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Looking through the rusted-steel border wall into Mexico, at the San Pedro River bed.

DHS agrees to stop border wall construction, fund environmental remediation projects

A settlement agreement estimates $1.62 billion in funding and nearly $430 million returned to DOD projects.
Stacks of hay bales sit beside an irrigation canal in Imperial Valley on June 20, 2023. Critics have called for reductions to the amount of alfalfa grown with Colorado River water. The particularly thirsty crop is mostly used for cattle feed.

Freeing up Colorado River water from California farms will take more than just money, just ask the farmers

The Imperial Valley is the largest Colorado River water user.
South 32 Hermosa Project in the Patagonia Mountains. The mine development project earned a FAST-41 federal designation which streamlines its permitting process.

Environmental groups seek court order to stop two exploratory mining projects

The groups filed a lawsuit against the USFS in June.
After two decades of drought, parts of Lake Mead that were once underwater have been exposed as the lake falls to historically low levels.

21st annual Water Resources Research Center brings in international collaborators

The conference focused on water solutions in a changing arid climate.
The seal of Cochise County.

Douglas AMA challengers get AMA back on the ballot

The existence of the Douglas AMA will go back to voters in 2023 General Election

Packrat Time Machine

To many, packrats are a nuisance. But to the scientists that study them, they are a key to the past.
President of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance (PARA), Carolyn Shafer, stands in one of her favorite places along Harshaw Creek in Patagonia, Arizona. Shafer has lived in the community for about 26 years.

Permitting timetable published for Southern Arizona critical minerals mine

The South32 Hermosa project is located in the Patagonia Mountains
File image from the Hoover Dam.

The Buzz: Tracing the Colorado River’s problems back for more than a hundred years

This week, we preview Thirst Gap, a new podcast from the team at NPR member station KUNC.
A view from Coconino Overlook at the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon gets $27.5 million federal grant for greener shuttle buses

The replacement project includes 30 new buses — 20 that run on compressed natural gas and 10 electric buses.
AZ Project WET program coordinator, Josh Ruddick instructs educators like JoAnna McCormick, how to conduct percolator tests or, testing water absorption rates as part of the hands-on activities of Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory's summer teacher workshop. Teachers from throughout the greater Tucson area have gathered for this two-day workshop, to participate in hands-on activities and develop climate-change centric curriculum.

UA workshop deepens local educators' knowledge of the impact of climate change in Arizona

Relevant data will be used to develop relevant curriculum for students
The stretch of the Verde River that goes through Clarkdale ends near the Tuzigoot Road Bridge.

The Buzz takes a trip down the Verde River

We're revisiting this episode after it and another The Buzz episode were honored by PMJA

"The Neotenic Queen" explores the secrets of desert wildlife, both flora and fauna.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How the youth group Studio Mariposa is beautifying the border wall; and an uplifting tale of love & survival from "Children of the Holocaust."

Bear that fatally attacked man at Arizona campsite didn't have rabies

The bear acted in what appeared to be an unprovoked predatory attack, Game and Fish officials said.
A view of the Colorado River near the Silver Bridge on the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. From November 2022.

Tucson releases draft water plan

The city is now asking for the public to provide feedback on the draft plan.

Environmental groups file lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service

The agency authorized two mineral exploration projects in the Patagonia Mountains.
Forest Service vehicles in Tucson with smoke from the Ventana Fire in the background. June 20, 2023

Fire near Ventana Canyon

The fire started in the Catalina Mountains in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

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