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Pour It On: How Dutch Cities Are Soaking up Rain and Reducing Flooding

Tristan Baurick Tegan Wendland

March 10, 2020 |

The Times-Picayune |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Rotterdam

A green roof initiative is one of the projects Rotterdam, a city in the Netherlands, is working on to capture and store more rainwater; a solution that might work in Louisiana. With heavier rains and more intense storms due to climate change in both places, the amount of rainfall coming down can overwhelm drainage systems. Although the price tag can be high to build these green roofs, Rotterdam boasts 100 acres of green roofs that have increased the city’s water storage capacity by about 1.6 million gallons.

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Covid-19: The government officials only visit our shacks when they want our votes, not when we need food

Antonio Capalandanda

May 29, 2020 |

#Kizola |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa

South Africa took decisive steps to contain the spread of Covid-19, including closing borders, requiring strict social distancing, and making screening and testing available nationwide. The lock-down, however, made citizens who already lacked money, food, and access to clean water more insecure. Social services increased in some areas, but not enough to provide sufficient food and secure access to clean water to those who needed it. Some local organizations, such as the KASI Arts School & Rehabilitation Centre, shifted their operations to supply food to their local communities, but many remain in need.

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How Ashland SWCD uses art to teach stormwater management

Katie Ellington

August 21, 2020 |

Richland Source |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ashland, Ohio

As a way to raise funds and awareness for stormwater education, some cities are turning rain barrels into an art exhibit. Rain barrels catch water as it runs off rooftops, which can be used later for watering plants. It also reduces the amount of water that picks up pollutants and is carried into waterways. The Ashland Soil and Water Conservancy District in Ohio featured 10 rain barrels painted by local artists, allowing residents to vote and bid on their favorite design. Their efforts were inspired by a similar event in Indiana where they’ve auctioned 100 barrels for residents to use at home.

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Coastal Louisiana tribes team up with biologist to protect sacred sites from rising seas

Ty Baniewicz

September 02, 2020 |

Southerly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

Indigenous communities in Louisiana are working with scientists to restore wetland ecosystems and protect tribal mounds along the Gulf Coast through backfilling projects. Depleted oil wells and canals in the area are often abandoned, creating reservoirs of stagnant water that affects freshwater plants and animals. The group has started to identify priority canal sites to fill in and seek funding to kick off the project, which can be challenging to get.

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Mini reefs restore SWFL canals

Carolina Lopez

April 17, 2019 |

Changing Florida |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Florida

Oceans Habitats, Inc. has built and installed over 1,600 mini-reefs in Florida to bring aquatic life back to the canals and to improve the water quality. Water filters through these artificial reefs made out of propylene pipe and boosts the variety of fish and marine life species. These reefs can help grow over 300 fish a year. The organization is looking to make the reefs out of recycled material to be more environmentally friendly.

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Seattle Public Utilities' waste-pumping program has cut sewage spills from homeless people's RVs in half

Scott Greenstone

November 28, 2020 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

To help those experiencing homelessness, Seattle Public Utilities workers travel around the city knocking on RV doors and asking occupants if they need their sewage tank pumped. Some RVs are broken down and occupants can’t get to a public dump site to dispose of their waste, so wastewater spills have increased over the years. However, since the pilot program was introduced in 2020, the spills from RVs have been cut in half.

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A System for Sharing Household Heat Is Growing Beneath France

Chad Small

December 04, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

In Paris, about 7,500 buildings are heated using geothermal energy, a cost-saving and carbon neutral energy source. Water is drawn from deep below ground at a central location and heated by the earth, and then sent via underground pipes to individual buildings. The Bagneux and Chatillon district has scaled up the system, providing heat to over 40,000 people. Districts created joint ventures to reduce construction costs and residents do not notice the energy source shift because when the temperature drops to a point where geothermal energy is not viable, gas boilers automatically keeps the heat flowing.

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How activists successfully shut down key pipeline projects in New York

Greta Moran

January 04, 2021 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Landowners, residents, community leaders, and activist groups across New York state came together to halt several pipeline projects. By conducting research, holding public events, and building a multiracial coalition of people who would be the most impacted by a pipeline, they were able to pressure state officials to deny a water-quality permit for the Constitution pipeline that would carry fracked gas throughout the northeastern United States and Canada. While some pipeline projects are continuing in the Empire State, their successful model could be used in other states.

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CT's small solutions to climate change: creating salt marsh in Stonington

Jan Ellen Spiegel

September 17, 2019 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Stonington, Connecticut

To address increased tidal flooding on its shoreline, Stonington, Connecticut, is sticking to a simple principle: "Where possible, work with nature not against it.” Volunteers plant native plants, helping to restore and expand the former salt marsh, which naturally absorbs water.

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The future will be battery-powered

Amelia Urry

February 21, 2017 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There is an ongoing competition to improve batteries as a method of energy storage that is environmentally conscious. Intense research on batteries is ongoing, including the development of the "saltwater battery', in order to improve their reliability, storage abilities and safety.

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