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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Idaho weather officials warn of water shortages, fire risk. Here's why
Nearly record-low rain in the spring combined with extreme heat could put a strain on agriculture and worsen fire risk throughout Idaho, weather officials have warned. Most of the state is under drought after a particularly dry spring, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, prompting water shortages, while the Boise area's dry conditions pose wildfire risks. Snake River reservoirs, which are essential to irrigating Idaho crops like wheat, potatoes and sugar beets, are already facing abnormally low water levels that are likely to get worse, said David Hoekema, a hydrologist at the Idaho Department of Water Resources. 'We're seeing (water) storage use much faster than normal and ahead of schedule,' Hoekema told the Idaho Statesman. Statewide, this spring was the fifth-driest on record and second-driest since 1931, beaten only by spring 2021, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA forecasts 'above normal' temperatures for the rest of the summer. Without rain, farms with irrigation systems must tap into stored water for their crops, Hoekema said, which has rapidly depleted reservoirs around the Snake River. The water outlook for Boise and most of Southwest Idaho is better. Hoekema said the reservoirs the Treasure Valley uses – Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock and Lucky Peak – remain at normal levels for the season after plenty of rain last year and adequate snowpack from the winter. But the Boise area is still 'abnormally dry,' according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Hoekema said that's an indication that drought conditions could develop. For Boise, the main concern is the fire risk. National Weather Service meteorologist Jay Breidenbach told the Statesman that the dryness this summer could 'set the stage' for widespread blazes. National Interagency Fire Center meteorologists told the Statesman in June that this year's fire season could be worse than 2024, which cost Idaho $60 million and set hundreds of thousands of acres ablaze. The state has set less money aside to fight fires this year, which Gov. Brad Little said in an April statement may be insufficient. 'Simply put, if we have a bad fire year, the amount the Legislature appropriated for fire suppression will not be enough to cover the bills for the fires the state is responsible for,' he said at the time while approving the budget. Many farms in Southern Idaho are non-irrigated and rely on rainfall, a practice known as dryland farming, Idaho wheat commissioner Wayne Hurst told the Statesman. Hurst said that for dryland farmers, the dry spring has already impacted their livelihoods. 'The last several months have been really tough for them and their crops because they never received the natural precipitation they rely on,' Hurst said. 'There may be water in the reservoirs, but they have no access to that.' Hurst explained that crops like wheat rely on spring rainfall or irrigation for a successful harvest. The impact on dryland farmers has been 'severe,' he said, while irrigated farms are still faring fine for now. If heavy reservoir reliance continues in Southern Idaho, farmers who irrigate may soon run into water shortages, Hoekema said. The Department of Water Resources released a report on July 10 that predicted a shortfall of 75,300 acre-feet of water for the Twin Falls Canal Co., which manages water resources in part of the Magic Valley region. One acre-foot is about the volume of a football field dug one foot deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The report noted that other water districts in the region are, so far, not facing shortfalls. In Idaho, water rights are determined by seniority, the July 10 report explained. Older farms have rights to more water. Hoekema said that many farmers need to stop irrigating their crops when there are shortages, or make economic choices about which crops to water. Hurst, as a farmer of over 40 years, has firsthand experience with making these decisions. He grows wheat, sugar beets, alfalfa and beans on a farm near Declo that his family has cultivated for three generations. 'There have been times when we haven't been able to water sugar beets, for example, in late summer, early fall, because the water hasn't been there,' Hurst said. Breidenbach told the Statesman that conditions are forecasted to remain relatively hot and dry for the rest of the summer. 'When it's hot, crops use more water,' Breidenbach said. 'So hot and dry is about the worst you can imagine right now.' A weather pattern called the North American Monsoon, which mainly affects southwestern states, is kicking into gear, Breidenbach said. According to NOAA, the monsoon can bring thunderstorms and rainfall to the typically dry region during summer months. 'Very occasionally, very rarely, we'll get monsoon moisture up into southern Idaho,' Breidenbach said. 'But it's something that I wouldn't say we could count on just yet.' Hoekema said the Idaho Water Resource Board has been developing strategies to lessen the impact of droughts, such as recharging aquifers with excess water in the winter and spring. Hydrologists' understanding of Idaho water resources are also getting better, Hoekema noted. Though they have historically looked at snowpack as the main telltale of summer water supply, they are realizing that summer temperatures and spring precipitation are better indicators.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dorset's Lydia Thomas heads to US for fly fishing world championships
