WaterWired

Lisa Beutler: What to Do about Wicked Water Problems

Lisa Beutler is a friend and colleague of mine, a former president of AWRA, among other things. She is now at Stantec (formerly MWH Global) where she is a Senior Principal and executive facilitator. When it comes to wicked water (or other) problems I cannot think of anyone better. She's 'da one'. 

So why I am telling you this? Because in yesterday's post, another A-lister, Sharon Megdal, referred to Lisa's keynote address at the 2016 WRRC Annual Conference.

Here goes:

It’s a rare day when western water managers don’t check the weather. A defining feature of this geographic region of the United States is a lack of precipitation. A second feature is great faith by its people in a technical solution to whatever problem a lack of rain creates. 

Long before Europeans arrived, predecessors to the Hohokam people migrated from central Mexico to southern Arizona, bringing domesticated crops and their knowledge of irrigation with them. Their descendants constructed networks of diversion dikes to capture runoff rainwater and cultivate fields. Mission priests expanded and enhanced the historic systems, building new rock dams and small earthen reservoirs. In 1902, the U.S. Reclamation Service (later changed to Bureau of Reclamation) was created to advance a federal effort of “irrigation works for the storage, diversion and development of waters”— to irrigate arid and semiarid lands in 16 Western states and territories. 

It worked. The West bloomed. Planners and engineers crisply defined, understood, and fixed problems through technical solutions. It was not simple, yet problems were solvable. Either solutions worked or they didn’t. 

Lately, more and more water problems seemingly defy standard solutions. This typically occurs for four reasons: incomplete or contradictory knowledge, the number of people and opinions involved, the large economic burden, and the interconnected nature of these problems with other problems. These are wicked problems. Wicked problems are often hot potatoes tossed back and forth among policy makers, and decried as too substantial for grand solutions. 

Wicked problems are not solved—they can only be mitigated through an approach that emphasizes empathy, abductive reasoning, and rapid prototyping. It is not possible to present an elegant solution and be done. 

Horst Rittel, one of the first to formalize a theory of wicked problems, cites ten characteristics of these complicated social issues 

1. Wicked problems have no definitive formulation. The problem of poverty in Texas is grossly similar but discretely different from poverty in Nairobi, so no practical characteristics describe “poverty.” 
2. It is hard, maybe impossible, to measure or claim success with wicked problems because they bleed into one another, unlike the boundaries of traditional design problems that can be articulated or defined. 
3. Solutions to wicked problems can be only good or bad, not true or false. There is no idealized end state to arrive at, and so approaches to wicked problems should be tractable ways to improve a situation rather than solve it. 
4. There is no template to follow when tackling a wicked problem, although history may provide a guide. Teams that approach wicked problems must literally make things up as they go along. 
5. There is always more than one explanation for a wicked problem, with the appropriateness of the explanation depending greatly on the individual perspective of the designer. 
6. Every wicked problem is a symptom of another problem. The interconnected quality of socio-economic political systems illustrates how, for example, a change in education will cause new behavior in nutrition. 
7. No mitigation strategy for a wicked problem has a definitive scientific test because humans invented wicked problems and science exists to understand natural phenomena. 
8. Offering a “solution” to a wicked problem frequently is a “one shot” design effort because a significant intervention changes the design space enough to minimize the ability for trial and error. 
9. Every wicked problem is unique. 
10. Those addressing a wicked problem must have authority and responsibility for their actions. 

Water planners and managers play a central role in mitigating the negative consequences of wicked problems. They will be required to position efforts in new and more desirable directions. This will not be easy, quick, or solitary. It requires methodical, rigorous iteration focused on the system qualities of the problem. Interdisciplinary collaboration that captures a broader knowledge of science, economics, statistics, technology, psychology, politics, and more is necessary for effective change. 

Water managers and planners will also need to more actively utilize abductive reasoning in addition to deductive  and inductive approaches. 

Abductive reasoning begins with an incomplete set of observations and proceeds to the likeliest possible explanation for the set. This method yields the kind of daily decision-making that does its best with the information at hand, which often is incomplete. In court cases, judge and jury consider whether the prosecution or the defense has the best explanation to cover all the evidence. While reasonable, it is subjective. 

Whereas deductive reasoning creates certainty and inductive reasoning quantifies uncertainty, abductive reasoning attempts to create meaning when uncertainty exists. 

Managing wicked problems is a new kind of work. It requires changing the questions, managing uncertainty, and creating resilience. It does not solve existing problems but instead drives to a desired future state. 

Reframing water issues as wicked problems will be essential for moving forward to a healthy water future. It begins with considering issues and solutions at the system scale. Water projects can no longer be solely the domain of the water community. Creating a change in one part of the water system will change the entire system, including the dependent social and environmental systems, sometimes in unexpected ways. This will require yet another solution to address that situation. It is an adaptive, iterative exercise. Solutions to wicked problems are never one and done. 

Traditional approaches that focus on solution-proposing will need to transition to a process that defines a desired state. Solutions then balance and reconcile tradeoffs while considering self-interests of the parties. 

Given that issues must be addressed at the system scale, collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches are key. The way the parts work together are as important as how they work individually. While this degree of upfront engagement may seem time consuming, it takes far less time than the rework required when a lack of integration creates problems. 

The largest hurdle may be reframing the public’s perception of water management. The faith in the technological solution and the ability of the water professionals to create certain outcomes, while well deserved, does not match the emerging reality. 

Introducing a wicked problems framework and the need for adaptive management is key. Also needed is an understanding that solutions for wicked problems are only good or bad, not true or false. This requires a change to previous approaches for defining success. 

Moving forward, water managers will continue looking at the weather. The good news is, there are new ways of thinking about how to manage what it brings. 

Enjoy!

“Managing wicked problems is a new kind of work. It requires changing the questions, managing uncertainty, and creating resilience. It does not solve existing problems but instead drives to a desired future state.” - Lisa Beutler

More Sharon B. Megdal Reflections: On Wicked Water Problems

Dr. Sharon B. Megdal, Director of the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center and a friend and colleague, published this piece earlier this month and I am repeating here.

She also asked if the Water Buffalo symbol should be retired and would like your opinion by 24 August. What are we talking about? Go here,  

Download Reflections-wicked-water-problems_August 2020

Hare is Sharon's piece:

Although my spring-summer sabbatical lecture tour did not take place as planned due to COVID-19, I did deliver more than a dozen lectures and participated in several programs and interviews. My topic of wicked water problems was the most requested and one on which I will continue to focus. Not only does this topic afford me an opportunity to explore significant water challenges at varying geographic and geopolitical scales, it enables me to focus on the process for forging pathways to addressing them.

I begin my discussion of wicked water problems by citing Lisa Beutler’s excellent 2016 article, which was based on her keynote lecture at the Water Resource Research Center’s 2016 annual conference. I encourage all to read her concise exposition. These quotations are particularly salient. “Lately, more and more water problems seemingly defy standard solutions. This typically occurs for four reasons: incomplete or contradictory knowledge, the number of people and opinions involved, the large economic burden, and the interconnected nature of these problems with other problems.” Beutler points out that the necessary collaborations must involve more than water managers. She adds that “[i]nterdisciplinary collaboration that captures a broader knowledge of science, economics, statistics, technology, psychology, politics, and more is required…” to mitigate the negative consequences of wicked water problems. A key characteristic of wicked water problems, therefore, is that they are mitigated rather than solved, meaning that finding a pathway is the goal rather than trying to identify an ultimate solution. While partial or short-term solutions are implemented, the work continues.

