Wildfires emerge as threat to water quantity across parched West
How wildfires can affect water quality are well documented. But increasing—and increasingly intense—Western conflagrations are leading to fears they also could constrict the water quantity available in some of the…
Read More...Conservationists say Oregon dam blocks struggling salmon
A coalition of environmental and fishing groups are suing a water district in southern Oregon over an aging, privately owned dam that they say hinders the passage of struggling salmon…
Read More...When a drought is over, here is what happens to forested areas where trees have died
An international team of researchers has found that forested areas that experience tree loss due to drought have a wide range of regrowth possibilities after the drought ends. In comparing…
Read More...Self-watering soil could transform farming
A new type of soil created by engineers at The University of Texas at Austin can pull water from the air and distribute it to plants, potentially expanding the map…
Read More...Idaho’s sockeye salmon run falters again; experts perplexed
A meager return of sockeye salmon to central Idaho this year despite high hopes and a new fish hatchery intended to help save the species from extinction has fisheries managers…
Read More...In grasslands plagued by invasives and drought, wildfires fuel calls for new solutions
Across the West, the increasing prevalence of invasive plants, and the growing influence of climate change, is changing the relationship between vast rangelands, drought, and wildfire.
Read More...Scientists say they can predict Colorado River’s annual water supply. What does that mean for agriculture, wildfires?
Scientists can now predict drought and overall water supply on the Colorado River years in advance, according to a new study published by researchers at Utah State University. If the scientists are…
Read More...Biochar helps hold water, saves money
The abstract benefits of biochar for long-term storage of carbon and nitrogen on American farms are clear, and now new research from Rice University shows a short-term, concrete bonus for farmers as…
Read More...Drought in western U.S. is biggest in years and predicted to worsen during winter months
The drought has already been a major contributor to record wildfire activity in California and Colorado. Its continuation could also deplete rivers, stifle crops and eventually drain water supplies in some western…
Read More...Researchers look into the effects of repeated droughts on different kinds of forests
Scientists are only beginning to understand how the effects of multiple droughts can compound to affect forests differently than a single drought alone. A variety of factors can increase and…
Read More...