Water Resources

Monsoon rains are finally putting a dent in Arizona’s epic drought — but so far it’s an itsy, bitsy divot.

The rain has eased fire concerns, but a lot more is needed to replenish water supplies.

The water levels of two major water bodies — including a major reservoir — have reached historic lows in recent days amid extreme drought conditions in the western United States.

Arizona has been in a state of drought for two decades. For the first time in the modern history of the Colorado River, a water shortage will likely be declared at Lake Mead. Couple this with increasing temperatures and climate change and it could spell trouble for Arizona's water supply.

It's monsoon season in the American Southwest. For Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, the seasonal rains are very important for rivers and pastures and for keeping wildfires in check. But climate change has made the monsoon less regular. Here's Michael Elizabeth Sakas from Colorado Public Radio.

Groundwater and streams vital to both farmers and cities are drying up in the West, challenging the future of development.

A historic drought has desiccated much of the American West, bringing reservoir levels to record lows and stoking fears of catastrophic wildfires across the region.