Entries by Brett Walton

Report: USDA Says Farmers Expected to Plant More Water-efficient Crops in 2013

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Though corn acreage is forecasted to rise slightly over last year’s planting, the biggest jump is predicted for sorghum, which uses less water.

Bad Report Card: Low Marks — Again — For U.S. Water Infrastructure

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The American Society of Civil Engineers says that more money needs to be spent on infrastructure. Photo courtesy of the Nebraska State Historical Society In 1889, the streets of Kearney, Nebraska, were ripped open so that workers could install sewer pipes. In some U.S. cities, pipes this old are still in the ground. Click to […]

UNICEF Warns of a ‘Lost Generation’ for Syria’s Children

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The humanitarian agency lacks the money to serve the millions displaced by the Syrian civil war. Graphic courtesy of UNICEF The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested $US 195 million to help Syrians affected by the country’s civil war. The humanitarian agency has received just over 20 percent of its request and may have […]

Federal Water Tap, March 25: Twenty Percent of U.S. River-Miles Are Healthy, EPA Says

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Only one of every five miles of river in the United States is ecologically and biologically healthy, according to a first-of-its-kind assessment of national water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency used random sampling to estimate river and stream health in the lower 48 states. Based on data from 1,924 sites monitoring rivers, streams and ponds, […]

Report: UN Proposes a Common Definition for Water Security on World Water Day 2013

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Water security should have a common language, and it should be a priority for global sustainable development goals, according to a new report by UN-Water.

Study: Shale Gas Fracking Taints Rivers in Pennsylvania

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Though groundwater gets most of the attention, rivers are also affected by the rush of shale gas development across the United States, according to a new study that claims both wastewater and well development degrade water quality, but in different ways.

Federal Water Tap, March 19: Legislative Update, Water Bills Galore

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Yesterday Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Senate colleague David Vitter (R-Louisiana) submitted a new Water Resources Development Act. Last session of Congress, Boxer circulated a draft version of the bill, but it was not introduced. The act is a major piece of legislation. It authorizes billions in projects for the Army Corps of Engineers and sets […]

Federal Water Tap, March 18: Lower Runoff Forecast for Western U.S. Rivers

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The numbers dribbled out in a weekly Bureau of Reclamation update. Then they were splashed on a regional map. The conclusion is the same: the Colorado River runoff forecast is dry and getting drier. In fact, that is the case for most of the states west of the Rocky Mountains. They rely on a deep […]

Detroit’s Mayor and Water Board Endorse Plan for Independent Water Department

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The water department could soon operate as an independent authority. The board that oversees Detroit’s water and sewer system and a court-ordered committee that includes that mayor’s office signed an agreement Wednesday afternoon to help the water department step out of the shadow caused by Detroit’s financial woes. The agreement, which still needs several layers […]

Director of National Intelligence: Water Still a U.S. National Security Concern

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The U.S. intelligence community reiterates that the basic necessities of life are a national security issue. In his annual appearance before Congress, the director of national intelligence said once again that water, food and energy problems abroad, as well as climate change, deserve attention from the United States government. These natural resources and basic human […]

Runoff Forecast for Colorado River Shrinks in March

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Heading into the last weeks of winter, the Colorado River Basin is dry yet again. Even worse, the river flow forecast gets drier every month. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Interstate 40 crosses the Colorado River, near Needles, California. Click image to enlarge. The March forecast for the Colorado River Basin […]

What an Emergency Manager Might Mean for Detroit’s Water Utility

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There are many questions and few conclusions right now about Detroit’s water system. Photo courtesy of Flickr/CC esynchronicity Music lovers congregate at Hart Plaza Fountain in downtown Detroit during the Movement Electronic Music Festival in May 2012. Click image to enlarge. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue On March 1, after reviewing a state audit […]