tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41818958246314520612012-01-25T09:10:15.848-06:00From <a href="http://aqua.wisc.edu/waterlibrary/">Wisconsin's Water Library</a>....<br> News, publications and resources about water<br> in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes.<br><br><b><a href="http://aqualog2.blogspot.com/">Home</a></b><hr>AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comBlogger4601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-58345683969040503962012-01-25T09:09:00.002-06:002012-01-25T09:10:15.863-06:00

Don't forget: the Water Library has many resources to help you with research, water-related questions, or just plain curiosity. Our Water Research Guide includes aquatic sciences news, as well as research tips and resources about aquaculture, aquatic invasive species, coastal ecosystems, the Great Lakes, and much, much more. Got a specific question? Visit our Ask Water page, stop in, or call

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-90964986651948242332012-01-23T09:04:00.002-06:002012-01-23T09:04:47.873-06:00

Is "recycle more" part of your New Year's resolution? Maybe not. But if you've vowed to spend less money, or be less wasteful, recycling can help. The Wisconsin DNR recently posted a list of 12 ways that you can reduce waste- saving the environment and some cash, too. Here are just a few: Lessen the amount of junk mail you receive by registering with the Direct Marketing Association Buy in bulk

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-64563057380913267862012-01-19T16:02:00.001-06:002012-01-19T16:03:01.769-06:00

The most recent issue of Science News reports that globally, groundwater levels have dropped over the last nine years, a trend that's visible thanks to gravity-monitoring satellites.   This is especially true in areas where agriculture is increasing, often drawing a higher water demand in dry climates. For example, according to Science News, California's Central Valley pulls almost 4 cubic

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-84500056872372079062012-01-17T14:19:00.001-06:002012-01-17T14:19:49.717-06:00

Nope, it's not a bird; the Water Canary is a recently developed device which can instantly determine whether or not a water supply is contaminated. Developers of the device, which is named for the "canary in a coal mine" warning system, hope that it can be used to detect water supply contamination after a disaster. Since the device is able to transmit GPS-tagged data, results shared in real time

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-81154694717609067662012-01-13T14:25:00.001-06:002012-01-13T15:54:47.454-06:00

We're excited to add two classic children's books about snow to our collection today. Stop by and check these out! Ezra Jack Keats: The Snowy Day In this Caldecott winner from 1962, a little boy goes out to play in the snow- and learns that when you put a snowball in your pocket, it just might melt! Jan Brett: The Mitten A little boy loses his mitten in this traditional Ukrainian

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-40960319915489552372012-01-11T09:00:00.000-06:002012-01-12T15:37:20.663-06:00

A new report titled "Delivering Energy Efficiency  to Middle Income Single Family Households" asks how this demographic group can be encouraged to seek out comprehensive energy upgrades. Energy upgrades can be beneficial both environmentally and economically, though they can be expensive initially. Thanks to the recession, many American families are struggling financially. Effective upgrades

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-65980542699516038552012-01-09T11:03:00.000-06:002012-01-12T15:24:31.508-06:00

In the last decade, Australia experienced a period of extreme dryness. For its residents, this meant increased fires and dust storms, and thousands of farming families unable to make a living. Though this drought ended in 2010, we have not seen the end of this kind of weather. According to an article in this month's issue of Scientific American titled "The Coming Mega Drought," the southwestern

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-75504818379656011732012-01-05T12:51:00.000-06:002012-01-12T15:25:22.807-06:00

Cove Guardians are a group of individuals who seek to expose the tragic abuse of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. The 2009 documentary The Cove, first exposed the ethical issues behind the dolphin industry. In a secret cove in  Taiji, dolphins are abused and killed for their meat, or sold live to marine attraction sties around the world. This week, a member of the Cove Guardians was arrested in Japan

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-50367839092183959242012-01-03T15:33:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:25:49.898-06:00

Water harvesting and water supply issues are pressing concerns in today's society. However, in some societies, ancient methods of collecting and transporting water are still used, and are often superior to modern structures. Anupam Mishra is an environmental activist who studies rainwater harvesting methods in the Indian desert, such as wells, filter ponds, and other systems. In a 2009 TED Talk

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-75732330832596196992011-12-21T10:58:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:26:51.790-06:00

With 7 billion people on the planet, our oceans are subject to countless kinds of stress, like changing coastlines, oil spills, and much, much more.  The Ocean Health Index is an initiative funded by Conservation International, the National Geographic Society, and the New England Aquarium. This index will include all possible dimensions surrounding how humans interact with the ocean, considering

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-84645236156870041792011-12-19T12:05:00.000-06:002012-01-12T15:27:35.846-06:00

What's the perfect holiday gift? According to Water.org, it's...water! For $25, this organization will send a holiday e-card to your gift's recipient- and an individual in a developing country will be able to have clean water for life. The e-card reads: "A gift of water has been made in your honor. May the happiness that your gift will bring to others be with you this holiday season and

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-22758836215846997672011-12-14T10:18:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:28:15.338-06:00

Send your healthy fish recipes to the Wisconsin DNR for a chance to be featured in the DNR online cookbook or Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine! Judging criteria includes species diversity, creativity, and ease of preparation, among others. Keep in mind, though, that the recipe must use a Wisconsin species of fish. Click here for more information. The DNR will be accepting submissions via

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-27203380210499699922011-12-12T12:47:00.000-06:002012-01-12T15:29:56.897-06:00

Piles of used gift wrap, tangled lights that don't work, and heaps of plastic plates at the office holiday party have become a staple of the holidays. It's not hard to believe that Americans dispose of an additional 5 million tons of trash between Thanksgiving and New Years.  That's a 25% increase, but there's ways that you can help to minimize holiday waste without sacrificing fun or tradition.

