A 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling significantly narrowed federal Clean Water Act protections for wetlands and intermittent streams, prompting Colorado to create a new state permitting program and New Mexico to develop a similar system. Supporters say the new state rules will help protect vulnerable waterways in the arid West, though officials acknowledge the programs will require significant resources and cannot fully replace federal oversight.

KVNF's weekly call-in gardening show. As the Worm Turns is now on Wednesday's @ 5 PM.

Blue Mesa Reservoir is at a record low for late July, and federal managers have cut minimum flows on the lower Gunnison below the floor set in 2012. KVNF's Brody Wilson looks at what that means for endangered fish, Uncompahgre Valley farms, and the Black Canyon.

Here’s a true story about the West: An oil company leases some public land, drills a well, pumps the oil, and posts a $10,000 bond as its promise to clean up the site when the well runs dry. Years later, the company declares bankruptcy — or it simply walks away.The well remains, leaking methane and salty wastewater into the ground for the foreseeable future. Plugging it could run north of $300,000. The company forfeits its $10,000 and vanishes. You and I cover the rest. That math rewards walking away, and it sat protected by federal regulation for more than 60 years.

Your local almanac for gardening, landscaping, and much more for your home and valley living.

Can other people force us to feel the emotion of anger? How can we look at these situations mindfully?

Your local almanac for gardening, landscaping, and much more for your home and valley living.

KVNF's weekly call-in gardening show. As the Worm Turns is now on Wednesday's @ 5 PM.

KVNF's Music Team puts together a biweekly list of music we keep coming back to. This is music we can't get enough of right now.