Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
JCShepard.com | June 14, 2026 | Category: Policy, Economy Last week, we looked at the systems that rural communities use for communications. This week, we look at something even more fundamental: the systems that keep the water clean, take it away again when it’s been used, and manage what’s left over. Drinking water, wastewater, and […]
Wetlands are invaluable ecosystems that offer services such as flood control, water purification, and biodiversity support. Wetlands function as natural sponges which trap and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater, and flood waters. However, they often face threats from development and regulatory changes. Recent policy shifts, including the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision, […]
Soil degradation is a growing environmental sustainability challenge for rural communities. Erosion, declining fertility, and nutrient loss threaten long-term agricultural productivity, impacting not just farmers but also water quality, infrastructure, and land-use planning. One of the simplest and most effective solutions? Cover cropping. Cover crops—plants grown between cash crop cycles to improve soil health—help prevent […]
