The Stream, June 19, 2019: Louisiana Governor Calls for Disaster Declaration as Flooding Devastates Fishing Industry
The Global Rundown
The governor of Louisiana asks the U.S. government to declare a fisheries disaster as flooding disrupts oyster, crab, and shrimp catches. Ammonia and nitrogen is washing into UK waterways and polluting over 60 percent of the nation’s land area. Rising waterways in Michigan heightened the risk of electric shock deaths. A new UN report details water and sanitation scarcity across the globe. The four main reservoirs in Chennai, India, run dry.
“Only rain can save Chennai from this situation.” –An official in Chennai, India, in reference to the city’s four major reservoirs running dry. The water shortage has left residents queuing for hours to get water, and forced hotels and restaurants to halt operations. The government is searching for alternative water sources, but low groundwater levels are complicating efforts. BBC
In context: Chennai’s Security Tied to Cleaning Up Its Water.
Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue
Price of Water 2019: Even Without Federal Infrastructure Deal, Cities Continue to Invest — India’s monsoon, essential for the country’s water supply, arrived a week late this year, testing the patience of a country where extreme weather is fraying the social fabric.
HotSpots H2O: Violence Flares in India Amid Record Heat and Delayed Monsoon Rains — India’s monsoon, essential for the country’s water supply, arrived a week late this year, testing the patience of a country where extreme weather is fraying the social fabric.
By The Numbers
80 percent Amount that oyster harvests have dropped in Louisiana and Mississippi due to prolonged flooding on the Mississippi River. A deluge of freshwater flooding is disrupting briny estuaries and marshlands in the southern states, killing oysters and forcing crabs, shrimp, and fish into saltier waters. The flooding is devastating the regional fishing industry, prompting Louisiana’s governor to call for a federally-declared fisheries disaster. U.S. News & World Report
60 percent Proportion of UK land area that is being tainted by ammonia and nitrogen pollution, largely from farming, according to a government report. The pollution is seeping into air, soil, and waterways, where it is hurting sensitive ecosystems. Currently, the government has no set plans to track or minimize the impact of the pollution. The Guardian
Science, Studies, and Reports
A new report by the United Nations analyzed water data from 2000-2017 and found that 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack steady access to clean water, and 4.2 billion do not have adequate sanitation services. At the same time, the report noted the 1.8 billion people have obtained access to clean water since 2000. UN News
In context: SDG Report: Billions Lack Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation at Home.
On the Radar
The U.S. Great Lakes, as well as many rivers and streams, are at abnormally high water levels, prompting Michigan officials to warn about the risk of electric shock drowning. Such drowning occur when a person comes in contact with an electrical current in the water–a scenario that is more common when marinas, piers, and docks with electricity are submerged by high waters. MLive
Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter
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