The Stream, July 17: Drought in the United States

Low water levels in the Mississippi River have prompted salt water to move up the river from the Gulf of Mexico, Associated Press reported. The Army Corps of Engineers says that salt water is not yet a threat to water supplies in the New Orleans area.

Indianapolis and some of its suburbs have seen about a 20 percent drop in water use since a lawn sprinkling ban was implemented last week in response to the area’s ongoing drought, Associated Press reported.

Amid a Stage 1 drought and wildfires that have blazed throughout Colorado, Denver has introduced a more strict policing by water cops, The Denver Post reported.

The European Union’s biofuels policies are driving an expansion of soy plantations in Paraguay and other South American countries, often at the expense of local farmers and water resources, according to the head of Oxfam’s EU office.

Israel and the European Commission have agreed to expand collaborative efforts to develop desalination and boost energy efficiency, according to Bloomberg.

These newly released maps show how different U.S. states regulate hydraulic fracturing.

The Stream is a daily digest spotting global water trends. To get more water news, follow Circle of Blue on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter.