Spur Fire destroys homes in Arizona mining community
PHOENIX – The Spur Fire in the mining community of Bagdad, Arizonahas demolished more than 25 structures and homes, forcing the town to evacuate. The wildfire was 50% contained as of Friday afternoon.
Arizona’s current historic drought may be ‘baseline for the future’
WASHINGTON - Arizona and other Western states just lived through the driest year in more than a century, with no drought relief in sight in the near future, experts told a House panel Tuesday.
Declining Lake Powell levels prompt Colorado River states to form new plan
Declining levels at the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. have spurred officials in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico to search for ways to prop it up.
New study makes case for jaguar reintroduction in Arizona, New Mexico
A new study suggests jaguars could be successfully reintroduced to parts of their historic range in Arizona and New Mexico, where the large cats were wiped out by humans decades ago.
Researchers spelunk the Grand Canyon to document its beautiful, confounding springs
Research examining how water flows in Grand Canyon springs could shed light on understanding the link between ground water and surface water in the Colorado River system.
Water speculation is ‘all the problems’ in one, Colorado group warns
Last year, Colorado lawmakers pointed a finger at what they consider a growing threat: speculative investments in water rights. Since then, a state work group has been examining the issue, and the process raises questions about how the West divvies up water.
Wildfire prevention gets boost from behind bars with expanded program
WASHINGTON - It's important to have boots on the ground when battling wildfires, and state officials will soon be able to put 1,400 more boots on the ground - in the form of up to 700 prison inmates, who will be used to do forest maintenance under a new law.
Fight over Oak Flat mine draws support of diverse religious groups
WASHINGTON - The Oak Flat copper mine battle has gone from an environmental to a religious fight, with groups ranging from the Sikh Coalition to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints backing a White Mountain Apache claim that the mine will destroy sacred lands.
Get ready for a busy year fighting wildfires, experts in Arizona warn
Arizona had one of its driest monsoon seasons on record last year, which will directly impact wildfires this year. Experts predict this could be another big year for fires across the state.
Cities push residents to save their little piece of Earth on Earth Day
WASHINGTON - Think globally, act locally, as the saying goes, and 10 Arizona cities are taking the message to heart Thursday to mark the 51st annual Earth Day, planning everything from tree plantings to community cleanups.
With first Colorado River shortage almost certain, states stare down mandatory cutbacks
Twenty-one years of drier, warmer weather have left Lakes Mead and Powell at historically low levels, and the first official shortage declaration from the Department of the Interior is almost certain later this year.
Palo Verde generator helps Southwest meet climate goals, but future of nuclear is debated
PHOENIX – A new NREL study finds that LA could eliminate fossil fuels from its power grid by 2035. The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix is part of the solution, but critics say it's a temporary solution to meet climate goals in both California and Arizona.
