Earth Gauge » Mid-Atlantic

World Water Monitoring Day (Virginia)

espinoza — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:24:48 +0000

World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) – an international education and outreach program to involve the public in monitoring and protecting water resources – takes place on September 18 each year. WWMD volunteers use a simple test kit to measure key water quality indicators in local water bodies, including temperature, acidity (pH), clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen levels. All of these indicators can impact aquatic wildlife. For example, high water temperatures or extremely acidic water (low pH) can make it hard for some aquatic wildlife, insects and plant species to survive. Clear water (low turbidity) with ample dissolved oxygen will support a wide variety of aquatic animals.

In 2009, volunteers participated in 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Volunteers in Virginia found that local waterways had an average pH level of 7.34. Most aquatic animals prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. Outside of this range, animals may stop reproducing, move away or even die.

Viewer Tip: Get involved! You can test water quality in your community and report results back to the World Water Monitoring Day coordinators. Visit http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/Participate/Participate_Main.html to register your site and get a test kit.

Season: Fall

World Water Monitoring Day is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association

(Sources: Water Environment Federation and International Water Association. 2009. “World Water Monitoring Day 2009: Year in Review.” Available from http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/; Montana Watercourse of the MOntana Water Center, “Volunteer Water Monitoring Guidebook.” Available from http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/)

World Water Monitoring Day (Pennsylvania)

espinoza — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:19:59 +0000

In 2009, volunteers participated in 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Volunteers in Pennsylvania found that local waterways had an average pH level of 7.5. Most aquatic animals prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. Outside of this range, animals may stop reproducing, move away or even die.

Season: Fall

World Water Monitoring Day is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association

World Water Monitoring Day (Maryland)

espinoza — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:00:47 +0000

In 2009, volunteers participated in 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Volunteers in Maryland found that local waterways had an average pH level of 6.98. Most aquatic animals prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. Outside of this range, animals may stop reproducing, move away or even die.

Season: Fall

World Water Monitoring Day is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association

World Water Monitoring Day (DC)

espinoza — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:19:55 +0000

In 2009, volunteers participated in 49 states, DC and Puerto Rico. Volunteers in DC found that local waterways had an average pH level of 7.72. Most aquatic animals prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0. Outside of this range, animals may stop reproducing, move away or even die.

Season: Fall

World Water Monitoring Day is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association

Mute Swans

espinoza — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:47:10 +0000

Mute swans (Cygnus olor) were introduced to North America from Eurasia during the late 1800s and have since increased to over 14,000 birds in the Atlantic Flyway. Unlike the native tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus), mute swans inhabit the Chesapeake Bay year round. Grazing by the swans on the underwater grasses during their growing season negatively impacts the present submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration efforts in the Bay. They also have aggressive interaction (i.e. attacking, injuring or killing) and competition for nesting habitat with native waterfowl.

Viewer Tip: Check out the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Bay Field Guide to learn how to distinguish between the native tundra swan and the mute swan. The guide will also help you identify various types of SAV.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

This information is provided by COSEE Coastal Trends. Learn more at www.coseecoastaltrends.net.

(Sources: Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) in the Chesapeake Bay: A Bay-Wide Management Plan Prepared by: The Chesapeake Bay Mute Swan Working Group June 2004; Tatu K.S. & et al (2007) Mute Swans’ Impact on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5):1431-1439; Chesapeake Bay Program, Bay Field Guide, http://www.chesapeakebay.net/bfg_birds.aspx?menuitem=14339)

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) in the Chesapeake Bay: A Bay-Wide Management Plan Prepared by: The Chesapeake Bay Mute Swan Working Group June 2004 Tatu K.S. & et al (2007) Mute Swans’ Impact on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5):1431-1439

Bay Grasses

espinoza — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:33:14 +0000

About 16 species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) inhabit the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Salinity is the determining factor in the distribution of these species throughout the bay. SAV provide numerous benefits to the ecosystem. The presence of an SAV bed slows down wave energy allowing suspended sediment to be trapped within an SAV bed, protecting the adjacent shoreline from erosion. SAV provide protection for juvenile fish and crabs, especially those in their soft shell stage after molting. Scientists have found 30 times more juvenile crabs within Bay grasses than in areas with no grass. Bay grasses are also an important food source for migratory and resident waterfowl.

Viewer Tip: Powerboats can pose a threat to SAV, as their propellers often pull up the roots of the plants, which can take years to re-establish. If you are a recreational boater, observe “no wake” zones, stay in marked channels and try to stay in deeper water where your propellers and hull won’t damage SAV habitats.

