Tucked into California’s remote northwest corner, the Smith River winds through Del Norte County. … Down on the river’s lower plain, though, the wilderness gives way to farmland. Here, a handful of growers produce nearly all of America’s Easter lily bulbs, which are then shipped off to greenhouses across the country. The iconic plant is the most famous export from Del Norte County — yet state scientists say decades of pesticide use by these growers have contaminated the tributaries that flow through those fields, threatening fish, wildlife and nearby residents.

Other water quality news:

• San Diego Union-Tribune: Asbestos in old water pipes raises concern for Carlsbad condo project