Animal waste and nitrogen-based agricultural fertilizers contribute to nitrate runoff, which ends up in creeks, streams, rain and, eventually, water systems. Nitrate, that mix of nitrogen and oxygen, can cause serious health problems if it’s too concentrated.

The devastating Camp Fire in the national forests in California has brought new attention to climate change and the management of national forests. Midwest forest managers say they have been able to keep fires under control, and will continue to do so even as the region gets warmer.