About one million Californians face persistent challenges accessing safe, affordable drinking water, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities.

California’s SAFER program, led by the State Water Resources Control Board, takes a holistic and proactive approach to address these inequities, providing funding, technical assistance, and regulatory tools to ensure clean water for all.

In this episode, Adriana Renteria, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Equity, and Tribal Affairs, shares insights into her journey from a childhood shaped by water inequities to her leadership in driving solutions.

She discusses the SAFER program’s unique model, which prioritizes failing water systems through needs assessments, funds community engagement, and enforces solutions like water system consolidation.

Adriana highlights the role of tribal partnerships, including innovative collaborations to fill gaps in federal funding and resources. She also emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust and transparency with communities historically left out of water decision-making.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.

Excess nutrients from farms in Iowa and across the Midwest are a major challenge, polluting local waterways and ultimately impacting the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.

To address this, the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund incentivizes farmers to adopt practices that improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this episode, Adam Kiel, Managing Director of the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, discusses how the Fund works with farmers to implement both in-field practices like cover crops and no-till, and edge-of-field solutions such as saturated buffers and bioreactors.

Fifth-generation farmer Nick Hermanson shares how he uses the Fund to support conservation on his Iowa farm, incorporating innovative practices that protect the Skunk River watershed while maintaining his farm’s profitability.

Through outcome-based payments, the Fund encourages sustainable agriculture, rewarding farmers like Nick for measurable environmental benefits. The initiative has rapidly scaled, expanding from a pilot project in Iowa to now enrolling farms across 25 states and targeting one million acres in 2024.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Flooding is impacting communities nationwide with both devastating and costly effects. The solution requires resilience planning, infrastructure adaptation, and community involvement to effectively address flood risk.

In this episode, Melissa Roberts of the American Flood Coalition discusses the increasing frequency and impact of flooding across the U.S. and the need for innovative, community-focused solutions.

She highlights recent projects, like transforming public spaces to double as floodwater basins in North Carolina and engaging farmers in Iowa to reduce downstream flooding. Melissa also discusses the role of nature-based infrastructure, watershed-based planning, and data-driven policies in building long-term flood resilience.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C. where waterloop is the media partner.

The Mississippi River is essential to global agriculture and trade, but it is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, including severe droughts and floods, resulting in significant economic and environmental challenges.

Colin Wellenkamp, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), discusses how the coalition is advancing nature-based solutions to build resilience along the river.

One notable example is Horseshoe Lake in East St. Louis, a community historically impacted by recurrent flooding and economic disadvantage. Restoration efforts there aim to reduce flood risks by enhancing natural floodplains, providing critical protection for residents and supporting biodiversity.

This initiative is part of MRCTI’s broader push to implement projects across 100,000 acres in eight states by the end of the decade, creating sustainable landscapes that safeguard both people and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

The ever-changing nature of the Mississippi River poses significant challenges for those living behind the levee at Dogtooth Bend in southern Illinois, where increased flooding and infrastructure strain can impact everyday existence.

A promising solution involves nature-based strategies that restore floodplains to better manage water flow and reduce flood risk.

Tharran Hobson of The Nature Conservancy shares insights into collaborative efforts with NRCS and the Army Corps of Engineers to support landowners and implement natural infrastructure, such as reforestation, to slow water and prevent the formation of new river channels.

The work at Dogtooth Bend underscores the need to balance human life with ecological resilience in flood-prone regions.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Las Vegas faces unique challenges as a rapidly growing city with a small share of water from the Colorado River and an arid desert climate. To meet the demands of residents and 40 million annual visitors, Las Vegas implemented comprehensive approaches to sustainability that drove water usage down even as the population boomed.

Bronson Mack of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Michael Gulich of MGM Resorts International share their insights on water recycling, conservation programs, and efficiency measures. Key initiatives include community-wide water reuse, incentivizing native landscaping, and phasing out evaporative cooling systems in new developments.

Also discussed are MGM’s sustainability efforts at resorts, the Bellagio Fountain’s water-efficient design, and partnerships that drive change. Through progressive planning and community engagement, Las Vegas serves as a model for efficient water management in the American West.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.

The federal government's historic investment in water infrastructure has presented both opportunities and challenges.

The solution lies in efficiently distributing funds, overcoming barriers like permitting and regulatory requirements, and accelerating the pace of project implementation.

In this episode, Tim Male, Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, discusses the complexities of rolling out billions in federal funding and the hurdles still in place.

He highlights the need for technical assistance, environmental finance centers, and better systems to ensure long-term success. Topics also include the urgency of lead pipe replacement, regionalization of utilities, and leveraging nature-based solutions for watershed management.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., where waterloop is a media partner.

Communities across the country are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices like water pollution and inadequate infrastructure.

The solution requires not only winning court battles but also building long-term, collaborative relationships with those affected on the ground.

In this episode, Julian Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Counsel of Earthjustice, shares insights into how the organization uses legal expertise and partnerships to protect vulnerable communities.

He highlights Earthjustice’s evolution from primarily representing large environmental groups to working closely with local communities, tribal nations, and grassroots organizations.

Julian discusses the importance of trust-building, listening without judgment, and ensuring that legal victories translate into real-world change.

This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.

Wetlands along the Mississippi River have been disappearing for decades, leading to increased flooding and degradation of water quality, as well as loss of wildlife habitat.

Nature-based solutions, like wetland restoration and floodplain reconnection, offer a path to address these challenges plus provide benefits for communities and commerce.

In this episode, Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer, and Ellen Herbert, Senior Scientist, from Ducks Unlimited, share their organization's science-driven approach to protecting and restoring critical habitats for waterfowl.

They discuss the importance of partnerships and how Ducks Unlimited uses engineering alongside nature to improve ecosystems. Also highlighted is a new program with the University of Georgia to build a workforce of engineers to advance nature-based solutions.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Memphis faces the dual challenge of protecting itself from Mississippi River flooding while enhancing the environment and public spaces.

The solution lies in nature-based projects that manage stormwater, restore wetlands, and provide community amenities.

In this episode Carol Coletta of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Jake Spears of Ducks Unlimited discuss two transformative riverfront projects on either side of the river. Tom Lee Park, on the Tennessee side, offers stormwater management, flood resilience, and recreation, while a 1,500-acre park across the river in Arkansas restores wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests.

These projects reduce sediment and nutrient runoff while connecting the community to nature through trails, education, and outdoor spaces. Together, they showcase how cities can use natural solutions for environmental protection and quality of life.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet that explores solutions. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.