Sign in

Eric Booth

@egbooth.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1K following 235 posts

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. www.ericbooth.org

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Eric Booth
Bathsheba Demuth @brdemuth.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Coming in February! An edited collection on rivers past and present and how they move. The code E27RIVER gets you 30% off a preorder from Duke. #envhist #rivers #envhum
Cover of the book Rivers on the Move, edited by Bathsheba Demuth, by Mark Healey, anyone Giacomo Pareinello & Laurence Smith. Cover shows white swirls of a river channel on a blue background
614054
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Nice article highlighting @uwiscseagrant.bsky.social work collaborating with Green Bay communities to enhance flood resilience and water quality! impact.wisc.edu/uw-madison-a...
impact.wisc.edu
UW–Madison and Green Bay-area partners build flood resilience along the East River
With coordinating support from UW–Madison's Wisconsin Sea Grant, the East River Collaborative brings together The Nature Conservancy, NEW Water and local governments to build a more resilient East Riv...
010
Reposted by Eric Booth
Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The source of the flood in Nepal is a collapsed glacier 🧪⚒️
611509747
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
From probability to plausibility in climate-risk scenarios: a cognitive framework for decision-making under deep uncertainty www.frontiersin.org/journals/cog...
frontiersin.org
Frontiers | From probability to plausibility in climate-risk scenarios: a cognitive framework for decision-making under deep uncertainty
Climate-risk scenario analysis has become central to financial supervision, adaptation planning, and institutional governance, yet formally modeled futures o...
131
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Rush to integrate artificial intelligence indiscriminately across the curriculum ignores the true purpose of higher education, say Jelena Belic and Kritika Maheshwari www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/resh...
timeshighereducation.com
Reshaping universities to suit the untested AI economy is wrong
Rush to integrate artificial intelligence indiscriminately across the curriculum ignores the true purpose of higher education, say Jelena Belic and Kritika Maheshwari
041
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Important new article in Bioscience: The black-box future of ecology and conservation doi.org/10.1093/bios...
doi.org
The black-box future of ecology and conservation
Abstract. The scientific community is increasingly delegating trust and responsibility to data sources and tools that it cannot control or fully understand
000
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Fantastic tribute to a great human being!
120
Reposted by Eric Booth
Ian James @ianjames.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
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/...
latimes.com
As water restrictions hit farmers, solar is making sense
Solar is exploding in the Central Valley as drought-stressed farmers look to alternatives.
13719
Reposted by Eric Booth
USA (CONUS) smoke forecast bot (unofficial) @conus-smoke-forecast.envismo.social · 17/07/2026
Near surface smoke forecast for the CONUS area. Model run: 20260717T10:00 UTC Data from NOAA's HRRR CONUS (rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrr) Note that this product comes with absolutely no guarantee of availability, accuracy or completeness. #Wildfires #Smoke #AirQuality
043
Reposted by Eric Booth
KinarNicholas.bsky.social @kinarnicholas.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
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.
085
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Vernon County (WI) Flood Mitigation Alliance debates costs and strategy as dam removal looms vernonreporter.com/vernon-count...
vernonreporter.com
Vernon County Flood Mitigation Alliance debates costs and strategy as dam removal looms – VernonReporter
030
Reposted by Eric Booth
Wisconet @wisconet.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Hate that we had to do it, but we added a greater than 80 tier to our dewpoint maps.
Current dewpoints in northeast Wisconsin.
62310
Reposted by Eric Booth
Jeff Sharlet @jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
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/
7455261988
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
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
011
Reposted by Eric Booth
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
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/...
essd.copernicus.org
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...
162
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
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/...
essd.copernicus.org
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...
162
Reposted by Eric Booth
Melanie Mitchell @melaniemitchell.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
"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/...
science.org
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...
1421150
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Flood control dams in Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo one step closer to removal with approval of design funding vernonreporter.com/flood-contro...
vernonreporter.com
Flood control dams in Coon Creek and West Fork Kickapoo one step closer to removal with approval of design funding – VernonReporter
020
Reposted by Eric Booth
Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Palmer drought index. Worst ever. Worse than the dust bowl. Fire season is coming.
916994
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
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.
131
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Thought-provoking essay from Sarah Mock sarahmock.substack.com/p/whose-land...
sarahmock.substack.com
Whose Land Is This Really, and... Why?
On the case of "why farmland matters"
010
Reposted by Eric Booth
Dakota Smith @weatherdak.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Severe and tornadic storms erupt across Iowa and Wisconsin.
1549
Reposted by Eric Booth
Jeff Manuel @jeffmanuel.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
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.
132
Reposted by Eric Booth
Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
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. 🫠
Map of U.S., from coolwx.com, showing locations currently experiencing record-breaking temperatures. There are countless such locations in the Western U.S., with hundreds of red dots (locations breaking daily record highs) and countless pink dots (locations breaking March monthly record highs). The region of record heat extends from the Pacific Coast to east the Mississippi River, and from Canada to Mexico. The region of red and pink dots is vastly larger even than yesterday's (or the day before, or the day before, or the day before, same as it ever was, same...as it ever was...).
14399193
Reposted by Eric Booth
Charles Logan @charleswlogan.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
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."
medium.com