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-61254702000909451582011-12-09T10:44:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:29:10.500-06:00

On December 13, join the Monona Public Library at 6:30 pm for the film "How to Boil A Frog." This documentary uses comedy to portray the truths behind the need for sustainability, or, as the film's official website says, "too many people using up too little planet much too fast." The film isn't all doom-and-gloom, though- it also provides viewers with five ways they can act to help save the

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-6872155339122958092011-12-07T08:51:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:29:40.224-06:00

The most recent issue of Science News (available today in the library) briefly discusses the current debate: should the current Holocene epoch end and an Anthropocene epoch begin? The Holocene epoch is agreed to have begun around 10,000 BC, and follows the last glacial period. Why the possible switch? Anthropocene is a currently unofficial term meaning "Age of Man," first used in 2000 by

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-68284576902589525192011-12-05T11:25:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:30:17.538-06:00

Educators are looking for ways to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education more interesting and appealing to students. Many students lose interest in these subjects as they grow older- a problem that could become crucial in future generations. Check out the websites below to help promote STEM education to the students in your life: Sid the Science Kid Sid the

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-75519087291242286632011-12-01T14:40:00.001-06:002012-01-12T15:30:33.704-06:00

Doing some holiday shopping for a science or tech-loving person? Consider a book! Check out these titles from Library Journals "Best Books 2011: Sci-Tech" list. Eagleman, David. Incognito: The Hidden Lives of the Brain. Greene, Brian. The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos. Peterson, Dale. The Moral Lives of Animals. Wolfe, Nathan. The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-11590918383225349002011-11-28T14:07:00.003-06:002012-01-12T15:30:48.820-06:00

The Water Library's not just about books! Today we're checking in new issues of Science and WE&T (Water Environment and Technology), and we've got numerous other titles as well. Stop by and take a look! Journals and Magazines Journal of the American Water Resources Association Scientific American Science News Lake and Reservoir Management Journal of the American Water Works Association Water

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-60021304342613788712011-11-21T14:07:00.005-06:002012-01-12T15:31:13.840-06:00

Next time you're looking for biodiversity literature, check out the Biodiversity Heritage Library, a consortium of natural history and botanical libraries who have worked to digitize their collections through principles of open access. Content from BHL is free to view or download. Partners include the Smithsonian Institutes, the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, the Field Museum Library,

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-19966423708839343072011-11-18T14:09:00.002-06:002012-01-12T15:31:26.177-06:00

Deep Sea Productions, an underwater research team, believes that a shipwreck they recently discovered in the Baltic Sea may be a 17th century warship called Svardet. According to historical reports, Svardet sunk in a 1676 naval battle in which Sweden was defeated by a Danish-Dutch fleet. Svardet's captain went down with the ship- refusing to abandon it. The research team is now working with

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-81381953293359600812011-11-10T09:08:00.003-06:002012-01-12T15:31:58.651-06:00

The Steenbock Gallery's final exhibit of 2011 is "People of the Big Voice," featuring photography of Ho-Chunk people by Charles Van Shaick. The photography collection comes from the Wisconsin Historical Society, and will be on display from November 7 until December 30th. This Saturday, November 12th, a reception will be held for the exhibit from 1-4 pm, free and open to the public. The Steenbock

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-73310251881455294422011-11-08T10:47:00.006-06:002012-01-12T15:32:23.516-06:00

What environmental issue would you address with an app? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced winners from an "Apps for the Environment" challenge. The EPA's Chief Information Officer stated in a press release that, "The winners of the Apps for the Environment challenge demonstrate that it's possible to transform data from EPA and elsewhere into applications that people can

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-15935420244687844012011-11-03T11:45:00.002-05:002012-01-12T15:32:50.501-06:00

Concerned about flooding or well water quality? The US Geological Survey's Water Alert system texts interested users when new data or news is available about requested information- such as surface water levels, pH of groundwater, or total precipitation, among other parameters. This service is useful to a wide variety of individuals, including water researchers and those involved in water

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-73192642540402589412011-10-31T12:53:00.002-05:002012-01-12T15:33:26.153-06:00

It's starting to get chilly here in Madison, but bikers, joggers, and walkers are still making use of the Lakeshore Path. While today's students use this area of the UW Madison Campus for recreation and study, one area of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve used to be a summer home to up to 300 residents. After the area was purchased in 1911 for the then-high price of $1100 per acre, a group of College

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-2525794470605579372011-10-26T10:01:00.002-05:002012-01-12T15:33:47.364-06:00

