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Taylor McKinnon

@publiccarbon.bsky.social
1.2K followers 340 following 155 posts

Southwest Director, Center for Biological Diversity. Action to protect imperiled species and wildlands in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah's Colorado Plateau. 📍 Colorado Plateau (to the Sierra Madre) www.biologicaldiversity.org

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Reposted by Taylor McKinnon
Erik Schlenker-Goodrich @riogranderift.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Biologists, ecologists, public lands and wildlife advocates, river guides, hunters and anglers: we need you to defend the West’s natural heritage from the onslaught of fossil fuels, pipelines, data centers, & other infrastructure that the Senate permitting deal will unleash!
westernlaw.org
Five-alarm fire: Radical Senate ‘permitting reform’ bill threatens to eviscerate environmental, wildlife, water, climate laws - Western Environmental Law Center
The Republican-controlled Senate will soon formally announce a legislative “permitting reform” deal to speed the development of AI data centers and energy infrastructure. We expect the Senate will the...
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Erik Schlenker-Goodrich @riogranderift.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The Green NGO movement is not a monolith. But my informed sense is that most folks are alarmed by the permitting deal. So let me say this respectfully, gently, but firmly to my beloved comrades: political access is not political power.
Josh Siegel: "I later called another speaker on the call, Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center, who explained the divide among greens this way: 'The elephant in the room is Sens. Heinrich and Whitehouse are perceived to be champions of environmental issues, and a lot of the large environmental groups are reluctant to push back for well-intentioned reasons to maintain relationships with them."
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Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 02/10/2026
BIG WIN FOR BIG BEND!! A federal judge just issued an emergency injunction to block border barrier and road construction across the #BigBend region. The injunction will remain in place while the court considers a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s waiver to fast-track construction.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Now: A federal court today enjoined 517 miles of border wall construction in the Big Bend region, prohibiting ground disturbing activity by DHS and its contractors pending a full hearing on the merits of Center for Biological Diversity litigation. More: biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Victory: Center for Biological Diversity litigation compelled a federal court to vacate a Forest Service plan for new roads and motorized access in canyons of Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains used by endangered jaguars. More: biodiv.us/4AB2w5g Photo: Russ McSpadden/Center for Biological Diversity
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Now: A Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit today targets approval of mining in the Patagonia Mountains, including habitat for jaguar, ocelot, Mexican spotted owl, western yellow-billed cuckoo, and four other threatened and endangered plants and animals. Read more: tinyurl.com/y73ya44b
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Now: As the state of Arizona doles out uranium mining permits like express-mailed Christmas cookies, New Mexico today outright banned new uranium mining on state land. What a contrast. Congratulations and thank you New Mexico for your leadership. More: insideclimatenews.org/news/0409202...
insideclimatenews.org
New Mexico Bans Uranium Leasing on State Lands - Inside Climate News
The move to block new mining projects comes as the Trump administration seeks to revive American uranium production.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Now: The Center for Biological Diversity and other conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration's unlawful decimation in July of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Southern Utah. Read more: biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
BREAKING: Armed and masked agents of the U.S. government have invaded the sovereign Tohono O'odham Nation.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Now: Center for Biological Diversity, San Carlos Apache Tribe and Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance sued two federal agencies to halt drilling for a copper mine that threatens Mexican spotted owls and other imperiled species near Arizona’s San Pedro River. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Chris Nagano @charliesaito22.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Nice USFWS must include specific measurable & enforceable RPMs and T&Cs in BOs E.g. details on cattle fencing (=type of fencing material, height, space btwn posts, who/how often monitored for damage, how soon it must be repaired, reports posted on public website etc) Or it’s “check’s in the mail”
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Now: A federal court victory requires federal agencies to provide quantitative, science-based endangered species protections on the Coronado National Forest, where fragile riparian critical habitat has for years been trashed by cattle grazing. Photo: USFWS biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Administration: building roads will lower wildfire risk. Reality: wildfire ignitions in national forests are highest in lands within 50m of roads (7.99 fires/1000 ha), lowest in wilderness areas (1.75 fires/1000 ha) and designated roadless areas (1.97 fires/1000 ha). Roads = people. People = fire.
