All articles tagged with #wildlife refuge
The Trump administration is considering a land swap with SpaceX that would transfer 775 acres of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge to the company in exchange for 692 acres elsewhere in Cameron County, potentially expanding SpaceX's launch site amid environmental concerns and ongoing regulatory approvals.
The Trump administration finalized plans to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain to oil and gas drilling, sparking controversy among Indigenous groups, environmentalists, and local communities, while also completing a land exchange deal for a road connecting King Cove to Cold Bay.
Lake Mackay, an ephemeral salt lake in the Australian outback, is known for its striking stripy golden islands that emerge when the lake fills with water. Captured by NASA's Terra satellite, these islands are surrounded by blue-green waters and are formed by permanent dunes shaped by wind erosion. The lake, which can persist for up to six months after heavy rains, serves as a temporary refuge for over 90 species of wildlife. It also inspired the name for a similar lake on Saturn's moon Titan.
A mysterious shiny monolith discovered in a remote mountain range near Las Vegas has been removed by authorities due to its illegal installation on federal land and public safety concerns. The origin of the 6-foot-4 structure remains unknown, echoing similar unexplained monolith appearances worldwide since 2020.
A pond at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii has turned bright pink, possibly due to drought conditions. Scientists believe that the high salinity of the water, caused by a lack of rain and reduced water flow from Waikapu Stream, may have allowed halobacteria, a type of archaea, to thrive and change the water's color. Lab tests have ruled out toxic algae as the cause. Visitors have been drawn to the pink pond, but officials are warning against entering the water or consuming fish caught there until the source of the color is identified.
A pond at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii has turned bubble-gum pink, possibly due to drought and high salinity levels. Scientists suspect that halobacteria, a type of archaea that thrives in highly saline water, may be responsible for the color change. Lab tests ruled out toxic algae as the cause. The pond's color has attracted curious visitors, but officials warn against entering the water or consuming fish caught there until the source of the color is identified. The refuge provides habitat for endangered waterbirds and migratory birds.
The uninhabited Caribbean island of Redonda, once plagued by rats and feral goats, has been transformed into a wildlife refuge for endangered species after years of restoration efforts. Conservationists successfully eradicated thousands of black rats and rounded up ravenous goats. Native vegetation, birds, and lizards have made a rapid resurgence, turning the once-barren island green again. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has established the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve, making it one of the largest protected areas in the Caribbean.
Environmental groups have sued the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over its approval of SpaceX's expanded rocket launch operations in South Texas without requiring greater environmental study. The lawsuit comes after SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded over the Gulf of Mexico, causing damage to the nearby Lower Rio Grand Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The lawsuit seeks to revoke the FAA license and require a full environmental impact study. SpaceX had opposed subjecting its Starbase to an environmental impact study, which typically takes years.
The debris blast from SpaceX's Starship rocket launch in South Texas has raised concerns about the environmental impact of ramped-up launch operations at the site. The launch sent a cloud of pulverized concrete raining over a small town nearby, hurled large chunks of concrete and metal thousands of feet away, and ignited a 3.5-acre fire on nearby grounds. Environmentalists are calling for a more in-depth study of potential hazards to public safety and wildlife before further Starship launches are conducted at Boca Chica. The rocket itself tumbled out of control and blew up in midair a few minutes into its flight.
The debris blast from SpaceX's Starship rocket launch in South Texas has raised concerns about the environmental impact of ramped-up launch operations at the site. The launch sent a cloud of pulverized concrete raining over a small town nearby, hurled large chunks of concrete and metal thousands of feet away, and ignited a 3.5-acre fire on nearby grounds. Environmentalists are calling for a more in-depth study of potential hazards to public safety and wildlife before further Starship launches are conducted at Boca Chica. The rocket itself tumbled out of control and blew up in midair a few minutes into its flight.
The Biden administration has withdrawn a land swap deal that would have allowed for the construction of a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, reversing the Trump administration's position. The move is a significant victory for environmental groups, but leaves the door open for a road with more restricted use. The land swap was approved under the Trump administration to link King Cove with an airport in nearby Cold Bay, but 11 miles of the road would run through the wildlife refuge, which includes extensive wetlands that are a prime stopover territory for geese and other migrating birds.