Clean drinking water is unavailable to over a billion people around the globe, but new technologies are enabling some entrepreneurs to develop ways to help. A Mashable Tech post today outlines 5 new technologies that are helping to bring clean water to the developing world. View the full article to see a collection of YouTube videos further describing each of these technologies and the companies

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-88125814139818030142011-10-24T14:38:00.005-05:002012-01-12T15:34:05.738-06:00

Halloween is one week from today! As you prepare for costume parties and trick or treating, keep spookiness away from the environment by considering cutting back on waste. Between store-bought costumes, plastic decorations, and candy wrappers, it's easy to see how Halloween can start to get spooky- in the wrong sort of way. If only half the children who wear costumes swapped and wore used

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-39674772857416778282011-10-21T08:00:00.001-05:002011-10-21T08:00:21.724-05:00

Have you stopped by the Water Library lately? We've recently added a number of new titles, from research materials to fishing guides to picture books and more!The library also now has a copy of the children's book And Tango Makes Three, a book often challenged and even banned for telling the story of two male penguins who are given an egg to raise together in the Central Park Zoo.You can also

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-26625420591701252792011-10-18T11:01:00.004-05:002012-01-12T15:34:30.446-06:00

Yes, you read that right. With millions of people expressing themselves via Twitter, one scientist found the social media site to be the best way to track people's thoughts about new vaccines. In order to study opinions of a new H1N1 vaccine, Marcel Salathé of Penn State was able to gather nearly 500,000 tweets with keywords relating to vaccinations. A team of students sorted the first 10% of

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-14762342539530829822011-10-12T14:43:00.002-05:002011-10-12T15:07:28.209-05:00

Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals can lead to eventual contamination of the Great Lakes, which threatens humans as well as wildlife, according to a recent report by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.While it is difficult to say what impacts this may have on humans, scientists have found that such contamination can lead to problems such as birth defects in fish. It's also difficult to

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-83790965870101504312011-10-10T12:22:00.008-05:002011-10-10T13:08:12.119-05:00

In Wisconsin, the Dells is usually associated with water parks, summer fun, and tourist venues. However, indoor water parks weren't always a prime attraction. Boat tours of the Wisconsin River date back to the 1800s, and Dells land formations and scenic river views of the time were captured by photographer H.H. Bennett, whose photos played a large role in bringing tourism to the area.Wisconsin

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-3304441020262964282011-10-06T08:00:00.002-05:002011-10-06T08:04:32.522-05:00

Researchers are paying close attention to food webs in Lake Michigan after several invasive species have appeared, including round gobies and quagga mussels. Through analyzing the body tissue of these species, scientists are able to determine what they are eating- and if they are diminishing the food sources of other Lake Michigan fish.To learn more about how and why this research is conducted,

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-39627801583676996242011-10-04T08:00:00.002-05:002011-10-04T12:01:34.625-05:00

What does it mean to have safe drinking water? What does water conservation really entail? According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, there are three main research challenges to consider when studying drinking water. Wisconsin's Water Library holds many resources on these topics. Click the links within this post to find library reading lists and take on some research of your own! The

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-40902007025225283352011-09-29T16:41:00.002-05:002011-09-29T16:52:36.224-05:00

Wisconsin is a perfect place to take a drive and see the leaves change colors. However, as our climate changes, the timing and colors associated with leaves falling changes too. The study of this is called "phenology," and it can help scientists understand animal habitats and water flow- both of which affect people. From studying phenology, we can decide how best to manage resources now and in

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-82316467736250721742011-09-26T11:05:00.004-05:002011-09-26T11:28:59.028-05:00

Banned Books Week has officially begun! Always held the last week in September, Banned Books Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate the freedom of access to information- as well as bringing awareness to the harms of censorship.During this week, libraries, schools, and booksellers often feature books that have been been banned in libraries or schools in the United States. However, the American

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-80201314420914904932011-09-22T15:42:00.003-05:002011-09-22T16:00:42.415-05:00

This weekend, September 22-25, is a great time to come to campus and learn about science! The Wisconsin Science Festival is taking place primarily at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery's Town Center, as well as a variety of other locations.Events include glass blowing, soldering and electronics kit building, a food science demonstration, and more! While you're on campus, don't forget to visit

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-60081210996147396142011-09-20T11:06:00.007-05:002011-09-20T12:05:05.814-05:00

The most common pieces of trash found on Great Lakes beaches are cigarette butts- 129,697 in 2011 alone, to be exact. Just ask the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a Chicago-based nonprofit that plays a big role in keeping Great Lakes beaches swimmer friendly. AGL works with individuals, families, and businesses to help sponsor beach cleanups in all six Great Lakes states- Wisconsin, Indiana,

Sarah Leemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482070486263771722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-77453267472609863422011-08-02T09:04:00.005-05:002011-08-02T10:43:26.955-05:00

August 2nd marks the 111th birthday of one of America's beloved authors and illustrators, Holling Clancy Holling. In 1941, Mr. Holling published his classic nonfiction book, Paddle-t0-the-Sea. The story follows a little boat christened "Paddle-to-the-Sea" by a young Native American boy who launches it from the Nipigon country in the Canadian wilderness. He carves a small boy in the 12-inch

