WaterWired

Paper: 'Natural Variability Has Slowed the Decline inWestern U.S. Snowpack Since the 1980s'

This paper by Nicholas Siler, Cristian Proistosescu, and Stephen Po‐Chedley was published in Geophysical Research Letters in December 2018: Natural Variability Has Slowed the Decline in Western U.S. Snowpack Since the 1980s. It is freely accessible. Click on the title to access the online version, which will have all the hot links activated,

Significant work! The lead author, Nick Siler, is my colleague at OSUCEOAS.

Here is an OSU press release on the paper.

Download Siler_et_al-2019-Geophysical_Research_Letters

Abstract
Spring snowpack in the mountains of the western United States has not declined substantially since the 1980s, despite significant global and regional warming. Here we show that this apparent insensitivity of snowpack to warming is a result of changes in the atmospheric circulation over the western United States, which have reduced snowpack losses due to warming. Climate model simulations indicate that the observed circulation changes have been driven in part by a shift in Pacific sea surface temperatures that is attributable to natural variability, and not part of the simulated response to anthropogenic forcing. Removing the influence of natural variability reveals a robust anthropogenic decline in western U.S. snowpack since the 1980s, particularly during the early months of the accumulation season (October–November). These results suggest that the recent stability of western U.S. snowpack will be followed by a period of accelerated decline once the current mode of natural variability subsides.

Plain Language Summary
Melting snowpack is a vital source of water in the western United States during the summer, when rainfall is usually scarce. Although the amount of water contained in the snowpack has declined over the past century, it has been surprisingly stable since the 1980s, despite 1 °C of warming over the same period. At first glance, this result might appear to indicate that the snowpack is quite resilient to warming. However, here we show that the contribution of global warming to western U.S. snowpack loss has in reality been large and widespread since the 1980s, but mostly offset by natural variability in the climate system. This result points to a faster rate of snowpack loss in coming decades, when the impact of global warming is more likely to be amplified, rather than offset, by natural variability.

 

1) Introduction
Snowpack in the western United States acts as a natural reservoir, storing water during the cool wet season (October–March) and releasing it to the landscape during the warm dry season (Barnett et al., 2005; Cayan, 1996). Containing more than 150 cubic kilometers of water at its peak—usually reached around 1 April—the western U.S. winter snowpack holds about as much water as all the man‐made reservoirs in the western United States combined (Mote et al., 2018). Since 1950, the snowpack on 1 April has decreased by 15–30% over much of the western United States, as warmer temperatures have caused a shift from snow to rain, particularly at low elevations (Mote et al., 2018). Models indicate a further decrease in winter snowpack of perhaps 60% by 2050 (Ashfaq et al., 2013; Fyfe et al., 2017), leading to a dramatic reduction in summer stream flows in a region where water shortages are already common (Barnett et al., 2005; Christensen et al., 2004)

 

Despite this alarming forecast, snowpack has been surprisingly stable in recent decades. Figure 1a shows the trends in 1‐April snowpack at 329 automated Snowfall Telemetry (SNOTEL) stations where the average 1‐April snowpack contains at least 25 cm of water equivalent. Trends were calculated over 35 winters beginning in 1983–1984, when the network reached nearly its current level of coverage (Figure S1 in the supporting information), and 1 year after the record‐setting El Niño of 1982–1983. During this 35‐year period, only four sites experienced a statistically significant decline in 1‐April snowpack (95% confidence), while 208 sites (63%) experienced an insignificant decline. The other 117 sites (36%) experienced a positive (but statistically insignificant) trend. We find a similar result when we repeat the analysis using regionally averaged time series of 1‐April snowpack (Figure 1b), with no region exhibiting a statistically significant trend since 1983–1984. This result is consistent with Mudryk et al. (2018), who found similar stability in the spring snowpack of western Canada over roughly the same time period. Meanwhile, the average winter surface temperature over the western U.S. increased by more than 1 °C during this period—on par with the average warming trend across global land surfaces (Figure S2). Taken at face value, this result suggests that winter snowpack in the western United States may be remarkably insensitive to warming, seemingly contradicting model forecasts of rapid decline (Ashfaq et al., 2013; Fyfe et al., 2017).

 

On decadal timescales, however, snowpack is influenced not only by anthropogenic warming, but also by natural variability in the large‐scale atmospheric circulation (Deser et al., 2012). Depending on its phase, natural variability can either offset or accelerate the changes in snowpack due to anthropogenic warming (Cayan, 1996; McCabe & Wolock, 2009; Mote, 2006; Smoliak et al., 2010; Stoelinga et al., 2010). In order to quantify the anthropogenic trend in western U.S. snowpack, one must first remove the component of the trend that can be attributed to natural variability in the atmosphere.

One approach that previous studies have taken to minimize the noise of natural variability has been to focus on the ratio of snowpack to accumulated precipitation (S/P), which tends to be more sensitive than snowpack to changes in temperature (Barnett et al., 2008; Pierce et al., 2008; Pierce & Cayan, 2013). Across the SNOTEL network, we similarly find more robust declines in S/P than in snowpack alone (Figure S3 vs. Figures 1a and 1b). However, while S/Pmay exhibit a clearer warming signal, it provides little insight into the magnitude of snowpack change resulting from anthropogenic warming versus natural variability.

In this paper, we use a method called “dynamical adjustment” to quantify the influences of both anthropogenic warming and natural variability on 1‐April snowpack at each of the 329 SNOTEL stations shown in Figure 1a. We find that, since 1983–1984, changes in the atmospheric circulation have contributed to a ∼30% increase in 1‐April snowpack in the Cascade Mountains and northern Sierra Nevada, and an increase of ∼10% in Utah and the Northern Rocky Mountains, offsetting much of the decline due to global warming. Simulations performed with an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) and prescribed historical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) indicate that the observed circulation change has likely been driven in part by internal atmospheric variability, and in part by a shift in Pacific SSTs toward the cool phase of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). We find that such SST/circulation trends are not part of the simulated response to anthropogenic forcing in coupled GCMs but are likely associated with low‐frequency natural variability that will eventually subside, ushering in a period of accelerated snowpack loss.

Cutting to the chase...

4) Future Implications
Looking forward, the implications of our results depend on whether the observed SST/circulation changes in recent decades have been part of the climate's response to anthropogenic forcing, or simply a result of low‐frequency natural variability. To answer this question, we compare the observed SST/circulation trends in Figures 3b and 3c with those simulated by a large ensemble (n = 86) of coupled oceanic‐atmospheric GCMs from CMIP5 (Taylor et al., 2012) over the same 35‐year time period (Figure 5; Table S1). In contrast to the observed trends, the ensemble mean of these simulations shows little evidence of an IPO‐like shift in SST patterns (Figure 5a), or of a substantial change in the atmospheric circulation over the western United States (Figure 5b), suggesting that observed trends are not primarily driven by anthropogenic forcing.

 

On the other hand, the observed trend in U₅₀₀ over the western United States does fall within the range that one would expect from natural variability, based on the CMIP5 ensemble spread (Figure 4b). Furthermore, among the ensemble members that exhibit the largest U₅₀₀trends over the western United States (Figure 5d), SST trends resemble the observed shift toward the cool phase of the IPO (Figure 5c), supporting our hypothesis that circulation trends have been driven in part by shifting SST patterns. Meanwhile, the same subset of GCMs produced a wide range of U₅₀₀ trends in other identical simulations (Figure 4b, red shapes), confirming that the CMIP5 ensemble spread is primarily a reflection of natural variability, and not of differences in model physics.

