Water & Oceans

For more than seven months, the nation's top public health agency has blocked the publication of an exhaustive federal study of environmental hazards in the eight Great Lakes states.

A Congressional Research Service report on terrorism and security issues facing sewage treatment and drinking water plants, dams and reservoirs, and other water infrastructure is full of ideas that reporters could turn into local stories — if only they were allowed to see it.

A series of drinking-water contamination incidents have raised doubts about EPA's safety claims regarding hydraulic fracturing in domestic gas wells. And it's hard for people to get to the bottom of those claims when the identity of the chemicals injected during the process is protected as a "trade secret."

EPA says it can tell you how much of the herbicide atrazine may be in your drinking water - but you will have to swear not to tell anyone.

Harmful algal blooms are increasing and now occur offshore of every coastal state and in some inland waters.

Lately the term "green infastructure" has gotten more specific as many cities seek more robust and cost-effective stormwater management.

As beach season crests in August, many swimmers will want to know whether, or how much, their favorite beach is contaminated.

Covering for the slovenly among us, hundreds of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in an annual trash collection effort on Sept. 15, 2007, along the shores of the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Along with the usual spooky and spine-tingling sights we have come to expect in caves, another scary inhabitant is turning up — contaminants such as PCBs, pesticides, dioxins, gasoline, fertilizers, sewage, and caffeine. These pollutants, which are leaching into caves from the surface and groundwater, can pose a threat to the delicate underground environments that are prized by many, and that provide benefits to people, plants, and animals on the surface. The presence of these contaminants underground also serves as a blunt reminder of how pervasive pollutants are.

On Oct. 2, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act turns 40. How are your local rivers faring? Here's a collection of ideas, sources, and resources for river-related stories.