Michigan is the only state in the nation without a statewide septic code. After nearly 40 years of debate, lawmakers are closer than ever to changing that. SB 771 would require inspections of Michigan’s 1.3 million-plus septic systems every 10 years, as fecal bacteria shows up in 78% of the…

The fight over mining near the Boundary Waters doesn't stop at the border. Fort Frances, Ontario, a town of about 7,500, draws its drinking water from Rainy Lake, which sits downstream of the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in Minnesota. Its water treatment plant wasn't built to handle…

Wendell Berry spent half a century warning that industrial agriculture's pursuit of ever-higher yields would come at the cost of clean water, healthy soil, and rural communities. He died August 31 at 92. In this reflection, Circle of Blue's Keith Schneider — who interviewed Berry at his Kentucky…

Federal Clean Fuel Tax Credit Extends to Gas from Animal Manure New Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance released last week confirms that gas extracted from livestock manure qualifies for a federal clean fuel tax credit, paving the way for increased investment in biogas projects....

At Glen Canyon Dam, Trump Administration Privileges Hydropower over Ecosystems In the struggling Colorado River basin, where water is scarce, the White House has signaled its priorities for how to use the remaining gallons....

Lake Ontario was named centuries before the United States existed. President Trump just ordered it renamed "Lake America" anyway. The August 27 executive order directs federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario across all maps, documents, and communications — but researchers warn it could disrupt…

"Demon Corn" For decades, corn has been framed as the wholesome backbone of American agriculture. Circle of Blue's Keith Schneider argues it's time to rethink that story. Corn is now the country's most subsidized crop — and one of its most water-polluting. Nitrates from fertilizer and manure are…