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The Nature Conservancy Arizona will use the funding to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners on up to 20,000 acres. (Juliana Swenson/Adobe Stock)

Millions of dollars going to Verde River conservation in north central AZ

More than $11 million in federal grant money will go to improve land and water conservation in the upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grassland…

Around 79% of Arizona voters think the low level of water in rivers is a serious problem, according to the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: AZ voters show strong preference for conservation efforts

Voters from Arizona and across the West say a public official's position on conservation will be an important factor when deciding who to support in t…

Most Arizona voters believe the drought is continuing to worsen, and that policymakers need to do more to protect the state's water future and secure long-term water supplies. (Adobe Stock)

On 'Environmental Day,' AZ leaders show support for water bills

Arizona leaders, advocates and high school students gathered to commemorate Environmental Day at the Arizona State Capitol on Thursday. Rep. …

Nearly 74% of likely Arizona voters agree groundwater is essential for communities, farming, industry and Arizona's way of life. (Adobe Stock)

Water: Top focus for AZ 2024 environmental groups

More than two dozen Arizona organizations have laid out their 2024 environmental priorities. Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the …

In a poll this year, 85% of Arizonans agreed the state should do more to manage groundwater in all parts of the state, and 79% agreed the water crisis cannot be addressed without Arizona safeguarding all its groundwater supplies. (Adobe Stock)

AZ expert sheds light on state's challenging water outlook

An Arizona water expert said the state faces a challenging situation with the Colorado River being overallocated, compounded with what she calls a …

More than 10 trillion gallons of water have been lost from the Colorado River basin between 2000 and 2021, according to a recent UCLA study. (Paul Moore/Adobe Stock)

AZ celebrates Colorado River conservation agreements

Arizona leaders are celebrating the federal government's just over $63 million investment for water conservation, efficiency and protection of the …

Arizona ranks among the top five states in the nation for the total number of native bird, reptile and mammal species, according to the Arizona Wildlife Federation. (Adobe Stock)

Expert Wants Federal Investments to Help Ecological Health in AZ

Experts across the West have met to discuss the potential impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act as the one-year anniversary of the piece of legislati…

According to the American Heart Association, children in low-income households consume two and a half times more sugary drinks than their peers in higher-income households. (Adobe Stock)

AZ School District Prioritizes Water Access for Students

Two school districts in Arizona are working to improve water access for students. Tolleson Elementary and Cartwright Elementary school districts …

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has the authority to set enforceable regulations for drinking water contaminants and require monitoring of public water systems. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Group: EPA's Limit on PFAS Chemicals 'Crucial'

Groups advocating for clean water in Arizona are applauding an Environmental Protection Agency plan to limit toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances…

The water level at Lake Powell hit a record low this week, sinking to just 3,522 feet above sea level. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: AZ Among SW States in Worst Drought in 1,200 Years

Despite Arizona and other Southwestern states experiencing a wetter winter, experts say the region is enduring the worst drought in 1,200 years…

Most voters in Arizona strongly support creating new protected national areas. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: AZ Voters Worried About Water, Support Cleaner Energy

The 13th annual 'Conservation in the West' poll shows Arizonans are seriously concerned about the state's water situation, and that they support …

La mayor�a de los votantes de Arizona apoyan firmemente la creaci�n de nuevas �reas nacionales protegidas. (Adobe Stock)

Encuesta: Votantes de AZ preocupados por el agua, apoyan las energías limpias

La decimotercera encuesta anual 'Conservation in the West' muestra que los habitantes de Arizona están seriamente preocupados por la situació…

This is a three-dimensional model of the Resolution Copper Project. Opponents say it will use 40,000 acre-feet of water per year, comparable to the City of Tempe, Ariz. (Photo courtesy Henry C. Mu�oz, Sr.)

