Brandon Loomis

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Brandon Loomis

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expediting mining projects on public lands, connecting the issue to his "energy emergency."Environmental groups say the policy could lead to rushed reviews and poor planning that could damage fragile lands and lead to more lawsuits. The order also seeks a review of some parts of the 1872 mining law to allow for tailings and mining waste storage on public lands, but changing that law would require congressional action.

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Brandon Loomis

Cattle ranching is one of Arizona's original Five C's, along with citrus, cotton, copper and climate. Ranchers still graze cattle on Arizona's rangelands, but are wary about urban growth and lawsuits from environmental groups. Outside investors have changed the landscape for some ranchers, who have seen vineyards replace grazing lands and out-of-state owners change priorities. SAN RAFAEL VALLEY, Ariz.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Brandon Loomis

An apparent freeze of funds the former Biden administration promised Arizona water users to leave water in Lake Mead has heightened uncertainty over Colorado River negotiations and led some in the state’s congressional delegation to press for the money’s release. Facing a dwindling supply that provoked emergency actions to keep the river flowing past Congress directed $4 billion to Western drought relief, most of it aimed at shoring up Colorado River water storage.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Brandon Loomis

An apparent freeze of funds the former Biden administration promised Arizona water users to leave water in Lake Mead has heightened uncertainty over Colorado River negotiations and led some in the state’s congressional delegation to press for the money’s release. Facing a dwindling supply that provoked emergency actions to keep the river flowing past Congress directed $4 billion to Western drought relief, most of it aimed at shoring up Colorado River water storage.

1 month ago | azcentral.com | Brandon Loomis

Congress and the Biden administration committed $4 billion to Western drought relief, including money for users who agree to leave water in Lake Mead. The money is apparently caught in a freeze of federal funds ordered by President Donald Trump, though questions remain without a Reclamation commissioner. Lawmakers and Arizona's top water official fear that without the funding, the Colorado River could be pushed deeper into drought, leading to more cutbacks in Arizona.