H2oradio

A new study is showing that freshwater around the planet is being redistributed and could lead to food insecurity and climate refugees. H2O Radio reports.

During Droughts These Pests Will Bite You More. That story and others on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Groundwater inside Hawaii's Kilauea volcano could erupt in steam explosions. Beavers are "dam" good cleaners. Urban areas are losing something important for water and air quality. Dry conditions may not offer any protection from these buzzing biters. The Colorado River is peaking early and at record low levels. Bats could help us find clean water, according to a Colorado State University researcher.

Cape Town Gets Some Relief—But Is it Enough? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Colorado State University hosted the inaugural Water in the West Symposium in Denver last week. The EPA wants to roll back protections for groundwater, but not if an eight-year old Girl Scout has a say in the matter. It rained in Cape Town—and it really, really, really rained in Hawaii. Residents of Miami will soon have an app they can use to see how their property might be affected by sea level rise. Despite the epic damage from Harvey, the Houston City Council approved plans to build 900 homes in a floodplain. Which is more stressful—winter or summer?

Tribes May Get Support from New Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Tribes argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that the state of Washington must replace water culverts that block salmon migration. There has been some movement toward talks between the two factions feuding about water allocation on the Colorado River. Tiny centimeter-long animals are causing massive ocean mixing. Several lawsuits were filed last week by children, state governments, and municipalities about climate change. The Bajau people can stay underwater for several minutes at a time. How do they do it?

Officials from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico recently sent a letter to counterparts in Arizona, hoping to avert a crisis. As H2O Radio reports, the problem if unresolved, could affect people in seven western states.

An Oil Pipeline Is Causing a Constitutional Crisis. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Headlines: A trade war has broken out between Alberta and British Columbia. At the heart of the matter is protecting water. Some are concerned that this circulation may be reaching a tipping point where it could stop completely. A new study makes connections between climate change and volcanic eruptions. Young people ages seven to 26 years old in Colombia scored an historic victory when the Supreme Court ruled that the Amazon River basin has rights just like humans. Bees are getting stung by climate change.

Many recognize a sharp divide in the U.S. right now, but another divide in America, which was noticed 150 years ago, has recently been studied and has some implications for the future as climate change continues.

Pruitt Grabs Control of Water Regulation as Ethics Allegations Swirl. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. EPA administrator Pruitt mandated that authority previously delegated to regional offices is now retained by him. There are almost as many hogs as people in North Carolina, and what to do about all the swine waste just went on trial. From the end of October until the middle of March no rain or snow fell in this world capitol—the longest drought on record. The third longest river in the Lower 48 has already dried up in places, which is unusual so early in the year. There's been a lot of focus on plastic pollution in the earth’s oceans, but those plastics are also prevalent on land and in freshwater. Urine trouble: Stopping peeing in the pond.

"Dryland" farmers on the high plains of Colorado grow their crops with whatever falls from the sky—no irrigation, no pumped groundwater—just what Mother Nature delivers. In recent years some have been trying to innovate to protect their soils and conserve water to prepare for climate change. But they're getting pushback—not only from their neighbors and their own families—but also from the government.

The New Spending Bill Spares the Environment. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The omnibus spending bill that was signed into law has lots of surprises for the environment—and they're good. This court hearing about climate change might have revealed the oil giants strategy to defend themselves. Michigan state senator Coleman Young II said new information added a "sinister and ghoulish layer" to the Flint water disaster. People in Houston may never know the extent of the pollution following Hurricane Harvey. None of the nearby inhabitants seemed to mind this mechanical interloper.

While some are talking about building walls on the border with Mexico, others are working together on common cultural and environmental projects. A new agreement signed Friday March 23rd has big plans to connect people. H2O Radio has the story.

Drinking Bottled Water? You’re Probably Drinking Plastics. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Researchers have found large quantities of tiny pieces of plastic in more than 90 percent of bottled water they tested. Is there a health risk? Much of the raw material used to make bottled water comes from natural gas produced through fracking. There will be a first-of-its-kind hearing next week about climate change pitting fossil fuel giants against cities. What did the oil companies know—and when did they know it? While attention has been focused on the possibility of Cape Town running out of water, another city is facing a similar threat. There was a blind taste test comparing recycled water to tap water. Guess which water won.

Double Trouble: The Bay Area Is Sinking As Sea Levels Rise. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. In this coastal ecosystem, which was degraded starting in the 1950s, you can now watch seahorses, clams, inchworms, and snails crawling up and down grass blades—it's teeming with life. The EPA's action regarding residents of a small Alabama community is being called a textbook case of environmental racism. The Trump administration lost its challenge to a climate lawsuit brought by children. California authorities have approved using reservoirs to store recycled water, which will eventually be supplied to homes and businesses. A "double whammy" could mean runways and taxiways at San Francisco International Airport would be underwater by the end of the century.

As the snowpack and moisture in the Colorado River Basin show large areas of moderate to extreme drought, some are wondering if the term “drought” is misleading people into thinking it’s a temporary situation. Do we need a new vocabulary to describe conditions in the West?

Could Los Angeles Become Water Self-Sufficient? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Could L.A. free itself from importing water from the Colorado River or Northern California? A new study says it could by 2050. By mid-century, more than half of California's Central Valley may no longer be suitable for growing apricots, peaches, and plums. A new study shows that layers of rock may be the reason some trees survive drought. A tiny town in Quebec just won a four-year court battle against oil and gas. Wim Hof, aka "The Iceman," can sit in freezing water for hours and climb snowy peaks in shorts. What's his secret?

A recent snowstorm that hit Colorado brought needed moisture that eventually will be used by cities, farmers, and businesses. But the storm also carried something else—tiny hitchhikers that may have a major impact on the state’s water supply. H2O Radio has the story.

Every month, state and local officials meet with scientists to review important information impacting Colorado's water supply. The February meeting revealed that there's good news about reservoir storage in the state, but snowpack and precipitation tell a much different story. H2O Radio reports.

“Debt for Dolphins” Brings Hope for the World’s Oceans. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Some residents of California act like there is no drought, but the state might be gearing up for permanent restrictions. "Day Zero" in Cape Town has been pushed back, thanks in part to a farmers' group releasing water from their reservoir, but just how to cope with pending shortages differs greatly based on income. Given the gravity of the situation in Cape Town, there's an unusual proposal involving Sitka, Alaska, to alleviate the drought. Sunday's forecast for Nord, Greenland, was for a high of 44 degrees above zero, when the average is 12 below. There's a pioneering deal to protect our oceans brokered by The Nature Conservancy and involving Leonardo DiCaprio.

Is There a Cure for Cancer at the Bottom of the Great Lakes? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. A new study reveals that people in rural areas are exposed to unhealthy—and at times illegal—levels of contaminants through their water systems. Russia could be a source of clean water for China. A Hopi tribe has won a court battle over the use of reclaimed water for snowmaking at a resort near their reservation. Scientists studying the bottom of the Great Lakes have found many new species of fungi, and some of them may be able to help fight cancer. There's a new possible way to desalinate seawater—and it might even charge your cellphone.

The Arctic ringed seal was given protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2012 because of threats from climate change. A recent court decision to uphold that listing might frustrate the oil and gas industry's efforts to drill in the Arctic.