This American Land

Appalachian Trail, Cooling A River, Women In Farmi

To protect the Appalachian Trail, adjacent properties are acquired by conservation groups with financial support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Colorado's Yampa River suffers from climate change; stricken by low flows and warming water that is lethal to trout, volunteers plant trees on its banks to provide cooling shade. With women's role in agriculture changing, another farmer's wife in Texas plays a key role in adopting new conservation practices that determines the family's future, including passing the farm on to their only child, a daughter. Researchers study how vertical migration of giant swarms of tiny marine animals like krill contribute to ocean mixing and possibly global climate.