A Dorset schoolgirl is part of a squad heading to the US to compete in the World Youth River Fly Fishing Thomas, 17, from Maiden Newton is the only female in the Angling Trust's England under-18 Rivers Squad, and is heading to Idaho Falls. The teenager, who is studying for her A-levels, has been fly and lure fishing since she was 11 years said she had never fished outside of the UK and it would be her first time travelling abroad. Lydia, who has been in the squad for six months, said she got hooked on fishing thanks to her father, said: "Mum took me to Sutton Bingham where he was fishing and I would sit underneath him, watching the line over my head."Mr Thomas said he would be travelling to Idaho with his daughter, who has type 1 diabetes."I am going as her health supporter so she can concentrate on fishing and I can worry about her blood sugar levels," he said."We've never been abroad and, with the heat, that will affect her blood sugars so it's all a bit unknown."I don't fish any more, I watch Lydia, that's where my enjoyment is."She's taken it to the next level."The World Youth River Fly Fishing Championships takes place at Snake River, Idaho, from 12 to 19 July. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
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Travel + Leisure
02-07-2025
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
Jackson Hole's Newest Hotel Only Has 38 Rooms—and a Stay Here Gets You Access to the Most Exclusive Sporting Club in Town
The rooms, designed by Kim Deetjen of TruexCullins Interiors, perfectly balance the refined minimalism you'd expect from a luxury hotel with the thoughtful touches of a boutique property. Suites here feel incredibly livable, and each has a washer, dryer, and kitchen. There are a variety of common areas—including a rooftop with six hot tubs—so guests aren't relegated to their rooms after a round of golf. The location is incomparable; as a guest, you receive rare access to one of the premier sporting clubs in Jackson Hole. In Jackson Hole's ever-expanding luxury hospitality scene, it sometimes feels as if the hotel options blend together in a sea filled with earth tones, wood and stone accents, the obligatory walls of wildlife photography, and other contemporary-meets-Wild West design choices. To stand out, a hotel must have something truly unique: an imitable backstory, an enviable location, or an element of exclusivity. Over the past few years, several new properties have individually checked one or two of those boxes, but there hasn't been one that's nailed all three—until now. On June 18, The Sylvan Lodge, a brand-new retreat at the Snake River Sporting Club, opened its doors, and I was among the first to stay. Although I've been frequenting this part of Wyoming for several years, I never stepped foot inside the private club's grounds. Prior to the hotel's opening, access to this pocket of Jackson Hole, Wyoming—25 minutes south of the town of Jackson—was reserved for members, their guests, or those renting one of the club's luxury homes or cabins. 'The idea for The Sylvan Lodge was born out of organic demand. Because of the quality of our golf course and club amenities, we've long had members and their guests from out of town looking for a place to stay while in Jackson,' Christopher Swann, founder and CEO of Cygnus Capital, tells Travel + Leisure . The club spans nearly 1,000 acres and is renowned for its Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course; the scenic 18-hole layout is tucked between the banks of the meandering Snake River and Bridger-Teton National Forest land. While a reservation at The Sylvan Lodge grants you the ability to schedule a tee time on this otherwise private course, it also provides something slightly less tangible: a chance to experience Jackson Hole's natural beauty and accompanying recreational activities without having to navigate around the thousands of visitors who descend upon the area daily. Even though it's inherently tied to the Snake River Sporting Club, the 38-key Sylvan Lodge is still grounded in its brand and story. 'Sylvan' has a few definitions, but at its core, it refers to something that is 'of the woods.' The theme is central to the design of the property—for example, each suite is named after a local tree. 'The goal was to create a refined, residential retreat that feels connected to the land and invites guests to be part of the forest, rather than just near it,' says Ryan Kingston, the area managing director for Noble House Hotels & Resorts, which manages a group of properties that now includes The Sylvan Lodge. 'The design incorporates natural materials and a neutral palette, along with original artwork by regional artists that reflects the landscape and wildlife, including eagles, elk, and native tree species." While the team was still putting the final touches on some of the hotel's amenities (including its on-site restaurant, fitness center, and spa) during my stay, the level of excellence The Sylvan Lodge is striving to achieve was already apparent. Every detail felt thoughtful and intentional, from the complimentary snack, drink, and coffee bar on the third floor to the heated bathroom floors and the bathrobes that felt so soft, I made note of the brand (Comphy by Coop, in case you're also curious). I think perhaps what impressed me most, though, was the level of service: the graciously attentive housekeeping, the always-helpful front desk, the waitstaff at the clubhouse who consistently remembered my name. The staff created a warm hospitality