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October 9-15 is Earth Science Week (www.earthsciweek.org). Every year, Earth Science Week encourages students and the public to explore the natural world around them and learn about the geosciences. This year’s theme is Our Ever-Changing Earth. Humans depend on the Earth for many resources – air, water, food, fuel, trees, metals – but we often [...]

Marshes, and particularly salt marshes, are renowned as “filters.” Streams and rivers flowing into marshes often carry large loads of sediment and silt which are trapped by marshes and used to build up and replace existing marsh soils that otherwise would be carried out into bays and estuaries. Marshes and other coastal wetlands also capture [...]

Nitrogen and phosphorus are part of healthy aquatic habitats. These nutrients support the growth of underwater plants that provide oxygen and habitat for fish and other animals. They also support algae growth, which is a source of food for many fish and shellfish. Aquatic habitats can become unbalanced, however, when too much nitrogen and phosphorus [...]

More than 85 percent of the Chesapeake Bay’s shoreline is privately owned. And most of that is lined with hardened bulkheads or riprap designed to protect waterfront property from erosion and sea level rise.  These “hardened shorelines” take away from some of the Bay’s most productive acreage: the coastal marsh and intertidal areas that serve [...]

One of the biggest sources of pollution in Chesapeake Bay is “non-point source” pollution and erosion. That’s runoff from homes, lawns, gardens, streets and other paved surfaces when it rains. Urban and suburban runoff is on the rise, but many homeowners don’t see the connection between their yards and gardens and Bay pollution. Fertilizers may [...]

If you’ve been to the beach, chances are good you’ve been on a barrier island. Barrier islands are among the United States’ most important coastal features. Running more than 3,500 miles along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, these islands are invaluable buffers, protecting vulnerable shores and inland areas from violent storms and waves. They also [...]

When it rains, water flowing over land picks up dirt, oil and grease, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants.  In some areas, this water flows into storm drains that eventually discharge into our lakes and streams. In other areas, it flows directly into surface waters. Either way, polluted rain water can impact water quality and wildlife [...]

Are you tempted to clean up fallen trees and branches on your lakeshore property after a storm? Believe it or not, these fallen items are actually important components of lake habitats! Above the water, fallen trees and branches provide a place for ducks and turtles to soak up the sun; they may also be used [...]

Shoreline habitats around lakes – both on land and in shallow water – provide important habitat for fish and wildlife. Healthy plants along shorelines also protect water quality by absorbing and filtering pollutants carried from land by wind and rain. Viewer Tip: When lake shorelines become too developed, they may no longer be able to [...]

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Texas Gulf Coast watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, [...]

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Mississippi River watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor [...]

Elusive and beautiful, California golden trout, sometimes known as “fish from heaven,” are found in rivers and streams in the Sierra Nevada high country. Overgrazing by sheep and cattle has degraded some of the golden trout’s habitat; poor water quality and competition from other fish can also harm golden trout. For many years, Trout Unlimited [...]

Did you know in the arid West, an estimated 90 percent of desert wildlife relies on riparian areas for at least some part of their life cycles? Riparian areas are ecosystems that exist near a body of water and form vital linkages between streams and the surrounding uplands. Habitats in the Southwest face many of [...]

April showers bring May flowers or so the poem states. However, a garden needs proper drainage or spring rain will sit and soak the soil, rotting plants, or the rain will run so fast down a hill that it creates deep trenches. Proper drainage also prevents run off of fertilizers and pecticides into streams and [...]

The U.S. EPA recently released the National Lakes Assessment (NLA), the first ever baseline study of the condition of U.S. lakes, ponds and reservoirs. EPA surveyed more than 1,000 water bodies for water quality indicators like dissolved oxygen, algae, toxins and pathogens, and shoreline conditions. In the Southern Plains region of the U.S., EPA found [...]

The U.S. EPA recently released the National Lakes Assessment (NLA) – the first ever baseline study of the condition of U.S. lakes, ponds and reservoirs. EPA surveyed more than 1,000 water bodies for water quality indicators like dissolved oxygen, algae, toxins and pathogens, and shoreline conditions. In the Xeric region of the U.S. – running along the California [...]

The U.S. EPA recently released the National Lakes Assessment (NLA) – the first ever baseline study of the condition of U.S. lakes, ponds and reservoirs. EPA surveyed more than 1,000 water bodies for water quality indicators like dissolved oxygen, algae, toxins and pathogens, and shoreline conditions. In the Coastal Plains region of the U.S. – [...]

Rain gardens can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching creeks and streams by up to 30 percent. A rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from artificial urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways and lawn areas to be absorbed. This reduces runoff by allowing storm water to soak into the [...]

Soil erosion isn’t just a cosmetic problem in your yard. According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, soil removed by wind and rain erosion typically contains the “good stuff” – three times more nutrients and five times more organic matter than the soil left behind. Erosion is also a source of water pollution. Protecting [...]

Increase the health of your fields by planting a crop and leaving it for an entire season. The benefits of cover crops have been publicized for years. Although they are grown primarily to prevent soil erosion, cover crops can also contribute to nitrogen production, increase soil microbial activity, reduce insect pests and suppress weeds. Viewer [...]