KZMU News

Despite challenges due to weather and supply shortages, clean-up is on track at the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action site near Moab. Today on the news, we speak with the federal cleanup director on what’s been done so far and plans for the future. Plus, heavy rainfall over last year’s burn area in the La Sal Mountains sent a debris flow of rocks, mud and vegetation through the town creeks. According to preliminary data from the USGS, Mill Creek was traveling over 1,000 CFS on Tuesday evening. And later, reports on the James Webb Space Telescope and Utah’s involvement in the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: The Moab UMTRA Project, where 16 million tons of uranium tailings are being moved away from the Colorado River. Credit US Department of Energy

// Moab UMTRA Project

https://www.grandcountyutah.net/257/Moab-UMTRA-Project

// USGS: Mill Creek At Sheley Tunnel

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09183500/#parameterCode=00060&period=P7D

// USGS: Pack Creek At Pack Creek Road Bridge

Shttps://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/09184600/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

// KUER: Utah astronomers expect a lot of future surprises from NASA’s Webb Space Telescope

https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2022-07-13/utah-astronomers-expect-a-lot-of-future-surprises-from-nasas-webb-space-telescope

// 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

https://988lifeline.org

Photojournalist Luis Sinco’s career at the Los Angeles Times has spanned earthquakes, war and wildfire. But recently, a conversation with his adult children inspired a unique solo project. “I was just talking to them…about what they knew about where water comes from and what they knew about the Colorado River,” Sinco says. “My kids are pretty smart. I was kind of stunned that they didn’t know very much about [it].” Today on the news, we speak with Sinco about photographing the Colorado River Basin from it’s headwaters in Colorado to its delta in Mexico and what he hopes westerners can learn from these visuals. Plus, states in the river's Upper Basin aren’t ready to commit to federal water conservation targets.

// Photo: Luis Sinco, photojournalist with the LA Times, in the Mexicali Valley of the Colorado River Delta. Sinco’s project “The Colorado River: Where The West Quenches Its Thirst,” documents the river’s basin from its headwaters to its delta. Credit Ian James / Los Angeles Times

// LA Times: The Colorado River – Where The West Quenches Its Thirst

http://view.ceros.com/la-times-communication/visual-journey-along-the-colorado-river1/p/1

// LA Times: Angered by climate denial, a Times photographer embarked on a watershed journey

https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2022-07-14/times-photographer-climate-crisis-colorado-journey-boiling-point

// KUNC: Responding to federal pressure, Upper Colorado River states seek to revive conservation program

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-07-20/responding-to-federal-pressure-upper-colorado-river-states-seek-to-revive-conservation-program

A mining company wants to extract lithium from old oil and gas wells in Grand County. Used in electronics such as batteries, demand for the metal is expected to grow. Companies are exploring deposits across the country, including the Paradox Basin in Southeastern Utah. Today on the news, the potential - and risks - of using old oil infrastructure in the transition to a greener economy. Plus, an annual Ute athletic tradition is coming back to our region. And, a recent wildfire left a smoky taste and smell in a Colorado town’s water.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Dead Horse Point State Park. A-1 Lithium has submitted a proposal to the BLM a few miles outside the state park. Credit Dave Hensley

// BLM: A-1 Lithium Incorporated Mineral Exploration Project

https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2014014/510

// Anson Resources: Paradox Basin Brine Project

https://www.ansonresources.com/paradoxbasin/

// KUNC: Smoke in the water – Wildfires have lasting effects on drinking supply long after they’re put out

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-07-20/smoke-in-the-water-wildfires-have-lasting-effects-on-drinking-supply-long-after-theyre-put-out

On the south side of Green River, there’s a stand-out parcel of land. It’s where old cottonwood trees jut into the sky and rock-lined gravel pathways snake around a play tunnel made of stumps. A place where kids can go wild on a tire swing. It’s the new Pearl Baker Park & Outdoor Classroom. Community members and volunteers celebrated the soft opening of the park this week, as well as ‘the woman, the myth, the legend’ of its namesake.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses the county pursuing its own workforce housing ordinance, Grand backing out of a solo opioid lawsuit and an effort to boost air travel to Moab. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News discusses Moab’s experience with the nationwide nursing shortage, upcoming Pioneer Day events and the library’s expansion of teen programming.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Kids test out the new tire swing at Pearl Baker Park & Outdoor Classroom. The park will provide a new gathering and learning space on Green River’s south side. KZMU/Molly Marcello