(Click on the graphic to enlarge it)

Before fleshing out some examples, which I do not have space to do so in this essay, I point out the importance of context to analysis of wicked water problems. I often show a slide listing several of the factors that determine “on-the-ground” water policy and management. Among these are laws, regulations, and policies. The legal and institutional framework, including the degree to which decision-making is centralized, will be region-specific. Thus, maps always help clarify the geographic and geopolitical context for water issues of any kind, especially those that span

shared borders. In recent lectures, I have discussed four examples from the Colorado River Basin: overcommitment of groundwater in the Pinal Active Management Area; shortage of Colorado River flows relative to demands within Arizona and across the basin; limited consideration of water for natural systems; and the Navajo Nation’s inadequate water infrastructure, which has been spotlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional examples of wicked problems I mention involve water in the Middle East and include Lower Jordan River flows and the Dead Sea, water and wastewater services, and water scarcity, particularly in Jordan. While many more wicked water problems can be identified – and I ask listeners to think about what water problems they would identify as wicked – these examples enable me to discuss factors that contribute to mitigating them.

Process is very important to the search for pathways to solutions, which are often common across the regions I discuss. Solutions include conservation, augmentation, reuse, water transactions, and other actions at individual, community, and regional levels. Partnerships are critical to developing information collaboratively so that the parties can be “on the same page”. Whether within states and regions, across states, or across national boundaries, functioning cooperative mechanisms are critical. I emphasize the word “functioning” because it is not enough to have cooperative mechanisms on paper. Effective partnerships are built on respect and trust. Trust depends on mutually respectful, positive collaborative experiences. Stakeholder involvement is key. We are definitely seeing more inclusive processes, yet there is often room for improvement. Though live streaming of meetings had been increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic, since the demise of in-person meetings, meeting virtually has become the norm. Interestingly, this situation has enhanced participation of stakeholders who may not be officially “at the table” or able to travel long distances to in-person meetings. Good communication of all kinds is imperative to identifying and understanding the potential of alternative actions that contribute to mitigating wicked water problems. Because there are no quick fixes, both patience and persistence are necessary when working on complex matters over long periods of time.

For many years, I personally have had the opportunity to share lessons learned – both good and sometimes not-so-good – across different geographic and sociocultural communities. I have organized sessions for cross-regional learning and sharing, including but not limited to the 2009 Arizona-Israeli-Palestinian Water Management and Policy workshop in Tucson, the 2016 Middle East visit of the International Boundary and Water Commission commissioners, the 2017 Tel Aviv joint American Water Resources Association – Tel Aviv University conference on wicked water problems, and the 2019 Tel Aviv conference panel on implementing technologies across borders. All of these events are chronicled in previous Public Policy Columns and Reflections. During the 2019 panel, I asked panelists: What are the most important variables or factors that contribute to collaborating on implementing technologies across borders? Very high on their lists were functioning relationships. Several noted that being able to get to know your partners through sitting down together for meals fosters the friendships and relationships that can facilitate the work required to forge formal agreements. There can be peaks and lows. Identifying win-win opportunities can be difficult, and when working with neighbors of different cultures and languages, good communication, sincerity, and leadership are essential.

In her article, Lisa Beutler states, “Managing wicked problems is a new kind of work. It requires changing the questions, managing uncertainty, and creating resilience. It does not solve existing problems but instead drives to a desired future state.” Technology and economics are determinants of pathways to solutions, as are processes for working with and through stakeholders. Efforts to educate at all levels will contribute to identifying and evaluating options. Good work is continuing. But my recent webinar lectures on wicked water problems (see, for example, my May 2020 WRRC webinar) ended with this question, which is reflective of the COVID-19 times in which we live: When will we be able to meet and eat with our partners?

Last month Sharon gave an AWRA webinar: Developing Pathways to Solutions to Wicked Water Problems. Click here to access this recording. Here is the PDF of that PPT: 

Download Megdal_AWRA_WIckedWaterProblems_15July2020

Good stuff!

Enjoy!

"It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone." - John Steinbeck

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 11 August 2020

A slight slowdown during Northern Hemisphere summer, but not as bad it's been in previous Augusts...

Featured job: Chief of Party (Tanzania and Kenya WASH Activities) – Winrock International (Tanzania and Kenya): Until filled
 
Feature your organization’s job

1) Josh's Jobs

Highlighted
 
1) Blue Heart of Africa (BHA) Initiative Leader – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)(Nairobi): 25 August
 
2) Programme Manager (Capacity Development) – Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (Stockholm): 4 September
 
3) PhD in Behavioral and Experimental Economics (Water consumption and management in the face of climate change) – Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) (France): 20 August
 
Deadline today (11 August)
 
4) Spanish speakers: Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) junior analyst – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Panama): 11 August
 
5) U.S. nationals: Hydrologist – U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) (Green Tree, PA, USA): 11 August
 
6) U.S. nationals: Program Analyst (3 positions) – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (Tuscaloosa, AL, USA): 11 August
 
7) U.S. nationals: Natural Resources Specialist (State Water Quality Leader) – U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (Davis, CA, USA): 11 August
 
8) Canada nationals: Environmental Protection Officer – Government of Saskatchewan(Various, SK, Canada): 11 August
 
9) Canada nationals: Junior Environmental Protection Officer – Government of Saskatchewan (Various, SK, Canada): 11 August
 
10) RDC nationals: WASH Officer (UNICEF) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV)(RDC): 11 August

Jobs by Region:

 

Africa jobs

Asia-Pacific jobs

Europe jobs

 

Latin America and Caribbean jobs

 

North America jobs

Home-based/Remote jobs

Minimum years experience requested:

 

0-2 years

 

11) Environmental Stewardship Program Coordinator – Washington State University (Washington, USA): 16 August

 

12) Water Reservation Technician – Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Miles City, MT, USA): 31 August

 

13) Water Resources Specialist – City of Hillsboro (Hillsboro, OR, USA): 24 August

 

14) Watershed Resource Specialist II – City and County of Honolulu (Honolulu, HI, USA): 19 August

 

15) Entry Level Water Resource Engineer – Dewberry (Various, CA, USA): Until filled

 

16) Water Quality Coordinator I – Lower Colorado River Authority (Austin, TX, USA): Until filled

 

17) Part-time Field Technician Shenandoah Watershed Study – University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA, USA): Until filled

 

18) Hydrogeologist – Stone Environmental Inc. (Montpelier, VT, USA): Until filled – 2-5 years’ experience

 

19) Water Resources Scientist – Tetra Tech (Albuquerque, NM, USA): Until filled

 

20) Regional Environmental Manager – Driscoll's (Watsonville, CA, USA): Until filled

 

21) Watershed Conservation Technician – Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (Hartford, KS, USA): 20 August

3-4 years

 

22) Policy Analyst (Climate Change Experts Group) – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Paris): 24 August

 

23) Senior Consultant: Freshwater Non-Native Species / Freshwater Ecology / Hydro-Ecology – APEM Limited (United Kingdom): 20 August

 

24) Spanish speakers: Climate and DRR Officer (UNICEF) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Panama): 16 August

 

25) Environmental Monitor – Peace River Hydro Partners (Fort St. John, BC, Canada): Until filled

 

26) Project Coordinator (Global Science) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(Arlington, VA, USA): 24 August

