Read the latest headlines from the Ag & Water Desk

How a national designation for the Ohio River aims to spur recreation and tourism

“I think people would be surprised that it meets recreation standards. People are swimming, and people are rowing, and people are paddling in the river more and more.”

By Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal | Oct. 10, 2023

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Wisconsin PFAS & the Alabama Black Belt:

Wisconsin is trucking thousands of gallons of fluorinated firefighting foam to a mostly poor, Black town in Alabama. The “father of environmental justice” says this perpetuates racism. Bennet Goldstein of Wisconsin Watch teamed up on this story with journalists from AL.com. Listen to the reporters on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Farmers struggle with pipeline damage:

Years after the Spire STL Pipeline began delivering gas to the St. Louis region, Illinois farmers say its construction has rendered portions of their land unusable. Now the state says the company hasn’t made good on its promises to prevent damage. Our expert journalist Bryce Gray of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has that story.

Low river levels:

The Mississippi River is still at some of its lowest levels on record amid ongoing drought. Keely Brewer is covering this story for The Daily Memphian. Read more in our coverage from the end of September.

Iowa drought:

One Iowa town scrapes the bottom of its water reserves amid the worst drought on record in the eastern part of the state, as Brittney J. Miller reports for The Gazette.

Louisiana grain terminal:

A federal review found that historic sites would be harmed by construction of a major proposed grain terminal in St. John the Baptist Parish, recently placed at the top of a nationwide list of places vulnerable to climate risks. Delaney Dryfoos has been covering this for the Ag & Water Desk and The Lens in New Orleans.

Flood insurance:

St. Louis-area homeowners are struggling with huge rate increases as flood-weary private insurers shunt customers onto federal policies, reports Bryce Gray.

Big ag markets:

Two companies — Bayer and Corteva — controlled more than half of the markets for corn, soybeans and cotton between 2018 and 2020. Sky Chadde analyzed this federal data for Investigate Midwest.

Minnesota muskrats:

Record-low numbers of muskrats trapped for their fur in Minnesota may be tied to the loss and erosion of wetland habitats the animals need to survive. Jennifer Bjorhus has that story for The Star Tribune.

Covering the statehouse:

Our expert journalist and senior advisor Erin Jordan of The Gazette offers tips for effective state legislative coverage through the Society of Environmental Journalists.

ICYMI:

Our 2022 series “When It Rains” was honored in the Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards. Our partners at The Gazette shared the good news.