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Nature and Environment

The entrance to Saguaro National Park east.

As Tumamoc Hill closes, Saguaro National Park stays open, suspending fees and closing visitor centers

Mar 18, 2020 The park is also canceling programs in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge encompasses nearly 118,000 acres southwest of Tucson and includes a stretch of the border with Mexico.

Borderlands symposium explores web of people, wildlife in Sonoran Desert

Mar 17, 2020 The Ajo conference last week brought together scientists, tribal leaders and community members.
Oak Flat, east of Superior, Arizona. A company proposes to build one of the world's largest underground copper mines at this location.

Opponents of proposed copper mine speak out about threat to Oak Flat

Mar 17, 2020 Indigenous and environmental advocates say the Resolution Copper Mine would irreparably harm the site of cultural and environmental significance.
A group of Tohono O'odham, Hia C-ed O'odham, Pascua Yaqui and their non-Indigenous allies gathered, Sunday, March 8, 2020, beside the pond fed by Quitobaquito Springs to discuss how building the border wall and pumping local groundwater to make cement is harming the area cherished by the local Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous group reaffirms importance of Quitobaquito Springs amid border wall construction

Mar 13, 2020 The group discussed how construction and pumping local groundwater is affecting the sacred site.
In the 1990s, small, independent antique shops began to fold and dealers relocated into large antique malls. Midtown Antiques in Stillwater, Minnesota is likely the largest in the upper Midwest.

"Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale"

Mar 11, 2020 Also on Arizona Spotlight: Adiba Nelson shares an open love letter to all women, everywhere; and how UA scientists are understanding climate change through research in the Southern Ocean.
An F-35A takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson during the annual Heritage Flight Training course, Feb. 27, 2020.

Opponents speak out at hearing on bringing F-35 fighter jet to Tucson

Mar 11, 2020 Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is being considered as a possible home for the new aircraft. Some say will bring too much noise to Tucson's skies.
A diamondback rattlesnake flicks its tongue.

Study explains how rattlesnakes catch rainwater on their backs

Mar 10, 2020 For the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, the advantage might lie in a labyrinth of grooves on its scales.
Looking upstream Sabino Creek on one of the bridges at the popular recreation site in Tucson in early winter.

Arizona working to define and protect its waterways cut from Clean Water Act

Mar 10, 2020 The state needs to fill a regulatory gap following the new "Waters of the U.S." rule.
A toppled saguaro in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on Dec. 21, 2019.

Groups offer support for conservationists challenging border wall construction

Mar 9, 2020 Local governments, archaeologists and others have filed briefs supporting a challenge to the waiver of laws for border wall construction.
At least 20 small fishing boats surround Sea Shepherd's ship M/V Sharpie in the vaquita refuge on March 3, 2020.

Conservationists attacked again in Sea of Cortez despite presence of Mexican authorities

Mar 6, 2020 The group working to protect the nearly extinct vaquita marina porpoise was confronted for the third time this year.
Some of the clean power the Navajo Nation hopes to sell to Los Angeles will be produced by the sun.

Clean energy produced on Navajo land could help power Los Angeles

Mar 5, 2020 With the recent closure of the Navajo Generating Station, Navajo leaders are looking to jump start the tribal economy by partnering with Los Angeles.
The NOAA says Northern Hemisphere snow coverage in January was the 18th-smallest in 54 years of keeping records.

January 2020 was warmest January in 141 years of records, NOAA says

Feb 28, 2020 The four warmest Januaries documented in the climate record have occurred since 2016, the agency said.
Craig Station, a coal fired power plant in northwest Colorado, is slated to close by 2030.

As Western coal plants close, what happens to their water?

Feb 27, 2020 Closures looming, communities are starting to discuss how this newly freed up water should be put to use.
El Pinacate

Conservation groups to UNESCO: Border wall puts Sonora's World Heritage sites 'in danger'

Feb 24, 2020 The groups are urging the agency to declare the cratered landscape known as El Pinacate "in danger" due to border wall construction.
The San Pedro River in late January, 2020.

Groundwater use for Fort Huachuca and the San Pedro River

Feb 21, 2020 A look at the latest legal fight over the groundwater supply shared by Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista and the San Pedro River.
A file image of the Colorado River in Northern Arizona.

Report: Colorado River more sensitive to climate change than previously thought

Feb 21, 2020 A new study says the future water supply of the Colorado River is even more at risk.

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