Connor Socrates News Today

A variety of insects cause plants to form protective galls. These abnormal growths are rich in nutrients—and contaminants the plant absorbs from the soil.

Conservation groups are speaking out in support of water rights in rural Mono County, saying thirsty Los Angeles is endangering wildlife, ranching and tourism. All parties are awaiting the judges decision after a recent hearing, where the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) argued it has the right to cut off water ranchers use to irrigate Long Valley and Little Round Valley for cattle grazing near the Crowley Lake Reservoir. Wendy Schneider, executive director of the nonprofit Frie...

Federal officials ordered limits this week on how much water is released by Glen Canyon Dam, in order to maintain sufficient levels to generate hydropower, but conservationists warn time is running out to develop long-term solutions to the Wests dwindling water supplies. The Bureau of Reclamation is cutting its release from Lake Powell into the Colorado River by a half-million acre feet over the next year. The move is aimed at keeping the water level above 3,400 feet, the minimum needed to driv...

The Great Lakes, Puget Sound and other notable watersheds are afforded massive federal support to coordinate and fund pollution-reduction efforts. But the Mississippi River is not, and clean-water advocates contended a troubling report should spur action. The Mississippi, which flows past ten states including Iowa, recently landed on American Rivers ten most endangered rivers list for 2022. ...

A new report shines a spotlight on problems facing ten of the nations most endangered rivers, and possible solutions. It includes the Mississippi, which ranks sixth most at risk. The river and its 30-million-acre floodplains, including in Missouri, are home to more than 850 fish and wildlife species. ...

Researchers at Wayne State University are developing an alternative method of monitoring groundwater for toxins. The process is typically labor-intensive and expensive; it requires installing wells, which can cost local public health departments millions. Or with phytoscreening, researchers can test plant tissue for contaminants from the water they absorb. ...

Galls, or growths in plant tissue caused by insects laying eggs, could provide a key to testing for environmental contaminants