Two mountain streams come together, one with rusty red acid rock drainage

Climate change increases rare earth elements in Colorado’s Snake River (High Country News)

Sept. 16, 2021

A new study by Garrett Rue and Diane McKnight suggests lower stream flows, caused by climate change, as a primary culprit.

Diane McKnight kneeling by a streambed in the sub alpine

Congratulations to the 2021 AGU Union medal, award, and prize recipients (EOS)

Sept. 15, 2021

Diane McKnight is the recipient of the Robert E. Horton Medal, bestowed for outstanding contributions to hydrology

Photo of Sam Illingworth

Rare Earth Water (The Poetry of Science)

Sept. 4, 2021

An original poem and science podcast episode of The Poetry of Science, by Sam Illingworth, inspired by Garrett Rue and Diane McKnight's new paper reporting on climate change as a driver of acid rock drainage and rare earth element contamination of the Snake River, Colorado.

Students involved in Diane McKnight's ongoing research on water quality in the Snake River collect tracer samples along a tributary.

Rare earth elements and old mines spell trouble for Western water supplies

Aug. 30, 2021

Acid rock and mine drainage into Western streams is a problem. Climate change is making it worse.

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