Of course, it is possible that observed SST/circulation trends represent a component of the forced response that most GCMs do not capture (Kohyama & Hartmann, 2017). If so, then changes in the atmospheric circulation may continue to offset some of the decline in western U.S. snowpack due to warming. But if recent circulation changes have instead been a result of natural variability—the more likely outcome in our view, given the close correspondence between observed SST changes and the IPO—then the relative stability of western U.S. snowpack since the 1980s is unlikely to persist, portending an accelerated decline in coming decades as the phase of variability becomes less favorable for snowpack accumulation.

 

Gotta recharge that stuff!

Enjoy!

"‘The Lorax' is actually a cautionary tale about the need for data analytics and best business practices in Higher Ed. 'The Cat in the Hat' is about peer review." - @ass_deans

Report: 'How the Aral Sea Will Look Like in Foreseeable Future?'

This publication was sent to me by someone who must know that I am a sucker for anything having to do with the water resources of the South Caucasus, Central Asia ('the Stans'), and Iran. I am by no means an expert but have visited all three (only Kazakhstan in Central Asia) and would love to return.

As I said - I'm no expert but this report looks interesting.

How the Aral Sea Will Look Like in Foreseeable Future? was published on 23 February 2019 by Dursun Yildiz in World Water Diplomacy and Science News.

Download How_the_Aral_Sea_will_look_like_in_Fores

Some information about the author (from the report):

Dursun Yıldız is a hydropolitics expert and Director of the Hydropolitics Academy Associationlocated in Ankara-Turkey. He is a civil engineer and used to be Deputy Director at the State Hydraulic Works in Turkey; he completed a hydroinformatics post graduate course at the IHE in Delft,t echnical training programme in USBR-USA and a master's degree in Hydropolitics at the Hacettepe University-Turkey. He has over 5 years of teaching experiences in some Turkish Universities and now works as head of his own Hydro Energy & Strategy consulting company located in Ankara. He has published severel international articles and 13 Books. He recieved Most Succesful Reseracher Award on International Water Issues from Turkish Agricultural Association in 2008 and from Central Union of Irrigatıon Cooperatives in 2016.

Summary
In 2011, Together with Ambassador (R) and Hydropolitical Academy founding Member M. Nuri Yildirim we made a technical trip to Central Asia .In this trip 2 hours after we left Kızılorda city to reach Aral Sea , we began to witness the great damage caused to the environment by drying a lake along the dirt road. As the water was drawn from the sea, it also took away the ecological balance. Because of the strong winds in the region, salt and drugs in the vicinity of the lake spread very alarmingly, this problem was felt in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, which is 500 km away.In this article I'm looking for an answer to the question of whether the Aral Sea will go back or not.

 

1) Introduction
Since the 1960s, the Aral Sea has been severely shrunk due to the excessive use of water resources that feed the lake in the period of USSR for agricultural irrigation. This decrease in the amount of water in the Aral Lake brought many ecological problems for the lake and its surroundings. The area of 33.000 km2 in Aral Lake is completely dried and the mineral content in its water is increased. The lake ecosystem is almost completely destroyed.

In the period between 1911 and 1960, an annual average of 56 billion m3 of water was spilled on the Aral Sea. Since the mid - 1980s, the decline in the Aral Sea water volume has accelerated. It was divided into two part in December 1987. The depth of the small Aral to the north dropped to 12 m. The depth of the Great Aral in the south dropped to 23 m. The Aral Lake, on this date, shrank by 74% in area and 84% in volume .

The area of Aral Lake, which was 67 500 km2 in 1960, decreased to 17 200 km2 in 2003. The most populous countries in the region are also the most industrialized countries. For this reason, these countries need important water to feed their populations as well as to provide water to their industries.

Related with Aral Sea environmental disaster, the protection of the environment in Central Asia encountered two obstacles. The first of these is addressing human needs in front of environmental protection which remain from the period of USSR and the economic obstacle.

The amount of water flowing into the Aral Lake declined rapidly and in 2000 and 2001 The measured average annual flow at observation station located 102 km. far away from the sea showed that discharge was too low to feed the lake.

Cutting to the chase...

6) Results and Evaluations 

What will all these efforts bring for the future of the Aral Sea ? It will bring a potential positive environmental impacts in and around the Northern Aral Sea and the Syrdarya delta would include: 

1. (i) the creation of a freshwater reservoir; 
2. (ii) the filling of lagoons and delta lakes; 
3. (iii) an increase in wetlands; 
4. (iv) a reduction in salt and dust storms; 
5. (v) the restoration if biological diversity; and 
6. (vi) an improved ecological system. 

The actual impact would depend on the design water level in the Northern Aral Sea .The progress in the Northern Aral has increased hopes for the return of the Aral Sea. However, the complete return of the Sea will not be as easy as the Northern Aral Part. It is clear that engineering structures and facilities provided by the geography have helped to solve the problem in this part. However, the solution for South Aral is more dependent on water management and hydro-political relations among the riparian state. 

The alternative of carrying water from the other basin to the Aral Sea may not be a sustainable solution. Therefore, instead of bringing water out of the basin, the solution should be searched primarily within the basin. This makes it possible to link the return of the Aral Sea with the more efficient use of water in the basin countries. The water resources in the Aral Basin are threatened by the inefficient use of water as well as the climate change effects. 

If one ask that will the Aral Sea come back? In fact ,it is difficult to give a favorable response this question for a near future. Therefore, we assume that the lake, which was lost in half a century as a whole, will be able to come back in a longer period and it will occur part by part. 

The annual average water of the Ceyhun River pouring into the Southern Aral Sea is approximately twice that of Seyhun, which is still pouring into the Northern Aral . However, this water is used in a very inefficient way to reach the lake. It seems to be difficult to fill a lake volume about 10 times larger than the North Aral. 

As a result, there are many problems to the return of South Aral Sea, ranging from the inefficient use of water in the basin, the negative consequences of global climate change and the geopolitical obstacles to the softening of hydro-political relations among riparian state. 

I regret to say that the Aral Sea will also be given by next generation as a live example of an environmental disaster created by the water mismanagement. 

 

Hard to enjoy this report. Your comments are welcomed.

Here is a 2010 paper by noted expert Philip Micklin: The Past, Present, and Future Aral Sea. And another one (2016): The Future Aral Sea: Hope and Despair. 

"Sooner or later, wittingly or unwittingly, we must pay for every intrusion on the natural environment." - Barry Commoner


Josh's Water Jobs and More! 26 February 2019

From Josh:

Apologies, but due to poor internet, travel and other things, I didn’t get to the normal search this week. I will try to catch up over the course of the next week.

Josh's list:

PDF:  Download JWJ_26Feb2019

Word: Download JWJ_26Feb2019

Josh’s Pick:
 
1) Corporate Strategy Associate (Global Water Security) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC)(USA): 18 March
 
Highlighted:
 
2) Research Scholar (Water and Risk and Resilience, Postdoc Level or Research Assistant -pre-PhD Level) – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Vienna): 15 March, but application review begins immediately
 
3) Strategic Partnerships Manager – International Water Management Institute (IWMI)(Colombo): 27 February
 
Deadline today (26 February)!
 
