citizen science

Researchers in southwest Utah use the annual event to gather data about the elusive desert iguanas. It illustrates how community science could help a rare species survive.

As snow hydrologists fan across the West to measure peak snowpack this spring, citizen scientist Billy Barr will be measuring — for his 50th year — at 9,500 feet outside his cabin in the remote Colorado mountain town of Gothic.

In parched states like Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, water is a big issue, especially with growing populations that constantly need more...