The Stream, April 3: Deadly Floods in Buenos Aires

South America
Nearly 400 millimeters (16 inches) of rain pummeled Argentina’s Buenos Aires province, causing widespread floods, power outages and 31 deaths as of Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. The extreme weather has prompted calls for investment in public water infrastructure projects.

Tensions are rising in the Brazilian Amazon between government forces and the Munduruku indigenous community over a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Tapajos River, the Guardian reported. Armed government forces have been involved in the dam project, prompting the Munduruku to threaten war.

Australia
A new report from Australia’s advisory Climate Commission group warns that a failure to curb carbon emissions will result in more extreme heat waves, floods, and bush fires in the country, the Guardian reported.

Middle East
Saudi Arabia is setting its sights on future development of its unconventional shale oil and gas reserves, but will likely run into problems with water scarcity, Reuters reported. A new method of hydraulic fracturing that uses seawater or some other material would need to be developed for the country to realize its shale potential, according to the report.

North America
Water levels on the Great Lakes remain below long-term averages, with Lake Superior losing 5 centimeters (2 inches) in March instead of its usual 1.2 centimeters (0.5 inch), and Lake Michigan-Huron rising more slowly than typical, the Duluth News Tribune reported. The lakes are expected to rise in the coming months, but forecasts also predict that they will continue to record below-average levels throughout the summer.

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.

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek