The Stream, May 15: Chickens and Water Quality

Poultry farms may not be creating as much water pollution as previously thought, according to research that challenges U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards used to forecast pollution in water systems, USA Today reported. The research could change the implementation of federal programs meant to clean up dead zones in bays and rivers, such as the Chesapeake Bay.

Evacuations
Bangladesh is trying to evacuate 1 million people from coastal areas ahead of Cyclone Mahasen, which is expected to bring heavy rains and flooding when it hits early Thursday, Xinhua reported. The storm has already left seven people dead in Sri Lanka.

The community of Newtok, Alaska is facing a slow evacuation as sea level rise and erosion eat away at the town and threaten to make its residents America’s “first climate refugees”, the Guardian reported. The highest point in the town could be below water by 2017, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study.

Hydropower
China’s tallest hydropower dam is one step closer to being built after receiving approval from the country’s environment ministry, despite acknowledgements that it could have a negative effect on rare fish and plants, according to AlertNet. The dam is planned for the Dadu River in Sichuan Province.

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