Broader Wilderness—Summer/Fall 2025
Broads Hit the Water to Advocate for a Free-Flowing Snake River
(Photo: Nimíipuu Protecting the Environment)
In August, Broads representing the Lower Snake River BRAT (Broads Regional Advocacy Team) joined with other advocates for a day on Idaho’s Snake River, hosted by the Nimíipuu Protecting the Environment organization to celebrate the profound opportunities a free-flowing lower Snake River and abundant salmon and steelhead would bring to the Northwest—including Tribal justice, ecosystem health, community resilience, recreation, and more! This special two-day event was one of biggest rallies on the river in years—and also featured on-land activities including inspiring Tribal speakers, food, live music, a film screening, and interactive art.
Click here to learn more about why removing dams from the lower Snake River is important for the survival of salmon (and the wildlife that relies on salmon for survival).
Broads Follow in the Footsteps of Botanist Alice Eastwood
Broads on a hike to a hanging garden alcove. (Photo: Emily Matyas)
In the spring of 1894, Alice Eastwood arrived in Bluff, Utah to document and collect plant specimens near the recently-established Mormon settlement. Alice, an extraordinary Canadian-American botanist from the California Academy of Science in San Francisco, California, became the first botanist to visit, collect, and describe the unique spring-fed hanging gardens found growing on the sides of rocky alcoves in the canyons of southeastern Utah.
This summer, Broads—led by 4Corners Broadband Leader Jennifer Singer—honored the legacy of Alice’s groundbreaking work with the Walking in the Steps of Alice Eastwood Regional Broadwalk. Dr. Arnold Clifford and Eugene Joe of the Navajo/Diné Nation led participants on a hike of the hanging gardens and taught about the history, botany, and geology of this fascinating landscape from an Indigenous perspective. They also shared the traditional stories, music, and delicious Diné cuisine.
“It was an honor to be introduced to the culture and an experience unlike any other. Thank you for this opportunity!” said one happy Broadwalk participant.
Our wildest thanks to all of the participants and presenters for making this great Broadwalk an event to remember!
Fun In the Sun at the Amargosa Regional Broadwalk
The Nevada Range from the Amargosa Basin. (Photo: Great Old Broads for Wilderness)
The Amargosa Basin National Monument Regional Broadwalk, organized and led by the Eastern Sierra Broadband, this past spring kept in the proud Broads tradition of education, advocacy, and fun! This Broadwalk was held in Shoshone, CA—a tiny (Population: 21) but popular gathering place near the California-Nevada border between Death Valley and Las Vegas. Shoshone is well known in environmental and conservation circles as the long-time host of the Sierra Club Desert Committee Meeting, as well as the home of Vole Fest, and the Friends of the Amargosa.
And with our 17 Broadwalk attendees we had nearly doubled the population, at least temporarily!
The purpose was to learn more about the proposed Amargosa Basin National Monument and the threats faced by this magnificent Mojave Desert landscape, learn about the ongoing conservation efforts in the area, and to come together and have fun.
Speakers and activity leaders included:
- Len Warren—Treasurer, Friends of the Amargosa, led the Pupfish Ponds tour and spoke to the history of the habitat of Shoshone and surrounding areas.
- Lynn Boulton—Sierra Club, Range of Light Group, Conservation Committee, led the Yellow Pine Solar tour into Nevada and explained the decimating effect this and future solar installations have on the desert tortoise.
- Cameron Mayer—Executive Director, Friends of the Amargosa Basin, spoke to the Amargosa Basin National Monument (ABNM) campaign (and patiently answered all of our questions!)
- Janet Carle—Led an awesome early morning birding hike.
- Ross Dykman—Led a geologic and history tour called Exploring Amargosa from the Inside Out of local mines in the area.
- Janet Barth—Led the a hike to the Salt Creek Mine site (and also helped keep us on track with all of our activities, including leading a service project to help water plants in a revegetation area.
- Bill Helmer—Led a discussion of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, and the impacts of development and encroachment on the already established and protected designated area.
We’d like to give our wildest thanks to all of the participants and presenters for this great Broadwalk event!