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Nature and Environment

Snow hangs in Colorado's Elk Mountains in May 2022. The Colorado River gets the majority of its water from high-altitude snowpack, and climate scientists say it's likely that less water than normal will make it into rivers and streams.

For this summer's water forecast, climate experts are looking back to winter

May 16, 2022 Snow is the key to water in Arizona and other the Colorado River Basin states.
Cars moving through Tucson.

High pollution advisory for Tucson on Friday

May 13, 2022 Pima County officials are encouraging anyone especially sensitive to ozone to avoid physical exertion outside until 6 p.m.
Many Southern Arizona residents employ water-saving techniques, like rainwater harvest.

Making the most of water in Tucson

May 13, 2022 As the monsoon approaches, The Buzz focuses on rainwater harvesting.
The proposed site of the Rosemont Copper Mine.

Appeals court rules against mine project in Santa Rita Mountains

May 12, 2022 The court cited the planned use of Coronado National Forest land for long-term storage of waste rock and the lack of valuable minerals on the property.

Voters in Willcox Basin will decide water management future of the area in November

May 11, 2022 The Cochise County Elections Department certified that the county-based group Arizona Water Defenders collected enough signatures for a ballot measure.
A view from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, next to the Kolb Studio, September 2018.

Arizona scores low marks on land conservation

May 9, 2022 The Center for Western Priorities ranked the state second to last in a recent study.
The vaquita is a critically endangered porpoise that lives in the northern part of the Sea of Cortez. It is considered the smallest and most endangered cetacean in the world.

Inbreeding won’t doom the endangered vaquita marina — but fishing nets might

May 6, 2022 Research now finds that, genetically speaking, there is still hope the vaquita population can recover.
Cars moving through Tucson.

High pollution advisory for Tucson

May 6, 2022 The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality issued an advisory Friday for ground-level ozone air pollution.
One of the pits at the Morenci Mine in eastern Arizona, which has one one of the largest copper reserves in the United States.

It's one of the five Cs of Arizona's economy. But what role does mining really play in Arizona today?

May 6, 2022 This week, The Buzz examines the longtime economic driver in the state and its environmental impacts.
The proposed site of the Rosemont Copper Mine.

Rosemont returns clean water permit

May 4, 2022 The company is trying to end lawsuits against its proposed mine.
Water levels in Lake Powell, seen here in May 2021, are dipping dangerously low. The federal government has proposed an unprecedented plan to cut back on water supplies for Arizona, Nevada and California. The measure aims to keep water levels high enough to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam.

Federal government rolls out ‘extraordinary actions’ to prop up Lake Powell

May 4, 2022 Water levels in Lake Powell are the lowest they have ever been and still dropping.
Sahuarita Town Hall.

Sahuarita to partner with growing water management company

Apr 28, 2022 The mayor and council decided against using eminent domain to block the company from acquiring infrastructure in town.
Water levels in Lake Powell are dipping dangerously close to "dead pool," at which point it becomes impossible to generate hydropower at the Glen Canyon dam. Experts think the reservoir could reach those levels within a year.

Colorado River basin give approval to proposed water cutbacks

Apr 22, 2022 The plan would cut flows to Arizona, Nevada and California by 480,000 acre-feet, enough water to supply more than half a million homes for a year.
Flaming Gorge Reservoir stores water in Wyoming and Utah.

Amid dropping water levels in Lake Powell, another ‘short-term fix’ is on the way

Apr 22, 2022 Upper Colorado River Basis states reach a deal.
A solar array used by Tucson Electric Power to add renewable energy to the grid, August 2019

How Arizona gets its energy

Apr 22, 2022 This week, The Buzz focuses on electricity — how it’s created and where it’s needed.
Cars moving through Tucson.

Pima County gets poor marks for ozone pollution

Apr 21, 2022 Maricopa, Pinal counties again rank among the worst in the country for ozone pollution in an annual report from the American Lung Association.

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