A Study Finds That the Costs of Hydroelectric Dams Have Been 'Grossly Underestimated'
Dams have been linked to habitat degradation, worsened biodiversity, and negative changes in river ecology.
Rivers
California's Largest Proposed Water Storage Project Hits Regulatory Hurdles
Regulators warnings that the Sites Reservoir may have to cut its stated water storage goals have thrown the future of the ambitious project into doubt.
California Regulators Consider Conservation Protections for the State's Largest Estuary
Conflict over the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta has played out over decades of back-and-forth between regulators and farmers.
California Attorney General Plans Lawsuit Over Tijuana River Sewage Flowing Into U.S.
Over 12 million gallons of untreated wastewater has flowed into California from Mexico since 2015.
California's Delta Tunnels Project Has Funding, but Regulatory Issues Remain
A recent funding decision has put the ambitious water project on firmer financial ground, but California Water Fix must still clear numerous regulatory and legal hurdles.
Viewfinder: Irrigation Pumps in Pakistan
Pakistani farmers use tractors at the Kabul River to pump water used for field irrigation on the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, on March 22nd, 2018.
Viewfinder: Flooding in Paraguay
Children play in an Asunción neighborhood on January 22nd, 2018, that was flooded when the Paraguay River overflowed its banks due to heavy rains.
Viewfinder: The Magh Mela Festival in India
An Indian sadhu performs evening prayer at Sangam during the Magh Mela festival in Allahabad on January 9th, 2018.
Eyes on the River
Virtually navigating our waterways sounds like a good time to outdoor enthusiasts, but it could also help policymakers monitor a critical natural resource.
'Nowhere to Go but Up'
And local governments continue to approve real estate development inside floodplains.
A River Ran Through It
Scientists want to create a nationwide network of river corridors. Here’s why that’s not as crazy as it sounds.
Quake Rescues Reserve, Shakes Baja Fishing Town
An earthquake has helped seal off a traditional fishing spot in Mexico, pleasing conservationists but hurting locals who depend on an annual fishing frenzy to sustain their economy.
Texas' Thirst for Dams Bucks National Trend
North Texas, the fastest-growing region in the fastest-growing state in the nation, has a growing demand for water. While the rest of the U.S. is tearing down decaying dams, Texas wants some dam water.
Mississippi River Flooding Creates Louisiana, Venice Comparison
In an audio slideshow, Zoe Sullivan examines the similarities in approach for the Mississippi Delta and the fabled city of Venice in dealing with floods and loss of natural wetlands.
Will a Levee Disaster Flood California?
Can California build the new water system experts say it needs — before an earthquake brings the levees down?
Micro-Reserves Renew Life in Oaxacan Agriculture
Peasants in Mexico's jungle state of Oaxaca show that conservation need not take a back seat to development.
The Complex Effort to Parcel Out Colorado River's Water
Conservationists find themselves at the back of line in divvying up water from one of the world's most litigated rivers.
Before the Flood
The U.S. spends billions on levees, but river flooding still causes havoc across the country. Vermont has a better way.
Tilting at Turbines
Many environmentalists oppose a "green" idea for tidal power in the U.K. So do British surfers.
Charting a Crooked River’s Renaissance
The revival of Cleveland's incendiary Cuyahoga River teaches that environmental restoration, no matter how daunting, is possible.