This information is provided by COSEE Coastal Trends. Learn more at www.coseecoastaltrends.net.

(Source: Chesapeake Bay Program, www.chesapeakebay.net/baygras.htm)

Water Conservation

espinoza — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:23:13 +0000

Water conservation puts less strain on our drinking water supplies, while also reducing wastewater discharges that pollute streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Conserving water puts less strain on a community during drought and dry weather.

Viewer Tip: Divert water from roof and air conditioning runoff directly into planters or rain barrels for use in landscaping. Sweeping the sidewalk instead of hosing them down reduces runoff and conserves water.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

This information is provided by COSEE Coastal Trends. Learn more at www.coseecoastaltrends.net.

(Source: Going Green Downtown A Sustainability Guide for Maryland’s Main Streets MD Department of Housing and Community Development and the MD Department of natural Resources. DNR#14-482009-388)

Growing Oysters

espinoza — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:21:03 +0000

A large adult oyster can filter up to two gallons of water an hour. Scientists speculate that the oyster population prior to the mid-19th century decline could filter the entire volume of water in the Chesapeake Bay in under a week! At the present severely depleted population, this task has increased to about a year.

Viewer Tip: The Marylanders Grow Oysters program allows community members to grow oyster spat within cages hung from their docks. The young oysters are protected during the vulnerable first year of life so they can be planted on local sanctuaries where they provide habitat and filter the water.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

This information is provided by COSEE Coastal Trends. Learn more at www.coseecoastaltrends.net.

(Sources: www.oysters.maryland.gov; http://shorelines.dnr.state.md.us/downloads/factSheets/oysters fact sheet.pdf)

Lakes Appreciation (Coastal Plains Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:31:45 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 116 lakes in the Coastal Plains Region (covering the Mississippi Delta, north along the Ohio River, Florida, eastern Texas and the Atlantic Seaboard to New Jersey) to characterize the condition of more than 7,000 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

47 percent of lakes in the Coastal Plains Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
64 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
More than 80 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities like removing trees and adding paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go Wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

If you visit a lake: Avoid hitchhikers. Non-native species (animals and plants that are not originally from a certain lake) can invade a lake and take over the habitat. If you are a recreational boater, don’t give non-native species a free ride: remove any visible mud and plants from equipment that was in the water, including your boat and trailer. And never put any plants, fish or other animals into a body of water – unless they came out of that same water!

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2009. National Lakes Assessment: A Collaborative Survey of the Nation’s Lakes. EPA 841-R-09-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC; Trout Unlimited, www.tu.org)

Lakes Appreciation (Southern Appalachians Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:24:38 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 116 lakes in the Southern Appalachians Region (covering ten states from northeastern Alabama to southern Pennsylvania and highland parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma) to characterize the condition of more than 4,600 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

42 percent of lakes in the Southern Appalachians Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
73 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
More than 90 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities like removing trees and adding paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go Wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

Season: Summer

Lakes Appreciation (Northern Appalachian Region)

espinoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:28:35 +0000

As part of the National Lakes Assessment, the U.S. EPA selected and sampled 93 lakes in the Northern Appalachian Region (covering all of New England, most of New York, the northern half of Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio) to characterize the condition of more than 5,000 lakes throughout the area. What did researchers find?

More than half of lakes in the Northern Appalachian Region are in good biological condition, meaning they are able to support healthy aquatic plant and animal communities.
95 percent of lakes show low risk of exposure to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which produce toxins that can make humans sick.
57 percent of lakes show moderate or high levels of lakeshore disturbance due to human activities like removing trees and adding paved areas, sandy beaches or lawns.

Viewer Tip: July is Lakes Appreciation Month. As you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming in local lakes, remember that you can help keep our lakes healthy.

If you live near a lake: Go wild. Let natural vegetation grow near the lake shoreline to filter water pollutants and protect the shoreline from erosion.

Season: Summer

Air Quality

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:09:13 +0000

Did you know that almost 60 percent of Americans live an area with unhealthy levels of air pollution? Just like a recipe, the atmosphere needs all the right ingredients to make ground-level ozone – a harmful air pollutant that is common during the summer months. When the temperature rises and the sun is shining, heat and sunlight mix with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that come from car exhaust, power plants, refineries, gasoline vapors at gas stations and other sources to “cook-up” ground-level ozone. Certain groups of people are especially vulnerable to health effects from air pollution, including young children, older adults and people who have lung diseases like asthma.