experience that will set the hotel up for success as it takes its place in Jackson Hole. Here's what it's like to stay at The Sylvan Lodge. Of the 38 guest rooms, 15 are suites. The smallest room category is a King, which has a fairly standard layout with a mini fridge and a Nespresso machine. If you're staying for more than a couple of nights (or traveling with children), I recommend upgrading to one of the suites, which come with in-room laundry and a kitchen, creating a true 'home away from home' experience. Suites also have furnished balconies—they're the perfect place to unwind in the Wyoming sunshine. I stayed in the Two-Bedroom Canopy Suite, a spacious spread that can house up to six guests, thanks to the king room and two sets of bunks in the secondary bedroom. During the day, the European white oak ceilings and walls, as well as the Restoration Hardware furnishings, are flooded with light from the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the space feel bright and airy. My only complaint would be that the shades are operated by hand. Besides that, there isn't an inch of the space that doesn't marry both function and design. The coffee tables are accessorized with books, a backgammon set, and coasters designed to reflect the topography of the Teton Range. The kitchen cabinets and shelves are stocked with Riedel glassware, Churchill stoneware, and all manner of utensils; the custom Sylvan Lodge knife from New West KnifeWorks, a local company, is a particular highlight. The hotel's signature restaurant, Engelmann's Bistro, was not open during my visit, but according to Kingston, the eatery will 'initially focus on breakfast, highlighting fresh, seasonal ingredients from the Western region.' That said, the dining experiences during my stay took place at the Snake River Sporting Club's clubhouse restaurants, led by executive chef Eric Gruber. The menu at River Room is well curated—one page of soups, salads, starters, sides, and mains—and there's a range of seasonal items. I kept coming back to the beet duo (a combination of pickled and roasted beets and herb-whipped feta), but the daily specials, like the crispy salmon, frequently caught my attention. I also couldn't help but end each meal with a scoop of the bay laurel ice cream, an in-house specialty. Martin Creek Poolside Grill is a casual option for members and lodge guests. I went for the gourmet barbecue sandwich and a side of crudité. While the overall atmosphere of this dining outlet is relaxed, the team was attentive and ensured my gluten-free dietary restriction was top of mind. If you're just looking for drinks, the indoor-outdoor Dark Sky Bar on the third floor of The Sylvan Lodge is the place to be. An expertly prepared, not-too-sweet mocktail was my beverage of choice. Enjoy views of Snake River Canyon and Bridger-Teton National Forest from the infinity-edge pool. Snake River Sporting Club As the cliché goes, there's something for everyone here. As a guest of The Sylvan Lodge, you receive the Snake River Sporting Club's member benefits. Play a round of golf (there are, notably, a few time restrictions for hotel guests), or grab a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard to take out on Beaver Pond, a water feature located near the 11th green and 12th tee. In the warmer months of the year, guests can head up to the five-stand skeet shooting range, book a trail ride along the Snake River, or lounge under an umbrella by the infinity-edge pool beneath the clubhouse. There's also the option to test your hand-eye coordination at the clay tennis court, frisbee golf course, or archery course, complete with 3D targets. In the winter, the sporting club transforms into a haven for cross-country skiers. The team can also help facilitate heli-skiing trips and transport guests to the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. Eventually, there will be an on-site shop, called 'The Hub,' to facilitate all activities for guests. Helmed by Abril Gruber, the former spa manager of the Amangani resort, the 20,000-square-foot spa at The Sylvan Lodge officially opened its eight treatment rooms and additional facilities a few days after I checked out. I did, however, get to try the Sylvan Signature Massage through an in-room experience. The much-needed service effectively removed the tension and soreness that had built up in my body following a full day of travel, plus a few rounds of skeet shooting and a golf lesson. I also got to walk through the soon-to-open spa upon my arrival, and I was impressed by the full-service facility. In total, the spa has steam rooms, a cold plunge, and an infrared sauna—as well as a therapy pool, a heated deck, and a sun-filled relaxation room. And if you've been thinking about trying a red-light therapy mask? You can pick one up at the spa's retail boutique. Additionally, the fitness center, which is more expansive than many hotel gyms I've encountered, is right next door. While I got my heart rate up with long walks from the hotel down to the clubhouse and equestrian center, guests now have the option to exercise indoors. The weekly yoga and pilates classes are also complimentary. Both Snake River Sporting Club and The Sylvan Lodge are designed to entertain visitors of all ages. The pool at the clubhouse, for example, is popular among younger guests, as is the Beaver Pond. Snake River Sporting Club also has a roster of kids' camps and kid-friendly lessons, focusing on golf, horseback riding, swimming, fly fishing, kayaking, frisbee golf, and more. The interior of Nest. Snake River Sporting Club The common spaces within The Sylvan