Algal Doom: Mapping Harmful Algal Bloom Hot Spots Across the United States
With the rise of harmful algal blooms (HABs), everyone is casting a wary eye toward "colorful" changes in their local waters. Here, we map the hot spots across the US.
GRACE Communications Foundation
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nutrient loading
Algal Doom: The Many Colors of Algae and Their Potential Hazards
Harmful algal blooms don't just wreak havoc by causing oxygen-starved dead zones, they have the potential to be toxic to humans, land animals and aquatic life.
Algal Doom: What Causes Harmful Algal Blooms?
Algal blooms occur naturally, but pollution sources like fertilizer runoff and animal agriculture has knocked natural nutrient cycling out of balance.
Algal Doom: The Growing Threat of Harmful Algal Blooms
Has the water in your swimming hole gone green with gunk? Our Algal Doom series explores what harmful algal blooms are, why they're bad and they're causes.
Cranberries: Bogged Down in Water and Pollution
When you think about Thanksgiving turkey, what else comes to mind? No, not mashed potatoes and gravy: we're talking about cranberries. Most people either love or hate their sweet-tart flavor. We happen to love cranberries, but once we started looking into the impacts that conventional farming methods have on the environment, our relationship turned a little sour.
What Are Toxic Algal Blooms? Stony Brook University's Christopher Gobler Explains
Dr. Christopher Gobler and his lab at Stony Brook University are performing pioneering research investigating the causes and effects of harmful algal blooms in aquatic ecosystems, including the terrible toxic algae outbreak in Florida this summer.
Controversial Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit Calls For Farmers to Clean Up Drinking Water
With Iowa's water quality in decline, Des Moines Water Works shook the state with an unprecedented lawsuit that seeks clean water action on runoff from three agriculture-heavy counties. The ruling could affect what farmers do in their fields in Iowa and beyond.
No Free Lunch: Accounting for the True Costs of Industrial Food Production
Food produced by industrial agriculture can often be cheap, but that doesn't mean that it's not costly to the environment. Read about a new report that totals up the hidden costs that are largely left off the books.
Onshore Fish Farming
While we may expect the fish on our plate to come from fisher folk out on their boats reeling them in, the reality is that much of our seafood comes from fish farms. This week we're exploring aquaculture - also known as fish farming - through the lens of sustainability. In this post we'll take a look at onshore systems.
To HAB and HAB Not? Harmful Algal Blooms Plaguing Our Waters
As we enter fall, we can expect peak foliage, peak pumpkin spice and, sadly, peak harmful algal blooms (HABs) in US waters. What's the deal with toxic algae blooms and why is the problem getting worse?
Making the Grade: Clean Water Proponents Issue Report Card for Long Island Sound
Like parents reviewing their kids' report cards, politicians pay attention to grades. The Long Island Sound report card "makes it clear that while progress has been made to improve the water quality of the Sound, more must be done to preserve this economic engine and local treasure's waters and coastline," says New York Congressman Steve Israel.
The Water Footprint of Beef: Industrial Vs. Pasture-Raised
Here's a common question: "Does pasture-raised beef have a low water footprint compared to industrial beef?" The answer: All beef has a high water footprint, but the sustainability of pasture-raised makes it a better choice.
Who's Afraid of the Clean Water Act?
The long-awaited Clean Water Act draft rules were released as the "Waters of the United States," marking one of the biggest steps towards improved US water quality in years. One problem though: Some industries think it is governmental overreach.
Rethinking the Big Mac? Environmental Limits to Meat Production
Around the globe populations are growing, prosperity is rising and people are increasingly hungry for meat. Does the planet have enough resources to go around? The final of three posts about possible limits to global meat production.
Water - and Us - in the ''Anthropocene''
In late May, water scientists gathered at a conference and issued a stark warning about global freshwater challenges in this "Anthropocene" era. Yet their recommendations for research, scientific training and ecosystem-friendly solutions fell short of what's needed: a recognition of humanity's place in the web of life.
Waterkeeper vs. Perdue Over Chicken Manure in the Chesapeake Bay
A landmark trial opens today in Baltimore’s Federal District Court, where Waterkeeper Alliance has filed suit against Perdue Farms, and a pair of the company’s farmer contractors, Alan and Kristin Hudson, for polluting the Chesapeake Bay with chicken manure.
