Brittany Peterson, Associated Press

The Cooper family has worked in the coal industry in Colorado for generations. That's ending as one of three coal mines in their area closes in a statewide shift to cleaner energy. Many countries and about half of U.S. states are moving away from coal, citing the environmental impact and high costs of producing electricity that way as plants age.

America loves its green lawns. Roughly one-third of water used in U.S. homes is used outdoors, with much of that going to irrigate landscaping dominated by grass. But prolonged drought in Western states has challenged ideas about the "ideal" outdoor aesthetic.

Recent fires that consumed entire Los Angeles neighborhoods underscore a stark lesson -- water utilities generally aren't designed to respond to the large urban fires growing more common as climate change worsens. One of the biggest challenges is ensuring enough water flows to enough hydrants while demand is high and damaged pipes may be hampering the system.

As snow hydrologists fan across the western U.S. to measure peak snowpack this spring, citizen scientist Billy Barr will be measuring snow — as always — at 9,500 feet outside his cabin in the remote mountain town of Gothic in central Colorado. This is Barr's 50th year logging snowfall amounts there.