Eric Booth
@egbooth.bsky.social
Hydroecologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Interested in interactions between water, land, climate, humans, food, energy, etc. and transdisciplinary community-engaged research. Views shared here are my own. https://www.ericbooth.org/
As water restrictions hit farmers in the Central Valley, solar is making sense "We had to find a use for this ground," one farmer said. "We see the writing on the wall." @blancabegert.bsky.social @myungchun.bsky.social @latimes.com www.latimes.com/environment/...
As water restrictions hit farmers, solar is making sense
Solar is exploding in the Central Valley as drought-stressed farmers look to alternatives.
latimes.com
Near surface smoke forecast for the CONUS area. Model run: 20260717T10:00 UTC Data from NOAA's HRRR CONUS (https://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrr/) Note that this product comes with absolutely no guarantee of availability, accuracy or completeness. #Wildfires #Smoke #AirQuality
Hydrology Paper of the Day @egbooth.bsky.social on a multi-resolution dataset for assessing biophysical processes in aquatic ecosystems within the CONUS: data fusion; a synthesis framework; estimates of N and P; irrigation and agriculture; differences; spatial scales; and quantifying uncertainties.
Eric Booth@egbooth.bsky.social · 3mo agoExcited to announce the publication (with @chriskucharik.bsky.social ) of a new historical dataset that has been in the works for a long time: the Harmonized Land Nutrient Irrigation Dataset (HLNID) across CONUS from 1938 - 2020. essd.copernicus.org/articles/18/...
Vernon County (WI) Flood Mitigation Alliance debates costs and strategy as dam removal looms vernonreporter.com/vernon-count...
Vernon County Flood Mitigation Alliance debates costs and strategy as dam removal looms – VernonReporter
vernonreporter.com
Hate that we had to do it, but we added a greater than 80 tier to our dewpoint maps.
At the end of the term I asked my college creative wriing students to submit anonymous thoughts on AI. No real surprises: Mood ranges from resignation to despair, capitulation from embittered erosion of standards to total, feelings of betrayal from deep to furious. 1/
Interesting and honest discussion of the forces pushing against ag diversification. Policy reigns supreme, but can be changed with care to reflect shifting priorities. "The 180-Million-Acre Lock: Why U.S. Agriculture Remains Anchored to Corn and Soybeans"
agweb.com
Excited to announce the publication (with @chriskucharik.bsky.social ) of a new historical dataset that has been in the works for a long time: the Harmonized Land Nutrient Irrigation Dataset (HLNID) across CONUS from 1938 - 2020. essd.copernicus.org/articles/18/...
Development of historical maps of land use-land cover, crop type, nutrients, and irrigation across CONUS (1938–2020) at different spatial resolutions
Abstract. Land use-land cover, nutrient inputs from fertilizer and manure, and irrigation are primary anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem functioning and degradation. Historical datasets covering these...
essd.copernicus.org
Excited to announce the publication (with @chriskucharik.bsky.social ) of a new historical dataset that has been in the works for a long time: the Harmonized Land Nutrient Irrigation Dataset (HLNID) across CONUS from 1938 - 2020. essd.copernicus.org/articles/18/...
Development of historical maps of land use-land cover, crop type, nutrients, and irrigation across CONUS (1938–2020) at different spatial resolutions
Abstract. Land use-land cover, nutrient inputs from fertilizer and manure, and irrigation are primary anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem functioning and degradation. Historical datasets covering these...
essd.copernicus.org
"Science is not simply a sequence of tasks that can be optimized....The scientific system thrives on inefficiency: redundant efforts, failed attempts, and divergent paths. These are not costs to be eliminated but sources of discovery." Excellent essay! ⬇️ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Progression without progress
Progress in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance scientific discovery has made it increasingly realistic to envision automated “end-to-end science” (ETES) systems: integrated pipelines t...
science.org
Flood control dams in Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo one step closer to removal with approval of design funding vernonreporter.com/flood-contro...
Flood control dams in Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo one step closer to removal with approval of design funding – VernonReporter
vernonreporter.com
Palmer drought index. Worst ever. Worse than the dust bowl. Fire season is coming.
Highly recommend this piece. I can't help but think that the eventual result of universities and AI tech companies desperately seeking legitimacy from each other will be both of them losing legitimacy from the broader public.
Dan Greene @dmgreene.bsky.social · 3mo agoI was lucky to write the lead article for a special issue of Academe on AI in the Corporate University. In "What does AI do?" I offer a provisional balance sheet of this technology's effects on our work, our finances, and our management, in a moment of rising fascist attacks on higher education.
Severe and tornadic storms erupt across Iowa and Wisconsin.
An update on the saga of 45Z, the Clean Fuels Production credit that *might* pay farmers for regenerative practices. This one's had a lot of twists and turns since it was created by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Jesse Hirsch@jessehirsch.bsky.social · 4mo agoDept of Treasury finally approved 45Z, a generous tax credit that rewards producers who use regenerative practices. It could be a huge boon for sustainable ag — if the USDA can agree on its rules. New from @kristenschmitt.bsky.social: ambrook.com/offrange/far...
