Northern Europe’s agriculture will benefit from longer and warmer growing season, southern countries will suffer
Length and intensity of thermal growing season
The agricultural potential and suitable conditions for forest growth in a certain part of the world can be expressed by two measures that describe the growing conditions for crops and trees in the summer season: the length and intensity of the so-called thermal growing season. Thermal growing season is the length of the growing season for crops and trees. It is defined to start when the daily mean temperature rises above a selected threshold in spring, and end as the mean temperature falls below that level in autumn. The intensity of the thermal growing season is represented by the effective temperature sum, also termed temperature accumulation or the growing degree day sum; this sum is calculated by summing the daily mean temperature excesses above the threshold during this season.
The commonly used base temperature for the thermal growing season is 5°C in boreal and temperate climate conditions and 10°C in warmer climate zones.
Global warming leads to a prolongation and intensification of the thermal growing season. Prolongation and warming of this season has already been noticed in many regions: in northern Europe thermal growing season has lengthened by about 1week between 1951 and 2000. The intensity of this season (expressed as growing degree day sum) has increased all over Europe after 2000.
Projections of future changes have been calculated for Europe for the end of the 21st century, based on 22 - 23 global climate models under a moderate and high-end scenario of global warming, respectively (the so-called RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios). According to these results, in most of Europe the thermal growing season will last 1.5 - 2 months longer in 2100 compared to the reference period 1971 – 2000 for the high-end scenario of climate change, and 20 - 40 days longer for the moderate scenario of climate change; results are similar for the 5°C and 10°C baseline. Lengthening is anticipated to be slightest in southeastern European Russia and largest in coastal areas and central Europe.
For the high-end scenario the intensity of the thermal growing season with respect to the 5°C baseline (growing degree day sum) will be 60 - 100% higher in 2100; the increase is somewhat smaller for the moderate scenario. In absolute terms, the increase of the intensity of this season is largest in the south. In relative terms, however, the increase is largest in cold areas.
The prolongation and intensification of the thermal growing season is beneficial for especially northern Europe. It enables the introduction of new species and cultivars in agriculture, allows a more extensive utilization of double-crop rotation and enhances timber growth in forests. Besides, the mildness of the dark season facilitates the overwintering of fruit trees and other vulnerable perennial plants, and high autumn and winter temperatures accelerate the decomposition of litter and the release of nutrients in boreal forest, a factor that may already have enhanced timber growth.
On the other hand, long growing seasons and mild winters also favour pests and fungi in arable lands and forests, and higher temperatures in late autumn are of little use for plant photosynthesis in northern Europe due to the scantiness of the light. Also, annual cereal crops are harvested in early autumn and thus do not benefit from the autumn lengthening of the thermal growing season. In late autumn, the harvesting conditions would in any case be unfavourable owing to high moisture, even more so as precipitation is projected to increase and the low amount of solar radiation can no longer alone dry the harvest crop.
To conclude, the prolongation and intensification of the thermal growing season offers several benefits for northern European forestry and agriculture, but adaptation (plant breeding and pest control) is still necessary. In southern Europe, negative impacts dominate, particularly as a result of excessive heat and the reduced availability of water.
Source: Ruosteenoja et al, 2016. International Journal of Climatology 36: 3039–3055.
Photo: Stefan (www.flickr.com)


Antarctica New Zealand's role in science is to establish themes and priorities for New Zealand Antarctic science; encourage and facilitate the implementation of science projects that deliver on them; and present the outcomes and benefits of and advocate for Antarctic science.
A strategy for New Zealand Science in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean published in 2004 established themes and priorities for New Zealand Antarctic science. These are addressed by the science events and projects that Antarctica New Zealand supports. A new strategy is currently being finalised and the draft is available on this website.
A science support bidding round is held annually for those wishing to undertake research in Antarctica.
Workshops have been facilitated by Antarctica New Zealand to advocate for and disseminate science research in Antarctica and three postgraduate scholarships are awarded annually. Antarctica New Zealand holds an annual conference to allow groups it supports the opportunity to share their work with the wider Antarctic community.


Billions of dollars are needed statewide for energy-efficient upgrades, and through a collaboration between California Public Utilities Commission and the state’s major investor-owned utilities, private companies are offering attractive rates and terms that can help residents secure funds.
Programs such as GoGreen Financing’s Residential Energy Efficiency Loan (REEL) program help homeowners and renters finance a wide range of energy upgrades, from heating and air conditioning to windows and insulation, with up to 30 percent of a loan available for nonenergy items, such as kitchen cabinets and flooring. An important part of the program is providing traditionally underserved communities with access to attractive credit that allows them to upgrade their homes.
Jesse Flores and his family in El Cajon, California, knew their home needed to be more energy efficient, but they weren’t sure they had the financial resources to improve it. The biggest problem was an inefficient water heater that couldn’t provide enough hot water throughout their home. It ran constantly, adding greatly to their monthly utility bills.
Flores contacted a local contractor who recommended a tankless water heater to save energy and more efficiently distribute hot water throughout the property. During a walkthrough assessment, the contractor found other areas that would benefit from energy-efficient upgrades, like a new furnace and smart thermostat in the home and a heat pump air-handling system for the rental unit.
“The affordable monthly payments really helped,” Flores says. “We made more home improvements than we originally planned, which improved the efficiency and comfort of our home while staying within our budget.”
Whether you want to reduce your home’s energy usage, improve its comfort or just “go green,” programs are available to help make the financing possible.


Sophie was raised in Ottawa and comes from an outdoor centred family and enjoys all four seasons and all the adventure each season brings. She has a B.A(H) in geography from Queen’s University and is passionate about Canada’s forests and critters, conservation and climate change. Sophie brings this lens when working with children to influence environmental stewardship wherever they go.
Sophie spent many summers as a camp counsellor at YMCA Camp Kanawana in Saint-Sauveur, Québec working with youth to foster their relationships with nature and each other. Sophie also has experience working with international and domestic school groups, young children as well as families guiding them in various outdoor activities and team-building exercises. Sophie has lead overnight and multi-day canoe camping trips, building children’s nature skills, exploring how animals (including humans) and plants influence the landscape, recognizing plants of their surroundings and all their awe-inspiring properties are just some of the things Sophie and her campers all explored together. Sophie has a more laissez-faire leadership style and loves letting children’s curiosity flourish and explore alongside them.
Sophie has also worked as an intern at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society doing research, writing and media development for their annual reports on the state of conservation within Canada.
Training and Certifications:
Standard First Aid and CPR ‘C’
200 Hour Counsellor In Training Program from les Associations des Camps du Québec
Intermediate Tandem Lake Canoe Skills officiated by Paddle Canada
Indigenous Learning Series Certificate officiated by the Canada School of Public Service
Cultural Awareness Training with Canadian Bushcraft


A mountain vista?
Ice along the shoreline?
A hole in the ice?
Story behind the melting ice
Weather: We’ve been experiencing a lot of wind in the past several weeks. Some of the wind has been quite destructive: pushing 18-wheelers over, knocking down backpack laden high school kids, forcing trees to lose their grip on the Earth. So, when a warm calm day greeted me on the weekend, I had to take advantage and took an extended bike ride over several miles. I made my bike ride longer only because I stopped along the way to photograph sights that made me appreciate the beauty of the day.
The lake: I like this spot, not only because I’m able to enjoy the nature and scenery, but also because of the variety of images I’ve been able to capture since mid-January. On this day, I noticed that the wind that had been ravaging the eastern foothills had raped the ice on the lake and pushed it up against the shoreline in huge chunks. As I looked at all the chunks along the shore, I noticed one chunk which had been forced straight upward had a hole in it from the sun beaming upon it. So, I took out my camera and snapped a few photos. As I got closer, I watched water drop from the top of the hole as the ice melted. After I snapped the photo with the water drop on the top right of the ice, a gust of wind came up and knocked over the arch of the hole, exposing yet another beautiful scene.


