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Vol. 1, No. 4: September 12, 2007
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The fourth edition of the Ecosystem Marketplace's monthly newsletter, Water, Environment and Trading (WET), is full to the brim of current water news from around the globe. In the Chesapeake region, debate continues around the connection between biofuel driven corn production and nutrient pollution. Meanwhile, farmers in Australia have been hit hard by drought and resulting water scarcity, and some are choosing to sell their water allocations rather than struggle through a season wrought with uncertain supplies. Back in North America, as leaders meet in Canada to discuss trade and security, demonstrators outside say ‘no’ to cross-border water sales. And toxic algal blooms threaten livestock in Oklahoma and small aquatic life in Virginia, but a scientist in China believes that he has found a possible solution to such problems.
Read on to for more news water-related news and developments.
— The Ecosystem Marketplace Team
For questions or comments, please contact newsletter@ecosystemmarketplace.com
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NORTH AMERICA
Canadians protest possible US water trade
In late August, 5,000 demonstrators in Ottawa protested against a summit meeting between the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Hundreds of demonstrators were held back by police with tear gas and pepper spray. Speculations that issues highlighted at the closed-door Security and Prosperity Partnership segment summit were water and potential exports to the US were primarily responsible for instigating the protests. However, such speculations were dismissed by President Bush and Prime Minister Harper.
– Read the ABC article
– Read the CTV article
Canada's watershed moment
Invasive species, blue algae, wetlands decline, human consumption, raw sewage and other pollution all plague freshwater supplies in Canada. Now, the possibility of trading water as a commodity and shipping it as bulk water exports would greatly jeopardize Canada’s dwindling supply. If companies start to extract, sell, and ship water south of the border to the US or Mexico, they most likely will be protected under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Another aspect of inter-country water trading is trading pollution. Polluted waters in North Dakota’s Devil’s Lake, which now habitually overflows and floods due to loss of surrounding wetlands to filter and stabilize water levels, are being diverted to a river that flows to Canada. Who is responsible for the associated clean up costs?
– Read the Star article
Chesapeake: Biofuels and Resulting Blooms Bad for the Bay, What about Farmers?
A new report written for the Chesapeake Bay Commission, called "Biofuels and the Bay" estimates that if ethanol use engenders a significant increase in corn production in Maryland, it could put 5 million more pounds of nitrogen pollution into the bay annually. About 40% of the fertilizer put on corn goes into streams and eventually into the bay, spurring the growth of algae.
However, some people, including local politicians, are concerned about the impact of strict environmental regulations on corn-producing farmers. As the The Bay Commission’s report points out, if farmers planted cover crops on all the new and existing corn acres and on certain other row-crop fields, 17 million pounds of nitrogen could be kept out of the Bay annually. The problem is funding for aiding farmers with cover crops. The federal farm bill funding will help expanding such conservation practices. The House increased funding for Chesapeake related conservation programs by $400 million over five years; now the Senate is considering the measure.
– Read Maryland Delegate James Hubbard’s article from the Gazette
– Read the Hometown Annapolis article
– Read the Citizen’s Voice article
Oklahoma: Algal blooms threaten livestock
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry has received word of livestock deaths caused by blue-green algae toxins across the state. “It seems to be a very widespread problem right now and it is extremely important that everyone who has a pond or lake on their property be vigilant in watching for signs of a blue-green algae over-growth,” Becky Brewer, state veterinarian at the department said. Recent rains and temperatures are believed to have contributed to the sudden increase in blue-green algae problems.
– Read the Muskogee Phoenix article
INTERNATIONAL
Australia: $1,000/ megaliter trades on Victoria’s Watermove Trading Website
Last week it was announced that certain water users in the Victorian Murray Valley will only have access to 5% of their allocations, and it is likely they may have only between 20% and 50% for the season. With such tight constraints, many growers are deciding which would yield a better return: to try to grow a crop or to sell their water allocations. High demand in the water trading market for temporary water entitlements has increased water prices across Australia. The Watermove website, which controls water transactions for Victorian water trading zones, set a record water price last week at $977.50 per megalitre.
Struggling irrigators in the drought-affected Murray-Darling Basin warn that the price of fruit and vegetables will rise significantly unless there is significant rain in the next few months. Paying more for their water, farmers will be forced to pass increasing costs on to consumers. Richard Swinstead, who grows grapes, citrus and vegetables in South Australia says, "I've just spent an extra $200,000 [on water], so I'm virtually going to be working the whole year for no return."
– Read the Herald Sun article
– Read the ABC article, Produce prices tipped to rise
– Read the ABC article, Growers urged to remain up-beat
– Read the ABC article, Surge in water entitlement prices
China: Weeds answer to algae scourge?
Yu Dan, a professor of botany and zoology at the College of Life Sciences at Wuhan University , believes he has found a possible solution to the growing problem of blue-green algae outbreaks that have hit the country's lakes. Blue-green algae grows easily in warm, polluted water with a high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorous. Excessive amounts of blue-green algae removes oxygen from the water, killing fish and other aquatic life. "A good growth of aquatic weeds can absorb more nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, depriving the algae and improving the quality of the lake water," asserts Dan.
– Read the Zhejiang Online article
WATER MARKETS RESOURCES
Moving Ecosystems Services from Theory to Reality: Water Trading, Wetlands, and Pollution
Through an interesting interview with World Resources Institute staff, this article how the ecosystem goods and services idea plays out in a policy environment. They specifically discuss nutrient reduction credits, the impetus of the water trading market as well as important water policy decisions to conserve wetlands rather than build new treatment plants.
– Read the World Changing article
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