4) Principal Researcher – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (New Delhi): 26 February
 
5) Urdu and Punjab speakers: Consultant: WASH Specialist – MOJAZ Foundation(Pakistan): 26 February

Minimum years experience requested:

0-2 years   6) Spanish speakers: Water Funds Technical Assistant – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Peru): 19 March   7) Head of Exploration (Accelerator Labs, 60 positions, Varying deadlines depending on country) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Various)   8) Head of Experimentation (Accelerator Labs, 60 positions, Varying deadlines depending on country) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Various)   9) Head of Solutions Mapping (Accelerator Labs, 60 positions, Varying deadlines depending on country) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Various)   10) German speakers: Event Coordinator – UNU Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Germany): 15 March   11) Spanish speakers: Asistente Técnico y Financiero del Proyecto “Salvaguardando la Biodiversidad en las Islas Galápagos Fomentando la Bioseguridad y Creando las Condiciones Habilitantes para la Restauración de los Ecosistemas de las Islas Galápagos” – Island Conservation (Ecuador): 5 March   12) Finland nationals: JPO Climate Change Analyst – UN Women (Bangkok): 3 March   13) German and Spanish speakers: Junior Berater (m/w/d) Wasserwirtschaft und Klimawandel – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)(Peru): 6 March   14) River Scientist – Coastal Watershed Council (Santa Cruz, CA, USA): 10 March   15) Program Coordinator I – University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC, USA): 28 March   16) Entry Level Water Resources Engineer – Dewberry (New York): Until filled   17) Hydrogeologist 3 (In-Training) – Washington Government Water Resources Program (Spokane, WA, USA): Until filled

3-4 years
 
18) Members Engagement Officer: Specialist Groups – International Water Association (IWA) (Netherlands): 1 March
 
19) Senior Associate (Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace) – Forest Trends(Washington, DC): 1 March
 
20) State Policy Manager (Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed) – New Jersey Audubon Society (Trenton, NJ, USA): Until filled
 
21) Rural Development Specialist (Northern California) – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (California, USA): Until filled
 
22) Climate Policy Associate – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Arlington, VA, USA): 21 March
 
23) Fiji nationals: Communications Assistant – Pacific Community (SPC) (Fiji): 2 March

5-7 years
 
24) International Water Management Specialist – United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Antigua and Barbuda): 1 March
 
25) Programme Officer – Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med)(Albania): 11 March
 
26) Operations Analyst (Water Sector Group) – Asian Development Bank (ADB)(Philippines): 4 March
 
27) Spanish speakers: Economic Affairs Officer (Water and Energy Unit) – United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)(Chile): 30 March
 
28) Arabic speakers: Programme Management Officer – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (Bahrain): 5 April
 
29) French speakers: Chargé.e de programme au sein du Secrétariat de la Convention de Nairobi – Expertise France (Nairobi): 3 March
 
30) Head of Project Delivery – Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust (United Kingdom): 15 March
 
31) Spanish speakers: Gerente del Proyecto “Salvaguardando la Biodiversidad en las Islas Galápagos, Fomentando la Bioseguridad y Creando las Condiciones Habilitantes para la Restauración de los Ecosistemas de las Islas Galápagos” – Island Conservation (Ecuador): 5 March
 
32) Local recruitment: Mekong Delta Programme Monitoring and Evaluation, and Communications Officer – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)(Vietnam): 3 March
 
33) Coastal Wetlands Program Manager (Global Ocean Team) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Arlington, VA, USA): 15 March
 
34) WRIA 8 Technical Coordinator (Project Program Manager III) – King County(Seattle, WA, USA): 6 March
 
35) Kokanee Recovery Manager (Program/Project Manager III) – King County(Washington, DC): 14 March
 
36) Program Manager (Environmental Finance Center) – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (United States): Until filled
 
37) Japanese speakers: Programme Associate – UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) (Tokyo): 28 February

8-9 years
 
38) Senior Environmental Specialist – The World Bank (Washington, DC): 6 March
 
39) Science Director in India – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (New Delhi): 1 March
 
40) Senior Green Infrastructure Engineer – The City of Vancouver (Vancouver, BC, Canada): 10 March

10+ years
 
41) Deputy Director (Corporate Services Division) – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Nairobi): 24 March
 
42) Spanish speakers: Team Leader (m/f/d): Climate Resilient Infrastructure in the River Plate Basin – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)(Bolivia): 17 March
 
43) Executive Secretary – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)(Geneva): 29 March
 
44) U.S. citizens: Senior Sustainable Landscapes Advisor (Foreign Service) – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (Washington, DC): 1 March
 
45) Director (Palmyra Program) – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Honolulu, HI, USA): 19 March
 
46) Mandarin speakers: China Climate Lead – World Resources Institute (WRI)(Beijing): Until filled

Not specified:
 
47) Geo-informatician – Universiteit van Amsterdam (Amsterdam): 15 March
 
48) UK nationals: Environment Assistant (Environment Management Team) – Environmental Agency (United Kingdom): 7 March
 
49) UK nationals: Lead Specialist Advisor Hydrogeology – Natural Resources Wales(Wales): 4 March
 
50) Climate Change & Sustainability Services, Senior Consultant (Multiple roles available) – EY (London): 19 March
 
51) UK nationals: Senior Officer (Water Resources) – Environment Agency (United Kingdom): 13 March
 
52) UK nationals: Hydrologist – Environmental Agency (United Kingdom): 15 March
 
53) Program Coordinator – Indian River Lakes Conservancy (Redwood, NY, USA): 15 March
 
54) Executive Director – Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (Charlotte, NC, USA): 1 March
 
55) Interim Executive Director – Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers (Roseburg, OR, USA): 1 March
 
56) Executive Director – Prairie Rivers Network (Champaign, IL, USA): 20 March

Not specified(academic):

• Professors/lecturers

57) Clinical Teaching Fellow (Environmental Law Clinic - School of Law) – University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley, CA, USA): 11 March
 
58) Professor in Environmental Sensor Technology – Aarhus University (Denmark): 1 June
 
59) Norwegian speakers: Senior Lecturer in International Environment and Development Studies – Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) (Norway): 28 February

• Postdocs

60) PostDoc Waterapps – Wageningen University (Netherlands): 5 March
 
61) French speakers: Postdoc: Institutional frameworks for effective urban sanitation in developing countries – AgroParisTech (France): 1 April
 
62) Post-Doctoral Research Assistant – University of Leeds (United Kingdom): 11 March
 
63) Glenadore and Howard L. Pim Postdoctoral Fellowship in Global Change – Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD, USA): 31 March
 
64) Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Water Resources – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Research Triangle Park, NC, USA): 1 April
 
65) 2-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship – Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) (Switzerland): 9 April
 
66) Post-doctoral Position in Fluid Mechanics in the Field of Hydropower – Lulea University of Technology (Sweden): 12 April
 
67) John D. Montgomery Post-doctoral Fellowship – Soka University of America (SUA) (Orange County, CA, USA): 12 April
 
68) Postdoctoral Researchers – Aalto University (Finland): 15 March
 
69) Portuguese speakers: Bolsa de PD em Modelagem Ambiental – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (Brazil): 31 March
 
70) Postdoctoral: Post-fire Water Quality – San Diego State University (San Diego, CA, USA): 15 March
 
71) Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme – United Nations University (UNU) (Tokyo): 15 March
 
72) Postdoctoral Fellow – Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO, USA): 30 June

• Researchers/other

73) Research Fellow (Environmental Law Clinic) – Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA): 15 March
 
74) Early Stage Researcher – Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) (Switzerland): 15 April
 
75) Junior Research Scientist (Econometric modeling of land use, adaptation to climate change and environmental impacts) – French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) (Paris): 3 April
 
76) Research Assistant – National Science Foundation Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) (Alaska, USA): 5 March
 
77) Senior Research Scientist (Earth Surface Processes and Natural Resources Management) – University of Central Asia (Tajikistan): 30 April
 
78) GIS and Hydrologic-Hydraulic Modelling and Research for Water Resource and Risk Management for Water and Disaster Risk Management on Large Scale for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) – Università per Stranieri di Perugia (Italy): 13 March

WASH:

0-2 years

79) WASH Coordinator – Terre des Hommes Foundation Child Relief (Bangladesh): 20 March
 
80) Spanish speakers: Coordinador/a WASH Proyecto – Accion Contra El Hambre(Guatemala): Until filled
 
81) French speakers: Un Responsable de Programme Eau, Assainissement et Hygiène Multi Base – Accion Contra El Hambre (DRC): Until filled
 
82) Afghanistan nationals: WASH Officer – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)(Afghanistan): 5 March
 
83) Somalia nationals: WASH Assistant – Save the Children (Somalia): 2 March

3-4 years
 
84) Coordinateur Du Projet – Solidarités International (France): Until filled
 
85) Somalia nationals: WASH Project Officer – Save the Children (Somalia): 2 March

5-7 years

86) WASH and Shelter Program Manager – Mercy Corps (Syria): Until filled
 
87) WASH Technical Lead – iDE (Bangladesh): 1 April

8-9 years
 
88) Water and Sanitation Specialist – Social Impact (Liberia): 8 March

10+ years

89) Team Leader and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist – Niras(Cambodia): 15 August
 
Not specified
 
90) Programme Development Advisor – WaterAid (London): 14 March
 
91) Global News Manager – WaterAid (London): 14 March
 
92) Spanish speakers: Coordinador/a WASH Sudamérica – Accion Contra El Hambre (South America): Until filled
 
93) French speakers: West and Central Africa WASH Manager (Emergency Health Unit) – Save the Children (Various): 7 March

Consultancies:

94) Technical Experts: WASH & Water Security – Resonance (Various): Until filled
 
95) Consultancy (Sanitation Marketing) – Save the Children (Home-Based): Until filled
 
96) Consultancy Services for Mid-Term Evaluation of Isuku Iwacu Activity – SNV(Rwanda): 15 March
 
97) Evaluation of UNHCR Waste-to-Value Sanitation Project – UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (Home-Based): Until filled
 
98) Consultant: Data Collection in Jordan – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Jordan): 28 February
 
99) Request for professional services to conduct budget expenditure tracking of Kisumu County’s WASH interventions – Practical Action (Kenya): 27 February
 
100) Strengthening targeted national capacities for improved decision making and mainstreaming of global environmental obligations – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Home-Based): 28 February
 
101) Spanish speakers: Segunda Convocatoria/ Roster de Consultores (WASH) – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (El Salvador): 1 March
 
102) Spanish speakers: Assessment of application of the Landscape Standard to water funds in Latin America and implementing the Landscape Standard – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Home-Based): 4 March
 
103) Water Supply and Sanitation Service Improvement Project (PPP Specialist) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Georgia): 27 February
 
104) Water Supply and Sanitation Service Improvement Project (WSS Sector Policy Specialist) – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Georgia): 27 February
 
105) Environmental & Climate Change Specialist – Niras (Cambodia): 15 August
 
106) Knowledge and Innovation Support for ADB's Water Financing Program/Water Stewardship Program – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Home-Based): 10 March
 
107) Call for Applicants: Expert Roaster Consultants for the Needs of the Project – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Albania): 10 March
 
108) Preparation of an OECS consolidated Climate Risk and Adaptation Profile and a regional gender-sensitive adaptation strategy to climate change – French Government (France): 15 March

RFP:

109) Market Research Study – WaterAid (India): 3 March

Internships:

110) Spanish speakers: Knowledge Building Internship – International Hydropower Association (IHA) (London): 17 March
 
111) Environmental Assistant (Intern) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Zimbabwe): 4 March
 
112) Intern – Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Bangkok): 28 February
 
113) Intern (Economic Affairs, Disaster Risk Reduction) – United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) (Bangkok): 14 August
 
114) Infrastructure Intern – The Nature Conservancy (TNC) (Peru): 19 March
 
115) Environmental and Social Safeguards Intern – Green Climate Fund (South Korea): 12 March
 
116) DC Summer Internship 2019 – American Water Works Association (AWWA)(Washington, DC): 8 March
 
117) Freshwater Ecology Field Technician/Intern (Multiple positions) – Environmental Institute of Houston (Houston, TX, USA): 15 March
 
118) Dozens of environment-/water-related internships – NextGen Latino Leaders(Various): 8 March
 
119) Intern: The Economics and Policy of Dam Removals – Resource for the Future (RFF) (Washington, DC): 15 March
 
120) Societal Value of Satellite Data Internship – Resource for the Future (RFF)(Washington, DC): 15 March
 
121) Intern: Management of species and ecosystem processes – Resource for the Future (RFF) (Washington, DC): 15 March
 
122) Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations (New York): 29 April

Scholarships:

123) National Science Foundation Research Traineeship – University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE, USA): 29 March
 
124) Two PhD Positions in Fluid Mechanics in the Field of Hydropower – Lulea University of Technology (Sweden): 12 April
 
125) 35 PhD positions within the Doctoral Programme TALENT – University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen): 1 April
 
126) UK/EU nationals: Flood and Drought Assessment in a Human-Dominated Water Cycle – University of Sheffield (United Kingdom): 8 March
 
127) Study of Impacts and Methodology of Replicability for Innovative Water Cycles – Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy): 5 March
 
128) Doctoral student in Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science – Lund University (Sweden): 17 March
 
129) French speakers: PhD position on Agricultural Resilience under Climate Change – Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) (France): 6 March
 
130) PhD opportunity: Towards Real-Time-Control of Stormwater Treatment Wetlands – University of Melbourne (Australia): 31 March
 
131) UK/EU nationals: Innovative Biotechnologies for Water Purification in Developing and Developed Countries: From Bench to Market – University of Birmingham (United Kingdom): 31 March

Fellowships:

132) Female applicants: AIMS NEI Fellowship Program for Women in Climate Change Science – African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Next Einstein Initiative (AIMS NEI) (Cape Town): 28 February
 
133) U.S. citizens: Coastal Wetlands Research and Management – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, DC): 17 April
 
134) Recovery and Valorisation of Wastewater in Mediterranean Area – Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy): 5 March
 
135) U.S. citizens: Fostering Technology, Innovation and Sustainability For Clean and Safe Water – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, DC): 17 April
 
136) U.S. citizens: Technology, Innovation and Policy For Clean and Safe Water – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, DC): 17 April

Other:

137) Spanish speakers: Senior EU Aid Volunteer in Early Warning Systems and WASH – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Colombia): 1 March
 
138) Senior EU Aid Volunteer (Drought Resilience Advisor) – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Nairobi): 30 March
 
139) Junior EU Aid Volunteer in Environment Protection in Nepal – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Nepal): 19 March
 
Last week’s list, in case you missed it
 
Post a job

2) Additional Positions from WaterWired

Posted: Last Week

140) Positions: @IIDatWork (Imperial Valley, CA) - Various: Engineer; Engineer Assistant; GIS Technician; Various closing dates https://bit.ly/2B2nahH  #JobWaWi

