You may have heard yesterday's news from Cornell University that scientists had found the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv), which causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species in fish from Lake Superior.
Press release from Cornell.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued this press release on the scientific findings.
To learn more about this disease in the Great Lakes, read Wisconsin Sea Grant's Phil Moy's questions and answers on the topic.
WDNR has a Web site on VHS.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Featured Web site: The Lower Fox River Basin
The Lower Fox River Basin encompasses 638 square miles in northeastern Wisconsin. The basin stretches from northeastern Winnebago County to the mouth of the Fox River in Brown County. The Lower Fox River originates at the outlet of Lake Winnebago and flows northeast for 39 miles where it empties into Green Bay. Click here to view a 360 ° panoramic view of the mouth of the Fox River where it empties into the bay.
Learn about what is happening in this river basin:
Link.
Learn about what is happening in this river basin:
Link.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The care and feeding of your frog
Wisconsin's Water Library receives many questions form children and adults alike on how to care for a frog. We love to help our patrons with those questions. On that note, library staff would also like to offer a few titles you might consider buying if you are thinking of getting a frog for a pet:
Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates : an identification and care guide Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2001. Hobbyists will appreciate this pictorial identification guide and basic husbandry manual covering more than 250 species, subspecies, and color morphs of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. All animals shown in this volume can be purchased at pet stores and other outlets. The authors advise on the do s and don ts of purchasing, proper caging, and correct feeding.
Frogs, toads, and treefrogs : everything about selection, care, nutrition, breeding, and behavior Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2007. Terrarium keepers will find advice from two of the country’s leading experts on amphibians, their housing, care, and breeding in this helpful title. This book is a title in Barron’s extensive line of Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals . Heavily illustrated with color photos and instructive line art, these books present information on housing, feeding, health care, the title animal’s traits—and where applicable, on grooming, training, and breeding.
Frogs and toads / By Steve Grenard. Hoboken, N.J. : Howell Book House: 2008. The authoritative information and advice you need to have frogs and toads as pets. Include easy-to-care for breeds and intriguing, exotic varieties. 2nd edition.
These books and more are all available for checkout from the library. Please send an email to askwater at aqua.wisc.edu
Reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates : an identification and care guide Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2001. Hobbyists will appreciate this pictorial identification guide and basic husbandry manual covering more than 250 species, subspecies, and color morphs of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. All animals shown in this volume can be purchased at pet stores and other outlets. The authors advise on the do s and don ts of purchasing, proper caging, and correct feeding.
Frogs, toads, and treefrogs : everything about selection, care, nutrition, breeding, and behavior Hauppauge, NY : Barron’s: 2007. Terrarium keepers will find advice from two of the country’s leading experts on amphibians, their housing, care, and breeding in this helpful title. This book is a title in Barron’s extensive line of Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals . Heavily illustrated with color photos and instructive line art, these books present information on housing, feeding, health care, the title animal’s traits—and where applicable, on grooming, training, and breeding.
Frogs and toads / By Steve Grenard. Hoboken, N.J. : Howell Book House: 2008. The authoritative information and advice you need to have frogs and toads as pets. Include easy-to-care for breeds and intriguing, exotic varieties. 2nd edition.
These books and more are all available for checkout from the library. Please send an email to askwater at aqua.wisc.edu
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Reflect on Wisconsin's Maritime Past
With commercially navigable waterways on three sides, Wisconsin has a deep maritime past. From the small Mississippi River ports of La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, to the much larger Great Lakes facilities at Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Duluth-Superior, Wisconsin residents have been sailing, steaming, and hauling goods over our water for generations.
As this year's shipping season closes and lake boats prepare for the winter layup, now is good time to reflect on Wisconsin's maritime history with resources available at Wisconsin's Water Libary and the University of Wisconsin's Digital Collection Center (UWDCC).
The Water Library maintains a number of recommended reading lists. Check out this one on Great Lakes Ships and Shipping.
UWDCC includes a collection and digital portal dedicated to Wisconsin's "proud and colorful" maritime history. Learn more on their Great Lakes Martime History Project here.
