Explore

Spokane County Launches Adopt-A-Drain Program to Combat Stormwater Pollution

Spokane County Launches Adopt-A-Drain Program to Combat Stormwater Pollution

Spokane County, in collaboration with the City of Spokane, has launched an 'Adopt-A-Drain' program aimed at preventing stormwater pollution and keeping drains clear. This initiative encourages residents, businesses, and organizations to 'adopt' stormwater drains in their communities. Participants are asked to help maintain their adopted drains by sweeping away leaves and debris, ensuring clear pathways for water, especially during snowmelt, and reporting any illicit discharges. The program seeks to educate the public about the critical role of stormwater management in protecting local waterways, including the Spokane River and the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which serves as the region's sole source of drinking water. This community-based approach emphasizes collective responsibility in environmental stewardship.

Shapiro Administration Invests Over $2.8 Million in Pennsylvania Water Quality Projects

Shapiro Administration Invests Over $2.8 Million in Pennsylvania Water Quality Projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has allocated $2,820,389 in Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants to eight projects across Pennsylvania. These grants, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, aim to improve water quality and restore impaired watersheds by addressing nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution, which accounts for approximately 55% of water-quality-impaired watersheds in Pennsylvania, originates from diffuse sources such as stormwater runoff, mine drainage, and agricultural fields, rather than a single discharge point. The funded projects will focus on treating abandoned mine drainage, restoring streams and floodplains, planting riparian buffers, and enhancing wildlife habitats. Specific initiatives include the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation receiving $227,500 for abandoned mine reclamation, Bucks County Conservation District getting $161,325 for a Watershed Implementation Plan revision, and Clearfield C...

New Jersey American Water Initiates Lead Service Line Assessments in Highlands to Comply with State Law

New Jersey American Water Initiates Lead Service Line Assessments in Highlands to Comply with State Law

New Jersey American Water is commencing lead service line assessments in Highlands, New Jersey, as part of a broader effort to comply with a 2021 state law. This legislation mandates that all water providers identify and replace both utility-owned and customer-owned lead and galvanized steel service lines by 2031. The company launched its Lead Service Line Replacement Program in 2022 to meet this requirement. As part of the assessment process, inspectors from CDM Smith and Alpha Utility Contractors will visit designated neighborhoods to visually inspect water service line materials and engage with customers. These assessments are conducted at no cost to residents, and all contractors will carry official company photo ID badges and wear logoed, high-visibility vests. Residents are advised to request identification before granting access and to be aware that contractors will never ask for payment or personal financial information.

Greater New Haven Land Trusts Discuss Regional Collaboration for Conservation

Greater New Haven Land Trusts Discuss Regional Collaboration for Conservation

Land trust leaders from across the Greater New Haven region recently convened at the Regional Water Authority’s Lake Whitney Water Treatment Plant to discuss enhanced collaboration for conservation efforts. The gathering, organized by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), aimed to foster connections, facilitate candid conversations, and explore opportunities for land trusts to work more closely together. Key themes discussed included shared challenges such as board recruitment, leadership succession, fundraising, community engagement, and growing stewardship responsibilities. A significant outcome was the identification of a potential regional conservation opportunity near the borders of Cheshire, Hamden, North Haven, and Wallingford, underscoring that natural systems often extend beyond municipal boundaries.

Los Angeles Launches Stormwater Capture Program to Boost Local Water Supply

Los Angeles Launches Stormwater Capture Program to Boost Local Water Supply

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, alongside the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), LA Recreation and Parks, and the LA Bureau of Engineering, has initiated a new stormwater capture project in the East San Fernando Valley. This program aims to collect rainwater and urban runoff at seven local parks, converting it into a local water supply. The project, part of the broader Stormwater Capture Parks Program, will capture, treat, and store millions of gallons of stormwater that would otherwise flow into the ocean. Allan Marks, President of the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners, emphasized that this infrastructure is crucial for strengthening local water reliability and building a more resilient water future. The initiative is expected to deliver significant environmental, water-quality, and recreational benefits, including an average stormwater capture capacity of 158 acre-feet per year and improved downstream water quality.

IUCN to Participate in UN Biodiversity Conference CBD COP17 in Armenia

IUCN to Participate in UN Biodiversity Conference CBD COP17 in Armenia

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is set to participate in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 19 to 30, 2026. This conference will focus on reviewing global progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted in 2022. The theme for COP17 is 'Taking action for nature,' and it will involve an assessment of national biodiversity strategies, targets, and reports from various countries. The initial review indicates significant global engagement but also highlights considerable gaps and uneven progress in achieving the KMGBF's 2030 targets and mission. Without a rapid acceleration of implementation, these goals are unlikely to be met. Governments at COP17 will discuss barriers to implementation and address future actions concerning resource mobilization, capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation, an...