 

27) Water Resource Engineer llI – North Dakota Water Commission (Bismarck, ND, USA): 17 August

 

28) Environmental Scientist/Wetland Scientist – Cardno (Portland, OR or Seattle, WA, USA): Until filled – 4-7 years’ experience

 

29) Congo nationals: Spécialiste National (e) Environnement et Développement Durable (UNDP) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Congo): 13 August

5-7 years

 

30) Head of the Resilient Development Program – ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability (Germany): 21 August

 

31) Project Manager – Conservation International (CI) (South Africa or Botswana): 21 April

 

32) Programme Officer (Ecosystem Management) – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Switzerland): 17 August

 

33) Spanish speakers: Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Planning Specialist – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)(Costa Rica): 16 August

 

34) Hydrologist – MacArthur Green (Glasgow): 28 August

 

35) Programme Officer (Partnerships) – International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (UAE): 18 August

 

36) Field Officer (Agriculture and Water Structure) – CARE (Durg, CT, India): 14 August

 

37) Manager (Environmental Programs) – Port of Vancouver (Vancouver, BC, Canada): Until filled

 

38) Planning Manager – Puget Sound Partnership (Tacoma, WA, USA):  18 August

 

39) Virginia Director – Chesapeake Climate Action Network (Richmond, VA, USA): Until filled

 

40) Nevada State Director (strong water focus) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(Various, NV, USA): 16 August

 

41) Policy Specialist (Resilient Coasts and Floodplains) – National Wildlife Federation (Washington, DC): Until filled

 

42) Elevation-Derived Hydro Data Scientist – Dewberry (Various, USA): Until filled

 

43) Vice President of Sales – Epic CleanTec (San Francisco, CA, USA): Until filled

 

44) Senior Consultant (Sustainability, Energy and Climate Change (Water Stewardship)) – WSP (Various, USA): Until filled

 

45) Communications Director – RE Sources (Bellingham, WA, USA): 17 August

 

8-9 years

 

46) Senior Economic and Environmental Officer – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Vienna): 24 August

 

47) Climate Policy – World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (Geneva): Until filled

 

48) Reef Trust Partnership Coordinator – Great Barrier Reef Foundation (QLD, Australia): 15 August

 

10+ years

 

49) Senior Programme Management Officer – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Geneva): 25 August

 

50) Water Governance Lead – RTI International (Beirut ©): Until filled

 

51) Director (Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability) – Pacific Community (SPC) (New Caledonia): 30 August

 

52) Senior Technical Advisor, Water and Environment – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (Maryland, USA): Until filled

 

53) Environmental Specialist – Facebook (Various, USA): Until filled

 

54) AVP (Environmental Justice & Equity Initiatives) – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (Various, USA): Until filled

 

55) Project Manager (Water Resources) – Michael Baker International(Philadelphia, PA, USA): Until filled

 

56) Environmental and Social Development Specialist – International Finance Corporation (IFC) (Myanmar): 18 August

 

57) Local recruitment: Senior Environment Associate – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (Kenya): 20 August

 

58) Bangladesh nationals: National Irrigation Economist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Bangladesh): 19 August

 

Not specified:

 

59) Climate Change Team Leaders (including transboundary water) – Oxford Policy Management (OPM) (Various): 13 August

 

60) Portuguese speakers: Pará Systems Director – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Brazil): 21 August

 

61) German speakers: EZ-Scout (m/w/d) für die internationale Stiftungsplattform Foundations 20 – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Germany): 21 August

 

62) German speakers: Entwicklungshelfer als Berater (m/w/d) in den Bereichen Wasserversorgung, Energieeffizienz und erneuerbare Energien – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (South Africa): 25 August

 

63) German speakers: Entwicklungshelfer als Berater (m/w/d) in den Bereichen Ressourceneffizienz und Green Economy – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (South Africa): 25 August

 

64) Netherlands nationals: Directeur Staf deltacommissaris bij IenW – Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (Netherlands): 23 August

 

65) Local recruitment: PAS PNA II Project National Coordinator – Climate Analytics (Burkina Faso): 16 August

 

66) Local recruitment: PAS PNA II Project National Coordinator – Climate Analytics (Senegal): 16 August

 

67) Local recruitment: PAS PNA II Project National Coordinator – Climate Analytics (Benin): 16 August

 

68) Malay speakers: Environmental Law Specialist/Researcher – Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) (Malaysia): 29 August

 

69) Hydrogeologist – GNS Science (New Zealand): 23 August

 

70) Catchment Officer – Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare Inc. (Glenview, QLD, Australia): 17 August

 

71) Australia nationals: Senior Project Officer Aboriginal Water & Sewerage Program – Government of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW, Australia): 16 August

 

72) Project Manager (Special Projects - Water Management - Government) – Chandler McLeod (Sydney, NSW, Australia): Until filled

 

73) U.K. nationals: Environmental Project Manager – Environment Agency(United Kingdom): 16 August

 

74) Senior Technical Advisor (Water) – National Infrastructure Commission(London) Until filled

 

75) Water Use Hydrogeologist – Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources(Madison, WI, USA): 16 August

 

76) Field Technician – Galveston Bay Foundation (Kemah, TX, USA): 14 August

 

77) U.S. nationals: Hydrologist – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (La Crosse, WI, USA): 14 August

 

78) U.S. nationals: Hydrologic Technician – U.S. Forest Service (USFS)(Sundance, WY, USA): 17 August

 

79) U.S. nationals: Hydrologic Technician – U.S. Forest Service (USFS) (New Meadows, ID, USA): 17 August

 

80) Field Technician – Virginia Tech University (Washington, DC): Until filled

 

81) Hydrologist – Yuba County Water Agency (Marysville, CA, USA): Until filled

 

Not specified (academic):

• Professors/lecturers

82)Associate Professor in Freshwater Ecology – Aalborg University (Denmark): 23 August

 

83) Vice Principal Cum Faculty – WASH Institute (Various, TN, India): 19 August

 

84) Adjunct Faculty (Water Resources Science and Technology (WATR)-1) – Texas A&M University-San Antonio (San Antonio, TX, USA): Until filled

• Postdocs

85)Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis (WSIS)) – University of Exeter (United Kingdom): 30 August

 

86) Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Linkages between agriculture, soil health, and water quality) – Rodale Institute (Kutztown, PA, USA): 30 August

 

87) Postdoc in Hydrology and Earth Sciences – Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)(Pasadena, CA, USA): Until filled

 

88) PostDoctoral Research Associate (Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution) (Udall Center) – University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ, USA): Until filled

 

89) Ecohydrological Post-Doctoral Research Scholar – North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC, USA): 20 August

 

90) Postdoc Researcher EU HORIZON 2020 Project HABITAT – University of Twente (Netherlands): 21 August

 

91) Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reservoir Engineering (Production Optimization) – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (Brazil): 12 August

 

92) Dynamic Land-Use Ecosystem Modeler Postdoctoral Scholar – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) (Berkeley, CA, USA): Until filled

 

93) Post Doctoral Researcher (Saltwater intrusion in a changing coastal environment) – University of Delaware (Newark, DE, USA): Until filled

• Researchers/other

94)Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Water and Resilience – Cranfield University (United Kingdom): 30 August

 

95) Research Assistant/Risk Analyst/Risk Modeler – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Vienna): 18 August

 

96) Director of Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC) – Cyprus Institute (Cyprus): 22 August

