Water & Oceans

NOAA Contracts Being Reviewed One By One, Throwing The Agency Into Chaos

"The secretary of commerce is personally reviewing all contracts with commitments above $100,000 at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, causing backups and uncertainty in the agency that is responsible for the country's weather forecasts, marine fisheries management and coastal management. NOAA is housed within the Department of Commerce."

Source: NPR, 04/10/2025

Trump Makes Sweeping Move To Undercut State Climate Laws Like Calif.'s

"President Trump issued a sweeping executive order aimed at undermining states’ ability to set their own environmental policies. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to identify and “stop the enforcement” of state laws that address climate change and other environmental initiatives."

Source: LA Times, 04/10/2025

"With the Great Mussel Die-Off, Scientists Scramble for Answers"

"One of the most endangered animals in the world, freshwater mussels are threatened by pollution, climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species. But in the epicenter of their diversity — the Southeastern U.S. — the root cause of a catastrophic die-off remains a mystery."

Source: YaleE360, 04/09/2025

"Gray Whales Are Dying Off The Pacific Coast Again. Scientists Unsure Why

"At least 70 whales have perished since the start of the year in the shallow lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula where the animals gather to calf, nurse and breed. Three gray whales have died in San Francisco Bay recently during their migration north, with one showing signs of malnourishment."

Source: LA Times, 04/09/2025

National Weather Service Stops Translating Info For Non-English Speakers

"The National Weather Service is no longer providing language translations of its products, a change that experts say could put non-English speakers at risk of missing potentially life-saving warnings about extreme weather."

Source: AP, 04/09/2025

RFK Jr. Directs CDC To Stop Promoting Fluoridation; EPA Will Re-Assess

"Citing health concerns, newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this week that he will direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending that states add fluoride to their water, and will convene a federal taskforce of independent health experts to study the health risks presented by the practice while establishing a new “optimal” level."

Source: The New Lede, 04/09/2025

Rio Grande Valley Was Once Covered In Forest. One Man Tries To Bring It Back

"The Tamaulipan thorn forest once covered 1 million acres on both sides of the border. Restoring even a fraction of it could help the region cope with the ravages of a warming world."

Source: Grist, 04/08/2025

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