link.springer.com
Three-decade record of contiguous-U.S. national forest wildfires indicates increased density of ignitions near roads - Fire Ecology
Background Roads play an important role in managing fire on the national forests. But roads also are known to increase ignitions and damage ecosystems. Roads may limit the size of wildfires, which may...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The Center for Biological Diversity released new footage today of a jaguar roaming the wilds of southern Arizona near a transnational wildlife movement corridor that is rapidly being closed by border wall construction. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Now: The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service to end years of unlawful cattle grazing damage to endangered species habitat on the Gila River and in Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The Trump administration today illegally slashed the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments by about 90%. What a travesty. Next, legal action. Press release and my quote linked here: biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 02/07/2026
The San Rafael Valley Southern #Arizona is one of the last remaining places where #jaguars from northern #Mexico can travel into their native range in the US. But that pathway is closing. 🎧 Learn more in our latest episode of Sounds Wild on Apple, Spotify, or at biodiv.us/soundswild
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Now: The Center for today filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue FWS and AZGF for ESA violations relating to decades of federal funding of invasive fish stocking in Arizona, which has decimated the native fish and other aquatic species. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Launched to Strengthen Protections for Arizona’s Endangered Fish, Snakes, Frogs
PHOENIX— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department for failing to address decades of damage ...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Now: Amid fierce local organizing and good old American civics, an aluminum plant threatening toxic air pollution in Benson, Arizona, and depletion of water from the biologically diverse San Pedro River was scrapped today. Robin Silver Photo biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Now: The Center for Biological Diversity today expanded our Big Bend litigation to challenge the Department of Homeland Security’s action on Tuesday waiving dozens of environmental laws to build border barriers and roads through Big Bend National Park. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Now: Tribal and conservation groups today sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stop a land trade that would hand 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas to SpaceX. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Seeks to Stop SpaceX Land Deal From Destroying Texas Wildlife Refuge
Center for Biological Diversity: BROWNSVILLE, Texas— Tribal and conservation groups today sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stop a land trade that would hand 715 acres of the Lower Rio Grande...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Now The Center for Biological Diversity sued two Interior Dept. agencies today for failing to protect endangered species and their streamside habitat from unauthorized cattle and grazing damage in southern Arizona’s Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
An appeals court today rejected cattle growers' challenge to the Forest Service's removal of feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness. The Center had urged the dismissal. Three years cow-free, the Gila River's endangered species habitat is now recovering. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration today for failing to finalize Endangered Species Act protections for the Quitobaquito tryonia, a tiny springsnail found only in Quitobaquito Springs in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 20/05/2026
Freshwater mussels are living water filters that help keep rivers clean, clear and healthy. We sued the USFWS this week for for failing to designate critical habitat for the endangered Texas hornshell, a freshwater mussel once common across the Rio Grande watershed in Texas and New Mexico. ⬇️
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Seeks Critical Habitat Protection for Rare Freshwater Mussel in Texas, New Mexico
EL PASO, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to designate critical habitat for the endangered Texas hornshell, a freshwater mussel once...
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Russ McSpadden @peccarynotpig.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
A trail cam check on Monday revealed 3 clips of a beautiful male jaguar in a Sky Island south of Tucson, in the ancestral lands of the Tohono O'odham. Jaguars’ northern range is being ripped apart by border wall, mining, groundwater depletion and climate-driven drought. @biologicaldiversity.org
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
New photos here of damage from CBP blading a 50-foot-wide border wall road through the desert intaglio - a 1000-year-old, 272-foot-long fish carved into the desert floor along the U.S.-Mexico border. It aims south to the Gulf of California 45 miles away. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
New Photos, Videos Show Border Wall Construction Damage to Ancient Archeological Site in Arizona
AJO, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity released new video footage and photographs today documenting recent damage from border wall construction to the Las Playas Intaglio, an ancient fish-sha...
