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F. X. Browne, Inc. |
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Lake and Watershed News |
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June 2005 |
Golf Love Poem
I think that I shall never see a hazard rougher than a tree;
A tree o'er which my ball must fly if on the green it is to lie;
A tree which stands that green to guard, and makes the shot extremely hard;
A tree whose leafy arms extend to kill the six iron shot I send;
A tree that stands in silence there, while angry golfers rave and swear.
Irons were made for fools like me who cannot ever miss a tree.
Source: www.jokes.com
Editors Note
Thank you to all PA residents who voted for Growing Greener!
Residents across Pennsylvania made their voices heard in supporting the Growing Greener II bond question on May 17. Statewide, 62 percent of voters approved the $625 million bond question to address some of the state’s most pressing environmental problems. The bond question carried in 47 counties across the state, and even in those counties where it was not approved, the margin of loss was relatively small. Way to go!
Lake Dip-In 2005
The 2005 Great North American Secchi Dip-In will occur this year from June 25 to July 17. The event, where individuals in volunteer monitoring programs take a transparency measurement on one day during the weeks surrounding Canada Day and July Fourth, highlights the importance of volunteer monitoring programs in protecting water quality around the US and Canada. Grab a Secchi Disk and join in! See how at http://dipin.kent.edu/.
Topic of the Month
Greening the Greens: Environmentally Friendly Golf Course Management
A. A. Milne once said, “Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.” Americans, and indeed people all over the world, have long had a love affair with the game of golf. Yet, golf courses get a bad rap when it comes to the environment. Golf courses and playing fields can be significant contributors to nonpoint source pollution in lakes and streams due to the excessive amounts of fertilizers sometimes used. However, with proper management, the amount of nutrients entering lakes and streams from golf courses can be kept to a minimum.
Many techniques can be employed to reduce the potentially negative environmental impacts from golf courses. Golf course managers can minimize the use of fertilizers by monitoring turf and timing applications properly, watering greens only when necessary as a means to reduce fertilizer requirements, and implementing integrated pest management programs. A five- to ten-foot unmowed buffer strip should be maintained along any golf course shorelines, streambanks, and wetlands to ensure proper erosion control and to filter runoff. Aesthetically pleasing vegetation such as irises and wildflowers can be planted in these areas. In locations near sensitive water bodies, stormwater management facilities such as constructed wetlands and bioretention strips should be installed to reduce stormwater runoff from entering the water.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program provides golf course members and superintendents with information about environmentally-friendly golf course management. Becoming involved with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program is an excellent way for a golf course to show the community its commitment to protecting the local environment. See the “Link of the Month” below for more information.
A common problem on golf courses is streambank erosion. Large storms can cause erosion and sedimentation of streambanks, which can eventually lead to damage to golf course play areas. F. X. Browne, Inc. is in the process of restoring a 3,000 ft. section of Colebrook Creek at the Whitford Country Club in Exton, PA. The restoration approach will involve realigning the stream in several locations, building an artificial floodplain through a large section of the course, replacing an existing bridge, stabilizing streambanks using native plants and bioengineering techniques, and enhancing in-stream habitat. We will also be engineering a new in-stream irrigation diversion structure.
F. X. Browne, Inc. is experienced in managing golf courses, including streambank stabilization, stormwater control, and pond management. Please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com or 215-362-3878 for more information.
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Water Water Everywhere…Water Use, That Is!
S A typical household uses approximately 260 gallons of water per day. S In the summer, the amount of water used outdoors by a household can exceed the amount used for all other purposes in the entire year. S According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 30 percent of the daily water consumption in the U.S. is devoted to landscaping and other outdoor uses. S The typical suburban lawn consumes 10,000 gallons of water above and beyond rainwater each year. In light of these disturbing statistics, the US EPA is encouraging homeowners to visit http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency to discover ways to reduce water use while maintaining healthy and beautiful landscapes and saving money. |
News Clips
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Chesapeake Facing One of the Worst "Dead Zones" in 20 Years
The Chesapeake Bay’s top scientists recently delivered an ominous summer forecast: the Bay and its rivers will most likely again suffer record-breaking "dead zones," enormous areas of oxygen-depleted water that harm aquatic life.
Researchers warned that this year's dead zones could rank among the five worst for the Bay in two decades. Moreover, the agency predicted that harmful algal blooms in the Potomac River could last for more than two months and cover more than 10 miles. In 2004, the Bay's dead zone covered more than 35% (1/3) of the Bay's main stem, causing fish kills, closing public beaches, and negatively affecting commercial and recreational fishermen. http://www.cbf.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11061
Exploding Toads Baffle Scientists
More than 1,000 toads have puffed up and exploded in a Hamburg pond in recent weeks, and German scientists have no explanation for what's causing the combustion.
