Echo

Help write the 12 days of aquatic invasive species Christmas (2012 edition)

By |

 Once again Echo is running the Wisconsin Sea Grant version of the popular Twelve days of Christmas carol. It is written by outreach specialist Tim Campbell.  This year we’re giving The 12 days of aquatic invasive species Christmas an added twist: We’ve taken out the replacement lyrics for where the traditional carol sings of five golden rings.   That’s your challenge. In the comments below, come up with your own version of that verse.

Echo

U.S. Department of Energy to fund Lake Erie offshore wind farms

By |

 

Lake Erie is among seven locations nationwide to receive new offshore wind investments from the U.S. Department of Energy. The department recently announced $168 million for different projects to demonstrate technological development, reduce costs of wind energy, and ultimately add jobs. The Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., a public-private partnership, could receive up to $47 million to install nine 3-megawatt wind turbines seven miles off the coast of Cleveland, Ohio. The goal is to achieve commercial operation by 2017. An offshore wind industry could mirror the success of land-based wind energy, according to a report by economic services group Navigant Consortium that was commissioned for the department.

Echo

PSA: Mercury – Cleanup can cost you

By |

Cleanup in the wake of a mercury spill can cost thousands of dollars, according to this public service announcement from the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Most spills that are handled quickly and correctly pose no health threat,” said Christina Bush, health department toxicologist. “You might be able to clean up a small spill, like that from a fever thermometer, on your own, but do not vacuum a mercury spill,” Bush said, “Doing so will contaminate your vacuum cleaner and increase the mercury vapor dramatically. If you are unable to clean up the spill right away, tape plastic (like garbage bags) on the mercury-contaminated carpet or flooring . This will reduce the amount of mercury vapor that could get into the air.”

Echo

Community group gets $16,310 to plant trees along St. Lawrence Seaway

By |

 

A community-based conservation group has received a $16,310 grant to plant native trees and other vegetation along a stretch of the St. Lawrence Seaway near Cornwall, Ontario, according to the Seaway News. The vegetation is to help restore natural riverbank habitat, which provides food and cover for wildlife. The Raisin Region Conservation Authority received the grant from the Great Lakes Guardian Community fund, which is operated by the province’s Ministry of the Environment. The fund gives out grants to community associations and other groups every year, including grants to the Toronto Zoo and the Walpole Island First Nation tribe.

Wildlife

Michigan expands Great Lakes muskie stock

By |

The muskie production program of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has turned a huge corner by stocking only Great Lakes muskies. The department has raised muskellunge for stocking for decades but had always used northern muskies. This is the second year it produced strictly Great Lakes muskies.

Echo

PSA: Mercury – It can be recycled

By |

Mercury, a hazardous material found in many common household items, can be safely recycled by local health departments, according to this public service announcement from the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Mercury that is recycled will be purified so that it can be used for industrial and laboratory applications,” said department toxicologist Christina Bush, “There are some instances where mercury is the best or only option to use. But mercury-containing items in homes, schools, and medical settings can be replaced with safer alternatives.” Additional information on the safe disposal of mercury, as well as the health risks the substance presents, can be found at the health department’s mercury website. The full series of health department mercury PSAs can be found here.

Echo

Report grades Great Lakes states’ water efficiency

By |

 

A report grading water efficiency gives the Great Lakes states some low marks. Wisconsin scored the highest in the region with a B-. Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania were tied for the lowest grade with a D.

Wisconsin got high marks for availability of technical assistance and for water conservation planning, according to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a non-profit group, and the Environmental Law Institute, a legal consulting firm. “Wisconsin represents how water conservation planning can vary by source,” the report said. “Wisconsin has one generally applicable planning process for public water suppliers, and another planning process only applicable to large withdrawers from the Great Lakes Basin.”

The report also showed dryer, southwestern states with higher grades than the national average, C. Perhaps dry states are more efficient because they must make due with less.