Arizona

Two years ahead of what could be a final round of applications, allegations of predatory representation and solicitation are on the rise, and especially targeting tribal communities. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was reauthorized over the summer.

"I was a political casualty," said Ted Cooke, a longtime Arizona water manager. Some policymakers in the Upper Basin quietly expressed concern that he might favor the Lower Basin in negotiations.

Flagstaff, Arizona, became the first ever DarkSky Community in 2001. Central Idaho is home to the only DarkSky Reserve in the U.S. and Utah has the highest concentration of places globally. More towns in Colorado want to join the ranks.

The move by the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona and California would give rights of nature to the water, marking a historic first.

The announcement Friday by federal officials means Arizona will again go without 18% of its allocation, while Mexico loses 5%. The reduction for Nevada will stay at 7%

The Monroe Canyon fire has burned 75 square miles, and the wind-whipped fire along the Grand Canyon has become a "megafire." Both are burning so hot that they are spurring the formation of "fire clouds."

At Grand Canyon National Park, a lightning-sparked fire that started July 4 highlighted the challenges of using fire to benefit the landscape. The wind-whipped flames ended up consuming a historic lodge and dozens of other structures.

This seasonal dance choreographed by Mother Nature marks a special time for the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is when residents clasp their hands, hoping for much-needed moisture to dampen the threat of wildfire and keep rivers flowing.

Colorado River states appear to be coalescing around the early makings of a new plan to share water in a way that accounts for climate change.

Cooke is the former manager of the Central Arizona Project. Regional water experts regard him as a qualified expert.

Water experts opened June by gathering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, for talks about the future of the Colorado River. Top policymakers were notably absent.

The basin has lost 27.8 million acre-feet of groundwater since 2003. That's roughly the volume of Lake Mead, the nation's largest reservoir.