 

97) Two Research Scientist Positions (m/f/x) – Remote Sensing and Earth System Science – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)(Germany): 23 August

 

98) Spanish speakers: Research Technician (Water Reclamation) – Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA) (Spain): 28 August

 

99) Academic Director (Capacity building) – WASH Institute (Various, TN, India): 19 August

 

100) Research Fellow on Co-production of Climate Services in Africa – University of Leeds (United Kingdom): 19 August

 

101) Associate Director of Research (Energy & Environment Lab) – The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL, USA): Until filled

 

102) Research Assistant/Task Leader in Water-Energy Science Communication, Outreach and Industry Engagement – University of Dublin (Dublin): 17 August

 

103) Use of treatment nature-based solutions (Constructed Wetlands) for sustainable water management – Universita' di Bologna (Italy): 17 August

 

104) Croatian speakers: Assistant – University of Split (Croatia): 28 August

 

105) U.S. nationals: Great Lakes Environmental Survey Internship – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Duluth, MN, USA): 3 September

 

WASH:

 

0-2 years

 

106) WASH Program Manager – Solidarités International (Syria): Until filled

 

107) French speakers: WASH Officer – Oxfam Intermón (Central African Republic): 24 August

 

108) Afghanistan nationals: WASH Technical Assistant – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Afghanistan): 17 August

 

109) Punjabi nationals: Community Development Specialist (Punjab Rural Water and Sanitation Sector Improvement Project (PRWSSIP)) – World Vision (WV)(India): 14 August

 

110) Somalia nationals: Temporary General Support-Hygiene Promotors (5) Positions – Danish Refugee Council (Somalia): 17 August

 

111) Somalia nationals: Temporary General Support-Hygiene Promotors (5) Positions – Danish Refugee Council #2 (Somalia): 17 August

 

3-4 years

 

112) Program Development Officer (Asia) – WaterAid (New York): 14 August

 

113) Senior WASH Engineer – Mercy Corps (Yemen): Until filled

 

114) WASH Engineer – Mercy Corps (Yemen): Until filled

 

115) Arabic speakers: Shelter WASH Assistant – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Sudan): 21 August

 

116) Lebanon nationals: WASH Coordinator – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Lebanon): 16 August

 

117) Ukraine nationals: WASH Project Coordinator – Danish Refugee Council(Ukraine): 19 August

 

118) Afghanistan nationals: WASH Technical Assistant – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Afghanistan): 19 August

 

119) Local recruitment: WASH in Schools Advisor – SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Jakarta): 19 August

 

120) Local recruitment: Hygiene Promotion and Behaviour Change Advisor – SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Jakarta): 19 August

 

121) Myanmar nationals: Team Leader-Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) – Danish Refugee Council (Myanmar): 20 August

 

122) Myanmar nationals: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Officer – Danish Refugee Council (Myanmar): 20 August

 

5-7 years

 

123) Emergency WASH Adviser – DACAAR (Afghanistan): 15 August

 

124) WASH / Shelter Specialist – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Iran): 17 August

 

125) Project Manager (WASH and Shelter) – International Organization for Migration (IOM) (Ethiopia): 13 August

 

126) WASH Coordinator (Syria) – GOAL (Jordan): Until filled

 

127) Punjabi speakers: Project Leader (Punjab Rural Water and Sanitation Sector Improvement Project (PRWSSIP)) – World Vision (WV) (India): 14 August

 

128) Iran nationals: Shelter and WASH Officer – Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) (Iran): 15 August

 

8-9 years

 

129) El Salvador nationals: Voluntario Naciones Unidas WASH en emergencias (UNICEF) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (El Salvador): 16 August

 

10+ years

 

130) Chiefs of Party (CoP) – Blumont (Various): Until filled

 

131) Local recruitment: Head of Programmes – WaterAid (Sierra Leone): 14 August

 

Not specified

 

132) WASH Project Manager – ACTED (Syria): 3 September

 

133) Australia nationals: Environmental Health Officer (WASH) – Queensland Government (Townsville, QLD, Australia): 19 August

 

Consultancies:

 

134) Consultancy: Development of Urban WASH training plan – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Home-Based): 14 August

 

135) Consultancy: Pilot monitoring of Safe Management of Onsite Sanitation Systems (SMOSS) – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Kenya): 24 August

 

136) Soil and Water Resources / Land rehabilitation / reclamation specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Guyana): 20 August

 

137) Regional Consultancy to support the application of integration and aggregation rules for monitoring and reporting of IMAP Pollution Cluster (Eutrophication) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)(Home-Based): 17 August

 

138) Expert facilitator and Media Trainer for gender equality and climate change and disaster risk reduction – UN Women (Home-Based): 12 August

 

139) Spanish speakers: Consultor Ambiental en la Respuesta Humanitaria a la crisis migratoria y desplazamiento interno – International Organization for Migration (IOM) (Guatemala): 14 August

 

140) Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Water Resources in Eswatini – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Home-Based): 14 August

 

141) International Specialist in Horticulture and Drip Irrigation Systems for Smallholders – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Home-Based): 19 August

 

142) Team Leader and Project Development International Project Design Specialist (GEF PPG) will also be the Team Leader the PPG – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Home-Based): 16 August

 

143) Programme Senior Advisor (Climate Action) – United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) (New York): 20 August

 

144) Water Supply Management Expert – Niras (Ethiopia): 1 January 2021

 

145) Institutional Development Expert – Niras (Ethiopia): 1 January 2021

 

146) Water Supply Management Expert #2 – Niras (Ethiopia): 1 January 2021

 

147) Institutional Development Expert #2 – Niras (Ethiopia): 1 January 2021

 

148) Call for Interest (Consultant Roster for Technical Experts) – International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD) (Various): 30 August

 

149) Arabic speakers: Project Manager (Enhance access to basic water services) – United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) (Iraq): 18 August

 

150) India nationals: River Basin Modeling Expert – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (India): 17 August

 

151) Albania nationals: Many positions "EU Support to Integrated Water Management" – Austrian Development Agency (ADA) (Albania): 16 August

 

152) Cambodia nationals: National irrigation and water resources management specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)(Cambodia): 20 August

 

153) Malaysia nationals: Climate & Environment Consultant – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Malaysia): 18 August

 

154) Central African Republic nationals: Consultant(e) en étude d’impact environnemental – Appui à la Professionnalisation des Coopératives Minières – Tetra Tech (Central African Republic): Until filled

 

155) Ukraine nationals: Strategic Advisor to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Ukraine): 20 August

 

156) Ukraine nationals: Legal Advisor to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Ukraine): 20 August

 

157) Ukraine nationals: Communications Advisor to the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Ukraine): 20 August

 

158) Somali speakers: Elwak Staff Training on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) – Action Africa Help – International (Somalia): 16 August

 

RFP:

 

159) RFP: Baseline Survey for Mission Paani Pilot Initiative – Water for People(India): 14 August

 

Internships:

 

160) French speakers: Stagiaire en gestion de projet – éducation à l’environnement – J’aime ma Planète (Geneva): 18 August

 

161) French speakers: Stagiaire en communication – J’aime ma Planète(Switzerland): 23 August

 

162) German speakers: Praktikant (m/w/d) im Sektorvorhaben Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Germany): 16 August

 

163) German speakers: Praktikant (m/w/d) Biodiversitätserhalt und Wiederherstellung von Ökosystemen in den Ansätzen One Health und Green Recovery – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)(Germany): 18 August

