The Stream, January 25, 2022: Agricultural Experts Ask For Proactive Climate Investment in British Columbia

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN

• Missouri’s governor proposes a new office to prepare the state for droughts and floods.
• California officials will release 15 percent of requested water supplies to districts after winter storms last month.
• Demonstrators protest sewage dumps in the River Thames in the United Kingdom after a late warning resulted in swimmers wading through raw sewage last month.
• Experts say British Columbia should be proactively investing in climate adaptation measures within the province’s agricultural sector.

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What’s Up With Water—January 24, 2022 – This week’s episode covers a strategically important dam in Syria that was the target of a U.S. bombing campaign during the war against the Islamic State, the rising cost of water in Chicago’s communities of color, and U.K. water companies that are under scrutiny for improperly handling wastewater.

Missouri Governor Proposes ‘Hydrology Information Center’ To Prepare For Future Floods and Droughts

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has proposed setting up a $10.4-million office to protect the state from future floods and droughts. The center would help the state shift “from a reactive to a proactive response” to flood protection and improve the current system of measuring stream depth. The governor released the plan as part of his proposed 2022 budget.

Today’s Top Water Stories, Told In Numbers

15 PERCENT

California officials announced last week that water districts will receive 15 percent of requested supplies for 2022 after wet winter storms replenished state storage. Last month, the state said for the first time it would supply none of the requested water aside from what was needed for necessities like drinking and bathing.

200 PROTESTERS

More than 200 people protested the release of raw sewage into the River Thames this week in Oxford, England. The protest comes after Thames Water, a U.K. water utility, sent a late warning on Christmas Day, resulting in swimmers wading through raw sewage.

On the Radar

Jane Johnston

Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.