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-71734779594292603032011-07-05T13:40:00.005-05:002011-07-06T10:16:30.756-05:00

Wisconsin Sea Grant's David Hart, along with his daughter, Madeleine, have just launched a new Google Lit Trip based on the classic short story by Ernest Hemingway, titled THE BIG TWO-HEARTED RIVER.Google Lit Trips are simply a collection of "Placemarks" and online resources saved in Google Earth, related to a piece of literature. Once you've put a placemark at each location you can then begin

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-11141227912257459532011-06-23T14:00:00.005-05:002011-06-23T14:22:26.589-05:00

Several items and resources of note have come across the Water Library's desk in recent days, all related in one way or another, to climate change.Climate Hot Map - Global Warming Effects Around the World. From the Union of Concerned Scientists ("the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world") a visually pleasing website that allows the user to explore a

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-46177397538290533602011-06-16T10:40:00.004-05:002011-06-16T11:57:30.203-05:00

It is summer vacation in our neck of the woods and that's got this librarian thinking about what children are up to during the lazy months of sunshine and heat. Many people are heading out their back (or front) doors to work in their gardens. And there is a movement afoot for those gardeners to bring along their children to garden. Children naturally gravitate, even at a young age, to dirt.

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-22631078652827420402011-06-13T11:19:00.008-05:002011-06-13T14:17:10.426-05:00

Over the past year, the Water Library has enjoyed presenting story times to children in Wisconsin on a variety of water-related topics. Our favorite theme, by far, has been our readings about one of our favorite critters - frogs. It was with great anticipation that we opened a lovely new book today and read what may become a delightful addition to our story times.In LEAP BACK HOME TO ME, Lauren

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-1322737704480947012011-06-03T13:06:00.003-05:002011-06-03T13:24:52.120-05:00

Award-winning books.........Water Library staff recently cataloged the book, "Burning Rivers: Revival of Four Urban-Industrial Rivers that Caught on Fire," by Michigan writer Dr. John Hartig. It recently won the scientific category at the Green Book Festival in San Francisco. It was also a finalist in the science/nature/environment category at the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.I am

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-70615446008735430822011-05-23T10:43:00.004-05:002011-05-23T11:14:13.396-05:00

From the Great Lakes Echo:Several species of birds in the Great Lakes region are making a comeback, according to a recent report.Federal officials documented the successes and the challenges facing several bird species on U.S. public lands in the 2011 State of the Birds report.Two success stories are from within the Great Lakes region – the Bartel Grassland restoration project outside of Chicago,

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-63788762306082911932011-05-18T10:39:00.003-05:002011-05-18T10:54:25.983-05:00

Wisconsin's Water Library invites you to browse our list of new books introduced into the library during March and April 2011. The library is very appreciative of a grant from the Friends of UW Madison Libraries to purchase several titles included here. Also fresh, with titles purchased during winter and spring, is our new books for kids list!Are you interested in mapping and GIS trends? We’ve

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-54792409256586301752011-05-10T07:17:00.001-05:002011-05-10T07:17:00.377-05:00

Net-zero water is a concept that entails separating your water system from the rest of the grid. When it rains, the water you collect in your rain barrels or on your roof will be the water that allows you to wash dishes in the sink or flush your toilet. Your used water will be treated on-site which allows for re-use several times. Water is divided into three categories: rainwater, graywater, and

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-19197755424832259812011-05-05T07:25:00.003-05:002011-05-05T07:25:00.588-05:00

Four decades ago, salmon were added to the Great Lakes by Michigan fisheries biologists. In the following years, the fishing industry flourished as did the salmon. Cars hauling boats would be lined up with anglers just waiting to get out in the lakes and catch fish. But now, things have changed. The invasive mussels came in and altered the food web. Alewives, one of salmons' favorite fish to

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-2816204371235498122011-05-03T07:50:00.002-05:002011-05-03T07:50:00.475-05:00

The first week of May every year has hosted the celebration of National Drinking Water Week since the Reagan years. The purpose is to raise awareness and educate people about public and private drinking water issues. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is one of the main entities responsible for disseminating information about Drinking Water Week. Locally, Madison Water Utility will be

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-36850775636129822882011-04-28T07:27:00.001-05:002011-04-28T07:27:00.647-05:00

In preparation for May 7th, opening day of the regular inland fishing season, the DNR has been making special deliveries of trout to local waters. Catchable size trout are being placed in waters where there would normally not be. These are areas where natural reproduction is not occurring, mainly because of reduced habitat. Since trout numbers are up in other areas, it does no damage to relocate

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-77627973882077607212011-04-26T07:00:00.006-05:002011-04-26T07:00:15.125-05:00

A draft plan has been compiled for the Lake Michigan Water Trail which would span approximately 450 miles of Wisconsin shoreline and increase public lakefront landholding while providing information on access points, safety considerations, activities, and points of interest to recreationists. Public open houses on the plan are being held to disseminate and review information dealing with public

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-39113538463791536792011-04-21T11:27:00.000-05:002011-04-21T11:27:06.936-05:00

