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Nature and Environment

Fishing boats float on the Sea of Cortez outside the little town of San Felipe, Baja California, in October 2018.

UNESCO designates vaquita porpoise habitat as ‘in danger’

Jul 8, 2019 There are estimated to be only 10 remaining vaquita porpoises in the Sea of Cortez.
Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border continues to drop as snowpack declines throughout the southwestern U.S. The narrow passageway shown here in September 2018 has been rendered unusable as water levels drop.

Arizona senators propose drought bill

Jul 7, 2019 The bipartisan bill aims to help water utilities plan for dry future
Two Gila Topminnows.

500 Gila Topminnows make a splash at The Mission Garden

Jul 3, 2019 Also on Arizona Spotlight: Author Kimi Eisele on "The Lightest Object in the Universe"; singer Natalie Douglas returns to Tucson with the songs of Nat King Cole; and "A Love Letter to the Library" about MegaMania.
One of a series of illustrations depicting planned facilities at Bike Ranch Tucson.

Bike Ranch resort approved in Saguaro National Park East buffer zone

Jul 3, 2019 Cycling resort 5 years in the making gets the go-ahead from the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
Trucks carrying cargo at the Mariposa Port of Entry on the border of Arizona and Sonora.

EPA: Air quality improves at Nogales port

Jul 2, 2019 The report credits reduced wait times and other factors for the reduction in emissions at the Mariposa Port of Entry.
Water flows north of Cushing Street in the Santa Cruz River, midway through the first week of a project aiming to create a perennial flow in a section of the river, June 27, 2019.

Initial flow for Santa Cruz River project goes beyond expectations

Jul 1, 2019 The project pumping reclaimed water into a section of river near downtown saw water reach farther downriver than predicted.
Firefighting gear hangs in the dock at Tucson Fire Station 3.

First responders discuss how to stay safe in the heat

Jul 1, 2019 Tucson Fire and Pima County's Search and Rescue Unit respond to dozens of cases each summer.
Gila topminnows wait to be introduced to new habitat in the acequia at Mission Garden.

Native Arizona fish finds new home in Tucson's Mission Garden

Jul 1, 2019 Last week, one of Arizona’s most historically prolific native fish was introduced into some new habitat at the Mission Garden.
Satellite image of California's Camp Fire, Nov. 8, 2018.

Smoke from US wildfires boosting health risk for millions

Jun 26, 2019 Another summer of fires in the West is expected to impact millions and increase premature deaths.
Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Barbara Warren, MD Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility Arizona Chapter, and Professor Ecri Betterton, UA Dept. of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences speak at a news conference regarding the dangers of rolling back the federal clean car standards. The event was held in a classroom at the Pima Medical Institute. June 25, 2019

Southern Arizona officials ask Congress to keep clean car standards

Jun 25, 2019 The White House wants to let automakers roll back emission and mileage standards.
"A" Mountain, or Sentinel Peak, stands above the dry riverbed of the Santa Cruz River near Tucson's birthplace. Feb. 22, 2018.

Tucson reviving a stretch of the Santa Cruz River

Jun 24, 2019 Tucson Water is putting water back into the Santa Cruz River near downtown.
Volunteers Sara Ransom and Kaya Foss doing wet-dry mapping on the San Pedro River.

How much water is in the San Pedro? Every year, volunteers seek to find out

Jun 21, 2019 More than 100 volunteers spent last weekend tracking the presence of intermittent water in the river.
Fire truck after a military base firefighting exercise.

UA researcher investigating chemicals used in firefighting foam

Jun 21, 2019 Reyes Sierra-Alvarez is working on methods to absorb a contaminant discovered in groundwater.
Archie is a big brown bat, and has been taken care of by Bob & Debbie Beucher since being rescued more than sixteen years ago.

Bat night at the Mission Garden

Jun 19, 2019 Also: A new facility in Nogales, Sonora to help migrants following the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" policy; and strangers find common ground with "One Small Step".
Looking west from Gates Pass towards Saguaro National Park West.

Tucson City Council opposes proposed Interstate 11

Jun 19, 2019 A resolution lays out the environmental and economic reasons for the opposition.
Rescue crews during 2017 flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Texas

UA storm watchers predict active hurricane season

Jun 18, 2019 Annual forecast model shows Atlantic conditions similar to dangerous 2017.

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