Proposed Mine Near Superior Draws AZ Tribal, Environmental Pushback

Members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe are planning a march and other events this week to oppose what they're calling a destructive mining project sla…

Modelo tridimensional del proyecto Resolution Copper. Sus detractores afirman que consumir� 40, 000 acres-pies de agua al a�o, una cantidad comparable a la de la ciudad de Tempe, Arizona (Fotograf�a cortes�a de Henry C. Mu�oz, Sr.).

Proyecto de explotación minera cerca de Superior suscita oposición tribal y ecologista en AZ

Miembros de la tribu apache de San Carlos están planeando una marcha y otros actos esta semana para oponerse a lo que denominan un proyecto miner…

According to Arizona's state climatologist, the last two monsoon seasons and triple-dip La Ni�a winters are all playing a role in the long-term drought improvements. (Adobe Stock)

Drought Conditions in AZ Improving

Arizona's drought conditions are improving. Erinanne Saffell, state climatologist, said it is important to note Arizona evaluates short-term and …

AZ Community Starts New Year Waterless

Arizona residents in the Rio Verde Foothills community started off the new year with no water after being cut off from the city of Scottsdale as part …

Pumped storage projects move water between two reservoirs, each at separate and different elevations, to store energy and produce electricity. (Adobe Stock)">

AZ Hydropower Update: Two Projects Suspended, One Still in Works

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has closed the door on plans to build two hydroelectric dams in Northern Arizona. The applicant behind the …

If EPCOR's application is approved, Rio Verde Foothills residents could pay $20 per 1,000 gallons of water. In comparison, Scottsdale residents currently pay $1.65 per 1,000 gallons. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Community Faces Water Crisis

Arizona is running dry, and one community north of Scottsdale is facing the harsh reality. Rio Verde Foothills has more than 2,000 homes, and about 5…

The Granite Reef Underground Water Storage Project near Mesa is Arizona's largest water-banking facility. (SRP)

Once-Obscure AZ Water Bank to Allocate "Surplus" Water Supplies

Two decades of extreme drought have put a squeeze on Arizona's water supply, but a once-obscure state agency could soon be at the forefront of …

Lake Mead, which holds most of the water supply for five Western states, is at a record low level after two decades of drought. (topenugato/Adobe Stock)

Voters in AZ, West Worried About Water, Climate Change

Voters in Arizona and across the West are increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change on the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains…

Glen Canyon Dam is 710 feet tall and impounds the Colorado River to form the 26-million-acre-foot Lake Powell reservoir. (mariakray/Adobe Stock)

A Contest for Engineers: What to do with Glen Canyon Dam?

A contest to "Re-Wild the Colorado River" is seeking engineering alternatives from the public for the future of Glen Canyon Dam. Conservation groups …

The N-Drip system uses low-pressure, gravity-powered

Innovative Irrigation System Aims to Save Dwindling AZ Water Supplies

PHOENIX -- The extended drought and climate change have pushed Arizona into water restrictions for 2022, and farmers could see their allotments …

The Central Arizona Project hiking trail system runs next to its water canal network in both urban and rural parts of Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties. (CAP)

CAP Trails Provide Recreation for Thousands of Outdoor Enthusiasts

MARANA, Ariz. -- Trekking across Arizona's stunning desert landscapes is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the state, and the Central …

Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir situated on the Arizona-Utah border, draws upwards of 2 million visitors a year for boating and other forms of outdoor recreation. (forcdan/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

River Managers Take Emergency Steps to Refill Lake Powell

PAGE, Ariz. -- The federal Bureau of Reclamation is taking emergency measures to shore up water levels in Lake Powell, to preserve the reservoir's …

Extreme heat and drought due to climate change is making it more difficult for water utilities in the region to deliver to their customers. (Chandler/Adobe Stock) June 4 12:38 p.m. Corrects an earlier caption that incorrectly stated the effect of lower Lake Mead levels on water delivery.

