Category: Focus: Waterways
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Telling the Story of a River Under Pressure
The Colorado River supplies water to nearly 40 million people, supports agriculture across the Southwest, and sustains communities, wildlife, and ecosystems throughout the basin. Yet after decades of drought and growing demand, the river remains under immense pressure. While strong snowpack years in 2024 and 2025 helped stabilize conditions at Lake Powell and Lake Mead,…
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Pilot View: Collecting Imagery of New Jersey’s Passaic River
Most pilots avoid the airspace around New York City whenever possible. Volunteer pilot Mike McNamara volunteered for it. Partnering with The Nature Conservancy – New Jersey, Mike recently flew staff along the Passaic River to collect imagery and observe the surrounding landscape from above. The mission required navigating some of the busiest and most complex…
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Improving Urban Conservation in New Jersey
Flying over northern New Jersey isn’t easy. The airspace is complex, but that’s exactly where LightHawk volunteer pilot Mike McNamara flew with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in New Jersey, following the Passaic River through one of the most densely populated regions in the country. New Jersey may be the fourth smallest state in the nation,…
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Pilot View: Documenting Port Pollution in Southern California
Along the coast of Southern California lies the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, a maze of cargo ships, oil tankers, and infrastructure and one of the busiest gateways in the global supply chain. They’re also a source of emissions that contribute to climate change and local air quality impacts. Media partner Capital &…
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Studying Nutrient-Rich Runoff in Florida with Flight
When you think of Florida, you picture clear blue water stretching beyond sandy beaches. But from above, a different story is unfolding. Across Florida Bay, sediment plumes and algal blooms are spreading, changing the color, clarity, and health of these waters. Working alongside scientists from Florida International University, LightHawk took to the air to help…