WaterWired

G. Tracy Mehan III Essay: 'Found Water. Water Reuse and the Deconstruction of "Wastewater"'

G. Tracy Mehan III, Executive Director of Government Affairs at AWWA, sent me this essay. Here is the message he included:

Dear Friends,

Attached is my recent essay on water reuse, part of the collection entitled, A Better Planet. 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future, published by Yale University Press. I thought you might find it of interest.

I want to thank my AWWA colleagues, Steve Via, Barb Martin and Alex Gerling for their assistance in writing this piece.  The views contained therein are entirely mine,

All the best.

Tracy Mehan

 

 

 

Here you go:

Download Found_Water_Mehan

Enjoy!

"Those who know, won't answer, and those who answer, won't know." - Unknown

From 'The Water Report': Lisa Beutler's Interview of California DWR Director Karla Nemeth

David Light of The Water Report grated me permission to publish this interview from Issue #188. The interview of Karla Nemeth was conducted by my friend, colleague and AWRA President Lisa Beutler, Principal and Executive Facilitator extraordinaire at Stantec.

The entire interview is five pages long; I have reproduced several items that caught my eye. There is more, though, such as a section on the Bay-Delta but I could not go there - still recovering from my term on the NRC Bay-Delta Committee.

Click on the text to enlarge it.

Download Nemeth_10.14.19

Time to cut to the chase...

Very good! Karla has her work cut out fur her but she sure sounds that she is up for the challenge.

Thanks again to David Light! And to Lisa Beutler for her interviewing skill.

Enjoy!

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol (in @theipaper via @TheWeek)

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 15 October 2019 Updated: 17 Oregon 2019

From Josh:

Apologies, but an extremely short list this week, as I’ve been on the road. All are uploaded with deadlines before the next list.

 

For last week's list click here.

1) Josh's Jobs    

Josh’s Pick:   1) Young Scientists Summer Program – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Vienna): 11 January 2020

Minimum years experience requested:

0-2 years   2) Young Professionals Program (YPP) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Manila): 31 October   3) (Senior) Project Manager: Climate security and climate diplomacy – Adelphi(Berlin): Until filled – 2 years’ experience required, 5 for the senior level   4) French and German speakers: Coordinator – Swiss Water Partnership(Switzerland): 27 October

3-4 years   5) Climate Markets Associate – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (London or Brussels): 5 November   6) Spanish speakers: Communications Manager – Community Water Center(Sacramento, CA, USA): Until filled 7) Philanthropy Manager – River Network (Boulder, CO, USA): Until filled   8) Natural Resource Specialist 3 (Instream Flow Specialist) – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Salem, OR, USA): 28 October   9) Stormwater Retention Project Manager – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(Bethesda, MD, USA): 3 November

5-7 years   10) Spanish speakers: SDG Programme Manager for LAC Region – Global Water Partnership (GWP) (Honduras): 31 October   11) Water Economist/Impact Assessment Specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Rome): 25 October   12) Programme Management Officer (Project Post) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Paris): 30 October   13) Freshwater Project Manager – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Harrisburg, PA, USA): 4 November   14) Development Director – Huron River Watershed Council (Ann Arbor, MI, USA): 21 October   15) Senior Project Manager (Water Resources Engineering) – Princeton Hydro(Sicklerville or Ringoes, NJ, USA): Until filled   16) Wetlands Biologist – Ecology and Environment (NY and PA, USA): Until filled

10+ years   17) Senior Regional Advisor for Africa – The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands(Switzerland): 4 November   18) Chief of Party (Solid Waste Accountability Platform (SWAP)) – Triangle Environmental Health Initiative (TE) (Cambodia): 1 November   19) Senior Coordination Officer – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Geneva): 31 October   20) Chief of Staff – League of Conservation Voters (Washington, DC): 4 November 21) Chief Operating Officer – League of Conservation Voters (Washington, DC): 4 November   22) Pakistan nationals: Hydraulic Engineer (Hydrology and Water Resources) – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Pakistan): 21 October

Not specified:   23) Freshwater Ecologist – NIWA (New Zealand): 27 October   24) Environmental Projects Facilitator – Bellarine Catchment Network (Mannerim, VIC, Australia): 21 October   25) Consultant (Climate Change and Disaster Risk) – Oxford Policy Management (OPM) (United Kingdom): 27 October   26) Nature Reserve Manager (Walthamstow Wetlands) – London Wildlife Trust(London): 22 October

Not specified (academic): Professors/lecturers 27) Senior Lecturer in Water Quality in Agricultural Landscapes – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) (Sweden): 21 October   28) Lecturer (Goldman School of Public Policy) – University of California-Berkeley(Berkeley, CA, USA): 25 October   29) Lecturer: Water / Environmental Engineering – University of Glasgow (Scotland): 29 October Postdocs 30) Post Doc Research Associate (Coastal Hydrology) – University of Wyoming(Laramie, WY, USA): Until filled   31) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (Mathematical modelling of contaminants in surface waters) – Stellenbosch University (South Africa): 31 October   32) Postdoctoral Research Associate: Climate change and resulting human responses – Princeton University (Princeton, NJ, USA): Until filled

WASH: 3-4 years   33) Head of Department (WASH or Energy) – Sevea (Cambodia): Until filled   34) Project Manager WASH – COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale (Iraq): 21 October   35) WASH & Shelter Project Coordinator – CARE (Turkey): 22 October 5-7 years 36) Local recruitment: Senior Water and Sanitation Engineer – African Development Bank (AfDB) (Nairobi): 17 October   37) Spanish speakers: Consultant to Support the Optimal Sanitation Initiative – Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) (Washington, DC): 21 October   Not specified   38) French speakers: WASH / IPC Specialist – International Medical Corps (DRC): Until filled

Consultancies: 39) Consultant(s) for scoping of "Circular Economy for Water and Sanitation" – Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (Home-Based): 28 October   40) Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Regional Snapshots and Data Analysis – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Home-Based): 16 October   41) Development of Ecosystem-based Adaptation plans with climate change adaptation options for Mekong wetlands – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Home-Based): 20 October   42) Strengthening EAPRO and Country Office Knowledge Management Functions in WASH – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Home-Based): 20 October   43) Green Economy Research Consultant – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Geneva): 23 October   44) Training/E-learning Specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Home-Based): 25 October   45) Portuguese speakers: Sanitation Specialist – Angola Ministry of Energy and Water (Angola): 6 November   46) Ethiopia nationals: ILSSI Project Consultant – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Ethiopia): 15 October

RFP: 47) RFP for Conducting the Baseline Assessment and Survey "Protecting Livelihoods and Assets at Risk from Climate Change Induced Flooding in Glaciated River Basins of Nepal” – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Nepal): 25 October   48) Call for Proposals: Market Research – WaterAid (Zambia): 21 October

Internships: 49) Spanish speakers: Intern (Economic Affairs, Natural Resources Division) – United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)(Chile): 1 November   50) International Internship WASH Section – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Guinea-Bissau): 29 October   51) Swiss university students: Geneva Internship Program – International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) (Geneva): 1 November

Fellowships: 52) The UEA John Innes Foundation Fellow in Sustainable Development – University of East Anglia (United Kingdom): 23 October     Last week’s list, in case you missed it   Post a job   Support Josh’s Water Jobs

2) Additional Jobs from WaterWired

Posted: Last Week

53) Position: @universityofga (Athens, GA) - T or T-T Assistant, Associate or Full Professor - Civil and Environmental Engineering. OUF; Full consideration: 3 November http://bit.ly/2pSgcKe #JobWaWi

54) Position: Salish Kootenai College (Pablo, MT) - Hydrology/Fisheries Instructor. Closes: 4 November.
Download SKC_Hydrology_Fisheries-Instructo_2019

55) Position: OR DFW (Salem, OR) - Natural Resource Specialist 3 (Instream Flow Specialist). Closes: 28 October http://bit.ly/2ITXt83 #JobWaWi #PNWater

56) Position: @fgcu (Ft. Myers, FL) - Assistant/Associate Professor, Environmental Studies in FGCU's new Water School. OUF; Full consideration: 15 November. http://bit.ly/2MuUcNf

57) Position: Lincoln Agritech Ltd. - @LincolnUniNZ (Lincoln, NZ) - Post-Doctoral Modelling Scientist, Environmental Water Research, 3 Year Fixed Term. Closes: 23 October http://bit.ly/2IGqJib

58) Position: Lincoln Agritech Ltd. - @LincolnUniNZ (Hamilton, NZ) - Geophysicist – Environmental Data Analyst. Closes: 18 October http://bit.ly/2oAikpE #JobWaWi

59) Position: @EcologyWA (Vancouver, WA) - Municipal Stormwater Permit Implementation Planner (Environmental Planner 3). Continuous (next screening - submit by 22 October). http://bit.ly/2IHn9o1

60) Position: Harney Community-Based Water Planning (CBWP) Collaborative (Burns, OR, or elsewhere) - Project Manager. Closes: 25 October http://bit.ly/2mc4GYZ #JobWaWi

61) Position: Engineers in Action (HQ: Tulsa, OK, but location flexible) - Executive Director. Download EIA_ED Description-9-2019

62) Position: Illinois State Geological Survey (Chicago area) - Assistant Research Scientist - Coastal Geologist. OUF; Full consideration: 15 November http://bit.ly/2YJMTGw #JobWaWi

Posted: 16 October 2019 

63) Position:@OregonDEQ (The Dalles, Pendleton, or Bend, OR) - Senior Water Quality Permit Writer. Closes: 27 October http://bit.ly/2Bb2xjU #JobWaWi

64) Position: @pewtrusts (Washington, DC) - Principal Associate, Flood-Prepared Communities. http://bit.ly/2oMbvS7 #JobWaWi

65) Position: Long Tom Watershed Council (Eugene area, OR) - Operations Coordinator. Closes: 8 November http://bit.ly/2oOutHF #JobWaWi

66) Position: Monument S & W Conservation District (Monument, OR) -  Assistant Project Manager. OUF. 
Download Monument_ SWCD_Assistant_Project_Manager

Posted: 17 October 2019

67) Position: Oregon WRD (Salem, OR) - Natural Resource Specialist 4 (Technical Coordinator/Analyst). Closes: 31 October. http://bit.ly/2qnzCaf #JobWaWi

68) Position: @IIDatWork (El Centro, CA) - Manager of Planning and Engineering. OUF. http://bit.ly/2IZPZAi #JobWaWi

69) Position: Oregon WRD (Salem, OR) - Executive Support Specialist 2 (Director's Office Executive Support). OUF; First app review: 31 October http://bit.ly/2oGH1RG #JobWaWi

70) Position: @montanastate (Bozeman, MT) - T-T Assistant/Associate Professor of Environmental Systems Science. OUF; App. review: 9 December http://bit.ly/2IZOjXg #JobWaWi

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

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

California Water Jobs 

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! 

"You think of the end of the world, we think of the end of the month."- French Yellow Jackets (via @NaomiAKlein on @hereandnow)

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 14 October 2019

Headed to Honduras next weekend (Friday through Monday). Time to check out a new ACJF village water project in Omoa - just west of Puerto Cortés on the map.

Do you know of a colleague and/or student who would be interested in receiving  these Bulletin Board listings? Please forward this to them. A quick email to Geosciences-BBoard@att.net with the word “subscribe” in the subject line and the email address will  be added to the weekly distribution. 

Here are Elaine's BBs as Word/PDF documents:     

As PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_14October2019

As Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_14October2019

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

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 14 October 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Volcanic vents on Bogoslof Island provide warm nursery for fur seals

• https://www.stripes.com/news/us/home-sweet-volcano-alaska-fur-seals-thrive-at-unlikely-spot-1.601618

Top places to appreciate geology in Texas

• https://www.chron.com/life/travel/article/UT-Austin-top-Texas-geology-14489574.php
• https://store.beg.utexas.edu/special-books/3762-us0006gp-great-places-to-view-texas-geology.html

Dust in ice cores reveals advancement of ice before the Ice Age

• https://phys.org/news/2019-10-ice-cores-knowledge-advancement-age.html

Flipping of the magnetic field of Earth – 80 times in Middle Cambrian – Kotlinian Crisis

• https://sputniknews.com/science/201910031076955902-earth-magnetic-field-extreme-flipping-period/
• https://www.sciencealert.com/earth-s-magnetic-poles-could-flip-more-frequently-than-we-previously-thought

MES, PAM and shallow seismic techniques to characterize Irish Sea and geohazards

• https://afloat.ie/resources/news-update/item/44256-marine-notice-geohazard-investigation-in-irish-sea
• Marine Notice 41 of 2019: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/34788/619c599d9cc94c099b5ca9bcac2e0dfc.pdf#page=1

Estimated 2 million years necessary for oceanic recovery after mass extinction

• https://thenextweb.com/syndication/2019/10/04/study-ocean-ecosystems-take-2-million-years-to-recover-after-mass-extinction/

Private fossil collectors – indulging juvenile fantasies – a controversial hobby

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/09/dinosaur-fossils-collector-feature/

Fossil shark remains at Castellavazzo locality in Italy re-evaluated

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2019/10/05/scientists-uncover-shark-fossil-secrets-in-italy/#1081462b27f7

Herculaneum papyri were carbonized & burnt by eruption of Mount Vesuvius

• https://eu.greekreporter.com/2019/10/06/scientists-find-ancient-greek-texts-on-papyrus-burnt-after-vesuvius-eruption/

Volcanic soils make delicious wines

• https://www.eturbonews.com/285446/volcanic-wines-the-delicious-results-of-a-volcano/

Evidence that large asteroid or comet hit Earth during the Pleistocene – platinum spike in sediments

• https://gizmodo.com/heres-more-evidence-that-earth-got-hit-by-something-hug-1838780501
• http://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2019/2019-10/new-research-supports-hypothesis-that-asteroid-contributed-to-mass-extinction.html

Apocalyptic instantaneous global warming cartoon video

• https://www.businessinsider.com/what-if-all-ice-earth-melted-overnight-2019-10

Developer, architect & civil engineer sentenced to 5 years in prison for partial collapse of Hualien building during M6.0 EQ in February 2018 – negligent homicide for 14 deaths

• http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201910080022.aspx

Ferrodraco lentoni-“Iron dragon” pterosaur – 13-foot wingspan – well-preserved fossil

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/10/new-iron-dragon-pterosaur-found-australia/

Effort to “standardize” paleoclimate terminology & data

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/standardizing-the-surge-of-paleoclimate-data

Long-term impacts of wildfires on watersheds, water & soil properties

• https://eos.org/articles/wildfires-affect-water-resources-long-after-the-smoke-clears

Roundness of sediment deposits may reflect on magnitude of tsunamis

• https://eos.org/articles/gravel-gives-clues-to-the-strength-of-paleotsunamis
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46584-z

Never-before-seen footage of damage of 1931 M7.8 Napier EQ (aka Hawke’s Bay EQ)

• https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/never-before-seen-footage-napier-earthquake-restored-after-nearly-90-years-sitting-in-rusty-cans
• Paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00288306.1990.10425689

Dominica starts well testing for future 7MW geothermal power plant

• https://renewablesnow.com/news/dominica-starts-well-testing-for-7-mw-geothermal-project-672040/

Donegal school part of International Seismology in Schools network recording “anything that makes the earth shake”

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49970817

Plate Tectonics 2.0 - plate tectonics meet slab tectonics – fluid solids – mantle winds – theory evolves

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/plate-tectonics-runs-deeper-than-we-thought/

US Landslide Inventory Map – web-based interactive map in areas of higher risk

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/landslide-risks-highlighted-new-online-tool

USGS estimates 214 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in Appalachian Basin formations

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-estimates-214-trillion-cubic-feet-natural-gas-appalachian-basin-formations
• Marcellus Shale: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2019/3050/fs20193050.pdf
• Point Pleasant & Utica Shale: https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2019/3044/fs20193044.pdf

Ocean plays important role in carbon cycle and climate

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Can_oceans_turn_the_tide_on_the_climate_999.html

NASA CYGNSS fleet aids hurricane forecasts

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_smallsats_can_aid_hurricane_forecasts_with_GPS_999.html

MOSAiC has selected ice floe for year-long drift through the Arctic

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/MOSAiC_expedition_selects_ice_floe_for_drift_through_Arctic_Ocean_999.html

Jason-2/OSTM satellite missions to measure sea surface height successfully ended 1 October

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Successful_ocean_monitoring_satellite_mission_ends_999.html

Orpheus project continues to explore the ocean depths – Part I

• https://www.whoi.edu/news-insights/content/the-rise-of-orpheus/

New seismic networks being deployed around Los Angeles to better estimate susceptibility to seismic shaking – BASIN surveys to assess “urban seismology”

• https://eos.org/science-updates/exposing-los-angeless-shaky-geologic-underbelly

Casey Hanell appointed as Washington State Geologist

• http://www.chronline.com/news/commissioner-of-public-lands-names-new-state-geologist/article_ec8c0bd4-e79c-11e9-a171-2b7653122325.html

Results of ongoing drill program announced by Great Bear Resources Ltd. - Red Lake district, Ontario

• https://www.marketscreener.com/GREAT-BEAR-RESOURCES-LTD-49479181/news/Great-Bear-Resources-Drills-125-00-m-of-1-08-g-t-Gold-Between-Bear-Rimini-and-Yuma-Zones-and-15-0-29360677/?utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=20191010

Multi-beam sonar data of submarine canyons yields clues to process of formation distinct from subaerial

• http://spaceref.com/mars/global-analysis-of-submarine-canyons-on-earth-may-shed-light-on-martian-landscapes.html

Gold porphyry system discovered on western side of Kremice Project in Serbia

• https://www.geologyforinvestors.com/gold-porphyry-system-discovered-at-kremice-project-in-serbia/

Mount Etna erupts plume of ash & smoke

• https://sputniknews.com/europe/201910111077023942-italys-mount-etna-bursts-into-volcanic-activity--volcanology-institute/

In 1774, geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner published “color bible” comprehensive color index to classify minerals & rocks

• https://qz.com/quartzy/1725129/farrow-balls-new-paint-collection-inspired-by-werners-nomenclature-of-colours/
• Treatise: https://archive.org/details/atreatiseonexte00werngoog/page/n71

Photo-essay on folding at Watern Cove

• https://blogs.agu.org/mountainbeltway/2019/10/11/friday-fold-watern-cove/

Medical geology & emerging health challenges – interdisciplinary approach to solving problems

• https://punchng.com/don-urges-geo-scientists-public-health-researchers-collaboration/

China unveils first of its kind fixed-wing airborne geophysical surveying aircraft

http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1010/c90000-9621597.html

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 14 October 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Infection rates of 3 sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, gonorrhea & syphilis) increase for 5^thconsecutive year – highly drug-resistant strains spreading

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/3-sexually-transmitted-diseases-hit-new-highs-again-in-us/ar-AAIsXLB
• https://gizmodo.com/stds-in-america-hit-another-record-high-in-2018-1838883460
• https://time.com/5694560/std-diagnoses-2018/
• Stats by State: https://www.alarms.org/std-statistics/
• CDC Report highlights: https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/default.htm
• CDC Surveillance Report: https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/STDSurveillance2018-full-report.pdf

10 years after M7.0 EQ and promises of Clinton Foundation to rebuild Haiti have failed

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/haiti-and-the-failed-promise-of-us-aid

4 serious concerns with vaping:  acute illness and death, long-term effects, impacts on children – batteries are a fire hazard on airplanes

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/theres-not-just-one-vape-crisis-—-theres-three/ar-AAICXJB
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/flight-attendants-warn-of-catastrophic-fire-risk-from-e-cigarettes/ar-AAIuY0y

USEPA proposes rewrite of rules on lead pipe contamination in drinking water

• https://www.apnews.com/1fcb3ac1ac244773b9cc7eb9fbca9be8

Despite “more efficient” vehicles, population growth & emissions have increased in cities

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/heres-how-much-vehicle-emissions-have-increased-in-your-city/ar-AAIAY1x

Avalanche of used clothing is landing in landfills

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/why-your-used-shirts-are-destined-for-the-dump-and-not-the-recycling-center/ar-AAIa5HW

An Aboriginal view of the land

• https://theconversation.com/new-research-turns-tasmanian-aboriginal-history-on-its-head-the-results-will-help-care-for-the-land-124285
• Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jbi.13684

Raccoons, rabies, and the ongoing oral vaccine program

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/09/massive-effort-eradicate-raccoon-rabies/

Porcupines – they sound like Ewoks

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/porcupines/
• http://mentalfloss.com/article/73129/porcupines-sound-crazed-ewoks

Project to increase capacity of Shasta Reservoir in Northern California has stalled

• https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/water-and-drought/article235713477.html

“Cool pavement” has unwelcomed side effect to make people hotter

• https://www.citylab.com/environment/2019/10/cool-pavement-materials-coating-urban-heat-island-research/599221/

“green” infrastructure projects being planned to address flooding in Pittsburgh

• https://weather.com/forecast-change/marketing/news/2019-10-03-innovative-solution-pittsburgh-flooding-help-other-flood

Recreation versus wildlife – humans versus grizzlies

• https://www.outsideonline.com/2402436/grizzly-bears-habitat-humans

$15M proposed cleanup to removed toxic metals from Eastman Kodak in sediments of Genesee River

• https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/10/04/genesee-river-cleanup-kodaks-silver-pollution-rochester-ny/3856185002/

Mining is necessary to support modern society – leaves scarred land & polluted waters

• https://theconversation.com/mining-powers-modern-life-but-can-leave-scarred-lands-and-polluted-waters-behind-119453

Population – countries with increase – countries with decline

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/these-9-countries-will-make-up-half-the-worlds-population-growth-by-2050/ss-AAHQdHH
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-will-the-population-of-these-40-countries-be-in-2030/ss-AAHPPDi
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/these-countries-have-the-fastest-shrinking-populations-in-the-world/ss-AAHQgjP

Study of Rio Minho watershed in Upper Clarendon to determine flooding risks

• http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/rio-minho-watershed-study-to-determine-flooding-risks_176363

SCOTUS to hear consolidated appeals cases:  grant right-of-way for $7.8B Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross Appalachian Trail on national forest land? Injection of wastewater into wells in Hawaii that migrates to Pacific Ocean

• https://www.enr.com/articles/47725-key-environment-workforce-rulings-are-ahead-for-us-supreme-court

720,000 acres between Bay Area & Fresno opened to potential O&G drilling

• https://www.sfchronicle.com/environment/article/Trump-administration-opens-California-to-new-oil-14491295.php

Legal battle continues as construction proceeds on $2.75B Fargo flood diversion project

• https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/traffic-and-construction/4707550-Construction-of-2.75B-flood-diversion-moves-ahead-south-of-Fargo-while-legal-fight-drags-on

Record setting python officially longest captured in the Big Cypress National Preserve – 18 ft 4 in

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/florida-trappers-capture-record-setting-python-in-everglades/ar-AAImd7p

Nevada attempting to track and prevent deer with CWD (“zombie deer”) from entering the state

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/nevada-fighting-keep-zombie-deer-233848757.html

Florida Crystals Corp. wants early termination of lease to pave way for $1.6B reservoir project within Everglades Agricultural Area

• https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/billion-everglades-reservoir-site-work-could-begin-early-next-year/article_7661b8a0-e6cf-11e9-904d-8374a002b321.html

Texas recognizing flood risk is greater – Austin gets more precipitation – flood risks increasing

• https://www.statesman.com/news/20191003/austin-weighs-code-changes-after-data-show-80-more-structures-at-flood-risk
• Map: https://www.statesman.com/news/20180928/more-extreme-rain-in-austin-could-change-flood-maps

Tourist likely intoxicated - ignored safety warnings – falls into hot spring – gets burned at Yellowstone

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/yellowstone-tourist-injured-after-falling-into-hot-spring/ar-AAI4JQg

“Smart cities” rely more on technology – have greater technological risk for cyber security

• https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/technology/2019/10/stantec-report-hails-smart-cities-for-many-benefits

Agricultural drainage infrastructure may need to be updated – production & environmental impacts

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191007113325.htm

Madrid, Spain, to begin humane slaughter of monk parakeets – over-populated introduced species

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/madrid-to-begin-humane-slaughter-of-parakeets/ar-AAIrwpl

Small Wisconsin town fighting new concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) and environmental impacts – nitrates in groundwater causing birth defects, thyroid disease, cancer

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wisconsin-saratoga-contaminated-drinking-water_n_5d88de57e4b0849d472d29d8

Over-fishing tuna

• https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/04/766786639/were-pulling-tuna-out-of-the-ocean-at-unprecedented-and-unsustainable-rates

Human demand (and taking) of groundwater is leading to a global crisis

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/our-groundwater-use-is-destroying-freshwater-ecosystems/

Manufacture of artificial stone countertops linked to death & irreversible silicosis in workers

• https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/02/766028237/workers-are-falling-ill-even-dying-after-making-kitchen-countertops

Painting cows to look like zebras reduced biting fly attacks – use less pesticide

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/study-cows-zebra-stripes-flies_n_5d9d4b57e4b02c9da040c7da
• Paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0223447

Fund-raising effort to rehabilitate walking paths in Scotland – footpath & mountainside erosion

• https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/campaign-to-save-the-nation-s-walking-paths-for-the-future-is-launched-1-5020728
• https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/over-tourism-and-ignorance-are-damaging-scotland-s-munros-1-5013746

Perspective:  “False profits” – touted as safer solutions for health & environment were not

• https://www.ehn.org/chemistry-creating-environmental-problems-2640659292.html

You are what you eat – eat more takeout, fast food & pizza causes higher levels of toxic PFAS chemicals

• https://www.ehn.org/pfas-in-food-packaging-2640885250.html

Impacts of extensive PG&E power shut down in California – in the name of public safety (and

prevent lawsuits)

• https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/next-part-massive-california-blackouts-200759114.html

• https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2019/10/07/offshore-wind-prompts-fire-watch-possiblepge-shutoffs

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pgande-faces-anger-mistrust-over-power-outages-it-isexcessive/ar-AAIweNt

While some efforts want to remove Glen Canyon Dam – others seek permits for hydropower dams on Little Colorado River

