Editor's Notes:

Photo credit:  mikebaird on Flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2950312234/

In the April edition of Sustainable Environments, we profiled the Falcon Cam hosted by the PA DEP.  Since then, five fuzzy Peregrin Falcons have grown large enough to be banded for research purposes.  The banding event took place on May 27, 2009 and they found four female nestlings and one male.  The nestlings are expected to have fledged starting June 8, 2009. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/falcon/default.htm Since then, we have found many more interesting sites where you can watch the lifestyles of many species of birds first-hand. Cape Henlopen Osprey Cam – Delaware http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/OspreyCam2009.aspx Dunn Memorial Bridge Falcon Nest http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7701.html Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Owls, falcons, swifts, and flycatchers) http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nestcams/home/index Wild Bird Watching http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/livebirdcam.html Sutton Center Bald Eagle Nest Camera 2009 http://www.suttoncenter.org/eaglecam.html Blackwater Refuge – Cambridge Maryland (Eagle Cam) http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html WildWatchCams (Eagle Cams) http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/eaglecam/ Sioux Falls Bird Club http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id24.html Eagle Cam http://www.wvec.com/cams/eagle.html ~ Lisen Cummings, Sustainable Environments Editor/Designer

Topic of the Month:

Lake Dredging:  The Ultimate Face-Lift

Dredging, or Lake deepening, has been described as the "ultimate face-lift".  To find out why, read on...

A New Source of Methylmercury Entering the Pacific Ocean

TogetherGreen Volunteer Challenge The TogetherGreen alliance between Audubon and Toyota is offering prizes to people who track their unpaid conservation volunteer activities between April 22, 2009 and July 22, 2009.  Sign up for a free Community Passport and track your hours.  Prizes will be awarded to those who have the highest number of volunteer hours in at least three Pursuit categories. http://www.togethergreen.org/Volunteer/CommunityPassport.aspx

Policy Updates:

	Bean Pushes Examination of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Tap water contains measureable amounts of prescription drugs and other complex chemical compounds.  The first step in solving this dilemma is to assess what effects these chemicals can have on the human body.  Congresswoman Bean amended a policy to require analysis of this issue.  The bill passed the House on 4/23/09 Water World Magazine, April 23, 2009 http://ww.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=41&ARTICLE_ID=360225
	LEED Public Comment The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Neighborhood Development Rating System has a public comment period open from May 1 to June 14, 2009.  Submit your comments today. http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148
	Gov. Rendell Proposes Help for Counties Battling West Nile; Warns Future Amounts Could be Less: Senate Republican Budget Proposal Could Slash Grants by 40 Percent Governor Rendell is proposing a plan to help counties monitor and control mosquitoes to prevent future West Nile Virus outbreaks.  The plan would provide $4.6 million to 62 counties.  However, Senate Republicans are expected to slash the budget to $2.8million, or 40% less. PA DEP Daily News Release, May 8, 2009 http://www.ahs2.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=5501
	DEP Extends Comment Period on Proposed Revisions to General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges, Schedules Public Hearings The PA DEP is proposing revisions to the General NPDES Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (PAG-13).  The public comment period has been extended to July 6, 2009.  Public meetings will be held on June 16, 18 and 23. PA DEP Daily Update, May 4, 2009 http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=546486
	2009 Legislative Accomplishments: Maryland Maryland has enacted the Smart, Green, and Growing.  This legislation promotes a sustainable approach to development by focusing on transit-oriented development, local planning choices, and the impact of development on the environment.  Maryland has also continued it’s fully funded Program Open Space and has preserved over 21,000 acres. http://www.governor.maryland.gov/environment.asp
	EPA to Help Lead ‘New Era’ of Partnership, Accountability in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Efforts Thanks to President Obama’s Executive Order President Obama has signed an executive order to create the Federal Leadership Committee for the Chesapeake Bay.  The EPA and several federal agencies will work together to protect and restore the bay.  http://www.epa.gov/Region3/chesapeake/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Executive-Order-Chesapeake-Bay-Protection-and-Restoration/

