latest on this issue.

Show Notes:

Moab Sun News, ‘Sand Flats areas considered for oil and gas lease’ – http://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_ddf406e6-3899-11ea-9fbd-87674f3947bf.html

The Salt Lake Tribune, ‘Feds propose oil and gas leasing on Moab’s Slickrock trail’ – https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2020/01/23/feds-propose-oil-gas/

BLM Utah June Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale – https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage¤tPageId=200010090

After a pair of land parcels in the Sand Flats Recreation Area were nominated for oil and gas leasing, many local residents cried foul – citing concerns over impacts to the economic engine that is the Slickrock Bike Trail as well as potential hazards to Moab’s sole source aquifer. Right now, the parcels will be up for lease in the Bureau of Land Management’s June oil and gas sale. Moab Sun News editor Maggie McGuire joined Get An Earful to give the latest on this issue.

Show Notes:

Moab Sun News, ‘Sand Flats areas considered for oil and gas lease’ – http://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_ddf406e6-3899-11ea-9fbd-87674f3947bf.html

The Salt Lake Tribune, ‘Feds propose oil and gas leasing on Moab’s Slickrock trail’ – https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2020/01/23/feds-propose-oil-gas/

BLM Utah June Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale – https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage¤tPageId=200010090

KZMU News checks in with The Times-Independent this week to chat about their latest coverage. Staff writer Carter Pape discusses state lawmakers' plans to repeal controversial tax reform, Grand County High School Principal Steve Hren announces his retirement, and a Spanish Valley resident garners a 'passive house' certification. Plus, a look ahead to local elections this November. Tune in.

Utah lawmakers announce tax reform repeal –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/23/referendum-succeeds-lawmakers-announce-tax-reform-repeal/

Grand County High School Principal retiring –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/grand-county-high-principal-retiring-after-31-years/

Passive House Certification –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/local-man-builds-new-standard-in-moab-for-energy-efficient-affordable-housing/

Election 2020 –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/2020-is-going-to-be-a-busy-election-year/

KZMU News checks in with The Times-Independent this week to chat about their latest coverage. Staff writer Carter Pape discusses state lawmakers' plans to repeal controversial tax reform, Grand County High School Principal Steve Hren announces his retirement, and a Spanish Valley resident garners a 'passive house' certification. Plus, a look ahead to local elections this November. Tune in.

Utah lawmakers announce tax reform repeal –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/23/referendum-succeeds-lawmakers-announce-tax-reform-repeal/

Grand County High School Principal retiring –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/grand-county-high-principal-retiring-after-31-years/

Passive House Certification –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/local-man-builds-new-standard-in-moab-for-energy-efficient-affordable-housing/

Election 2020 –

https://moabtimes.com/2020/01/24/2020-is-going-to-be-a-busy-election-year/