141) Position: @IIDatWork (La Quinta, CA) - Manager of Distribution Services & Maintenance Operations. Closes: 28 February 2019. https://bit.ly/2QYuDED  #JobWaWi

142) Position: @IIDatWork El Centro, CA) - Superintendent, System Planning. Closes: 28 February 2019 https://bit.ly/2Csay4d  #JobWaWi

143) Position: @ChesResearch (Edgewater, MD) - Executive Director. OUF; App review: 31 March https://bit.ly/2FXQIRP  #JobWaWi (tnx @fowler_lara)

144) Position: @sunyesf (Syracuse, NY) - Asst/Assoc Professor, Forest Ecosystem Management. OUF https://bit.ly/2MKCXqX  #JobWaWi

145) Position: @sunyesf (Syracuse, NY) - T-T Asst Professor, Department of Environmental Resources Engineering. OUF; First consideration: 22 February https://bit.ly/2MGEiPq  #JobWaWi

146) Position: @RCO_Director (Olympia, WA) - Executive Coordinator (WMS2) @GovInslee's Salmon Recovery Office. Closes: 28 February. https://bit.ly/2sZBO5N  #JobWaWi

147) Position: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Pendleton, OR) - Fisheries Habitat Biologist II. OUF; First screening: 1 March 2019. Download Fisheries_Habitat_Biologist_II

148) Position: @USUAggies (Logan, UT) - Director, Utah Water Research Laboratory. https://bit.ly/2GzEI9A  #JobWaWi

149) Position: JMT Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (Richmond, VA) - Water Resources Section Head. https://bit.ly/2DlwcHQ  #JobWaWi

150) Position: @OregonState (Bend, OR) - Regional Director, Outreach & Engagement. Closes: 3 March https://bit.ly/2WPZcjU  #JobWaWi

151) Positions (many): @IIDatWork (El Centro, CA & vicinity) - 1) Integrated Resources Planner; 2) Supervisor - Standards; 3) Internal Auditor; 4) Real-Time Trader; 5) Superintendent System Planning; 6) Managers; Others. Closing: Various https://bit.ly/2GBq8y5  #JobWaWi

152) Internship Position: @portlandwater (Portland, OR) - Water Resources Education Intern (Community Service Aide II. $15/hour. Closes: 28 February ) https://bit.ly/2TEOf2F  #JobWaWi

153) Postdoctoral Position: @OKH2O (Norman, OK) - Groundwater Modeler - Job Number: 190284. OUF. https://bit.ly/2TLifty  #JobWaWi

154) Position: South Fork John Day Watershed Council (John Day, OR) - Program Assistant. Closes: 29 March Download Program_Asst_SFJDWC

155) Internship Positions (3): North Coast Land Conservancy (Seaside, OR) - Stewardship Maintenance; Monitoring; Outreach. Closes: 10 March https://bit.ly/2tl1NoD  #JobWaWi

156) Position: NM Environment Department (Santa Fe, NM) - Environmental Scientist and Specialist-Operational (NMENV #34940). Closes: 6 March https://bit.ly/2mxs6nU  #JobWaWi

157) Position: Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (SLC, UT) - Assistant General Manager. Closes: 13 March https://sforce.co/2N5BxaE  #JobWaWi

158) Position: California Water Environment Association (Oakland, CA) - Executive Director. Closes: 4 April. https://sforce.co/2tnqfWr  #JobWaWi

159) Conservation positions: @Y2Y_Initiative - 1) 2-year postdoc in recreation ecology w/ @UNBC @psuedotsug; 2) Content coordinator (communications); 3) Grants coordinator; More! https://bit.ly/24Durxe  #JobWaWi (tnx @Aerin_J)

160) Postdoctoral and Post-Masters Positions: Wisconsin Sea Grant (Madison) - J. Philip Keillor Wisconsin Coastal Management-Sea Grant Fellow. Closes: 28 March Download Wisconsin_Keillor_Fellowship_Announcement_2019

161) Position: Turlock Irrigation District (Turlock, CA) - Water Operations Manager. Closes: 1 March Download TID_WOM

162) Position: Trout Unlimited (Klamath Falls, OR) - Water Quality Project Coordinator - Oregon. OUF.
Download TU_Water_Quality_Proj_Coordinator_Klamath

163) Position: @ColumbiaEstuary (Portland, OR) - Principal Restoration Ecologist. Closes: 15 March https://bit.ly/2U04aJ2  #JobWaWi

164) Position: Tualatin Soil & Water Conservatio District @tswcd (Hillsboro, OR) - Rural Conservation Technician. Closes: 15 March https://bit.ly/2E40mQk  #JobWaWi

165) Position: City of Keizer (OR) - Environmental Program Technician, Outreach Coordinator. OUF; Second app review: 6 March https://bit.ly/2NjBND2  #JobWaWi

166) Position: @PSUEarth (University Park Campus/State College, PA) - Assistant Research Professor in Climate Risk Management (non-T-T). OUF. https://bit.ly/2ty7akd  #JobWaWi (tnx @fowler_lara)

167) Positions (2): Trout Unlimited (Wenatchee, WA) - Beaver Restoration Project 1) Field Lead; 2) Intern. OUF; App review for both: 5 March. 
Download Trout_Unlimited_Beaver_Restoration Field_ Lead_Intern

168) Position: Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (Moose Jaw) - Senior Project Engineer, Engineering Services. Closes: 6 March. https://bit.ly/2tAPq81  #JobWaWi #cdnwater

169) Position: Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (Moose Jaw) - Manager, Hydrometric Program, Hydrology & Groundwater Services. Closes: 7 March https://bit.ly/2XhbFxc  #JobWaWi #cdnwater

170) Position: @SFU (Burnaby, BC, Canada) - Associate Professor in Watershed Sciences. Closes: 1 May https://bit.ly/2NtLhvy  #JobWaWi

171) Position: @CleanWaterNews (Hillsboro, OR) - Engineer - Environmental / Water Resources. Continuous. http://bit.ly/2tGmwTU  #JobWaWi

 

172) Position (Seasnal) - McKenzie River Trust (Eugene, OR) - Restoration and Stewardship Associate. Closes: 22 March https://bit.ly/2Uh2mvg  #JobWaWi

 

3) Some General Employment Resources

AGU Career Center for research/academic jobs

GoodWorkCanada - Canada's Green Jobs Site

Congressional Research Service Positions 

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

UN Jobs in Water Resources

UN Jobs in Water Management

UN Jobs in Water and Sanitation

Global Water Jobs

WASH Vacancies

Academic Jobs Online

Higher Education Job Site

Get Hydrology Jobs

AAG Jobs

@BCWaterNews Jobs Click 'View Jobs' at https://bcwaterjobs.com 

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

King County (WA) Jobs

Geoscience Job Board

California DWR Jobs

AZ Water Career Center 

Florida Water Jobs

NYC DEP 

Nature Conservancy jobs

State of Washington Careers

Idaho DEQ 

OSU Water Resources Program

Water District Jobs

Academic Jobs in Schools of Physical/Earth Sciences

Mac's List - Jobs in Portland and Beyond!

New Zealand Hydrological Society Jobs Board

California Water Jobs 

Government Jobs

Association of Oregon Counties Job Postings

Soil Science Societies Career Center

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

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

"If you can find something everyone agrees on, it's wrong." - Rep. Morris K. (Mo) Udall
 (D-AZ), 1922-1998

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 25 February 2019

Publication released today by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology - download here. 

