BLOG
U.S. Midwest: Groundwater Pumping Drying Streams, Driving Fish Extinctions
July 12th, 2017
Via EurekAlert, a sobering article on the impact of groundwater pumping in the Midwest: Farmers in the Great Plains of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and the panhandle of Texas produce about one-sixth of the world’s grain, and water for these crops comes from the High Plains Aquifer — often known as the Ogallala Aquifer — the […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Is China’s Hydropower Frenzy Drowning Sacred Mountains?
June 26th, 2017
Via Terra Daily, a report on the impact of China’s dam building on Tibet’s sacred mountains: Towering walls of concrete entomb lush forests on mountainsides in southwest China as workers toil on the dry riverbed below to build the country’s latest mega-dam. The colossal construction site in Sichuan province swallows three rivers, providing another display […]
Read more »How India And Pakistan Are Competing Over The Indus River
June 1st, 2017
Via The Conversation, a look at the battle for the Indus: The Indus is one of Asia’s mightiest rivers. From its source in the northwestern foothills of the Himalayas, it flows through the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir and along the length of Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. The river and its five tributaries […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Addressing Water Insecurity in Central Asia – A Steppe on the One Belt, One Road Initiative?
May 25th, 2017
Courtesy of Future Directions International, an interesting look at Key Points Central Asia is integral to Chinese efforts to increase its global connectivity. Natural resource constraints, including access to water, could undermine its influence in the region. Given the legacy of failed foreign water infrastructure in the region, any Chinese efforts to address water insecurity […]
Read more »Environmental Concerns Unlikely To Threaten Chinese Plans To Dredge Thai Mekong
May 25th, 2017
Via Future Directions International, an article on China’s plan to dredge the Mekong River: China’s plan to dredge the Mekong River to open the trade route to larger cargo ships has been met with protests in Thailand. As agreed by China, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, the project aims to improve cargo access to 630 kilometres […]
Read more »A Global Water Grab
May 23rd, 2017
Courtesy of Al Jazeera, a detailed look at issues related to the theft of water resources in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia: Historically the source of many conflicts, water grabbing is the control and theft of water resources by the powerful, often at the expense of local populations and ecosystems. It can result in […]
Read more »