Claire Caulfield/KJZZ

Snow in Flagstaff, Arizona.

We all know the connection between fire and rain, James Taylor aside, but a new study from Colorado State University takes a deep dive into the complex connection between wildfires and snowpack and how it all relates to our diminishing Western water supply.

Steven Fassnacht is a professor of snow hydrology at Colorado State and co-author of the study.

The Show spoke with him to learn about its findings, beginning with the all-important trees that crowd the forests of northern Arizona.

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