The increased competition for the use of water from aquifers may negatively affect future agricultural practices in drier regions of the United States, suggests the latest paper released by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. The paper, Aquifer Depletion and Potential Impacts on Long-term Irrigated Agricultural Productivity, reviews the causes and consequences of groundwater depletion—Earth’s most extracted raw material—with a focus on impacts to agriculture as the largest sector of groundwater use. 

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 [email protected] with the word “subscribe” in the subject line and the email address will  be added to the  weekly distribution. 

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

As PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_25Feb2019

As Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_25Feb2019

The weekly water news is here.

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 25 February 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Essay on the history of geology and Earth

• https://aeon.co/essays/when-geology-left-solid-ground-how-mountains-came-to-be

Climate cycles vs climate mania – an excellent video!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaBUQ3NU1w&feature=youtu.be

The massive Daguangbao landslide – largest non-volcanic terrestrial rockslide

• https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/02/18/daguangbao-landslide-1/

The 660-km boundary topography between upper and lower mantle

• https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a26409144/underground-mountain-ranges/

Bluestones of Stonehenge traced to 5,000-year-old quarries in Wales

• https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2019/02/19/3831550595484/?sl=1
• https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/these-quarries-supplied-the-stones-that-built-stonehenge/

Ram’s Horn specimen of wire gold to be probe using neutron characterization technique

• https://phys.org/news/2019-02-world-finest-gold-specimen-probed.html

Deep-sea mining:  plundering & pillaging the minerals on the sea floor

• https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2019/02/deep-sea-mining-plundering-the-seafloor-s-minerals/

Tide gauge records reveal tremor episodes in Cascadian Subduction Zone

• https://phys.org/news/2019-02-tide-gauges-capture-tremor-episodes.html

Modeling short-term variations in upwelling Kuroshio waters into the East China Sea shelf

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/route-for-upwelled-kuroshio-waters-into-east-china-sea-shelf

exactEarth real-time maritime tracking system is now fully deployed

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/exactEarths_Revolutionary_Global_Real_Time_Maritime_Tracking_and_Information_System_now_Fully_Deployed_999.html

The North Sea, O&G exploration, and dismissed “phantom volcano” – fissure fed volcanism

• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-47292357
• https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-oil-north-sea-volcanoes/phantom-volcanoes-may-hide-more-oil-and-gas-in-the-north-sea-study-idUKKCN1Q81KG

Cretaceous dinosaur species recognized in southwestern Tanzania – a large, long-necked titanosaur

• https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=297651&org=GEO&from=news
• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/mnyamawamtuka-moyowamkia-06910.html

USGS using rapid deployment gauge to monitor potential flooding following ice jam on South Branch Piscataquog River, New Hampshire

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-monitors-potential-flooding-following-ice-jam-south-branch-piscataquog-river-new-boston

Fossil record shows land animal biodiversity has been fairly steady for 60 million years

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/land-animal-diversity-06925.html

Trace fossils suggest multi-cellular organism may have already existed 2.1B years ago

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/multicellular-life-06919.html

DARPA PALS program to detect undersea activity by analyzing behaviors of marine organisms

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Five_teams_will_help_DARPA_detect_undersea_activity_by_analyzing_behaviors_of_marine_organisms_999.html

Unnuakomys hutchisoni – “night mouse” was small marsupial lived among dinosaurs in the Arctic

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Newly_discovered_marsupial_lived_among_Arctic_dinosaurs_999.html

Major volcanic event may have triggered the Gaskiers glaciation 580 myo

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190220112240.htm

Simulated ocean mesoscale structures induce interaction of ocean and atmosphere (MASI)

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/ioap-som022019.php

Improved understanding of river flows and sediment transport under ice cover

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/uoef-nii022019.php

Travels in Geology:  The calderas & caldieras of the mid-ocean ridge in the Azores

• https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/travels-geology-mid-ocean-volcanic-excursion-calderas-and-caldeiras-azores

Arkansaurus fridayinow the official State Dinosaur of Arkansas

• https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/benchmarks-february-17-2017-arkansas-gets-state-dinosaur

Dinosaur teeth and skills reveal much about their feeding habits

• https://www.technology.org/2019/02/19/new-diet-new-teeth/

New smelting process to produce soluble phosphate for fertilizers from low value ores more economically & environmentally friendly

• https://www.technology.org/2019/02/18/firing-up-phosphate-production/

Mount Etna volcanic eruption of ash clouds followed by 4.8M EQ

• https://www.ibtimes.com/mount-etna-volcano-eruption-sends-ash-clouds-sicily-causes-flight-disruptions-2766194

AAMA updates 2 specifications for test methods related to seismic drift

• https://www.bdcnetwork.com/aama-updates-two-specifications-test-methods-related-seismic-drift

Icebreaker Polarstern crew to observe ocean hidden under the Antarctic ice for 100,000 years

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00588-x

Chionoecetescrabs found feeding vigorously on seafloor methane seep off coast of British Columbia

• https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2019/02/20/Scientists-find-tanner-crabs-feeding-on-seafloor-methane-vent/4511550691353/

Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity gathered much geologic information over 14 years

• https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/rosetta-stones/goodnight-opportunity-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-geology/

Finding treasure in an old geology book for $1

• https://www.theava.com/archives/96879

“The key to the future is found in the past” as the geology of Kilauea reveals past eruptive behavior

• https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2019/02/10/hawaii-news/volcano-update/geology-of-the-past-how-long-will-the-eruption-last/

San Benito Geology:  Part 5: San Benito underwater – Pleistocene Lake San Benito

• https://benitolink.com/features/san-benito-geology-san-benito-underwater

Geology of rare-earth minerals

• https://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/rare-earths-geology-discussed/article_32084b08-b038-5364-9920-ebaabe5d627d.html

Contemplating events that could mark the beginning of the Anthropocene

• https://www.e-flux.com/journal/97/252226/white-utopia-black-inferno-life-on-a-geologic-spike/

In memoriam:  Peter Robinson (1936-2019)

• https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/local-naturalist-peter-robinson-who-wrote-geology-trails-for-scarborough-and-forge-valley-has-died-aged-83-1-9600818

Don White (1914-2002) led USGS hydrothermal studies in Yellowstone

• https://billingsgazette.com/outdoors/caldera-chronicles-usgs-researcher-led-hydrothermal-studies-in-yellowstone/article_e93b6215-7d8a-5e0f-b4ad-f376584bde40.html

Historical fossils collected by Sir Charles Lyell now accessible online

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/pp-scl022019.php

U of Kansas buys 600 acres to ensure continuing access to summer field geology site

• https://koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/2019/02/04/university-of-kansas-buys-600-acres-near-canon-city-for-geology-department/

$3.2M mineral collection donated to Colorado School of Mines Mineral Museum

• https://patch.com/colorado/golden/mineral-collection-worth-3-2m-donated-mines-geology-museum
• Museum: https://www.mines.edu/geology-museum/

ARkStorm Scenario includes flooding of Biblical proportions in California

• https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/devastating-ark-storm-envisioned-for-california-by-u-s-geological-survey
• USGS ARkStorm Scenario: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1312/of2010-1312_text.pdf

Siting of oar fish in Japan raises concerns about imminent tsunami

• https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/japan-tsunami-fears-after-earthquake-14030038

Land slip closes roads and access to Franz Josef and Fox glaciers

• https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/383099/massive-slip-closes-main-road-to-franz-josef-and-fox-glaciers

