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Mated pair of Great Plains toads (Anaxyrus cognatus) in the floodplain of the Santa Cruz River.

The Desert Blooms in a Bountiful Monsoon.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Why the music of the rock group Fanny is rocking a whole new generation!
The short story “A White Heron” was written in 1886 by Sarah Orne Jewett, and adapted for radio by Cynthia Meier in 2021.

The Rogue Theatre presents "A White Heron".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: The Bisbee Bloomers' annual garden tour returns; and remembering drumming legend Charlie Watts.
A Border Patrol vehicle drives along a section of fence at the Organ Pipe National Monument, west of Lukeville, Arizona, on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018.

Federal judge says Customs and Border Protection broke environmental law

Lawsuit accused the agency of failing to assess how ramped up border enforcement would impact the borderlands and endangered species that live there.
Low water levels at Lake Mead outside Las Vegas are prompting water leaders throughout the Western U.S. to undertake negotiations over the Colorado River's future.

Water shortage on Colorado River triggers supply cuts for Arizona

The shortage means Arizona will see its share of water from the river slashed by 18% next year.
Will Thelander, of Tempe Farming Company, grows crops such as cotton and alfalfa but is also experimenting with guayule, a desert native plant that is being studied for the natural rubber it produces.

Arizona farmers prepare for water cuts

A third-generation farmer fears for the long-term sustainability of farming in Arizona.
The Central Arizona Project moves water from the Colorado River to southern Arizona. July 2021

Arizona faces cut in water supplies as shortage is declared on Colorado River

Arizona will lose 18% of its share of Colorado River water next year, with cuts falling largely on farmers.
Grass mitigation efforts on A Mountain.

A Mountain closed for buffelgrass maintenance

Buffelgrass on the southern slope with be sprayed with herbicides Friday and Monday to reduce fire danger.
Soldier Canyon in the Catalina Mountains.

Measuring the Monsoon.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: 'Tis the season for mushroom hunters on Mount Lemmon; and "Gloria: A Life" returns to The Invisible Theatre.
Saguaro National Park employees climbing up a hill within the park to find and spray bunches of buffelgrass with herbicide August 2021.

How one grass at Saguaro National Park shows push and pull of climate change

If left unchecked, buffelgrass poses a tremendous fire danger to native plants and the homes nearby.
Lake Pleasant, north of Phoenix, is a major reservoir for Colorado River water. Each summer the lake is pumped down to send water to Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties. July 2021

Water cutbacks coming to Arizona

A decades-long drought means less water from the Colorado River.
The University of Arizona Herbarium is a research collection of over 425,000 dried plant specimens, with emphasis on the plants of the Sonoran Desert region and adjacent areas

Herbarium

The University of Arizona Herbarium is a research collection of over 425,000 dried plant specimens, with emphasis on the plants of the Sonoran Desert region.
This five day precipitation forecast map released by the National Weather Service on July 21, 2021 shows that much of the state's midsection is expected to get at least one inch of rainfall, with some areas receiving up to three inches, by Saturday night. Nearly all of the state is under a flash flood watch through 11:00 p.m. Saturday.

Flash flood watch through Saturday

NWS predicts 2006-style rainstorms into the weekend.
Scorched saguaros and desert landscape from the Telegraph Fire that started June 4, 2021 and spread across areas of Pinal and Gila counties. June 2021.

Ducey left out of White House wildfire meeting

The White House kept Governor Ducey off the list to talk about wildfires
Scorched saguaros and desert landscape from the Telegraph Fire that started June 4, 2021 and spread across areas of Pinal and Gila counties. June 2021.

Fire restrictions, State trust land and Navajo Nation

To reduced fire danger, access to state trust land closes and the Navajo Nation implements Stage 2 fire restrictions.
The Bureau of Land Management used prescribed burns across many of its properties for habitat improvement and to reduce the risk of severe wildfires.

Evacuation orders expand as wildfires continue to burn in Arizona

Hot weather and severe drought are driving an active fire season
Former Havasupai Chairman Rex Tilousi died Saturday, June 19 in Flagstaff.

Former Havasupai chairman dies at 73

Rex Tilousi was an advocate against uranium mining within the Grand Canyon, home of the tribe.

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