Desert News, 11/4

November 04, 2024

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A desert tortoise crosses a two-lane road from left to right. Burned Joshua trees line either side of the road.

10/29

Mojave National Preserve reopens Cima Road

The popular route, which traverses the footprint of the 2020 Dome Fire, has been upgraded for better public and wildlife safety.

10/30

A Second Straw into Lake Powell?

The community of Page AZ faces failing water supply infrastructure. This article (the third in a series) looks at alternatives to address the looming water shortage.

With water rights in hand, Navajo still hope to restore farms on Utah’s San Juan

Texas’ General Land Office purchases massive 353,785-acre ‘Brewster Ranch’

The ranch, between Marathon and Big Bend National Park, had been sought by the Nature Conservancy and other environmental groups. It’s not certain what the GLO will do with the entire property, though the Border Report says the state plans to build 1.5 miles of border wall on the land.

Hiker Death on Trail in Big Bend National Park

The body of a 24-year-old hiker, whose identity was not immediately released by NPS, was found on the rugged, Marufo Vega trail near the Mexican border. The 14-mile trail is considered challenging at the best of times, and hikers are strongly discouraged from attempting to hike the entire loop during hot weather.

10/31

State agencies file court brief favoring Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority

California water agencies deal blow to the developer-controlled Indian Wells Valley Water District, lend support to groundwater agency with more conservative estimates of sustainable yield.

Pinal County action clears skies for Hidden Valley solar farm

The proposed 1,100-acre solar farm near the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation must still go through the local planning process.

Judge Orders Clarity on Key Disputes in Lithium Valley Lawsuit

Comité Civico and Earthworks, both environmental justice organizations, filed suit in Superior Court on March 13 to challenge the approval of Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen Lithium Project near the southeastern end of the Salton Sea. Thursday marked the first hearing in the case.

11/1

Coal plant costs still big issue in pending PNM rate case

The Public Service Company of New Mexico wants to boost energy costs by about $23 per household per month, in part to keep the Four Corners coal-fired power plant operating until 2031. Four Corners is among the most uneconomic coal plants in the U.S., with more than $1 billion in losses over the last nine years.

11/2

Will Lake Powell become Lake Mud? Inside the growing sediment crisis

“On average, the equivalent of 30,000 dump truck loads of sediment are deposited into Lake Powell daily. This is approximately 100 million tons annually.” — Glen Canyon Institute, as quoted in article.

a blue bird perched on a twig, facing leftward, with a blurred background.

Checking in with the pinyon jays

Western Nevada College student researchers gauge the health of the jay and the pine trees it relies on for food. The pinyon jay is a candidate for listing as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act.

11/3

A large bird flying through a blue sky

Not just condors: Experts encourage Southern Utah's hunters to give up lead bullets

Lead bullets in discarded gut piles and carcasses are a major obstacle to condor recovery. Some condors have been measured with blood lead levels higher than 800 (micrograms per deciliter), a value that would potentially kill a human. 134 other wildlife species may be affected as well.