Collection: Read more on water issues affecting Arizona

For Star subscribers: Environmental coalition, citing  studies warning the San Pedro River could eventually dry up, petitions Arizona to manage and protect its aquifer.

For Star subscribers: But two retired U.S. scientists say the judge who prescribed the water rights didn't go far enough — the opposite view of local governments and business interests.  

For Star subscribers: They are unlikely allies to the longtime goal of many environmentalists. But political winds are shifting as the Colorado River runs drier. 

For Star subscribers: A federally financed, Arizona-run program to help families pay water and sewer bills ran out of money faster than expected. 

For Star subscribers: The loosening of regulation over ephemeral streams, which carry water only after storms, will have a major impact in Arizona.  

For Star subscribers: Without climate change, the mandatory federal cutbacks in water deliveries that befell the Southwest in 2022 and 2023 wouldn't have been needed, UCLA study says.

For Star subscribers: Arizona water officials are unlikely to forecast a shortfall of groundwater in the Tucson area. Too bad: The Phoenix experience shows such findings amount to leverage for conservation.

For Star subscribers: Competing proposals would make it easier or harder for Arizona developers to prove the existence of an assured 100-year water supply.

For Star subscribers: Discussion was originally set to be open to the public about proposals to change rules and possibly the law requiring assured, 100-year water supplies for urban areas.

For Star subscribers: Arizona looks at proposals to allow some development to use groundwater in fast-growing fringes of the Phoenix area — after halting new growth relying on groundwater there.

For Star subscribers: U.S. rules will likely no longer cover streams that run only after storms, a big victory for Copper World mining and Vigneto homebuilding projects near Tucson. 

For Star subscribers: A branch of the influential Moody's firm has come out with a disputed warning about long-term water supply for metro Phoenix, in stark contrast to the mostly upbeat messages of Arizona officials, business leaders and some researchers.

For Star subscribers: The agency analyzed two alternatives for curbing water use in 2024, one that observers say would  hurt Arizona, the other that would hurt California, both disproportionately. 

For Star subscribers: Tucson will consider measures such as limiting times for outdoor watering and limiting swimming pool sizes to help close an impending gap between water supply and demand.  

For Star subscribers: Tucson will be compensated by the U.S. for leaving that Colorado River water in the dwindling lake this year, and lesser amounts over the next two years.