Environment

The Secret Life of Hot Tub Covers (Redux)
Did you know bears love hot tub covers, specifically the smell and taste of vinyl? For hot tub owners in rural settings, it’s true that bears will sometimes steal covers and take a dip in the war water while they’re at it.   ...
Finding the Art and Soul of Underwater Photography
From tranquil pools to vast oceans, few environments rival the immersive beauty of being underwater. For photographer Karyn Allard, that subaquatic world is a place of visual wonder, emotional reflection, artistic expression, and natural connection. In this personal essay, Allard shares her journey from childhood fascination with water to a lifelong creative pursuit that marries the quest for artistry, technical mastery, and emotional depth. ...
Big Trouble with Harmful Algae
Confronting Harmful Algal Blooms have become a familiar part of aquatic life in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and oceanic estuaries. The problem has increased rapidly due to the point of impacting recreation, fishing, agriculture, and sometimes the water we drink. ...
Integrated Visions
The ability to adapt to different project parameters and conditions can require patience and a balance between conformity and standing your ground. The project pictured here, explains Scott Cummings and Benjamin Lasseter, is as a perfect example of integrating a pool and landscape design with a challenging site and discerning project team members. ...
The Discovery of Dark Oxygen: A Hidden Source of Life in the Depths
In the deep, lightless realms of the Pacific Ocean—where pressure crushes and sunlight never penetrates—scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery: dark oxygen. Unlike the oxygen we are familiar with, produced by plants and photosynthesis, dark oxygen forms without light, deep in the sediments of the ocean floor. ...
Ripple Effects: Pandemic-Era Pools
The pandemic may be in the rearview mirror, but its impact on the pool industry continues to be felt. Pools built too fast, by inexperienced contractors with lack of supervision, has led to a stream of construction defects and in some cases, costly litigation. ...
Firescaping: Designing Landscapes and Hardscapes to Reduce Fire Risk
The recent fires in Los Angeles have left behind widespread devastation. Implementing measures that help prevent fires and reduce their severity going forward is now at the forefront of landscape and pool professionals working in fire-prone areas. Here, Scott Cohen outlines the key features in “Firescaping”—the practice of creating spaces that do not burn. ...