Climate Change, Extreme Heat Pose Challenges for Water Utilities

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. -- The calendar indicates it is June, which means if you live in Arizona, it's only going to get hotter. And while you can …

Chemical engineering is one of dozens of water-related challenges available to Arizona high school students in the Access to Clean Water Challenge 2021. (Have a nice day/Adobe Stock)

Contest Challenges AZ High Schoolers to Solve State's Water Problems

TUCSON, Ariz. - Water is critical to Arizona's future, and the state's three public universities are challenging high school students to propose …

The Central Arizona Project pumps most of its water in the fall and winter months to the Lake Pleasant reservoir, northwest of Phoenix, where it is stored and distributed in the spring and summer across the state. (CAP)

CAP Cuts Costs, Goes Green to Deliver Water to Arizonans

TEMPE, Ariz. - Four out of five Arizonans use water delivered to them across the state through the pumps, canals and reservoirs of the Central …

The planned Navajo Energy Storage Station would use water from Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utah border to generate hydropower and sell it to cities in Arizona, California and Nevada. (TebNad/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call Lake Powell Hydropower Project 'Unsustainable'

PAGE, Ariz. -- Federal regulators have issued a preliminary permit for a pumped-hydropower project using water from Lake Powell, but conservation …

The Central Arizona Project uses a network of hundreds of miles of pipelines and canals to distribute water from the Colorado River Basin to customers across the state. (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

Satellite Data, Teamwork Help Chart Future of Colorado River Basin

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West, but the viability of the massive river basin is being threatened by …

Water from the upper basin of the Colorado River is stored in 186-mile-long Lake Powell along the Utah-Arizona border. (shuvro ghose/Adobe Stock)

Arizona, Other States Battle Utah Over Water Pipeline Project

PAGE, Ariz. -- A group of Southwestern states, including Arizona, is threatening a lawsuit to halt a plan to divert billions of gallons of water from …

Conservation groups say they fear construction of a border wall across the San Pedro River could cause flooding during the rainy season and block a migration route for endangered animals. (Flickr)

Border-Wall Project Could Block San Pedro River

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Conservation groups say the federal government is building a stretch of the border wall that could block the San Pedro River…

Because of the ongoing pandemic, most Earth Day events this year will be held online, but organizers plan to stay true to the event's goals of improving the climate, air and water on Planet Earth. (NASA/AdobeStock)<br />

Pandemic Moves Most Arizona Earth Day Events onto Cyberspace

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is coming up this week, but Arizonans and others will not be marking the occasion in the usual …

Over the past decade, the Arizona Efficiency Standard has provided utility customers with rebates for items such as air conditioner repairs and upgrades, home insulation and smart thermostats. (LisaYoung/AdobeStock)

Advocates Urge AZ Regulators to Keep Energy-Efficiency Standards

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Corporation Commission has received high marks for many of its recent policies benefiting the state's ratepayers. But as the …

The Verde River runs 190 miles from Arizona's Chino Valley to the Phoenix metropolitan area, providing drinking water, irrigation and recreation for more than 3 million Arizonans. (JonManjeot/AdobeStock)

New Report Gives Arizona’s Verde River Watershed a C+

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. - Conservationists say a first-of-its-kind report on Arizona's Verde River Watershed provides a clear road map to restoring the …

One group involved with the campaign to keep ADEQ from assuming authority over the Clean Water Act was Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Tucson-based activists fighting to keep an open-pit copper mine from operating in the mountain region. (mdurson/AdobeStock)

State Agency Backs Out of Managing Clean Water Act in AZ

TUCSON, Ariz. – Conservation groups are applauding the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's decision to not pursue authority over a …

A recent report finds that 2 millions Americans do not have access to running water and basic indoor plumbing. (ChepkoDanit/AdobeStock) <br /><br /><br />

Study: Water Gap Found at Navajo Nation, Other U.S. Regions

APACHE COUNTY, Ariz. - A report finds that several regions across the United States, including the Navajo Nation, lack access to clean water in many …

