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Water and environmental news

Lake Mead and the rest of the Colorado River system are shrinking rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has called for new conservation measures, asking states to conserve a tremendously large amount of water, and giving them a 60-day timeline to formulate a plan for those reductions.

Governor signs $1.2B water plan as Arizona faces cutbacks

Jul 6, 2022 A $1 billion fund will help get new water supplies into Arizona, including a possible desalination plant Ducey has touted.
Seal of the state of Arizona.

Bacterial outbreak found at Arizona's largest state hatchery

Jul 4, 2022 Officials say some of the sick fish may have been released.
Fire managers have restricted campfires in Arizona to limit the risk of human-caused fire following a wet winter.

Some fire restrictions ease ahead of the holiday weekend

Jul 1, 2022 Officials warn to always check restriction status before starting a fire.
The Central Arizona Project moves water from the Colorado River to southern Arizona. July 2021

ASU online water tool updates help Arizonans learn about waterways

Jun 27, 2022 The project covers shortages, farmland data, pollution levels and other aspects of water usage.
Oak Flat, east of Superior, Arizona. A company proposes to build one of the world's largest underground copper mines at this location.

Court allows Resolution Copper Mine to continue

Jun 25, 2022 Apache Stronghold did not prove its religious concerns were enough to stop the mine.
The Bighorn Fire burns in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness near Oro Valley on June 7, 2020.

Preventing and fighting human-caused wildfire

Jun 24, 2022 Fires started by people have long been a part of our ecosystem, but they're increasingly damaging today.
Part of the Contreras Fire burning near the Kitt Peak Nationla Observatory on June 16, 2022.

Contreras Fire listed as 100% contained

Jun 24, 2022 Local management team will hand over control Saturday.
Part of the Contreras Fire burning near the Kitt Peak Nationla Observatory on June 16, 2022.

Officials expect wet weather as Contreras Fire passes 20,000 acres

Jun 20, 2022 Fire continues to spread toward the northeast
Kitt Peak observatory on June 19, 2022

Contreras Fire burns more than 18,000 acres

Jun 19, 2022 Fire managers say the fire is more than 40% contained.
Lake Mead and the rest of the Colorado River system are shrinking rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has called for new conservation measures, asking states to conserve a tremendously large amount of water, and giving them a 60-day timeline to formulate a plan for those reductions.

Under federal pressure, Colorado River water managers face unprecedented call for conservation

Jun 18, 2022 States have 60 days to craft a deal.
Smoke from wildfires in Flagstaff billows over the San Francisco mountains. June 13, 2022

Northern Arizona watches winds as Western wildfires blaze

Jun 14, 2022 Three fires are burning near Flagstaff.
Sweetwater wetlands.

Rare Arizona plant now on endangered list

Jun 10, 2022 The plant depends on wetlands for survival

Summer heat arrives

Jun 10, 2022 Experts talk about increasing heat in urban heat islands and the history of air conditioning.
Anastasia Rabin owns land in the Douglas Basin and says she knew water scarcity could be a problem when she moved here, but didn't realize it would become such a big problem so soon.

Residents in Cochise County organize vote to establish water regulation

Jun 7, 2022 Many in the Douglas and Willcox Basins say their wells are going dry as big business moves in around them
Flames from the Obi Fire run parallel to a highway. Lightning sparked the fire near Walhalla Plateau in Arizona on July 21, 2018.

Here's how to help prevent wildfires this summer

Jun 2, 2022 Just over half of wildfires in the Southwest are human-caused.
Former Mexican Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo was elected governor of the state of Sonora in June 2021.

Sonora governor: Desalination will have to be part of state water supply

May 31, 2022 With at least a dozen neighborhoods in Hermosillo already experiencing water shortages this summer, the state is confronting a future without enough water for residents.

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