De Beers Renews Okavango Eternal Partnership for Conservation in Southern Africa

De Beers Renews Okavango Eternal Partnership for Conservation in Southern Africa

De Beers Group has renewed its Okavango Eternal partnership with the National Geographic Society for another five years, aiming to protect 5.4 million hectares at the source of the Okavango Delta in the Angolan Highlands. This area supplies over 95 percent of the delta's water, which sustains more than 1 million people and one of the world's largest elephant populations. The renewal focuses on formal protection for approximately 54,000 square kilometers in Angola. Botswana, Angola, and Namibia have joined forces through the Okavango Eternal Alliance, committing to treat the basin as a single connected system. The initiative combines conservation efforts with research, policy work, and storytelling, including training community members for forest monitoring and supporting conservation-linked livelihood opportunities. The program has already seen significant progress, including the mapping of 230 peatland carbon-storage sites and the designation of Lisima Lya Mwono as Angola's first Ramsar Wetland of Interna...

Arizona Republic

Margaret Wilson's no tree hugger, but she wants Phoenix to use compost

Margaret Wilson's no tree hugger, but she wants Phoenix to use compost

Composting can slow methane release, control dust, nourish plants, but for Margaret Wilson, it also makes a lot of practical sense.

Quantum Computing Poised to Significantly Reduce Industrial Emissions, BCG Study Finds

Quantum Computing Poised to Significantly Reduce Industrial Emissions, BCG Study Finds

A study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) indicates that quantum-enabled technologies could prevent 3 billion to 7 billion metric tons of annual emissions if fully deployed. This potential reduction is attributed to advancements in areas such as batteries, carbon capture, and industrial chemistry. While the full impact will take decades to realize, with only 10% to 15% of potential savings expected by 2040, the technology offers a path to cleaner energy and industrial processes. The study highlights that quantum computing can solve complex chemistry and materials problems without the extensive infrastructure footprint associated with AI. For instance, better battery materials could enhance renewable power storage, and improved sorbents could make direct air capture more economical. Additionally, quantum computing could lead to more efficient catalysts for industrial processes like ammonia production, which currently accounts for a significant portion of global emissions. The report emphasizes that the clima...

Solar Energy Technologies Offer Diverse Applications for U.S. Power Generation and Heating

Solar Energy Technologies Offer Diverse Applications for U.S. Power Generation and Heating

Solar energy, a renewable resource derived from the sun's radiation, is harnessed through various technologies to produce electricity or heat. Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy directly converts sunlight into electricity using solar cells, which generate direct current (DC) that is then converted to alternating current (AC) for use in homes and businesses. PV systems are scalable and can be installed on residential rooftops, commercial buildings, and large ground-mounted plants. Solar thermal energy, conversely, uses sunlight to produce heat, commonly for water heating and space heating in residential and commercial settings. Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems employ mirrors to focus sunlight, generating heat to produce electricity, primarily in large, utility-scale plants in areas with consistent sunlight. CSP designs include parabolic troughs, power towers, and dish systems, with some incorporating thermal storage like molten salt to generate electricity even without direct sunlight. Additionally, passi...

EDF Power Solutions North America Seeks Managers for Utility-Scale Renewable Projects in Western U.S.

EDF Power Solutions North America Seeks Managers for Utility-Scale Renewable Projects in Western U.S.

EDF Power Solutions North America Seeks Managers for Utility-Scale Renewable Projects in Western U.S.

Midland Businesses Launch 'Give A Scrap' Composting Program for All Food Waste

Midland Businesses Launch 'Give A Scrap' Composting Program for All Food Waste

Midland, Michigan, has introduced a new composting pilot program called 'Give A Scrap,' spearheaded by local businesses in partnership with Iris Waste Diversion Specialists. Unlike traditional home composting, which is often limited to plant-based items, this new service accepts all types of food waste, including meats and dairy. Participants pay a monthly fee of $15 to access drop-off bins located at participating businesses, such as FILL, a local refillery owned by Kristen Cronkright. The program utilizes zero-emission vehicles to transport the collected waste to composting partners like 5Heart Earthworm Farm. Upon completion of their participation, users receive five pounds of nutrient-rich worm castings, a byproduct of the composting process, as a return on their investment. This initiative aims to divert food waste from landfills, where it breaks down slowly due to a lack of oxygen and microbiomes, contributing to environmental issues.