Because trees can capture and store carbon, forests play a big role in tackling climate change. Recently, however, a study found that insects and diseases are threatening forests' carbon storage potential.

The public has until Sept 2 to comment on the Bureau of Reclamation’s draft environmental assessment on proposed modifications to Fresno Dam, a key part of the Milk River Project along Montana’s Hi-Line. The 82-year-old dam is aging and improvements are a priority.

Amid drought conditions, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks approved emergency grazing leases on wildlife management areas on Monday. The majority of public comments received on the proposal were in opposition to allowing livestock on wildlife lands.

Experts say low precipitation and hot temperatures have resulted in exceptionally dry soil conditions, a drought indicator that could impact crop yields.

Amid drought conditions, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is considering emergency haying and grazing on wildlife management areas across the state.

Farmers along the Gallatin River are getting their irrigation waters cut off amid low stream flows and hot temperatures. For some, it’s starting to hurt crop production.

Updates are underway for the Waterfowl Protection Plan designed to keep birds out of the toxic Berkeley Pit. Cannons, sirens, drones and lasers have been effective in minimizing bird deaths, according to the project's bird protection specialist.

BOULDER, Mont. — Twice a year, Brian Tichenor makes the 1,200-mile drive each way from his home in Kansas to a defunct uranium mine in Montana, where he takes an elevator 85 feet below the surface to sit amid radioactive radon gas to ease the pain from his chronic eye condition.

State environmental regulators last month dropped their case to disqualify Hecla Mining from getting future mining permits in the state. The company’s CEO was previously an executive with Pegasus Gold, which abandoned mines near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in the ‘90s, costing taxpayers $35 million to clean up.

Additional fishing restrictions took effect Monday for rivers in western Montana. The restrictions are intended to prevent fishing during the heat of the day, when high temperatures can stress trout and other cold-water species.