Climate change has already begun to harm communities in the Southwest with warmer temperatures, bigger wildfires, and diminishing water supplies. Indigenous communities are especially at risk. That’s one conclusion of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, published by the federal government last month. More than 300 experts contributed to the report, including Northern Arizona University forester Nikki Cooley, a member of the Navajo Nation. She spoke with KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny.

Representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin states meet today at a conference in Las Vegas to discuss the details of a long-awaited plan for dealing with drought. Cities, farms, and tribal nations are negotiating voluntary cutbacks in water use to reduce the risk of Lake Mead falling to catastrophically low levels. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with one of the conference moderators, John Fleck, a water expert from the University of New Mexico, about why this “Drought Contingency Plan” is needed.

An updated version of a bill that promotes energy development in Indian Country is heading to President Trump’s desk. KNAU’s Ryan Heinsius reports, it allows tribes more flexibility in managing oil, gas and other projects. 

A dragonfly of the species Epitheca princeps is a showy creature, with broad, clear wings marked by bold black splotches. But its young have a much more hidden lifestyle.