Portia Bharath’s Archive

Gloved hands hold green plant leaves.

Into the Weeds: Herbicide Resistant Weeds & Management 

Managing weeds is one of the central responsibilities of growing crops, a task that asks for a considerable amount of labor, time, and tools. Since their development in the twentieth … Read more

A black and white bird with an orange beak stands next to its offspring.

Our Offshore Energy Future Will Be Defined by This One Choice

Offshore wind development is well underway in the United States. The Biden Administration established a national target of generating 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030—enough to power 22,500,000 … Read more

White wind turbines are lined up against a mountain backdrop.

Power Lines and Clean Energy: Our Opportunity to Learn from the Past

In the late 1800’s, a rivalry between two men defined the shape of the United States’ power grid.  Thomas Edison invented the Direct Current (DC), and Nikola Tesla invented Alternating … Read more

A group of hoofed, horned animals are grazing in a pasture.

The State of the Public Lands: Five Issues to Watch in the Coming Year

When President Biden goes before Congress to deliver the annual State of the Union address, he’s expected to talk about the overall successes Congress and his administration have had in … Read more

A person is using a hose to water a flower garden.

Partnering with Communities to Advance Environmental Justice: Building Authentic Relationships Through Communication and Creativity 

This past summer, I joined the National Wildlife Federation as the Community Partnerships fellow, where I worked with the Community Habitat Team to understand how to engage in equitable outreach … Read more

A small, furry, rodent-like mammal sits on rocks.

Surviving the Snow: The Amazing Adaptations of Three Winter Wonders

When the temperatures start to drop and the days get shorter, it’s easy to assume that the natural world goes into a state of hibernation. But the truth is that … Read more

A small turtle surrounded by water takes in some sun atop a clump of grass and mud.

Continuing Sackett v. EPA into 2023 and the Potential Impact on Environmental Justice

This blog is the third in a six-part series. Here are the first, second, fourth, and fifth parts. Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency challenges both the authority and the integrity … Read more

A water fowl with feathers of black, white, gray, and brown is sitting in the water.

Clean water is a public right, but it is also…

This blog is the second in a six-part series. Here are the first, third, fourth, and fifth parts. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) held opening arguments on … Read more

A man wades through brown floodwaters. There is a building and trees in the background.

COP27 is over, but Loss and Damage is not

The United Nations Climate Change Conference “COP27” was held from November 6th until November 20th  in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to assess progress in tackling the climate crisis. The conference concluded … Read more

Mine-scarred Land and Orange Rivers–a Story of Land Degradation and Reclamation in Pennsylvania

Over 5,000 abandoned underground mines dot the landscape in Pennsylvania. And although these underground channels are near invisible from the surface, there is one identifying factor you can’t miss. Bright … Read more