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The Wild Idea is an exploration of the intersection of wild nature and our own human nature. The hosts, Bill Hodge and Anders Reynolds, through conversations with experts and thought leaders will dive into the ways that humans have both embraced and impact the function and vitality of our remaining wild places.
Announcer 0:00
The following is a production of wild idea media.
Bill Hodge 0:06
Welcome to the wild line where land stories are the lead stories. This is our report for February 20, 2026
Anders Reynolds 0:12
bill, a legal fight is unfolding over how history is presented in the nation's national parks, as a coalition of conservation and historic preservation groups led by the National Parks Conservation Association have filed suit over the Trump administration's directives to remove or alter historically and scientifically accurate material related to slavery, civil rights, indigenous history, climate change and LGBTQ, plus contributions at multiple park sites. The changes stem from an executive order directing federal agencies to eliminate what the administration described as, quote, improper partisan ideology. End, quote. End, quote, divisive narratives. End, quote, similar actions have included taking down climate related signage and revising interpretive material at other park units. Moves critics argue amount to censorship. Interior officials have defended the review as an effort to ensure exhibits reflect shared national values, but opponents contend at risk erasing uncomfortable aspects of American history. Alan spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources at the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement that the litigation is quote taking a stand for the soul of our national parks. He added, censoring science and erasing America's history at National Parks are direct threats to everything these amazing places and our country stand for As Americans, we deserve national parks that tell stories of our country's triumphs and heartbreaks we can handle the truth.
Bill Hodge 1:41
Meanwhile, the Interior Department is confronting the future management of the Colorado River after the seven Basin States failed to reach an agreement on a new drought management framework by the Federal deadline. Last Saturday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signaled the administration is preparing to impose unilateral water cuts. Reservoirs are projected to approach critical levels as early as this summer, raising the stakes for millions who rely on the river. A draft plan released last month by the Bureau of Reclamation outlines options that could significantly reduce water deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada in the event that negotiations collapsed, the Colorado River system supports roughly 40 million people, and prolonged drought has reduced flows by about 20% since the year 2000 without a consensus deal. The administration faces politically fraught choices that could pit states against one another and heighten the risk of litigation
Anders Reynolds 2:41
on Capitol Hill, the House Committee on Agriculture has announced it will take the first step towards passing the Farm Bill, which carries with it a range of federal policies concerning agriculture, nutrition assistance, rural development, conservation and more. Bill and I will be tracking the debate around the farm bill closely as it moves through the House and Senate, as it impacts so many programs that listeners will understand are important. Are important to land stewardship, watershed protection and public lands. The most recent Farm Bill expired in 2023 and it has been extended multiple times by Congress. Additionally, last year's budget reconciliation process carried with it language normally found in the Farm Bill, removing points of compromise and leverage around this year's effort and leaving legislators normally willing to work together on a solution at odds with each other.
Bill Hodge 3:29
The Flathead National Forest has restarted a planning effort in coordination with Glacier National Park to develop a new comprehensive river management plan for the three forks of the Flathead River. The plan will encompass the 219 miles of designated Wild scenic river within the north, middle and South forks of the Flathead River. This river system was part of the original drive to pass the wild scenic rivers Act, which passed in 1968 the Three Forks of Flathead were added to the system 50 years ago, the last time a management plan was updated, which is required by law, was in the 1980s and there have been a few failed attempts in recent years to update this plan. The Flathead National Forest is the lead agency in the process, and released a draft of the updated plan with an environmental assessment out for comment now until March 13. Here is Sheena pate from the Flathead rivers Alliance on what the comprehensive river management plan really represents.
Speaker 1 4:24
So it's the guiding document to ensure that the river is really upheld to its outstanding, remarkable values, outstanding water quality, and really ensuring that this river system is similar to what it was 50 years ago and continues forward in the future, so that future generations can enjoy the same some
Bill Hodge 4:43
of the key changes represented in the proposed new plan include that all users floating the Three Forks will be required to have a permit. Those permits will be free, and there will be an unlimited number of permits issued. And there are also new regulations around managing human waste and on campfires in the. Corridors. Here is Rob Davies district, Ranger for the glacier view, Hungry Horse Ranger District on implementation, yeah,
Speaker 2 5:06
implementation is going to be kind of a gradual thing, even though we think we're going to have a final plan decision signed and a final plan maybe at the end of May, at the beginning of float season, there's some new regulations that require updating our CFRs, our special orders, we have a float guide that was going to need a little bit of adjustment. We're going to need signage. So all that's going to take at least a year. So a lot of it will be implemented in 2027 especially the unlimited permit system. We haven't quite figured out how we're going to do that, but it's going to take a little while to analyze the best method. So you're not really, really going to see a whole lot of changes this summer 26 it'll start in 27 the one thing we will do that we will implement the monitoring right away. This summer, we're going to be evaluating encounter data as we float with our river guides and education. We're going to continue with that, and really emphasize that to start with,
Bill Hodge 6:02
coming up in the weeks and months ahead, we will be diving in, if you'll pardon the pun, to more on the rivers and waters of our country on the wild idea podcast, and we will leave links to this proposed management plan in our show notes so that you can engage.
Anders Reynolds 6:15
Finally, today and tomorrow are your last chances to chime in on some proposed changes to Cumberland Island National seashore's visitor use management plan, or bump, this draft bump includes proposals that could affect wilderness protections, public access, wildlife habitat, and the long term stewardship of one of Georgia's most unique barrier islands. In comments to the Park Service wild Cumberland, a volunteer led 501 c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of Cumberland Island and its wilderness acknowledged that managing visitor access and use for recreational benefits and resource protection is inherently complex, but ultimately found the proposed bump to be out of compliance with federal law and the National Park Service's own management objectives and standards and deficient in the necessary data mitigation measures and cumulative impact evaluations required if the bump is to be properly considered by the public. At this time, congressional intent at the time of Cumberland islands establishment was to keep the island in its primitive state, enabling the Park Service to protect and manage it as a place where uses would diminish not increase over time, as retained rights on the island expired, more of the island was intended to revert to its natural state. Instead, this proposed bump moves the island in the opposite direction. It expands development, accommodations and commercial activity on one of the wildest and most biologically diverse islands in our country, most of the seashore's visitors are seeking solace from an increasingly fast paced, technology driven commercialized society. Cumberland Island was designed to be different, to be preserved in its most primitive state and protect space for those seeking natural resource challenges and a more primitive, often solitary experience. The Wilderness Act protects an individual's right to access this solitude or primitive and unconfined type of recreation. However, this proposed Vamp effectively undermines both implementation of a new Vamp within a seashore unit that has approximately 20 superintendents in its 50 years. History is tricky, and protecting against haphazard changes is particularly relevant and necessary. But you can help by visiting our show notes, where you'll find a link to wild Cumberland's comment guide and their interactive map of the proposed changes. That is
Bill Hodge 8:19
our report for February 20, 2026 we'll be back next Friday with another edition of The Wild line, until then act up and run wild.
Announcer 8:29
The wild line is a production of wild idea media production and editing by Bren Russell at podblad Digital, support by Holly wilkzewski at daypack digital. Our theme music Spring Hill Jack is from railroad Earth and was composed by John skihan. The executive producer is Laura Hodge. Learn more about us at the wild idea.com you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai