WaterWired

CRS InFocus Report: 'Weather and Climate Change - What's the Difference?'

Jane A. Leggett is back on the climate track (see yesterday's post) with this CRS two-pager (11 May 2021): 'Weather and Climate Change: What's the Difference?'.

Download CRS_Report_Weather_Climate_Change_Difference_11May2021

Click on the graphics to enlarge them.

Here we go!

With much discussion of climate change in Congress, in the news, and among constituents, some commonly used words may be misunderstood or misused. Below are explanations of several key terms: weather, climate, climate variability, and climate change, as well as some associated concepts.

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, described by such conditions as temperature, precipitation, humidity, cloudiness, and wind speed. Weather can include conditions of the Earth’s water and land surfaces as well, with such variables as wave height and snow cover. Weather conditions can vary rapidly or last up to a few days in the mid-latitudes. NOAA compiles observations from weather stations around the United States, in the oceans, from international sources, and from other federal agencies. NOAA analyzes historical weather data and provides multiday forecasts or seasonal outlooks.

Climate is defined by the long-term statistics of weather compiled for a specified place (Figure 1), including the globe. For example, climate would include the maximum hourly precipitation in July in a particular county over 30 years or the global mean surface temperature from 1900 to 2000. The availability of long-term data varies by location, making climate analysis for some locations challenging.

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information defines U.S. climate normals as “three-decade averages of climatological variables including temperature and precipitation” for defined locations. The most recent climate normal for a defined location uses weather observations for 1991-2020. People use climate normals for a wide array of purposes, such as placing daily weather into a historical context or determining technical specifications for the resilience of buildings and infrastructure against extreme weather.

Climate variability can include several different concepts. Generally, it means the differences from the long-term averages (or other statistics) of climate-related variables, such as precipitation, over longer time or wider areas than individual weather events. Climate variability may describe how a season is above or below the climate normal average for, say, temperature or snowfall. Climate variability may also describe longer, multiyear patterns that are not average, such as when certain large-scale weather patterns occur. An example is the so-called El Niño/La Niña (ENSO) cycle, with cycles of warm and cool periods in the Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere. ENSO phases typically last from nine to 12 months and on average occur every two to seven years. With only climate variability, scientists would expect the climate to reflect historically average conditions.

When the climate continues to change over longer times, climatologists discern climate change. In effect, this means that what was “normal” has shifted. See Figure 2.

Climate change may be discerned when the statistics of the climate (e.g., the climate normal) continue to shift over multiple decades. Distinguishing climate change from climate variability can be challenging. Detecting climate change requires multiple decades of consistently collected measurements. The greater the climate change relative to the variability, the more rapidly scientific detection can occur. Observers have pointed to this as one reason that scientists did not reach consensus until the 1990s that the Earth’s climate had changed over the 20th century. Global warming is one aspect of climate change; it is a sustained increase of global average temperature, usually measured at the surface of the Earth, though it may also be measured at specific altitudes in the atmosphere.

Attributing Climate Variability and Climate Change to Different “Forcings”
A number of factors drive climate variability and climate change. Some factors are internal to the climate system, and some, such as solar variability or human-related greenhouse gas emissions, are external forcings. Each factor has its own rhythm and pattern, temporally ranging from less than a year to tens of thousands of years. Geographically, some forcings have stronger regional or hemispheric effect, while others are global. The temporal and geographical characteristics of each is like a fingerprint on the climate system. Using such “fingerprints,” with sufficient observations and powerful computing systems, the 2017 U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA4) concluded:

It is extremely likely [>95%] that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence.

For more information about scientific assessments of climate change, see CRS Report R45086, Evolving Assessments of Human and Natural Contributions to Climate Change, by Jane A. Leggett.

Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Some extreme weather can lead to emergencies or disasters. Not all extreme weather events can be attributed to climate change. Nonetheless, climate models project that some events that would be extreme in the current climate—such as daily maximum temperatures higher than 92oF in July in Topeka (Figure 1)—would occur more and more frequently as the Earth’s climate warms with continued greenhouse gas emissions. Extremely cold days are expected to become less frequent with global warming.

According to the 2017 NCA4, since the mid-20th century “[s]ome extremes have already become more frequent, intense, or of longer duration, and many extremes are expected to continue to increase or worsen.” As examples, “what in the past have been considered to be extreme precipitation events are becoming more frequent” on most continents, and “[t]he annual minimum and maximum sea ice extent have decreased over the last 35 years.” However, “[w]hether global trends in high-intensity tropical cyclones are already observable is a topic of active debate.”

So while not all extreme weather experienced today can be attributed to climate change, climate change may make some of today’s extreme events more likely (especially those related to high temperatures, hydrological drought, or heavy precipitation). Scientists use complex attribution studies, such as “fingerprinting,” to draw such conclusions.

Global Change Is Broader Than Climate Change
Another concept, broader than climate change, is that of global change. The Global Change Research Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-606) defined it as “changes in the global environment (including alterations in climate, land productivity, oceans or other water resources, atmospheric chemistry, and ecological systems) that may alter the capacity of the Earth to sustain life.

Well, I did it again - I pasted the entire two pager. There is a lot of information packed in it.

This one-minute video from Norway may help you understand the difference between climate and weather.

Enjoy!

“Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.” – Robert A. Heinlein

CRS Reports: 1) 'Climate Change - Defining Adaptation and Resilience w/ Implications for Policy; 2) 'Climate Change and U.S. Financial Regulators'

1) Jane A. Leggett wrote this CRS InFocus report (11 May 2021):'Climate Change: Defining Adaptation and Resilience, with Implications for Policy'. 

Download CRS_InFocus_Adaptation_Resilience_Policy_Implications_11May2021

Introduction
Congress has increased its attention to risks that climate variability and change pose to communities, the economy, and other dimensions of society. Legislative provisions related to climate change have referenced resilience or adaptation. Federal, state, and local agencies, and other stakeholders, often intend different meanings when they refer to resilience and climate change adaptation.

This product presents selected definitions in use for resilience and climate change adaptation, and describes trends and evolutions in use related to climate change. To assist Congress as it considers proposals to enhance adaptation and resilience, and exercises its appropriations and oversight functions, this product seeks to clarify and identify some of the choices implied by differences among definitions. Terms used and definitions provided in legislation, regulation, and guidance may shape how executive agencies or the courts interpret congressional direction and its implementation. Congress may wish to consider whether to clarify terms in legislation or to give discretion to the executive branch. Statutory language may be broad, precise, or ambiguous.

Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
Grammatically, adaptation is a process, action, or sometimes the result of the action, whereas resilience is a condition or capacity. In practice, the distinctions and relationship between the two terms are more complicated, with numerous definitions used for each. A CRS review of definitions used by federal agencies and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that there are notable differences between the two concepts of adaptation and resilience in the context of climate change. Additionally, there are differences among entities in their definitions of a single term. The differences suggest potentially important nuances that may have policy and implementation consequences. Some agencies and stakeholders appear to use adaptation and resilience interchangeably or to poorly distinguish their meanings.

Over the past decade, CRS has observed a general shift from a prevalence in federal use of the term climate change adaptation to a rise in the term resilience in the context of climate change. Resilience also has become more prevalent as an objective of risk reduction more generally. The shift in use of the terms in the context of climate change policy may connote change in the concept or approach, a reduction of priority for climate change adaptation, greater integration of climate change risk management into multi-hazard management efforts, or political sensitivity to explicit references to “climate change.”

Definition of Climate Change Adaptation
Scientific and programmatic literature defines adaptation in various ways. Below are a few examples among the variety of definitions. The IPCC defines adaptation as

[t]he process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.… (Noble et al. 2014)

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), in its Glossary, defines adaptation as “adjustment in natural or human systems in response to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities or moderates negative effects.” The Fourth National Climate Assessment, also associated with the USGCRP, says that “[a]daptation refers to actions taken at the individual, local, regional, and national levels to reduce risks from even today’s changed climate conditions and to prepare for impacts from additional changes projected for the future.”

The interagency U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit takes a narrower approach, defining adaptation as “the process of adjusting to new (climate) conditions in order to reduce risks to valued assets.” The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has defined adaptation as “adjustments to natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate change.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture takes a slightly different approach: “Adaptation refers to the process of finding ways to prepare for and flexibly respond to changes in climate.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has long used mitigation as “any sustained action to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.” Although not described as adaptation, many of FEMA’s mitigation efforts may support adaptation to climate changes.

Definitions and Uses of Resilience
The IPCC, in a 2012 report on disaster risk management, defines resilience as “the ability of a system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a potentially hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner…” The USGCRP Glossary defines resilience as “a capability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, the economy, and the environment.” The interagency U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit defines resilience as “[t]he capacity of a community, business, or natural environment to prevent, withstand, respond to, and recover from a disruption.”

The Department of Defense (DOD) uses a general definition of resilience when addressing climate change adaptation: the “ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions” (DOD Directive 4715.21). Climate change adaptation and resilience measures are often implemented as part of DOD-wide resiliency efforts carried out by the Military Services. For example, the Air Force approach to “installation resilience” includes assessing and preparing for any event that could disrupt the operations of its installations—be they manmade accidents and attacks, or natural disasters.

Congress (in Section XXX of P.L. 115-254) directed FEMA to define for its use the terms resilient and resiliency. The agency has not completed this process.

Takeaways from the Variety of Definitions
Examination of the differences among definitions and uses points to elements that may be important for understanding intentions or for decisionmaking. Some uses appear only to address sudden-onset events, such as hurricanes or flash flooding; others would also encompass slow onset or chronic conditions, such as mean temperature increases, seasonal changes (e.g., change in timing of snowmelt), or shifting ranges of disease-bearing insects. 

Climate change adaptation seems most often—but not always—associated with new conditions or forward-looking expectations. For both terms, when the objective is forward-looking, adaptation may imply a longer time horizon than resilience. 

Adaptation often implies altering a system to accommodate persistent or long-term anticipated changes in the climate; this may involve system alterations that may not be necessary to enhance resilience to a static climate condition. Resilience is sometimes (but not always) considered as withstanding a hazard with a return to predisturbance conditions, or “bouncing back.” This can raise questions for federal actions as to whether their objectives are to return a system to its predisaster form or function, or to transform systems more profoundly in order to avoid risks while maintaining welfare or services in an evolving environment. Some in the climate change adaptation community see the desired outcome as systems well adapted to future climate conditions; this may go beyond some resilience concepts. For example, well adapted may entail removing development from a high-hazard location and not merely building hazard resilience. In other words, adaptation may favor removing structures rather than elevating them. 

Until the 2010s, the climate change policy community used adaptation most often as the potential process of addressing impacts of climate change; it was less often conceived in a context encompassing nonclimate hazards, such as earthquakes. In contrast, resilience is often raised within a scope of multiple climate and nonclimate hazards, and is often used to characterize the capacity of a system (e.g., community, subpopulation, business, or ecosystem). 

Additionally, resilience appears rarely to incorporate taking advantage of emerging opportunities in a changing climate. Although adaptation is often associated with adjustments to avoid negative consequences, it is also often associated with seeking opportunities and new benefits of change. 

Implications for Congress
Generally, noting the distinctions between adaptation and resilience, as in the IPCC’s definitions, can help clarify policy implications. Uses may continue to evolve over time. 

If Congress addresses climate change adaptation or resilience, it may clarify its intent by providing definitions, or leave definitions to federal agencies, or to interpretation by the courts if litigated. Some recent bills include adaptation and resilience in their definitions sections. Executive agencies may promulgate definitions through formal means or use flexible guidance or communications. Using the terms interchangeably may leave confusion and create uncertainty for stakeholders as to scope and federal intent, and may complicate Congress’s oversight and assessments of performance and effect of federal efforts. 

If Congress addresses objectives and definitions regarding adaptation or resilience, it would face several questions, such as whether the term or terms used are to

 cover responses to sudden-onset risks or events and/or slow-onset risks, or both?

 apply to climate change-related risks, or to climate hazards in the context of multiple hazards?

 be explicit about anticipating and preparing for evolving future risks (i.e., use of climate change projections), or indicate use of historical data or recent climate conditions or risks?

 include making durable changes in anticipation of current or future conditions, or focus on recovery to predisruption status?

 allow for transformational change of the underlying system at risk as well as incremental change?

 seek potentially beneficial opportunities, not just avoid risks or adverse conditions?

 incorporate social aspects of adaptation and/or resilience, including capacity, equity, and other dimensions?

 suggest the level of acceptable risk implied in being well adapted or resilient? What is the outcome sought?

I got so carried away that I pasted the entire two-pager above!

2) From Rena S. Miller comes this Insight (11 May 2021) report: 'Climate Change and U.S. Financial Regulators: Overview and Recent Actions'

Download CRS_Insight_Climate_Change_Financial Regulators_Overview_Recent_Actions_11May2021

There are numerous hot links in the online/PDF versions. I will post just the first section below,

Under the Biden Administration, financial regulators have announced a range of new measures to address financial risks associated with climate change. The Treasury Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Reserve have each announced new steps:

•   The Treasury’s announcement covers a range of issues including public spending, macroeconomic effects, and international cooperation.

•   The SEC’s addresses investor disclosure requirements relating to climate risks and the classification of funds marketed to investors as environmentally friendly.

•   The Fed’s relates to lending risks for individual financial institutions and to systemic financial risks related to climate change.

  This Insight provides an overview of these actions and how they interrelate.

Enjoy!

"Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." - Mark Twain

Josh's Water Jobs and More! - 11 May 2021

From Josh:

A gentle reminder that we have our call for photos out until 4 June…

1) Josh's Jobs

Highlighted:

1) Global Water Director – World Resources Institute (WRI) (Various): Until filled
 
2) Programme Specialist (Water & Climate Resilience) – Global Water Partnership - Southern Africa (GWP-SA) (South Africa): 28 May
 
3) Local recruitment: Senior Technical Officer (Water Security Questionnaire) – CDP(London): 24 May
 
4) Global Evidence Building Consultant (Blue Schools and WASH in HCF) – Swiss Water and Sanitation Consortium (SWSC) (Home-Based): 25 May
 
5) WaSH Lessons Learned Researcher - COVID-19 – IMMAP (Home-Based): 4 June

Deadline today (11 May)!

6) U.S. nationals: Hydrologic Technician – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (East Hartford, CT, USA): 11 May

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

7) Program Manager (Imagine H2O Asia) – Imagine H2O (Singapore): Until filled
 
8) Whole of Syria: Environment and Climate Change Programme Officer – ACTED(Jordan): 23 May
 
9) Program Specialist (Climate Program) – World Resources Institute (WRI)(Various): Until filled
 
10) Analyst (Climate Risk) – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (London): 16 May
 
11) New Zealand nationals: Hydrology Officer – Taranaki Regional Council (New Zealand): 16 May
 
12) Local recruitment: Sustainable Development Officer (WMA) – Water Management Alliance (United Kingdom): 21 May
 
13) Local recruitment: Senior Sustainable Development Officer (Planning) – Water Management Alliance (United Kingdom): 21 May
 
14) Local recruitment: River Restoration Officer (Severn Uplands) – Severn Rivers Trust (Severn Uplands, U.K., Home-Based): 23 May
 
15) Local recruitment: Water Science and Environmental Consultancy (Environment and Sustainability - Industrial Placement) – Arup (United Kingdom): 16 May
 
16) Local recruitment: Scientific Officer (SCO) SWELL Project Water Quality Monitoring Support – Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)(Northern Ireland): 21 May
 
17) Local recruitment: Scientific Officer (HSO) SWELL Project Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator – Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)(Northern Ireland): 21 May
 
18) Water Resources Modeler – Stantec (Ottawa, ON, Canada): Until filled
 
19) Junior Hydrologist – BBA (Various, Canada): Until filled
 
20) Water Evaluation Project Manager – University of California-Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz or Salton Sea, CA, USA): 19 May
 
21) Water Resources Scientist/Developer – RTI International (Durham, NC, USA): Until filled
 
22) Community Relations Specialist – Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science Inc. (CUAHSI) (Cambridge, MA, USA): Until filled
 
23) Local recruitment: Member Programs & Development Associate – Delaware Riverkeeper Network (Bristol, PA, USA): Until filled
 
24) Monitoring & Data Technician – New Mexico Highlands University (Las Vegas, NM, USA): Until filled
 
25) Hydro Systems Oversight Coordinator – Yakama Nation (Toppenish, WA, USA): 14 May – PhD required
 
26) Watershed Technician 2 – West Virginia Conservation Agency (Charleston, WV, USA): 19 May
 
27) Restoration Specialist – Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District (UWSWCD) (Eugene, OR, USA): 24 May
 
28) Ground Water Analyst – Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)(Lewiston, ID, USA): 24 May
 
29) Research Assistant – Sanford Federal (Alexandria, VA, USA): Until filled

3-4 years
 
30) Network Coordination Officer (UN-HABITAT; GWOPA) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Nairobi): 12 May
 
31) Italian speakers: Hydraulic and Groundwater Engineer – AECOM (Italy): Until filled
 
32) Kenya nationals: Associate Programme Officer (UN Environment) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Nairobi): 13 May
 
33) New Zealand nationals: Senior Water Quality Science Officer – Gisborne District Council (New Zealand): 24 May
 
34) Local recruitment: Soar Senior Project Manager – Trent Rivers Trust (United Kingdom): 24 May
 
35) Water and Plastics Communications Manager – Environmental Defence Inc.(Ottawa and Toronto, ON, Canada): 19 May
 
36) Local recruitment: Civil Engineer I (Flood Management Engineer) – City of Vancouver (Vancouver, BC, Canada): 21 May
 
37) Sales Manager (Insight Service) – BlueTech Research (Canada or U.S.A., Home-Based): Until filled
 
38) Colorado Basin Program Manager – WaterNow Alliance (Edgewater, CO, USA): 24 May
 
39) Manager (Program Operations) – Ocean Conservancy (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
40) Senior Manager (Government Relations) – Ocean Conservancy (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
41) Local recruitment: Engagement Manager – Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) (Arlington, MA, USA): Until filled
 
42) Environmental Engineer (Capital Replacement Liaison) – NEIWPCC (Kingston, NY, USA): 21 May
 
43) Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program Coordinator (Program Analyst 3) – Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Portland, OR, USA): 25 May
 
44) Chispa National Campaign Manager – League of Conservation Voters (U.S.A., Home-Based): 28 May

45) Research Analyst – NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (Brooklyn, NY, USA): 17 May
 
46) Local recruitment: Surface Water Quality Standards Team Leader (Scientist Manager I) – State of South Dakota (Pierre, SD, USA): 17 May
 