Viewer Tip: People who exercise or work outside are also at increased risk for health impacts from air pollution. Stay healthy and reduce your exposure by watching air quality reports from your local media or checking www.airnow.gov. When conditions reach “Code Orange” or higher, consider rescheduling sports games and other strenuous outdoor activities for another day. If you do go outside, aim for the early morning or evening hours, when air pollution levels are likely to be lower.

Season: Summer

(Sources: American Lung Association. “State of the Air 2010: Air Quality Facts.” http://www.stateoftheair.org/2010/facts/; US EPA. “What Affects My Air Quality?” http://www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/day2-detail.html; www.airnow.gov)

Become a Storm Spotter

espinoza — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:50:21 +0000

Have you ever wanted to help keep your community by reporting severe weather? SKYWARN is a volunteer network of nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters around the country. SKYWARN spotters help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate information to the National Weather Service about weather events like thunderstorms, winter weather and flooding.

Viewer Tip: Anyone can join the SKYWARN program. To become a storm spotter, you must attend a free training class at any of the 122 National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices around the country. You’ll learn to identify and describe severe weather and you’ll also learn about basic weather safety. To get more information about SKYWARN and find out when classes are available in your area, visit www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn or contact your local National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist at www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service. SKYWARN. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/)

Summer Energy Savings for Renters

espinoza — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:37:39 +0000

Do you rent your home or apartment? You’re not alone – about 33 percent of U.S. residents were renters between 2006 and 2008. Taking energy-saving steps can seem challenging when you don’t own your home and cannot make major changes to your living space. But, did you know that there are easy ways to save energy and shave a few dollars off your utility bill this summer?

Viewer Tip: Give these renter-friendly energy-saving tips a try.

No Cost: Bump the thermostat up to 78 degrees when no one is home. For each degree you raise the thermostat, you’ll save three to five percent on air conditioning costs. Close shades and curtains during the day to keep the heat out.

Low Cost: Swap out a few traditional incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). CFLs are a bit more expensive to purchase, but they last six to ten times longer than traditional bulbs and give off 75 percent less heat!

Investment: If you are purchasing a room air conditioner, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star qualified models use at least ten percent less energy than standard models. Make sure the unit you purchase is the right size for your room – for help, visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roomac.pr_properly_sized.

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates Data Profiles, http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en&_ts=; U.S. EPA, “EPA Offers Cooling Tips for Every Budget this Summer.” http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/386ebff0a635644f8525773c004d84d3!OpenDocument; American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy, “Cooling Equipment,” http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/cooling.htm)

Swimming Beaches

espinoza — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:32:17 +0000

During the 2009 beach swimming season, more than 3,800 beaches were monitored for possible swimming risks – 43 percent of those beaches had at least one swimming advisory or closure. Beach advisories and closures often follow heavy rainfall, when sewer overflows may occur and rain water can wash trash and other pollutants into swimming areas. Poor water quality can create unsafe conditions for swimming.

Viewer Tip: You can help protect water quality at your local beach by always cleaning up your trash and picking up after pets. Before you head to the beach, check beach conditions to make sure swimming is safe: http://www.epa.gov/beaches/plan/whereyoulive_state.html

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. EPA. “National Summary: 2009 Swimming Season Update.” http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/seasons/2009/)

A Summer of Beneficial Insects

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:15:25 +0000

Because they are cold blooded and rely on warmth to become mobile, insects thrive in the long days and soaring temperatures of summer. Summer is the best time to observe insect life in your garden or lawn. Some gardeners think of all insects as pests, but many insects are helpful and eat the insects that destroy our gardens. Lacewings, Lady Bugs, Pirate Bugs, Earwigs, and Hoverflies are some of the “good” insects. Larger insects, including Mantids, Assassin Bugs and some beetles prey upon caterpillars and other large plant-eating insects. Most plant-eating insects prefer specific types of plants as food, while good insects hunt prey on a variety of plants. A good way to identify these good insects is to notice where you see them. If they occur near many different plant species, they’re likely to be insects that eat the pests that destroy our gardens.

Viewer Tip: One of the best ways to support beneficial insects in the garden is to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. Small populations of pests are necessary to provide a constant food source for good insects. Leaving areas of the landscape unmowed will also favor the presence of good insects.

This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. For more information on landscaping for wildlife, including plants that provide habitat for beneficial insects, visit www.gwf.org.

Season: Summer

(Sources: Georgia Wildlife Federation, www.gwf.org; University of Georgia, http://lpm.uga.edu/beneficials/beneficials.html)

Don’t Stress (Your Lawn) Out

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:59:39 +0000

Mowing the lawn is a typical summer activity. Did you know that when you mow, you can actually “stress out” your grass? This can lead to a brown, weedy and patchy lawn. But, by increasing your mower height, you can reduce stress on turf species as well as the incidence of some common turf weeds. Increasing the height of your mower blades is particularly important when turf is under stress from heat, drought or shade.