Both the pond's water and body parts of the toads have been tested, but scientists have been unable to find a bacteria or virus that would cause the toads to swell up and pop. The toads at a pond in the upscale neighborhood of Altona have been blowing up since the beginning of April, filling up like balloons to three times their normal size until their stomachs suddenly burst. The toads' entrails are propelled for up to a meter (3.2 ft). Scientists are baffled, although one researcher claims that the explosions may be due to a puncture in the toads’ bellies from crows trying to eat the toads’ livers. The Institute for Hygiene and the Environment said that tests will continue, but in the meantime, city residents should stay away from the pond.
BBC News, 4/27/2005
Lower Delaware Municipalities Get Planning Assistance
The Delaware River Greenway Partnership and the Heritage Conservancy are organizing a one-year collaborative effort to assess how the 35 local governments between Trenton, NJ and Delaware Water Gap, PA approach natural resource protection.
Along the Lower Delaware River, both New Jersey and Pennsylvania have similar "home rule" systems of government that place land-use decision making into the hands of local government. Many existing ordinances can be optimized and coordinated with those of neighboring municipalities to better protect the river’s resources. The Municipal Ordinance Review Project (MORP) is being conducted to identify and promote the most effective natural resource protection tools used by municipalities that border the Lower Delaware River. This information will be presented in a report that will be distributed to each municipality as well as to the general public. A public forum will be held in December to provide the opportunity for community leaders from both sides of the river to meet and share ideas and success stories.
Grant Program Funds Innovative Green Roof at Nature Center
Construction has begun on an innovative green roof that will help promote stormwater education for visitors to the Asbury Woods Nature Center in Millcreek Township, Erie County, PA.
The green roof is part of an expansion and renovation project at the nature center, which is owned by the Millcreek School District and serves an important environmental education facility for students and the broader Erie community. PA DEP awarded Millcreek School District a $63,892 Energy Harvest grant for installation of the green roof, which is designed to reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and mitigate urban heat island impacts. The 4,700 square foot roof will be covered with a membrane, four inches of soil, and a variety of alpine plants adapted to live in the harsh extremes of weather on a roof. The green roof is expected to significantly reduce heating and cooling costs for the Nature Center.
For more information on the design of green roofs or other innovative stormwater BMPs, contact F. X. Browne, Inc. at info@fxbrowne.com. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/ASBURYWOODS01/41122020
Lake Abducted in Russia
A Russian village was recently left mystified after its lake literally disappeared overnight.
NTV television showed pictures of a giant muddy hole bathed in summer sun, while fishermen from the village of Bolotnikovo, on the Volga river east of Moscow, looked on disconsolately. Witnesses say the lake appears to have disappeared into the ground, taking nearby trees with it. It was not the first time something like this had happened. A similar incident about 70 years ago sucked in several houses around the lake. Officials in the Nizhegorodskaya region said water in the lake might have been sucked down into an underground watercourse or cave system, but some villagers had more sinister explanations. "I am thinking, well, America has finally got to us," said one old woman, as she sat on the ground outside her house.
Reuters, May 19, 2005 http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i8326 (spoof article) |
Policy Update
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Under a new bill proposed by New York Governor Pataki, wetlands of less than 12.4 acres that are no longer subject to federal protections would be regulated by the NYS DEC or the local jurisdiction. |
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NJ DEP released new regulatory standards for the implementation of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. The new regulations, which involve issues including septic density and the permit application review process, take effect immediately. |
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The U.S. EPA has backed away from but not abandoned a proposed policy change that would have allowed sewage treatment facilities to legally discharge partially treated sewage into rivers during rain storms or snow melts. |
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Voters surveyed for a public opinion poll commissioned by river and watershed conservation groups say clean water is a top concern. According to results of the poll, 85 percent of voters prefer cleaning up polluted waters to drinking bottled water. |
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Over 50 national, state, and local conservation organizations announced the formation of Healing Our Waters - a Great Lakes restoration coalition aimed at securing a sustainable restoration plan for the Great Lakes and obtaining the billions of dollars needed to implement the plan. |
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Chesapeake Bay Mini-Grants
The PA Association of Conservation Districts is now accepting applications for 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Educational Mini-Grants and Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-Grants. The application deadline is June 15. These grants provide up to $2,500 to conservation districts for educational projects that promote water quality. http://www.pacd.org/products/mini_programs.htm
NJ Lake/Stream Dredging and Restoration Grants
