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News Clips |
Funding Stormwater Projects: How federal Stimulus Act Money is Being Used Across the Country
The Stimulus Act (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) has provided funds to improve infrastructure, which includes stormwater management projects. Twenty percent of the state revolving funds must be used for “environmentally innovative” projects, which can be used for low-impact development strategies for managing stormwater runoff. This article details projects in New York, Washington, North Carolina, and the Midwest.
By Margaret Buranen, Stormwater Journal, March-April 2010
http://www.stormh2o.com/march-april-2010/funding-stormwater-projects.aspx
Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly
State and federal studies show that thousands of water and sewer systems are breaking down across the nation, and are too old to function properly. Every two minutes, a significant water line bursts somewhere in the U.S. Over $10 billion has been allocated for water infrastructure programs in the last year. However, an EPA study last year estimated that $335 billion will be required to maintain tap water systems. Officials estimate that $36 billion will be required for New York state municipal wastewater systems.
By Charles Duhigg, The New York Times, March 14, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/us/15water.html?hp
Forested Buffers Get a Hearing in the House
The House Majority Policy Committee hosted a meeting at the Pennsylvania State Capital about the importance of tree buffers and whether they should be required along waterways. Pennsylvania does not have buffer requirements, but local municipalities can make their own requirements. The PA DEP Environmental Quality Board proposed 150-foot buffers from “exceptional value waters” last year, though no action has been taken yet. This would apply to 3,000 miles of the total 91,000 miles of streams.
By Chris Torres, Staff Writer, Lancaster Farming, March 12, 2010
http://www.lancasterfarming.com/node/2843
Fresh water accounts for 2.5% of the earth’s water. About two thirds of this water is frozen in glaciers and the poles, leaving only 1% of the earth’s water for human, animal and plant use. Of this 1%, only 1% is contained in lakes, rivers and swamps. The rest is found underground. Groundwater aquifers can be contaminated by septic systems, hazardous waste sites, landfills, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals.
By David A. Gabel, Environmental News Network, March 25, 2010
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41145
Vernal or Seasonal Pools are unique wetlands that occur in depressions filled with rainwater, snowmelt, and/or groundwater. They occur in spring, and typically dry out during the summer months. They provide valuable habitat for a variety of creatures such as frogs and salamanders. The Vernal Pool Project of the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) provides free advice to landowners in Pennsylvania who have vernal pools on their properties. Enrollment is open through May 15, 2010. For more information, contact Betsy Leppo at the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, bleppo@paconserve.org.
For a field guide to
vernal pools, visit
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/files/vernalpoolbook.pdf
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/howwework/art30915.html
Oddball Winter Weather: Global Warming's Wake-Up Call for the Northern United States
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has released a report entitled “Oddball Winter Weather: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Northern United States.” This report states that global warming could make massive snowstorms more common. Also, on average, spring arrives 10 to 14 days earlier than 20 years ago.
To view the report, visit
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/Reports/Archive/2010/~/media/PDFs/Global%20Warming/Reports/NWF_WinterWeather_Optimized.ashx
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/Media-Center/Reports/Archive/2010/Odd-ball-Winter-Weather.aspx