Water news, climate alerts, and increasing loss of biodiversity continued to receive notice in the U.S. throughout the past year. Despite 2024’s over-heated political rhetoric and hot wars being fought across multiple nations, the natural world again demanded our attention.
What follows are some of my personal water-centric wishes for 2025, including a look back at some of the stories that streamed through Trout Headwaters’ office this past year.
Top Ten Water Wishes for 2025 and beyond
#10. That we understand adaptation may only be necessary if survival is the desired outcome https://www.troutheadwaters.com/adaptation-necessary-only-if-survival-is-the-desired-outcome/
#9. That the terms ‘stream channel reconstruction’ and ‘stream restoration’ not continue to be used synonymously https://www.troutheadwaters.com/fields-and-streams-by-rebecca-lave-what-is-at-stake-in-the-rosgen-wars/
#8. That stone age engineering practices of armoring streambanks may be replaced by more modern solutions that respect the vital importance of riparian areas https://www.troutheadwaters.com/riprapping-the-yellowstone-over-and-over-again/
#7. That those agencies charged with protecting our precious water resources increasingly support restoration efforts with efficient and timely permits. https://www.troutheadwaters.com/army-corps-to-improve-timely-efficient-processing-and-review-for-mitigation-banks/
#6. That those damaging the environment (while claiming to be saving the environment) may find true purpose https://www.troutheadwaters.com/greenwashing-and-adverse-environmental-impacts-with-carbon-written-all-over-it/
#5. That we may respect the remarkable forgiveness of nature – and not abuse such forgiveness https://www.troutheadwaters.com/appreciating-the-remarkable-forgiveness-of-nature/
#4. That biodiversity becomes a priority for Homo sapiens (for our good and the good of the other 8.7 million species which inhabit the world) https://www.troutheadwaters.com/biodiversity-crashing-alaska-rivers-turning-orange/
#3. That conservation may become our dinner table discussion https://www.troutheadwaters.com/conservation-at-the-dinner-table/
#2. That our Nation may finally stem its (unmitigated) wetland losses https://www.troutheadwaters.com/unmitigated-wetland-losses-continue/
#1. That peace may be declared in the long conflict between our ecology and our economy https://www.troutheadwaters.com/economy-vs-ecology-stop-the-war/
