oklahoma
Newsletter
Flood risk is higher for Indigenous lands in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Indigenous communities face flooding risks five times greater than other areas due to forced relocation to flood-prone lands.
In short:
- Indigenous lands in Oklahoma are at a significantly higher risk of flooding compared to other areas in the state.
- The soil quality and lack of wetlands on these lands exacerbate flooding, making recovery difficult for many tribes.
- Federal funding has been announced to help tribal efforts in climate resilience and flood mitigation.
Key quote:
“We get stuck in places where nobody else wants to live.”
— Theresa Tsoodle, researcher at the University of Oklahoma
Why this matters:
Flooding leads to loss of life, property damage, and soil erosion, with climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of such events. Effective flood management integrating traditional tribal knowledge is crucial for safeguarding these vulnerable communities.
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Newsletter
Contamination at Oklahoma farm highlights oil industry's neglect
Oklahoma farm suffers extensive environmental damage as local family battles oil companies over contaminated land and water sources.
Mark Olalde, reports for ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin for Capital & Main.
In short:
- Salt water leakage from an oil well on the Ledgerwood's farm killed vegetation and contaminated their drinking water.
- The family struggled to get accountability from oil companies, which often evade cleanup costs through bankruptcy.
- The estimated cleanup cost for Oklahoma's unplugged wells is about $7 billion, with insufficient funds set aside by the oil industry.
Key quote:
"We don’t get these years back. There’s no way to pay for that. We’ll never have back what we had."
— Stan Ledgerwood, Oklahoma farmer
Why this matters:
The contamination of land and water can lead to a cascade of adverse effects, not just on the immediate agricultural output but also on local wildlife and ecosystems. The potential seepage of pollutants into groundwater, for example, poses a significant risk to human health, affecting communities' access to clean drinking water.
Related: Dead livestock and poisoned water — Texas farmers sue over PFAS contamination
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Newsletter
Extreme rainfall exacerbates pollution threat from Oklahoma Superfund site
For generations, the ground beneath Ottawa County, Oklahoma, was mined for lead and zinc. The mines closed half a century ago, but some of the pollution they created remains.
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Dream homes and disasters: Is the government ready to confront climate risk?
Billions of new taxpayer dollars are aimed at helping victims of extreme weather leave their vulnerable homes. But without a lot of teeth, the federal programs may just perpetuate the problem.
Lesser prairie chickens gain protection under U.S. Endangered Species Act
The new listing aims to prevent further loss of habitat for the flamboyant, stocky birds, which have drastically dwindled in population.
When the heat can’t be beat
This miserable summer — monthlong heat waves, record-breaking floods, no more Choco Tacos — has left many Americans with only one option: surrender.
Nearly a third of the U.S. faces excessive heat, with misery spreading to the coasts
Record temperatures are possible again on Wednesday as an unrelenting heat wave streches to more of the country.
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