Natural Resources

Farm to Trouble: Curbing The Runoff Fueling The Gulf’s ‘Dead Zone’

"Flowing down the Mississippi River, the excess fertilizer that washes off vast swaths of farmland fuels a persistent “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico and threatens drinking water supplies upstream. Yet despite more than a quarter-century of federal effort and billions spent on potential solutions, experts say the watershed is “not even close” to its targets for fixing the problem."

Source: Mississippi R. Ag & Water Desk, 07/03/2024

"To Foil a Deadly Pest, Scientists Aim for a Beetle-Resistant Ash Tree"

"Emerald ash borer beetles have killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the U.S. Now, researchers are nurturing ash that can withstand the insects, in the hope of producing resistant seeds that would ensure a future for trees that are a crucial part of Eastern forests."

Source: YaleE360, 07/02/2024

"Here’s What the Court’s Chevron Ruling Could Mean in Everyday Terms"

"The Supreme Court’s decision on Friday to limit the broad regulatory authority of federal agencies could lead to the elimination or weakening of thousands of rules on the environment, health care, worker protection, food and drug safety, telecommunications, the financial sector and more."

Source: NYTimes, 07/01/2024

"Water-Rich Gila River Tribe Near Phoenix Flexes Its Political Muscles"

"Stephen Roe Lewis grew up seeing stacks of legal briefs at the dinner table — often, about his tribe’s water. His father, the late Rodney Lewis, was general counsel for the Gila River Indian Community and fought for the tribe’s rights to water in the Southwest, eventually securing in 2004 the largest Native American water settlement in U.S. history."

Source: AP, 06/28/2024

"Study Finds Small Streams, Recently Stripped of Protections, Are a Big Deal"

"Last year, the Supreme Court sharply restricted the federal government’s ability to limit pollution in small streams that sit dry for much of the year and fill up only after rainfall or snowmelt. Now, a new study finds that those bodies, so-called ephemeral streams, are significantly more important to the nation’s waterways than often appreciated."

Source: NYTimes, 06/28/2024

"Interior Nixes Trump’s Alaska Land Orders, Mine Road"

"The Biden administration is dealing Alaska and its congressional delegation a significant blow, rejecting a pivotal mining road and proposing to revoke Trump-era orders that would have opened up 28 million acres of federal land to energy development and mining."

Source: E&E News, 06/28/2024

U.S. Acknowledged the Harm Dams Have Caused Tribes. Here’s What It Left Out

"The Biden administration said officials historically gave “little, if any, consideration” to impacts on tribal fishing. But some sought deliberately to upend the harvest, according to documents obtained by ProPublica and Oregon Public Broadcasting."

Source: OPB/ProPublica, 06/27/2024

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