Articles by Grist staff

Owl's Fair in Love and War

The federal government yesterday decided to protect 731,000 acres near Tucson, Ariz., as critical habitat for the endangered pygmy owl, a major shift that will limit future development in the area. The feds were forced into the move by a lawsuit filed by the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity. Last week, Arizona Gov. Jane Hull […]

Fees Take a Hike

A new system of higher fees in national parks is starting to pay off for visitors and park administrators alike. The system allows parks to keep 80 percent of the fees they collect, and parks are using the funds to build trails, control erosion, fix water and sewer lines, restore historic buildings, extend handicap access, […]

Escargot Cargo Embargo

In an effort to curb the environmental degradation caused by exotic species, the U.S. government today will begin regulating the water that cargo ships dump when they enter U.S. ports. Ships will be asked to empty out their ballast water at least 200 miles off the U.S. coast to prevent invasive animals, microorganisms, and bacteria […]

Torpedo the Dams — Full Speed Ahead!

The Edwards Dam in Augusta, Maine, will be breached on Thursday in an effort to restore fish populations in the Kennebec River, as debates rage across the U.S. over proposals to knock down dams for the sake of fish. About 75,000 large dams block American rivers, and small dams block thousands more. Proposals to breach […]