Eco Report – May 12, 2022

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HEADLINES

According to the Tribune, Seymore’s newspaper, Community forums are set to learn about the newly published Lake Monroe Watershed Management Plan and how people can help protect and enhance water quality in the lake and its tributaries.

—Norm Holy

The Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor, a proposed new-terrain highway in southern Indiana, has joined the Sierra Club, Indiana Forest Alliance and Hoosier Environmental Council to issue a joint statement condemning construction of the highway.

—Linda Greene

With his climate agenda stalled in Congress, President Joe Biden has managed to win billions in federal spending for one pillar of his platform that is gaining increased attention globally: carbon capture.

—Norm Holy

Environmentalists are demanding that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, issue a stop work order on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, or MVP for short. For the last eight years communities in West Virginia and Virginia have been fighting this 300-mile-long fracked gas pipeline proposed by Equitrans.

—Linda Greene

The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft white paper  recently that gives the public a glimpse into the possible requirements the agency might include in a highly anticipated new rule that seeks to rein in climate-warming emissions from natural gas power plants, the nation’s leading source of electricity.

—Norm Holy

 From East Africa to Mongolia, fences are going up quickly to contain livestock and prevent people from crossing borders. More and more studies are showing that those fences have a negative impact on wild animals, from hindering migrations to increasing the genetic isolation of threatened species.

—Linda Greene

America’s major cities have played a key role in the clean energy revolution and stand to reap tremendous benefits from solar energy. As population centers, they are a major source of electricity demand and, with millions of rooftops suitable for solar panels, they have the potential to be major sources of clean energy production as well.

—Norm Holy

CALENDAR

Join the naturalist at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area on Saturday, May 14th, from 1 to 3 pm to learn about Wacky Water Critters.  Explore the world of macro-invertebrates.  This hands-on activity will use dipping nets, magnifying glasses and dichotomous keys to collect, examine and study aquatic insects.  Go to the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area website to register.

Meet with the naturalist at Brown County State Park on Saturday, May 14th, from 9 to 10:30 pm for a Full Moon Hike.  Meet at the Lake Strahl parking lot, and learn why the May moon is named the Flower Moon, plus learn where the term “Blood Moon” comes from.

On Saturday, May 14 and Sunday May 15th from 10 AM to 12 noon on both days, learn basic boater safety and paddling tips from a Canoe instructor before a Find It  Scavenger hunt, at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.  Collect points for a chance to win a prize.  Register at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

Enjoy a Night Paddle at Griffy Lake Preserve on Monday, May 16th, from 8:30 to 10 pm.  Experience peace and serenity on Griffy Lake during the Full Moon.  Watercraft, paddles and jackets are provided, but you should bring a flashlight.  Register at bloomington.IN.gov/parks.

The next Nature Sounds performance on Friday, May 20th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, will have the nature topic  Buzzin’ Bees.  Sam Bartlett will be on banjo while you learn all about bees.  The event will take place at the RCA Community Park in the large shelter.  Bring your own seating.