The State of Iowa has just put its first-ever drought plan to work to help it manage one of the longest and most severe dry periods in recent history. Officials say they are already making plans to improve it. Iowa was more than 15 inches short of normal precipitation between fall 2022 and this autumn. .
The federal Environmental Protection Agency says West Virginia isn t accurately keeping track of how many of the state s streams are polluted, and has added an additional 346 streams - totaling around 1,600 miles - to its impaired list. Measuring water quality is required by the federal Clean Water Act to help determine how safe waterways are for aquatic life, swimming, recreation and consumption. In a recent webinar, John Wirts, a retired biologist with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection s Watershed Assessment Program, said the classification opens doors to resources for cleanup. .
New York environmental groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill making it easier to know where lead pipes are located. The Lead Pipe Right to Know Act would require information about the location of lead pipes be made accessible online for New Yorkers to easily access. .