Industrial-scale beef production is impacting global climate, but scientists have found a way to make cattle-rearing more environmentally-friendly. Around 70% of methane emissions from agriculture is due to cows. Cows release methane, a by-product of their digestion, either through belches or farts. Researchers have discovered that by supplementing a cow’s diet with a type of
For decades before World War I, much of the ice used in iceboxes was harvested from Wisconsin Lakes. The ice was stored in icehouses until it was shipped via rail to Chicago and then across the nation, in particular the American Southwest such as Texas and Arizona. Small ice harvesting existed to meet demand locally,
In 1985, Muskegon Lake in Michigan was declared a Great Lakes Area of Concern by the EPA. The West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission will utilize $3.1 million to clean up the lake and undo years of environment abuse. The abuse began in the 1800’s during the lumber era when sawmill debris was tossed into
Pewaukee Lake was formed in 1838 when a dam was constructed along the Pewaukee River and the wetland was flooded. It combined with Snake Lake to form the 2,500 acre Pewaukee Lake. For 40 years – 1945 to 1985 – the sanitary district used herbicides, including 2-4-D for 17 years, in an attempt to control
Lanterns, like balloons, float and then eventually come down. After Valentine’s Day, a man collected over 30 love themed balloons in only a few hours off the coast of Laguna Beach. I believe there is already a lot of awareness to the problem with balloon releases and am shocked that they still allowed anywhere. They
300 pounds of road salt is applied per lane per mile. It sounds like a lot! That is the industry standard! Certainly less is applied if conditions require it, but it takes many factors to determine the correct treatment to keep roadways safe in the winter months. According to to Wisconsin Saltwise, an organization designed
When the road get snow covered and icy, road crews work extra hard to keep travelers safe. However, the extensive use of salt may be damaging lakes and streams. Researchers examined 371 lakes and found that 44% are at risk of salinization, meaning there is a build of salt in the water table. This excess
High water levels leading to eroding shorelines have been front-page news in recent months. Shoreline erosion is a concern for property owners with homes located on a Great Lakes or an inland lake. While we can’t control how Mother Nature effects our water levels there are steps that property owners can do to minimize shoreline
Packaging – much of it single-use food wrapping – has created a rubbish problem that now pollutes every corner of the world. EPA defines containers and packaging as products that are assumed to be discarded the same year the products they contain are purchased. Containers and packaging make up a major portion of municipal solid waste,
In 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico and damaged the system that feeds drinking water from the main island to Vieques. Moses West, 59, a retired Army officer from Texas, brought in the machine made by his company to help fill the void. He spends his days beside it, fine-tuning the repurposed 20-foot shipping