 

164) Climate Change Resilience Coordinator – Wildsight (Invermere, BC, Canada): 17 August

 

165) U.S. nationals: Student Trainee (Hydrology) – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Grand Forks, ND, USA): 18 August

 

166) Research Internship (Environmental Governance) – Collaborating for Resilience (Washington, DC): Until filled

 

167) Program Development Internship (Environmental Governance) – Collaborating for Resilience (Washington, DC): Until filled

 

Scholarships:

 

168) MSc position in hydrometeorology – University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) (Prince George, BC, Canada): 30 August

 

169) Postgraduate Research Associate (PhD position) in national research project in Urban Drainage Systems Analysis – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Vienna): 18 August

 

170) PhD Student in Contaminant Hydro(geo)logy – Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (Luxembourg): 5 September

 

171) PhD Graduate Research Assistant in Water Resources and Remote Sensing (3) – University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA): 27 August

 

172) E.U./U.K. nationals: PhD Studentship in Quantification of wastewater treatment resilience metrics – Newcastle University (United Kingdom): 28 August

 

173) PhD: Biogeochemical approach for the evaluation and improvement of a distributed hydrological model in periurban areas – INRAE (France): 31 August

 

174) German speakers: Project Assistant / Phd student – University of Innsbruck(Austria): 31 August

 

175) PhD student position on the Ecology and annual dynamics of Thaumarchaeota-driven freshwater nitrification – Leibniz Institute (Germany): 24 August

 

Other:

 

176) French speakers: Junior EU Aid Volunteer (WASH in Mauritania) – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Mauritania): 28 August

 

177) Junior EU Aid Volunteer in Water and Sanitation in Kenya – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Kenya): 17 August

 

178) Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program Steward – U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) (Pittsburgh, PA, USA): 24 August

 

Last week’s list, in case you missed it

 

Post a job

 

Support Josh’s Water Jobs

 

Recruitment services

 

2) Additional Jobs from WaterWired

Posted: Last Week

179) Position: @UBC(Vancouver, BC) - T-T Assistant Professor - Sustainable Business Management of Natural Resources. Closes: 31 August 2020. https://bit.ly/2RxXdjn

180) Position: Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (Costa Mesa, CA) - Ecologist (PhD). OUF. https://bit.ly/2zY2MSp#JobWaWi

181) Position: Wolf Water Resources (Portland, OR) - Geomorphologist. OUF. https://bit.ly/3eCQgG6 #JobWaWi

182) Position: @CIG_UW (Seattle, WA) - CIG Social/Policy Scientist and Project Manager. OUF. https://bit.ly/2CKrVRr #JobWaWi

183) Position: @nwcouncil (Portland, OR) - Fish and Wildlife Biologist (Program Performance). Closes: 31 August. https://bit.ly/3jq34DD #JobWaWi

184) Postdoc Position: Prairie View A&M (Prairie View, TX) - Natural Resources & Environmental Systems. Closes: 13 August. https://bit.ly/2CJyKmJ #JobWaWi

185) Position: Middle Fork Willamette River Watershed Council (Lowell, OR) - Restoration Projects Manager. OUF; First app. review: 17 August. https://bit.ly/2CWzZz0 #JobWaWi

186) Position: Middle Fork Willamette River Watershed Council (Lowell, OR) - Youth Education Coordinator. OUF; App. review: 3 August. https://bit.ly/2OXzBTo #JobWaWi

187) Position: Klamath Tribes (Chiloquin, OR) - Chemist. Closes: 14 August.
Download Chemist     Download KT APPL fillable pdf

188) Postdoc Position: @UniSouthampton (UK) - Research Fellow in Enhanced Rock Weathering. Closes: 21 August. https://bit.ly/2P3sJ6U #JobWaWi

189) Position: Powder Basin Watershed Council (Baker City, OR) - Executive Director. Closes: 24 August. Download PBWC Executive Director Announcement

190) Position: @USDA_NRCS (Portland, OR) - Hydrologist. Closes: 19 August. https://bit.ly/3kA4qfI #JobWaWi

191) Position: @MontanaTech (Butte, MT) - Professional Scientist or Assistant Research Hydrogeologist. OUF; Full review: 1 September. https://bit.ly/30Mvwbq #JobWaWi

192) Position: EKI (Burlingame or Oakland,CA) - Senior Water Resources Engineer / Planner. OUF. https://bit.ly/2PIAr6X #JobWaWi

193) Position: EKI (Burlingame or Oakland,CA) - Water Resources Engineer / Planner. OUF. https://bit.ly/2DPKPai #JobWaWi

194) Position: Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc. (La Grande, OR) - Wetland Scientist/Biologist/Natural Resources Specialist. OUF. https://bit.ly/30OQYfU #JobWaWi

195) Position: Daniel B. Stepehens & Associates (Silver Spring, MD) - Staff Hydrologist/Environmental Scientist. Closes: 20 August. https://bit.ly/2PQB0eU 

3) Some General Employment Resources

AGU Career Center for research/academic jobs

GoodWorkCanada - Canada's Green Jobs Site

Congressional Research Service Positions

Check out @AidJobs - Vacancies in aid, development, humanitarian & nonprofit sector (volunteers, consultants or F-T employment) https://aidjobs.org

Conservation Jobs Board

UN Jobs in Water Resources

UN Jobs in Water Management

UN Jobs in Water and Sanitation

Global Water Jobs

WASH Vacancies

Academic Jobs Online

Higher Education Job Site

Get Hydrology Jobs

AAG Jobs

@BCWaterNews Jobs Click View Jobs

@EcologyWA - Current Openings - Updated every few days. Click here.

King County (WA)Jobs

Geoscience Job Board

California DWR Jobs

AZ Water Career Center

Florida Water Jobs

NYC DEP

Nature Conservancy jobs

State of Washington Careers

Idaho DEQ

OSU Water Resources Program

Water District Jobs

Academic Jobs in Schools of Physical/Earth Sciences

Mac's List - Jobs in Portland and Beyond!

New Zealand Hydrological Society Jobs Board

Government Jobs

Association of Oregon Counties Job Postings

Soil Science Societies Career Center

How to Find Work Overseas, with Marcelle Yeager. https://bit.ly/1pIopLT

For the full list of Josh's active water jobs, please visit www.joshswaterjobs.com/jobs

Enjoy! 

"Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it."  Thomas Jefferson

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 10 August 2020

Should the 'Water Buffalo' symbol (as applied to WaterWonks of a certain type) be retired? Let Sharon B. Megdal know how you feel. Read here. 

Lots of good info from Elaine today.

Enjoy!

******************************************************************************************

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Here are Elaine's BBs as a PDF and a Word document:

PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_10August2020

Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_10August2020

Note: If a link does not work, try pasting the URL into your browser. 

Check out Elaine's coronavirus/COVID-19 section in the ES BB.