This week individualized instruction sessions began to take place for Aquatic Sciences Center staff members interested in learning more about the UW-Madison library catalog MadCat and library resources in general. A prepared handout (right) features instructions on how to find books, journals, known and unknown articles. Feedback has been very positive so far and staff seem excited when they

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-36768772500313908002011-04-18T17:48:00.000-05:002011-04-18T17:48:00.786-05:00

In honor of National Library Week last week, Wisconsin's Water Library hosted an all-staff photo contest. Submissions from various staff members were received and everyone was invited to a chocolate themed potluck in the library to vote on their favorite photos. Graduate student Robbie Greene's photo (right) took first place. Greene also brought a water-themed chocolate treat (left) featuring

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-79275794484918654482011-04-14T07:00:00.003-05:002011-04-14T07:00:25.215-05:00

Earth Day evolved from a national teach-in on the environment in 1970, an idea from Wisconsin's own senator, Gaylord Nelson. He felt that attention to environmental issues was fundamental to the healthy survival of our planet and that teaching and spreading awareness would inspire action and political support. Nelson was correct and Earth Day now spans over 150 countries and was April 22 was

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-22451634172347436392011-04-12T07:52:00.002-05:002011-04-12T07:52:00.160-05:00

On what was previously the site of the Jackson County Iron Mine, Lake Wazee formed after the quarry's 1983 closure and is now the deepest inland lake in Wisconsin. The hole simply filled with water as time passed and the lake currently has no inlets or outlets. Lake Wazee, part of the surrounding recreation area, is fed by springs and spans approximately 154 acres with a maximum depth of about

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-69490295885183889312011-04-06T08:01:00.011-05:002011-04-06T08:01:00.639-05:00

Imagine a type of Ebola, just for fish. Bulging eyes, hemorrhaging in the muscle tissue and internal organs, and pale organs are some of the clinical symptoms of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), a deadly fish virus, which was confirmed to be present in Milwaukee waters last month. Since the virus affected thousands of gizzard shad in Lake Michigan, the DNR has been taking steps to prevent the

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-68245651975950138672011-04-04T13:46:00.001-05:002011-04-04T13:48:09.414-05:00

The solid precipitation, hail, is actually made from ice and usually forms in large thunderclouds during severe storms. Hail stones can range in size from a quarter of an inch to larger than a softball. They are created inside clouds where strong winds are present, some blowing upward so that the cooling and expansion of air occurs. The process of layering happens as freezing raindrops become ice

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-44901754892251424382011-03-31T10:42:00.001-05:002011-03-31T10:44:51.662-05:00

Mercury is found in air, water and soil. It occurs naturally and exists in elemental or metallic forms and organic or inorganic mercury compounds. Older thermometers contained elemental or metallic mercury that is liquid at room temperature. The liquid transforms into a colorless, odorless gas when heated. Humans are most likely to be exposed to mercury by eating fish or shellfish that are

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-22114119008671564562011-03-29T07:22:00.000-05:002011-03-29T07:22:00.593-05:00

In November of 2010, researchers from the University of Notre Dame collected water samples from several Milwaukee waterways including the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers among others. These water samples were then analyzed to see if they contained Asian carp DNA. The good news is that they do not. While DNA was found in southern parts of Lake Michigan earlier last year near the

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-75161749289208196292011-03-25T07:22:00.002-05:002011-03-25T07:22:01.431-05:00

Maybe something like a dust mite comes to mind, but instead read it as a three syllable word, pronounce the second half "mighty's" and think plants. Phragmite is the scientific or botanical name for the common reed, often found in wetland areas in temperate and tropical regions of the world. They are perennial plants, meaning that they live longer than two years, and can grow to be 15 feet tall

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-57598333106080262262011-03-23T01:57:00.000-05:002011-03-23T01:57:43.831-05:00

Lake Mendota's surface area at approximately 9,730 acres is about three times the size of Lake Mendota's at about 3,272 acres, but Mendota's deepest point of 83 feet is not much deeper than Monona's at 74 feet. Another commonality these two lakes share is a pattern involving the seasonal formation and melting of surface ice. Records dating back to 1855 have helped scientists to identify the slow

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-9158352232630396502011-03-21T07:51:00.002-05:002011-03-21T07:51:00.178-05:00

Keep drinking, there is no cause for concern at present. An article in the Wisconsin State Journal explains the recently detected presence of the contaminant chromium-6 in local drinking water, but at a level that is likely below federal health safety limits. According to the US EPA, this inorganic chemical usually comes from "discharge from steel and pulp mills or erosion of natural deposits."

