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Weather and Climate

Fresh snowfall in Saguaro National Park, East, near Tucson, Arizona.

The Buzz: Arizona and snow

Jan 20, 2023 While non-rain precipitation is rare in the deserts, it's not uncommon for the mountains to get feet of snow each year.
An attendee learns to ride a snowboard on Mount Lemmon Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Ski Valley offers lessons throughout the day.

Ski Valley opens for snowboarding and skiing

Jan 6, 2023 Almost 250 people attended and worked Ski Valley's opening day.
A canal carries water from the Colorado River to tribal land in Arizona.

Biden signs water bills benefiting 3 tribes in Arizona

Jan 6, 2023 President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday giving leasing authority to the Colorado River Indian Tribes, whose reservation tracks its namesake on the Arizona-California border.
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.
A row of bright yellow aspen trees at Arizona Snowbowl north of Flagstaff.

Climate change and drought are muting bright fall colors as we know them

Dec 25, 2022 Researchers in Flagstaff are tracking tree health with a network of cameras to determine how the forests are being affected.
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 flag flies by the dome of the U.S. Capitol.

Water bills for tribes in Arizona to head to President Biden

Dec 23, 2022 The U.S. House approved the legislation on Thursday, just a few days after the U.S. Senate did.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Verde River near the site of a dam that was removed in 2022.

The Buzz takes a trip down the Verde River

Dec 9, 2022 Meet a man who has made saving this unique waterway his life's work
This yard in Mesa was converted to desert landscaping under the city’s Grass-to-Xeriscape incentive program. September 2022.

As the drought grinds on, Maricopa County homeowners take advantage of xeriscape incentives

Dec 5, 2022 Megadrought and low runoff conditions accelerated by climate change have resulted in record low water levels in Lakes Powell and Mead
A Mount Graham Red Squirrel.

Population increase for endangered red squirrels in Arizona

Dec 3, 2022 State Game and Fish Department officials said that the annual survey estimates that there currently are 156 of the rare squirrels, up from 109 last year.

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