Online Articles

Trespass cattle grazing within the Valles Caldera Nature Preserve in July 2022. See below for image credit.

Fences Down, Grazing Up, and Cows That Don't Read Permits

September 29, 2026 by Jonathan Winn Agriculture Wildlife

The USDA wants more cattle and lighter enforcement on drought-stressed national forests. A family cabin and the Valles Caldera show what unenforced grazing limits cost.

The Methow River in Washington's Okanogan County, within the Columbia River Basin targeted by Crown Columbia Water Resources LLC's area-wide water permit application. See below for image attribution.

The Water Wagers: When Water Becomes Foreseeably Dry

April 14, 2026 by Renata Valquier Chavez Climate change Legislation

Climate change's most consequential harms are slow, structural, and often invisible, exemplified by the growing commodification of water in the American West. While private law offers limited remedies, meaningful solutions require legislative reform.

Solar cell panels, wind turbines, and electricity pylons at sunset. Pixabay user Kenueone via Wikimedia Commons.

Is the Inflation Reduction Act “Just?”: Applying the IRA to the Energy Justice Framework

March 31, 2026 by Oliver Wilder Energy Legislation Renewable Energy

While the Inflation Reduction Act marks a monumental shift in U.S. climate policy, a cleaner energy economy is not inherently a more “just” one. Applying the energy justice framework to the Act’s tax incentives and funding models reveals a landmark policy that serves as a critical checkpoint, rather than the finish line, for true equity.