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Colorado River Basin Faces Historic Drought, Communities Seek Federal Aid

Colorado River Basin Faces Historic Drought, Communities Seek Federal Aid

Communities and environmental groups across the Colorado River Basin are urging Congress to allocate $2 billion in emergency funding to address severe drought conditions. According to Aspen Public Radio, this year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging hydrologic years in over a century. The funding would support a variety of projects, including removing dead vegetation to mitigate wildfire risks, paying water rights holders to retain water in the river, and rehabilitating land to improve water retention in headwater areas. The urgency of the situation is underscored by federal hydrologists' recent forecast that Lake Powell, the largest reservoir in the upper basin, is on track to receive the lowest runoff in its recorded history. The Interior Department has already begun releasing significant amounts of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to stabilize Lake Powell's levels and maintain its ability to generate electricity.
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Los Angeles Plans Trash Interceptors in Rivers to Protect Ocean Ecosystem Before 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles Plans Trash Interceptors in Rivers to Protect Ocean Ecosystem Before 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles County is addressing the significant issue of trash pollution in its rivers, particularly the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers, which carry debris into the Pacific Ocean. This pollution affects marine life and coastal communities. In preparation for the 2028 Olympics, a coalition of city, county, state, and private partners plans to install trash-intercepting devices in these rivers. The initiative aims to prevent hundreds of tons of garbage from reaching the ocean. The project, inspired by the Ocean Cleanup, a Netherlands-based nonprofit, involves feasibility studies and collaboration with local officials. The interceptors will capture trash using a conveyor belt system, which will then be transported to shore for disposal. The project also considers the protection of local wildlife, such as the green sea turtles living near the river mouths.
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Baltimore Issues Voluntary Water Restrictions Amid Severe Drought Conditions

Baltimore Issues Voluntary Water Restrictions Amid Severe Drought Conditions

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has issued voluntary water restrictions for approximately 1.8 million residents in response to severe drought conditions affecting the region. The advisory urges residents to conserve water by reducing non-essential use, such as taking shorter showers and limiting outdoor water activities. The restrictions come as Maryland experiences significantly below-average rainfall, leading to declining reservoir levels. Officials emphasize the importance of early conservation efforts to protect the region's water supply and avoid mandatory restrictions if drought conditions persist.
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EU Funds Offshore Charging Pilot to Reduce Emissions in Denmark

EU Funds Offshore Charging Pilot to Reduce Emissions in Denmark

A consortium led by Stillstrom by Maersk has received $5.8 million in funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program to develop offshore charging infrastructure for vessels at anchor in Denmark. The three-year SPARK project will establish a pilot Offshore Power Zone in Skagen, a major anchorage hub in Northern Europe. This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships that run engines while stationary between operations. The consortium includes Aalborg University and other partners, focusing on creating sustainable solutions for maritime operations.
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Equinix Faces Opposition Over Environmental Concerns for Cape Town Data Centres

Equinix Faces Opposition Over Environmental Concerns for Cape Town Data Centres

Equinix, a data centre company, is facing opposition regarding its plans to build two data centres in Cape Town, South Africa. The opposition stems from concerns about the environmental impact of these projects, particularly regarding water and power usage. The Housing Assembly, a social movement representing over 20 communities in the Western Cape, along with Foxglove, a UK-based non-profit, have lodged formal objections. They argue that the projects should not proceed without full disclosure of their environmental impact, including water management and backup power generation. Cape Town has previously faced water scarcity issues, notably during a severe drought in 2017-2018. Equinix, which operates a site in Johannesburg with 100% renewable energy, has not commented on the objections. The company and the King David Golf Club, the owner of the development site, have 30 days to respond, after which city authorities have 180 days to make a decision.
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Snowfall Brings Relief to Colorado, But Concerns Persist

Snowfall Brings Relief to Colorado, But Concerns Persist

Snowfall in Colorado has been consistent, with Nederland experiencing nearly constant snow throughout Monday. This marks the second significant snowfall in the past two weeks, providing much-needed moisture to the region. While the snow is a welcome development, concerns remain for small water systems and communities across the state. The precipitation is seen as a positive step toward addressing water shortages, but it is not yet sufficient to fully alleviate ongoing challenges. The snowfall highlights the importance of continued monitoring and planning for water resource management in Colorado.
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Equinix faces challenge to Cape Town data centres over environmental concerns

Equinix faces challenge to Cape Town data centres over environmental concerns

By Sharon Kimathi LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - A plan by U.S.-listed Equinix to build two data centres in Cape Town should not be approved without full disclosure of its water, power and environmental impact, a formal objection lodged with city planners and seen by Reuters showed.
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Charities Aid Foundation Launches New Grants for UK Freshwater Ecosystem Protection

Charities Aid Foundation Launches New Grants for UK Freshwater Ecosystem Protection

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has announced the latest round of its Building Resilience Programme, aimed at supporting small and medium-sized social purpose organizations dedicated to protecting the UK's freshwater ecosystems. The programme offers grants ranging from £40,000 to £70,000 over two years, with funding split between unrestricted and resilience-building activities. Eligible organizations must focus on freshwater conservation and have an income between £250,000 and £1.5 million. The initiative seeks to address the underinvestment in freshwater conservation and enhance the resilience of environmental charities.
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Ameresco's Kūpono Project Wins 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Award for Renewable Innovation

Ameresco's Kūpono Project Wins 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Award for Renewable Innovation

Ameresco's Kūpono Project Wins 2026 Environment+Energy Leader Award for Renewable Innovation
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Seabird Range Contraction Linked to Climate Change Impacts

Seabird Range Contraction Linked to Climate Change Impacts

A recent study published in Nature highlights the significant impact of climate change on seabird populations, particularly in terms of their geographic range. Researchers analyzed data from the BirdLife International database, which provides detailed geographic distribution polygons for seabird species. These polygons represent the best estimates of suitable habitats during breeding and non-breeding seasons. The study found that seabird species with limited adaptive and dispersal capacities are at risk of range contraction as the rate of climate change accelerates. Conversely, species with higher adaptive capacities may experience range expansion. The research also utilized advanced modeling techniques, including Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, to reconstruct ancestral geographic ranges and assess species' historical dispersal abilities. The findings underscore the critical role of sea surface temperature (SST) in shaping seabird distributions, as SST changes directly influence prey availability and marin...
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Climate report says world won't get as hot as feared but will pass warming limit

Climate report says world won't get as hot as feared but will pass warming limit

Both the old best and worst case future scenarios in the fight against climate change are being jettisoned by the world’s top scientists as they prepare the next series of huge United Nations reports
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Colorado Receives $47 Million in Delayed Drought Mitigation Funding

Colorado Receives $47 Million in Delayed Drought Mitigation Funding

The federal government has released $47 million in funding to support drought mitigation projects across Colorado, addressing severe dry conditions and challenges in the Colorado River Basin. This funding, originally promised over a year ago, will be allocated to stream restoration, wetland reconstruction, and other critical initiatives. The funds are part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) but were delayed due to an executive order signed by President Trump in January 2025, which froze IRA-related spending. The projects include the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project, drought-resilient infrastructure in the Southwest, and endangered species recovery efforts. Despite this progress, over $90 million in federal drought preparedness funding for Colorado remains pending, including $40 million earmarked for the Shoshone water rights purchase. The Bureau of Reclamation has not provided a clear explanation for the delay but stated that projects were assessed based on specific criteria before releasing fun...