When the Red River floods near Oslo, Minn., which happens a lot, residents are stuck within the city limits. But a truce with nature keeps the water away from their homes.
Tag Archives: Levees and Dams
Six Days Afloat in the Everglades
After a storm disrupted plans for a 99-mile paddling trek, a Times journalist’s time on the water took a more reflective turn. Come look and listen alongside him.
Divers Find 13 Vehicles in Texas Lake While Searching for Man
The missing man, John Creech, who was last seen near his home in Meridian, Texas, in 2009, still has not been accounted for by county and state investigators.
The U.S. Bombed a Dam in Syria That Was on a ‘No-Strike’ List
A military report warned that striking the giant structure could cause tens of thousands of deaths.
Brazil Flooding Kills at Least 20 and Displaces Thousands
In northeast Brazil, local officials say they have never before seen flooding on this scale. Tens of thousands were forced to flee their homes.
India’s Modi Brings Tap Water to Millions as Supplies Shrink
The ambitious project to meet a dire need shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strengths and helps explain his popularity despite a weakened economy.
Beavers Misbehave. Canadians Love Them Anyway.
Blamed for flooded fields, damaged roads and the occasional death, the beaver, which has played a seminal role in Canadian history, is now viewed by many as a problem, not a point of national pride.
A Massive Levee System Saved New Orleans. Can Other Towns Be Helped?
A massive flood protection system built around New Orleans helped save it from flooding during Hurricane Ida. Surrounding communities, which weren’t so lucky, want their own system.
Beavers Re-Emerge in Scotland, Drawing Ire of Farmers
Building dams that flood land, the beavers have infuriated farmers. Some have obtained permits to kill the animals — setting off outrage among conservationists.
Ida’s Heavy Rains Send Louisiana Residents on a Hunt for Clean Water
Nearly everyone in Jefferson Parish, next to New Orleans, was experiencing problems with their water service after the power went out. Lines for bottled water were growing.
In Louisiana, Rescue Workers Search for Those Stranded by Hurricane Ida
More than a million people, including most in New Orleans, were without electricity, but the city’s levees held.
Ida Hit One of the Country’s Biggest Oil and Chemical Hubs
Louisiana’s 17 oil refineries account for nearly a fifth of the nation’s capacity. Past hurricanes have cause toxic spills.
In New Orleans, Anxiously Watching the Levees As Hurricane Ida Arrives
The prospect of “another Katrina” has haunted New Orleans, and the rest of the nation.
Old Tunnels and Rusting Bridges: America’s Creaking Infrastructure
The Biden administration has pledged a $2 trillion investment in the nation’s infrastructure. With century-old water systems and schools vulnerable to earthquakes, there is no shortage of need.
Dam Overflows in Hawaii, Forcing Evacuation
An evacuation order affected people near the Kaupakalua Reservoir and Dam in the Haiku area of Maui. At least half a dozen homes were damaged or destroyed, officials said.
Big Step Forward for $50 Billion Plan to Save Louisiana Coast
An environmental assessment said the project’s next step would largely benefit coastal areas, though it might also affect some marine life, especially dolphins.
Vale Mining Company to pay $7 Billion in Compensation for Brazil Dam Collapse
The disaster in the city of Brumadinho killed 270 people, and 11 others are still missing. It also led to murder charges for company officials.
Northwest’s Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time
The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office found that some salmon species are “on the brink of extinction.” Habitat loss, climate change and other factors are to blame, it said.
‘Within Seconds Everything Was Gone’: Devastating Floods Submerge the Philippines
Torrential rains and back-to-back typhoons have ripped through the country in the past two weeks, turning a once picturesque river into a sea of murky brown, killing dozens and setting off deadly landslides.
‘This Is a War’: Cross-Border Fight Over Water Erupts in Mexico
Farmers in Mexico ambushed soldiers and seized a dam to stop water payments to the United States, in a sign of growing conflict over increasingly scarce resources.
How California Became Ground Zero for Climate Disasters
The engineering and land management that enabled the state’s tremendous growth have left it more vulnerable to climate shocks — and those shocks are getting worse.
China Flooding Has Killed Hundreds and Tested Three Gorges Dam
Unusually heavy rains have wreaked havoc in central and southwestern China, leaving hundreds dead and disrupting the economy’s post-pandemic recovery.
‘Hidden Gem’ Made Popular by TikTok Is Shut to Keep Out-of-Towners Away
A lake in New Jersey was closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but some complaints about recent crowding there focused on the ethnicity of visitors.
As Seasonal Rains Fall, Dispute over Nile Dam Rushes Toward a Reckoning
After a decade of construction, the hydroelectric dam in Ethiopia, Africa’s largest, is nearly complete. But there’s still no agreement with Egypt, which calls the structure a national security threat.
An Ancient Valley Lost to ‘Progress’
In his push for economic development, Turkey’s president has flooded the archaeological gem of Hasankeyf and displaced thousands of families.
Severe Floods in China Leave Over 106 Dead or Missing
About 15 million residents in southern China have been affected by the worst flooding in decades in parts of the region as abnormally intense rainfall has swept away buildings and ruined homes.
Tropical Storm Cristobal Makes Landfall in Louisiana
Meteorologists were watching for persistent bands of rain that can lead to flash flooding.
For This Tribe, Saving a River Means Saving the Sturgeon
The Yakama Nation has been raising fish to release back into the Columbia River for more than a decade. Now, its hatchery is also producing caviar.
The Michigan Dam Failures Are a Warning
Many need repairs. Let’s fix them before climate-related flooding gets worse.
‘Expect More’: Climate Change Raises Risk of Dam Failures
Engineers say most dams in the United States, designed decades ago, are unsuited to a warmer world and stronger storms.
As Virus Threat Lingers in Michigan, a New Crisis Arrives: Flooding
Thousands of residents of Midland, Mich., fled their homes as waters rose, trying to keep safe social distances even in shelters.
Live Updates: Michigan Dam Breaks and Flooding Force Thousands to Evacuate
The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for areas near the Tittabawassee River. The disaster was compounded by the effects of the coronavirus.
Michigan Dam Disaster Threatens Major Dow Toxic-Chemical Superfund Site
Floodwaters surged toward Midland, Mich., and one of the nation’s most extensive toxic cleanup sites, raising concerns of a wider environmental fallout from the dam disaster.
Michigan Dams Breached, Forcing Evacuation of Midland: Live Updates
Officials warned of life-threatening danger after the two dams northwest of Detroit failed.
2 Dams Are Breached in Michigan, Forcing Thousands to Evacuate
The failure of the dams was expected to bring record-setting flooding, with response complicated by the coronavirus.
China Limited the Mekong’s Flow. Other Countries Suffered a Drought.
New research show that Beijing’s engineers appear to have directly caused the record low levels of water in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.