The Stream, June 28: UK Increases Flood Defense Investments

Floods and Climate Change
The United Kingdom will increase its spending on flood defenses nearly 50 percent by 2015, tackling a problem that scientists say is the country’s biggest climate change risk, the Guardian reported. The government also reached an agreement with the insurance industry that will cap the premiums homeowners pay for flood insurance.

In an article for National Geographic, Jay Famiglietti analyzes President Obama’s newly outlined climate change plan in the context of water.

Water Quality
The grazing of livestock on public lands does not significantly degrade water quality or impede recreational use of water sources, according to a study from the University of California-Davis, Science Daily reported. The study did not find significant differences between fecal bacteria concentrations in water samples collected from grazing areas and non-grazing areas.

A judge will visit the Pascua-Lama gold mine project in Chile to better assess if the project is having a detrimental effect on glaciers and water resources, Reuters reported. A court ruling suspended work at the site in May, and a judge must now decide if work can continue.

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