Environment

Many people say hiking in places like Boise’s Camel’s Back trails make them feel less stressed. Now there’s some proof to that theory.

It’s not the first time the public has had a chance to share their opinions on sage grouse conservation, and it probably won’t be the last.

Boise State Public Radio's Wanna Know Idaho looks at the Midas Gold's Stibnite Mining Project and answers the question, "What impacts will this mining operation have on our greater community here?" We speak with the podcast's producer, Frankie Barnhill, about what she learned about the project.

Wanna Know Idaho traveled to Idaho's West Central Mountains to answer this question from McCall resident Fred Coriell: "What impacts will an open-pit mining operation, like the one proposed by Midas Gold, have on our region?" Cascade-based reporter Monica Gokey has the story for this episode of the podcast. 

Steelhead fishing normally runs through the winter and into spring, but this year the season will end early, on December 7, and remain closed until further notice.

A team of scientists from University of Idaho has made it to the finals in a competition to fight algae blooms in public waters.

Thousands of miles of Idaho hiking trails are in a state of disrepair. We speak with the Idaho Trails Association about restoring the accessibility of some of the trails.

A recent overhaul of some city plumbing in Ketchum is saving the Wood River Valley community a staggering amount of water.

Oil and gas producing states around the country are closely watching Colorado this election season. Voters are deciding on a ballot measure dramatically increasing the so-called “set-back” distance drilling rigs need to be from homes.

The Stibnite Mining District is loaded with gold, silver, tungsten and antimony. The region had been heavily mined for decades and just as heavily polluted. Operations stopped in 1997 and 12 years later, Midas Gold acquired the site and began to look at ways to resume mining operations in the area. The mining firm says it is committed to responsible and sustainable mining practices but conservationists are wary. Idaho Matters looks at new efforts to harvest minerals at the Stibnite Mining District.

The Idaho Department of Lands is tracking a tiny bug that kills fir trees throughout the state.

A Federal Judge in Seattle ruled that the EPA has to finalize a long-shelved plan to cool down water temperatures in the Columbia River Basin.

The largest electric utility in Colorado, Xcel Energy, is making major investments in batteries to store the energy generated by nearby solar farms -- making the state a regional leader in deploying the rapidly advancing technology.

A recently completed deal with the federal government has transferred management of the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Oliver Russell owns and operates PlasticWorks, a community recycling facility that processes products other recyclers wouldn't. Idaho Matters looks at the effort to re-use every last bit of plastic and keep it out of oceans and landfills.

Ten Idahoans are a long way from home as they assist Hurricane Michael relief efforts in the Florida panhandle.