47) Watershed Scientist – Denver Water Department (Denver, CO, USA): 20 May
 
48) Program Director (Revolutionizing California Water) – Friends of the River(Sacramento, CA, USA): Until filled

5-7 years
 
49) Investment Operations Specialist / Senior Specialist (Water) – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) (Beijing): 27 May
 
50) Environmental Affairs Officer (Water Convention) – United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (Geneva): 12 May
 
51) Ecosystem Manager – Imagine H2O (Home-Based): Until filled
 
52) Spanish speakers: Technical Advisor II (Water Smart Agriculture Science and Research Advisor) – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (Latin America and Caribbean): Until filled
 
53) Coordinator (m/f/d) UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (Berlin): Until filled
 
54) French speakers: Green Growth Program Officer – Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) (Ivory Coast): 18 May
 
55) Communications Specialist – United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) (Geneva): 19 May
 
56) Senior Scientific Officer – International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) (India): 21 May
 
57) Programme Management Officer – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Athens): 19 May
 
58) Manager (Environmental Field Operations, Supply Chain, including water) – adidas (Vietnam): Until filled
 
59) Lead Civil Engineer – United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)(Zambia): 20 May
 
60) Danish speakers: Sektorrådgiver – The Embassy of Denmark in Morocco(Morocco): 17 May
 
61) Danish speakers: Sektorrådgiver – The Embassy of Denmark in Ethiopia(Ethiopia): 19 May
 
62) Iraq nationals: Irrigation Engineer – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Iraq): 19 May
 
63) South Africa nationals: Control Biodiversity Officer Grade A (Water Resources and Wetlands Conservations) – South Africa Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries (South Africa): 24 May
 
64) Local recruitment: Senior Catchment Manager (East) – Trent Rivers Trust (U.K., Home-Based): 24 May
 
65) German speakers: Analyst (Environmental Impact Accounting) – South Pole(Berlin): Until filled
 
66) Kiswahili speakers: Programme Associate – World Food Programme (WFP)(Kenya): 19 May
 
67) Bangladesh nationals: Project Officer (SIDA Programme on Environment and Climate Change) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Bangladesh): 22 May
 
68) Ingénieur(e) Chargé(e) de projets – Hydrologie/Hydraulique des cours d’eau – Tetra Tech (Québec, QC, Canada): Until filled
 
69) Canada nationals: Drinking Water Operations Specialist – Government of Alberta(Edmonton, AB, Canada): 17 May
 
70) Canada nationals: Senior Water Management Technologist – Government of Alberta (Lethbridge, AB, Canada): 25 May
 
71) Communications and Outreach Manager – WaterNow Alliance (San Francisco, CA, USA): Until filled
 
72) Freshwater Scientist – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Boulder, CO, USA): Until filled
 
73) Restoration Ecologist – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Toledo, OH, USA): 28 May
 
74) Stream and Wetland Restoration Specialist – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(Harrisburg, PA, USA): Until filled
 
75) Groundwater Modeler – Texas Water Development Board (Austin, TX, USA): Until filled
 
76) Consultant (Water Utilities) – Esri (Chesterbrook, PA, USA): Until filled
 
77) Consultant (Water Utilities) – Esri (Redlands, CA, USA): Until filled
 
78) Consultant (Water Utilities) – Esri (Louisville, CO, USA): Until filled
 
79) Consultant (Water Utilities) – Esri (Dallas, TX, USA): Until filled
 
80) Contract Production Sustainability Manager (including water) – Impossible Foods(Redwood City, CA, USA): Until filled

8-9 years
 
81) Local recruitment: Environmental Specialist – The World Bank (Senegal): 21 May
 
82) Local recruitment: Environmental Specialist – The World Bank (Benin): 21 May
 
83) Local recruitment: Project Coordinator St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Re-advertisement) = United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (St. Vincent and the Grenadines): 15 May
 
84) Lower Rio Grande Manager – State of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM, USA): 15 May
 
85) Water Resources Allocation Program (WRAP) - Program Administrator – New Mexico Office of the State Engineer (Santa Fe, NM, USA): Until filled

10+ years
 
86) Director (Freshwater & Food Transformation) – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
87) Director (Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences) – United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (Paris): 21 May
 
88) French speakers: Director General – Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) (Samoa): 19 May
 
89) Australia nationals: National Lead (Urban Water) – Alluvium Consulting(Australia): 21 May
 
90) Director (Water Resources) – Tetra Tech (Irvine, CA, USA): Until filled
 
91) Director (Water for Development) – RTI International (Various, USA): Until filled

Not specified:
 
92) Manager (Dry Factories; Water Stewardship) – Philip Morris International (Italy): Until filled
 
93) Italian speakers: Manager Environmental Sustainability Water – Philip Morris International (Italy): Until filled
 
94) Lead Remote Sensing Specialist – UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) (United Kingdom): 24 May
 
95) Project Officer – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)(Vienna): 24 May
 
96) Director (Blue Climate Strategy) – Conservation International (CI) (Home-Based): Until filled
 
97) Director (Water Resources and Technologies) – The Coca-Cola Company(Various): Until filled
 
98) Netherlands nationals: Adviseur waterbeheer – Rijkswaterstaat (Netherlands): 24 May
 
99) Netherlands nationals: Adviseur natuur en ecologische waterkwaliteit – Rijkswaterstaat (Netherlands): 24 May
 
100) Netherlands nationals: Senior beleidsmedewerker rivieren – Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (Netherlands): 25 May
 
101) Dutch speakers: Senior Adviseur/Onderzoeker Grondwater – Deltares(Netherlands): Until filled
 
102) Program Manager (Environmental Compliance, Data Centers) – Google(Belgium): Until filled
 
103) German speakers: Berater*in für die umwelt- und klimapolitische Zusammenarbeit des BMU für die Länder Subsahara-Afrikas, Zentralasiens und des Mittleren Ostens – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)(Berlin): 23 May
 
104) Local recruitment: Principal Policy Officer Drought Response – Government of New South Wales (Various, NSW, Australia): 17 May
 
105) Australia nationals: Engineer (Water) – Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government (Dickson, ACT, Australia): 21 May
 
106) Local recruitment: Program Manager (Food, Forests, Water and Ocean Program) – World Resources Institute (WRI) (Sydney, NSW, Australia): 21 May
 
107) Australia nationals: Program Leader (Minor Water Assets) – Government of South Australia (Adelaide, SA, Australia): 15 May
 
108) Local recruitment: Senior Project Officer (Floodplain Management) – Government of New South Wales (Various, NSW, Australia): 19 May
 
109) Local recruitment: Head of Project Development (Nature-based solutions) – Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) (United Kingdom): 19 May
 
110) Senior Water Quality Consultant – Ricardo Energy & Environment (U.K., Home-Based): 19 May
 
111) Local recruitment: Riverlution Officer – River Stewardship Company (United Kingdom): 21 May
 
112) Local recruitment: Interim CEO (Maternity Cover) – South East Rivers Trust (SERT) (U.K., Home-Based): 24 May
 
113) U.K. nationals: Environmental Adviser – United Kingdom Ministry of Defence(Cyprus): 19 May
 
114) Senior Field Scientist – APEM Limited (United Kingdom): 21 May
 
115) Knowledge & Learning Manager (Nature-based Solutions) – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (United Kingdom): 23 May
 
116) Senior Hydrographic Scientist – APEM Limited (United Kingdom): 24 May
 
117) Canada nationals: Soils and Water Research Assistant – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada): 18 May
 
118) Water quality field technician – Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA)(Arlington, MA, USA): Until filled
 
119) Associate (Environmental Law & Natural Resources) – JBA International(Washington, DC): Until filled
 
120) Communications and Programs Coordinator – Clackamas River Basin Council(Clackamas, OR, USA): 17 May
 
121) Research & Legal Associate – Delaware Riverkeeper Network (Bristol, PA, USA): Until filled
 
122) Director (Water Equity & Climate Resilience) – PolicyLink (Oakland, CA, USA): Until filled
 
123) Water Planner – State of Indiana (Indianapolis, IN, USA): Until filled
 
124) U.S. nationals: Hydrologist – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Richmond, VA, USA): 14 May
 
125) Environmental Specialist II – Virginia Department of Environmental Quality(Virginia Beach, VA, USA): 14 May
 
126) U.S. nationals: Supervisory Hydrologist – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)(Lawrenceville, NJ, USA): 14 May
 
127) U.S. nationals: Lead Interdisciplinary Hydrologist/Civil Engineer (Hydrologic) – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Boulder City, NV, USA): 17 May
 
128) U.S. nationals: Physical Scientist – U.S. National Park Service (Bushkill, PA, USA): 17 May
 
129) U.S. nationals: Hydrologist – U.S. Forest Service (USFS) (Arcadia, CA, USA): 18 May

Academic:

• Professors/lecturers

130) Assistant or Associate Professor (Natural Resources) – Cornell University(Ithaca, NY, USA): Until filled
 
131) TT Assistant Prof. (education profile) Integrated Land Use & Ecosystem Services – University of Groningen (Netherlands): 24 May
 
132) South African nationals: Lecturer NGAP (Hydrology) – University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa): 24 May
 
133) Dutch speakers: Assistant Professor Environmental Sciences – Open Universiteit (Netherlands): 20 May
 
134) German speakers: Professor in "Climate Change Hydrology" (W2) – Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (Germany): 24 May

• Postdocs

135) Postdoctoral Research Associate in Coastal Hydrogeology and Water Quality – Texas A&M University (Corpus Christi, TX, USA): Until filled
 
136) RECONECT Postdoctoral Researcher – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education(Netherlands): 14 May
 
137) Post-doctoral position in environmental law – Lund University (Sweden): 19 May
 
138) Local recruitment: Postdoctoral Researcher in Water Distribution Systems Resilience – U.S. Department of Defense (Dayton, OH, USA): Until filled

• Researchers/other

139) Digital Water Systems Modelling Engineer (KTP Associate) – University of Exeter (United Kingdom): 23 May
 
140) Research Scientist Hydrologist – The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Canberra, ACT, Australia): 23 May
 
141) Research Fellow (Groundwater) – National University of Singapore (NUS)(Singapore): Until filled
 
142) Regional Climate Resilience Planning Research Assistant – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA, USA): Until filled
 
143) RBC Field and Lab Technician – University of Georgia (Athens, GA, USA): Until filled
 
144) Agricultural Systems Modeller – University of Tasmania (Launceston, TAS, Australia): 31 May
 
145) Animal nutrition sustainability assessment through the Water-Energy-Food nexus approach, Food security, animal nutrition, environmental sustainability – Politecnico di Milano (Italy): 19 May
 
146) Updating flood hazard maps - operational plan of 2021, Mapping flood hazard for APSFR Milano Nord – Politecnico di Milano (Italy): 19 May
 
147) Earth Observation Technologies for Irrigation in Mediterranean Environments – MIUR (Italy): 21 May
 
148) Italian speakers: Development of machine learning algorithms for hydrological and hydraulic applications – National Research Council - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (Italy): 21 May
 
149) Local recruitment: Human Health Water Research – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, DC): 19 May
 
150) Research Associate – Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) (Spring, TX, USA): Until filled

WASH:

0-2 years

151) French speakers: Un/e responsable de programme EAH – Action Contre La Faim (ACF) (Madagascar): Until filled

152) Local recruitment: Field Executive (Behaviour Change Communication Program) – empowHER India (India): 20 May
 
153) Local recruitment: WASH and Groundwater Specialist – Groundwater Relief(United Kingdom): 20 May
 
154) Local recruitment: Programs Specialist (Latin America and Caribbean) – Water Mission International (Charleston, SC, USA): Until filled
 
155) Program Reporting Services Officer – The Water Project (Concord, NH, USA): Until filled

3-4 years
 
156) Project Manager AICS (WaSH) – COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale(Sudan): 17 May
 
157) Chief Operating Officer – Water Charity (Home-Based): Until filled
 
158) Engineering Manager – Amazi Water (Burundi): 27 May
 
159) French speakers: Chef de Projet WASH ATPC – INTERSOS (Chad): 20 May
 
160) Local recruitment: Project Supervisor (Clean Drinking Water) – empowHER India (India): 20 May
 
161) Turkey nationals: WASH & Shelter Project Officer – IYD International Humanitarian Relief Association (Turkey): 16 May
 
162) Thailand nationals: Senior Emergency WASH Coordinator – International Rescue Committee (IRC) (Thailand): 20 May

5-7 years

163) WASH Consultant – World Health Organization (WHO) (Sudan): 17 May
 
164) Engineering Director – Amazi Water (Burundi): 27 May
 
165) WASH Advisor for Whole of Syria – Relief International (Jordan): Until filled
 
166) WASH Coordinator – FHI 360 (Yemen): Until filled

167) French and German speakers: Country Director – Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA) (Mali): 31 May
 
168) French speakers: Senior Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Systems Advisor for USAID/Mali – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (Mali): 21 May
 
169) Programme Associate WASH – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)(Colombia): 16 May
 
170) Local recruitment: Global Policies & Governance Director – Water Mission International (Charleston, SC, USA): Until filled
 
171) Local recruitment: Engineering Manager (Technical Standards) – Water Mission International (Charleston, SC, USA): Until filled

8-9 years
 
172) Strategic Communications and Learning Manager, USAID Urban Resilience Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene (UR-WSSH) project – Institute for Development Impact (I4DI) (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
173) E-WASH Senior Technical Writer Consultant – RTI International (Washington, DC): Until filled

10+ years

174) Chief of Party (USAID Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnership and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS 2)) – Social Impact (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
175) Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Partnership and Learning for Sustainability (WASHPaLS 2) – Social Impact (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
176) Deputy Chief of Party (WASHPALS 2) – DevWorks (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
177) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Services Lead (USAID Urban Resilient Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene) – Social Impact (Arlington, VA, USA): Until filled
 
178) Portuguese speakers: Chief of Party (WASH) – Chemonics (Mozambique): 22 May
 
179) Sector Lead, WASH (Contractual); Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme – Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) (Bangladesh): 13 May
 
180) Coordinator (Health and the Environment) – World Health Organization (WHO)(Philippines): 24 May
 
181) Water and Sewerage Utility Engineer – AZOROM (The Gambia): 21 May
 
182) Local recruitment: Director (US Global Hub of the Future Earth Secretariat and Chief Executive Officer) – Future Earth (Boulder, CO, USA): 20 May
 
Not specified
 
183) French speakers: Responsable programme urgence – Solidarités International(Mali): Until filled
 
184) Urban WASH and Waste Officer – Practical Action (United Kingdom): 23 May
 
185) WASH Officer – Save the Children (Afghanistan): 15 May
 
186) German speakers: Ingenieur für Wasserversorgungsinfrastruktur (m/w/d) – Centrum für internationale Migration und Entwicklung (CIM) (Grenada): Until filled
 
187) Local recruitment: Senior Partnership Communications Advisor – WaterAid(London): 23 May
 
188) Local recruitment: Project Coordinator WASH Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) – Plan International (Papua New Guinea): 16 May
 
189) Local recruitment/Spanish speakers: Community Water Coordinator (Water Rights) – Nuestra Casa (East Palo Alto, CA, USA): Until filled

Consultancies:

190) Safely managed sanitation consultant – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (New York): 13 May
 
191) Water - Agriculture Nexus Advisor/Consultancy – DevWorks (Home-Based): Until filled
 
192) Development of five-years Hygiene and Environmental Health (HEH) Strategy and strategic action plan for UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Ethiopia): 17 May
 
193) French speakers: Consultant Mission de réalisation de deux études de cas sur la gestion et l’exploitation durables des pêcheries – Global Water Partnership - West Africa (GWP-WA) (Home-Based): 30 May
 
194) Consultancy service to develop a GCF SAP Concept Note and Funding Proposal – Global Water Partnership (GWP) (Lesotho): 14 May
 
195) Reverse Osmosis Desalination Expert – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Sri Lanka): 13 May
 
196) Climate Impacts on Agricultural Water Resources for Food Security in East Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) (Home-Based): 14 May
 
197) Consultancy on Environmental Affairs – United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (Ethiopia): 12 May
 
198) Spanish speakers: Regional Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Scoping Consultancy – United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (Uruguay): 21 May
 
199) National Political Economic Assessment (PEA) on WASH and Climate Change – WaterAid (Eswatini): 21 May
 
200) French speakers: Mission de consultation pour l’appui technique à l’équipe du PREE en matière de gouvernance des ressources naturelles, de droits et de gestion des conflits – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Burkina Faso): 19 May
 
201) Environmental, Disaster and Climate Risk Management Consultant (Environmental and Social Risk Management Unit) – Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) (Washington, DC): 19 May
 
202) WASH for Business Consulting Expert – Food Enterprise Solutions (Arlington, VA, USA): 22 May
 
203) Spanish speakers: Sistematización de la experiencia de Implementación del Programa Agua y Suelo para la Agricultura (ASA) de CRS en México – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (Mexico): 21 May
 
204) Swahili speakers: Scoping and prioritization of value chains that hold the biggest opportunity to build climate resilience for the target communities and landscapes – Conservation International (CI) (Kenya): 18 May
 
205) Local recruitment: Consultant on climate and sustainable development to develop the National Concept of Environmental Security of the Kyrgyz Republic – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Kyrgyzstan): 19 May
 
206) Local recruitment: Consultant on methodology to develop the National Concept of Environmental Security of the Kyrgyz Republic – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Kyrgyzstan): 20 May
 
207) Local recruitment: Consultant on strategic planning and ecological management to develop the National Concept of Environmental Security of the Kyrgyz Republic – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Kyrgyzstan): 20 May
 
208) Local recruitment: Consultant on complex environmental protection to develop the National Concept of Environmental Security of the Kyrgyz Republic – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Kyrgyzstan): 20 May
 
209) Local recruitment: Consultant on ecological and economic mechanisms of environmental management to develop the National Concept of Environmental Security of the Kyrgyz Republic – Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Kyrgyzstan): 20 May

210) Local recruitment: Specialist for data collection – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Azerbaijan): 20 May
 
211) Egypt nationals: Consultant to develop a postgrad course package on climate change adaptation – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Home-Based): 12 May

RFP:

212) French speakers: Consultant pour Mission de réalisation d’un diagnostic prospectif du Massif du Fouta Djallon – Global Water Partnership - West Africa (GWP-WA) (Home-Based): 30 May

Internships:

213) Internship (Hydrological user requirements) – World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (Geneva): 24 May
 
214) Administrative Support Intern – Agenda for Change (Home-Based): 21 May
 
215) Local recruitment: Summer Intern (Imagine H2O Asia) – Imagine H2O(Singapore): Until filled
 
216) Marine Programme Intern – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Spain): 16 May
 
217) LAC GEF Portfolio Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Home-Based): 19 May
 
218) Portuguese speakers: Communications Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Brazil, Home-Based): 19 May
 
219) Portuguese speakers: Campaigns Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Brazil, Home-Based): 19 May
 
220) Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Geneva, Home-Based): 20 May
 
221) German speakers: Praktikant*in im Bereich/Projekt: Mainstreaming von ökosystembasierter Anpassung – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Germany): 20 May
 
222) U.K. nationals: Graduate Intern (River basin planning) – Environment Agency(United Kingdom): 12 May
 
223) Local recruitment: Intern Aqueduct Platform & Research (Water Program) – World Resources Institute (WRI) (Washington, DC): Until filled
 
224) Water/ Government Affairs Internship – The Wonderful Company (Shafter, CA, USA): Until filled
 
225) Watershed Planning Program Student Interns – Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Massachusetts, U.S.A., Home-Based): Until filled
 
226) U.S. nationals: Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Internship – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA): 13 August
 
227) Science Communications Intern for Coastal Resilience – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (U.S.A., Home-Based): Until filled

Scholarships:

228) PhD position: "Rethinking ownership and responsibility in wastewater technologies" – Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) (Netherlands): 20 May
 
229) PhD investigating micropollutant biodegradation in groundwater – Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands): 20 May
 
230) PhD: Optimal choice of flood, inundation and erosion models – University of Montpellier (France): 12 May
 
231) Two PhD positions in Integrated Groundwater and Surface Water Modelling as part of the AquaConnect programme – Utrecht University (Netherlands): 21 May
 
232) German speakers: PhD in Environmental Engineering – University of Innsbruck(Austria): 21 May
 
233) WIRe CDT PhD Studentship: Modelling Groundwater Resilience under Extreme Drought – Newcastle University (United Kingdom): 21 May
 
234) PhD student in Geochemistry (Cryosphere driven submarine groundwater inflows in the Arctic) – Stockholm University (Stockholm): 24 May
 
235) Machine Learning Predictive Maintenance for Sustainable Urban Drainage (Engineering PhD Studentship) – University of Exeter (United Kingdom): 24 May
 
236) PhD Risk-assessment of re-use in cyclic water systems – University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam): 24 May
 
237) PhD position in aquatic science – University of Geneva (Geneva): 20 May
 
238) Dutch speakers: PhD Position ‘Socio-economic analysis of circular water governance' – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Amsterdam): 12 June

Fellowships:

239) Fellow (Alliance for Watershed Education) – Audubon Society (Philadelphia, PA, USA): Until filled

Other:

240) Water Challenge 2021 – Swiss Water Partnership (Switzerland): 16 May
 
241) Sarphati Sanitation Challenge – Aqua for All, World Waternet and Accenture(Home-Based): 5 June
 
Last week’s list, in case you missed it
 
Post a job
 
Support Josh’s Water Jobs
 
Recruitment services

2) Additional Jobs from WaterWired

242) Position: @IdahoDEQ (Coeur d'Alene) - Water Quality Engineer (Engineering Intern). Continuous. https://bit.ly/3bPUkn5 

 

243) Postdoctoral Position: @LosAlamosNatLab (Los Alamos, NM) - Arctic land-surface modeler. Apps reviewed as received. Hope to fill by May 2021. https://bit.ly/39dAUbo #JobWaWi

 

244) Position: @Alliance4Water - Communications and Events Officer, Water Tracker for National Climate Plans. OUF. https://bit.ly/3teiC1I #JobWaWi

 

245) Position:@Alliance4Water - Project Manager, Water Tracker for National Climate Plans. OUF. https://bit.ly/3a7qUkj #JobWaWi

 

246) Position: @OregonDEQ (Medford, OR) - Underground Storage Tank Inspector (Natural Resource Specialist 3). Closes: 11 May. https://bit.ly/3dz7A1C #JobWaWi

 

247) Postdoctoral Position: @UMNews (MSP, MN) - Urban evo-ecotoxicology. OUF; Full consideration: 15 May. https://bit.ly/3gtkVud #JobWaWi

 

248 - 249) Positions (2): Wallowa Resources (Enterprise, OR) - 1) Stewardship Director (14 May); 2) Northern Blues Forest Collaborative Manager (14 May) https://bit.ly/3ewQr81 #JobWaWi

 

250) Position: @OregonDEQ (Portland, OR) - Agency Toxics Coordinator (Natural Resource Specialist 5). Closes: 23 May. https://bit.ly/3vvP00v 

 

251) Position: @ClackamasRiver (Clackamas, OR) - Communications and Programs Coordinator. App. review: 17 May; OUF. https://bit.ly/3eeoOl3 #JobWaWi

 

252) Position: @ArizonaDEQ (Phoenix or Tucson) - Environmental Scientist 3/4 - Project Manager. https://indeedhi.re/3xWERMs #JobWaWi

 

253) Position: @OregonDEQ (Hillsboro, OR) - Natural Resource Specialist (Natural Resource Specialist 1); Closes: 23 May. https://bit.ly/3f6XDYJ #JobWaWi

 

254) Position: @USDA_ARS (Boise, ID) - Research Hydrologist. Closes: 1 June https://bit.ly/3uKuo4B #JobWaWi

3) Some General Employment Resources                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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

AGU Career Center for research/academic jobs

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!

"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." – Voltaire

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 10 May 2021

So why I am touting an meeting that was held seven weeks ago? Simply because I wanted to give a shout-out to the Global Water Partnership - Caribbean and its partners for organizing this symposium. Read all about it here.

Enjoy!

********************************************************************************************
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 a PDF and a Word document:

PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_10May2021

Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_10May2021

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

Check out Elaine's coronavirus/COVID-19 section in the Environmental Science Bulletin Board.

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 10 May – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

M6.8 earthquake off northern Japan

• https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/6226676/2021-05-01/01h27/magnitude6-Japan.html
• https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000dz5t/executive

“Gargantuan” 6.5-inch diameter hailstone may claim new record for Texas

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/gargantuan-hailstone-that-fell-wednesday-may-claim-new-texas-record/ar-BB1gfWHx

4.7M earthquake part of series near Truckee, California

• https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc73559265/executive
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/series-earthquakes-rattle-lake-tahoe-113030763.html

CRS In Focus:  Wildfire Statistics

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

Ritschard Dam settling & moving more than expected since 2008 – at risk of cracking & internal erosion leading to failure

• https://www.vaildaily.com/news/grand-county-dam-showing-increasing-risk-of-failure-prompts-new-engineering-study/

Amazon rainforest did not contribute to onset of Little Ice Age

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/did-the-amazon-rainforest-contribute-to-the-little-ice-age-of-the-1600s/ar-BB1gjVkK

Identifying coastal cities at risk of tsunamis based on physics-based model

• https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1003846520

• Strike-slip fault tsunamigenesis: https://mabdelmeguid.github.io/tsunami/

• Paper: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/1890/

Using NASA ICESat-2 data to create more accurate coastal bathymetric charts

• https://www.hydro-international.com/content/news/tcarta-delivers-satellite-derivedbathymetry-for-u-s-coastal-mapping-pilot

• Methodology: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148246/sounding-the-seafloor-withlight

Visualizing antimony as mineral critical for technology

• https://www.visualcapitalist.com/why-antimony-is-critical-to-the-green-future/

NOAA releases “normal” climate report – but “normal” is really just a very short-term average of weather conditions that vary within the long-term climate – look for data to support concept of “man-made global warming” and they will find it

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/noaa-s-new-normal-climate-report-is-anything-but-normal/ar-BB1goAQb
• https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/us-climate-normals?ftag=MSF0951a18
• NOAA report: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-human-cause-nasa-study-carbon-emissions/?ftag=MSF0951a18

20-year high-resolution global mesoscale convective system (MCSs) tracking database reveals contributions to global rainfall

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/new-global-mesoscale-convective-system-tracking-database
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JD034202

2700-year record of permafrost watershed response to regional thaw depth due to warming & cooling

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/a-2700-year-record-of-permafrost-thaw-sensitivity-to-climate
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021AV000396

Satellite detection and near real-time tracking of volcanic ash clouds

• https://eos.org/articles/eyeing-explosive-ash-clouds-from-above-and-below

Modeling changes in the Antarctic Ice Sheet – is either model realistic?

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/05/meeting-paris-agreement-ambition-could-save-a-lot-of-sea-level-rise/

Diatoms use single carbon capture pathways

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Tiny_ocean_plants_called_diatoms_use_a_single_carbon_capture_pathway_999.html
• https://blog.frontiersin.org/2021/05/03/frontiers-plant-science-diatoms-carbon-capture/
• Paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.657821/full

Correlation between end of solar cycles & switch to La Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean

• https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=302661&org=GEO&from=news
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020EA001223

Migration of Gulf Stream precedes rapid warming ocean waters of NW Atlantic Shelf

• https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=302650&org=GEO&from=news
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00143-5

New species of Miocene large machairodontine saber-toothed cat – ancient relative of Smilodon

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/machairodus-lahayishupup-09619.html

Study of 220,000 glaciers suggests currently becoming thinner and losing mass

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210429095154.htm

Using environmental microbes to extract uranium from groundwater

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-environmental-microbes-uranium-groundwater.html

Using drones to release electric charge into clouds may stimulate precipitation

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-method-trigger-scarce.html

Surface Water & Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to survey the water of the world

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-international-swot-satellite-survey-world.html

Ice core chemistry provides insight into Holocene sea ice variability in Southern Hemisphere

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-ice-core-chemistry-insight-sea.html

Is the core a potential reservoir of primordial helium?

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-deep-reservoir-primordial-helium-earth.html

GEER Report:  The 2020 Nevada M6.5 Monte Cristo Range Earthquake in Nevada

• http://www.geerassociation.org/component/geer_reports/?view=geerreports&id=98&layout=build
• Report: http://www.geerassociation.org/administrator/components/com_geer_reports/geerfiles/Nevada%20GEER%20Report.pdf

The science of waterspouts

• https://theconversation.com/what-are-waterspouts-and-how-do-they-form-an-expert-explains-159997

Is a video game a good substitute for geologic field work?

• https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/virtual-geology-field-work

Plastic waste in marine and sedimentary environments

• https://scitechdaily.com/plastic-pollution-in-the-deep-sea-a-geological-perspective-on-a-global-problem/
• https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/News/pr/2021/21-04.aspx

Is the Red Sea a “sea” or is it really an ocean?

• https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/red-sea-ocean-geology

What will cities look like in the geological record of the deep future?

• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210505-how-cities-will-fossilise

Geophysical exploration targets lithium geology of the Senneville West claim group, Val-d’Or, Canada

• https://investingnews.com/news/gold-investing/lithium-geophysical-exploration-commences-on-senneville-claim-group-val-dor/

Bute geology is core feature of new art exhibit

• https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2021/04/30/bute-geology-a-core-feature-of-new-exhibition/

Fossil site in Waukesha, Wisconsin, reveals well-preserved soft-bodied Silurian organisms

• https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/for-a-peek-inside-wisconsins-watery-past-thank-the-microbes/

Thomas Condon discovered rich geologic heritage in Oregon

• https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/lifestyle/significant-sights/19916-significant-sights-the-national-park-discovered-by-a-minister-who-collected-fossils-and-taught-evolution

Robert Ballard (who found the Titanic) is mentoring the next generation

• https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/robert-ballard-man-who-found-the-titanic-cmd/index.html

Shuvuuia – desert-living bird-like small dinosaur had night vision

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/desert-living-dinosaur-shuvuuia-had-night-vision-study-reveals/ar-BB1gqOmA

Perspective:  There is no drought in California – just the usual long-term climate pattern

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/editorial-no-drought-120026351.html

Mass extinctions, like many natural processes, occur in cycles

• https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/nature-not-humans-may-cause-mass-extinctions/

No geothermal royalties collected in 2020 for Puna power plant – shut down due to lava flow from KERZ

• https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/no-geothermal-royalties-collected-in-hawaii-in-2020/

Groundwater being depleted and contaminated by human activities

• https://ifp.co.in/6029/groundwater-depletion-and-its-adverse-impacts

Glacial lakes filling up in Nepal in advance of glacial lake outburst floods

• https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/danger-nepals-glacial-lakes-are-filling-up/

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

Technological hazard:  RLR technique will rival CRISPR to edit genetic material and “play God” in massive genetic experiments

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/harvard-scientists-create-gene-editing-tool-that-could-rival-crispr/ar-BB1ggyPg

High winds topple tree, falls on porta-potty at Gettysburg Battlefield, injured man hospitalized

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-man-was-hospitalized-after-the-porta-potty-he-was-using-at-the-historic-gettysburg-battlefield-was-crushed-by-a-tree/ar-BB1ghluX
• https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2021/04/30/man-visiting-gettysburg-battlefield-gets-trapped-portapotty/4898969001/

South Africa to ban breeding of lions in captivity for trophy hunting or for tourists to pet

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/s-africa-to-ban-breeding-lions-in-captivity-for-hunting/ar-BB1ghAuV
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/lion-breeding-rhino-horn-trade-won-t-be-backed-by-south-africa/ar-BB1ghA4a

Yellowstone National Park using paint balls in attempt to reduce human-wolf interactions – why not just use paintballs on tourists who put themselves in danger?

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/yellowstone-is-shooting-paintballs-at-wolves-and-says-it-s-for-their-own-good/ar-BB1ghjYd

Humans threaten all life on Earthy by over-exploitation, pollution & habitat degradation but will gather in October for yet another Convention on Biological Diversity

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/humanity-s-greatest-ally-against-climate-change-is-the-earth-itself/ar-BB1ggOR1

Pizzly bears and grolar bears may become more common – hybrids that can produce live offspring

• https://www.livescience.com/pizzly-bear-hybrids-created-by-climate-crisis.html

Cleanup of Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park & Red Jacket Riverfront Natural Habitat Park in Buffalo

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cleanup-at-buffalo-parks-after-100-000-state-investment/ar-BB1gg6bA

Species that have been driven to extinction over past 150 years mostly due to human actions

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pets/22-extinct-animals-we-ve-lost-in-the-past-150-years/ss-BB1ghJdg

There may eventually be a role for AI in emergency prevention but it will be limited by human activities

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/what-is-the-future-of-emergency-prevention/ar-BB1ghoqm

CMP Corridor remains controversial as it cuts across miles of critical habitat including remote woods, mountains & streams in Maine – project touted as “green” but is detrimental to environment – permitted but construction on hold

• https://downeast.com/photography/cmp-corridor/
• https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/planned-cmp-electricity-corridor-receives-final-major-permit-but-construction-is-on-hold

“senseless, cruel & wanton” humans use chain saw to cut down osprey nesting site – 5 pairs of ospreys & nests in Wales are protected under Wildlife & Countryside Act

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/horrendous-attack-osprey-nest-chainsaw-170429188.html

Crimson Solar Project receives BLM approval – 350MY system over 2,500 acres of California desert (4+ square miles spread across 8 sections of land)

• https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOI/bulletins/2d76736
• https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/88925/510

Good decision – bad decision - In 2011 Florida turned down high-speed rail citing potential cost overruns & deficit spending – California opted in and $Bs of dollars later has consequences but no bullet train – now Texas is allocating $Bs for high-speed rail

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-cautionary-tale-for-progressive-states-a-decade-in-the-making/ar-BB1gjAYC
• https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-central-signs-1-6-billion-electrical-contract-for-dallas-to-houston-bullet-train/2622185/

California proposes throwing $3.4B to tackle drought-related issues – No comprehensive water policy

• https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/551028-california-state-democrats-propose-spending-34-b-on-drought
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/letters-to-the-editor-why-california-can-t-just-build-a-water-pipeline-from-the-great-lakes/ar-BB1gljti

As millennials begin turning 40 years of age 44% already have chronic health condition

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/44-of-older-millennials-already-have-a-chronic-health-condition-here-s-what-that-means-for-their-futures/ar-BB1glyLX

Technological hazard – ambitious predictions about AI are always wrong

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/why-ambitious-predictions-about-a-i-are-always-wrong/ar-BB1gll3r

With surge in illegal aliens attempting to cross US Southern Border the number of deaths also increases in the desert

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/migrant-border-deaths-surge-with-increased-enforcement-and-militarization-expert-says/ar-BB1glBOg

US F&W promotes public access to hunting & fishing in some Wildlife Refuges – will take away more of the best of the gene pools and stress biodiversity – seeking public comment

• https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOI/bulletins/2d78f94
• https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-HQ-NWRS-2021-0027-0001
• Comment: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-NWRS-2021-0027-0001

Cutting allocation of water from depleted Colorado River will impact agriculture in Arizona

• https://apnews.com/article/colorado-river-arizona-financial-markets-business-environment-and-nature-e25726e07f3f0f5b88d683ff0772a7ab

At least 25 dead after rail bridge collapses in Mexico City – questions of structural integrity due to poor design & construction – history of defects

• https://apnews.com/article/mexico-city-mexico-faee07a9250174f58365db6c915476d7
• https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/at-least-20-dead-after-rail-bridge-collapses-in-mexico-city-04-05-2021/
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mexico-city-subway-collapse-was-a-tragedy-foretold/ar-BB1gogAy

It is “baby season” and orphaned animals are overwhelming Wildlife Care Centers

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/calif-wildlife-rescue-center-asks-for-public-donations-after-acquiring-nearly-900-orphaned-ducklings/ar-BB1gmjC5

Renewed interest in developing geothermal resources

• https://www.powermag.com/groundswell-of-support-heats-geothermal-innovation/

California Condor chick hatches at Pinnacles National Park – endangered species still faces risks

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/endangered-condor-egg-hatches-in-northern-california-s-wild/ar-BB1gmaib

Endoxyla cinereus - giant wood moths so big they fly very poorly – adults do not feed during lifespan

• https://www.microsoftnewskids.com/en-us/kids/animals/rat-sized-monster-moth-too-heavy-to-fly-discovered-at-australian-school/ar-BB1gmKS6

Canada currently tracking 48 cases of patients with rare degenerative brain disease

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mysterious-brain-disease-in-canada-baffles-doctors/ar-BB1gmx7X

Contract awarded for Lake Ralph Hall project in Texas to create new lake & water project

• https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newsgranite-wins-dam-construction-contract-in-texas-us-8718211

Clear Lake in California is not so clear – soupy, stinky mess getting worse

• https://www.hcn.org/articles/south-water-the-toxic-soupy-biomass-choking-water-systems-in-california

Chinese chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl by Mexican drug cartels – 90,000 US fatalities last year

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-chemicals-in-mexican-cartel-hands-feed-deadly-u-s-fentanyl-crisis/ar-BB1gobHq

Earthworms were introduced to US in 1600s – second wave of more invasive Amyntha species

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/what-s-with-these-invasive-crazy-worms-and-why-can-t-we-get-rid-of-them/ar-BB1go4FU

Tennessee sand & gravel miner ignoring cease and desist order since December – impacting critical habitat in Duck River – TVA needs to enforce law

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/controversial-mining-operation-ignoring-orders-to-halt/ar-BB1gonfK

Mountain Valley Pipeline construction delayed but costs keep increasing to estimated $6.2B

• https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/energy_and_environment/mountain-valley-pipeline-delayed-again-as-project-cost-keeps-rising/article_0e044775-837f-5910-a28c-2788b08b4b07.html

Songs reveal decline in amphibians in Australia – citizen created database of songs of 243 frog species

• https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/frog-love-songs-reveal-a-sad-tale-of-amphibian-decline-20210503-p57ojb.html

Permit process re-initiated with South Dakota for Dewey Burdock in-situ leaching uranium mining project

• https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/state-and-regional/proposed-uranium-mine-resumes-permit-process/article_e7f82665-6c1b-5e90-bc61-be647ed19a95.html

45,000 humans apply to be able to kill a bison in Grand Canyon National Park – only 12 to be selected for the “cool experience”

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/45-000-people-apply-to-kill-bison-at-grand-canyon/ar-BB1goSRs

Coping with an aging, inadequate and overwhelmed sewage system

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/we-need-help-sewage-crisis-hits-majority-black-town-in-new-york/ar-BB1gpZHl

Levees to be replaced where construction of US southern border wall halted by stop-work order

• https://www.enr.com/articles/51704-feds-to-repair-damage-from-halted-border-wall-work-in-texas-california

Call for papers:  new cross-journal special collection on Critical Zone research

• https://eos.org/editors-vox/the-future-of-critical-zone-science-call-for-papers

Urban vegetation may be key regulator of heat island intensity

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/urban-vegetation-key-regulator-for-heat-island-intensity
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020AV000303

Need for speed likely led to evolution of some seals using front flippers for propulsion

• https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7242136/need-for-speed-led-to-seal-swim-evolution/?cs=14231

General Mills converted farm to organic & regenerative practices – facing criticism for environmental damage

• https://www.npr.org/2021/05/03/989984124/a-giant-organic-farm-faces-criticism-that-its-harming-the-environment

CFCs were banned & replaced by HFCs that are now being phased out

• https://theconversation.com/how-cleaning-up-coolants-can-cool-the-climate-why-hfcs-are-getting-phased-out-from-refrigerators-and-air-conditioners-160241
• https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/05/biden-epa-proposes-rule-to-slash-use-of-climate-super-pollutants/

Arbor Day should be about growing trees – not just planting them for forest restoration

• https://theconversation.com/arbor-day-should-be-about-growing-trees-not-just-planting-them-153776

Scotland wants to “rewild” lochs and glens

• https://www.treehugger.com/scotland-rewild-lochs-glens-5183847

Humans on shores of Lake Mawi were altering local ecosystem with fire 92,000 years ago

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Humans_were_altering_ecosystems_with_fire_some_92000_years_ago_999.html

Giant Sequoia tree in Sequoia National Park is still burning from 2020 Castle Fire

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/California_sequoia_still_smoldering_after_2020_fires_999.html

Ancient Mesopotamian marshes threatened by sewage & industrial waste from Iraq

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Ancient_Mesopotamian_marshes_threatened_by_Iraqi_sewage_999.html

Is inbreeding all that bad for animals?  Maybe not in the short-term?

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/For_animals_inbreeding_isnt_all_that_bad_new_research_shows_999.html

Annual survey of wild breeding birds of North America

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/scientists-and-volunteers-resume-annual-survey-north-america-s-wild-birds

Carbon & water move through cycles – do microplastics also move through global cycle?

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210412161911.htm

Is it realistic to phase out landfilling?  Where would all the waste go?

• https://phys.org/news/2021-05-phase-landfilling-china-eu.html

Is the goal of conserving at least 30% of US lands & waters by 2030 even feasible?

• https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-government-and-politics-2c5afd5a5466acf8a015a17ff014bb4b
• Report: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/report-conserving-and-restoring-america-the-beautiful-2021.pdf

Learning lessons from the past about gradual process of adding “green” infrastructure to urban area

• https://stormwater.wef.org/2021/05/what-tucson-can-teach-us-about-green-infrastructure/

Rare and elusive wolverine sighted in Utah is now “missing”

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/rare-wolverine-sighting-caught-video-211037152.html

Rheas are being released back into the wilds of Patagonia

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/risk-rhea-birds-released-patagonia-220759072.html

CORONAVIRUS

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

• https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
• https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/
• interactive map s: https://geodacenter.github.io/covid/map.html
• CDC Weekly Tracker: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/

People skipping second shots – estimated at 5 million in the US

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/why-so-many-people-are-skipping-their-second-covid-shot-and-why-they-shouldn-t/ar-BB1ggSZZ

Herd immunity:  to be or not to be – those are the predictions

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/herd-immunity-in-the-us-could-be-around-the-corner-but-maintaining-it-is-likely-to-be-a-perpetual-battle/ar-BB1glufn
• https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/health/2021/05/04/us-covid-19-vaccine-tipping-point-could-just-10-15-percent-away/4915586001/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/health/covid-herd-immunity-vaccine.html
• https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-05-04/covid-herd-immunity-may-be-out-of-reach-deal-with-it
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/forget-herd-immunity-end-nightmare-090023172.html

To mask or not to mask – that needs clarification when considering politics versus science

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-and-republicans-demand-clear-biden-message-after-mask-wearing-confusion/ar-BB1glgXP

Virus triggers metabolic disease that is diabetes – may damage pancreas

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/two-pandemics-clash-as-doctors-find-that-covid-spurs-diabetes/ar-BB1gmKtE

Study suggests vaccine does not affect sperm – neuropsychiatric symptoms persist

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/sperm-not-impacted-by-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-neuropsychiatric-symptoms-persist-in-covid-19-survivors/ar-BB1gohv9

Federal judge vacates 4 Sep 2020 eviction moratorium – beyond the authority of the CDC

• https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/551910-federal-judge-vacates-cdcs-eviction-moratorium
• Ruling: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cejir39xlxrv16b/ALABAMA%20ASSOCIATION%20OF%20REALTORS%20et%20al%20v.%20UNITED%20STATES%20DEPARTMENT%20OF%20HEALTH%20AND%20HUMAN%20SERVICES.pdf

People have gotten “institutionalized” and that is not a good thing – time to get on with life

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/people-have-gotten-institutionalized-by-covid/ar-BB1gq0ZI

Death toll may be higher than reported – attributing “excess deaths” – not “actual toll”

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mexico-s-covid-death-toll-is-three-times-higher-than-reported-new-study-finds/ar-BB1gtlNZ
• Study: http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/covid-19-has-caused-69-million-deaths-globally-more-double-what-official-reports-show

Politics is still a major determinant of response & mixed messaging

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/democrats-blowing-covid-messaging-133331537.html

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

 US Coast Guard rescued 5 fishermen from burning vessel near Cape Cod

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/coast-guard-rescues-5-fishermen-from-burning-boat-near-cape-cod/ar-BB1ggiSi

 Smuggling of illegal aliens leads to capsized boat – at least 3 dead & 27 injured off Point Loma – others may have been swept out to sea by rip currents and drowned

• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/05/02/san-diego-boat-capsized-point-lomacoast/4916295001/

• https://abc11.com/3-killed-27-hospitalized-after-boat-capsizes-off-san-diego/10570133/

 Identifying other coastal cities at risk of tsunamis based on physics-based model

• https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1003846520

•  Strike-slip fault tsunamigenesis: https://mabdelmeguid.github.io/tsunami/

•  Paper: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/1890/

 Hawaii bans sunscreens with ingredients that impact coral reefs

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/beauty/hawaii-bans-chemical-sunscreen-to-save-its-coral-reefs-updated/ar-BB1csLiL

 Lawsuit opposes dredging in coastal Georgia waters – wants year-round protection of marine life

• https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/05/05/lawsuit-opposes-year-round-dredging-in-coastal-georgia-waters

 Fighting coastal erosion to protect ferry access

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2021/05/officials-seek-long-term-plan-to-save-nc-12/

 “mud and dirt” being sought – not treated as waste products

• https://www.bpr.org/post/got-mud-coastal-cities-humble-dirt-has-become-hot-commodity#stream/0

 Using NASA ICESat-2 data to create more accurate coastal bathymetric charts

• https://www.hydro-international.com/content/news/tcarta-delivers-satellite-derived-bathymetry-for-u-s-coastalmapping-pilot

•  Methodology: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148246/sounding-the-seafloor-with-light

 Washington law protects marine waters from seabed mining for hard minerals within 3 miles of shore

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2021/05/03/washington-governor-inslee-signs-billprotecting-marine-waters-from-seabed-mining

 Circuit Court Judge dismisses suits over beach easements on Pawleys Island

• https://coastalobserver.com/judge-dismisses-suits-over-beach-easements/

 Outlining shellfish strategy in Massachusetts to balance demand with resources

• https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/fishing_industry_news/task-force-lays-out-shellfishstrategy/

article_a3c2e598-b021-539e-a250-7184e3e5e9a2.html

•  MSI: http://www.massshellfishinitiative.org/

•  Plan: http://www.massshellfishinitiative.org/uploads/1/0/4/9/104987295/msi_strategic_plan.pdf

 Meta-learning method algorithm improves monitoring of waters for HABs and consequent toxicity

• https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/improving-water-quality-monitoring-with-ai-348433

 Los Angeles County wants USEPA to quickly cleanup offshore massive DDT dump

• https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/environment/2021/05/04/la-county-wants-epa-to-quickly-clean-upoffshore-ddt-dump

 Sand shortage along Orange County, California, beaches – estimated cost to replenish $23M

• https://abc7.com/sand-shortage-at-3-oc-beaches-prompts-calls-for-replenishment-program/10575788/

 Sunset Beach plans to dredge area creeks and canals in North Carolina

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2021/04/sunset-beach-clear-to-begin-creek-dredging/

 $69M for two restoration projects on Mississippi Gulf Coast – water quality & enhanced habitats

• https://www.wlox.com/2021/04/29/two-coastal-restoration-projects-totaling-m-get-approval/

 Pacific Halibut season to open along Oregon coast

• https://www.beachconnection.net/news/pachaliopen042821.php

 Roads vulnerable to coastal erosion being moved inland in Hawaii

• https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-climate-change-business-government-and-politics-803f6e4c0a2d27534c7f6a4e5bb54eb2

 Expert warns against $557M government plan to relocate mangrove trees along north coast of Java to allow highway and levee project

• https://news.mongabay.com/2021/05/relocating-mangroves-for-indonesian-highway-not-that-easy-expert-warns/

 Hundreds of dead endangered seals on shores of Caspian Sea – repeat of event in Dec 2020

• https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/05/06/some-170-endangered-seals-found-dead-on-russias-caspiancoast-a73832

• https://www.rferl.org/a/dead-seals-caspian-sea-russia/30996049.html

 Coral in Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea are surviving rising water temperature

•https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Red_Sea_corals_to_persist_even_as_other_corals_succumb_to_global_warming_999.html

 Considering expanding Port of Vicksburg or opening new location

• https://www.wlbt.com/2021/05/05/officials-study-possibility-expanding-port-vicksburg/

 Calls to shut down experimental floating farm after cows fall into waters of Rotterdam Harbor

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/calls-shut-down-rotterdams-experimental-124129380.html

 “Wally” is stranded in the Mediterranean – not his usual haunt of the Pacific Ocean

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/lost-mediterranean-starving-grey-whale-085128755.html

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Seneca

CRS Report: 'Central Valley Project: Issues and Legislation' Updated: 6 May 2021

Charles V. Stern and Pervaze A. Sheikh update (6 May 2021) this CRS report: Central Valley Project: Issues and Legislation. It's been about two years since the last version.

Download CRS_Report_CVP_Issues_Legislation_6May2021

Click on the graphics to enlarge them,

Summary
The Central Valley Project (CVP), a federal water project owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is one of the world’s largest water supply projects. The CVP covers approximately 400 miles in California, from Redding to Bakersfield, and draws from two large river basins: the Sacramento and the San Joaquin. It is composed of 20 dams and reservoirs and numerous pieces of water storage and conveyance infrastructure. In an average year, the CVP delivers more than 7 million acre-feet of water to support irrigated agriculture, municipalities, and fish and wildlife needs, among other purposes. About 75% of CVP water is used for agricultural irrigation, including 7 of California’s top 10 agricultural counties. The CVP is operated jointly with the State Water Project (SWP), which provides much of its water to municipal users in Southern California.

CVP water is delivered to users that have contracts with Reclamation, which is part of the Department of the Interior. These contractors receive varying levels of priority for water deliveries based on several factors, including hydrology, water rights, prior agreements with Reclamation, and regulatory requirements. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers’ confluence with the San Francisco Bay (Bay-Delta or Delta) is a hub for CVP water deliveries; many CVP contractors south of the Delta receive water that is “exported” from north of the Delta.

Development of the CVP resulted in significant changes to the area’s natural hydrology. However, construction of most CVP facilities predated major federal natural resources and environmental protection laws. Much of the current debate related to the CVP revolves around how to deal with changes to the hydrologic system that were not significantly mitigated for when the project was constructed. Dry conditions since the onset of these requirements—including a prolonged drought from 2012 to 2016 and dry conditions in 2020 and 2021—have once again led to curtailment of water supplies and increased the stakes of these debates.

Various state and federal proposals are currently under consideration and have generated controversy for their potential to affect CVP operations and allocations. In late 2018, the State of California finalized revisions to its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan that would require that more flows from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers reach the Bay-Delta for water quality and fish and wildlife enhancement (i.e., reduced water supplies for other users). “Voluntary agreements” that might replace some or all of these requirements are currently being negotiated but have yet to be finalized. Concurrently, the Trump Administration attempted to increase CVP water supplies for users and made changes to long-term operations of the CVP in a 2019 biological opinion created under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 87 Stat. 884. 16 U.S.C. §§1531-1544). California and environmental nongovernmental organizations have opposed these efforts and filed lawsuits to prevent implementation of the changes. The court issued a preliminary injunction on May 11, 2020, temporarily prohibiting Reclamation from implementing the operational changes through May 31, 2020; on June 24, 2020, the court declined to extend the preliminary injunction further. Efforts to add or supplement CVP storage and conveyance also are being considered and are under study by federal and state entities.

Congress has engaged in CVP issues through oversight and legislation, most recently in the form of provisions enacted under the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322). Among other things, this act authorized changes to CVP operations that attempt to provide increased water supplies for agricultural and municipal contractors under certain circumstances. In the same legislation, Congress also authorized funding for new water storage projects that are expected to benefit CVP operations.

In the 117th Congress, legislators may consider bills and conduct oversight on efforts to increase CVP water exports compared to current baselines. Some in Congress have also weighed in on dis agreements between state and federal project operators and the status of coordinated operations of the CVP and SWP. Congress is also considering whether to approve funding for new water storage projects and may consider legislation to extend or amend CVP authorities.

Introduction
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior (DOI), operates the multipurpose federal Central Valley Project (CVP) in California, one of the world’s largest water storage and conveyance systems. The CVP runs approximately 400 miles in California, from Redding to Bakersfield (Figure 1). It supplies water to hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigated agriculture throughout the state, including some of the most valuable cropland in the country. It also provides water to selected state and federal wildlife refuges, as well as to some municipal and industrial (M&I) water users. The CVP’s operations are coordinated with the state’s other largest water supply project, the state-operated State Water Project (SWP).

This report provides information on hydrologic conditions in California and their impact on state and federal water management, with a focus on deliveries related to the federal CVP. It also summarizes selected issues for Congress related to the CVP.

Recent Developments 
The drought of 2012-2016, widely considered to be among California’s most severe droughts in recent history, resulted in major reductions to CVP contractor allocations and economic and environmental impacts throughout the state.1 These impacts were of interest to Congress, which oversees federal operation of the CVP. Although the drought ended with the wet winter of 2017, dry conditions in 2020 and 2021 (the driest year on record since 1977) have resulted in renewed water supply curtailments. Absent major changes to existing hydrologic, legislative, and regulatory baselines, most agree that at least some water users are likely to face constrained water supplies. Due to the limited available water supplies, proposed changes to the current operations and allocation system are controversial.

Because of the scarcity of water in the West and the importance of federal water infrastructure to the region, western water issues are regularly of interest to many lawmakers. Legislation enacted in the 114th Congress (Title II of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation [WIIN] Act; P.L. 114-322) included several CVP-related sections.3 These provisions directed pumping to “maximize” water supplies for the CVP (including pumping or “exports” to CVP water users south of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers’ confluence with the San Francisco Bay, known as the Bay-Delta or Delta) in accordance with applicable biological opinions (BiOps) for project operations.4 They also allowed for increased pumping during certain storm events generating high flows, authorized actions to facilitate water transfers, and established a new standard for measuring the effects of water operations on species. In addition to operational provisions, the WIIN Act authorized funding for construction of new federal and nonfederal water storage projects. CVP projects are among the most likely recipients of this funding.

Due to increased precipitation and disagreements with the state, among other factors, the WIIN Act’s operational authorities generally did not yield significant new water exports south of the Delta in 2017-2020. However, Reclamation received funding for WIIN Act-authorized water storage project design and construction in FY2017-FY2021, and the majority of this funding has gone to CVP-related projects.

Separate state and federal plans under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, respectively, would alter water allocation and operational criteria in markedly different ways and have generated controversy. In mid-2018, the State of California proposed revisions to its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (developed pursuant to the Clean Water Act [CWA; 33 U.S.C. §§1251-138]). These changes would require that more flows from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers reach the California Bay-Delta for water quality and fish and wildlife enhancement (and would thus further reduce water supplies for CVP and SWP users). Separately, in February 2020, the Trump Administration finalized an operational plan to increase water supplies for users and issued a new biological opinion under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. §§1531-1544) that reflects these changes. Both plans are the subject of ongoing litigation.

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“If surface water can be compared with interest income, and non-renewable groundwater with capital, then much of the West was living mainly on interest income. California was milking interest and capital in about equal proportion." - Marc Reisner, Cadillac Desert, p. 457