The Uranium in River Deposits, Etc.

Uranium was used as a yellow dye in the first century by Romans and first identified as an element in 1789, identified as a metal in 1841 and the first radioactive element in 1896.

Cobbles Along the San Juan River

Gene Stevenson answers some age-old questions.

Desert Notes: Birds of Spring

Morning comes, and the vultures are rising, lifting off their cottonwood roost, slowly spiraling upward until they reach their desired height and head north in linear flight.

Melvin Lee Gaines May 19, 1931 ~ April 7, 2022

Melvin Lee Gaines was born to Buena Elizabeth Campbell (Gaines) and William Benjamin Columbus Gaines (Lum) on May 19, 1931, in Ramah, NM. He passed away on April 7, 2022, in Blanding, UT at the age of 90. Melvin and his parents moved to Bluff, UT in 1933. He arrived in a horse drawn wagon … Continue reading Melvin Lee Gaines May 19, 1931 ~ April 7, 2022

An Epic Dog Rescue

This January, an incredible rescue went down in Monument Valley. It is a tale of patience, effort, community, and trace of good luck.

Paw Prints: March 2022

3/07/2022 Final amendments for kennel location options are still pending from Planning and Zoning Commission. In the meantime, foster care has been provided by BARC staff and the Simpson’s at the Simpson’s fenced-in yard. During this month, 6 females, 6 males and 5 puppies have been rescued. The longest distance for pickup was 120 miles … Continue reading Paw Prints: March 2022

Desert Notes: Hanging Gardens

Cave primrose (Primula specuicola) in Southeast Utah. Photo by Robin Patten. Robin Patten, April 2022 Sheltered in their alcove habitat, maidenhair ferns began unfurling new fronds around the same time the Say’s phoebes started calling and sandhill cranes sang their way across Cottonwood Wash. At least that was the first green that I saw. On … Continue reading Desert Notes: Hanging Gardens

Deeply Incised Goosenecks of the San Juan River: the reason for their location and when and how they formed

A disclaimer: I'm a retired whitewater river guide and retired geologist. How do you tell if a river guide is telling a tall tale?

A tale of two rural Western counties

Why would rural Delta County, Colorado, say no to a solar farm that would enrich the county by $13 million over 15 years, at roughly the same time neighboring Montrose County said yes to a solar farm that might power nothing but the energy-draining cryptocurrency industry?