Recorded along the banks of the Green River inside Dinosaur National Monument, Joey sits down with Dusty Perkins to explore the science, beauty, and ecological complexity of the Green and Yampa Rivers.

Dusty serves as Program Manager for the National Park Service’s Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network and is a lead scientist on the Big Rivers Monitoring Project. In this conversation, he explains how scientists monitor some of the American West’s most iconic river systems, what happens when rivers are dammed and regulated, and why long-term ecological monitoring is critical for the future of these landscapes.

From endangered fish and invasive species to river morphology, sediment flow, snowpack decline, and the emotional experience of rafting through canyon country, this episode offers a rare look at the science shaping our public lands.

In this episode, we explore:

• What the Big Rivers Monitoring Project actually does
• How the Green and Yampa Rivers differ ecologically
• The impact of Flaming Gorge Dam on river systems
• Why sediment and seasonal flooding are essential to river health
• The role of invasive species like tamarisk
• How endangered fish species depend on natural river cycles
• Why long-term monitoring matters in national parks
• The effects of declining snowpack and aridification across the West
• What it’s like conducting science on multi-day rafting expeditions
• The emotional connection scientists develop with these landscapes

Key Takeaways

• The Yampa River remains one of the last relatively free-flowing desert rivers in the American West.
• Dams dramatically alter water temperature, sediment transport, and seasonal flooding patterns.
• Native fish and plant species evolved over thousands of years around natural spring runoff cycles.
• River complexity — including back channels and floodplains — creates biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
• Long-term monitoring gives park managers the scientific data needed to make informed conservation decisions.

Featured Locations

• Dinosaur National Monument
• Echo Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Green River
• Yampa River

Learn More

Explore the work of the Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network through the National Park Service official website

Learn more about Dinosaur National Monument through the National Park Service Dinosaur page

In this episode, I sit down with paleontologist Rebecca Hunt-Foster at Dinosaur National Monument to explore one of the most fascinating fossil landscapes in North America. We discuss the geology that shaped the monument, the incredible dinosaurs that once roamed the region, and what life looked like in this ancient ecosystem roughly 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period.

Rebecca also shares insights into her career path in paleontology, her work with the National Park Service, and what it’s like studying fossils and ancient environments in the American West.

The Geology of Dinosaur National Monument

• How the rock layers at Dinosaur National Monument were formed
• Why the Morrison Formation is one of the most important dinosaur-bearing formations in the world
• Ancient rivers, floodplains, and environmental conditions during the Jurassic
• How geologists and paleontologists interpret ancient landscapes from rock and fossil evidence

Dinosaurs of the Jurassic

• The major dinosaur species discovered in the region
• Giant sauropods and massive predators that lived in the ecosystem
• Fossil discoveries that made Dinosaur National Monument famous
• What these animals can tell us about evolution and prehistoric ecosystems

Reconstructing a 150-Million-Year-Old Ecosystem

• What the climate and vegetation looked like during the Late Jurassic
• Ancient waterways and seasonal environments
• Other animals that shared the ecosystem with dinosaurs
• How scientists piece together food webs and habitats from fossil evidence

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow dinosaur and geology enthusiasts.
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Bob Krumenaker, a seasoned conservationist (over 41 years with the NPS) and former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, discusses the ecological, cultural, and political stakes involved with the proposed border wall construction in the remote, environmentally rich area of Big Bend National Park. Learn about why Big Bend is a sanctuary worth protecting and how local communities and conservation advocates are turning the tide against intrusive border infrastructure.

In this episode:

• Bob shares his extensive career in the National Park Service and his deep connection to desert ecosystems.
• The unique geological and biological highlights that make Big Bend nationally significant.
• How border security policies threaten biodiversity, night skies, water resources, and local communities.
• The current status of border wall proposals and the bipartisan opposition rallying to preserve Big Bend's wild character.
• The legal and political efforts underway, including wilderness designation, to secure long-term protection.
• Practical ways for the public to get involved and support conservation efforts in their areas.
• Lessons from Big Bend about community cooperation and environmental advocacy.

Resources & Links:

• Keep Big Bend Wild
• Big Bend National Park Official Site
• Wilderness Act of 1964
• Border Wall Map & Updates

Note: This interview sheds light on critical environmental and political issues facing public lands today. Your voice and involvement matter—learn more and take action through the links provided.