• https://www.apnews.com/f172c0ba69424cf19a7fd7943f234c2f
• Glen Canyon: https://news.yahoo.com/environmentalists-push-removing-dam-along-235958376.html

Sandhill crane population has recovered – so what will humans do?  Shoot them

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/10/sandhill-crane-hunting-opens-alabama/

Believing in and teaching the myth of sustainability

• https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/10/09/tom-abdallah-sustainable-engineering/

Utah DOT repairing damage to drainages due to mudslides & heavy rains in Little Cottonwood Canyon

• https://www.ksl.com/article/46652120/udot-begins-repairing-little-cottonwood-canyon-drainage-after-mudslides

Karst topography raises concerns in Sandusky & Seneca Counties, Ohio, with proposed wind turbines

• https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/local/2019/08/02/fragile-karst-terrain-worries-neighbors-proposed-wind-field/1859554001/

Antimicrobial resistance in food animals (livestock & fowl) in low- to middle-income countries nearly tripled over past two decades

• https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/pu-ari100919.php

German river-cruise ship collided with cargo ship – 5 injured – substantial damage

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/five-people-hurt-and-cabins-torn-open-after-cruiseship-collision/ar-AAIsr0D

Energy redistribution between the atmosphere & ocean

• https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/ioap-hgw101019.php

Coastal  Zone Management Bulletin Board – 14 October 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Coastal sediment cores helping to reveal history of hurricanes

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01102019/hurricane-warm-water-climate-change-historyscience-study-sediment-core-donnelly-muller

Perspective: $1.9B Port of Alaska price could be significantly reduced

• https://www.alaskajournal.com/2019-10-02/consultants-19b-port-alaska-price-could-behalved

$1.96B Puget Sound Gateway program intended to improved connections to ports in Tacoma &

Seattle

• https://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/1-96-billion-puget-sound-gateway-program-launched/

Louisiana still hopeful that redirecting Mississippi River will restore coast

• https://www.apnews.com/b1f7476628cb4251a591d8073ada4ae3

$3M project to study impacts of erosion along Alaskan coastline

• https://news.psu.edu/story/590841/2019/10/01/research/civil-engineer-leads-3m-projectstudy-eroding-alaskan-coastline

USGS documents salt water intrusion at base of Biscayne Aquifer in Miami-Dade County

• https://www.circleofblue.org/2019/world/tracking-the-atlantic-oceans-inland-creep-in-miamidade-county/

• Pamphlet: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3438/sim3438_pamphlet.pdf

• Map: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3438/sim3438.pdf

Food statistics for cruise ships

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/10000-eggs-per-day-and-other-crazy-cruise-shipfood-stats/ss-AAI4qBY

US Army COE says Bourne & Sagamore bridges that cross Cape Cod Canal should be replaced

• https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/10/04/cape-cod-canal-bridges-should-be-replaced-armycorps/

Battle begins over how aggressively beach cities in California must plan for sea-level rise

• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coastal-city-refuses-to-retreat/

Project DUNEX at US Army “Duck Pier” to collect beach data during storms

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2019/10/better-beach-data-goal-of-dunex-project/

Scenic California Highway 1 from San Francisco to Half Moon Bay

• https://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/a-coastal-get-away-down-highwayto-half-moon-bay/article_089807ca-77ac-5332-89c7-a8d9307983ae.html

Bigger offshore wind power turbines may no longer receive subsidies in the UK

• https://fortune.com/2019/10/07/offshore-wind-uk-auction-subsidies/

Offshore winds in California prompt PG&E to possibly shut off power to 30 counties – public not happy

• https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2019/10/07/offshore-wind-prompts-fire-watch-possiblepge-shutoffs

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pgande-faces-anger-mistrust-over-power-outages-it-isexcessive/ar-AAIweNt

Winds continue to hamper offshore fishing in Florida waters

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/sports/fishing-boating/2019/10/07/winds-hamper-offshorefishing-snook-and-tarpon-inshore/3898403002/

Warning: Next offshore oil spill in California will be caused by state war on oil

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckdevore/2019/10/07/californias-next-offshore-oil-spill-willbe-caused-ironically-by-the-states-war-on-oil/#68871bf76535

German river-cruise ship collided with cargo ship – 5 injured – substantial damage

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/five-people-hurt-and-cabins-torn-open-after-cruiseship collision/ar-AAIsr0D

So many people to feed – expecting aquaculture will provide enough

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/seafood-farming-a-key-to-future-global-food-security

• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019GH000204

Coastal acoustic tomography (CAT) system of propagating internal solitary waves in Indonesian

Strait

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/cat-pictures-of-internal-solitary-waves-in-indonesian-strait

Oceanium – amateur divers in Senegal who are removing hundreds of kilos of plastic rubbish

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Divers_fight_Senegals_plastic_tide_999.html

Family on vacation on Fripp Island Beach in South Carolina finds $0.6M worth of cocaine

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/south-carolina-beach-vacationers-find-cocaineshipment-worth-over-half-a-million-police-say/ar-AAIvnFj

First floating nuclear power plant dubbed “Chernobyl on ice” had docked near Alaska

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russias-first-floating-nuclear-power-plant-whichactivists-dubbed-chernobyl-on-ice-has-docked-near-alaska-photos-show-its-journey/ss-AAHPAX6

• https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-floating-nuclear-plant-chernobyl-environmentalconcerns-2019-8

Concerns that sediments in Grand Canal could be polluted – toxic if spread after dredging

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/some-fear-old-military-chemicals-could-get-dredged-upfrom-grand-canal/ar-AAIDYx6

'I appreciate that your research has been cited more often than anyone else in your department but that is because each of your papers has been systematically discredited by future research. In fairness (though quite unintended) you've helped a generation of scholars earn tenure.' - @ass_deans

CRS InFocus Report: 'Water Resources Development Act: Primer'

Two-pager CRS InFocus report by Nicole T. Carter and Anna E. Normand: 'Water Resources Development Act: Primer'.

Download CRS_InFocus_Rpt_WRDA_Primer_30Sept2019

Introduction

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is the typical title that Congress uses for omnibus legislation for authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works activities and directing the agency’s practices. WRDAs are distinguished from each other by referencing the year of enactment (e.g., WRDA 1986). WRDA provisions generally add to or amend the pool of existing USACE authorizations, with a few provisions reauthorizing time-limited USACE programs and some provisions that are intended to deauthorize inactive unconstructed projects. The majority of USACE authorizations do not expire. Most USACE water resource projects require two types of congressional authorization: one for studying feasibility and a subsequent one for construction. Drivers for enactment of a new WRDA typically include nonfederal and congressional interest in new studies and new construction projects and support for adjustments to existing projects, programmatic authorities, and policies.

WRDA 1986 (P.L. 99-662) marked the end of a decade- long stalemate between Congress and the executive branch on cost sharing, user fees, and environmental requirements for USACE projects. Since WRDA 1986, Congress often has considered WRDA legislation on a biennial cycle; the timing of enactment of WRDAs, however, has varied. Themost recent “stand-alone” WRDAs were enacted in 2000, 2007, and 2014. WRDA 2016 (Title I of P.L. 114-322, Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, WIIN) and WRDA 2018 (Title I of P.L. 115-270,America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, AWIA 2018) were enacted as titles in broader water bills. WIIN and AWIA 2018 authorized water-related programs and activities of not only USACE but also other federal agencies.

Cutting to the chase:

116th Congress and WRDA

The extent to which future USACE authorization legislation will be considered independently or as part of broader legislation remains to be seen. Although WRDAs often have received significant support in both chambers, in the past some issues have complicated deliberations and enactment. For example, Congress overcame a presidential veto to enact WRDA 2007.

Various topics may shape future WRDA deliberations, including the status and authorization of specific projects, postflood repair authorities and recovery work, operational changes in basins with contentious water management, and effects of bill provisions on discretionary spending and/or mandatory receipts and spending. Potential topics related to project development include environmental protections and considerations during planning and construction and economic analysis procedures. The use of two trust fundsthat support some of USACE’s navigation activities also isa potential topic.

Numerous projects authorized for construction in previous WRDAs remain unfunded. Similarly, Congress has authorized more USACE studies over recent decades than have received federal funding. Nonfederal sponsors often remain interested in pursuing these unfunded studies and construction activities. A challenge for policymakers is whether, and if so how, to advance these water resource studies and construction activities.

WRRDA 2014, WRDA 2016, and WRDA 2018 all expanded the opportunities for interested nonfederal entities, including private entities, to have greater roles in project development, construction, and financing. While some of these authorities may expedite progress on these projects, they also have the potential to further constrain federal discretion and prioritization of USACE activities. The status of efforts under these and other authorities (e.g., WIFIA) are among the topics that may shape deliberations of future WRDAs. Additionally, Administration proposals and actions and court decisions may affect bill deliberations.

Good stuff!

Enjoy!

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