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Episodes

May 17, 2021

waterloop #97: Putting Faith in Conservation with Cory Sparks and Hel…

Religion is a very prevalent part of life in New Orleans and southern Louisiana, leading conservation organizations to build relationships with local faith leaders and to educate them on environmental issues.

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May 13, 2021

waterloop #96: Rising Up Against Environmental Racism with Chandra Ta…

A plan to route an oil pipeline through predominantly black neighborhoods in Memphis is an example of how minority communities across the country are overburdened by pollution and subjected to environmental racism, say Chandra Taylor,

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May 11, 2021

waterloop #95: Tech-Powered Precision Conservation with Emily Mills a…

In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, cutting-edge technology is powering the practice of precision conservation, the use of advanced data and imagery for efficient decision making in environmental management. Tools like aerial imagery, LiDAR elevation data,

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April 28, 2021

waterloop #94: A Rancher and the River with Paul Bruchez

For five generations Paul Bruchez’s family has ranched in Colorado, giving him an intimate understanding of water and the Colorado River. As climate change and development strain water resources to the breaking point,

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April 26, 2021

waterloop #93: California's Drive for Water Data with Tara Moran

During last decade’s severe drought the State of California passed the Open and Transparent Water Data Act in recognition of the critical role of data in water management. That led to the formation of the California Water Data Consortium,

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April 15, 2021

waterloop #92: The Positive Possibilities in Ocean Policy with Eric S…

The greatest challenge facing the ocean is climate change, which is raising water temperatures, altering chemistry, and shifting major currents. But simultaneously there are opportunities to make progress in ocean health thro...

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April 13, 2021

waterloop #91: The Snake - America’s Most Endangered River 2021 with …

Four dams on the Snake River in Washington State have pushed salmon to the brink of extinction, threatening not just the species but the broader ecosystem, the culture of Native American tribes, and the region’s economy. This...

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April 8, 2021

waterloop #90: Blood of the West with J.R. Robinson

For the Colorado River to have a sustainable future, it’s vital to understand its past and present. Blood of the West is an in-development documentary series about the Colorado River that will take viewers on a journey from headwaters to …

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April 5, 2021

waterloop #89: Saving the Salton Sea with Frank Ruiz

The Salton Sea is a unique waterbody that has suffered from high salinity levels, agricultural runoff, and water consumption by cities in Southern California, pushing the ecosystem to the brink and threatening the health of surrounding communities.

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April 1, 2021

waterloop #88: Digging Up Farm Drainage Solutions With Quint Shambaugh

Water drainage is critical for farms in the Midwest. But farmers don’t usually receive comprehensive and unbiased information about water management and drainage solutions, and have to focus on short-term costs instead of long-term equity.

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March 24, 2021

waterloop #87: Moving From Scarcity to Sustainability With Brian Rich…

Proper attention was not paid to sustainability of water resources as the U.S. developed and expanded across the continent over the past few centuries, not only straining water availability for people but for nature itself. T...

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March 20, 2021

waterloop #86: Turning a Lake From Green to Clean with Mike Mallin, D…

Many lakes around the country suffer from poor water quality in the same way as Greenfield Lake in Wilmington, N.C. - stormwater runoff into the lake from hard surfaces like roads, parking lots, and buildings causes nutrient pollution, algae growth,

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March 17, 2021

waterloop #85: Sailing for Sustainability in The Ocean Race with Anne…

Crews in The Ocean Race, the iconic around-the-world sailing competition, have noticed changes in the water such as more trash and less marine life. But increasingly sailors and organizers are steering toward sustainability,

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March 15, 2021

waterloop #84: Putting the Justice in Equity with Jovita Lee

Communities of color and low-income suffer disproportionately from polluted water and delivering environmental justice in these situations is essential for achieving broader equity in society. This is reflected in the fight against waste from concentra...

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March 10, 2021

waterloop #83: Creating A New Coast with Jeff Peterson

The U.S. coast is unprepared for the increasing impacts of storms and sea level rise on communities, infrastructure, the economy, and the environment itself. Comprehensive changes in leadership, policies, programs,

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March 8, 2021

waterloop #82: Conservation Through Collaboration in Arkansas

In the Mississippi Delta there is no bigger force on the economy and the environment than agriculture, with its tens of millions of acres of farmland that both feeds a nation and impacts water quality. In Arkansas programs can help …

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March 4, 2021

waterloop #81: New Mexico at the Precipice with Laura Paskus

Although New Mexico receives far less attention than many other western states, it is at the precipice of a water crisis, with climate change further straining the arid state and groundwater impacted by the oil and gas industry.

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March 1, 2021

waterloop #80: The Transition to 21st Century Water Management with N…

Last century’s approach to water management was based on controlling nature, a fragmented infrastructure system, and general sense there was plenty of water. But the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century have spurred a transition to a water ...

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Feb. 24, 2021

waterloop #79: Digging Up Groundwater Data with Ben Kerr, Melissa Roh…

A lack of information on groundwater has historically posed challenges for management. Now emerging tools are expanding and organizing the data available for decision-making, as discussed in this episode with Ben Kerr of Foundry Spatial,

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Feb. 22, 2021

waterloop #78: Equity Through Engagement in Toledo with Alexis Smith,…

Residents of Toledo, Ohio deal with water challenges ranging from pollution in Lake Erie to lead pipes for drinking water to increasing utility bills. Toledo’s communities of color and low-income have historically lacked information and input in water ...

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Feb. 18, 2021

waterloop #77: The Innovation of Environmental Impact Bonds with Eric…

Budgets are struggling to keep up with the scale and scope of water projects that need funding in communities across the U.S. At the same time, it is extremely difficult for public agencies to take risks on solutions that could …

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Feb. 14, 2021

waterloop #76: A Retrospective on the Law of the Colorado River with …

The Colorado River is managed under the “Law of the River,” a complex series of agreements, laws, legal decisions, and regulations that originated with the 1922 Colorado River Compact. There are important lessons and successes from the past 100 years …

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Feb. 11, 2021

waterloop #75: Stress Relief for Louisiana's Oysters with Morgan Kelly

Oysters are an iconic and important part of Louisiana’s coastal ecosystem, culture, and economy. But in addition to harvest pressure, the oysters are under stress from increased freshwater, either from heavy rainfall fueled by climate change or diversi...

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Feb. 8, 2021

waterloop #74: Bringing Shorelines to Life with Carter Smith, Lexia W…

Historically bulkheads, seawalls, and other hardened structures were used along the Carolina coast to protect from the forces of erosion, waves, and storms. But there is a rise in the use of living shorelines.

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