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John R. Platt @johnrplatt.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
How writing about #extinction is an inherently hopeful act. therevelator.org/why-i-write-...
therevelator.org
Why I Write About Extinction • The Revelator
Reporting on disappearing or lost species helps shine a light on the environmental threats we all face and the people working to stop them.
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Tom Swetnam @firescar.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
My colleagues Calvin Farris (NPS) and Ellis Margolis (USGS) led a landmark study in paleofire reconstruction. In addition to showing that fire management can restore past fire regimes, the demonstrated methods are a first in dendrochronology. 1/6 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
New fire study of eastern Mogollon Plateau: 2011 Wallow Fire, Arizona's largest on record, was similar in size to fires in 1748, 1847, 1851 Avg. return interval of fires > 100,000 ha is 20 years Fire deficit persists with 85% reduction in avg. annual area burned link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Size of modern megafire not unprecedented and a cumulative fire deficit persists - Fire Ecology
Background The area burned by wildfires in western North American forests has grown since the 1980s, largely driven by individual “megafires.” Despite breaking state records for fire size, it remains ...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
For the first time in decades, a radio-collared wolf last week relocated from the United States into Mexico. The wolf, dubbed “Cedar,” crossed through the last stretch of southern New Mexico without a border wall in the remote Bootheel region. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Endangered Mexican Wolf Crosses From New Mexico Into Chihuahua
Center for Biological Diversity: Border Wall Construction Could Sever Link Between Populations
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Now: The @biologicaldiversity.org today filed a notice of intent to sue federal agencies to end unauthorized livestock grazing damage to endangered species habitat on Arizona's upper Verde River, the second such suit against the agencies in recent years. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Now: The @biologicaldiversity.org today filed a notice of intent to sue the Trump administration over its plan to expand livestock grazing on public lands across the Western U.S., including within Grand Canyon National Park and several national monuments. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Launched to Protect Wildlife, Iconic Landscapes From Trump’s Expanded Grazing Plan
MISSOULA, Mont.— The Center for Biological Diversity notified the Trump administration today of its intent to sue over the government’s approval of a new expanded livestock grazing plan. The plan woul...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Now: The Center for Biological Diversity, San Carlos Apache Tribe and Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance just notified federal agencies of our intent to sue over Endangered Species Act violations at the Copper Creek Exploration Project near Mammoth, AZ. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Dozens of Tribal, conservation, faith, and community advocates today urged Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs not to auction thousands of acres of state trust land near the Gila River that would become a massive mine waste dump for the proposed Resolution copper mine. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Arizona Governor Urged to Block Massive Oak Flat Mine Waste Facility on State Land
Center for Biological Diversity: PHOENIX— Dozens of Tribal advocates, conservation groups, faith leaders and community organizations today urged Gov. Katie Hobbs to prevent the auction and conversion ...
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Jessica Green @greenprofgreen.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
There is a huge shift in climate politics happening RIGHT NOW in Santa Marta, Colombia. Countries are meeting to discuss a treaty to phase out fossil fuels -- the one issue that #UNFCCC has studiously avoided for 30 years. 🧵
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Most endangered species in the Southwest live in streams and riparian areas. Three main threats to those habitats are drying, invasive species, and unauthorized grazing. Monitoring 600+ stream miles of critical habitat annually, we document cattle damage and, as here, bring corrective lawsuits.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Powell pool elevation of 3500’ will optimize smallmouth bass entrainment through Glen Canyon Dam as hydropower urges BOR to abandon cool mix flows suppressing their reproduction downstream. Decades of humpback chub recovery progress in the Grand Canyon hangs in the balance this year.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Colorado River decline is increasingly dangerous for Grand Canyon's humpback chub. Record low pool elevations at Powell mean far more bass passing through the dam, and hydropower is urging BOR to end cool mix-flows that suppress bass recruitment downstream. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
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Laiken Jordahl @laikenjordahl.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
The feds are moving forward with plans to wall off the Big Bend region. Some reports say walls are "off the table" in the state park, but DHS hasn't canceled construction contracts or restored the legal protections they stripped. Nobody is crossing here. Look at those cliffs.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
The mountains from Mexico’s Sierra Madre northward through the Sky Islands to the Mogollon Highlands of AZ and NM once supported wolves, grizzlies, and jaguars. It’s heartening to see bi-national reintroduction programs and communities now piecing ecosystems back together. ktar.com/arizona-news...