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-80003606264015333992011-03-18T07:05:00.001-05:002011-03-18T07:05:00.679-05:00

In Wisconsin we know that there aren't too many things better on a Friday than a tasty fish fry. Restaurants all over the state do a booming business serving up fried fish on Friday evenings. Of course there is a bit of history behind the fish fry tradition that you can read about here from UW-Madison folklorist Dr. Janet Gilmore, but what about starting your own family fish fry tradition at home

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-75517469092505538422011-03-14T12:37:00.000-05:002011-03-14T12:37:21.639-05:00

Featuring the USGS Tsunami specialist and a clip from NOAA, this quick and informative news video explains the science behind tsunamis. Some important factors include distance from the sea-floor earthquake as well as the topography of the area. The tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake that forces the ocean floor upward and forcefully pushes the water out of the way, causing it to slam

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-28857873720832603132011-03-11T07:18:00.008-06:002011-03-11T07:18:00.126-06:00

PBDEs is the quick way to refer to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, toxic compounds used in manufacturing as flame retardants. Common household items that are routinely flame retarded include mattresses, television sets and computers. Since PBDEs have been identified in nature, researchers in UW-Madison's Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology have been doing some interesting work to see what

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-67342787558107782352011-03-09T07:07:00.001-06:002011-03-09T07:07:00.804-06:00

The Center for Watershed Science and Education has written four news releases in cooperation with the Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WRI) for National Groundwater Awareness Week. The Center is part of the University of Wisconsin - Extension Cooperative Extension Service and housed in the College of Natural Resources (CNR) at UW-Stevens Point. Specifically, the Central Wisconsin Groundwater

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-16126271518881412932011-03-07T07:53:00.001-06:002011-03-07T07:53:00.261-06:00

Two increasingly popular gardening methods are green gardening and rain gardens. While benefiting the environment in several ways, these two types of gardens also yield healthy plants and vegetables and beautiful flowers. Sometimes also referred to as organic gardening, green gardening saves soils and nearby water systems from the trauma of the chemicals and pesticides or fertilizers which are

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-72048311420206936272011-03-03T07:01:00.001-06:002011-03-03T07:01:00.205-06:00

With the coming of spring also comes National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the first week of March. Staff at the Aquatic Sciences Center have taken this opportunity to educate people a bit about the ever-unpopular asian carp. An introduction to asian carp can be read in this previous blog entry. For those who are more familiar with the species, this UW Sea Grant release helps to explain

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-50874292153571769302011-03-01T06:40:00.002-06:002011-03-01T06:40:00.237-06:00

There is concern in Pennsylvania that some wastewater is not being properly treated and, as a result, this toxic water may be mixing with drinking water sources. This is the result of a process commonly refered to as hydrofracking. More formally known as high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, this relatively new type of drilling is being used to access natural gas which exists as bubbles in

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-14209479439539402642011-02-25T07:24:00.001-06:002011-02-25T07:24:00.296-06:00

Primary Wisconsin DNR reports coming out of Winnebago and Oshkosh are in. The third and fifth largest sturgeons have been added to the record books, which were started in 1941. Weighing 185 and 172.7 pounds respectively, these two female record fish are among seven sturgeon that have been added to the books in the last three years. A list of the top ten fish can be seen here. Overall, 881 fish

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-33697961136758588502011-02-23T09:00:00.001-06:002011-02-23T09:00:05.386-06:00

The new Lake Superior Reserve, part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA), was dedicated in October 2010. This beautiful spot is described as "a combination of four distinct land areas and portions of connecting waterways in Douglas County, in the northwest corner of Wisconsin where the St. Louis River flows into

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-13289526102967709962011-02-21T10:23:00.006-06:002011-02-21T10:47:38.233-06:00

There is a new issue of the Aquatic Sciences Chronicle now available online. The newsletter is a one-stop source for the latest news from the Aquatic Sciences Center, the administrative home of UW-Madison’s Sea Grant and Water Resources institutes.In this issue, Carolyn Rumery Betz describes the launch of a new online Wisconsin Coastal Atlas. She describes the atlas as "...more like an

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-17652989593932912132011-02-17T07:58:00.002-06:002011-02-17T07:58:00.054-06:00

This coming Tuesday, February 22, 2011 is Library Legislative Day. The goal of the event is to send a clear message to the Governor and legislators that libraries are crucial to Wisconsin's economy. This is a state advocacy event on library issues that is held in Madison. State funding is key for all library types in Wisconsin (academic, public, school, etc.) and is therefore crucial for

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-2444307098281190352011-02-15T07:43:00.003-06:002011-02-15T08:26:36.707-06:00

Overuse of the agricultural fertilizer phosphorus has led to pollution of lakes, rivers and streams, in addition to the potential shortage of the chemical element worldwide. Number 15 on the periodic table, phosphorus was discovered in 1669 and found to glow in the dark. This may explain some of bright colors that can be seen in algal growth stemming from phosphoric pollution.When excessively

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-67313301878878502832011-02-10T07:41:00.004-06:002011-02-10T07:41:00.231-06:00

Kohler, WI was the birth place of the infamous bubbler. Invented in 1888 by the Kohler Company (then known as Kohler Water Works), this model of drinking fountain shot an inch of water straight up. Imagine a mini version of a traditional fountain, but with the intent of offering a drink. Over time, the ability to shoot at an angle for increased drinking ease appeared as well as competing products

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-25040263296004459092011-02-08T08:13:00.000-06:002011-02-08T08:13:44.911-06:00

A recent USGS study focuses on the water of the Great Lakes Basin, the world's largest freshwater system. While there is no overall shortage of water in the system at this time, as water is taken from different parts of the system it is slow to replenish itself. This means that if groundwater is used near Milwaukee, the surrounding water levels will not significantly decrease in order to

