Eco Report – May 5, 2022

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HEADLINES

Because of the abundance of ruffed grouse, Grouseland was the name given by William Henry Harrison to his mansion in Vincennes. Even as recently as 1980, there were a good number of grouse. Their numbers dropped and by this century there were few survivors.

—Norm Holy

Fifty years ago, the U.S. passed the Clean Water Act with the goal of ensuring “fishable, swimmable” water across the U.S. by 1983. Now, a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project finds the country has fallen far short of that goal.

—Norm Holy

According to Professor Brian J. MacGowan, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, the reason we rarely, if ever, see quail anymore is because of loss of habitat.

—Norm Holy

Local residents, tribes and businesses are demanding completion of an environmental impact statement, or EIS, for a 750,000-square-foot wood-processing mill that Charlotte, North Carolina–based Huber Engineered Woods proposes to build one mile outside the Leech Lake Reservation in Cohasset, Minnesota.

—Linda Greene

Over 60% of the world’s consumer goods, almost $14 trillion  worth of products from computers to fruit, are transported in huge containers on ships. The average ship can carry over 20,000 containers filled with goods.

—Linda Greene

According to a new report by NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sea levels on U-S coastlines will rise an average of ten to twelve inches by 2050.

—Linda Greene

The National Butterfly Center in Texas that stood up to former President Donald Trump’s border wall is now shuttering indefinitely because of harassment from right-wing conspiracy theorists.

—Norm Holy

When the tide is right, an ink-colored water spreads like a shadow across the aquamarine Indian River Lagoon. The dark water represents one of the most startling symptoms of what silently is killing the 156-mile lagoon, an estuary on Florida’s east coast that is among the most biologically diverse on the continent: nutrient pollution.

—Norm Holy

Brooklyn, New York, residents and environmentalists are protesting the construction of a seven-mile north Brooklyn gas pipeline. They  claim the pipeline violates their civil rights by bypassing white neighborhoods and going through neighborhoods with Black residents and other residents of color.

—Linda Greene

CALENDAR

A Wild Tea Time demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th, from 10 am to 10:30 pm at Brown County State Park.  Learn what plants make suitable teas, any historical uses for those teas, and take some to try.

Meet at the Fall Overlook at McCormick’s Creek State Park on Saturday, May 7th, at 3 pm to learn about the Snakes At The Falls.  Find out which creatures are slithering near the creek and swimming after minnows.  You will find out the snakes are not venomous.

It’s Morel Mushroom Time and Brown County State Park is having a Morel Mushroom Festival on Saturday, May 7th, and Sunday, May 8th, from 11 am to 11:30 pm.  You can join the naturalist to learn about how they grow, how to identify them and where they are likely to be found.  Lots of activities are scheduled for the weekend.

Join the naturalist at the 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.

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