As this year's shipping season closes and lake boats prepare for the winter layup, now is good time to reflect on Wisconsin's maritime history with resources available at Wisconsin's Water Libary and the University of Wisconsin's Digital Collection Center (UWDCC).
The Water Library maintains a number of recommended reading lists. Check out this one on Great Lakes Ships and Shipping.
UWDCC includes a collection and digital portal dedicated to Wisconsin's "proud and colorful" maritime history. Learn more on their Great Lakes Martime History Project here.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
ALA announces award winning books
The John Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The winner for 2010 is "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead and published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books. The novel is about twelve-year-old Miranda who encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future. These and other seemingly random events converge in a brilliantly constructed plot.
The The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is also awarded annually by the ALSC division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This year's winner is "The Lion & the Mouse," illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney, published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers. The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop's classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney's textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two unlikely friends.
For a complete list of awards from the American Library Association, visit their Web site.
The The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is also awarded annually by the ALSC division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This year's winner is "The Lion & the Mouse," illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney, published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers. The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop's classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney's textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two unlikely friends.
For a complete list of awards from the American Library Association, visit their Web site.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
EEK!
What a great name for a Web site... The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has great resources and activities here for kids and teachers. The EEK! (Environmental Education for Kids) Web site (link) is geared toward schoolchildren in grades 4 though 8 and their teachers.
Some highlights you shouldn't miss:
Water Wonders has lots of activities to learn about the wet world we live in.
The amphibians section for kids has a whole lot of great information on frogs and toads (a favorite of Water Library patrons).
Find out what critters stay "snug in the snow" in our cold state...
The Teacher's Pages are chock-full of resources on a wide range of topics. And don't miss the new Climate Change Guide from DNR for grades 7 through 12.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to askwater at aqua.wisc.edu
Some highlights you shouldn't miss:
Water Wonders has lots of activities to learn about the wet world we live in.
The amphibians section for kids has a whole lot of great information on frogs and toads (a favorite of Water Library patrons).
Find out what critters stay "snug in the snow" in our cold state...
The Teacher's Pages are chock-full of resources on a wide range of topics. And don't miss the new Climate Change Guide from DNR for grades 7 through 12.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to askwater at aqua.wisc.edu
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Non-point pollution hearings coming soon
The Wisconsin DNR will soon hold a series of public hearings on proposed revisions to administrative rules regulating non-point pollution. Administrative rules implement the statutes enacted by Wisconsin Legislature and have the full force and effect of law. Look here for a list of upcoming hearing locations.
The proposed changes would--among other things--create new agricultural standards to further limit the amount of fertilizer and manure carried into water bodies. They would also allow municipalities more time to meet the requirement that they reduce the amount of stormwater pollutants.
Furthermore, new performance standards are being proposed: the Phosphorus Index and Tillage Setback. The Phosphorus Index is a planning tool for assessing the potential of croplands, pastures and winter grazing areas to contribute phosphorus to the nearest waterbody. The Tillage Setback performance standard is designed to protect the structural integrity of streambanks and shorelines from tillage operations and to prevent the direct application of sediment to state waters.
Learn more about the proposed administrative rule changes—and the Wisconsin Buffer Initiative that recommended many of them—at the following websites:
Nonpoint Source Program Administrative Rules
Wisconsin Buffer Initiative
Public hearings set on DNR's proposed runoff rules
The proposed changes would--among other things--create new agricultural standards to further limit the amount of fertilizer and manure carried into water bodies. They would also allow municipalities more time to meet the requirement that they reduce the amount of stormwater pollutants.
Furthermore, new performance standards are being proposed: the Phosphorus Index and Tillage Setback. The Phosphorus Index is a planning tool for assessing the potential of croplands, pastures and winter grazing areas to contribute phosphorus to the nearest waterbody. The Tillage Setback performance standard is designed to protect the structural integrity of streambanks and shorelines from tillage operations and to prevent the direct application of sediment to state waters.
Learn more about the proposed administrative rule changes—and the Wisconsin Buffer Initiative that recommended many of them—at the following websites:
Nonpoint Source Program Administrative Rules
Wisconsin Buffer Initiative
Public hearings set on DNR's proposed runoff rules
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