Pascua Yaqui win water funds, first of $150 million for Arizona projects
WASHINGTON - Pascua Yaqui Council members called it "a blessing" - the $900,000 in federal funds for a project to deliver irrigation water to the tribe's lands. It's the first project under a $150 million fund that state lawmakers won.
Lakes Mead and Powell could drop to lowest ever; Colorado River drought plan triggered
A recent federal forecast predicts one of the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs, Lake Powell, will dip below a critical threshold within the next two years. That projection forces several states to start planning for an even drier future.
When wildfire burns a high mountain forest, what happens to the snow and runoff?
GREELEY, Colorado – Researchers are studying burned areas high in the Colorado Rockies to see how wildfires affect snow accumulation, snowmelt and water supplies across the West. They’re finding that there’s no simple answer.
‘Divas’ and suckers: The fight to save endangered Colorado River fish
Dams throughout the Colorado River watershed create barriers and alter flows that make life harder for native fish. For decades, millions of dollars have been spent on recovering the river’s fish species on the brink of extinction.
If ancient drought choked the Southwest for centuries, what does the future hold?
Caves in the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah tell a story linking climate change to a “worst-case scenario” with potential impact on 56 million water users in the West.
Researchers at Petrified Forest discover fossil of a reptile with claws and a beak
PHOENIX – Researchers in the Petrified Forest National Park have discovered a new species of prehistoric reptile that offers a glimpse into Arizona’s past.
Biden firm on uranium-mining ban around ‘jewel’ of the Grand Canyon
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration cited national security for its efforts to boost uranium mining, but environmentalists saw it as an attempt to mine near the Grand Canyon. President-elect Joe Biden may shut that door for good.
Waymo’s driverless ride service moves metro Phoenix toward autonomous future
PHOENIX – Google’s self-driving company, Waymo, introduced a fully driverless ride hailing service to parts of the East Valley this fall. Arizona in Focus looks at how today’s decisions will shape the future of autonomous vehicles.
Saltwater lakes beneath Mars’ surface raise new questions about life on the red planet
PHOENIX – New radar data from the Mars Express spacecraft reveals three saltwater lakes below the surface of the red planet. In this episode of Arizona in Focus, we look at what the lakes might be like and whether they indicate life.
Record heat proves to be a queen palm’s worst enemy
PHOENIX – Queen palm trees, widely used in landscaping in metro Phoenix, have become a victim of Arizona’s record-breaking heat in 2020.
Colorado River Basin winter forecast signals dry times ahead
This year the sprawling western river basin saw a dry spring, dry summer, dry fall, and now – a dry start to winter. So far, this has been among the driest years on record for portions of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.
As Lake Powell recedes, river guides race to document long-hidden rapids
Climate change and growing population across the Southwest are pushing Lake Powell to historic lows and revealed some long-lost features along the Colorado River.
