A new study maps the potential of wetlands – an ecosystem flooded with water and supporting a vegetation of aquatic plants – to improve water quality. Through the study, the researchers claim that regrowing wetlands can act as a key strategy for improving water that is laden with contaminants like nitrate. Nitrates reach groundwater, rivers,
As many Americans plan trips to lakes and river this Labor Day Weekend, experts are sending out a warning to watch out for toxic algae blooms. Researchers identified 318 bodies away in the US that have been infected by the microscopic organism called cyanobacteria. Approximately 86 percent of the outbreaks were in recreational areas, but
A highly invasive aquatic weed has been discovered in a number of ponds in the Animas Valley in Colorado, putting the heat on to eradicate it before it enters the Animas River and, potentially, Lake Nighthorse. The invasive weed aggressively outgrows and outcompetes native aquatic plants. It can then clog irrigation systems and ponds, and
Bow fishing, as opposed to an environmental fish kill, is behind the recent culling of hundreds of carp in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin. Flooding led to a rush of runoff into the lake, which, in turn, reduced oxygen levels. This can lead to a natural fish kill, and some carp perished as a result. However, village
In southwest Minnesota, the Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District is tagging and tracking carp in an effort to find out where they congregate in the winter. The data is hoped to reveal the potential for a wintertime seining event. Lake Okabena has two to three times more carp than a healthy lake should have. It’s been determined
For 18 years, ecologist Robert Johnson has filed reports on Chautauqua Lake in dry, analytical language, logging the number and density of plant species in the shallow lake bed. Lakes are political, Johnson knew, and he didn’t want to squabble with local officials or residents over how they managed the plants. But late last summer,
Plastic trash and debris as large as boards, barrels and trees — all washed into local waterways during early April rainstorms — were waiting for the Lynyrd Skymmr. On Earth Day, the 50-foot-long river skimmer and its crew were pulling garbage and navigation hazards out of the Menomonee and Milwaukee rivers near downtown Milwaukee in
Okanagan Basin Water Board (Canada) built and operates three milfoil rototillers that have been in use for several decades. The machines were built for the sole purpose of chewing up the bottom of the lake and loosening up the roots of aquatic plants, especially Eurasian watermilfoil. The program started when the Eurasian Milfoil weed was
Oakland town councilors will be considering whether to become a test site for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to research composting milfoil as an option for disposing of the fast spreading aquatic weed. The town and other municipalities in the Belgrade lakes region, along with area lake associations, have spent thousands of dollars eradicating