One Small Flower, One Big Issue

This month I reported a series of stories on new protections for a rare flower that only grows on the Roan Plateau in Northwestern Colorado. The US Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Parachute Penstemon as "threatened" on its Endangered Species List. The flower blooms in areas where oil and gas companies own leases, but so far, no development is happening. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the flower's greatest threat is from potential natural gas drilling. If a company wants to develop there, it may have to re-route pipelines, or move roads.



Well pads where drilling is taking place can be seen from a steep slope where the plant grows. The energy industry fears additional environmental regulations, like those that come with the Fish and Wildlife's designation, could slow job growth. But environmental groups say the flower is important to maintain a healthy natural ecosystem. The flower may be small, but it represents a big age-old debate about how to balance energy development with a healthy environment. (photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain Wild)