Colorado River drought: A new report from the river’s headwaters shows the Colorado River basin is drying up at the source, with Lake Mead at about 28% full and Lake Powell around 24%, raising risks for water, power, and farms across the Southwest. Endangered Species Update: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a rule downlisting the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened, citing decades of conservation work across the Colorado River basin, including Utah. Utah Wildfire Watch: In Millard County, the Widemouth 2 Fire prompted evacuations near Kanosh and Fillmore as winds drove “catastrophic” fire behavior; officials say containment dropped to 0% and smoke impacts are expected. Heat + Fire Weather: Utah remains under extreme heat warnings, with a dry cold front bringing stronger winds that could fuel rapid fire growth and new starts. Utah Energy + Materials: A Utah mill in San Juan County broke ground on commercial-scale rare earth processing, aiming to reduce U.S. dependence on China for critical materials. Great Salt Lake Dealmaking: Utah is a finalist to host a federal nuclear fuel-cycle campus and is seeking support tied to addressing the Great Salt Lake’s drying and the toxic dust risks for the Wasatch Front. Western Wildfires Beyond Utah: Eastern Washington fires near Spokane have forced tens of thousands to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of structures, with dry weather and wind complicating response.