The Grand Falls, also known as Chocolate Falls, are a major feature of the 338-mile Little Colorado River in northern Arizona. (EasyArts/Adobe Stock)

Groups Oppose Plans to Dam AZ’s Little Colorado River

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Conservation groups say a proposal to build dams along Arizona's Little Colorado River could trigger an environmental …

The Glen Canyon Dam towers 710 feet above the original Colorado River channel, producing hydroelectric power and impounding Lake Powell as a water storage reservoir. (Jason/Adobe Stock)

Groups Sue Feds Over Management of Glen Canyon Dam

PAGE, Ariz. – A trio of conservation groups is suing the federal government to force it to use climate science in its management of Glen Canyon …

Almost half the water taps tested in Arizona schools were found to have unsafe levels of lead. (Phase4Photography/AdobeStock)

Study Finds Unsafe Lead Levels in AZ School Water

PHOENIX – A consumer advocacy group says Arizona school districts need to do more to protect students, after the state found unsafe levels of …

An extended drought has caused the water levels in Lake Mead near Las Vegas to drop more than 100 feet since 2000. (alexfamous/AdobeStock)<br /><br />

Drought Plan Cuts Arizona Allotment of Colorado River Water

PHOENIX – Starting next year, Arizona will get a smaller allotment of water from the Colorado River Basin, which could eventually mean …

Arizona has seen the second highest rate of solar power growth in the nation over the past decade. (Flickr)

AZ Leads Nation in Some Aspects of Renewable Energy Growth

PHOENIX – Renewable energy has grown significantly in the last decade across the U.S., including in Arizona, according to a new report by …

In his resignation letter, Pruitt informed President Donald Trump he was leaving his post

Government Watchdogs: Both Pruitt, Wheeler "Wrong" for EPA

WASHINGTON – Government ethics and watchdog groups, even some conservatives, are saying Scott Pruitt's resignation as Environmental Protection …

The protected area includes 230 acres of cottonwood-willow forest along the Verde River corridor. (Ken Lund/Flickr)

Easement Will Protect Important AZ Water Source

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. – Arizona's Verde River provides water to many rural communities and about 3 million people in the Phoenix area. This week…

Growing barley used for brewing beer has greater appeal to farmers because it sells at higher prices than barley used as feed grain. (Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr)

To Save Water, Arizona Farmers Try Beer

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. – The Verde River, which flows through central Arizona, is a critical source of water in this arid state. So, The Nature …

An appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Canyon Uranium Mine near Grand Canyon National Park can proceed without updating its 1986 permit, but also upheld the 2012 ban on new mines. (Bret Fanshaw/Environment America)

Court Upholds Grand Canyon Uranium Mining Ban As Congress Debates Issue

PHOENIX – Environmental groups and Native American tribes fighting uranium mining on the rim of the Grand Canyon are praising a federal court's …

The site of the proposed Rosemont Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains is part of the watershed that replenishes the aquifer that serves Tucson. (Save the Scenic Santa Ritas)

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Open-Pit Copper Mine

TUCSON, Ariz. – A coalition of conservation groups is suing the U.S. Forest Service over its approval of an open-pit copper mine 30 miles …

The Greater Grand Canyon Watershed is vital to the Colorado River, which is the lifeline for millions in cities across the Southwest. (Jessica Pope)

Greater Grand Canyon Watershed Named "Too Wild to Drill"

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Greater Grand Canyon Watershed is simply Too Wild to Drill, according to the 2017 report of the same name, just released …

Conservation advocates say the San Pedro River may be endangered by a water bill passed this year, part of the reason most of the legislators received an F on the annual Sierra Club Environmental Report Card.(Wikimedia Commons)

Governor, Most of Legislature Get F on Environmental Report Card

PHOENIX – The Sierra Club's annual Environmental Report Card is out for 2017 – and Gov. Doug Ducey and most of the Republican majority in …

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AZ: Water