Archive for the Environment Category
Georgia Continues to Improve Water Usage Efficiency
For the past three decades, a battle between the states of Alabama, Florida and Georgia has been raging on over control of precious water resources in what has become known as the “tri-state water wars.” “Two years ago, the original Special Master on the case stated that the state of Georgia doesn’t monitor its water usage very well,”[1] said Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “This year, that note was removed as the state now does an amazing job of tracking water usage.” Johnson said UGA Extension has strengthened its water resource education program by […]
The Yellowstone Fish Kill: Water Management Wake-Up Call
Water is, unquestionably, the earth’s most precious resource: it is necessary for life. It carries additional value for communities whose economy is driven by its water sources. In 2016, Park County, Montana faced a wake-up call when thousands of fish in the Yellowstone River died and prompted finger-pointing from both the agricultural and the recreational sides of the community. In a place where water is an integral player in the economy supporting both agriculture and a strong tourism industry, any circumstance that would affect the water would jeopardize the economic livelihood of the region. As is often the case, […]
Lake Okeechobee: Hero or Villain for the Caloosahatchee?
After the driest September on record, Lake Okeechobee is approaching levels not seen since 2011 when Florida experienced drought conditions that were the worst witnessed in a century. Regionally, Lake O. serves several key roles. First, it is an indicator for water conditions, and when it reaches certain levels, water restrictions are implemented. Second, it is an important water source for both agricultural irrigation and drinking water in the southern part of the state. Third, it serves as a source of water for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary during dry periods with those water releases coordinated by the Army Corps […]
New Jersey’s Algae Bloom Predicament
across the country (and around the world). Warmer temperatures and increased availability of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous from runoff, cause algae to multiply in such a way that they can produce toxic substances, making water unsafe. This summer, Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey is an example of one of those locations. A factor greatly impacting the algae growth is outdated sewer and stormwater systems. With increased rainfall, these systems are unable to perform efficiently, sending overflow into area waterways. The question that arises is how to pay for the necessary improvements, the EPA having estimated that New Jersey’s […]
U.S. Ranked 71st in Water Stress
Although we often hear about water stress in the United States, the both surprising and alarming statistic is that we, as a country, rank 71st out of 189 countries with water stress: surprising because we feel that our water stresses are pretty bad; alarming because there are so many other places in the world far worse off than we are. World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas identifies “water stress” as a metric of how much water a country uses annually compared to how much is available. The United States uses around 20 percent of its available water and […]