The westerly “Maestral” is a pleasant summer wind that blows in from the sea, reaching its peak force in early afternoon. This gives us kiters incredible kiting conditions nearly every day during the season from June to September. The wind normally kicks in between 12-3 pm, so you have time to enjoy the morning, the food and the view. We return to the camp when the sun goes down, around 7 pm.
The wind varies every week (and every season). Therefore it is hard to predict how the wind is going to be. Contact the camp manager ahead of your week and ask about the forecast if you don´t want to bring all your kites. We always recommend people to travel with two kites, to be prepared for all sorts of winds. The wind conditions can vary every day and every week during the season. Girls should bring one 7-8 meter kite and one 10-12 meter kite. Boys should bring one 8-9 meter kite and one 11-13 meter kite as a minimum.
It is difficult to read the forecasts, as we have thermal winds at all our destinations. Even though there is no wind on the forecast, there might be very strong wind at our kite spots. We look at the wind directions rather than the wind strength when reading the forecast.


Storm Water Management
Thunder Mountain Enterprises leads the pack when it comes to regulatory compliance relating to the Clean Water Act and the California Permit. Thunder Mountain’s expertise is distinctive because Thunder Mountain is the only California storm water consultant that has extensive on the ground, in the mud hands-on experience. We are your trusted advisor when it comes to Storm Water Management.
Here are some examples:
Built and operated dozens of uniquely designed site-specific treatment systems in house, incorporating electro coagulation, natural occurring chemical formulations such as lime, citric acid, and chitosan, along with various mechanical filter media.
- Thunder Mountain crews and emergency services have installed and monitored hundreds of acres of storm water BMPs in California.
- Thunder Mountain designs hundreds of SWPPPs, and walks the ground on every site in advance. Thunder Mountain incorporated soils data, topography and proximity to sensitive water bodies, and other factors in designs long before they became law in the new California Permit.
- Thunder Mountain is a practitioner and technical leader with the industry’s most advanced products and concepts in slope stabilization and erosion control applications.
- Thunder Mountain’s specialized nimble footed Agricultural equipment accesses troubled sites when no one else can.
- Extensive in-house rain tracking, documentation and storm alert capability is unique to Thunder Mountain.
- Thunder Mountain principals are regulatory experts, but understand practical earthwork, soil mechanics, and hydrologic scenarios. Having Thunder Mountain on the team makes it easy to comply and generates instant credibility with key regulators.
- Thunder Mountain provides extensive classroom learning opportunities for certificated QSP’s, QSD’s, aspiring site managers, and storm water professionals, limiting class size in order to insure top quality personalized training.
Thunder Mountain, CPESC, CPSWQ and our staff offer the highest possible level of design, consulting, monitoring and site analysis services available. Contact Thunder Mountain today for help with your storm water management needs.


Project Type Transfer of Innovation
CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE ET D’INDUSTRIE DE LA DROME / NEOPOLIS (France);
AMLEDO & CO AB (Sweden)
InnovaWood Limited (Belgium);
National institute of wood (Romania).
BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION
The return to natural materials in construction, as well as awareness that the use of sustainable raw materials can build energy-efficient buildings, requiring the clients increasingly choose wood.
Energy efficiency is important in all scopes of life, especially in the construction industry. Energy efficiency principles applied in all the building stages: from planning, material selection till building construction and insulation.
Using wood as a building material creates a natural, renewable raw material product with higher added value. Sustainable construction improves energy efficiency while reducing CO2 emissions.
Summary The main objective of the EWCM-OT project was to develop eLearning material for wood construction managers and to programme it into a useful online course. After the project realization this training course is offered in each project organizations with the goal to improve the qualifications of wood construction specialists and to obtain a European recognized training certificate.
Description Training course for professionals of wooden building construction is a continuing education program that makes it possible to improve the knowledge and skills. The learning process is organized in distance education, as all study materials are available in the e-environment. Course address now is: http://skolas.lu.lv.ewcm.
Open and distance learning
Utilization and distribution of results
open and distance learning
The program has six modules:
1.Legislation and regulation - wooden buildings, in Europe existing laws and regulations in construction, the security provisions for wooden building construction work on lifts and lifting equipment, hygiene and environmental protection on site.
2. Wood construction techniques - the use of wooden construction of energy-efficient building construction and renovation, wood-framed building density in, insulation and window installation, roof structural timber connections and floor installation examples in different types of buildings.
3. Project management – beginning of the construction project, work with clients, documentation, project technical and financial supervision, avoidance of potential risks.
4. Marketing for wood construction sector - marketing strategy for wooden building construction company.
5. Quality - wood preparation and maintenance requirements in the construction industry's quality standards, project financial and technical analysis of the results.


is designed as a bird table or bird bath for hanging on your balcony,
terrace or even in a tree. A hanging bird table or bath keeps birds safe
from cats and makes them easier to observe. The ceramic shell for use
as a bird bath is sealed. The shell for use as a bird table has two
holes for drainage.
We developed Around in collaboration with Italian designer and bird expert, Luca Galmarini.
steel parts are made of strong stainless steel that will not rust. It
is easy to assemble, without the need for tools. Just put the roof onto
the ring and secure with the screw sleeve. Then, screw the hook into the
top of the sleeve. Now fit the ceramic bowl into the ring. The groove
fits the radius perfectly and keeps the ceramic in place. Around has a
very sturdy and storm-proof construction. You can always use a chain or
rope to compensate if the hanging height is not suitable.
ceramic bowl is made of CeraNatur® and coated with Granicium®. The
rough surface gives birds and insects security. The high-quality ceramic
is frost-proof, UV-resistant and sea water-resistant. We give a 15-year
against disease, the ceramic bowl must be cleaned regularly, preferably
every two days. To do so, take the bowl off the ring and clean it with
water and a brush. Natural vinegar-based cleaner can be used for heavier
soiling. Then replace the bowl and fill with food or water.
Feeding in summerBecause of shortages of food, experts now advise also putting suitable food out for birds during the summer. Suitable food is available to buy from pet shops or conservation organisations.
Using the bird bath in the winter
Birds need water regularly, especially during the winter, so it makes sense to use the bird bath all year round. Even if the water freezes, the formation of ice will not harm the ceramic. During longer periods of frost, the ceramic bowl should regularly be filled with warm water, so that birds still have access to water, even when the weather is very cold.
Around set bird table and bird bath Granicium®, with 2 bowls for bird table and bird bath use