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 …
10625229
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Attention researchers who use USDA datasets
000
Reposted by Eric Booth
Wisconet @wisconet.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
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.
Blizzard warning for all but far northwestern Wisconsin.
1228
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Releasing agriculture from the food security mandate www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
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...
020
Reposted by Eric Booth
Anne Jefferson @annejefferson.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
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.
water.noaa.gov
National Water Prediction Service - NOAA
39222
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
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....
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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...
186
Reposted by Eric Booth
Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
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
landdesk.org
The Colorado River Crisis is Here
States fail to reach a deal; Lake Powell Deadpool appears imminent
16313186
Reposted by Eric Booth
molly taft @mollytaft.com · 18/02/2026
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:
wired.com
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.
14269106
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
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...
civileats.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.
020
Reposted by Eric Booth
Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · 14/02/2026
As a Colorado River deadline passes, reservoirs keep declining
latimes.com
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.
1143
Reposted by Eric Booth
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
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
doi.org
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...
1114
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
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
doi.org
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...
1114
Reposted by Eric Booth
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
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...
doi.org
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...
032
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
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...
doi.org
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...
032
Reposted by Eric Booth
M. Jahi @mjahi.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
“Hand wave”? I believe the point Adam (and I) are trying to make is that empirical evidence doesn’t back up yield increases as a necessary or sufficient condition to decrease deforestation.
122
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Fully support this: "We maintain that cultivating situated engagement, with researchers from different disciplines becoming part of and explicitly involved in the water problems they are jointly studying and aspire to help solve, is one promising approach to advance socio-hydrology."
sciencedirect.com
A situated proposal for a grounded approach to socio-hydrology
Socio-hydrology, a range of attempts to better account for ‘the social’ in hydrological processes, has made significant progress during the Panta Rhei…
140
Reposted by Eric Booth
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Another example - from just today - of excellent and essential climate and weather research from @ncar-ucar.bsky.social with clear impacts on flood-prone communities doi.org/10.1038/s432... #NCAR
doi.org
Moisture from US Corn Belt fuels more intense convective storms - Communications Earth & Environment
The groundwater-crop-irrigation interactions across the US Corn Belt amplify convective storm frequency, extend storm lifetime, and accelerate storm movement, based on a high-resolution regional clima...
065
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Another example - from just today - of excellent and essential climate and weather research from @ncar-ucar.bsky.social with clear impacts on flood-prone communities doi.org/10.1038/s432... #NCAR
doi.org
Moisture from US Corn Belt fuels more intense convective storms - Communications Earth & Environment
The groundwater-crop-irrigation interactions across the US Corn Belt amplify convective storm frequency, extend storm lifetime, and accelerate storm movement, based on a high-resolution regional clima...
065
Reposted by Eric Booth
John Warner @biblioracle.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Purdue's "plan" to have AI competencies, including "projects" for assessment in place by Fall of 2026 is absurd, impossible, and counterproductive. We have good models for addressing the challenge and this ain't it. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
insidehighered.com
Purdue to students: Come and be an AI meat widget!
There are emerging best practices for meeting the challenge of AI in education. What Purdue is doing is the opposite.
1184
Reposted by Eric Booth
Susan Crawford @scrawford.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Zillow’s climate score rollback is a wake-up call: build open, future‑conditions federal flood maps -- gold‑standard, trustworthy data for building codes, mortgages, and our future. Column today: open.substack.com/pub/susanpcr...
open.substack.com
Zillow’s climate risk reversal looks like a setback. It’s really a wake‑up call.
When private models sow confusion, it’s a flashing warning sign that Washington needs to fix federal flood maps,
213161
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Always appreciate introspection from the hydrologic modeling community. Reflecting and acting on the social aspects of modeling doi.org/10.5194/hess...
doi.org
HESS Opinions: Reflecting and acting on the social aspects of modeling
Abstract. Hydrological models are generally acknowledged as subjective and uncertain, yet they are often still perceived as neutral, meaning they are seen as not taking sides. This notion of neutralit...
060
Reposted by Eric Booth
Steve @stevetsra.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
The NWS Chicago area forecast discussion is WILD
11812
Eric Booth @egbooth.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Super excited to hear this!!
011
Reposted by Eric Booth
Susan Crawford @scrawford.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Insurers plan for 1-in-200-year storms. Why don’t governments? If a Melissa-level hurricane hit the Northeast, would we be ready? New column looks at climate whiplash, risk, and what real preparedness means. open.substack.com/pub/susanpcr...
open.substack.com
Insurers plan for extreme events that could crater their solvency. Shouldn’t all levels of government do the same?
What if a storm like Melissa hit the northeast US?
33112
Reposted by Eric Booth
Brian McNoldy @bmcnoldy.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
You VERY rarely ever see a satellite presentation like this anywhere in the world. And you certainly don't expect to see it this close to a mountainous island. As of 5am EDT on Tuesday, #Melissa is the 8th strongest Atlantic hurricane on record by central pressure (901 mb).
1226296