Climate

Inside Climate News -   Climate-fueled wildfires could scorch many of the sites that shape America’s cultural identity.  A study published in May found wildfire risk threatens the majority of sites designated by the federal government as historically significant, from centuries-old homes to cherished churches and cemeteries. A separate forward-looking study published last week found worsening climate change could substantially ramp up average potential fire frequency in four of California’s national parks by the end of the century, under a worst-case emissions scenario.

The researchers say this data could help park and site managers better protect these places from flames. However, as experts sound the fire alarms for iconic American sites, the Trump administration is on a mission to remove mentions of climate change from many of these places. 

Newsweek -    Lake Mead has fallen to within inches of its lowest-ever recorded level, highlighting ongoing concerns about drought, extreme heat and long-term strain on the Colorado River, one of the Southwest's most important water sources. As of August 5, the reservoir stood at 1,040.74 feet above sea level, just 0.16 feet (1.9 inches) above its record low of 1,040.58 feet, which was set in July 2022. The lake's elevation has dropped dramatically over the past two decades, leaving the distinctive white "bathtub ring" visible around much of the shoreline.