Eco Report – March 3, 2023

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Coming up later in today’s feature report, Enrique Saenz with the Indiana Environmental Reporter, will discuss the Indiana legal effort to reduce the types of waterways that fall under federal protection.

And now for your environmental reports:

• Every year there’s a great opportunity to see thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes at Goose Pond, located on the south side of Linton. This year’s event was held February 24th and 25th.
• The state of Indiana is now part of a legal effort to reduce the types of waterways that fall under federal protection instead of often-more-lenient state regulations.
• The Indiana Environmental Reporter has some good news regarding coal ash pits. Since the state has done almost nothing to force cleanup, the feds may step in. The Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘plans to‘ possibly close a loophole in pollution regulations could have huge benefits for the state in the fight against toxic coal ash.
• WTIU reports that Indiana could lose the authority to control its air pollution if the state doesn’t increase fees for companies that pollute. Senate Bill 155 aims to keep that authority in the hands of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
• The good news is, air pollution in Indiana — and around the country — has gone down in the past few decades. The bad news is, the fees that companies pay to pollute are what keeps the state’s air permitting program running. With less pollution, it’s struggling to stay afloat.
• Indiana lawmakers heard testimony in support of a bi-partisan bill to establish a statewide climate solutions task force, but the legislation stalled after the chairman of the Senate’s Environmental Affairs Committee declined to call it for a vote.
• Fox 59 reports some of the contaminated material from the East Palestine train wreck is making its way to Indiana. The Environmental Protection Agency announced that two new hazardous waste sites will receive some of the shipments — an incinerator in Grafton, Ohio, and a landfill in Roachdale, Indiana.
• While parts of the West and Northern US have faced winter storms with blizzard conditions and significant snowfall, much of the rest of the country is experiencing a summer-like heat that has never been felt before during the month of February.
• How much has Indiana warmed over the past several years? One measure of change is to refer to plant hardiness zones over time. The zones have been moving north at the rate of 13 miles per decade since 1990. Thus, Bloomington now has a climate like that of northern Kentucky in 1990. The global temperatures are increasing faster than ever and there is every reason to predict that Monroe County will be in a 7a hardiness zone by 2050.
• The New York Times reports Living Carbon, a biotechnology company, hopes its seedlings can help manage climate change. But wider use of its trees may be elusive.

Feature Report:

And now, Enrique Saenz with the Indiana Environmental Reporter, will report on the Indiana legal effort to reduce the types of waterways that fall under federal protection.

And now for some upcoming events:

“Goose Pond Reads Leopold” will take place on Saturday, March 4th, from 9 to 11 am at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. Meet in the Visitors Center for a free reading of A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold by the Linton Public Library staff. Coffee and tea will be served while you listen and enjoy the panoramic view of Goose Pond.

Enjoy a Bluebird Nesting Box Workshop at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, March 4th, from 10 am to Noon. While building your box you will learn all about our native Eastern Bluebirds. Advanced registration is required. Contact Sheree Belt at [email protected].

Take a Full Moon Hike at Brown County State Park on Saturday, March 4th, from 7 to 8:30 pm. The park naturalist will guide you on a night hike around Ogle Lake while you learn all the history and folklore of the Full Worm Moon. Trail 7 is moderate but may be rugged at night. Bring red flashlights for night vision.

Nature is the ultimate zero-waste guide, and you will get to learn as much as possible at the Recycle That! Information session on Sunday, March 5th, from 2 to 3:30 pm at the Winslow Woods Park. You will explore how nature recycles its resources and how we can better recycle our own waste. Register at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

Take a Morning Lake Hike at Spring Mill State Park on Saturday, March 11th, from 9 to 10 am. Meet Anthony at the Lakeview Activity Center for a hike around the lake on Trail 5 which is partially rugged. On the hike you will learn the history of the lake and park.

Credits:

This week’s headlines were written by Norm Holy.

Our feature was prepared and presented by Enrique Saenz with the Indiana Environmental Reporter.

Our script today was assembled by Julianna Dailey and edited by Kade Young.

Julianna Dailey compiled our events calendar.

Kade Young produced today’s show and edited the audio.