H₂O Zone

This month, we turn our attention to something very much of the moment: the water situation across Florida and beyond. With a historic drought gripping 45 of the 50 US states and Phase III restrictions now in force across much of Florida, the pressure on water resources has rarely felt more immediate. Hoover share their perspective on what this means for irrigation management in the state - and we close, on a genuinely encouraging note, with the long recovery of Lake Apopka, once the most polluted lake in Florida. It's proof, if any were needed, that it's never too late to start making things better.

The H2O Zone has always cast a wide net when it comes to environmental stories, but this month we've pulled it in a little closer to home. Every story we've chosen has one thing in common: water. 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by Florida’s environmental headlines, but in this latest edition, we’re leaning into optimism. We’ve got stories of genuine scientific "cleverness" - think water-filtering oyster armies and seaweed being turned into actual products.

This month's H2O Zone demonstrates that a new year doesn't necessarily mean leaving old problems behind. From water conservation wins to the ongoing coral reef challenge, the stories we've chosen highlight both innovation and obstacles in Florida's environmental landscape.

Rounding up 2025 and heading into 2026, we're spending a lot of our time under the waves in this edition of the H2O Zone. A number of stories deal with efforts to maintain, improve or simply better understand the ocean that surrounds us here in Florida. Two of the stories revolve around reefs, one entirely artificial, and the other an attempt to plant 'trees' encouraging coral to grow.

A varied selection of stories highlighted in the H₂0 Zone for this edition, ranging from just about the worst possible prognosis on the future of the coral reefs that play a vital role in the ocean around us, to a positive and bright pink confirmation of just how successful the restoration of the Everglades has been. 

This month’s edition finds balance between environmental challenges and innovative solutions across Florida's waters. And we cover the great success story of baby crocodiles thriving in an unexpected habitat.

This month’s H2O Zone is very much a watery tale, featuring a selection of stories dealing with our use and misuse of one of earth's most important natural assets. From more accessible data to help everyone understand how we are managing water, to research into wastewater treatment that will reduce the pressure on the Florida aquifer.

In this edition of the H2O Zone there is a strong emphasis on the work scientists are doing in order to tackle the effects of our changing climate and weather patterns. There are stories about seeds being blasted into space, soil being made stronger on a microscopic level and plastics created from sustainable sources. 

This month's H2O Zone brings a diverse set of stories, focusing on both land and sea. We dive below Florida's ocean waves, consider the challenges faced by the state's fruit farmers - and give due praise to a groundbreaking achievement at a Florida botanic garden.

We start this edition of the H₂O Zone with an admission that we're again looking at the nature of the flood risk faced by large swathes of the state. This time, it's in the form of ‘compound flooding’, which is as worrying as it sounds. To balance this, however, we have some very positive tales of activities aimed to improve prospects for the environment and our future, as well as a superb collection of photos showing Florida at its very best.

Get ready for some good news! The H₂O Zone for May is here, and this month's curation is bursting with universally positive stories. Yes, they spring from challenges like ailing coral reefs and algae-ridden lagoons, but these narratives truly shine a light on the incredible, ingenious ways people are fighting back against nature's decline.