New Map Plots North America’s Bounty of Rivers

More of North America’s land is covered by rivers than we thought, according to a new map. Scientists came up with a way to use satellite images to estimate the width of rivers and found that previous methods tended to underestimate how wide they are. The discovery could have implications for studies of flood risk as well as climate change impacts.

LINK (via: Wired)

Colorado River Spill Update

Preliminary tests on the once-toxically orange Animas River in Colorado indicate little danger to fish or other wildlife, authorities said Monday, five days after a spill sent contaminated water seeping into the river.

LINK (via: NBC News)

Could This Be the Next Pebble Mine?

Montana's Smith River is threatened by a massive proposed copper mine along Sheep Creek, a major tributary. If the mine is built, it would ruin this nationally renowned wild trout fishery through acid mine drainage, contamination with toxic heavy metals, and other pollution.

LINK

Explore the Robot River

Photo: Paul Hermans

The Colorado River — the most important water source for 40 million people in the West — is draining. For a century, seven states engineered ways to wring ever more water from the river, defying all natural limitations. But now, the very water laws and policies that shaped progress are rendering the West more vulnerable to drought and less fit to adapt to climate change. Discover how the nation helped turn the Colorado into an artificial system by engineering water projects that now exacerbate instead of solve the problem.

LINK (via: Pro Publica)

America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2015

The America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report highlights ten rivers whose fate will be decided in the coming year, and encourages decision-makers to do the right thing for the rivers and the communities they support. It presents alternatives to proposals that would damage rivers, identifies those who make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.

LINK

Effects of Water-Use Development on Yellowstone River Streamflow Analyzed

A new fact sheet published by the U.S. Geological Survey describes the cumulative hydrologic effects of water-resource development in the Yellowstone River. The Yellowstone River is an important natural resource to the State of Montana and is used for a variety of purposes including irrigation, recreation, and municipal and industrial water supply. 

“While the main stem of the Yellowstone River is free of reservoirs and major dams, reservoirs on tributaries and withdrawals for irrigation have a measurable effect on Yellowstone River streamflows,” said Katherine Chase, USGS hydrologist and co-author of the fact sheet. 

The effects of water-use are minimal where the Yellowstone River leaves Yellowstone Lake in the National Park and gradually increase downstream to Billings.  Downstream from Billings, the effects of development are much more pronounced. 

LINK (via: USGS)