I spent a couple weeks on the road in the middle of May. The central purpose was to accomplish some business and to visit with family, but I took some extra time to do some scenic driving and some hiking along the way. The highlight of the hiking was a 25 mile stretch of the C&O Canal Towpath that included the newly constructed section called Big Slackwater.
I highly recommend it. If you only visit one section of this 185 mile trail, this is the one, in my opinion. Most of the rest of the path is in the woods beside the Potomac River, but with only occasional glimpses of the water. As the photo up top shows, Big Slackwater puts the hiker right on the shore of the river, sometimes with the water lapping under the concrete segments of path that the Park Service installed in 2012.
This is a section of the Towpath where there is no canal. Because of high cliffs right along the shore, the engineers chose to dam the river ...
Over the years since the 1926 final closure of the canal, erosion from floods had destroyed much of this exposed section of the towpath, but the park service was determined to re-open it. Their solution was these pre-fab sections of concrete 'bridge'. They should be sturdy enough to withstand most of the floods the river can throw at it.
|McMahon's Mill, near the upstream end of Big Slackwater. A new parking area here puts you right in the middle of the action.
Although the C&O Towpath is predominantly used by bicyclists, I believe it is best appreciated on foot. I did it both ways. On bicycle you pass the scenery too quickly and miss much of the detail. On foot this smooth level path allows your eyes to wander and take in the scenery--a luxury that mountain hiking on uneven footing seldom affords. Here beside the river it's not so much a hike as it is a stroll. And a delightful stroll it was in Mid-May. It was cool and green and largely untouched by civilization, except for an ugly mile of riverside trailers around Falling Waters where the towpath doubles as a public road. And then there's the short stretch near the I-81 bridge where traffic noise competes with the river's murmur and the song of the wood thrush.
This is the second section of Towpath I've hiked. My report of the section between Harpers Ferry and Taylors Landing can be found here. I will be back for more.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - 11:05
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on how to protect trees and shrubs from rabbits this winter.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - 14:04
The holiday season is just around the corner. One of the best parts of any good holiday celebration is beautiful holiday plants, including the spectacular amaryllis. What is the best way to ensure it will bloom for Christmas, and can it be saved afterward?
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 - 13:53
When is the right time to cut back plants in the home garden? It depends on the plant. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on cutting back perennials, ornamental grasses, asparagus and rhubarb.
Monday, October 19, 2015 - 08:02
A destructive insect of ash trees has been confirmed in southern Cedar Rapids. The emerald ash borer was discovered at an Iowa interstate rest area along I-380 approximately one-half mile north of the Johnson County line.
Thursday, October 15, 2015 - 08:56
Fall’s arrival brings a natural question: Even though the weather has turned cooler, how does lawn care and preparation change? Colder weather doesn’t mean lawns should be ignored.
Thursday, October 15, 2015 - 08:45
A public workshop will explore opportunities that exist for community gardens, and provide an opportunity for gardeners to give feedback on community garden efforts and educational programs that are needed to support Iowa gardeners. This free event is Nov. 14 from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 12:10
A new publication on emerald ash borer management is now available from the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Store. Finding a Certified Pesticide Applicator for Emerald Ash Borer Treatment (PM 3074) is an unbiased guide to locating a certified pesticide applicator to treat ash trees before they are infested with the emerald ash borer.
Monday, October 12, 2015 - 12:54
Two new publications on turf care are now available from the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Store: Preventing Compaction on Athletic Fields and Tips for Athletic Field Seeding and Irrigation.
Friday, October 9, 2015 - 15:01
The Iowa State University Athletic Field Short Course will take place Nov. 3 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The course will kick off at Reiman Gardens at 1407 University Blvd. in Ames.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 - 08:50
Evergreen trees are built to survive the cold weather, but they still need care and preventive measures during the colder months of the year. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on how to help evergreens survive winter.


Gardening with kids - March
Spring weather is finally here, and seeing as we're all at home I know those of us with an opportunity to have a vegetable plot might be getting started this month.
Our son has more than ten food allergies and plus more environmental allergies and a high chemical sensitivity (check out my other blog www.soseczema.com for more on that) so when he was younger and couldn't tolerate vegetables from the shop due to them being sprayed with chemicals we set up our polytunnel and outside veggie plot to grow vegetables that he was able to eat. As his immune system got stronger and we adapted to our changed lifestyle we were able to go from 'survival mode' in the garden to spending more time doing fun stuff that wasn't garden related so the veggie garden has been derelict for the last three years apart from a few beds in the polytunnel.
With the current paradigm however we felt it was a good idea to resurrect it again, so here is a little video of what we've been up to, and hopefully it might inspire you to have some fun with your little ones in the garden. Enjoy!


Registration opens next week for the 17th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum, January 28-30, 2020 at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre!
2020 Forum: Strengthening BC's Competitive Advantage
Economic headwinds and market forces are presenting new challenges for BC’s natural resources sector. How can resource companies navigate this rapidly changing environment? Attend the 17th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum for insights from Indigenous, Government and resource sector leaders on how British Columbia can improve its competitive advantage in sustainable resource development.
The theme for the 17th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum will be used to guide keynote presentations and session discussions including (in development):
- Resource Ministers’ Breakfast;
- Forestry Sector panel;
- Mining Sector panel;
- Energy Sector panel;
- Future Leaders panel;
- a partnerships and perspectives panel; and
- a cross-sector resource sector leaders (CEOs) panel. [More]


Chasing Rare & Endangered Ones
This tour will span the refuge in search of its two rare and endangered songbirds. Experts on the species will take you to shady, relatively moist woodlands of oak and juniper to listen and look for Golden-cheeked Warblers. At the other end of the refuge, we will listen for the raspy songs of Black-capped Vireos in and around thickets of scrubby oaks, sumacs, and greenbriars. Along the way we hope to spot other Hill Country birds.
Targets: Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo
The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP) is not one single tract of land but a system of preserves that exists as a multi-agency conservation effort operating under a regional 10(a) permit issued under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFW).
The permit was issued jointly to the BCP's two managing partners, the City of Austin and Travis County, in 1996, though several other organizations own and manage land dedicated to the BCP. Ultimately, the goal is to set aside 30,428 acres in western Travis County as habitat for eight endangered species-two neotropical migratory songbirds and six karst invertebrates-and 27 species of concern.
Mail- Friends of Balcones
PO Box 4678
Lago Vista TX 78645
2018 © Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR


A major factor driving the growth of solar power in the US has been the economics of large, utility-scale solar projects. The scale of plants ensures that their developers can buy components in bulk; use larger, more robust hardware; and install everything efficiently. That’s in major contrast to most distributed installations, like rooftop solar.
But these installations do come with downsides. They often occur on undeveloped land, which can offset some of their positive contributions to climate change, especially if the land that has to be cleared was sequestering carbon. Ideally, it would be better to find a way to mix the best features of both—use previously developed sites, but on a scale that puts them on par with dedicated installations.
One of the solutions that has been floated (pun intended) is to put the panels on reservoirs. Reservoirs are large and already developed, and there’s a side benefit of floating the panels onto the water: it cuts down on evaporation, potentially enhancing the value of the reservoir. Now, researchers have examined an alternative: covering all of California’s open-air aqueducts, which supply one of the most productive agricultural regions on the planet, with photovoltaics.
The researchers here, based at the University of California branches in Merced and Santa Cruz, refer to California’s water delivery system as canals because they’re located at ground-level. But they carry no boat traffic, and the locals tend to call them aqueducts, given their focus on carrying water. They play a critical role in taking water from areas of the state where it accumulates (largely due to snowpack in the mountains) and delivering it to the agricultural regions in the state’s Central Valley.
Regardless of how you describe it, there are over 6,000 kilometers of waterway involved in this system, with widths often running in the area of 30 meters. Put differently, the system can host a lot of solar panels.
But to function, the water in these canals has to move, delivering water to the locations that need it. So it’s not a simple matter of floating a bunch of panels out into a reservoir. The researchers consider two different options for placing panels on the canal: either a solid truss that holds them above the surface or a cable anchored on each bank. The latter consistently produces better results, since it involves less raw material and is easier to construct, so we’ll ignore the former option. Both options have been used in India, so there is some experience with their operation.
In this configuration, the researchers expect that there will be multiple benefits for a canal-based system. For one, the suspended panels will shade the canal and reduce evaporation, thus increasing the supply of the water. It will also lower the growth of any aquatic plants and algae that might otherwise make the canal their home, reducing the need for maintenance and cleaning. Finally, the relatively cool water in the canal will moderate the temperature of the panels themselves, which can improve the efficiency of some classes of solar panels. (The authors assume installing thin-film CadTel panels.)
The question was whether these additional benefits would balance out the added cost of suspending the panels over the canal. To find out, the researchers compared the economics of an install to that of a standard utility-scale install on neighboring terrain.
Environment + econ
Figuring this out was not an easy process. The canal system stretches throughout much of the length of the state, and panels at the northern end of it will have very different environmental conditions and capture less light than those in the south. These same factors will also influence evaporation, so the researchers incorporated an environmental model into their system. They also found several ways of estimating water loss in the literature, so they used these methods to create high- and low-end ranges of the expected savings from the evaporation.
Finally, all of this data was rolled into an economic calculation based on what’s called a net present value. This calculation incorporated the installation costs, the value of the water saved, the value of the electricity generated, and the value of the canal maintenance that can be avoided. All that was compared to the value generated by simply installing a standard utility-scale system that operated in the same climate and sunlight conditions.
Overall, as noted above, any system that used a solid truss to support the panel involved such large installation costs that, at best, it would lose money based on power generated in all but the sunniest areas of the state. The cable-supported systems did significantly better, generating power with a positive net present value in all circumstances.
The systems obviously weren’t as profitable as installing the equivalent system on land. But once the lower canal maintenance and the increased efficiency of the panels due to the cooling effect of the water were considered, the systems significantly outperformed land-based panels in every location examined. In the grand scheme of things, the value of the water that stayed in the system thanks to the panels wasn’t very significant; there was a single location in the south of the state where high water prices made it a bigger factor.
The researchers also calculated the levelized cost of energy for each of the locations. But here, there wasn’t much difference between the options, as the increased panel efficiency due to the cooling from nearby water ended up offsetting the added costs of the over-canal designs.
Uncertainties about the evaporation rate leave a huge range of water savings estimates, from 40,000 cubic meters of water to 250 million cubic meters. That’s anywhere from about a minute of flow from the Sacramento River in to the San Francisco Bay to a bit under five percent of the volume of the state’s largest reservoir. It’s not nothing, but it’s not life-changing, either.
There are a number of things, however, that make these calculations more complicated than the economic analysis would suggest. For example, the cabling over the canals could potentially complicate maintenance, even if said maintenance wouldn’t have to happen as often. And the canals aren’t always located near sites that would be easy to connect to California’s power grid. Unlike a more compact site, wiring up a long, stretched-out row of panels could add considerably to the cost.
But there are also offsetting factors. For example, during droughts, the price of water can grow considerably, so the extra water in the system would sporadically take on a much higher value. The water savings can also help limit the drawdown of groundwater in California, which has been causing all sorts of problems with the state’s infrastructure, including the canals themselves. Finally, a lot of the irrigation pumps in the Central Valley are powered by diesel engines, which are highly polluting, so there’s the possibility that solar mini-grids could work to cut pollution and fossil fuel use even if they’re not hooked up to the grid.
In a lot of ways, however, the value of this work isn’t necessarily specific to California. The model developed here is likely to be useful for any context where these sorts of installations are possible, allowing other locales to evaluate the potential—and the trade-offs—of this approach to solar.


Tony Carnie is a freelance environment writer from Durban. He grew up in Kenya and Zimbabwe before plonking his roots down on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. After nearly three decades at The Mercury and Independent Media, writing about toxic air, polluted rivers or wilderness conservation, he packed up a trailer-load of archived paper and set up a new office at home. Mentors include Peter Montague, founder of Rachels Environment and Health News.
Daily Maverick © All rights reserved


“WSUP is a valued partner in helping us to build sustainable communities through access to clean water and sanitation service delivery. Their focus on building local capacity and bringing the private sector, NGOs and research institutions together to focus on challenges in urban areas is directly in line with Coca-Cola’s community water partnership strategies. We are delighted to expand our impactful partnership with WSUP under the RAIN initiative,” said Dr. Susan Mboya-Kidero, President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.About Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) is a non-profit partnership between the private sector, NGOs and research institutions focused on solving the global problem of inadequate water and sanitation in low-income urban communities. It brings lasting solutions to low-income areas by working in partnership with service providers including water utilities, local authorities and businesses, and the communities they serve. WSUP strengthens the capacity of service providers to deliver sustainable city-wide water and sanitation services, promote good hygiene and raise the environmental standards of low-income communities. WSUP is a RAIN partner, implementing projects in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and provide communities with clean water and sanitation services. For more information visit: http://www.wsup.com/ About The Coca-Cola Company The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com. About RAIN In response to the severe water challenges faced by the nearly 300 million Africans living without access to clean water, TCCAF introduced the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) in 2009. RAIN recognizes the water projects that TCCC and its bottling partners have already supported on the continent (since 2005) and highlights TCCC’s new investment of US$30-million over six years (2010 to 2015) to water projects in Africa. RAIN aims to provide over 2 million people in Africa with access to clean water by the end of 2015. RAIN is TCCC’s contribution to helping Africa achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals on clean water and sanitation access. TCCAF will leverage this US$30-million investment and aims to attract dollar-for-dollar match funding through 2015.


Expect Cooler Nights with No Precipitation through the Remainder of the Week
Monsoonal weather patterns have moved into the Grand Canyon area decreasing fire danger. As a result, on Tuesday, July 8 at 8 a.m. fire managers lifted fire restrictions within Grand Canyon National Park. More »
Two Bats Collected in the Park Have Tested Positive for Rabies
One on the North Kaibab Trail and the other at Tusayan Ruin/Museum. Rabies can be prevented if appropriate medical care is given following an exposure. Any persons having physical contact with bats in Grand Canyon National Park, please follow this link. More »
Interpretive Ranger Programs
The current program schedule may be downloaded below.
All outdoor programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather or when lightning danger is present.
Spring months at Grand Canyon may bring a variety of weather conditions. It is still possible to receive snow, and you may encounter icy walkways and trails. Please dress for the weather and consider over-the-shoe traction devices for your comfort and safety.
South Rim - Fall 2014 Program Schedule (2 pages, 563kb PDF)
Includes Junior Ranger Programs
September 2 through November 30, 2014
Includes South Rim Village, and down in the Grand Canyon.
North Rim 2014 Season Program Schedule (1 page, 270kb PDF)
Download the Park Newspapers
Your phone provides a fun way to learn more about the Park. Listen to park rangers give 2 minute audio tours at various points of interest on the South Rim, from Hermit Road to Yaki Point, and the North Rim. Learn more...
Grand Canyon Sunrise/ Sunset Times and Moon Phases
Did You Know?
There are different river trip opportunities through Grand Canyon National Park, including professionally guided raft trips, available to the public and often reserved a year or two in advance; and self-guided, or "private" river trips, made available to the public through a weighted lottery. More...


