2020

Everyone lives in a watershed. This article follows Virginia Tech researcher Tommy Cianciolo into the headwater streams of the Virginia and West Virginia coalfields to see how mining-era selenium still shapes water quality — and how coal communities are reimagining their future.

For many families in rural Appalachia, clean running water still isn’t a given. This article looks at roadside springs, aging infrastructure, and Virginia Tech research on water access and quality in southwest Virginia.

Southwest Virginia’s rivers are a global hotspot for freshwater biodiversity. Dive into the world of freshwater mussels — nature’s water filters — and the work being done to protect and restore them.

Less than 1% of Earth’s water is accessible and drinkable. In honor of National Drinking Water Week, this article traces the history of safe drinking water and why protecting it matters.

The Great Dismal Swamp is anything but dismal. Learn how researchers like Virginia Tech’s Clay Word are studying this unique peatland and why its restoration matters for carbon, water, and wildlife.

Virginia’s rainfall is arriving in heavier bursts with longer dry spells in between. Part II of this series looks at what a changing water cycle means for flooding, agriculture, and water supply across the Commonwealth.