Articles tagged with Watersheds
A new study from Colorado State University suggests that transitioning to green wastewater-treatment approaches, financed through carbon markets, could save $15.6 billion and reduce CO2-equivalent emissions by 30 million tonnes over 40 years. The research explores the potential economic tradeoffs of switching to green infrastructure an...
Mark Torres' $612,930 grant aims to analyze variations in river water chemistry using machine learning approaches and bridge the gap between theory and practical application. The project will inform policy decisions and drive sustainable solutions for safeguarding our planet's waterways.
A new study shows that restored salmon habitat should resemble financial portfolios, offering fish diverse options for feeding and survival. This diversity helps the fish weather various conditions as the climate changes.
Research by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that phosphorus legacy in riverbeds can delay water quality improvements in the Gulf of Mexico. It may take years or even decades for the reductions to be seen at the Gulf, according to a study published in Science of the Total Environment.
New research reveals permafrost's dominant role in shaping Arctic rivers and storing massive amounts of carbon. Thawing permafrost could unleash billions of tons of CO2, exacerbating climate change.
A new Dartmouth study finds that seasonal snowpacks have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change. The sharpest global warming-related reductions are in the Southwestern and Northeastern United States, as well as in Central and Eastern Europe.
A study by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that economic solutions like cost-sharing and carbon payments can benefit landholders if the right tree species are planted on infertile soils. Annual carbon payments, in particular, made forests growing back after trees were removed financially viable.
The UMass Amherst team created a multiscale ecological framework to assess and respond to ecological threats in the Lake Yojoa watershed. The framework focuses on local perception of threats, consequences, and solutions, providing a valuable baseline for conservation and governmental organizations.
A Drexel University study projects 82 more days of water shortfalls in the Schuylkill Watershed, which could only meet demand about 67% of the time due to climate change. This would lead to drought-like conditions and require difficult tradeoffs in resource management.
Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the effects of acid rain on forests and watersheds, a project involving middle school students. The team aims to understand how ecosystems respond to chronic changes in environmental conditions, including the recovery phase after acid rain stops falling.
Researchers have found that water temperatures between 20-25 degrees Celsius are at the greatest risk for developing dangerous levels of microcystin, a common algae-produced toxin. Climate change is expected to increase blue-green algae populations, posing serious health hazards and economic risks.
A new study used underwater cameras to assess oyster reef habitats across 12 tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay, finding that unharvested reefs and restored reefs had more complex structures. The results showed an upward trend in habitat scores over time, with unharvested and restored reefs maintaining higher habitat scores consistently.
A new AI-powered tool, Salmon Vision, enables real-time monitoring of salmon populations in British Columbia and beyond, addressing data-poor fisheries and climate-smart management. The technology has shown promising accuracy in identifying salmon species and yields mean average precision rates of up to 90% for key fish species.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the duration and severity of hydrological droughts in streams and rivers, which can persist for up to 3.5 years after drought conditions end. The study found that baseflow droughts are strongly tied to groundwater levels and can impact water management and ecosystem services.
Operation Mercury successfully halted most illegal gold mining activity in La Pampa, Peru, reducing deforestation and water quality issues. However, spillover effects led to increased mining in legal areas, highlighting the need for stronger regulations to mitigate environmental harm.
The Resilience Justice Project at Brandeis School of Law will examine how eight US coastal cities ensure climate adaptation plans are fair and equitable. The team aims to produce a guidebook of best practices and webinars to help cities adapt planning for all neighborhoods.
Researchers will track how key minerals form in a watershed to build a fuller picture of the processes that allow soil to store carbon as organic matter. Understanding these mechanisms can help develop practices and incentives for a carbon market economy, potentially harnessing Earth's natural mechanisms to combat climate change.
Cynthia Smith, an associate professor at George Mason University, has received $60,750 in funding from Fairfax County Public Schools to support watershed programs. The funding will be used to deliver hands-on field investigations to 5,200 seventh graders annually.
The State of the Climate report confirms record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea levels, and ocean heat content. Scientists from over 60 countries contributed to the annual review, providing a comprehensive update on Earth's climate indicators and notable weather events.
A new tool helps evaluate pesticide toxicity at high resolution and suggests targeting a few pesticides in watersheds could significantly reduce aquatic toxicity in California. The Environmental Release Tool (ERT) quantifies pesticide applications and toxicity by watershed, covering hundreds of commodities.
Restoration of longleaf pine woodlands enhances stream flow while conserving an endangered ecosystem, addressing two pressing conservation issues. This approach promotes 17% more streamflow on average and 92% higher streamflow during droughts.
A new UBC study finds that clearcut logging leads to a significant increase in flood frequency and size, particularly in larger watersheds. The researchers used a novel method to isolate the effects of logging from climate background factors.
A new study suggests that with careful management, road salt concentrations in US lakes may stabilize below EPA-set thresholds to protect aquatic life. Reducing road salt application rates could yield additional environmental and economic benefits without threatening road safety.
A Penn State research team is studying the effectiveness of riparian buffers in mitigating excess nutrients, sediments, and pesticides in streams. The study aims to identify areas where buffers are underperforming and develop solutions for restoring and maintaining buffer integrity.
A new study found that the 2022 snow season had the highest snowpack dust concentrations of any year since observations began in 2009, accelerating snowmelt by 17 days. The dry lakebed of the Great Salt Lake contributed the highest dust emissions per surface area, threatening Utah's water supply.
The study found that widgeongrass has expanded over 150% in the past few decades, outcompeting eelgrass in Chesapeake Bay. This shift has implications for conservation and management of seagrass ecosystems.
Scientists from Hokkaido University propose a cheap and effective alternative for monitoring glacial runoff by analyzing audible sounds generated at the proglacial run-off site. The method has shown promising results in detecting changes in glacier discharge with high accuracy.
A new study links disproportionate siting of PFAS sources near watersheds serving communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic/Latino residents. The research suggests that regulating PFAS releases and ensuring safe drinking water is crucial in protecting public health, particularly in vulnerable communities.
A UMass Amherst study found that changing patterns of land use lead to increased runoff and decreased forested areas, resulting in higher stream flow and increased phosphorous and nitrogen concentrations. The research warns of impending water quality issues if urban planning does not implement sustainable land-use measures.
Research by DRI researchers found that increased winter temperatures are driving more extreme variations in stream flow across the US. This is impacting floods, droughts, and ecosystems. The study examines over 500 watersheds and finds that snow-dominated watersheds are receiving more precipitation as rain than historically.
A study found that more than 70% of Chinook populations have declined over the last 50 years, but some populations are recovering due to their diverse migration and spawning strategies. Cold water and marine habitats play a key role in their success, particularly for fall and summer stocks.
A new Dartmouth study examines how changes in precipitation and temperature due to global warming affect streamflow and flooding in the Northeast. The research finds that a warmer climate will lead to increased streamflow and higher flood risk, particularly if soils become wetter and more prone to heavy rainfall events.
A UH-led research team has developed a cost-effective method for removing harmful chemicals and heavy metals from coastal waters by utilizing native aquatic plants. The system, which includes floating aquatic plants and synthetic mats, can help restore ecological balance and keep communities healthy.
A recent review study led by UT Austin examines the planet's freshwater supplies and strategies for sustainably managing them. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing surface water and groundwater as a single resource to ensure future water resilience.
A new study from the University of Illinois forecasts how increased tile drainage and crop rotation will impact nitrogen loads in Midwestern watersheds. The research team developed a model that reveals the mechanism behind nitrate increases with flow, providing a starting point for reducing nutrient loss.
A team of BU School of Public Health researchers will study the cumulative impacts of chemical hazards and climate change on 21 communities surrounding the Mystic River Watershed. They aim to identify solutions that protect vulnerable populations from both chemical and climate stressors.
A new study analyzed state nutrient reduction strategies and found that initial energy and inclusive planning processes were key to success. Emphasizing local water body impacts was more motivating than distant goals, and addressing scale challenges is crucial for significant results.
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...
A six-year study confirms stream contamination with pesticides from trespass cannabis cultivation sites in Northern California, threatening local aquatic species and freshwater resources. The study's findings highlight the need for proactive approaches to mitigate the impacts of these sites on downstream waterways and habitats.
A new review highlights the lack of understanding about non-game native transplant (NGNT) fish in the US, which can have significant impacts on ecosystems. Researchers urge anglers and aquarium hobbyists to take steps to prevent NGNT invasions, such as not releasing bait fish into different watersheds.
A new analysis by University of Kansas researchers shows that tectonic drivers, such as river steepness and seismic activity, dominate the strength of connectivity in hillslopes across the continental United States. High connectivity zones are associated with increased landslides, while low connectivity zones promote wetland development.
