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City Cast Boise

Let us help you find Mother Nature in this concrete jungle.

An endemic species — a plant or animal that lives in a single geographic area — is a gem of evolutionary biology. Idaho is home to a few (

), one of the most notable being the Cassia crossbill.

Crossbills are a group of six finch species that feature a curious-looking, overlapping crossed beak. The 

, “loxia” meaning crosswise, and “sinesciuris” meaning “without squirrel.”

That’s because Cassia crossbills live in two neighboring mountain ranges: the South Hills and the Albion Mountains, where no red squirrels live. The 

 is an evolutionary trait that allows them to pry open lodgepole pine cones and use their tongues to eat the seeds inside, which, because of the lack of squirrels to compete with, guarantees them an exclusive food source.

However, ornithologists are worried about the 

small finch’s survivability in southern Idaho’s lodgepole pine forests

. If you recall the fire season of 2020, you might remember that the 

 for months, setting 90,000 acres of already scarce Cassia crossbill habitat ablaze.

 just a few miles west of the crossbill’s habitat, but it’s being monitored closely and allowed to burn to develop future habitat in the area.

devastating lodgepole pines across the western U.S. and Canada

, threatening an uncountable number of species, including this small songbird that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

An endemic species — a plant or animal that lives in a single geographic area — is a gem of evolutionary biology. Idaho is home to a few, one of the most notable being the Cassia crossbill.

The Cassia Crossbill: Southern Idaho's Endemic Songbird

Urban Almanac

Some waterfront developers are likely celebrating the news that the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formalized a rollback of federal wetlands protections

 this week. A majority of the United States’ wetlands now stand unprotected, with states readying to take over regulation. But why would the Biden administration authorize such a restriction of federal power?

when Michael and Chantell Sackett sued the EPA

, saying that they shouldn’t have to obtain federal permits to fill wetlands on their Priest Lake, Idaho, property with materials like gravel and cement. The Idaho couple’s case made its way up to the Supreme Court, and 

 — but disagreed, 5-4, over how regulations should work.

The majority of conservative justices decided to grant states regulatory power, and determined new guidance for what waters fall under federal protections. Now, any wetlands that don’t have a “continuous surface connection” to “navigable” waterways like rivers or oceans fall outside federal jurisdiction.

Conservationists and other groups working to mitigate the climate crisis decried the decision, warning of disastrous effects if the slow but steady legal erosion of the Clean Water Act continues. One group, the 

Natural Resource Defense Council, called it

 “the most important water-related Supreme Court decision in a generation.”

“Unfortunately, a majority of the justices used the case as a tool for dramatically weakening the 

 — by deciding for themselves, without any scientific support whatsoever, what wetlands deserve protection from pollution and destruction,” wrote the NRDC.

While the decision was a boon for developers who want to cash in on prime waterfront real estate, a 

recent move in North Carolina could forecast implications

 for other states. Lawmakers there chose not to implement any protections beyond the newly limited Clean Water Act, and in doing so opened more than half of the coastal state’s wetlands to development — land increasingly battered by hurricanes and flooding.

Idaho’s congressional delegation lauded the Supreme Court decision

, and the state has yet to announce how it plans to step into its new regulatory powers.

As a desert state, the vast majority of Idaho’s wetlands fall along the boundaries of rivers and lakes, and change seasonally. But according to Idaho Fish and Game, 

 makes them that much more important.For example, half of our bird species rely on wetland habitats, and 

half of our rare and at-risk plants and animals rely on

 them. And because our freshwater is so limited, over 

Why Idaho’s Wetlands Are Up For Grabs

Today’s Urban Almanac is a bit different than normal. It’s part synopsis of the conversation about the lower Snake River dams, and part reflection from a young Idahoan (that’s me) on how this dilemma symbolizes our global climate crisis.

For millennia, steelhead trout and salmon reached the improbable heights of Redfish Lake and spawned as far east as Shoshone Falls in the Magic Valley. In the lands now known as Oregon and Washington, their 

trade helped create some of the wealthiest societies

 on the planet, and remain a keystone species — but a keystone that’s collapsing.

We’re watching what could be the salmon’s last chapter. The Nez Perce, Coeur d’Alene, and other Indigenous nations have long argued, with other conservationist groups taking it mainstream in the 1990s, that four dams on the Snake River in eastern Washington must be demolished for salmon to have a chance at survival.

groups announced plans to sue to make it happen

. Specifically, they argued that the dams have slowed and stalled the river, allowing it to heat up to lethal temperatures.

Others, predominantly business and agricultural leaders, defend the dams arguing that removal would hamper commerce, the area’s hydroelectric power, and pose an expensive, arduous transition process.

some people wondering if we’re in a permanent gridlock

The lawsuit is one indication that the impasse is impermanent. Another is 

Sen. Mike Simpson’s 2021 plan to breach the dams

As a young Idahoan, I can’t help but be frustrated by the idea of this political stalemate. As we watch the tourism-bolstered wildfire crisis unfold in Hawai’i, temperatures spill over into a climate we’ve never navigated before, and political crises abound, it’s clear that we need to use different maps for plotting the course forward.

As large as the dam dilemma is, it’s a regional practice round for the problems laid out in the coming decades. The question of the four dams is a question of how much we will sacrifice and adjust to bring other species with us into the future — and how long we think we can survive if we don’t.

The question of the four dams is a question of how much we will sacrifice and adjust to bring other species with us into the future — and how long we think we can survive if we don’t.

The Litmus Test of the 4 Lower Snake River Dams

have killed at least six people in Maui and prompted mass evacuations

 — by a staggering margin. In Boise, the National Weather Service reports that the average temperature in July, reported since 1877, is 77.1°. 

By my calculations, the average temperature

 for the month of July in the 21st century is 78.8°. “Normal” summers have evaporated.

Even in Boise, this summer has felt like the mildest in recent years, but last month was actually the sixth-hottest July in recorded history. Here’s some perspectives on how this season has fit in with Boise’s climate records:

2021 was the hottest summer in Boise history, which also had the hottest July on record at an average 83.8°.

July 2023 fell at the sixth-hottest July, at an average 81.4°. All the others in the top six have ocurred since 2006.

Triple digit temperatures have been recorded on eight separate days this summer — though none have come in August yet.

That seems to be where we’ve seen respite this year: In 2022, there were 23 days above 100°, the most ever, and in 2021, there were 18 days in triple digits, which is tied for the second most ever.

In Boise, 2023 has felt like the mildest summer in recent years, but last month was actually the sixth-hottest July in recorded history.

How Hot Has Boise's Summer Been?

How Hot Has This Summer Been?

Boise is saying “ew” to yew. The new zoning code approved by the City Council last month included the 

, an ornamental shrub that’s been commonly used for landscaping Boise.

In short, it’s very toxic. The needles, seeds, and most of the berries it produces contain taxine alkaloids that can slow the heart until death. It only 

, but the main problem is that an alarming number of Idaho wildlife has died after consuming yew, including in the Treasure Valley. The ban is an effort to keep humans and wildlife safe.

Don’t worry, the city is not going to punish you. They simply want to help Boiseans replace existing yew with a safer option. There is currently no plan for how the city will do that, so here are a few options if you want to start replacing a yew plant in your yard.

Not sure what yew looks like? Here’s a helpful video from the Idaho Statesman about 

Note that touching the plant is safe, just be sure not to ingest any parts.

To remove, start by pruning big branches so it’s easier to access the main trunk. You can then dig it out with a shovel or by wrapping it with a rope and pulling at the base of the plant. Yew can re-sprout from the roots, so make sure you remove them.

The dead branches of a yew are still toxic, so throw them into the garbage.

If you’re a dog owner, there are many other things around Boise that can be toxic to dogs, so we put together a helpful guide.

Things That Are Toxic to Dogs

The decorative landscaping plant yew is now banned in Boise. Here's what to do if you have an existing one.

Why Boise Banned Yew Plants

We have a lot to learn from nature about how to weather climate change. For centuries, native bees in Idaho have weathered invasive, competitive species and disappearing habitat, and in the last few decades, a rapidly warming climate. But to start learning those lessons, we need to first get familiar with the way they live.

 don’t live in the big, honeycombed hives hanging from trees that remind us of “Winnie the Pooh.” They live underground — some bees live in solo dwellings, but bumblebees, who are members of the 

They often opt to occupy abandoned rodent holes for their underground “nests” because they’re lined with fur, which make for warmer underground cavities to last the winter in.

Native honeybees have some disadvantages to their European counterparts who have colonized the U.S., including their annual life cycle, meaning the colony’s founding queen and all the other bees die during the fall and early winter.

genus (bumble bees), there are over 250 species. There is a 

visual to identify a few of the most common ones

 we have based on their coloration, all of which you can learn more about.

For example, I just found out that one of them, the 

white-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus)

 likes tall fringed bluebells, one of my favorite native flowers.

participate in tracking native bumblebees online

, and figure out some plants that native pollinators might like to find in your yard. Even if you’re not ready to rip out your whole lawn — or like me, you don’t even have one — you can still help out native bumble bees as they fight climate change and keep our ecosystems alive.

 and maybe practice identifying them. And here, learn about one way the 

We have a lot to learn from nature about how to weather climate change.

Idaho's Native Bumble Bees

A Primer on Idaho's Native Bumble Bees

Introduced to western North America in the mid-1800s from the Mediterranean region by colonizing Europeans, the plant is single-handedly responsible for altering much of Idaho’s desert, from a healthy sagebrush steppe ecosystem (with lots of native shrubs, bushes, and grasses other than sagebrush) to a 

monoculture of grass that dies by midsummer

There are a few key characteristics of cheatgrass that make it such an invasive species. 