Incredibly, even *more* locations across U.S. are today experiencing their warmest March temperatures on record--many by a wide margin, with some even breaking April records. This includes most or all of: AZ, UT, CO, NM, WY, NE, KS, MO, IA, plus portions of many other states. 🫠
Solidarity with Emily Tucker and her open letter to students. Tucker writes, "But the great thing is, you don’t have to go along with this, and I urge you not to. You can refuse to use the chatbot. You can tell your professors that you don’t want them to use it or to require you to use it."
An Open Letter to Georgetown Students, In Response to Recent Announcements about "Generative AI"
Image source: Bibliothèque nationale de France An Open Letter to Georgetown Students, In Response to Recent Announcements by the University about “Generative AI” Dear students, As you know, in …
medium.com
Attention researchers who use USDA datasets
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy@iatp.bsky.social · 5mo agoNEW: A rapidly changing climate is increasing risk to farmers. Unreliable and inconsistent public data from formerly trustworthy institutions is making things worse. www.iatp.org/farming-risk...
All of Wisconsin, except far northwestern Wisconsin, is now under a BLIZZARD WARNING through tomorrow. Travel should be avoided across all parts of the state until the storm winds down. Stay safe tonight and tomorrow.
Releasing agriculture from the food security mandate www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Releasing agriculture from the food security mandate
The state of food security is achieved if no one has to worry whether or how they can acquire—typically purchase—healthy and nutritious meals. In theory, food security could be addressed from two side...
science.org
Tonight, I was looking at water.noaa.gov to see where the US is flooding. My 11-year old pointed to the ongoing major flooding in North Dakota, and I said "Oh, that's Devils Lake. It's always flooding there." They asked "Why?" and a rabbit hole yawned before me.
National Water Prediction Service - NOAA
water.noaa.gov
Important commentary here regarding water use of data centers. Data Centers Water Footprint: The Need for More Transparency - Privette - 2026 - AGU Advances - Wiley Online Library agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Data Centers Water Footprint: The Need for More Transparency
Data centers can use a lot of water, especially for cooling and power generation, which can put serious stress on local water supplies There's limited transparency around how much water data cent...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Federal officials now project that Lake Powell will "most probably" drop below power pool level — meaning Glen Canyon Dam will no longer be able to generate hydropower — before the end of this year: www.landdesk.org/p/the-colora... via @landdesk.bsky.social
The Colorado River Crisis is Here
States fail to reach a deal; Lake Powell Deadpool appears imminent
landdesk.org
when big tech companies say that AI will save the planet, what kinds of AI are they actually talking about — and what's their proof? i took a look at some great new research from @ketanjoshi.co and talked to other experts about how a lot of this talk is probably bullshit:
Big Tech Says Generative AI Will Save the Planet. It Doesn't Offer Much Proof
A new report finds that of 154 specific claims about how AI will benefit the climate, just a quarter cited academic research. A third included no evidence at all.
wired.com
The Power of Perennial Agriculture Agroecologist and professor Liz Carlisle discusses her latest book, a collection of guest essays that makes the case for more diverse crops on our farms and on our plates. civileats.com/2026/02/18/t...
The Power of Perennial Agriculture
Agroecologist and professor Liz Carlisle discusses her latest book, a collection of guest essays that makes the case for more diverse crops.
civileats.com
As a Colorado River deadline passes, reservoirs keep declining
As a Colorado River deadline passes, reservoirs keep declining
Seven states have missed a federal deadline to reach a water deal on the Colorado River. They remain divided how to cut water use.
latimes.com
I'm really grateful to have been part of this paper led by former MS student Sydney Widell that tells the story of & interrogates what is arguably the largest watershed-wide dam decommissioning effort led by the federal gov following major flooding and breaches in 2018. w/ @creekthinker.bsky.social
Fixing Streams: A Biophysical Perspective on the Spatial Fix and Dam Decommissioning in the Driftless Area
The theory of the spatial fix has been increasingly invoked in socioecological contexts to investigate capitalism’s attempts to overcome its interlocking social and ecological crises through spatia...
doi.org
I'm really grateful to have been part of this paper led by former MS student Sydney Widell that tells the story of & interrogates what is arguably the largest watershed-wide dam decommissioning effort led by the federal gov following major flooding and breaches in 2018. w/ @creekthinker.bsky.social
Fixing Streams: A Biophysical Perspective on the Spatial Fix and Dam Decommissioning in the Driftless Area
The theory of the spatial fix has been increasingly invoked in socioecological contexts to investigate capitalism’s attempts to overcome its interlocking social and ecological crises through spatia...
doi.org
Important new article led by @anafochesatto.bsky.social : When the university meets the grassroots: participatory action research and just transitions in agriculture doi.org/10.1007/s104...
When the university meets the grassroots: participatory action research and just transitions in agriculture - Agriculture and Human Values
Agriculture and Human Values - Confronting the deep-rooted social inequities and environmental harm in animal agriculture research demands approaches that link Just Transitions (JT) with...
doi.org