Lodge are ADA-compliant, and each floor is accessible by an elevator. There is also a lift for the spa's therapy pool available upon request. As far as accommodations go, there is an ADA-compliant king room, outfitted with an accessible sink, bathtub, and toilet with grab bars. Like many hotels in Jackson Hole, The Sylvan Lodge has a few sustainability measures in place. Each guest receives their own Yeti water bottle to refill as necessary, cutting down on plastic usage. The bathrooms also have full-sized Lather products—shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturizer—rather than small, single-use plastic bottles. The Sylvan Lodge is about 30 minutes from downtown Jackson and 40 minutes from Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). To get to Snake River Sporting Club, you'll pass over the red Astoria Bridge, with Astoria Hot Springs Park on your left. The hotel and club are located in Snake River Canyon. While you don't get any views of the Tetons, the contrast of the immaculate golf course, glittering river, and dense forest is spectacular in its own right. Ubers and Lyfts are available, but depending on the season and driving availability, it can sometimes be difficult to get a ride this far from town. Renting a car will be your best bet—especially if you plan on venturing out to Grand Teton National Park. Alternatively, the hotel can arrange a private transfer to and from the airport. The bell staff can also shuttle guests around the property via golf cart as needed. Interior of the lodge lobby. Snake River Sporting Club At this time, The Sylvan Lodge does not have a loyalty program or a partnership with a credit card. There are, however, a few different offers in place, including a grand opening offer (available through December 31) and the 'Serenity at Sylvan' package, which includes a two-night stay and a $300 spa credit. Nightly rates at The Sylvan Lodge start from $700. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values .
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump pulls US from plan to recover salmon population, calling it ‘radical'
Donald Trump has pulled the US federal government from a historic agreement to recover the salmon population in the Pacific north-west, calling the plan 'radical environmentalism'. A presidential memorandum issued by Trump on Thursday removes the US from a deal brokered by Joe Biden with Washington, Oregon and four Native American tribes to work to restore salmon populations and develop clean energy for tribes. Tribes have for decades claimed that four hydroelectric dams on the north-west's Snake River have depleted salmon populations. The government had committed to analyzing the impact of the dams. That agreement has now been deleted by the US president, with the order stating that he 'continues to prioritize our nation's energy infrastructure and use of natural resources to lower the cost of living for all Americans over speculative climate change concerns'. Related: Salmon face extinction throughout the US west. Blame these four dams The region's tribes condemned the decision. Gerald Lewis, the chair of the Yakama Tribal Council, said that Trump's move 'echoes the federal government's historic pattern of broken promises to tribes, and is contrary to President Trump's stated commitment to domestic energy development'. The deal, known as the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, was reached in late 2023 and heralded by the Biden administration, tribes and conservationists as historic. It allowed for a pause in decades of litigation over the harm the federal government's operation of dams in the north-west has done to the fish. Under it, the federal government said it planned to spend more than $1bn over a decade to help recover depleted salmon runs. The government also said that it would build enough new clean energy projects in the Pacific north-west to replace the hydropower generated by the Lower Snake River dams – the Ice Harbor, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Lower Granite – should Congress ever agree to remove them. Conservations groups, Democratic members of Congress and the north-west tribes criticized Trump's action. 'Donald Trump doesn't know the first thing about the Northwest and our way of life – so of course, he is abruptly and unilaterally upending a historic agreement that finally put us on a path to salmon recovery, while preserving stable dam operations for growers and producers, public utilities, river users, ports and others throughout the Northwest,' Patty Murray, a Democratic US senator for Washington, said in a written statement. 'This decision is grievously wrong and couldn't be more shortsighted.' The Columbia River Basin, an area roughly the size of Texas, was once the world's greatest salmon-producing river system, with at least 16 stocks of salmon and steelhead. Today, four are extinct and seven are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Another endangered north-west species, a population of orca, or killer whales, also depend on the salmon. The construction of the first dams on the main Columbia River, including the Grand Coulee and Bonneville dams in the 1930s, provided jobs during the Great Depression, as well as hydropower and navigation. But the dams are also the main culprit behind the salmon's decline, and fisheries scientists have concluded that breaching the dams in eastern Washington on the Snake River, the largest tributary of the Columbia, would be the best hope for recovering them. The tribes, which reserved the right to fish in their usual and accustomed grounds when they ceded vast amounts of land in their 19th-century treaties with the US, warned as far back as the late 1930s that the salmon runs could disappear, with the fish no longer able to access spawning grounds upstream. Related: 'Is it 'woke' to care about the environment?': how Trump's cuts are dismantling global conservation work North-western Republicans in Congress had largely opposed the agreement, warning that it would hurt the region's economy, though in 2021 Mike Simpson, a Republican representative for Idaho, proposed removing the earthen berms on either side of the four Lower Snake River dams to let the river flow freely, and to spend $33bn to replace the benefits of the dams. The tribes and the environmental law firm Earthjustice said they would continue working to rebuild salmon stocks. 