The Nature Conservancy’s Post

Happy World Water Day! 💧 🏞️ Today is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of conserving water resources and think about how we can strive for more sustainable water management practices and equitable access to clean water. In California, the state’s water-related challenges are always top-of-mind—from water conservation, to supplementing groundwater recharge, to protecting water sources from natural disasters. In Morgan Hill, California, we’re assisting Valley Water to help rehabilitate Anderson Dam, the largest surface reservoir in Santa Clara County. Due to seismic risk, this vital reservoir, which supplies 90,000 acre-feet of rainfall runoff and imported water, can only accommodate three percent of drinking water supplies. ESA, working with COWI construction team, is overseeing the project as environmental lead; steering environmental compliance, water quality monitoring, and permitting, to return the reservoir to its original storage capacity. It’s one part of how we’re helping to improve the reliability of our water resources. Find out more about our work on the project at: https://lnkd.in/gJyhvYWu #WorldWaterDay #WaterResources #CaliforniaWater #Reservoir #WaterSupply #WaterManagement #DrinkingWater #WaterIsLife

With respect to Coral Reefs around Hawaii...."That's a massive decline. So even with the big funding that we have to do coral reef restoration, some of the people leading this, Dr. Greg Asner, say some of those coral reefs are so degraded that we can't even rebuild on them." Dr. Asner has connected the decline in Coral Reefs around Hawaii to wastewater. (https://lnkd.in/d7MQUVXy) Hawaii has a big problem, approximately 83,000 cesspools. I'd encourage you to listen to Stuart Coleman, executive Director of WAI (https://waicleanwater.org/). WAI is committed to finding cost effective solutions for Hawai'i's wastewater issues. #Hawaii #wastewater #cesspools #sustainable #water

In the Colorado River Basin (CBR), a tangled mess of laws, court cases, and rules has allocated more water than is actually available. Moreover, there is less and less water to go around because of climate change. The good news is that there are ample opportunities to extend available water supplies with efficiency, conservation, reuse, and storm water capture. Learn more in my recent blog.

Rivers like the Mississippi are critical corridors that connect cities and natural ecosystems alike. As the climate precipitation patterns change, water levels vary widely between extreme lows and highs. Water quality is also impacted as saltwater slowly moves upriver. These have extraordinary effects on people and nature. Recognizing the important role industry and conservation organizations play in restoring healthy, functioning ecosystems, we are working with like-minded organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Ecolab to restore and enhance wetlands in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Louisiana. Called “Loch Leven,” this project is reconnecting flood plains to the Mississippi River by installing improved water control structures to increase water supply to 4500 acres of wetlands. Our team came in during phase 2 of the project to reconnect the internal water flow within those wetlands. This work followed phase 1, which connected the river to the wetlands. This project is part of a larger effort by The Nature Conservancy to restore over 10,000 wetland acres. #SeekTogether #TeamDow

Hatfield is pleased to participate at the upcoming siwɬkʷ (Water) For All – Co-Creating Futures: Environmental Flows Conference, a three-day event that focuses on discussing the level of understanding of Environmental Flows setting in British Columbia and related work in Canada and the United States. Hosted by the Okanagan Basin Water Board and the Canadian Water Resources Association, this conference will take place March 13-15, 2024, in Kelowna, British Columbia. We are thrilled that Stephanie Cavaghan, Manager in Hatfield’s Infrastructure and Environmental Management Group, will present her research on how minimum flows should be considered in the design of fish habitat for compensation and restoration purposes. Hatfield’s Christopher Jaeggle, Senior Hydrologist, and Lisa Henault, Manager, both in our Water Resources Group, will also be in attendance – we encourage you to swing by and say hello to our team! This important annual conference provides the opportunity to engage with fellow experts and Indigenous groups to evaluate the efficacy of current and past water management policies and regulations, and examine the impacts of climate change, droughts, floods, and population growth on perspectives and strategies. Based on our collective insights, we can explore innovative ideas to advocate for new policies for sustainable water resource management. We encourage you to take the time to review the conference website to learn more about this event: https://lnkd.in/g9DB--We #EFConf24 #WaterWise #WaterConservation #MakeWaterWork #SustainableWaterFuture #EnvironmentalConsulting

