Fire Blanketed Lahaina in Toxic Debris. Where Can They Put It? – the New York Times

Search and Rescue Soldiers and Airmen attached to Hawaii National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) unit assisted Maui County and State officials in the search and recovery efforts of Lahaina, August 10, 2023. (by Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson, courtesy of Hawaii National Guard, CC BY 2.0 DEED via Flickr).

Crews are sending thousands of truckloads of debris to a temporary disposal site (in Olowalu)..The coast of Olowalu is popular with snorkelers and filled with abundant sea life. In 2017, the coral reef offshore became a focal point for protection by the nonprofit Mission Blue, which advocates to protect the ocean. The organization said the reef acts as a sort of nursery to enhance reefs on other islands nearby. It also supports a large population of manta rays. “It’s environmentally precious,” said Tom Gruber, an adviser to Mission Blue. “It’s like Yosemite. You wouldn’t put a toxic waste dump upstream of Yosemite…”

Cape Cod needs to clean up its water. The solutions could cost billions – WBUR Boston | Scientific American

The northern tip of Cape Cod, Masschusetts from the air (Courtesy of NASA Johnson CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED via Flickr).

It’s a critical moment for Cape Cod. The Cape has more than 550 miles of coastline, at least 890 freshwater ponds and 53 small saltwater bays bordering the ocean. That water is the Cape’s raison d’être: residents and visitors use it for swimming, boating and fishing, and it forms the backbone of the region’s $1.4 billion tourism industry. Now Cape Cod communities are scrambling for solutions before their ecosystems, economies and property values collapse….

Ocean Wonders: A Symphony of Smells – Hakai Institute

Screenshot from Hakai Institute video, Ocean Wonders: A Symphony of Smells, via Youtube.

“Take a whiff of the sea breeze. What happens to that scent when you sink below the surface? It turns out the sense of smell is crucial to those living in the deep. Hold your breath—but not your nose—as we explore olfaction in the ocean…”

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World – Atlas Obscura

An otherworldly landscape of twisted trees in Georgia. A marshland of bright red grass on China’s Red Beach. A Wisconsin beach so beautiful, that taking rocks from it is illegal. An island of pink shores and Komodo dragons in Indonesia. If you’re looking for a unique beach, these ten places each offer something unexpected…