As voters head to the polls across the Mountain West, one of the most prominent and bipartisan throughlines in 2026 is protecting America’s public lands and natural resources. Broadly, we have already seen public lands serve as a salient and decisive issue across...
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“Urgent” Interior Department Contracts
Urgency (FAR 6.302-2) no-bid contracts, first 522 days
Analysis: Reporting signs that “disparage” American history
Falling behind: Forest Service fuel treatment gap puts communities at risk
A new analysis finds that the U.S. Forest Service treated roughly 35 percent fewer acres for hazardous fuels in 2025 than in 2024
From disavowal to delivery: The Trump administration’s rapid implementation of Project 2025 on public lands
Increasing fossil fuel production on public lands. Gutting federal agencies that oversee national parks and forests. Removing protections for Alaska’s lands and waters. Limiting environmental reviews and undermining the Endangered Species Act. These are just a few of...
2024 New Mexico Spills
Oil and gas producers in New Mexico reported a 10 percent decrease in the number of spills that occurred in 2024 as compared to 2023, from 1498 spills to 1352 spills. The total volume of oil and drilling-related liquid reported spilled decreased five percent, from...
2024 Colorado Spills
Oil and gas producers in Colorado reported a seven percent decrease in the number of drilling-related spills in 2024, as compared to 2023, from 415 to 385. Oil production in Colorado was slightly up in 2024 compared to 2023. These spills have real-world consequences....
Western Oil and Gas Spills Report 2024
Overview Across the West, spills from oil and gas production harm landscapes, water sources, wildlife habitat, and communities. In Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming—the Mountain West’s top oil and gas-producing states—companies report thousands of spills each year,...
Winning the West: Election 2024
Candidates who successfully balanced economic development with environmental stewardship often found favor with voters.
2024 State Conservation Scorecard
Western states are home to millions of acres of national public lands that are owned by all Americans and managed by the federal government. States have an important role to play in advancing the protection of, and access to, national public lands within their...