If you are a smoker, have you ever considered the ways your tobacco smoke can affect your pets? After all, second hand smoke is not just an occurrence that negatively harms people! If you are into smoking at home, in the company of your furry friends, consider making the switch to vapor cigarettes to keep them free from the effects of smoke, as well as to keep them happier in their day to day lives. Keep reading to learn about the ways smoke can be your worst enemy when it comes to protecting your pets!
Tobacco smoke affects the human body in the most negative ways, and just about any other body exposed to its assault. Among the most vulnerable are your pets however, since they can’t make decisions for themselves to avoid breathing in the smoke, nor can they make the necessary changes needed to assure their safety regarding smoke exposure, it is our responsibility to do it for them. And one of the best and easiest ways to do this is by swapping your traditional cigarettes for smoke-free, tar-free, tobacco-free e-cigs.
Some of the ways cats and dogs can be affected by continuous subjection to smoke are allergies, breathing issues, (just like people) and a variety of different types of cancers, the chance of which increases depending on how often they are exposed to cigarette smoke. In addition, dogs can experience allergic dermatitis as a result of cigarette smoke exposure, which causes severe inflammation of the skin.
Another aspect of concern is that cats who are exposed to cigarette smoke can be victims of third-hand smoke, caused by the particles of smoke and tar clinging to their fur, which they ingest from grooming themselves.
Cigarette smoke exposure can also have deadly consequences to pet birds, who are unable to tolerate the smoke. Pneumonia, lung cancer, skin problems, infertility, heart problems, as well as skin and eye problems are all common occurrences for birds who are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke.
Pretty scary, right? All creatures, human and otherwise deserve clean, smoke-free air to breathe, and when it comes to your pets, make the smart choice with vapor cigs, knowing you will no longer be subjecting your fur babies to unwanted smoke, tar, carcinogens and countless chemicals they can’t avoid. Clean air is better for all parties involved.


Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
- Filed Under
Corning Inc. would more easily be able to locate a planned diesel plant in the Southern Tier with the help of a clean energy tax credit proposed by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Schumer's proposal would change Section 48C of the IRS tax code to apply to projects that reduce emissions of air pollutants, particularly black carbon, from diesel-powered vehicles.
Corning, which makes products to reduce diesel vehicle air pollutants, is expected to expand even further in the next several years as countries around the globe toughen emission standards. ...


Our planet is teeming with countless microbes that play a pivotal role in sustaining life – they aid digestion, convert carbon and nitrogen into essential compounds for plants, create food that are staples of the human diet, and remove toxins from the environment.
No single microbe can perform these complex energy transactions alone, however, which is why they form communities – microbial communities, also known as microbiomes.
Unfortunately, scientific understanding of microbial communities lags behind understanding of individual bacteria, which has prompted one Masdar Institute faculty member and his team to leverage their expertise in bioinformatics and Big Data – the term for data sets that are extremely large, complex in variety and in some cases updated frequently – to develop the world’s largest database for microbial communities.
Dr. Andreas Henschel, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Masdar Institute, has developed one of the largest open-access, web-based community resources for analyzing and comparing over 20,000 microbial communities from different environments around the world, including the human body, oceans, soil and wastewater.
“The database provides an overview of the similarities and differences between microbial communities from all types of ecosystems,” Dr. Henschel explained.
The database maps all available environmental microbiomes with data collected from 2,426 different independent studies. The database server and an open source analysis tool developed with support from Masdar Institute Research Engineer Muhammad Anwar and former PhD student Vimitha Manohar were recently highlighted in a paper published in the leading scientific journal PLOS Computational Biology.
The database can provide insightful information on microbial community formation and adaptation, which could have profound impacts on human health, among other critical areas, such as wastewater treatment and bioenergy production, which rely on or are impacted by the metabolic processes of microbial communities.
The database can help scientists better understand whether communities assemble more predictably or more randomly, and how physical characteristics, like temperature, pH or salinity, are driving factors in microbial community development.
“Knowing the environment in which a certain microbial community forms is extremely valuable information,” Dr. Henschel said.
Motivated by a desire to learn more about the UAE’s microbiomes, Dr. Henschel is now scanning the database to identify ecosystems that produce microbiomes similar to the ones found in the UAE.
“The microbiomes that flourish in the UAE’s hot, dry climate and high saline waters have unique properties that enable them to survive in these extreme, harsh environments. Many scientists are interested in leveraging these bacteria for various industrial and health applications. One of the reasons why we created this database was to find similar microbiomes in different environments, to determine which environmental factors attract these resilient bacterial communities,” Dr. Henschel explained.
In addition to human health, microbes have also been playing a crucial role in industry, by improving the industrial processes used to produce valuable chemicals, plastics, bioenergy, food, and pharmaceutical products.
Not only has Dr. Henschel developed this extensive database, which he did by customizing an open-source bioinformatics tool suite known as Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME), but he is also applying high-performance computing methods to extract useful information from the data for further research.
“The wealth of data produced with deep DNA sequencing of entire microbial communities without the need of isolating and cultivating single bacteria provides an entirely new data intensive angle on microbiology and lends itself to the use of machine learning techniques, which are used to extract valuable information from the large datasets,” Dr. Henschel said.
When applied to his microbiome database, Dr. Henschel aims to identify biomarkers – which are informative combinations of bacteria that indicate the presence of diseases such as colorectal cancer and pre-diabetes – in stool samples, thus avoiding invasive diagnostic methods.
“If we can determine which communities form in the gut of a healthy person versus those that form in the gut of a person suffering from a disease, such as colorectal cancer or an autoimmune disorder, we can begin to determine the factors required for good bacteria to form in the person with the disease. This type of research will be instrumental in the development of effective medicines and alternative therapies that can prevent the over-use of antibiotics,” he explained.
Dr. Henschel’s leading research in the field of bioinformatics exemplifies Masdar Institute’s robust research capabilities in the fields of information science. Through innovative research projects such as this, Masdar Institute is contributing to the advancement of three critical sectors targeted by the UAE’s innovation strategy – water, healthcare and technology.
News and Features Writer
16 February 2016


A Senate Republican on Monday filed a bill that could snuff out the possibility that Florida would create a “cap-and-trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, reports the News Service of Florida. Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, filed SB 648, which mirrors a bill (HB 4001) filed earlier by House Energy & Utilities Chairman Scott Plakon, R-Longwood. Cap and trade has been a long-debated idea to combat climate change. It involves placing emission limits on power plants and giving credits to utilities that comply. Those credits then could be sold to other utilities. The Legislature approved a law in 2008 that took steps toward creating a cap-and-trade system, though such a system has never been adopted. The Hays and Plakon bills would repeal that law, which was dubbed the Florida Climate Protection Act.