Viewer Tip: Don’t leave your mower set at the same cutting height all year. Instead, increase the mower height to reduce stress on turf that is in the shade or exposed to extreme heat. Since turf species grow more slowly when they are under stress, allow enough time between cutting for the turf to regrow sufficiently before it is mowed again. This may mean mowing shady sections of your lawn at intervals different from those used in sunny areas.

This information is provided by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn moreat www.attra.ncat.org.

Helping the Gulf

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:08:23 +0000

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 oil from driveways and litter from streets into our local waterways, which lead to the Mississippi River. Each summer, excess nitrogen from this polluted runoff causes a low-oxygen area – also known as a ‘dead zone’ – in the Gulf of Mexico that impacts marine life.

Viewer Tip: With millions of gallons of crude oil and chemical dispersants already in Gulf waters, marine life and biodiversity are more vulnerable than ever to other pollutants. No matter where you live in the Mississippi River watershed, you can help protect water quality in the Gulf with these tips:

Participate in a wetland, river or beach cleanup in your area. Check with your local watershed group or organize your own!
Never dump oil or other household chemicals in the street or in a storm drain. If you change your own motor oil, make sure to collect it in a clean can with a lid and take it to a service station or household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.
Use as little fertilizer and pesticide as possible. Most farmers and gardeners can use less fertilizer and still obtain the same amount of crop yield.
Prevent erosion by mulching and seeding areas where bare soil can be washed away in your yard. Adding mulch or vegetation to bare areas allows water to soak slowly into the ground, rather than running off quickly.
Instead of sweeping yard waste into the street or storm drain, use it for composting or mulching in your own backyard. You’ll protect your soil, prevent erosion, control weeds…and protect water quality.

Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mississippi River Basin map to find your location in the watershed: www.epa.gov/msbasin/marb.htm.

( Sources: GulfBase. General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php; National Park Service: A Profile of the Mississippi River. http://www.nps.gov/miss/naturescience/profmiss.htm; Frankenberger, Jane and Ron Turco. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico: A Reason to Improve Nitrogen. Purdue Animal Issues Briefing AI-6; U.S. EPA National Estuary Program. June 2007. “National Estuary Program Coastal Condition Report.” Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepccr/index.html; Dybas, Cheryl l., Dead Zones Spreading in World Oceans, Bioscience 552-557; US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. www.epa.gov/owow;
Gulf Base: General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php;
US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Www.epa.gov/owow)

Bike to Work Week

espinoza — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:15:08 +0000

May is National Bike Month and May 17-21, 2010 is Bike to Work Week. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that there is one adult-sized bicycle per U.S. household, but few adults report taking a bike trip outdoors. Taking your two-wheeler for a spin not only helps keep you healthy, it also saves money, reduces traffic congestion and contributes to cleaner air. As a matter of fact, using alternative transportation – biking, walking, carpooling or taking public transit – just one day per week for a year saves the typical commuter 1,200 miles on their car and about 567 dollars in driving costs.

Viewer Tip: Try biking to work or school just one day this week. Research has shown that the length of about half of all car trips – three miles – can be covered as quickly on a bike when parking and traffic delays are taken into account. These resources will help you on your way:

Find National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week events in your community: www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/events.php
Plan a bike route using Google Maps: maps.google.com/biking
Get cyclist and pedestrian safety tips from the Federal Highway Administration: safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/

Season: Spring

(Sources: Federal Highway Administration. “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air: Alternative Transportation.” http://www.italladdsup.gov/tools/seasonal_materials.asp; League of American Bicyclists, www.bikeleague.org)

Mercury and Fish

espinoza — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:54:26 +0000

Earth Gauge Video is available for this tip.

Are you going fishing this season? Many people head to local lakes and streams during nice weather. A new, four-year, multi-agency study shows a nearly 50 percent chance that the fish you catch will contain mercury. Some levels are so high that pregnant women and children should not eat the fish. Mercury is emitted into the air by power plants, garbage incinerators, even cars. When it falls back to the Earth with rain and snow, it can enter lakes, streams and the fish food chain.

Viewer Tip: If you eat the fish you catch in local waters, check local advisories for advice about consuming fish safely. Visit www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish to find fish advisories in your area.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall

(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2009. The National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue. EPA-823-R-09-006. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC; USEPA, “Fish Advisories.” www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish)