Water Episodes
Examining the complex and often contentious issue of water in desert regions, including groundwater depletion, river conservation, and conflicts over water rights.
Sept. 5, 2025
S4E33: Monsoon Madness: When the Desert Comes Alive
Monsoonal rainstorms reshape the desert landscape, and in this episode, Chris explores their recent impact on 29 Palms. Despite the chaos, the storms bring life, vibrancy, and transformation to the arid region. Clarke shares survival tips during flash floods and reflects on the power of nature, fro…
Aug. 8, 2025
S4E28: Episode 100 | Three Sonorans and Tucson's Stand Against High-Tech Ecological Threats
Discover how grassroots activism and environmental awareness halted a resource-intensive project threatening water and energy supplies in the Arizona desert. Learn about the vital role of unified community voices and progressive city leaders in this victory.
Sept. 24, 2024
S3E28: There Ain't No Big Faucet: Water Politics with the Great Basin Water Network
About the Guest: Kyle Roerink is the Executive Director of the Great Basin Water Network. Roerink has been a pivotal figure in advocating for sustainable water management across the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau. His o...
May 21, 2024
S3E16: Ash Meadows Faces New Mining Threat
In this episode we welcome back Mason Voehl from the Amargosa Conservancy for an engaging and informative update on the situation surrounding Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and the threat of lithium mining explorations ...
Feb. 5, 2024
S3E4: Nevada Supreme Court Upholds Water Protections for Desert Wildlife
In this episode, host Chris Clarke speaks with Patrick Donnelly of the Center for Biological Diversity about a significant victory in the Nevada Supreme Court regarding water rights. They discuss the case of Coyote Springs, a...
July 11, 2023
S2E10 Save Ash Meadows!
Mason Voehl from the Amargosa Conservancy joins hosts Chris Clarke and Alicia Pike to discuss the threat posed by a Canadian mining company's plans to conduct exploratory drilling for lithium near the Ash Meadows National Wil...
Aug. 21, 2022
S1E16 Flood and Drought; Death Valley and the Great Salt Lake
As the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts contend with record rainfalls, climate change and urban development are drying up the Great Salt Lake. We talk to David Smith of Joshua Tree National Park about floods in desert parks, and Za...
June 20, 2022
S1E12: What's Happening to the Monsoon?
Chris and Alicia explore the harsh realities of desert life in "90 Miles from Needles" with guest Jan Emming from Desert Sense Nursery. Discussing climate change, its impact on the desert biome, and recent rainfall patterns, they delve into survival strategies amidst shifting weather dynamics. List…
Feb. 16, 2022
S1E4: The End of the Cadillac Desert: Megadrought in the Southwest
As we publish, scientists are announcing that the last dozen years are the driest in more than a millennium. With the desert's cities ever more dependent on water from the Colorado River, how will southwestern society meet th...
Jan. 17, 2022
Saving the Dixie Valley Toad
Discovered only in 2017, the Dixie Valley toad is found only in one 400-acre hot spring wetland in remote Nevada. Guess where a giant geothermal corporation is ready to build a wetland-draining power plant? We talk to Patrick...