THE AGRANA FRUIT SUSTAINABILITY AMBITION
It’s our humanistic duty to protect our planet, and AGRANA Fruit takes that duty to heart. We’re continually implementing substantial improvements to ensure we operate more sustainably.
We’ve set ambitious, companywide goals that are tangible, realistic and in alignment with our short-term and long-term environmental responsibilities.
We make decisions that go beyond what’s best for our company. Our products are also made with a selfless concern for our planet, as well as our communities.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS AND TARGETS
We will become a carbon neutral business by 2050 across our entire value chain.
- Reduce energy consumption by 5% in our operations by maximising the efficiency of our processes and preserving resources by 2025.
- Achieve carbon neutrality across our operations by 2040.
- Achieve carbon neutrality across our entire value chain by 2050.
We will continue to protect water as a fundamental natural resource for all people.
- Reduce water consumption by 5% in our operations by maximising the efficiency of our processes and preserving resources by 2025.
- Implement effective water risk management practices and preventive actions in our supply chain in line with climate scenario analysis by 2030.
We will continue to protect and enhance biodiversity and soil health in our value chain by establishing Regenerative Agriculture practices as a standard for the fruit industry.
- Develop a Regenerative Agriculture Framework for 3 fruit types by 2025.
- Lead pilot projects and promote Regenerative Agriculture practices by 2030.
- Double our contribution to biodiversity habitat regeneration each year until 2030.
We will continue to develop solutions that reduce food loss and waste in our operations and across our value chain.
- Achieve zero waste to landfill by 2025.
- Contribute to halving food loss and waste by 2030 by actively supporting the 10X20X30 initiative.
- Make 100% of our packaging circular by 2030.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
of electricity used in AGRANA Fruit in 2021|22 is renewable
reduction of waste to landfill across all AGRANA Fruit sites since 2019|20
reduction of water consumption at AGRANA Fruit Poland due to closing the open water cooling circuit
single use plastic packaging for products delivered to customers in France, Germany and Poland
SOCIAL COMMITMENTS AND TARGETS
We will ensure that all our fruit are sustainably and transparently sourced. We will make sustainable fruit accessible to a growing number of consumers.
- Trace 100% of our fruit and sugar back to farmers by 2025.
- Achieve 32% FSA Silver or equivalent fruit by 2026 and 100% by 2040.
- Have all our fruit suppliers registered on SEDEX by 2025.
- Develop and implement decision guidelines for sustainable purchasing by 2025.
We will guarantee our employees a safe, fulfilling and inclusive place to work.
- Decrease the lost day rate to 10,5 and the injury rate to 0,8 by 2025.
- Have all our operations registered on SEDEX and audited against the social standard by 2025.
- Strengthen our culture of sustainability amongst employees through tangible local actions by 2025.
OUR SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
of AGRANA Fruit managers were female in 2021|22
of raw materials (volume based) were sourced sustainably* in 2021|22
of our fruit (volume based) was sourced from SEDEX compliant suppliers in 2021|22
* Sustainable sourcing is an integral part of AGRANA Fruit’s strategy. We want to ensure visibility of where our raw materials come from and how they are produced while also promoting ethical, social, and environmental sustainability in our supply chain. We guarantee that the sustainable raw materials we source have been produced in accordance with our sustainability principles as outlined in AGRANA’s General Principles for the Procurement of Agricultural Raw Materials and Intermediate Products.
AGRANA FRUIT AND AGRANA GROUP MEMBERSHIPS
AGRANA Fruit South Africa
Safeguarding the lives of our employees
At AGRANA Fruit South Africa, occupational health and safety ensures that the health and welfare of our employees are well-taken care of. If implemented efficiently, it can minimize workplace associated accidents, hazards, illnesses and even death. We are proud to have achieved a safe workplace with continuous support from top management, involving all employees, and learning through training, communication and consultation activities. That is how, we have recently celebrated two years without safety incidents.
Communication about sustainability initiatives
When AGRANA Fruit South Africa employees work together to identify and implement sustainability initiatives, it fosters a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement. Our colleagues work harder when they are engaged and have a sense of pride in their company. That is when our campaigns to raise awareness, communicate and conduct trainings are most successful. Over the last couple of years we have introduced the following sustainability activities:
- Train our procurement team to source sustainable raw materials and packaging
- Raise awareness about Diversity & Inclusion topics
- Actively reduce energy and water consumption
Reducing water and energy consumption
Over the past 3 years, the sustainability team of AGRANA Fruit South Africa has done several improvement projects on reduction of water, electricity and natural gas consumed for every ton produced of our product, leading to the following results: electricity reduction of 27% per ton of product, natural gas reduction of 18% per ton of product and water reduction of 5% per ton of product.


Posted at: 09/02/2014 5:53 PM
Updated at: 09/02/2014 5:55 PM
By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4
ALBUQUERQUE -- People in Albuquerque have been doing a good job of conserving water and energy, and now are being rewarded for it with higher bills.
Water bills jumped 5% this summer in Bernalillo County, on top of another 5% a year ago. Now it's PNM's turn. The electric company says it will be asking state regulators for a rate increase by December.
Water bills increased by $3 a month for the average residential customer on July 1. The reason? A drop in water use. The average person is now using 135 gallons a day, down from 148 gallons last year. That means not enough money is coming in to replace and repair aging water and sewer lines.
"Here we are, trying to conserve and they're raising our bills," said customer Holly Smith. "It seems like the complete opposite of what they should be doing. You can't win, absolutely not. Here we are, trying to conserve as much as we can and we're getting punished for it!"
With electricity, it's a similar story. We're using less juice, so PNM says it needs higher rates to pay for power plants and transmission technology.
"It's like we're in a Catch-22," said customer Michael Silos. "If we do good, we pay. If we don't do good, we pay. One way or the other, we wind up paying. It's not fair at all. They ask us to conserve and we do like they say."
Also driving the need for higher electric bills is New Mexico's low-wattage economy. Business and industry are still stagnant and customer growth is puny. PNM's last rate hike was in 2011, a 9% increase.


While this spring’s water from Devils Lake to floods in the Red River Valley and recent downpours in Minot have been bad for people the ducks have been loving it. Silver lining? Small..but it is a silver lining:
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 4.5 million birds, an increase of 12 percent from last year and 107 percent above the long-term average (1948-2009). The 2010 index is the third highest on record.
All species, except for wigeon (-9 percent), showed an increase from last year. Pintails were up 10 percent and were at the highest level since 1970. Mallards were up 12 percent and were the fourth highest on record. The most significant increases were ruddy ducks (+162 percent), green-winged teal (+91 percent), scaup (+54 percent), and redhead (+33 percent).
In addition, all species were above the long-term average.
The spring water index was up 5 percent from 2009 and 76 percent above the long-term average. It was the fifth highest in survey history and the highest since 1999.
Mike Johnson, game management section leader, cautions that the water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands. “Water conditions were generally good throughout the state, with the abundant snow cover and significant spring rains filling most basins,” he added. “The large number of ducks tallied during our survey is consistent with the well-above-average populations we have been carrying since 1994. These high numbers are the result of abundant Conservation Reserve Program nesting cover combined with the wet conditions that have been in place since the summer of 1993.”
Additionally, reports indicate that much of the Prairie Pothole Region in South Dakota and Montana was in good shape this spring. While much of prairie Saskatchewan and Manitoba were dry at the time of spring migration and settling, Johnson said Saskatchewan has since experienced significant improvement in water conditions that should benefit renesting and brood survival for those birds that did settle.
However, nesting cover in North Dakota continues to decline. Since the beginning of 2007, North Dakota has lost more than 700,000 CRP acres, and projections for the next two years indicate up to another 1.7 million acres could be converted to cropland.
“This loss of our critical nesting cover will be disastrous for breeding ducks and hunting opportunities in North Dakota,” Johnson said.
The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production and insight into what to expect this fall. Observations to date indicate that production will be improved across the state due to improved water conditions and increased wetland availability for brood production.