'Unfortunately, this shortsighted decision to renege on this important agreement is just the latest in a series of anti-government and anti-science actions coming from the Trump administration,' the Earthjustice senior attorney Amanda Goodin said. Associated Press contributed reporting
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump pulls US from plan to recover salmon population, calling it ‘radical'
Donald Trump has pulled the US federal government from a historic agreement to recover the salmon population in the Pacific north-west, calling the plan 'radical environmentalism'. A presidential memorandum issued by Trump on Thursday removes the US from a deal brokered by Joe Biden with Washington, Oregon and four Native American tribes to work to restore salmon populations and develop clean energy for tribes. Tribes have for decades claimed that four hydroelectric dams on the north-west's Snake River have depleted salmon populations. The government had committed to analyzing the impact of the dams. That agreement has now been deleted by the US president, with the order stating that he 'continues to prioritize our nation's energy infrastructure and use of natural resources to lower the cost of living for all Americans over speculative climate change concerns'. The region's tribes condemned the decision. Gerald Lewis, the chair of the Yakama Tribal Council, said that Trump's move 'echoes the federal government's historic pattern of broken promises to tribes, and is contrary to president Trump's stated commitment to domestic energy development'. The deal, known as the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, was reached in late 2023 and heralded by the Biden administration, tribes and conservationists as historic. It allowed for a pause in decades of litigation over the harm the federal government's operation of dams in the north-west has done to the fish. Under it, the federal government said it planned to spend more than $1bn over a decade to help recover depleted salmon runs. The government also said that it would build enough new clean energy projects in the Pacific north-west to replace the hydropower generated by the Lower Snake River dams – the Ice Harbor, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Lower Granite – should Congress ever agree to remove them. Conservations groups, Democratic members of Congress and the north-west tribes criticized Trump's action. 'Donald Trump doesn't know the first thing about the northwest and our way of life – so of course, he is abruptly and unilaterally upending a historic agreement that finally put us on a path to salmon recovery, while preserving stable dam operations for growers and producers, public utilities, river users, ports and others throughout the Northwest,' Patty Murray, a Democratic US senator for Washington, said in a written statement. 'This decision is grievously wrong and couldn't be more shortsighted.' The Columbia River Basin, an area roughly the size of Texas, was once the world's greatest salmon-producing river system, with at least 16 stocks of salmon and steelhead. Today, four are extinct and seven are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Another iconic but endangered north-west species, a population of orca, or killer whales, also depend on the salmon. The construction of the first dams on the main Columbia River, including the Grand Coulee and Bonneville dams in the 1930s, provided jobs during the Great Depression, as well as hydropower and navigation. But the dams are also main culprit behind the salmon's decline, and fisheries scientists have concluded that breaching the dams in eastern Washington on the Snake River, the largest tributary of the Columbia, would be the best hope for recovering them. The tribes, which reserved the right to fish in their usual and accustomed grounds when they ceded vast amounts of land in their 19th century treaties with the US, warned as far back as the late 1930s that the salmon runs could disappear, with the fish no longer able to access spawning grounds upstream. North-western Republicans in Congress had largely opposed the agreement, warning that it would hurt the region's economy, though in 2021 Mike Simpson, a Republican representative for Idaho, proposed removing the earthen berms on either side of the four Lower Snake River dams to let the river flow freely, and to spend $33bn to replace the benefits of the dams. The tribes and the environmental law firm Earthjustice said they would continue working to rebuild salmon stocks. 'Unfortunately, this short-sighted decision to renege on this important agreement is just the latest in a series of anti-government and anti-science actions coming from the Trump administration,' Earthjustice senior attorney Amanda Goodin said. Associated Press contributed reporting