ktar.com
Mexican wolves now roaming historic territory - KTAR.com
Through collaboration between officials in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico, Mexican gray wolves are roaming Durango for the first time since the 1970s.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
TERLINGUA, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity and Texas Civil Rights Project sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection today for withholding public records on plans to build border walls through the Big Bend region of Texas. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Seeks Access to Border Protection Plans to Wall Off Big Bend in Texas
TERLINGUA, Texas— The Center for Biological Diversity and Texas Civil Rights Project sued U.S. Customs and Border Protection today for withholding public records on plans to build border walls through...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
The Center for Biological Diversity and Health Over Wealth Benson are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject an air pollution permit for a proposed aluminum plant that could harm Arizona communities and the San Pedro River's biodiversity. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
EPA Urged to Reject Air Pollution Permit for Arizona Aluminum Plant
BENSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity and Health Over Wealth Benson are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject an air pollution permit for a proposed aluminum plant in ...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Breaking: A federal court today ruled that federal agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by ignoring years of damage from illegal livestock grazing to desert stream habitat for endangered fish and birds in the Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Court Rules Agencies Ignored Cattle Damage, Violated Endangered Species Act in Arizona National Monument
Center for Biological Diversity: PHOENIX— A federal court today ruled that federal agencies violated the Endangered Species Act by ignoring years of damage from illegal livestock grazing to rare deser...
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
A federal court has overturned four key provisions of regulations that weakened the Endangered Species Act, issued by the Trump administration in 2019 and retained under the Biden administration. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Court Overturns Trump Administration Regulations That Weakened Endangered Species Act
Center for Biological Diversity: OAKLAND, Calif.— A federal court has overturned four key provisions of regulations that weakened the Endangered Species Act, issued by the Trump administration in 2019...
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Erik Schlenker-Goodrich @riogranderift.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
In the last ~6 wks The Breakthrough Institute: 1. Filed an Amicus brief in the 9th Circuit supporting Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda; 2. Tacitly supported Trump’s rescission of EPA’s Endangerment Finding. 3. Blamed scientists for Trump’s attacks on climate science. Conclude as you will.
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Brad Udall @bradudall.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
This is a graph of snowpack above Lake Powell using 104 snow measuring stations. It was 9 inches of water on March 7, now 6 inches. Other dry years shown.There is no historical analog to this.
Colorado River snowpack evolution since Oct 2025. Melt started about March 7.  Down to 6
Inches now from 9 inches then. There is no historical analog.
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Taylor McKinnon @publiccarbon.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
The Center for Biological Diversity today filed notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over unauthorized cattle grazing damage to endangered species riparian habitat in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
biologicaldiversity.org
Lawsuit Launched to Protect Arizona Endangered Species, Conservation Area From Trespassing Cattle
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed notice of intent to sue the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over unauthorized cattle grazing damage to endan...
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Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
"The war and the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are pushing more people to recognize that fossil fuel is politically as well as environmentally devastating."
meditationsinanemergency.com
If Fossil Fuels Are War, Renewables Can Bring Peace
On one side of the world the US and Israel are pursuing an ill-conceived attack on Iran that has hugely impacted the flow of fossil fuel in the region. This is already having a grim impact on daily li...
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Ted Zukoski @tedzukoski.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
The Trump administration is preparing an end-run around the Endangered Species Act to benefit oil drilling that could drive a rare whale to extinction. biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press...
An endangered Rice's whale cruises just under the water's surface in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA photo.
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