First, it produces an absolutely incredible amount of seeds, 

, all of which are engineered to burrow into materials, including flesh, to be transported to fertile ground. 

one of the first plants to grow in the spring

, which not only gives it a headstart to take up space, but also allows it to soak up a lot of water from the first foot of soil — water that would normally be shared by other plants later in the season. 

All of this means that it can take one fire to turn a diverse hillside of native shrubs and grasses into a wasteland that’s almost exclusively home to cheatgrass. 

While cheatgrass is a scourge, there’s also some 

research into different ways to kill cheatgrass

 and systematically improve native plant’s abilities to compete. What can you do? Stay away from cheatgrass as much as possible, and avoid disturbing soil around cheatgrass, which helps prevent seeds from germinating.

Introduced to western North America in the mid-1800s from the Mediterranean region by colonizing Europeans, the plant is single-handedly responsible for altering much of Idaho’s desert.

Cheatgrass: 1 of Idaho's Most Destructive Invasive Plants

Cheatgrass: An Infamous Idaho Plant

We’ve had a relatively cool summer (relative to the last decade, that is), but as the heat ramps up, keep an eye out for the summer-loving mosquito. 

 this summer, and those incidents are going to increase.

And expect them to continue increasing over the coming decades. One climate research organization estimates that 

West Nile virus cases in the U.S. could double

 between 1995 and 2050, due to rising temperatures that allow mosquitoes to thrive earlier and later in the summers. They’re most pervasive in the American South, but actually, cases are slightly decreasing there because it’s actually getting 

Because mosquitoes are hatched in water, you might think that increasing drought in Idaho could have the accidental benefit of hedging against West Nile infections.

Unfortunately, the opposite is happening. Less water means that animals have fewer places to get fresh water, condensing the area in which mosquitoes can pass on diseases.

The best way to prevent mosquitoes from biting you is, of course, to put a barrier between the insect and yourself.

👖 You might be a little warm, but wear long shirts and pants.

🚪 Keep a door between you and mosquitoes: Repair any faulty screen doors, or just stay inside during their peak times of dawn and dusk.

🚫 Use a chemical barrier like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

🫗 Remove standing water. A single female mosquito can lay up to 300 eggs at a time every three days, and all she needs is a puddle or bucket of water.

We’ve had a relatively cool summer (relative to the last decade, that is), but as the heat ramps up, keep an eye out for the summer-loving mosquito. West Nile virus has already been detected twice in Canyon County this summer, and those incidents are going to increase.

What To Do About Mosquitoes in Boise

A few weeks ago, I was driving between the towns of Fairview and Mountain Home and saw a temporary, light-up sign that said: “Caution: Slick Roads.” I wasn’t near any water, but the cause was evident: Mormon crickets were on the road in such large numbers that their carcasses were actually making the road slick.

Mormon crickets live on a cycle of several years, so in recent history, they only came out in big numbers every few years. However, 

Our neighbors to the south, especially in Nevada, have endured millions of Mormon crickets in the past few weeks. Outbreaks are bolstered by drought, and can have devastating impacts on residences, desert ecosystems, and farmland (

The precipitation we’ve received this year has provided ample food supply for the crickets, which aren’t actually crickets, but a species of katydid. Usually, by July, Mormon cricket swarms are mostly wrapped up.

Idaho Department of Agriculture told the Idaho Statesman

 that the long winter pushed back the usual schedule of insecticide use against Mormon crickets. That’s why, even this weekend, you could find the insects crossing roads in southwest Idaho.

What Are Mormon Crickets?

I’d like to take some responsibility for the river float season starting today because I said yesterday that it wouldn’t be open for several more weeks. I do what I can!

And while this is exciting news, it’s likely to be a bit of a zoo this weekend.

 that every summer, 125,000 people float the Boise River. Last year on opening weekend, several people had to be rescued, and while there are some things you can’t control, there are plenty of mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Our glorified canal has her share of puncture hazards. The cute donut floatie from Albertsons isn’t going to stand a chance on sharp rocks and branches from nearby trees.

 You can rent or buy gear day-of at Barber Park.

Don’t make someone else have to be your mom. And if you think to, bring an extra bag specifically for trash, because bins at every park along the route will fill up quickly.

Especially in the rapids, follow the line of rafts that is still upright. In particular, avoid the banks — a lot of the fatalities on the river come from getting trapped under branches underwater.

Drinking alcohol on the water is actually illegal, and for good reason. Meanwhile, it’s very easy to get dehydrated on the water, so a go-to solution is hooking reusable water bottles with carabiners to your raft or tube.