Research identifies Colorado River flow decline as main cause of Salton Sea's shrinking, leading to increased salt and chemical concentrations. The study highlights the need for a watershed-centric approach to mitigate the environmental risks and health impacts of the Salton Sea's decline.
As winters warm, nutrient pollution is putting water quality at risk in over 40 US states. The first-of-its-kind national study finds that previously frozen winter nutrient pollution is affecting 53% of the contiguous US and putting 50% of nitrogen and phosphorus pools at risk.
The Great Salt Lake is losing freshwater input to agriculture and urban growth, causing salt concentrations to spike. Like Iran's Lake Urmia, it's reaching levels stressful for brine shrimp and brine flies, which are essential for migratory birds.
A study by Oregon State University found that warmer stream temperatures in a burned-over watershed did not result in fewer trout. The researchers discovered that steelhead, cutthroat, and rainbow trout were resilient to the increased temperatures, which rose above 22 degrees Celsius during summer 2021. However, more research is needed...
A team of researchers at the University of Hawaii collected over 3,000 microbial samples from Waimea Valley's watershed, discovering that microbes follow the food web and are maintained within soil and stream water. The study also found that local distribution of a microbe predicts its global distribution.
A team of scientists from Montana and Canada reviewed mining risks to watersheds, finding extensive pressures on salmon populations and valuable fish habitat. The study highlights the importance of accurately assessing risk to water, fish, and communities, and emphasizes the need for strong science-based risk assessment.
The construction of dams and changes in land use have significantly impacted the amount of sediment rivers carry to oceans. Sediment transport has decreased by 49% globally due to dam construction, while increasing on 36% of rivers in the south, primarily driven by deforestation.
Researchers at FAU Harbor Branch develop an ocean model to study connectivity between the Everglades and Florida Keys via Florida Bay. The tool aims to predict changes in responses to water management, ecological restoration and climate change.
A new study finds that coastal wetlands in rural US areas will persist or expand due to rising sea levels, not be slowed by human barriers. The Chesapeake Bay region is expected to experience significant land loss, with over 600 square miles predicted to become inundated by 2100.
A new study found that conventional methods for calculating flood risk underestimate frequencies, especially at the 100-year flood, due to neglecting unique roles of each flood type. Researchers from DRI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Colorado State University investigated historic floods in 308 watersheds.
Researchers at UT Austin discovered a rule connecting channel belts to river patterns, finding that channels in ancient rivers lead to narrower belts. Multichannel rivers take up more space on the belt and are closer to the floodplain, influencing landscape shaping.
A new study by University of Nevada, Reno and Desert Research Institute found that three factors – available winter snowfall, snow melt speed, and melting timing – impact critical water supplies. The research team developed a simple framework to help water managers predict timing and amount of streamflow as climate change accelerates.
A study by University of Maryland researchers found that urban homeowners are more willing to pay for stream restoration projects, despite lower environmental benefits. In contrast, exurbanites tend to have higher environmental benefits but are less willing to pay.
The study found that stream gauges are disproportionately located in large rivers and human-occupied watersheds, but sparsely distributed in protected areas and non-perennial rivers. This is critical information for freshwater conservation and water security concerns.
Researchers at the University of Georgia developed a model to prioritize land conservation in the Upper Chattahoochee Watershed, which provides drinking water to 95 cities. The model considers ecosystem services like water, carbon, and habitat, and favors higher connectivity among parcels of land.
A Rice University-led team is studying the impact of climate change on flooding in the Mississippi River, which affects over a quarter of the US population. The research aims to understand how climate warming will alter the frequency and magnitude of flooding by comparing paleoclimate data with modern models.
Researchers have developed a model to predict Vibrio vulnificus abundance in the canal by analyzing rainfall, water temperature, dissolved nutrients and organic matter. The study found that warmer waters due to climate change may lead to an increase of twice or three times current levels of bacteria by the end of the century.
A new study found that heavy traffic near roads is a significant contributor to water pollution, with contaminants from vehicle fluids, paints, and tires affecting nearby rivers. The study suggests that these pollutants come from road surfaces and are transported to watersheds through stormwater run-off.
The study found that superlinear scaling occurs in aquatic ecosystems of larger watersheds, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere. Smaller watersheds are less effective at filtering pollutants and mitigating nonpoint source pollution.