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 10 August 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

100 years of Milanković cycles

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-0621-2

A use for pyrite

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uom-rb072920.php

Typhoon Hagupit swirls while Nishinoshima volcano erupts

• https://www.cnet.com/news/see-a-typhoon-swirl-and-a-volcano-erupt-in-same-striking-view-from-space/

Batagaika Crater is a “megaslump” in Chersky Range in Siberia

• https://www.grunge.com/232616/inside-siberias-doorway-to-the-underworld/

Impacts of ice scouring on ecosystems in the Antarctic

• https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/08/03/ice-scouring-antarctic-ecosystems/
• Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113620302294

Yigongxiang – valley blocking debris flow in Tibet – threat of outburst flood

• https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2020/08/03/yigongxiang-1/
• https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2020/08/01/threat-of-an-outburst-flood-in-the-siang-need-for-weather-stations-and-info/

The origins of pallasites – stony-iron meteorites

• https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/researchers-explain-the-origins-of-stony-iron-meteorites/134520

Why Earth cooled during the Younger Dryas event from 12.9 to 11.7 thousand years ago

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uoh-anc073120.php
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/31/eaax8587

Perspective:  P-T extinction was game-changer for Earth

• https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200802/geology--p-t-extinction-was-game-changer-for-planet

Abandoned wells in the Central North Sea release significant amounts of methane

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200730113055.htm
• Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750583619306504?via%3Dihub

Super dense array measurement magnifies seismic wave fields & quantifies uncertainty in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/super-dense-array-measurement-magnifies-seismic-wavefields

Real-time ground motion estimation & ground shaking forecast for large earthquakes

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/real-time-ground-motion-estimation-for-large-earthquakes

NASA GOLD mission revealing affect of upper atmosphere on space weather

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/arsenic-pollution-in-bangladesh-is-catching-up-with-deeper-wells
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020JA027823

Retrospective:  Offshore mapping of the San Andreas Fault

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/a-research-retrospective-offshore-fault-mapping-san-andreas?qt-news_science_products=3#qt-news_science_products

Partial skeletal remains of enantiornithine bird encased in 99 myo amber in northern Myanmar

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/enantiornithine-bird-wings-feet-amber-08708.html
• Paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.00264/full

Paleo-bathymetry over the last 34 million years of the Circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200804111444.htm
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020GC009122

New findings on carbonate melts in the mantle

• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-geologists-publish-carbonate-earth-mantle.html
• Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/31/18285

Grímsvötn volcano beneath Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland poised for another eruption

• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-iceland-volcano-eruption.html

Q&A – Plate tectonics is fundamental to understanding evolution of Earth – theory in progress

• https://horizon.scienceblog.com/1374/qa-plate-tectonics-is-fundamental-to-understanding-earths-evolution-but-big-questions-remain/

Sandstones in Antarctica indicate links to mountain belts and major transitions in global circulation

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200805102030.htm

Evidence of plate tectonics occurring 2 billion years ago

• https://www.courthousenews.com/geologists-find-evidence-of-global-plate-tectonics-2-billion-years-ago/
• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-plate-tectonics-global.html
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/32/eabc5491

Explosion in Beirut generated seismic waves equivalent to M3.3 EQ – blast heard in Cyprus

• https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1024121.html

• Images: https://us.cnn.com/2020/08/05/world/satellite-images-beirut-explosion-before-aftertrnd/index.html

California geothermal brines contain lithium necessary for batteries in “green” revolution

• https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2020/08/05/geothermal-brines-could-propel-californias-green-economy/

In Memoriam:  J. Casey Moore (1945-2020) – pioneered multi-disciplinary studies of subduction zones

• https://eos.org/articles/j-casey-moore-1945-2020

In Memoriam:  Eugene Peter “Ticket” Meyers (1929-2020) – mining geologist

• https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2020/aug/05/eugene-peter-ticket-meyers-90-7/

In Memoriam:  William W. Haible (1946-2020) – hydrographic mapping, stream morphology, consulting

• https://knox.villagesoup.com/p/william-w-haible/1866192

IP survey identifies 5 drill targets at Twin Hills Gold Project in Namibia

• https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/08/05/2073173/0/en/Osino-Resources-Completes-IP-Survey-Identifying-Five-New-Drill-Ready-Targets-and-Substantially-Increases-2020-Drill-Program-at-Twin-Hills-Gold-Project-Namibia.html

Geological Survey Ireland celebrates 175 years

• https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/834bd-from-pencil-and-paper-to-drones-and-satellites-geological-survey-ireland-celebrates-its-175th-birthday/

Touring the geology of the Bronx – bedrock, fluvial systems, glacial deposits, groundwater

• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/arts/design/bronx-virtual-tour.html

CRS InFocus Report:  Wildfire Statistics – through 2019

• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10244

Book Review:  Earthquake Engineering for Concrete Dams – Analysis, Design & Evaluation

• https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newsnew-publication-focuses-on-earthquake-engineering-for-dams-8066008

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119056102

 

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 10 August 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Update - Technological hazard:  train derailed in Tempe, Arizona – cause of collapse

• https://asunow.asu.edu/20200730-solutions-asu-engineer-bridge-infrastructure-outdated
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/arizona-train-derailment-causes-bridge-160341333.html
• https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/train-fire-prompts-huge-emergency-response-in-tempe
• https://www.azfamily.com/news/train-derailment-massive-fire-on-bridge-over-tempe-town-lake/article_ce292ef0-d19e-11ea-a57f-7bc720db639f.html

California governor asks Warren Buffett to back $450M Klamath River project to remove his 4 dams

• https://apnews.com/4faa7ca064b6594e0d332ca4beca926c

Could wind energy become a hot commodity in Florida?

• https://news.fsu.edu/news/science-technology/2020/07/30/fsu-engineering-researchers-harness-wind-data-to-help-meet-energy-needs-in-florida/

House examines FEMA disaster response policies – consider compound threat scenarios

• https://www.ttnews.com/articles/house-lawmakers-examine-femas-disaster-response-policies

Salmonella outbreak linked to red onions

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/red-onions-linked-to-salmonella-outbreak-that-has-sickened-people-in-31-states/ar-BB17rMTT

Amazing travel routes across America – in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark

• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/america-greatest-road-trip-route-100609561.html

Gammarus duebeni – tiny freshwater amphipod breaks micro-plastics down into nano-plastics

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/microplastics-tiny-crustaceans-fragment-them-150600936.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69635-2

LA River AR Platform view of Los Angeles River historical beauty not the concrete lined channel

• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/why-communities-along-the-la-river-considered-the-original-source-of-life-are-threatened-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic-160042733.html

CRS Insight Report:  The Nile Dam Dispute

• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11471

New Genoa, Italy, bridge inaugurated two years after bridge collapse killed 43

• https://www.dw.com/en/italy-genoa-new-bridge/a-54409986

Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Britain is now 38% complete

• https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/a-look-inside-britain-s-biggest-construction-site-1.1474068

Real world laboratory – study Tropical Storm Isaias wind impacts on Satellite Beach House

• https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/08/02/florida-tech-study-how-tropical-storm-isaias-winds-impact-satellite-beach-house/5567206002/

Pilot project to test use of recycled plastic bottles in road pavement

• https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/plastic-bottles-used-in-northern-california-highway-repaving-project/2336300/

135-year-old Stanley M. Levine Reservoir to be replaced with concrete water tanks in New Jersey - $26M

• https://www.nj.cotom/passaic-county/2020/07/historic-nj-reservoir-to-be-replaced-with-huge-concrete-water-tanks.html
• https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/2020/07/28/epa-oks-26-million-replacement-passaic-valley-reservoir-paterson-nj/5518889002/

Otters are not only very social – they also build rafts

• https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/sea-otters-form-a-raft-and-float-in-water-video-is-amazing/story-iYT0y1dZAHrJzbbHhY206L.html

Seeds in packets from China have been identified – “brushing scam” – DO NOT plant

