Eco Report – August 30, 2024

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Later in the program we will listen to an interview by Robert Shull with Nancy White, who is the Master Gardener and is the coordinator of volunteer gardeners who tend the Wonder Garden located next to Wonder Lab.

• Feeling the humidity? A culprit may include the corn plant. Each corn plant sucks 2.5 cups of water from the ground per day. Almost all this water evaporates. Overall, the Weather Channel said that 32 trillion gallons evaporate from the Corn Belt each year. This brings us our very high dew points and high humidity. At least the evaporation keeps the temperature under 100 F. Now that the corn crop is mature and beginning to turn brown, our days should begin to be less humid.
• Where are all the hurricanes? The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expected at least 17 and up to 25 named storms, 8-13 hurricanes and 4-7 major hurricanes this season. These were the highest numbers forecast by NOAA for any May outlook. Now it appears there will be far fewer storms. What happened?
• As reported by the New York Times, a judge blocked the E.P.A. from using Civil Rights Law in a pollution case. The decision is a setback for a Biden administration strategy for protecting minority communities with numerous polluting industries nearby.
• Inside Climate Change reports that thousands of disaster survivors are urging the Department of Justice to investigate fossil fuel companies for climate crimes. The action follows a growing trend of lawsuits and legislation aimed at making oil, gas, coal and petrochemical companies pay for their damage to the atmosphere.

Next, Nancy White will talk about how she and about 20 volunteers descend upon the garden at Wonder Lab and care for the enormous variety of plants and the quaint pathways. The interview promotes the garden and the Master Gardeners program.

And now, some upcoming events:

• There will be an Owl Prowl at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, August 31st, from 9 to 10:30 pm. Meet at the Activity Center for an easy 1-mile hike on Trail 5 to look for some resident barred owls. It is a black-out hike, so bring a red flashlight only.
• Learn about Rugged Plants at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Sunday, September 1st, from 2 to 2:45 pm. Meet the naturalist at the Centennial Shelter for a short hike on the new Echo Canyon Trail. Discover how acidic soil makes this area home to rare plants.
• The popular Flora Field Day is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3rd, from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the Cutright State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake. Work on your flora identification skills with a naturalist. Bring Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, bug spray and water. Sign up at tinyurl.com/florafield-sep2024.
• Do you like to Journal? Then plan to join the Naturalist Jess at the Trailside Shelter for Nature Journaling at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Friday, September 6th, from 2 to 3:30 pm. Hike to the quarry where you can sketch and learn about the animals and plants you observe.
• A program about deer, called Oh Deer! will take place at the Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake on Saturday, September 7th, from 2 to 3:30 pm. Examine real bones and teeth from a White-Tailed Deer and learn about the appearance of their tracks.

Credits:
This week’s headlines were written by Norm Holy.
Today’s news feature was produced by Robert Shull.
Julianna Dailey assembled the script which was edited by the EcoReport team.
Julianna Dailey compiled our events calendar.
Branden Blewett is our engineer.