| Dead Mead Lake Mead could run out of water by 2021, says study There's a 50-50 chance that the Arizona- and Nevada-bordering, human-made Lake Mead could become Dry Ditch Mead by 2021, according to a study to be published in the journal Water Resources Research. Oh, and that's a conservative estimate, say the study authors, as is this one: By 2017, there's an equally good chance that water levels in the reservoir could drop so low that the Hoover Dam would be incapable of producing hydroelectric power. Lake Mead provides water to thirsty cities including Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as H2O to agricultural areas. Study coauthor Tim Barnett says he was "stunned at the magnitude of the problem and how fast it was coming at us." The study recommends that officials implement conservation and mitigation policies and technologies. Stat. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: News.com see also, in Grist: Western states and feds agree to new pact on Colorado River drought rules |
Compare and Contrast the Candidates. How green is your candidate? Take a look at Grist's in-depth coverage of the presidential candidates' green stances, including exclusive interviews and fact sheets on their energy and climate platforms.
TODAY'S NEWS
| The Promise of Politics Clinton and Obama talk up the promise of a green economy Still glowing after racking up three more decisive primary victories in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Barack Obama today is giving a major speech on the economy at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin. Stay tuned to Grist for the green take. Hillary Clinton made a less ballyhooed speech at a GM plant in Maryland on Monday, where she emphasized the importance of hybrid vehicles and spoke repeatedly about the promise of green-collar jobs. She also talked up green jobs at a big rally in El Paso, Texas, last night. "[W]hy don't we get smart and start creating our own energy?" she asked. "We have the sun; we have the wind; we can grow the products; we can turn what we have here in Texas into the energy of the future. ... And, if we do it right, we will begin to deal with the problem of global warming, which is a real problem that has to be attacked." John McCain, who won all three Potomac primaries on the GOP side, didn't mention the environment in his speech last night. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Baltimore Sun, The New York Times |
| Don't Be Mine Jewelers join campaign against proposed gold mine in Alaska Psst -- Valentine's Day is Thursday. If you're now rushing out the door in a panic to buy your sweetie a trinket, keep this in mind: A group of prominent jewelers has joined a campaign against the Pebble Gold Mine, an environmental monstrosity that would be sited in Alaska's Bristol Bay, at the headwaters of the world's largest sockeye salmon run. Of 28 jewelers who have signed on to an enviro-sponsored No Dirty Gold campaign, five -- Tiffany, Ben Bridge, Fortunoff, Helzberg, and Leber -- have pledged not to source gold from the Pebble Mine. "There are places where mining does not represent the best use of resources," says Tiffany CEO Michael Kowalski. "In Bristol Bay, we support ... the salmon fishery as the best bet for sustainable, long-term benefit." Give 'em a clean-gold star! [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Los Angeles Times |
| How Crude Midwest refineries source more crude from tar sands; emissions will rise Emissions from oil refineries in the U.S. Midwest are expected to jump by up to 40 percent in the next 10 years, thanks in large part to an industry-wide trend of sourcing crude oil from Canada's tar sands. The sands produce petroleum of such poor quality that it requires more energy -- and thus more pollution -- to process it into usable fuel. The trend flies in the face of national and regional efforts to curb greenhouse gases, not to mention oil companies' lip service to renewable energy and climate-change mitigation. "We take climate change very, very seriously," says Bill Gerwing of oil giant BP, which is proposing to expand a Chicago-area refinery to process more Canadian crude. How seriously? "We are willing to pay for our emissions with offsets." Ah. That seriously. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Chicago Tribune |
| Elk and Their Ilk Elk populations getting out of control in some national parks Forget hungry, hungry hippos -- here come the hungry, hungry elk. Three national parks in Colorado and the Dakotas are awash in antlered gluttons, at some places more than twice what's considered a preferable population. "Willow and aspen stands are declining [and] that deprives other species of habitat they need," says a spokesperson for Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park. "We have to manage for the others ... beaver, butterfly, a variety of birds, insects. It's a whole ecosystem concept, and it can get out of whack." Nature extremes in the form of drought or severe snowfall can sometimes help reduce elk populations, as can shipping the animals elsewhere, injecting them with contraceptives, or introducing predators. Nonetheless, park managers plan to move forward with more-reliable, always-controversial "lethal reduction." [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: The Washington Post |
| Insect Aside Historical warm periods linked to increased insect activity This news has us buggin': Historical warm periods have been linked with an explosion of insect activity, and not-so-distant future warm periods may very well see the same, says new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Not only that, but elevated carbon dioxide levels may cause plants to produce fewer nutrients, so insects must gobble more foliage to mitigate their hunger -- bad news for humans who wanted to eat those bug-devoured crops. Now where did we put our insect repellent? [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: LiveScience, The Independent, SPX, National Geographic News |
Read more news ...
Tip #5 from Grist's new green-living guide, Wake Up and Smell the Planet
Q. Valentine's Day is coming up, which sex toys are safest?
A. Playthings that are free of phthalates and PVC. Click here for more green-living tips, or buy the book!
Q. Valentine's Day is coming up, which sex toys are safest?
A. Playthings that are free of phthalates and PVC. Click here for more green-living tips, or buy the book!
GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
 My Three Sins On avoiding vinyl Q. Hi Umbra! I've been in denial about vinyl. Blue Vinyl the movie got me thinking, but unfortunately I space out and lie to myself ... So this is what I need: a clear list of popular items made with vinyl so that lying to myself will be much more difficult. Don't forget anything -- if you do, you can feel assured that I will purchase it with some pathetic, self-inflicted whopper fresh in my brain. Help me! Brenna Royal Oak, Mich. A. Dearest Brenna, The list would be long, long, long. And I don't know how I would make it funny. Can I offer you some identification clues instead? And point you to a serious list compiled by a serious organization? Yes I can, and I will ... Read the rest of Umbra's answer. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: On avoiding vinyl |
Coming Thursday: Recipes for sweet Valentine's Day treats
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