Revolutionising storm water management with Yorkshire Water! 🌧️💧 We’re pleased to announce our appointment to the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the Hough Side wetlands project, part of Yorkshire Water's initiative to enhance water quality in Leeds and Bradford. 🌱 Innovative eco-solution: Set to unfold over the next three years, the Hough Side wetlands project will leverage natural processes to treat storm water. This green approach uses flora, natural substrates, microbial action, and gravity to filter storm water. This approach offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods. 🏞️ Enhancing biodiversity & urban spaces: This project isn't just about water treatment; it's a commitment to improving biodiversity. With around 300,000 plants of 29 species planned, the 45,000 square metres of wetland will create a rich habitat for wildlife and a green space for the community to enjoy. 🤝 Collaborative excellence: In partnership with the Environment Agency, we're demonstrating how nature-based solutions can achieve regulatory targets and bring about multiple benefits for society and the environment. 🌟 Vision for a sustainable future: At Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks, this wetland project demonstrates our dedication to delivering projects that are not only environmentally responsible but also beneficial for community wellbeing and biodiversity enhancement. #WaterManagement #Biodiversity #CommunityWellbeing #NatureBasedSolutions

The Delta #67 (7 June 2024) The Global Water Forum looks at the wash up Info, news and views from the wide world of water “When key stakeholders are considered, there is a need to understand the context of the dam, its owners, managers, and users. Evidence shows that owners and managers (informed/advised by ecologists, biologists, and other experts) are involved in decision-making processes to decommission dams; while communities (both rural and urban) who are reliant on these dams in their everyday lives are largely excluded.” Teboho Mosuoe-Tsietsi & Joshua Matanzima [see item 1] In the wash up of this issue of The Delta 1.* What can be done to increase participation of communities in dam removal decisions? Teboho Mosuoe-Tsietsi (IBIS Consulting, South Africa) & Joshua Matanzima (University of Queensland, Australia) 2. Staggering collapse in migratory fish populations threatens health of millions and critical freshwater ecosystems World Fish Migration Foundation 3.* When aging water systems collide with urban development goals Ellie Gabel, Revolutionized, USA 4. Water theft laws and penalties in the Murray-Darling Basin are a dog’s breakfast. Here’s how we can fix them Adam Loch et al, The Conversation 5.* Can excavation eradicate the invasive American red swamp crayfish in Malta? Alex Caruana, Bangor University, United Kingdom 6. Global Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Fresh Groundwater Resources Daniel Zamrsky et al, Earth’s Future 7. Will Mexico City Run Out of Water? Jordan Kinard, Scientific American 8. Australia’s ‘learning by doing’ approach to managing large mines is failing the environment Matthew Currell & Adrian Werner 9. Forecasting bathing water quality in the UK: A critical review Karolina Krupska et al, WIREs Water [*stories appearing on the Global Water Forum] https://lnkd.in/gS7Z8Rdb

Today's NYT included this feature article on domestic US water shortages and the gradual ground water depletion in certain regions, illustrated by four examples of some of the opposing forces at play when it comes to water conservation. We can and must do better. #commonsense #conservation #beneficialreuse #groundwater #remidiation

The state often claims its proposed Delta Tunnel is not about diverting more water from the Sacramento River — the Newsom administration wants us to believe its all about protection from earthquakes and sea level rise. But they give away their true motives in their recent “cost benefit” analysis for the project. The benefits come from selling more (and more expensive) water — those benefits accrue to water utilities and investors in San Joaquin Valley agribusiness. (Those who eventually pay for that expensive water would probably consider it a “cost”. ) Not mentioned in the report are costs to the general public (& disadvantaged communities in particular) of operating this massive new water diversion. These costs include: closed fisheries, toxic water quality, and extinguished native fish and wildlife populations. Those costs are externalized. This isn’t a “cost benefit” analysis of societal impacts — it’s an advertisement for investors in a $20+ billion pipe to divert water. And so continues the oldest story in California water.

Growing up as a kid in a rural community, we relied on water from streams for several domestic purposes. One thing I noticed at the time was that some of the nearby streams usually disappear in some years/periods when the dry season is slightly delayed/prolonged while several others continued flowing, providing freshwater for the local community. When those streams (which sometimes do not disappear) eventually returned at the peak of the wet season, the aquatic life (e.g., fish) also returned with it. At the time, I never understood the source of those streams and springs and what kept nourishing them. These communities are characterized by natural climate variability and uninterrupted water cycle, and the rivers, surrounding wetlands and forest ecosystems were very pristine and beautiful. People in the community could accurately predict when those streams would return because the hydrological system was very natural. As opposed to this tropically wet humid community, imagine the long-term impacts of aquifer depletion on groundwater dependent ecosystems (e.g., springs) in a semi-arid domain where investors are given license and power through government policies to mine/harvest groundwater.