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Part 1: Conference on Impacts and Opportunities for Agriculture and Energy

Mitigate. Adapt. Use Wind Power as an Engine for Economic Development. Promote Local Action Plans.

Panels of experts shared diverse perspectives this week on the future of Montana as affected by climate change at the Burton K. Wheeler Center Conference on “Climate Change in Montana: Impacts and Opportunities for Agriculture and Energy,” at Montana State University.

The conference format accepted global warming as a given and moved forward with suggestions for dealing with a warming world. [more]

Understanding the land you live on

In the Intermountain West climate varies – by elevation, aspect, within valleys and even within backyards.

In natural landscapes, the varieties of plants (and where they grow) offer clues to microclimates. But man-made landscapes (like wheat fields and blue grass lawns) “mask” the diversity of climate within. The mask leads landowners to assume that the climate on their property is all the same. They discover their mistake when their plantings fail.

Natural features like elevation, aspect, and wind affect local climate, and therefore your backyard is a microclimate. [more]

By spending time with the land, you know

Most people are aware of regional differences in climate. The Southeast is hot and humid. The Southwest is hot and dry. But in the Intermountain West, mountains affect air currents and moisture distribution to create many microclimates within just one valley. Visitors don’t recognize those microclimates. Most residents find out about them by trial and error.

At the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, I met a couple in their mid 30’s that were visiting from Las Vegas. They said they were tired of the rat race and were looking for a place with a little acreage, to garden and maybe raise some livestock. The first question they asked me was “How much snow do you get here?”

“It depends on what part of the Gallatin Valley you are in,” I replied. They looked at me blankly.

“The climate isn’t the same across the whole valley,” I explained. [more]

the abcs of h20

In Montana, and throughout the Intermountain West, water law affects every part of our lives and communities.

Priority dates dictate the volume and distribution of water from wells and streams. Landowners must put the water to beneficial use without waste to retain their right to use the State’s water. News articles about water issues illustrate that many people are confused about Montana’s water laws, even landowners and local officials.

Here are the key points to understand the basics of Montana water law.
[more]

Majestic but not without its challenges

There are challenges of living in this breathtaking environment. Susan Duncan discusses in this continued series how similar risks that faced the pioneers decades ago are still present.

The Western landscape is brawny and majestic, offering panoramic views.

For visitors and residents alike, the appeal lies in the landforms that reflect the raw power of the forces of Nature that created them. The landforms beckon and challenge. Risk is part of the appeal. Volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, temperature extremes, and avalanches created this landscape.

The risks they pose are still here and affect our daily lives. Have you assessed the risks of where you live and how you respond?
[more]

Defining Urban and Rural Dialogue

The Western landscape is viewed with different economic, social and recreational values, depending on your livelihood and residence. But can we share the same sense of place? Susan Duncan continues her discussion of urban and rural inhabitants, but this time, with examples of common grounds and shared dialogues that assist in understanding each other.

A shared sense of place evolves from dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual respect for differing views.

How much do you know about the people and places that surround you and the forces that affect your daily life? What does it mean (to you and others) to live in this place? How can you and your neighbors work together to adapt to the forces of change to protect what is important to you?

The result of this exploration is a shared sense of place. A shared sense of place is a large jigsaw puzzle in three dimensions – urban, rural, and public land. Your job is to find where you fit into the whole. [more]

Redefining Urban and Rural

Finding a sense of place in the landscape and in your community is an essential part of the New West. Susan Duncan continues her discussion of redefining urban and rural, and the importance of understanding each other.

A “Sense of Place” is much more than appreciating scenic beauty. Each place has its own unique natural and human ecosystem. To live successfully, each of us has to develop an understanding of how the local system works and our place in it. How can we do that?

Imagine “Sense of Place” as a large jigsaw puzzle. You have been given four pieces of the puzzle. Part of the overall picture is on the front of each piece. On the back, the pieces are labeled: Awareness of Environment, Awareness of Community, Awareness of Process, and Awareness of Choice. These are tools to help you discover your relationship with the place where you live. [more]

When do we shake hands?

Neighbors need each other, just as agriculture and urban areas need each other. “When they don’t get along, it threatens the security of everyone,” says Susan Duncan. In this column, she discusses our imminent dependence on local resources where rural and urban areas will be looking to each other for products and needs. Where does this leave cooperation?

So far, the efforts to control "growth" have been based on competition. Why didn't those measures work? One side wants to control the behavior of the other, and only dollar values count. The result is conflict between "good guys" and "bad guys." The rancor produces lots of heat, little enlightenment and not nearly enough progress.

Let’s look at it another way. Think of urban and rural land uses as indispensable, complementary halves of one — a whole community structure. Agriculture thrives on urban markets and expertise: Urban areas thrive on the amenities offered by agriculture. Through integration, urban and rural land uses build a strong foundation of interdependence and a stable community.
[more]

Avalanche Danger "High"

FROM OUR PARTNER SUNVALLEYONLINE

Ketchum Police are evacuating the Huffman Drive area of Warm Springs following 'a number of slides' from Storm 10's new snow hitting several structures below the north valley wall of Warm Springs.

KPD closed off all traffic into Warm Springs just before noon Monday, to make evacuations as simple and efficient as possible.

No estimates of damage done to homes in the area has yet been released, nor have the number of people involved. KPD spokeswoman Kim Rogers has stated no injuries have been reported, though we understand homes have been hit by the slides. [more]

Idaho Politics: Guest Opinion

Two weeks ago, state Rep. Curtis Bowers of Caldwell wrote an opinion published in the Idaho Press-Tribune in which he claimed that feminism, environmentalism and the gay movement were part of a communist plot to “take America down.” According to his account, he learned this at a communist strategy meeting at the University of California, Berkeley in 1992, which he attended in disguise out of curiosity.

Rep. Bowers’ goal, it seems, was to pit neighbor against neighbor by targeting three groups of people: feminists, environmentalists and gay rights advocates. According to him, these groups share blame for the destruction of families, business and culture. In fact, his enemies list may include you.

[more]

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