New Zealand Grants a River the Rights of Personhood

September 16, 2012, www.treehugger.com | “From the dawn of history, and in cultures throughout the world, humans have been prone to imbue Earth’s life-giving rivers with qualities of life itself — a fitting tribute, no doubt, to the wellsprings upon which our past (and present) civilizations so heavily rely. But while modern thought has come to regard these essential waterways more clinically over the centuries, that might all be changing once again.  Meet the Whanganui. You might call it a river, but in the eyes of the law, it has the standings of a person.”

Ami Linden shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
Meet the Whanganui. You might call it a river, but in the eyes of the law, it has the standings of a person.
treehugger.com
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End Mining Within 100 Feet of Streams

August 28, 2015, action.biologicaldiversity.org | “For decades legal loopholes have allowed coal companies to mine directly through streams, harming imperiled species like the Colorado pikeminnow and eastern hellbender salamander, and poisoning downstream waterways for people.  But at least the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has proposed a new Stream Buffer Zone Rule that would restrict all mining within 100 feet of streams.”

A court victory in 2014 against exceptions made by George Bush in 2008 requires that a new strict rule be adopted.
For decades legal loopholes have allowed coal companies to mine directly through streams, harming…
action.biologicaldiversity.org

Judge denies attempt to block water release for Klamath salmon

August 27, 2015, www.bendbulletin.com | “A federal judge has denied a request by agricultural water providers in California’s Central Valley to block emergency water releases to protect Klamath River salmon from the drought.  U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in Fresno, California, on Wednesday rejected a request for a temporary restraining order sought by Westlands Water District and San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority.”

Robert Brothers shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.

GRANTS PASS — A federal judge has denied a request by agricultural water providers in California’s Central Valley to block emergency water releases to protect Klamath River salmon from the drought. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill in Fresno, California, on Wednesday rejected a request for a t…
bendbulletin.com

President Obama designates Berryessa Snow Mountain region a national monument

Lake County News's photo.

July 11, 2015, www.lakeconews.com | “On Friday President Barack Obama signed a proclamation giving the Berryessa Snow Mountain region national monument status, a designation that proponents say will aid the region’s economy through tourism and recreation opportunities.  The new national monument region covers approximately 330,780 acres managed by federal agencies across seven counties – Lake, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Napa, Yolo and Solano – and extends from Berryessa Peak to the eastern boundary of the Yuki Wilderness in Mendocino County. It does not include Lake Berryessa itself.”

Kevin Phillips shared a photo to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline. Lake County News

President Obama designates Berryessa Snow Mountain region a national monument – bit.ly/1gtT4Ia

3 New National Monuments Are Established by Obama

July 10, 2015, www.nytimes.com | “President Obama announced on Friday that he was designating new national monuments covering more than a million acres in California, Texas and Nevada, his latest use of executive power to preserve public land. Mr. Obama designated Berryessa Snow Mountain in California; a paleontological site in Texas known as Waco Mammoth; and the Basin and Range in Nevada, which includes rock art dating back 4,000 years, the White House said in a statement.”

New national monuments —
Republicans have criticized the president for using the law that allows the designation of such sites more than any of his predecessors.
www.nytimes.com|By Julie Hirschfeld Davis
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Smith Headwaters Mining Withdrawal Filed

July 1, 2015, ijpr.org | “Southern Oregon and Northern California’s Smith River could be temporarily protected from mining by a maneuver proposed by the Bureau of Land Management.  BLM plans to withdraw roughly 100,000 acres of public land from mining in Curry and Josephine Counties, including land considered for a major nickel mine.”

Lou Gold shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
Southern Oregon and Northern California’s Smith River could be protected from mining by a maneuver proposed by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM plans to
ijpr.org|By Geoffrey Riley, Emily Cureton
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Court Rules Grazing Harms Endangered Species in Arizona’s Fossil Creek

June 29, 2015, www.biologicaldiversity.org | “A federal court has ruled that cattle grazing in the Fossil Creek watershed of central Arizona harms critical habitat of threatened frogs, in violation of the Endangered Species Act. The ruling resulted from a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity in 2010. ‘Fossil Creek is one of the Southwest’s most biologically precious river reaches,’ said Jay Lininger, a senior scientist with the Center. ‘The ruling is a victory for this beautiful creek, native wildlife and public investments made to recover them.'”

Good news for endangered species and precious Arizona rivers. Cattle grazing in stream corridors illegally harms critical habitat of threatened amphibians. It doesn’t stop grazing or watershed degradation, but opens a door to advocacy under the “adverse modification” standard of the Endangered Species Act. Little by little, such battles are won.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— A federal court has ruled that cattle grazing in the Fossil Creek watershed of central…
biologicaldiversity.org
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Abandoned mine given environmental algae makeover

June 25, 2015, positivenews.org.uk | “A scientific research project is using algae to extract biofuel and precious metals from toxic water in abandoned mines, while simultaneously restoring the ecological health of the area.  Scientists from Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities have joined forces on the project, known as the GW4 Alliance, and have begun experimenting with waste water from a deserted tin mine in Cornwall.”

Using algae to restore an old mining site and remove hazardous materials – naturally!
A new research project could help clean up old mining messes by turning waste water into a useful resource
positivenews.org.uk

Largest native title claim in NSW acknowledges Barkandji people in state’s far west

June 16, 2015, www.abc.net.au | “Four hundred people gathered near Broken Hill for the ceremony and greeted the announcement with cheers and emotion.  The determination by consent by Federal Court judge Jayne Jagot recognises the Barkandji people’s connection to country has continued since before colonisation.”

Bianca Jane shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth’s Timeline.
NSW’s largest native title claim to be settled in state’s far west
Hundreds of people are gathering in NSW today for a court ruling on the state’s largest native title claim.
abc.net.au

Missoula wins legal fight to take over Mountain Water Co.

June 15, 2015, missoulian.com | “Missoula won its legal fight to take ownership of Mountain Water Co. and the city’s drinking water system Monday.  In a 68-page decision, Missoula District Court Judge Karen Townsend said the city ‘carried its burden of proof’ and showed that ‘its contemplated use of the water system as a municipally owned water system is more necessary than the current use as a privately owned for-profit enterprise.'”
Ami Linden shared a link to GoodNews FortheEarth‘s Timeline.
Missoula won its legal fight to take ownership of Mountain Water Co. and the city’s drinking water system Monday.
missoulian.com