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Nature and Environment

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.

The Buzz: Looking back on 2022

Dec 30, 2022 Newsworthy interviews and topics that we addressed this year.
More electric-vehicle charging ports will be installed along interstate highways in Arizona as early as 2024

It’s electric: ADOT planning a statewide network of EV chargers along interstates

Dec 29, 2022 The Arizona Department of Transportation will oversee the upgrade of existing chargers and installation of new ones along five interstate highways.
Shipping containers are put in place along the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County.

Coronado National Forest to close area near containers during removal

Dec 28, 2022 The U.S. Forest Service said the move is for public safety.
An empty rack of flares sits on the wing of a turboprop Piper PA31T Cheyenne II airplane.

SRP researches cloud seeding in White Mountains to create snow amid historic drought

Dec 24, 2022 The state also helps fund cloud seeding programs in Colorado meant to increase flows into the Colorado River.
A harvesting machine pulls pecans from trees at Green Valley Pecan Company in Sahaurita.

Arizona restricts farming to protect groundwater supply

Dec 22, 2022 The Arizona Department of Water Resources this week put a limit on the amount of land that can be watered, designating the Hualapai Valley as an irrigation non-expansion area.
Rare desert winter snow on saguaro cactus in the Catalina Mountains.

Winter solstice: Why isn't the shortest day of the year in the deepest part of winter?

Dec 21, 2022 It may be the day with the fewest hours of sunshine for the global north, but there is another source of heat to consider.
Tuesday’s press conference to announce the over $4.7 million USDA grant to UArizona to support and promote 'climate-smart' food production was held at the ENR2’s rooftop garden. The rooftop garden is an example of how native plants can be paired with solar panels to protect plants in an increasingly hot and dry climate while water evaporating from the plants cools and makes the panels more efficient.

USDA awards $4.7 million to new partnership with UA for 'climate-smart' food production

Dec 20, 2022 The funding will help farmers reduce water consumption and carbon emissions.
United States Capitol Building

US Senate advances water bills for tribes in Arizona

Dec 20, 2022 The bills now head to the U.S. House.
A Tucson Clean and Beautiful volunteer is putting mulch around a new tree in a neighborhood in South Tucson on Saturday, Dec. 17th. The mulch helps protect the tree from the harsh desert climate.

60,000 trees planted since start of Tucson Million Trees program

Dec 19, 2022 Tucson Mayor Regina Romero announced the program in 2020 and hopes to reach the goal by 2030.
John Farley, director of fire test operations at the Naval Research Laboratory, tests the effectiveness of aqueous film-forming foam by spraying it on a gasoline fire. The test took place at the laboratory in Chesapeake Beach, Md. Oct. 25, 2019.

ADEQ to test all small water systems for PFAS

Dec 19, 2022 An EPA grant will allow the state to test water from 1,200 providers.
After two decades of drought, parts of Lake Mead that were once underwater have been exposed as the lake falls to historically low levels.

More questions than answers at Colorado River water meetings

Dec 16, 2022 Talk at sessions Wednesday and Thursday has focused on cooperation between users to solve shortages.
A male Elegant Trogon, as featured in Richard Cachor Taylor's 2022 book "Birds of Arizona".

The field guide "Birds of Arizona" was a labor of love for author Richard Cachor Taylor.

Dec 15, 2022 Also on Arizona Spotlight: How the Pima County Library's Synapse Team is helping mental health community-wide; visit the El Jefe Cat Lounge; and remembering broadcasting legend Larry Schnebly.
Residents of the Douglas and Willcox Basins say they're drilling deeper and more often for water as their wells dry up as big companies expand their operations and dig even deeper into the shared water supply.

Preserving parts of Cochise County's water future

Dec 13, 2022 In November, voters split on future management of two major basins.
Male jaguar photographed in the Dos Cabezas Mountains Nov, 16, 2016.

Environmentalists want jaguars reintroduced to US Southwest

Dec 12, 2022 An environmental group on Monday petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help reintroduce the jaguar to the Southwest.
The Central Arizona Project moves water from the Colorado River to southern Arizona. July 2021

San Carlos Apache agree to lease water for Arizona community

Dec 12, 2022 Without the agreement the town would have no water.
Climate change has cut deep into the Southwest's water supply, and policymakers in the seven states that share the river have failed to agree on a plan to significantly reduce demand. That has left Lake Powell, held back by Glen Canyon Dam, at less than a quarter of its capacity.

The “power of aridity” is bringing a Colorado River dam to its knees

Dec 12, 2022 The Glen Canyon Dam faces threats that could soon render it useless after decades as a symbol of American engineering achievement.

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