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May is American Wetlands Month! No matter where you live, chances are there’s a wetland nearby that provides important environmental benefits to your community. Wetlands support diverse fish and wildlife species, filter pollutants from rain water runoff, help recharge groundwater supplies, prevent flooding and enhance property values. Despite their many benefits, the United States loses [...]

A persistent icepack never formed over Lake Erie this past winter – the fourth warmest on record for the contiguous United States – and that has given smelly, blue-green algae a head start less than a year after it swelled to record levels.  This image, taken from NASA’s Terra Satellite, caught the roots of another [...]

Did you know that a dead zone the size of the state of New Jersey forms in the northern Gulf of Mexico every spring? A dead zone is an area of low-oxygen water that gets its name because aquatic wildlife either leaves the area or dies. One contributor to the formation of dead zones is [...]

Nitrogen is an important element for life on the Earth – it supports aquatic ecosystems by helping algae and aquatic plants grow, which provide food and habitat for fish, shellfish and other animals that live in streams, rivers and lakes.  But, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. Too much nitrogen in [...]

You probably know that failing to maintain your septic tank could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs – just ask Jack and Greg from “Meet the Parents.”  But did you know that excess nitrogen, phosphorus and other toxins from leaky septic tanks can be washed into our waterways and oceans, where they can sicken [...]

What is a nitrogen footprint and why is it so important?  Well, just like a carbon footprint, a nitrogen footprint approximates how much nitrogen your daily activities produce over a period of time. Nitrogen is important because it builds our DNA, amino acids and proteins that grow the tissues of all living things.  Farmers use [...]

Designing a new landscape can be exciting – and with a bit of planning, it can yield a water-efficient garden of your dreams.  Spring is a great time to design and plant a new landscape and it is important to know the water needs of the types of plants you intend to grow to maximize [...]

Did you know that sunlight helps aquatic plants grow, too?  Sunlight is an important element for photosynthesis, the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to create energy to grow and live.  Sunlight entering the water can be blocked by algal blooms – accumulations of algae that form when there is too [...]

What does driving have to do with water pollution? Fuels burned while driving create nitrogen oxides that are released through a car’s tailpipe into the air. Nitrogen is the most abundant element in the air we breathe and essential to plant and animal life – but too much of it can contribute to the formation [...]

The Mississippi River is the largest river in the United States – and one of the largest in the world! The Mississippi River Watershed covers over 1,245,000 square miles and drains all or part of 31 states, many of which are home to important agricultural areas. Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in fertilizers applied to agricultural [...]

Friday, April 27 is National Arbor Day.  Trees not only add beauty and value to our landscape, they also provide many environmental benefits.  In a year, a single healthy tree: Has the same cooling effect as ten room-sized air conditioners running continually. Absorbs 750 gallons of stormwater, preventing erosion and protecting water quality. Filters 60 [...]

Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste left outside wash down storm drains and into local waters. Pet waste can harm water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, making the water unsafe for drinking. Bacteria and nutrients from pet waste can turn fertile waters green from weed and algae growth, making the [...]

Installing a rain barrel at home can save water and have a significant impact on your water bill. Depending on the size of your home and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system. Rainwater stored in rain barrels can be used to water [...]

Is the lower Hudson River really a river…or is it an estuary? The answer is both. In spring, rains and snow melt often force fresh water down the Hudson turning the tidal watercourse into an almost purely freshwater river. But by summer, salt water can push its way up the Hudson River more than 70 [...]

Each year, about 1.4 million metric tons  of nitrogen reach the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River and its watershed.  Much of this pollution comes from rain water runoff from roadways, lawn and gardens, sewage treatment plants and agricultural areas.  The Mississippi River provides essential water for fishing, floating, boating and swimming, but too [...]

Although the drought in Texas and other states in 2011 meant fewer wildflowers bloomed to produce seeds last year, many native plants have a trick up their stems: they produce seeds in plentiful years that  “sit out” lean ones. These seeds can go dormant or lower their metabolism until conditions improve. Fall and winter rains [...]

Installing a rain water gauge on your property will help you determine how many inches of rain have fallen.  Knowing the average weekly precipitation amount helps gardeners apply the correct amount of water with automatic irrigation systems.  Drought stress can hurt landscape plants, but over-watering can also kill plants by depriving the roots of oxygen. [...]

Did you know that most people in the United States live within a mile of a river or stream? More than 60 percent of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams, which also support a variety of wildlife and fish, and provide many recreation opportunities. Fishing alone generates an estimated 116 billion dollars in [...]

Mulch is any covering placed around plants. Mulch conserves water because and prevents erosion by slowing runoff and permitting your landscape to better absorb and retain water from winter rains. Mulch also suppresses weed growth, shelters the soil from temperature extremes and improves appearance of your landscape. Viewer Tip: Apply a two- to three-inch layer [...]

Did you know that the Mississippi River provides drainage for 41 percent of the continental United States?  This means that if a single drop of rain falls anywhere in this area, which includes all or part of 31 states and two Canadian provinces, it becomes a part of the Mississippi River Watershed.  The fate of [...]