The Stream, January 21, 2022: Great Lakes Ice Coverage Could Reach Long-Term Averages
YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN
- Ice coverage on the Great Lakes is increasing as temperatures drop, officials say.
- A giant Antarctic glacier released more than 150 billion tons of freshwater into ocean waters around the sub-arctic island of South Georgia.
- Heavy rains pummel Madagascar, flooding parts of its capital city.
- New Jersey officials announce plans to replace drinking and wastewater infrastructure.
Rain and snow in California are a welcome sight for endangered salmon.
“We’ve seen fish in places that they haven’t been for almost 25 years.” – Preston Brown, director of watershed conservation for Salmon Protection and Watershed Network. A bounty of rain late last year has allowed endangered coho salmon to spawn in California’s Tomales Bay watershed. Ongoing drought in the state has made it hard for wildlife officials to keep fish populations alive, and experts say the rain hasn’t undone the megadrought’s impacts. Still, fish populations are benefitting from the recent downpours and spawn are expected to return to the waters as adults.
In Recent Water News
In Case You Missed It:
Historically Excluded From Colorado River Policy, Tribes Want a Say In How the Dwindling Resource Is Used – Dozens of federally recognized tribes in the American West lack adequate access to clean water, despite collectively owning rights to about a quarter of the water that flows through the Colorado River. This article was originally published by Colorado Public Radio as part of the Tapped Out collaborative, which examines power and water justice in the rural American West.
Great Lakes Ice Coverage Is Increasing, Experts Say
As temperatures in the Midwest continue to drop, experts predict ice coverage on the Great Lakes could nearly reach long-term averages. Current predictions put peak cover on Lake Michigan at 38 percent, while Lake Erie could reach 71 percent and Lake Superior may hit 52 percent.
Today’s Top Water Stories, Told In Numbers
152 BILLLION TONS
A new study revealed that as the giant A68A Antarctic iceberg melted, 152 billion tons of water was released around the sub-arctic island of South Georgia over three months in 2020 and 2021. The emergence of freshwater could have a profound impact on marine life around the island, scientists say.
12,000 PEOPLE
Heavy rains flooded parts of Madagascar’s capital city, killing 10 people and displacing 12,000. Officials warned of potential landslides as rains continue and a possible cyclone approaches the island. In other parts of the country, the rain has been a welcome sight to those who have suffered through extreme drought.
On the Radar
New Jersey officials announced initial plans for $1 billion in federal funds for new drinking and wastewater infrastructure over the next five years. The state intends to spend $170 million this year, and will decide where exactly the funds will go based on stakeholder meetings that begin next week.
Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.
Thanks for sharing, “Now we’re back into a warmup after a few days of cooling. The lakes right now are wide open,”
keep sharing!