// Epicenter: Pearl Baker Park - Year 1

https://ruralandproud.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pearl-Baker-Park.pdf

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Seeking to avoid city’s mire, county pursues its own workforce housing ordinance

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/seeking-to-avoid-citys-mire-county-pursues-its-own-workforce-housing-ordinance/

// The Times-Independent: County backs out of solo opioid lawsuit

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/county-backs-out-of-solo-opioid-lawsuit/

// The Times-Independent: Taxes, grant could boost air travel to Moab

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/taxes-grant-could-boost-air-travel-to-moab/

// Moab Sun News: Moab shares in nationwide nursing shortage

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/21/moab-nursing-shortage/

// Moab Sun News: Celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24 with Moab’s museums

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/21/pioneer-day/

// Moab Sun News: Library expands teen programming

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/21/library-expands-teen-programming/

There’s a nursing shortage in the country. And that applies to Moab, where we have our own challenges too. Today on the news, we speak with the CEO of Moab Regional Hospital about the situation and potential solutions for attracting more workers into health care. Plus, the seven Colorado River basin states have until mid-August to drastically cut their water use. Federal officials say that’s necessary to keep the river’s giant reservoirs from going empty. If state leaders fail to come up with a plan, they could be facing a federal crackdown.

// Show Notes:

// McKinsey & Company (May 2022): Assessing the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the nursing shortage

https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/assessing-the-lingering-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-nursing-workforce

// KZMU (December 2021): Nursing in Moab

https://www.kzmu.org/friday-december-10-2021/

KUNC: On the Colorado River the feds carry a big stick. Will the states get hit?

https://www.kunc.org/environment/2022-07-19/on-the-colorado-river-the-feds-carry-a-big-stick-will-the-states-get-hit

The Utah Investigative Journalism Project is a non-profit that provides public-service reporting and education throughout the state. They partner with publications to publish in-depth stories holding those in power accountable. Today on the news, we speak with founder Eric Peterson, who was recently in Moab. Plus, nearly 400 tourism industry groups sent a letter to the National Park Service wanting changes to reservation systems. And, a fire broke out at Hoover Dam on Tuesday morning – but was quickly put out.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Sunrise panorama from the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint at Arches National Park. Tourism industry groups want a more international tourist-friendly national park reservation system. Credit NPS/Neal Herbert

// The Utah Investigative Journalism Project

https://www.utahinvestigative.org

// KUER: Utah groups want a more international tourist-friendly national park reservation system

https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2022-07-20/utah-groups-want-a-more-international-tourist-friendly-national-park-reservation-system

// KUNC: Fire at Hoover Dam extinguished, cause still unknown

https://www.kunc.org/news/2022-07-19/fire-at-hoover-dam-extinguished-cause-still-unknown

For about a year, locals seeking information about marginalized communities have had a safe, comfortable community space to check out resources. Literally. The Moab Pride Library lives in a shady nook at Adobe Garden Apothecary. It’s a space where people peruse everything from queer literature to Black and Indigenous history. Moab Pride organizer Desirae Miller took us on a tour of the library for our latest audio portrait.

// Photo: The Moab Pride Library with local organizer Desirae Miller. “Books take you to different worlds, and you get to tap into so many different realities that you really can't do in a rural town,” says Miller. “…And that is what Moab Pride strives to be able to provide – these safe spaces in a rural town where you otherwise maybe wouldn't feel seen.”

// If you think there’s someone or even some place that we should profile for our next audio portrait, please reach out to [email protected].