The New Jersey DEP will be providing $15 million in low-interest loans to finance lake dredging and restoration and stream cleaning and de-snagging projects. Local municipalities or counties must serve as co-applicants on all loans to private owners of lakes and streams or private lake associations. DEP is accepting applications for the loans through June 30. http://www.nj.gov/dep/ec/
PA Innovative Water, Wastewater Technology Grants
PA DEP is accepting applications for grants of up to $500,000 that will help communities, municipalities, municipal authorities, and public school districts make physical improvements to existing drinking water and sewage treatment facilities, and sanitary and combined sewer collection/conveyance systems. Preference will be given to new or innovative projects involving technology that is commercially available but not yet widely used in Pennsylvania. The deadline for submitting applications is July 29. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=8608&SubjectID=
PA Deer Management Assistance Grants
The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer Management Assistance Program is accepting applications until July 1 to help landowners manage deer populations on their properties. Eligible properties include public lands, private lands where no fee is charged for hunting, and hunting club lands under certain circumstances. http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=460&q=151434
Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program. Proposals are due June 30. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp/
Fish and Wildlife Program Habitat Funding
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to landowners interested in restoring wildlife habitat. There is no specific deadline to apply. Financial assistance is provided in the form of cooperative agreements. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program supports on-the-ground restoration rather than planning and research. http://www.fws.gov/partners/index.htm
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One of the most fascinating things about golf is how it reflects the cycle of life. No matter what you shoot - the next day you have to go back to the first tee and begin all over again and make yourself into something. ~Peter Jacobsen |
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Events (Click on an event for more information)
PA Green Roofs Tour
On June 2 the Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania is sponsoring a tour of the new LEED-registered School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture building at Penn State University and to hear a presentation about green roof research by Dr. David Beattie. Transportation from Lancaster and Harrisburg will be available and dinner is included. http://gbacpa.org/Events/Event.asp?id=121
PA Native Plants in the Landscape Conference
The 15th Annual Native Plants in the Landscape Conference will be held June 2 – 4 at Millersville University in Lancaster County, PA. The conference includes expert speakers, field trips, workshops, chat rooms and educational exhibits. Native plants and related books and merchandise will be offered for sale. http://www.millersvillenativeplants.org/
Songs of the Chesapeake Bay Concert
The Songs of the Chesapeake Bay comes to the Creative Alliance at the Patterson, Baltimore, MD on June 4th. Confirmed performers for the concert include: Deanna Dove, Dr. Robin Jung, Mike Garfinkel, Tom Wisner, Mike Aiken, Them Eastport Oyster Boys, Dominick Murray, and Robbin Thompson. The concert will also feature a multi-media Chesapeake slide show featuring Bay painters and photographers. http://www.voicesofthechesapeakebay.org/
Protecting Water Resources Through Land Conservation Webcast
A webcast, “Protecting Water Resources through Land Conservation: Funding Options for Local Governments,” will be held on June 9 at 2 pm. The webcast will provide context for the role of conservation finance in land conservation, describe critical components for creating a successful funding effort, and showcase local government success stories. http://lgean.org/html/training/
PA Stream Encroachment and Obstruction Permit Workshop
The Baltimore District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the PA DEP are sponsoring a workshop on June 14 on the permit process for encroachment and obstruction permits. The agencies are also seeking comments on their joint permit (PASPGP-2) for water obstructions. http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/PA_Cons_Wkshp.htm
PA DCNR Conservation Partnership Grant Workshops
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has scheduled a series of eight regional workshops around the Commonwealth during the month of June. The workshops will focus on funding sources for recreation and conservation programs including Community Recreation, Land Trusts, Rails-to Trails, Rivers Conservation, Pennsylvania Recreational Trails, Snowmobile/ATV and Land and Water Conservation Fund. DCNR Conservation Partnership Grant Program applications are due September 30. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/grants/
PA Advanced Outreach Techniques Workshop
The Chesapeake Bay Program and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay are sponsoring a free workshop on Advanced Outreach Techniques on June 21 at the Harrisburg Hilton. Workshop participants will learn new outreach strategies and methods derived from social marketing research, including how to draft audience-appropriate messages, and how to develop a social marketing plan for your agency or program. To sign up for this workshop, e-mail Caroline Ingles at cingles@acb-online.org. Please register by June 9.
PA Watershed Planning Training Program
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and EPA are developing a new training program for those involved in the design, review, and implementation of watershed-based plans in support of activities funded under §319 of the Clean Water Act. As part of this effort, WEF will host a pilot workshop entitled "Strategies for Implementation Using Integrated Watershed Planning" on June 25th at the Hyatt Regency in Philadelphia. If you are interested in participating, contact WEF's Greg McNelly at gmcnelly@wef.org.
