Daniel Salzler No. 1327
EnviroInsight.org Four Items October 10, 2025
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1. CAP University Offers On-Line Class On October 31.2025 From 9:0 a.m. To 10:00 a.m. CAP (Central Arizona Project) University’s Deeper Dive on the Status of the Colorado River will provide information and updates on the status of the post-2026 negotiations, Colorado River conditions, Arizona’s conservation efforts, CAP’s supply outlook and more. CAP University’s Deeper Dive courses build upon the foundation that is set in our CAP 101 course.
This session will provide information and updates on the status of the post-2026 negotiations, Colorado River conditions, and more.
To sine in on this session, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/signin/?referrer=%2Fe%2Fcap-university-deeper-dive-on-the-status-of-the-colorado-river-tickets-1761067262589%3Faff%3Doddtdtcreator&stld=1
2. September Southwest Climate Outlook. The Southwest Climate Outlook is published by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS), with support from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, and the New Mexico State Climate office. Questions/Contact: Stacie Reece, sreece@arizona.edu
Precipitation and Temperature
Precipitation in August was below normal for much of Arizona, ranking among the bottom 10% of Augusts on record for a large area extending from southern Arizona across western New Mexico. For some parts of that area, it was the driest August on record.
Temperature.August temperatures were much above normal (ranking among the warmest 10% of Augusts on record) across Arizona.
Precipitation totals for the water year so far (October 2024–August 2025) are the driest on record for much of southern and eastern Arizona. Remaining parts of Arizona saw totals ranking in the bottom 10 percent of the record.
October 2024 to August 2025 Percentile
Drought
Drought conditions classified as severe or worse extend across an area accounting for 87% of land in Arizona. Extreme drought (D3, occurring historically on average once in 20–50 years) affects areas stretching throughout the Gila River basin, the mountains of western New Mexico, and into the Colorado Plateau. The exceptional (D4) drought conditions affecting the upper Gila and bootheel of New Mexico are expected to occur on average once per 50–100 years.
Monsoon
Monsoon rainfall totals (precipitation since June 15) vary from much-below normal for large parts of the Colorado Plateau, below normal for parts of southern Arizona, to above normal for much of New Mexico, generally east of the continental divide, and above normal for parts of western Arizona.
Water Supply
Reservoir storage is uneven across the Southwest. In Arizona, Salt-Verde system reservoirs are near long-term average levels, while Lake Powell and Lake Mead are down compared to last year and much below long-term average levels. San Carlos reservoir, downstream of the extreme-to-exceptional drought in the upper Gila basin, is near empty.
Seasonal Forecasts
Seasonal Precipitation Outlook
The October–December seasonal precipitation forecast leans toward (33-50% chance) below normal precipitation for an area that includes Arizona and New Mexico.
Seasonal Temperature Outlook
The October–December seasonal temperature forecast calls above normal temperatures likely (50–70% chance) for an area that includes New Mexico and most of Arizona. The forecast leans toward above normal temperatures for the remaining, southwestern, part of Arizona.
3. Funding Opportunities For Water Resource Management
*STILL OPEN* BOR – Native American Affairs: Technical Assistance to Tribes for Fiscal Year 2025
The bureau of reclamation through the Native American affairs technical assistance program(NN/ TAP), provides financial and technical assistance to federally recognized tribes.
The objective of this NOFO is to invite federally recognized tribes to submit proposals from financial assistance for projects and activities that develop, man, and protect their water and water related resources.
Applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 28, 2025, questions? Contact Courtney Matthews., native American affairs advisor.
More info: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360110
*STILL OPEN* Native American Affairs: Emergency Drought Relief for Tribes Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Section 80004
For more info.: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359950
The Program’s objectives are to assist eligible Tribes to develop, manage and protect their water and related resources to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought. Proposals should meet one or more of the following objectives: mitigate drought impacts, increase drought resiliency, reduce reliance on declining water sources, increase the efficiency of water deliveries, mitigate the loss of water and related Tribal trust resources, or address drinking water shortages.
Applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m., MT, on October 14, 2025
*STILL OPEN* BOR – Small Surface Water and Groundwater Storage Projects (Small Storage Program) For more info.: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360059
The Small Storage Program’s objective is to enhance water storage opportunities for future generations by funding small surface water and groundwater storage projects. The program funds up to a 25% Federal cost-share to plan, design, and construct surface and groundwater storage projects between 200 and 30,000 acre-feet that will increase water storage or move water to or from a storage project. Reclamation will evaluate proposals for their contributions to water supply reliability, water management flexibility, rural communities, stakeholder support, and economic benefits.
Applications must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m., MDT, on April 17, 2026.
4. Why Fall Is Called ‘Fall’ — And Sometimes ‘Autumn’ “Fall” and “autumn” are to the seasons what “fries” and “chips” are to a certain type of fried potato — the words may imply the exact same thing, but they have varying usage by American and British English speakers.
Spring, summer, and winter are largely known by the same words among most English speakers. But the same can’t be said for the season when leaves change color and temperatures begin to drop. Some call it “fall,” some call it “autumn,” and others are too sad about the fact that summer is over to care about the phrasing.
In practice, Americans tend to use “fall” more often, while Brits prefer “autumn.” But no matter your personal preference, the two terms effectively mean the exact same thing. Let’s examine how each one originated, and why people on each side of the pond prefer one over the other.
What Came First?
The word “harvest,” which is derived from the Old English hærfest, predated both “autumn” and “fall.” According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, “harvest” was used among Middle English speakers in the mid-13th century, but there was some confusion in this word’s multiple meanings.
“Harvest” not only described the intermediary season following summer, but also referenced the time of the year when crops were harvested. While these periods do overlap to some degree, they don’t precisely align. The English language needed a word that could help distinguish the general season from the actual harvest — thus the word “autumn” was born.
The Origins of “Autumn”
“Autumn” is derived from the Latin autumnus, which comes from augere, meaning “to increase.” Autumnus was adopted by Old French speakers as autumpne sometime in the 13th century and later made its way to Middle English by the late 14th century. It wasn’t until the 16th century, however, that the spelling was changed to “autumn.” This quickly became popular in England as the predominant term for the transitional season between summer and winter.
The Origins of “Fall”
As noted by Merriam-Webster, the word “autumn” didn’t paint enough of a picture for writers who were seeking something with a bit more flourish. Thus, “fall of the leaf” made its way into many literary works by the 1540s. This poetic phrase described the literal falling of leaves and gave rise to the shorthand term “fall” by the 1660s.
From the get-go, “fall” was used as a synonym for “autumn”; however, it was more of a colloquial term in the seasonal sense. “Fall,” as a noun for the season, didn’t appear in an official dictionary until 1755, when it was included in Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language.
American English vs. British English
As British settlers made their way to the Americas, they brought with them their customs, their traditions, and of course, their language. But in part due to the geographic separation between Europe and the New World, American English began to quickly diverge from British English. By the middle of the 1800s, “fall” was one of the terms that marked an American English speaker from a British English speaker.
Exactly why Americans trended toward “fall” is a somewhat unanswerable question. It’s entirely possible that it was part of a larger trend to distinguish American English from the dialect of their former oppressors. British people had considered “autumn” to be the official term, and so Americans may have embraced “fall” as a way to stand out and make that word their own.
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