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 25 February 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Grand Canyon National Park celebrating 100^thanniversary

• https://www.nps.gov/grca/getinvolved/centennial.htm
• https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/100-years-grand-canyon-national-park
• https://www.dailyamerican.com/news/usa_today/in-grand-canyon-national-park-opened-with-a-shrug-now/article_8ee74e5d-5711-5005-89e6-0867229c447f.html

Prevention & Control Initiative identifies cases of Chagas disease in the Yucatan – note that Chagas is not just a tropical disease – triatomine bugs are also endemic across much of the US

• https://www.theyucatantimes.com/2019/02/over-20-cases-of-chagas-disease-confirmed-during-february-in-yucatan/

Arizona will miss US deadline for Colorado River water plan

• https://www.apnews.com/eb6dc868a34c4fa8b0440d7d9963d5a9
• Drought contingency plan commentary: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IN10984.pdf

SCOTUS to hear case considering groundwater & pollution under Clean Water Act

• http://www.ncsl.org/blog/2019/02/20/supreme-court-to-decide-groundwater-clean-water-act-case.aspx
• https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060121405
• https://www.natlawreview.com/article/scotus-will-review-portion-county-maui-case-involving-clean-water-act-citizen-suit

Consequences of aging demographics – older people still working in Alcona, Michigan

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/the-town-where-retirees-cant-retire/ar-BBTEfDW

A refuge for rescued foxes in Minnesota

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/fur-fox-rescue/

Animals turn white for winter camouflage

• https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/animals-climate-change-winter-evolution/

Indiana has its first National Park – Indiana Dunes National Park is number 60

• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/indiana-officially-gets-first-national-park-193405229.html

Typhoon Nell flood waters caused Banqio Dam to fail in 1975 – killed 230,000 – China kept secret

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/230000-died-in-a-dam-collapse-that-china-kept-secret-for-years/ar-BBTHP8B

What a year for snow - a great snowpack in the Sierra - but also telling skiers to stay home

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/cali-officials-to-would-be-skiers-stop-coming-to-the-sierra/ar-BBTIzLp
• https://weather.com/news/news/2019-02-17-skiers-ski-resorts-too-much-snow
• Las Vegas: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/it-just-snowed-in-vegas-and-likely-will-again-this-week-that-isnt-normal/ar-BBTMa1l

Federal Appeals Court ruling may spur removal of dams on the Klamath River system

• https://www.enr.com/articles/46386-court-clarifies-long-muddled-state-enviro-permit-issue

What will the New Savannah Fluff Lock & Dam really cost?

• https://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20190216/cost-differences-in-options-for-lock-and-dam-project-questioned

NSF International sets standards for how all animals are kept, raised & responsibly managed

• https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/14/1725494/0/en/NSF-International-Introduces-Global-Animal-Wellness-Standards.html

Cases of Salmonella sickening in New Jersey traced to raw turkey – 279 cases across 24 states

• http://nj1015.com/nj-cases-of-salmonella-sickening-from-raw-turkey-grows/

Here we go again:  Expecting the government to protect Texans from flooding

• https://www.statesman.com/opinion/20190218/commentary-flood-control-infrastructure-should-be-priority-in-legislature

Reservoirs may promote false sense of water security leading to waste

• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-dams-increase-water-use/

Biodiversity on land is not a new phenomenon

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190218123129.htm

Measles epidemic in China has implications for global infection control

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/China_measles_Study_has_implications_for_worldwide_epidemic_control_999.html

US military could build the wall along Southern Border to fight “invasions” – smart tech questions

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/How_the_US_military_could_build_Trumps_border_wall_999.html
• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Amid_border_wall_debate_smart_tech_raises_questions_too_999.html

Bramble Cay melomys – little brown rat – recognized as first mammal extinction attributed to “probable human-led climate change”

• https://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/our-little-brown-rat-first-climate-change-caused-mammal-extinction-20190219-p50yry.html

Court ruling protects European bison released (re-established) in Rothaargebirge

• https://www.treehugger.com/endangered-species/european-bison-free-remain-wild-after-court-decision.html

Perspective:  Bottled water isn’t safer than tap water

• https://www.treehugger.com/plastic/mythbusting-bottled-water-isnt-safer-tap-water.html

Controversial CRISPR genetically modified mosquitoes with “gene drive” released in high-security lab

• https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/20/693735499/scientists-release-controversial-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-in-high-securit

Lack of environmental water flows in northern Murray-Darling Basin was “root cause” of massive fish kills – in other words:  humans take too much water

• https://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/sustainability/shocking-lack-of-preparation-exposed-darling-river-to-fish-kills-study-20190218-p50ygb.html

9 iconic animals that humans did not quite drive to extinction – conservation efforts appear to be working

• https://www.treehugger.com/conservation/9-iconic-animals-recovering.html

 

Every stage of plastic lifecycle (from production to waste) poses significant risks to human health

• https://www.ehn.org/plastic-pollution-and-human-health-2629322391.html
• Report: https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Plastic-and-Health-The-Hidden-Costs-of-a-Plastic-Planet-February-2019.pdf

Human-associated bacteria and viruses detected in Menomonee River watershed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/human-bacteria-viruses-sewage-found-some-milwaukee-streams

A week after 52 Polar Bears entered homes & public buildings looking for food – “invasion” now over

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Invasion_of_polar_bears_in_Russian_Arctic_over_999.html

Once idyllic Inle Lake in Myanmar is being poisoned by pesticides & fertilizers

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_race_to_save_Myanmars_Inle_Lake_999.html

Indigenous hunters are improving health of food webs in Australian desert – slowing species decline

• http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Indigenous_hunters_improve_health_of_food_webs_in_Australian_desert_999.html

Neanderthal diet was primarily meat-based

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Neandertals_main_food_source_was_definitely_meat_999.html

Global map of tree species richness

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/gcfi-cwm022019.php

Why do Zebras have stripes?  Seems they deter horse flies from landing (and biting)

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/p-zsa021319.php
• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/uoc--hzs021419.php
• Paper: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0210831

A novel argument for building hydroelectric dams – stopping natural flood processes

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00616-w

Members of 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to review evidence on nutrition

• https://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2019/002219
• USDA Guidelines: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/ 
• EAT-Lancet Commission: https://www.foodpolitics.com/tag/dietary-guidelines/ 

Have you ever seen a treehopper?

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/03/treehoppers-could-be-worlds-weirdest-insects/

Another good use to recycle some of the millions of used tires – improve fire-resistance of concrete

• https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/recycling-tyres-into-concrete-improves-fire-resistance/10040166.article

If you build it, they will come – but is that necessarily a good thing?