Citing concerns for human safety, Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials killed one of the offspring of famed grizzly bear ‘399’ near Jackson last week. Grizzly 399 is known for raising multiple litters not far from busy roadways in Grand Teton National Park. Our radio partners report on how one of them got into trouble. Plus, conservationists are enlisting scientists to help manage a historic Colorado homestead and ranch as partial wildlife habitat.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Susan Panjabi (second from left), a botanist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, works with a group of volunteers to identify a small leafy plant during a three-day ‘bioblitz’ on the Coffman Ranch near Carbondale, Colorado. The bioblitz is part of an ongoing effort to understand the biodiversity on the 141-acre property before opening it to the public. Eleanor Bennett/Aspen Public Radio

// KHOL: Offspring of Grizzly 399 killed after conflicts

https://891khol.org/offspring-of-grizzly-399-killed-after-conflicts/

// Aspen Public Radio: Scientists and local experts ‘listen to the land’ before opening Coffman Ranch to the public

https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/environment/2022-07-12/scientists-and-local-experts-listen-to-the-land-before-opening-coffman-ranch-to-the-public

Utah is experiencing more wildfires in the midst of drought and high temperatures. And more of those blazes are being caused by people as our population grows. The job of fire investigators has never been more important. They track down the spark that can lead to prosecutions and their work provides crucial data for studying fire causes. Today on the news, we speak with investigators about their large caseload. Plus, a multi-agency coalition is planning a network of electric vehicle charging stations along rural roads in Utah and other Western states. And, Montana youth are suing the state over energy policies they say are hurting their health and environment.

// Plus, the Weekly News Reel! The Times-Independent’s Sophia Fisher discusses a local man’s death after being swept away by the Colorado River. She also highlights special events permitting, rising costs affecting a planned roundabout and a casting call for the Kevin Costner project. The Moab Sun News’ Alison Harford discusses an initiative trying to bring local foods to schools, Community Rebuilds offering a week-long workshop and an upcoming ‘mystery’ event from the MARC’s new artist-in-residence.

// Show Notes:

// Photo: Burnt trees near the Pack Creek day use area, where fire investigators determined a 9,000 acre fire was started in June 2021. Lately, Utah’s investigators have been busier than ever. KZMU/Molly Marcello

// Weekly News Reel Mentions:

// The Times-Independent: Local man dies after being swept away by the Colorado

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/local-man-dies-after-being-swept-away-by-the-colorado/

// The Times-Independent: City takes harder look at special event permitting

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/city-takes-harder-look-at-special-event-permitting/

// The Times-Independent: Rising costs impact planned roundabout

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/rising-costs-impact-planned-roundabout/

// The Times-Independent: Costner film holds casting call July 29, 30 at Star Hall

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/costner-film-holds-casting-call-july-29-30-at-star-hall/

// Moab Sun News: Bringing local foods to schools, statewide

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/14/utah-farm-to-fork/

// Moab Sun News: Natural building essentials – Community Rebuilds offers week-long workshop

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/14/natural-building-essentials/

// Moab Sun News: Learn something new with the MARC artist in residence

https://moabsunnews.com/2022/07/14/marc-workshop/

Mix some bagpipes, drums and dancing together and you’ve likely got a Scottish, Irish, or Welsh cultural event. You’ve also got some noise. This is the central issue with the recent debate over the 2022 Scots on the Rocks Festival, which has spurred the city council to revise their special events permitting criteria when it comes to noise and its ‘intensity.’ Plus, new research by the Utah Women & Leadership Project looks into the economic, health-related and overall wellness status of Indigenous women in Utah. And, clean air advocates are taking the EPA to court over smog levels in Colorado.

// Show Notes:

// Moab City: Special Event Criteria (July 12, 2022)

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/5060?fileID=6018

// Moab City: Findings of Fact, Scots on the Rocks (July 12, 2022)

https://moabcity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/5062?fileID=6033

// Sounds in the Today’s Episode:

‘Pipes and Drums’ by strongbot

‘Pipe and Drum’ by inchadney

// Utah Public Radio: Study finds Utah indigenous women lack clean water and internet access

https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2022-07-12/study-finds-utah-indigenous-women-lack-clean-water-and-internet-access