PA TMDL Conference
The Water Environment Federation (WEF), in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association, is sponsoring TMDL 2005, a conference being held at the Hyatt Regency in Philadelphia on June 26-29. Join other water quality professionals and environmental experts to exchange information on challenging issues related to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. http://www.wef.org/conferences/TMDL05.jhtml
Chesapeake Bay TMDL Workshops
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is sponsoring a workshop on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements with two tracks-- one for agricultural interests and one for municipalities. The workshops will be held June 27 in Adams County, PA and June 29 in Lancaster County, PA both at the conservation district offices. Learn about TMDLs, their impact and their ties to funding for conservation and restoration. Call Trudy Uffelman at 717-234-5550 by June 21 to register.
Watershed 2005
The 2005 Watershed Management Conference, "Managing Watersheds for Human and Natural Impacts: Engineering, Ecological, and Economic Challenges" will be held in Williamsburg, VA on July 19-22. The conference is sponsored by the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).This will be the ninth in this series of watershed management conferences held only every five years. http://www.asce.org/conferences/watershedmanagement2005/
EPA National Community Involvement Conference
The US EPA is sponsoring the 2005 National Community Involvement Conference (NCIC): "Building Bridges Through Strong Partnerships" on July 12 - 15 in Buffalo, New York. This annual conference is a unique opportunity for a wide array of stakeholders to come together to share how EPA and its partners are involving communities in the protection of our air, water and land. http://www.epancic.org/2005 |
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Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it's called golf. ~ Anonymous |
Link Of The Month
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program provides golf course members and superintendents with information about environmentally-friendly golf course management. Program members become certified after developing a management program that incorporates fertilizer management practices, integrated pest management plans, vegetative buffer installation, habitat enhancement, stormwater management, and other techniques. Becoming involved with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program is an excellent way for a golf course to show the community its commitment to protecting the local environment. F. X. Browne, Inc. can assist golf course managers with Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program application preparation and implementation. Please contact us at info@fxbrowne.com. Information about the program can be found at http://www.auduboninternational.org/programs/acss/golf.htm
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Golf appeals to the idiot in us and the child. Just how childlike golf players become is proven by their frequent inability to count past five. ~John Updike |
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New Publications |
New Book Teaches Wetland Plant Propagation
Environmental Concern, Inc. proudly announces its newest publication, Propagation of Wetland Plants: Herbaceous Plants, Shrubs and Trees. This resource covers more than 100 species and contains over 200 illustrations. The authors offer detailed tables that contain flowering periods, seed ripeness indicators, and seed collection times. In addition, the book includes a glossary of terms, and an index of botanical and common names. http://www.wetland.org/ecpubs.htm#GUIDE
Report Provides Lessons in Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration
The Northeast-Midwest Institute has released a report: "Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration: Lessons for Existing and Emerging Initiatives." The report explores the unique challenges of implementing large-scale restoration projects by examining seven case histories - Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Louisiana, Columbia River, Great Lakes, San Francisco Bay-Delta, South Florida Everglades, and Upper Mississippi River. The project's overall goals were to inventory these restoration initiatives, compare and contrast them, and evaluate them for lessons relevant to existing and emerging restorations across the country. http://www.nemw.org/restoration_products.htm
Book Describes One School’s Successful Shad Restocking Project
A new book, Let the River Run Silver Again! How One School Helped Return the American Shad to the Potomac River – And How You Too Can Help Protect and Restore Our Living Waters, is now available. The book documents the participation of Bethesda, Maryland's Westbrook Elementary School in the restoration of the American shad to the Great Falls area of the Potomac River. The story, told through the eyes of students and their mentors, follows the progress of the successful shad restocking program over a period of eight years. The book also outlines steps to create a successful watershed project anywhere, including a list of helpful resources and contact information. http://www.mwpubco.com/LetRiverRunSilver.htm
New EPA Watershed Academy Module Encourages Smart Growth
A new on-line, distance learning training module called ''Growth and Water Resources'' has recently been posted on EPA's Watershed Academy webpage. The training module explains how changes in land use affect water resources. The module presents national data on trends in development patterns that have become increasingly significant challenges for achieving water quality standards. The module describes a combination of approaches to accommodate future growth in a way that benefits the economy and the environment while helping meet water resource goals. The module also includes a ''tools'' section with links to on-line resources. http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/smartgrowth/
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F. X. Browne, Inc. – Environmental Consulting
F. X.
Browne, Inc.
Engineers – Planners – Scientists
27 Years of Excellence & Innovation
Corporate Office: Lansdale,
PA
Pocono Office: Marshalls Creek, PA
New York Office: Saranac Lake, NY
For more information, call us at (215) 362-3878 or visit: http://www.fxbrowne.com.
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