Desert Environmental News, May 12 2025

The California desert's newest protected open space has myriad treasures. Here's what to check out.

The definition of what the feds consider “beneficial use” along the Colorado River needs an update, according to a coalition of nonprofits.

Guatemalan woman tells her story

A DNA analysis of 13 living Picuris Pueblo members has confirmed what oral histories have long foretold: the Picuris possess familial roots to the ancient people of Chaco Canyon.

Heath Canyon Ranch, located just outside Big Bend National Park, was bought and donated to the TPWD, including an access point in Boquillas Canyon.

Billboards call out Department of Government Efficiency cuts to safety staff throughout the national park system.

No signs warn New Mexicans entering from the north side against trespassing, yet the feds pledge “no exceptions” to prosecution.

‘Nature wins:’ After wildfire, popular Washoe County trail sees signs of regrowth. Read more from The Nevada Independent.

Unlike past Nevada lands bills, the funds generated by the sale of lands would go to the U.S. Treasury rather than Nevada

A conservative Texas group is challenging the legality of the 600,000-acre monument south of Joshua Tree, citing mining interests.

The U.S. Army has established a presence in Santa Cruz County over the past few weeks, with uniformed personnel operating armored vehicles in remote stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The move to sell and otherwise exploit Western public lands is picking up steam, with Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee adopting a proposal for the government to unload

Mojave Max has emerged, breaking his record for the latest emergence in the 25-year history of the Mojave Max Emergence Contest.

The Trump administration's budget recommends cutting funds for the Central Utah Project, which has supported habitat projects in Utah.

The move brought outrage from Democrats and environmentalists who called it a betrayal that could lead to drilling, mining and logging in sensitive areas.

Water officials are bracing for impact as the excessive warm weather and below-average snowpack across the Rockies have caused concern for the nation’s largest reserv…

A pit is a hollow sphere of plutonium that, when uniformly compressed by explosives inside a warhead or bomb, causes a nuclear explosion

The ecological group Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers — or NGen — found that heat waves like what we experienced in 2020-2021 caused acute stresses to these cacti, including scorching.

A team of scientists found that Gila monsters could face unbearably harsh conditions in the desert as the climate warms.

The states argue the administration is bypassing environmental protection laws and threatening endangered species, critical habitats and cultural resources.

A federal judge said the argument over allowing a land swap to proceed "tips sharply" in favor of the opponents of a copper mine at Oak Flat.

Public meetings are set for May 27-28, with comments due by June 23.

Weed warriors have unleashed a new weapon to battle buffelgrass on "A" Mountain in downtown Tucson: a herd of hungry sheep.

Two hikers from Colorado were announced as the winners of the Carson City to Canada Quest contest. Starting in June, they plan to hike the 1,600-mile journey from Carson to the Canadian border, via…

“I think it’s a misunderstanding by the Trump administration,” said Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund.

It's been decades since the New World Screwworm was a problem in the U.S.

El Paso has seen more dust over the last three months than it did from 2000 through 2021. Could they become the norm?

While coming large-scale lithium mines and their future employees will bring revenue and jobs to rural Nevada communities hungry for an economic jolt, they’ll also bring growing pains. Rural counties will be on the hook to come up with the money to fund critical infrastructure and other expenses — but, with proceeds from the mines not reaching the counties until production is underway, those same counties have limited ways to prepare or pay for expenses in advance.

Construction of perhaps the largest power substation in the world is underway at NV Energy’s Fort Churchill substation near Yerington.