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-90497591193676462272011-02-03T07:05:00.001-06:002011-02-03T07:05:01.114-06:00

Awarded "Site of the Month" by Great Lakes Information Net-work (GLIN), Great Lakes Literacy Principles, prepared by the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, is a website that explains "essential principles and fundamental concepts for Great Lakes learning" and further matches those concepts with Ocean Literacy ones. It breaks down eight specific concepts about the Great Lakes and helps to explain the

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-17032006796336825992011-02-01T07:07:00.002-06:002011-02-01T08:05:46.291-06:00

Sad news for the crew of the Barney Devine, a sea vessel being retired and replaced by a newer, more technologically advanced ship, Coregonus. The Barney Devine set out to record the number of yellow perch in Lake Michigan, but returned with a hole in her hull and a remarkably smaller number of recorded fish than previous years. Since the survey area was the same as previous years some

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-35103044403709502402011-01-27T07:06:00.000-06:002011-01-27T08:29:48.362-06:00

Conducted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), other federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental organizations, the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) will evaluate different methods of preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River through open

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-8200834262671138082011-01-26T07:59:00.000-06:002011-01-26T07:59:00.696-06:00

In Winnebago, February 12th will bring the first day of a new season of sturgeon spearing. Since the fish population has increased, the DNR has been able to raise the catch limit this season and it is expected to break even last year's hearty records. One record catch last season was a 212 pound sturgeon speared by a Wisconsinite. The DNR is confident that the sturgeon management system they have

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-14697372725987805132011-01-24T07:59:00.000-06:002011-03-01T13:43:35.364-06:00

Dane County is encouraging communities and nonprofit organizations to submit applications with ideas for improving outdoor area recreation or natural resources. This new program, Dane County Partners for Recreation and Conservation (PARC), is aimed at creating "opportunities to not only enhance our quality of life but also bring in new tourism dollars and preserve valuable natural resources not

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-70275418474128982762011-01-20T08:02:00.001-06:002011-01-20T09:20:12.842-06:00

Wisconsin's Water Library has been successful in our outreach programming to youth around the area. In addition to our Frog story hour, with real live frogs (pictured right), the library has also been working on other themes including early literacy with ABC's and counting, fish and waterfowl. During the story-times we read a few books to the children, sing a song or play Simon Says, and usually

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-19426881225432644762011-01-14T16:31:00.006-06:002011-01-18T10:06:11.030-06:00

Brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), BadgerLink provides access "to quality online information resources for Wisconsin residents in cooperation with the state's public, school, academic, and special libraries and Internet Service Providers." (What is BadgerLink?) Through the website, resources are available including access to full-text magazines, journals,

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-61958646078536385582011-01-14T07:20:00.000-06:002011-01-14T07:20:00.169-06:00

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change works through the collaboration of business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts in order to approach the complex and often controversial issue of climate change. This is based on sound science, straight talk, and the belief that working together they can simultaneously protect the climate while sustaining economic growth. They are known

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-13579369866882298452011-01-12T14:52:00.003-06:002011-01-12T15:27:02.358-06:00

Recently, a new multimedia resource, Climate Wisconsin, was put together by the Educational Communications Board (ECB). This interactive website features stories about the rapidly changing climate. The collection of multimedia includes ten videos and two interactive resources along with background essays and teaching tips. Educators can also access the Teachers' Domain where stories can be

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-23043806677417931182011-01-10T07:31:00.001-06:002011-01-12T14:52:34.958-06:00

On January 26th, a public hearing in Superior will determine if Wisconsin regulations regarding ballast water discharged by ships in the Great Lakes will be changed to match those required by the International Maritime Organization. This would apply to large commercial shipping vessels that travel between the Great Lakes and the ocean. As cargo loads change, the ships take on or expel water in

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-84185346073457160592011-01-07T08:18:00.003-06:002011-01-07T15:03:54.968-06:00

Put together by 18 U.S. government science organi-zations spanning 14 Federal Agencies, Science.gov is a website providing access to government science information and research results. It allows users to simultaneously search over 42 scientific databases and 200 million science information web-pages. The site was originally launched in 2002 and has now moved on to version 5.0. The intended

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-63231257567409443642010-12-27T10:46:00.000-06:002011-03-01T13:36:07.172-06:00

From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR):Published: December 21, 2010 by the WDNR Central Office MADISON – Wisconsin is proposing to change its requirements for oceangoing ships arriving in its Great Lakes waters. The change would set ballast water discharge standards to those required by the International Maritime Organization. The proposed change reflects the latest

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-62220845230823889272010-12-21T14:11:00.004-06:002010-12-21T14:31:32.509-06:00

The Water Library has not featured this topic in recent months but as we think of new materials to add to our collection, we always visit our topical pages for ideas. And we recommend our users to check it out, too:LinkFrom this page, you can find recommended reading lists on a variety of water-related topics. We have suggestions on readings about coastal community planning, green gardening, ice

AK Mosernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-72685897155645444952010-12-17T10:37:00.005-06:002010-12-17T11:13:07.571-06:00