What is HOT?
In crisis situations like an earthquake, volcanic eruption, avalanche or epidemic, first responders need up-to-date digital maps to navigate the affected area. However, many remote regions around the world simply do not have the data necessary for aid groups to safely traverse city streets and locate rural villages post-disaster. In the event of a disaster, the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) mobilizes volunteer mappers around the world to focus their efforts on data deficient regions.
What we do
OpenStreetMap volunteers create digital maps in a web browser using satellite imagery to identify road networks, buildings, and natural resources. Volunteers may also add names of features or directional flow of rivers and roads when knowledge or image quality allows. The end product is similar to any navigation app but includes features of high importance to responders such as hospitals, school fields that serve as helicopter landing pads, and pedestrian-only dirt paths. Responders on site in the disaster zone can download these data at any time and use it to inform their disaster response decisions in the field.
Click below to read more about how the University of Vermont Humanitarian Mapping Club has organized mapathons to help people impacted by natural disasters in Ecuador and Sri Lanka.View Full Blog Post


Roca Debba is epitomised by its 'soft square' look, providing a smooth and organic design to match any bathroom. Roca's Debba Toilet features a close coupled WC pan with a 4.5 or 3 litres dual flush and is accompanied with the Debba soft-closing toilet seat and cover. Cistern with a soft square design with water saving technoology and a dual flush system. Covered by a 25 year manufacture guarantee.
- Smooth and organic design
- Close coupled WC pan
- White vitreous china
- Soft-closing toilet seat
- Dual flush with water saving technology
- 25 year manufacture guarantee


Loss of buds
We have a lot of buds on our tree but they fall off before they open. Do you know why this is happening?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
I'm not sure of what kind of tree your referring to.
Generally speaking though buds are the most sensitive part of the plant or tree.
Stresses like watering issues, temperature fluctuations, to much fertilizer could all be reasons.


OHIO Engineering researcher and team receive $2 million to create coal composites
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $1.5 million to an Ohio University professor to develop engineered composite decking boards from coal. Industry partners are providing an additional $500,000 in funding.
Jason Trembly, Russ Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment (ISEE), part of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, aims to utilize coal in the manufacture of construction composite building materials in collaboration with CONSOL Energy, Engineered Profiles, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Clear Skies Consulting.
“I am very proud of the contributions made by ISEE students and staff in developing the construction composite materials, which made this effort a great success,” said Trembly. “Further, I’m grateful for the support of the DOE and our industry partners and excited to work with them to scale composite manufacturing and assess commercialization opportunities.”
Manufacturing the coal-based composites requires less energy – and results in lower manufacturing costs and emissions – than manufacturing commercial wood plastic composites. Also more affordable to consumers, the materials provide a new, sustainable way of using coal while meeting all applicable ASTM and International Building Code specifications.
CONSOL’s Vice President of Business Development and Technology Dan Connell said the initiative has the potential to open up an alternative, sustainable market for U.S. coal.
“In line with our company’s mission, this project is keenly focused on technological innovation to create an entirely new application for coal – namely, its use as a direct feedstock for the manufacture of building products,” Connell said. “Ohio University’s initial research results show promise with respect to the technical, economic and environmental performance of coal plastic composites, and we look forward to getting involved with helping to advance this opportunity.”
Studies show the global plastic composite market, which is undergoing tremendous growth, is expected to reach $8.76 billion by 2023. If successful, coal composite manufacturing will generate an initial new U.S. coal demand market of over 3 million tons annually, along with new manufacturing jobs.
“If successful, utilizing coal in the manufacture of building materials will yield a new sustainable coal end-use which minimizes greenhouse gas emissions associated in manufacturing such materials, while meeting a rapidly growing consumer market sector,” said Trembly. “This project is an excellent example of OHIO’s innovative cross-cutting research programming and example of the university’s leadership in national sustainability initiatives.”
Learn more about the application of coal plastic composites in the journal article “Coal Filler Based Thermoplastic Composites as Construction Materials: A New Sustainable End-Use Application” co-authored by Trembly and published by the American Chemical Society.


By Bethany Rice
Curator of Collections, Kern County Museum
If you have ever walked the grounds of Stockdale County Club, you might have noticed some unusual plant life. Perhaps you were on your way to your weekly tennis game and noticed the towering bamboo stalks by the courts, or you might have even seen the stand-alone bamboo grove just near the main entrance as you drove in. These two groups are the last remnants of what was considered the largest bamboo grove outside of Japan.
In the late 1800s, William Tevis (Tevis Junior High, anyone?) owned the land Stockdale County Club and golf course currently reside on. He had an incredible interest in horticulture and imported a great many varieties of plants from all over the world, but one grass truly caught his attention. In 1896, Tevis brought home a bamboo plant from a shop in San Francisco that positively flourished in the Bakersfield climate. His interest in this Japanese grass grew as he realized the great many uses for the timber it produced. Tevis envisioned bamboo as the next major American resource- its light and flexible, but strong qualities made it ideal for crates, barrels, building materials, and so much more. Such was his interest in bamboo that Tevis began working with the United States Department of Agriculture by providing them with data on the growth and characteristics of his plants. In 1909, Tevis was the recipient of over 1500 individual bamboo clumps from W.D. Hills, a Japanese bamboo specialist, who was working with the US Department of Agriculture. They shared Tevis’ vision that bamboo could become the next major economic resource.
Their vision was not shortsighted. Bamboo is a major economic resource in Japan, not just as a building material, but the young shoots of bamboo are edible and a great food resource. The strain of bamboo that thrived particularly well in the Bakersfield climate is Giant Timber bamboo, or Phyllostachys reticula. This species has the ability to grow up to 70 feet in just 30 days. It accomplishes this incredible feat by growing 24-36 inches in just a twenty-four hour period. Many report sitting in bamboo groves and being able to listen to the grasses crackle and pop as they shoot skyward.
In the early 1900s, Tevis imported other species of bamboo until over fifty varieties lived on the Stockdale property. His expertise on the subject matter grew so much that Tevis produced a book on the topic of known species of bamboo which published in 1910. Around this time, his large bamboo grove was attracting international attention. Tevis and his grove were featured in Popular Mechanics (1903), National Geographic (1911), Orchard and Farm: Irrigation (1912), Sunset: The Pacific Monthly (1913), to name just a few.
Despite international attention, the bamboo grove of Stockdale slowly began to disappear. A fire in 1925 destroyed the Tevis mansion and some of the grounds it stood on. Rebuilding quickly occurred and the space transitioned from Tevis’ live-in mansion to a clubhouse. By this point, the community was used to the massive bamboo grove that stood off of Stockdale Highway and it was nothing unusual or noteworthy. In fact, Stockdale County Club used the bamboo as revenue by selling off poles to the people of Bakersfield and the surrounding area to use as television antennas on top of their homes.
Unfortunately, the Stockdale Country Club was hit by another fire in 1934 that destroyed much of the bamboo grove, according to the Bakersfield Californian. Finally, a third fire in 1940 razed the entire clubhouse to the ground, and we can only imagine how many species of plant life disappeared from the grounds that day, as well. Stockdale County Club still soldiered on, however. Not only did they rebuild but continued to expand, resulting in more bamboo being removed in the early 1950s to make room for parking lots. By 1955, only an acre of the bamboo remained, and it was concentrated to the east of the club. In recent years, some of the remaining bamboo was removed to make way for the tennis courts. Today, less than 500 square feet remain of the bamboo of what was once the largest bamboo grove in the United States.


