National Geographic News: Water Crisis

Bird-friendly Farms Catching On in California

Ker Than in Staten Island, California — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:01:54 -0400

Migratory birds are taking refuge on farms in California's Staten Island as part of a conservation plan.

How Drought on Mississippi River Impacts You

Johnna Rizzo — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:27:45 -0400

The drought-plagued Mississippi River is holding up barge traffic, impacting everything from Japanese feedstock to American beer.

Lake Trout Are Bad News for Lake Yellowstone

Cathy Newman — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:48:01 -0400

No one knows how lake trout got into Yellowstone Lake. But everyone agrees that the intruders must go.

Grabbing Water From Future Generations

Fred Pearce in India — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:40:33 -0400

Many of the world's aquifers are being pumped dry to support unsustainable agriculture.

Saudi Arabia Stakes a Claim on the Nile

Fred Pearce in Ethiopia — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:54:17 -0400

After draining four-fifths of its massive underground aquifer for unsustainable agriculture, the Saudi Kingdom turns to verdant Ethiopia.

Mali’s Lush Wetlands Drained by Foreign Agribusiness

Fred Pearce in Mali — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:20:22 -0400

Subsistence lifestyles and diverse wildlife hang in the balance in Mali's inland delta, thanks to ambitious plans to divert Niger River water for irrigation.

Fishing the Forgotten River in the Nation's Capital

Krista Schlyer — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:51:32 -0400

Thousands of people consume fish from Washington, D.C.'s highly polluted Anacostia River, despite safety warnings.

Colorado Wildfires Threaten Water Supplies

Tasha Eichenseher — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:19:12 -0400

As fires are contained, water managers assess the damage, draw more on the Colorado River, and try to prepare for a dry future.

Philadelphia Cleans Up Storm Water With Innovative Program

Paul McRandle — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:23:47 -0400

City officials deploy permeable paving, rain barrels, tree trenches, and other water-saving technology.

Groundwater Depletion Accelerates Sea-Level Rise

Richard Lovett — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:11:32 -0400

As aquifers are pumped out around the world, the water ultimately makes it to the oceans.

Bugs Help Measure Impact of New Transoceanic Highway on Amazon

Ker Than — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:08:03 -0400

Scientists deploy "leaf packs" to survey threatened water quality in Peru.

Scientists Race to Save World's Rice Bowl From Climate Change

Ker Than — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:09:37 -0400

More frequent floods and droughts expected in Southeast Asia.

Warm Spring May Mean Drought and Wildfires in West

Paul McRandle — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:34:25 -0400

Decreased snowpack in the Rocky Mountains may compound problems for Colorado, Arizona, California, and other Western states.

Climate Change Linked to Waterborne Diseases in Inuit Communities

Ker Than — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:46:39 -0400

A recent study may warn of more widespread threats to water quality.

Massive Hindu Pilgrimage Melting Sacred Glacier

Rebecca Byerly — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:31:56 -0400

Hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir are polluting, and melting, an important glacier, scientists say.

Artificial Glaciers Water Crops in Indian Highlands

Ker Than — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:31:04 -0400

Villagers discover that it is easier to store water in ice than in a reservoir, and less is lost to evaporation.

Reclaimed Wastewater for Drinking: Safe But Still A Tough Sell

Ker Than — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:43:11 -0400

A new report highlights advancements in recycling technology and predicts growth in treatment programs, if people can get beyond ick factor.

Raiding the Bread Basket: Use and Abuse of the Mississippi River Basin

Sally Deneen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:25:20 -0400

Industrial agricultural has significant socioeconomic and environmental costs in the Mississippi River Basin, although scientists are bringing solutions.

Melting Glaciers Mean Double Trouble for Water Supplies

Rick Lovett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:51:09 -0400

New research shows that as ice disappears, overall evaporation speeds up.

Africans Adapt to Rainfall Shortages in Warming World

Ker Than — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:39:36 -0400

Climate change will call for more flexible solutions to water challenges.

Real Christmas Trees Save Water

Ker Than — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:47:35 -0400

Real Christmas trees end up using less water than artificial ones, and they have other environmental benefits, especially when these tips are followed.

Google Earth Animation Shows How Dams Could Worsen Climate Change

Ker Than — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:18:57 -0400

A project of two NGOs, using Google Earth technology, highlights far-ranging effects of dams.

India Stems Tide of Pollution Into Ganges River

Dan Morrison in Allahabad, India — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:11:07 -0400

Recent legal rulings block several development projects in bid to enhance water quality.

Spectacular Time Lapse Video of Historic Condit Dam Removal

Brian Clark Howard — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:40:42 -0400

The Condit Dam in Washington State has been dramatically dismantled, to restore a salmon stream for the first time in a century.

Short Life of British Mayfly Halved by Climate Change

James Owen — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:31:33 -0400

New research suggests that mayflies in a UK trout river are getting through their lifecycle in double-quick time in response to warming temperatures.