• https://libn.com/2019/02/21/schumer-to-faa-macarthur-airport-needs-more-funding/

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 25 February 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

MV Solomon Trader bulk carrier stranded on coral reef off Solomon Islands – potential oil spill

•http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Oil_spill_fears_for_ship_stranded_on_Pacific_reef_999.html

Sonoma County, California, to develop two new segments of California Coastal Trail

• https://www.sonomanews.com/lifestyle/9303982-181/sonoma-county-to-develop-two

New research suggests coastal communities losing ground on planning for coastal erosion

• https://phys.org/news/2019-02-coastal-ground-climate.html

CRPA studies possible expansion of $800M east bank project for coastal restoration in Louisiana

• http://www.fox8live.com/2019/02/19/state-plans-river-diversions-spark-mud-fight-overcoastal-restoration/

Book review: “Coasts and Estuaries: The Future”

• https://phys.org/wire-news/312107702/lsu-researchers-collaborate-on-new-book-aboutcoastal-threats.html

Controversy: coastal wetlands, protection, and commercial interests

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2019/02/wotus-rollback-no-wetlands-no-seafood/

Governor of Alaska wants to repeal law requiring revenue sharing from fisheries with coastal communities

• https://www.ktva.com/story/39983478/dunleavy-proposes-repealing-fish-tax-share-to-coastalcommunities

Center for Coastal Studies first to track southbound whale migration using satellite-monitoring radio tags

• https://www.capecod.com/newscenter/center-for-coastal-studies-becomes-first-ever-to-tracksouthbound-whale-migration/

Case study in Annapolis, Maryland, assesses effects of high-tide flooding on local revenue

• https://eos.org/articles/brief-repetitive-floods-in-coastal-cities-cause-economic-losses

On-going debate between US Army Corps of Engineers and local residents on Lake Okeechobee and coastal impacts

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/columnists/gil-smart/2019/02/19/nothing-fake-coastalresidents-lake-okeechobee-concerns/2913534002/

Beachfront community of Surfridge disappeared decades ago to make way for LAX – “priceless coastal real estate” for rare owls and other protected & endangered species

• https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-lax-ghost-town-preserve-20190218-story.html

Florida coastal real estate still booming – still prone to flooding from hurricanes

• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/15/florida-climate-change-coastal-realestate-rising-seas

Environmental groups seek injunction until lawsuit decided on seismic exploration on Atlantic Coast

• https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/environmental-groupsseek-injunction-on-air-gun-blasting-until-lawsuit-decided

• https://www.c-ville.com/for-the-love-of-the-south-as-he-prepares-to-step-down-the-founderof-the-southern-environmental-law-center-looks-back-on-three-decades-of-defending-theregions-natural-treasures/

Difference in gender perspectives on ecosystem services in coastal Kenya & Mozambique

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190219111651.htm

COA releases quarterly Pubic Access Report detailing safety & status of 50 public right-of-way across Aquidneck Island

• http://www.thenewportbuzz.com/clean-ocean-access-releases-quarterly-report-detailing-thesafety-and-status-of-50-public-rights-of-way-across-aquidneck-island/17962

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E_2k33OtRz9gWMY84x4TbMkjR8H4CIZN/view

Preliminary results of inlet modeling to be presented for Pleasant Bay to Nantucket Sound

• https://capecodchronicle.com/en/5408/chatham/4110/Preliminary-Results-Of-Inlet-Modeling-Study-To-Be-Presented-Erosion-North-Beach.htm

• https://95wxtk.iheart.com/content/2019-02-20-chatham-harbor-study-continues-with-studypresentation/

Using native shellfish to restore Pearl Harbor Estuary

• https://www.estormwater.com/plants-aquatic-native-wetland/partnership-uses-nativeshellfish-restore-pearl-harbor-estuary

North Carolina wants to become the “Napa Valley of Oysters”

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2019/02/oyster-summit-to-spotlight-mariculture/

• https://www.nccoast.org/event/charting-the-future-of-oysters-in-north-carolina/

• Blueprint: https://ncoysters.org/

• Shellfish Initiative: https://www.nccoast.org/2018/08/north-carolina-signs-on-to-noaasnational-shellfish-initiative/

• Strategic Plan: https://www.nccoast.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/NC-Strategic-Plan-for-Shellfish-Mariculture-Final-20181230.pdf

Wishing for more fish in the sea

• https://queenseagle.com/all/2019/2/20/wishing-for-more-fish-in-the-sea-as-queens-marinewildlife-dwindles

No shortage of cigarette butt waste on Marco Beaches

• https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/articles/no-shortage-of-cigarette-butts-on-marcosbeaches/

New bridge in Corpus Christi is lagging behind construction schedule

• https://www.apnews.com/93c0965a74424bbb85ee6252358b9f3f

• Ship Channel project: https://www.apnews.com/e1ca4b26f7424914b7d25db5d42657ad

"What geologists can expect to observe must be restricted by the conditions necessary for the presence of geologists." - David Waltham

Pat Mulroy: Visionary, Water Czar, Deal-Maker, SNWA Maven, Water Buffalo Wrangler, Moses-Like, and....Senior Citizen?

Patricia (Pat) Mulroy turns 65 today. I know she's a legend because she's featured on Mike McGuire's This Day in Water History blog for 24 February, along with Robert Fulton.

But I am not kidding; she is a legend in Western water circles and a transformative figure if there ever was one.

Her water legend began when she created the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas out of seven smaller agencies who couldn't seem to get along. She convinced them that with one 'super agency' to act as water purveyor to speak with a unified voice for southern Nevada (read 'Clark County and Las Vegas') that all parties would benefit. She was right, became the SNWA's first head, remaining there for 25 years.

As head of the SNWA she was the spokesperson for southern Nevada's water needs. She also became Nevada's point person for the Colorado River Compact  (CRC) and related water allocation issues. Virtually all of southern Nevada's water came from the Colorado River Basin (CRB) and Las Vegas' growth was sucking that source dry. She started a outdoor water conservation program that paid people to take out lawns. You didn't need those in a place with about 4 inches of annual rainfall. Indoor conservation? Not so much (return-flow credits?)..

Mulroy soon became a feared advocate for Nevada's CRC water, a paltry 300,000 acre-feet out of a total of 15,000,000 acre-feet for the seven basin states. At the signing of the CRC in 1922, Nevada had about 1.5% of the CRB's population (80K out of almost 6M) and it got just about that fraction of the available (at the time, anyway) water. No one could foresee what Las Vegas would become or the drought that would hammer the CRB.

She was a tough, savvy, and smart negotiator.  The famed 'water buffaloes' (OWGs and MAWGs - old and middle-aged white guys) of the Western water world did not faze her. She was criticized at times for being unreasonable, heavy-handed and unrealistic (and she was). I suspect some of that arose from sexism. But I believe there was really grudging admiration for this fashionable woman with the gold lamé slippers who knew so much about Western water and did things differently. There's even a nefarious character (Catherine Case) in Paolo Bacigalupi's dystopian novel The Water Knife that seems based on her.

Many rural Nevadans despised her for the SNWA's plan to pipe groundwater 300 miles from east-central Nevada to slake Clark County's thirst. She even opined about capturing Mississippi River floodwaters and piping them to Las Vegas and other points west. (note: as a former 13-year resident of the Reno area I must point out that the Las Vegas gambling revenues pay for the state income taxes Nevadans avoid).

She was just doing her job, a civil servant following the 'go-go growth' mantra of the region she served. I actually likened her to New York City's Robert Moses (see Mulroy as Moses) another unelected official who left his mark on a major metropolitan area.

Pat has become more collaborative these days...Will wonders never cease! I have to admit that I would love to see her appointed to straighten out the Bay- Delta mess in California. I made that recommendation when I served on the  NRC Committee almost 10 years ago. I think her skill set would work where no one else's could. Worth a try. 

Here is an excellent article by Matt Jenkins from High Country News. And a three-year old blog post I wrote. 

I met Pat on a few occasions. The only time I really had a conversation with her was at La Guardia Airport in 2011. Did we talk about Western water? No - we chatted about whether we would take off on time. We did.

Senior citizen? I don't think so. Elder stateswoman? Yes.

Happy birthday, Pat!

"As God is my witness, I will never be thirsty again." -- apologies to Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With The Wind