Hatchery near Flagstaff undergoes $3.3 million in renovations to raise trout in the desert
FLAGSTAFF – Sterling Springs Hatchery near Flagstaff is undergoing a $3.3 million renovation to repair old infrastructure, as well as add technology that will allow the facility to operate with less water, all in an effort to grow fish in the desert.
Senate OKs open-space bill, reviving Land and Water Conservation Fund
WASHINGTON - After months of gridlock, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a popular program that sent almost $240 million to Arizona for parks and open space projects over the years before expiring last fall.
$300,000 down the drain: Rubber ducky, grease and currency clog treatment plant, cost taxpayers
SURPRISE – Surprise residents toss toys, money and food byproducts like grease into their drains that end up clogging equipment at the Surprise South Water Reclamation Facility. A new campaign teaches Surprise residents to save taxpayer money with proper disposal.
Officials testify on climate change’s outsized effect on Indian Country
WASHINGTON - An Inupiaq witness said melting glaciers led to erosion around rural villages. A Quinault Indian Nation member said treaty-protected fishing has dried up. And a Tohono O'odham official said floods are stronger and droughts longer. All were testifying on the effects of climate change on Indian Country.
45-mile walk shows solidarity against mine planned under land tribes consider sacred
OAK FLAT – Dozens protest in hopes of keeping sacred land alive.
Dolphins in the desert: Can they be properly cared for in Arizona?
PHOENIX – The fourth dolphin death since 2017 has prompted the closure of Dolphinaris Arizona east of Scottsdale while experts investigate. But can dolphins thrive in captivity, especially in the desert?
West Nile virus now is a permanent part of Arizona’s ecosystem, study finds
PHOENIX – A study from Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute discovered the sometimes-fatal disease known as West Nile virus is in Arizona to stay. It also found that Maricopa County is a breeding ground for infestations in adjoining states.
Grand Canyon, other parks, to be reimbursed for funds spent in shutdown
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service will reimburse parks, like the Grand Canyon, that were forced to dip into local maintenance funds to stay open during the government shutdown. But critics say parks should never have had to use their own funding to stay open and worry about long-term effects.
‘Done’ isn’t done: What’s happening with the Colorado River drought plans?
GREELEY, Colo. – The Drought Contingency Plan is designed to rein in water use and — at least for six years — prevent the whole system from crashing.
Clean-water permits take longest in Arizona, study of Southwestern states says
PHOENIX – It takes longer to get a construction permit under the Clean Water Act in Arizona than in any other Southwestern state, a new University of California-Irvine study says. The question is why.
Bald eagle web cam at Lake Pleasant captures real-time drama of survival
LAKE PLEASANT – It’s bald eagle nesting season in Arizona, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department has a web camera trained on an eagle nest at Lake Pleasant.
Late push for Salton Sea improvements complicates Colorado River drought plan
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Arizona approved a drought contingency plan ahead of a federal deadline Thursday, but the state and California still have work to do before the deal can be implemented. California is taking water from Lake Mead in case the plan fails.