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-seeds-sent-china-us-151105272.html

Dried up lakes & environmental destruction from decades of unsustainable water use in Iran

• https://theconversation.com/iran-decades-of-unsustainable-water-use-has-dried-up-lakes-and-caused-environmental-destruction-140565
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64089-y

Human activity & “outdoor” cats share responsibility for decline in wildlife

• https://theconversation.com/dont-blame-cats-for-destroying-wildlife-shaky-logic-is-leading-to-moral-panic-138710
• Paper: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.13346

Great American Outdoors Act signed into law – provides $$$M for Land & Water Conservation Fund

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-signs-major-conservation-bill-into-law/ar-BB17yBk5?ocid=anaheim-ntp-feeds

Wildfires can lead to contamination of drinking water supplies

• https://theconversation.com/wildfires-can-poison-drinking-water-heres-how-communities-can-be-better-prepared-141430
• Paper: https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aws2.1183

Finding right-of-way is greater challenge than funding of high-speed bullet trains across the US

• https://www.governing.com/community/High-Speed-Rails-True-Barrier-Isnt-Money-Its-Space.html

$9.4M Flood mitigation project completed in Ann Arbor, Michigan – now want change in floodplain map

• https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/07/biggest-flood-mitigation-project-in-ann-arbor-history-now-complete.html

New framework for characterizing snow droughts

• https://news.uci.edu/2020/08/03/uci-engineers-evaluate-snow-drought-in-different-parts-of-the-world/

Arsenic pollution in deeper drinking water wells in Bangladesh

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/arsenic-pollution-in-bangladesh-is-catching-up-with-deeper-wells

Seeking funds for new I-5 Bridge replacement project across the Columbia River – failed in 2013

• https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/aug/03/herrera-beutler-vows-to-seek-funds-from-federal-gas-tax-for-i-5-bridge/

Increased global mortality linked to arsenic exposure in rice-based diets

• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-global-mortality-linked-arsenic-exposure.html
• Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720340560?via%3Dihub

Estimated 800M children worldwide have elevated blood lead levels

• https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/07/29/896888484/silent-epidemic-nearly-1-in-3-kids-exposed-to-damaging-levels-of-lead
• Report: https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/The-toxic-truth-children%E2%80%99s-exposure-to-lead-pollution-2020.pdf

More than 5,000 Burmese pythons removed from Florida wilds – Python Challenge

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/08/5000-pythons-reportedly-removed-everglades-ecosystem

Concerns that Border Wall to protect national security may damage Quitobaquito Springs at Organ Pipe

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/08/concerns-voiced-border-wall-construction-damaging-quitobaquito-springs-organ-pipe

Healthy Pregnancy Guide issued by Plastic Pollution Coalition – reduce exposure to chemicals

• https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/healthypregnancyguide

New models needed to more accurately reflect carbon storage processes in soil – functional complexity

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/New_soil_models_may_ease_atmospheric_CO2_climate_change_999.html

100s of homes destroyed or flooded due to Bout Dam collapsed following heavy rain in Sudan

• https://www.voanews.com/africa/heavy-rains-and-floods-destroy-houses-dam-kill-5-sudan
• Video: https://borkena.com/2020/08/03/sudanese-dam-collapsed-due-to-flooding-in-blue-nile-province/

Man who killed mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park sentenced to 11 years in prison

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Uganda_court_jails_killer_of_mountain_gorilla_for_11_years_999.html

Anthrax (endemic to parts of Texas) confirmed in cow in Briscoe County- area quarantined

• https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2020/2020-08-04_Anthrax.pdf

Germany to ban floodlights at night to protect insects

• https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/germany-plans-to-dim-lights-at-night-to-save-insects/

Tracking & forecasting risk of diseases (dengue, Zika, et al) transmitted by Aedes mosquito

• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-tracking-outbreak-dengue-zika-aedes-transmitted.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69625-4

Wildlife corridor plan in Virginia

• https://www.virginiamercury.com/2020/08/04/with-wildlife-corridor-plan-virginia-officials-hope-to-reduce-highway-collisions-with-animals/
• WCAP: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+SB1004

Perspective:  Visit to a “green cemetery” in California & question American funerals – not a new method

• https://www.businessinsider.com/green-cemetery-california-visit-burials-practices-prices-fernwood-2020-8

Dingoes have increased in average size by 6 to 9% over past 8 decades where poison-baits were used

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200803105230.htm

Humans have altered ecosystems in North America with greater impact than melting glaciers

• https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/humans-have-altered-north-america-s-ecosystems-more-melting-glaciers

Beetles survive being eaten and excreted by frogs – come out the other end alive & well

• https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-beetle-frog-eaten-alive-escape-death-butt-excretion

Herbivores at greatest risk of extinction

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/not-easy-eating-green-herbivores-182327790.html
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/advances/6/32/eabb8458.full.pdf

CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus COVID-19 statistics by country (click on USA to get State statistics)

• https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
• https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/

Herd immunity should not be considered taboo

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/herd-immunity-long-term-solution-160456041.html
• Paper: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S2666535220300306?token=B3F88D846E27907CC04ED5D68D752CB0315BCA0F59B48EBEC70E184F9378930ABFBD06418BBB1D481C7B43A40D73B2F2

Parents with children forced to school at home are drinking more

• https://theconversation.com/parents-with-children-forced-to-do-school-at-home-are-drinking-more-143164

Invasive fish from Groenvlei Lake provide food source during lockdown in South Africa

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Carpe_diem_Invasive_fish_feeds_hungry_in_South_Africas_lockdown_999.html

Closing schools around the globe could cause “generational catastrophe”

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/closing-schools-around-the-world-could-cause-a-generational-catastrophe-u-n-secretary-general-warns/ar-BB17ySQp

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 10 August 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

The California Coastal Commission – major provisions of the CCA of 1976

• https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/the-california-coastal-commission/

Lake Superior coastal program – erosion outreach, protection structure assessment & watersheds

• https://www.montenews.com/news/20200801/minnesota-dnr-awarded-federal-noaa-grantfor-lake-superior-coastal-program

Oysters stolen from ocean filtration project of Maui Nui Marine Resource Council are not healthy to eat

• https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2020/07/stolen-research-oysters-are-nothealthy-to-eat/

National Audubon Society filed lawsuit on reversal of sand mining rule

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/07/audubon-challenges-cbra-sand-mining-rule/

Shark sightings put coastal waters around Harpswell put Maine Marine Patrol on alert

• https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/29/coastal-patrols-continue-after-maines-first-fatalshark-attack/

Keel laid down for new icebreaker for Russian Coast Guard

• https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/08/vyborg-shipyard-lays-keel-of-project-23550-icebreaker-for-russian-coast-guard/

Searching for lost Algonquian villages on Pamlico Sound – devastated by illness following visit by

Sir Richard Grenville 1585 expedition – “burnt and spoyled their corne, and Towne”

• Part 3: https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/07/lost-history-search-for-village-abandoned/

• Part 2 Mapping: https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/07/mapping-pamlico-sound-thesecotan-site/

• Part 1 Circumnavigation: https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/07/crossing-the-threshold-ofhistory/

Artificial light impacts up to 76% of coastal seafloor at night

• https://www.iflscience.com/environment/threequarters-of-seafloor-near-coastal-citiesexposed-to-harmful-light-pollution-study-finds/

• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-69461-6

Louisiana & US Army COE agree to deepen channel to 50 ft from Gulf of Mexico to Baton Rouge

• https://apnews.com/691647873fd2b8c78af6e30d77d7d6fe

CRM Council rejects plan for kelp farm off Napatree Point in southern New England

• https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/coastal-resources-management-councilrejects-plan-for-kelp-farm-off-napatree-point/article_08c02a80-d5a7-11ea-9e2d-73cd30fec157.html

Minnesota DNR awarded $1.1M to protect coastal resources

• https://www.southernminn.com/faribault_daily_news/community/article_4de6614f-78dd-5893-b49f-ce26f99176ee.html

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy “Sharktivity” App helps alert beach-goers to risks

• https://www.capecod.com/newscenter/sharktivity-app-lets-beach-goers-keep-tabs-oncoastal-sharks/

“Dead Zone” in Gulf of Mexico reduced in size due to mixing caused by tropical weather

• https://phys.org/news/2020-08-gulf-mexico-dead-zone-smaller.html

• Hypoxia Task Force: https://www.epa.gov/ms-htfhttps://www.epa.gov/ms-htf

• 2020 Forecast: https://www.epa.gov/ms-htf/northern-gulf-mexico-hypoxic-zone

Satellite-based data used to detect portions of San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz & San Francisco, California, that are subsiding

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200731145143.htm

• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/31/eaba4551

Massive explosion in Beirut leaves huge crater at port – before & after images

• https://us.cnn.com/2020/08/05/world/satellite-images-beirut-explosion-before-aftertrnd/index.html

Dolphins & whales stranded along SE US coast have high levels of toxic chemicals - bioaccumulation

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/dolphins-and-whales-are-being-poisoned-by-toxicchemicals/ar-BB17BIuT

• Paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00630/full

NOAA report suggests deeper ports would mean greater economic activity

• https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/5/one-simple-change-improve-americasports/

Model suggests future coastal flooding could disrupt commuting in Bay Area

• https://news.stanford.edu/2020/08/05/bay-area-coastal-flooding-triggers-regionwidecommute-disruptions/

$40M grant to develop inland port facility at Cairo, Illinois

• https://www.marinelog.com/coastal/inland/illinois-awards-40-million-grant-to-cairo-portproject/

New FEMA flood maps for Charleston, South Carolina, in 2021

• https://www.postandcourier.com/hurricanewire/charleston-will-finally-have-new-fema-floodmaps-in-2021/article_9a4c5a84-d7e4-11ea-b11e-2364a8dd57c3.html

Oil spill from grounded Japanese bulk oil tanker threatens endangered wildlife in Mauritius

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mauritius-scrambles-to-counter-oil-spill-fromgrounded-ship/ar-BB17Ji3L

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/oil-spill-threatens-ecological-disaster-as-mauritiusdeclares-emergency/ar-BB17J0aa

Risks & Impacts of Hurricane then Tropical Storm Isaias along the Atlantic Coast – Florida to Maine

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-works-predict-and-track-isaias-effects

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/08/01/hurricane-isaias-path-florida/

• https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/03/what-can-delaware-expecthurricane-season-bring/5572356002/

• https://www.theday.com/local-news/20200804/tornado-watch-coastal-flood-warning-asisaias-closes-in

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/tropical-storm-isaias-wreaks-havoc-east-coastafter-destructive-n-n1235741

• https://www.wral.com/mostly-a-wind-event-at-wrightsville-beach-as-isaias-moves-throughnc/19216971/

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/08/isaias-continuing-create-problems-nationalparks

• https://apnews.com/0d4583ecf2405caf0ab3713169787b0c

"Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option." - Maya Angelou

GAO Report: Climate Change - A Climate Migration Pilot Program Could Enhance the Nation's Resilience and Reduce Federal Fiscal Exposure

This was just relesed to the public (5 August 2020): CLIMATE CHANGE: A Climate Migration Pilot Program Could Enhance the Nation's Resilience and Reduce Federal Fiscal Exposure.

Download GAO_Report_Climate_Migration_Pgm_Highlights_6July2020

Download GAO_Report_Climate_Change_Pgm_Full_6July2020

Fast Facts
Sea level rise due to climate change threatens areas where millions of Americans live. In all but the lowest projections, retreat or relocation of communities from coastal areas will be unavoidable, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

One way to prepare is to preemptively move away from vulnerable areas. But few communities have considered such climate migration. There is some related federal funding, but it’s hard to use for climate migration because the programs are designed to address other priorities.

We recommended Congress consider establishing a federally-led pilot program to help communities interested in relocation.

Shoreline Erosion at Newtok, Alaska, from July 2007 to October 2019.

Highlights

What GAO Found
Federal programs provide limited support to climate migration efforts because they are designed to address other priorities, according to literature GAO reviewed and interviews with stakeholders and federal officials. Federal programs generally are not designed to address the scale and complexity of community relocation and generally fund acquisition of properties at high risk of damage from disasters in response to a specific event such as a hurricane.

Unclear federal leadership is the key challenge to climate migration as a resilience strategy. Because no federal agency has the authority to lead federal assistance for climate migration, support for climate migration efforts has been provided on an ad hoc basis. For example, it has taken over 30 years to begin relocating Newtok and more than 20 years for Isle de Jean Charles, in part because no federal entity has the authority to coordinate assistance, according to stakeholders in Alaska and Louisiana. These and other communities will rely on post-disaster assistance if no action is taken beforehand—this increases federal fiscal exposure. Risk management best practices and GAO's 2019 Disaster Resilience Framework suggest that federal agencies should manage such risks before a disaster hits. A well-designed climate migration pilot program that is based on project management best practices could improve federal institutional capability. For example, the interagency National Mitigation Investment Strategy—the national strategy to improve resilience to disasters—recommends that federal agencies use pilot programs to demonstrate the value of resilience projects. As GAO reported in October 2019, a strategic and iterative risk-informed approach for identifying and prioritizing climate resilience projects could help target federal resources to the nation's most significant climate risks. A climate migration pilot program could be a key part of this approach, enhancing the nation's climate resilience and reducing federal fiscal exposure.

Why GAO Did This Study
According to the 13-agency United States Global Change Research Program, relocation due to climate change will be unavoidable in some coastal areas in all but the very lowest sea level rise projections. One way to reduce the risks to these communities is to improve their climate resilience by planning and preparing for potential hazards related to climate change such as sea level rise. Climate migration—the preemptive movement of people and property away from areas experiencing severe impacts—is one way to improve climate resilience.

GAO was asked to review federal support for climate migration. This report examines (1) the use of climate migration as a resilience strategy; (2) federal support for climate migration; and (3) key challenges to climate migration and how the federal government can address them.

GAO conducted a literature review of over 52 sources and interviewed 12 climate resilience experts. In addition, GAO selected and interviewed 46 stakeholders in four communities that have considered relocation: Newtok, Alaska; Santa Rosa, California; Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana; and Smith Island, Maryland.

What GAO Recommends 
Congress should consider establishing a pilot program with clear federal leadership to identify and provide assistance to communities that express affirmative interest in relocation as a resilience strategy. The Departments of Homeland Security and Housing and Urban Development provided technical comments that GAO incorporated as appropriate.

For more information, contact Alfredo Gómez at (202) 512-3841 or gomezj@gao.gov.

Thanks to Tim Smith for sending this my way.

Enjoy!

"Water is the translator of climate change" - Henk Ovink