The End of Chevron Deference: Adam Orford discusses a new era of administrative and environmental law with River Basin Center
In 1984, the Supreme Court made a critical decision on the powers of federal agencies: where statutes set by legislation are clear, agencies must follow the direct statute, and where statutes are not fully clear, agencies are allowed the freedom of “reasonable interpretations.” This deference to agency expertise is the legal foundation of many important regulations, from managing endangered species to setting limits on pollution to protecting food safety, as it allows agency experts to set specific rules around a law’s general direction. Forty years later, that deference has been revoked, severely curtailing the powers of federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
So… what now?
‘We Need to Emerge!’ : SFS Program Fosters Diversity in Freshwater Science
RBC affiliate and Odum School of Ecology Foundation professor Amy Rosemond started the Emerge Program five years ago, with of increasing diversity in freshwater science. The program has since sent its students across the globe in the name of adventure, science, and inclusivity.
RBC Affiliates Team up to Rescue Species From Extinction
This summer, researchers from the River Basin Center assisted the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI) in rescuing one of the last populations of the Laurel Dace, an endangered minnow species, from a drying stream in Tennessee. The rescue, conducted in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has since attracted media attention from multiple Chattanooga news outlets as well as Pattrn, an affiliate of The Weather Channel that covers climate change and conservation.
RBC Welcomes New Spencer and Butler Fellows
The River Basin Center has named Justin Jimawo and Valeria Aspinall this year’s Spencer Fellows, and Mackenzi Hallmark this year’s Butler Fellow. The John Spencer Fellowship was created by family and friends to honor the legacy of the late John Spencer, a graduate student at the Odum School of Ecology. The Butler Fellowship was established by James E. Butler, Jr., a Columbus attorney who gifted $1 million to what was then the Institute of Ecology in 2006.
Restoring Mannington Meadows: Wetland researchers take a field trip to New Jersey
RBC Affiliate Rhett Jackson collaborated with number of conservation organizations, including The Nature Conservancy and NOAA, to chart a path forward for the continuing restoration of Mannington Meadows, a heavily eroded New Jersey wetland that serves as critical habitat for many bird species, including bald eagles.
The Ever-Shifting River
John Spencer Grant recipient and National Geographic Explorer Anuja Mital works to understand how turtles move across the dynamic Brahmaputra River valley.
Study: People are altering decomposition rates in waterways
A new study co-authored by RBC Associate Director Krista Capps and Affiliate J.P. Schmidt gathered data from 550 rivers across 40 countries and found that human intervention increases the rate of decomposition of plant matter, depriving freshwater life of food at a faster rate than usual, as well as potentially exacerbating climate change.
Hamel brings creative solutions to fish research
For Marty Hamel, fishing isn’t just a hobby, or even a sport. It’s how he collects data for his research projects. The subjects of his research range from huge sturgeon to almost microscopic ear stones.
RBC affiliate named a 2024 UGA Distinguished Research Professor
RBC affiliate Dr. Jeb Byers was among five faculty members to be named Distinguished Research Professors this year.
RBC graduate students receive graduate school honors awards for Spring 2024
Four RBC graduate students were among the thirteen students selected to receive the awards for their excellence. Carolyn Cummins received an Excellence in Teaching Award. Nate Tomczyk received an Excellence in Research Award. Alyssa Quan and Cydney Seigerman both received Engaged Scholarship Awards.