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What Minnesota can learn from Arizona about water

Dan Kraker

May 27, 2014 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, AZ, adopted measures, such as limiting new wells and making water rights sellable, that have slashed per capita water consumption by 35 percent. It is now considered a national leader in water conservation and perhaps has lessons for Minnesota as it grapples with its own groundwater shortages.

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How one utility powers its entire plant from wastewater

Christopher Booker Sam Weber Connie Kargbo

June 02, 2019 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Downers Grove, Illinois

A wastewater treatment facility in suburban Chicago has become energy neutral. By accepting waste from oil and other sources not normally treated together, the facility increases biogas that can power the plant. Besides saving energy, it saves the plant almost half a million dollars each year.

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Fish Cannons, Koi Herpes and Other Tools to Combat Invasive Carp

JoAnna Klein

June 04, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Falcon Heights, Minnesota

The common carp was brought to America in the 1880s and has been considered an invasive species for over 100 years, disrupting water ecosystems wherever it goes. Researchers are trying multiple solutions to see what sticks. They support the carp’s natural predator, lead them to capture through electrical signals, and hope the Whooshh, a fish cannon, will be the most effective way of trapping carp and improving the health of their surrounding ecosystems.

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In Harvey's wake, Dutch have much to teach Houston

Tony Freemantle

December 22, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands

Moving away from brute force and impermeable dams, projects that focus on spatial planning and long-term investment in dynamic infrastructure projects prove more resilient to flooding and natural disasters. In the Netherlands, the Room for the River project is one part of the country’s comprehensive approach toward protecting its citizens from the threat of floods. Instead of relying on private flood insurance, citizens in the Netherland’s pay higher taxes, which help to fund water management projects.

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Waste to Wealth: How Kenyan farmers are bringing life back to degraded Lake Victoria swamps

Annika McGinnis

March 22, 2019 |

InfoNILE |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kisumu, Kisumu County

Families living in the wetlands of Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya are working together with a nonprofit called Ecofinder Kenya to protect and conserve the wetlands they live on. The crux of the incentive centers around the Eocfinder toilet, which converts human and animal waste to biogas, but they also work with solar lamps, water pumps, and a "farmer-to-farmer" program in which farmers share environmentally-friendly expertise. The program has been going on for 3 years now, and the wetlands have since seen a return of wildlife and growth, particularly with fish and birds.

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Restoring the Range: Can Beef Be Earth-Friendly?

Madeline Ostrander

February 04, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hayes, South Dakota

Mortenson Cattle Ranch in Hayes, South Dakota is redefining sustainability practices for cattle-raising farmers by using a model that restored the habitat, wildlife, and water sources on their land. Mimicking the habits of bison herds, the Mortensons use a technique called holistic range management to rotate their cattle's grazing areas, which increases distribution of wildflower and grass seeds, as well as planting trees and replenishing groundwater using dikes and dams. Having started this in the 1980s, 90% of their 19,000 acre property is back to native vegetation, and efforts are still ongoing.

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Berkeley's sugary soda consumption plummeted after tax, study says

Erin Allday

February 21, 2019 |

San Francisco Chronicle |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Berkeley, California

California marks the first state in the United States to join the ranks of other countries such as Mexico that saw a significant decline in soda sales and increase in water sales after enacting a sugar tax. Critics of the tax have voiced concerns about the policy's impact on small business owners and infringement on consumer choice, but lawmakers are still moving forward with expanding the tax statewide.

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In India, this group helps turn wasteland into greener pastures

Fred de Sam Lazaro

April 19, 2018 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: India, Tamil Nadu

An organization funded by the government called Foundation for Ecological Security is leading the charge to reforest wastelands in India to alleviate some of the struggles that rural areas undergo. This creates holding ponds, replenishes soil, and even prompts the community to work together to equitably distribute any leftover water amongst the farmers. It also helps stem the tide of urbanization and addresses the concern that the country may soon run out of food. The group has worked in 13,000 villages across India, reaching about 8 million people, and they still have millions of acres of land to reforest.

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How To Get Meat Eaters To Eat More Plant-Based Foods? Make Their Mouths Water

Maria Godoy

February 10, 2019 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Red meat consumption requires a great deal of water and land resources to produce and is even responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gases. To combat this, the Better Buying Lab is experimenting with marketing strategies to get people to buy more vegetarian and vegan items. After rebranding food with sensory descriptors like "Cuban" or "grilled", sales increased 13% in California and 76% in the UK. Influential brands like Panera are now increasing their efforts to continue this trend.

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Improving our own environment

Madison Kuklentz Gabriella DeMelfi Thomas Garlick

August 09, 2019 |

The Mercury |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Schwenksville, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has built a grassroots base of volunteers that help clean up the local environment. Through education at schools and summer workshops, outreach projects, and asking volunteers to recruit new people, the Conservancy saw over 1,000 volunteers at its annual stream cleanup event. While the organization is still trying to figure out how to retain volunteers for long-term projects, the response to immediate projects has been overwhelming.

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