Many efforts are still being made to stop, or reduce the number of, Asian carp spreading to the Great Lakes. Yesterday $47 million in funds were announced that will go toward 13 different projects of prevention. In addition to creating a lab in Wisconsin where Asian carp DNA will be sampled, pathways into the Great Lakes are going to be examined with hopes of finding ways to block the route of

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-90691237836629096502010-12-15T08:32:00.000-06:002010-12-15T08:32:00.226-06:00

The National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species (NECIS) was established in 2003 and is comprised of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to fighting invasive species. It is led by scientists, lawyers, activists, and advocates. Recently, NECIS launched a redesigned website covering invasive species. This resource gathers news and information about invasive species with updates about

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-15319056375261879362010-12-13T08:31:00.000-06:002010-12-13T08:31:00.136-06:00

UW-Madison students will have the chance to submit their ideas to the third annual Climate Leadership Challenge. Put on by the Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), the goal of this competition is to promote students thinking about solutions or products that will combat climate change.Students from any department are welcome to enter. Proposals will be due

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-26126535575403905572010-12-10T08:49:00.000-06:002010-12-10T08:49:00.138-06:00

Passed in June this year by the Natural Resources Board, the Phosphorus Rules will go into effect this month. Compliance with these rules, basically governing the numeric level of phosphorus that can be permitted to enter the water, will help to keep waters cleaner and will ultimately benefit fish and wildlife, fisheries, waterfront property owners, and recreational water users among others. Some

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-55707285992895699972010-12-08T07:31:00.000-06:002010-12-08T07:31:00.644-06:00

An agreement was reached between the City of Green Bay, Brown County and the Army Corps of Engineers that a sum of $5.2 million go toward cleanup and restoration of the Fox River. Most of this money will be spent on dredging polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminants from the river. Part of this money will also be set aside for future response costs. Officials say this payment shares "reflect

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-56485661855685665582010-12-06T08:09:00.000-06:002010-12-06T08:09:00.591-06:00

Water samples have been taken from Alaska to Florida by the USGS and results are in. Contaminated lakes and rivers show a higher concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on the rise since the 1960s. These contaminants are toxic for fish and other aquatic life.Researchers have found the main source of the PAHs to be coal-tar-based pavement sealant. One of the most common uses for

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-27816422062869327552010-12-02T15:44:00.003-06:002010-12-02T17:00:34.489-06:00

With the addition of five new marinas yesterday, a total of nine have joined the Clean Marina Program in the last five months. This program, initiated by a collaboration between the Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Marina Association, is meant to help marinas within the state take steps to better protect their natural resources. Voluntarily taking these steps, the marinas also become safer

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-52167112204695180372010-12-01T07:58:00.001-06:002010-12-01T07:58:00.830-06:00

EPA's Watershed Academy has sponsored over 50 free webcast seminars with the intent of educating people on water-related issues. The webinars are free and open to anyone, all you need to do is sign up. For those people who are unable to attend the webinar, a streaming audio version of the training is made available on the EPA's website.This week's webinar on Thursday, December 2nd, from 12-2pm

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-30003589826430280122010-11-29T08:05:00.005-06:002010-11-29T08:05:00.750-06:00

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it's time to start thinking about presents! The UW Aquatic Sciences Center (ASC) Publications Store might have just what you need for that special fishy someone in your life.The Great Lakes Fishes poster (shown right) pictures and identifies 35 varieties of fish you may encounter in the Great Lakes. What kid (or grownup) fisherman wouldn't want to have this on

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-16992183541226220002010-11-24T07:55:00.001-06:002011-03-01T13:37:49.123-06:00

Later this year, rules will go into effect that require disinfection of water by all municipal water systems in Wisconsin. This will increase protection for any state residents whose drinking water comes from groundwater. These rules are based on a discovery highlighted in the 2010 Groundwater Coordinating Council Report that showed viruses are able to travel through layers of rock and soil,

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-19101320832424689762010-11-22T08:04:00.005-06:002010-11-22T09:30:16.476-06:00

The GreenHouse is a residential learning community in the Cole Hall dorm where students are able to learn about sustainable practices through action and involvement. It focuses on the ability to connect students "to social and environmental advocacy organizations on campus and in the community" and allows them the opportunity to take a hands-on approach.Lake Mendota: We Love Our Lake—We Love Our

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-3242815247195414612010-11-19T08:15:00.001-06:002011-03-01T13:37:19.814-06:00

Earth Partnership for Schools (EPS), a statewide initiative, is growing. Founded in 1991, the program is meant to connect people with the land and water where they live. One of the program's goals is to allow children to experience nature while at school. Ecological restoration is another main focus. EPS helps young ones to understand their connection to the land and how they can help to give

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4181895824631452061.post-38503068283602693302010-11-17T08:36:00.002-06:002010-11-17T08:36:00.542-06:00

The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) recently received a $170,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration Transportation Enhancement program that will fund the documenting and surveying of five shipwrecks in Lake Michigan. Divers will measure, photograph, and sketch the vessels to create a digital mosaic to show landlubbers how the wrecks appear underwater.The five wrecks that have been

Amy De Simonenoreply@blogger.com