The Stream, January 18: The Xayaburi Dam, Water Rationing, and Argentine Corn

Rivers
Vietnam and Cambodia urged Laos to halt its controversial Xayaburi dam project on the Mekong River at a recent meeting of the Mekong River Commission, the Guardian reported, citing NGO International Rivers. In 2012, Laos held a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the dam, which some fear could threaten food security and wildlife.

A photo essay by Reuters photographer Akintunde Akinleye, posted by the Guardian, shows the dangers of illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta, as well as the pollution it creates.

U.S. Drought
The ongoing drought in the U.S. Plains has prompted mandatory water rationing in Oklahoma City, the local News 9 reported. Rationing is “extremely rare” during the winter, according to the report.

In Nebraska, the state’s Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (NRD) is considering a limit on the amount of water allocated to the area’s irrigators as some groundwater wells run dry, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. The district is one of Nebraska’s “prime corn-growing areas.”

Food
Argentina plans to export an additional 3 million metric tons of corn this year, which will help bolster global supplies that were hit by the U.S. drought, Reuters reported. The Argentine corn crop, however, still needs rain before the end of the month to develop properly.

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