Grants and Awards: Click on a grant for more information) Only currently available grants are listed on the grant page   Grants: Fund for Wild Nature Foundation For Pennsylvania Watersheds Grants EJ Small Grants Program Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Electronic Grants System Small Business Low-Interest Rate Loans Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program Conservation Easement Assistance Program Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative Growing Greener Plus - PA DEP Watershed & Flood Protection Grants Growing Greener - Watershed Grants American Water Environmental Grant Program 1675 Foundation Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund William Penn Foundation Grants PA DCNR – Wild Resource Conservation Program Upper Delaware Council – Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program FishAmerica Foundation - Marine and Anadromous Fish Habitat Restoration Grant   Awards: Call for Nominations - 2009 Northeast Annual Environmental Partnership Awards and 2009 Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest 2009 The Nature Conservancy’s 2009 Photo Contest $250 Grants for Growing Greener Stories

Plan It Green – A Game to Design Your Own Green Society As the mayor of Greenville, you have the opportunity to create a green society.  This game allows you to build eco-homes, renovate existing homes with green techniques, and to bring green technology to your town. http://games.nationalgeographic.com/plan-it-green/?source=email_gg_20090429&email=gg Photo credit:  alykat on Flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/5850122/

Tropicana and Cool Earth 'Rescue the Rainforest' Campaign   Saving the rainforest never tasted so good!  Look for specially marked Tropicana Pure Premium products.  For every code entered, you can protect 100 square feet of rainforest. http://www.tropicanarainforest.com/p/handler?target=general&action=getHome&sid=3610

If you are interested in restoring or enhancing your own riparian buffer, F. X. Browne, Inc. can help!  We can design a beautiful landscape that will enhance the aesthetic and ecological value of your property.

Tools and Publications:

Web Soil Survey 2.1 — New Features

The USDA NRCS has updated their Web Soil Survey 2.1 with better map layers, improved performance, large-scale maps, and more.
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/NewFeatures.htm

Microbial and Sediment FilterMitt™ and FilterMitt™ Berm
Phase II Stormwater Products Inc. provides these erosion and sediment controls that consist of a compost blend with biodegradable fabric enclosure.  These products are useful for many applications and do not have to be removed after construction since they are made of biodegradable materials.
http://www.phaseiistormwaterproducts.com/filtermitt.html
http://www.phaseiistormwaterproducts.com/filtermittberm.html

Digital Field Guides Eliminate the Guesswork

The National Science Foundation has created a hand-held electronic field guide capable of identifying tree species based on the shape of their leaves.  The guide is specific to trees and shrubs in the northeast United States.

The New York Times, By Anne Eisenberg, May 9, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10novel.html?_r=1&ref=science

DRBC Announces Flood Analysis Model Status Update
The Delaware River Basin Commission announced that a flood analysis model being developed for them by the USGS (US Geological Survey) will be released this summer. 
Pocono News.net, May 6, 2009
http://www.pocononews.net/news/May09/06/06May09-1.html

New Water Quality Standards Academy “Human Health Module” Online
The online module “Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria” has been released by the Water Quality Standards Academy Online (US EPA).
http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/academy/supp/health/

Pennsylvania State Water Plan (Act 220 Implementation) Resource Center
This PA DEP site provides resources and documents that state the vision, goals and recommendations for sustainable water use. 
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/watershedmgmt/cwp/view.asp?a=1426&q=486209

HEC-HMS v3.3

An updated version of the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) software has been recently updated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Revisions include the Delmarva Unit Hydrograph as a pre-defined runoff transformation function. http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/download.html?bcsi_scan_8A6565BC67B32CFF=0&bcsi_scan_filename=download.html

NY DEC “Help For Businesses”
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is providing “Help For Businesses” on their website.  This site provides permitting guidance, promotes sustainability, and has links to other business-assistance programs. 
Environment DEC, May 2009
http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/53663.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/884.html

Conserving Natural Areas and Wildlife in Your Community: Smart Growth Strategies for Protecting the Biological Diversity of New York's Hudson River Valley
This guidebook provides information for municipalities to protect natural resources and high quality wildlife habitat. 
Environment DEC, April 2009
http://www.dec.ny.gov/environmentdec/52791.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/50083.html

Hach Company Makes Water Analysis as Easy as a Mouse Click: Hach Water Information Management Solution(tm) version 7.0 Software Increases Data Accuracy and Provides Critical Alerts
This software can be utilized by drinking water, wastewater and industrial water facilities to capture data and create summary reports, charts and graphs.
Water Efficiency Journal, May 15, 2009 
http://www.waterefficiency.net/the-latest/hatch-software-analysis.aspx

“Poisoned Waters”

This documentary provides an investigation into America’s waterways and the pollution that is killing fish, causing mutations in frogs and threatening human health.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/