Rosy-faced lovebirds use human innovations to keep cool when Arizona temperatures soar
PHOENIX – Rosy-faced lovebirds have found ways to survive in the Valley by using air-conditioning and water fountains. Drought and climate change are impacting this nonnative bird’s ability to survive in the desert.
Public can comment on proposed changes to management plan for Mexican wolves
PHOENIX – Public hearings have begun over proposed changes to how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages endangered Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The hearings were spurred by a 2018 court ruling.
Water for wildlife: Game & Fish refurbishing, replacing old catchment systems
FLAGSTAFF – A water catchment is being rebuilt near Flagstaff to provide reliable water to wildlife. It’s part of an ongoing effort by Arizona Game & Fish and volunteers to make sure there’s water for animals during hot, dry times.
Pinal County farmer struggles to grow crops with less water
CASA GRANDE – Nancy Caywood should have a full field of alfalfa now, but since the San Carlos Irrigation District shut off her water because of drought, her fields are empty and dry.
VP Kamala Harris discusses Build Back Better and climate change at Lake Mead
Vice President Kamala Harris met with regional leaders Monday at Lake Mead to discuss water shortages and the importance of the Build Back Better plan, which would invest in such measures as water reclamation and recycling.
Silent storm: Extreme heat prompts new national guidelines for workers
PHOENIX – The Biden administration announced new guidelines to protect workers from extreme heat as climate change continues to push temperatures higher.
Overlanding community seeks path to a more sustainable future
FLAGSTAFF – Overlanding is a form of self-sufficient, off-grid adventure travel that utilizes large vehicles and practices that pose a risk to the environment. The Overland Expo Foundation is striving to become more sustainable.
Arizona projects get sizeable cut of Great American Outdoors Act funds
WASHINGTON - Arizona projects got $110 million last year and will get another $159 million in the fiscal year that started this month, or more than 9% of all funding nationally under the Great American Outdoors Act for those two years.
Mulch from above: After the fire, the work to protect water sources begins
Debris from wildfires poses a threat to water sources, prompting cities to find ways to stem that sooty runoff. One method is to use helicopters to drop bundles of mulch on charred hillsides, but it’s costly.
Sunblock for streets: Cool pavement curbs heat in Phoenix, but more testing is needed
PHOENIX – The results of Phoenix’s cool pavement study give reason for optimism, but researchers and project administrators say more testing is needed.
Even Colorado’s largest wildfire was no match for beavers
Beavers have shaped waterways for millions of years, which makes them capable water managers. But they “are not going to be the miracle answer” to drought in the Colorado River Basin, experts say.
Biden reverses Trump cuts to national monuments, restores Bears Ears
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden restored Bears Ears National Monument to its previous 1.36 million-acres footprint Friday, reversing a Trump-era decision to cut as much as 85% of the southern Utah site valued for its environmental, archeological and tribal treasures.