The research is focused on radiation detection and dosimetry and radiation biology and cancer epidemiology.
Radiation Detection and Dosimetry Laboratory (RDDL)
The radiation detection and dosimetry laboratory (RDDL) is engaged in the study of radiation effects on solid and/or biological systems. The goal is to use the knowledge gained from these studies to develop new types of radiation dosimetry systems and techniques for radiation oncology applications and for radiation protection and nuclear nonproliferation uses. The RDDL is currently engaged in:
- The study of the phenomena of thermoluminescence (TL), both theoretically and experimentally.
- The applications to thermoluminescence to radiation dosimetry (TLD).
- Uranium spectroscopy using high purity germanium detectors (HpGe).
Radiation Biology and Cancer Epidemiology
The primary public health concern for low dose radiation exposures is an increased cancer risk. This elevated risk has both environmental and genetic components. The genetic components are more poorly understood than the environmental components, yet they likely interact with each other to modify the cancer risk in some subpopulations. Identifying subpopulations at increased risk for environmentally-induced cancer would allow for more targeted radiation protection practices. The following studies are exploring genetic cancer risk factors:
- In collaboration with colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Medical University of South Carolina, the Comstock Center for Public Health Research, and the NCI Frederick Cancer Center, studies are underway in a population cohort that represents approximately 30% of the residents of Washington County, Maryland. These studies seek to identify subpopulations of individuals who may be at heightened genetic risk for radiation-induced cancer.
- Studies are underway to determine whether measuring genotypic associations with precancerous lesions may afford unique opportunities to infer the risk of cancer. This approach may be particularly useful for rare cancers that would not accrue to any significant degree in most population-based cohorts.
- In collaboration with NIH investigators and scientists in China, association studies of genetic factors contributing to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) — a major endemic cancer in China with strong gene/environment interactions — are being conducted using both genome-wide and candidate-gene approaches. These studies hope to identify and quantify interactions between environmental and genetic causes of NPC and other cancers.


Pine Island Glacier spawns PIGlets
A huge iceberg has calved – cracked off – the Pine Island Glacier (know as ‘PIG’ for short) in Antarctica, according to a report on February 11, 2020, from ESA. At over 115 square miles (300 square km), about the size of the island nation of Malta, this huge berg very quickly broke into many ‘PIGlet’ pieces.
The new iceberg was not unexpected. Thanks to satellite images, two large rifts in the glacier were spotted last year and scientists have been keeping a close eye on how quickly these cracks were growing.
The animation above uses 57 radar images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite mission between February 2019 and February 2020 (the last frame is from February 11, 2020) and shows just how quickly the emerging cracks grew and led to this calving event.
According to a statement from ESA:
Pine Island Glacier, along with its neighbor Thwaites Glacier, connect the center of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet with the ocean – together discharging significant quantities of ice into the ocean. These two glaciers have been losing ice over the last 25 years … Since the early 1990s, the Pine Island Glacier’s ice velocity has increased dramatically to values which exceed 10 meters (30 feet) a day. Its floating ice front, which has an average thickness of approximately 500 meters (1,600 feet), has experienced a series of calving events over the past 30 years, some of which have abruptly changed the shape and position of the ice front.
Bottom line: Video shows iceberg cracking off Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier.


The blackberry, which is close to the raspberry and loganberry, produces large clusters of sweet berries.
Blackberries grow best in moist soil with good drainage.
Plant them in an area with full sun exposure and plenty of room for the bushes to spread.
This blog post will show you how to grow sweet blackberries.
What You’ll Learn
How to grow sweet blackberries?
Plant the plants in an area with a lot of sunlight.
Sweet blackberry bushes require at least six hours per day to produce well, so they should be planted against a south or east-facing wall where they will get as much sun as possible.
If your garden doesn't receive this type of exposure, you may want to consider growing them inside on a sunny windowsill instead.
Be sure that when planting that you keep the crown (the bit below soil level) about two inches above ground level and mulch it around its base firmly before covering up any other foliage.
This helps protect new shoots from frost damage by conserving heat for more extended periods during winter and saves water due to less evaporation happening under leaves.
Keep the soil moist but not wet and fertilize every few months with a general-purpose feed.
Sweet blackberry plants don't need too much to make them grow well, so it's better to add small doses rather than large ones less often.
Be sure that you're following any specific instructions on which type of food is best for your plant species though if there are more specific requirements as some types prefer certain foods over others.
When the berries start ripening in July or August, they should be picked when fully ripe and either eaten straight away or frozen for later use at home.
If you want children to enjoy picking their sweet treats from outside, this could be one way of doing it.
Ensure that the plants are not planted too closely together, as this will restrict their growth.
Either plant them about 18 inches apart or use a trellis for support to grow more than one at once on a wall or fence.
You may also want to train each bush onto its string if you have an allotment so it can spread without getting tangled with neighboring bushes and create enough space between them.
Sweet blackberry bushes require full sun exposure to produce well, but other types of berries may benefit from being grown inside on a sunny windowsill instead.
Keep your soil moist but not wet and fertilize every few months with a general-purpose feed before picking when fully ripe in July or August - remember these plants need space to grow too.
Why are my blackberries sour?
A nutrient deficiency may cause your blackberries to be sour.
Currants are typically grown in areas with acidic soil, and the acidity of their roots helps them extract nutrients from this type of soil.
Blackberries grow best when planted on a neutral or alkaline-based dirt bed where they can absorb all the necessary minerals from the ground more effectively than if they were growing on acidic soil.
Green spots on the berries indicate a nutrient deficiency, and they can be resolved through foliar feeding or by adding fertilizer to the soil.
A blackberry bush that is not producing any fruit may also have an issue with pests like aphids.
Aphids suck out sap from tender new growth, destroying growing tissue and leaving yellowish residue around their mouths.
This will often show up as a green liquid oozing from the plant's stems near where it meets branches or in clusters at leaf axils (where one stem attaches).
The best way to control these pesky bugs is first to identify them using your senses.
You'll know if your plants have aphids because they emit a sweet smell called honeydew when leaves get too wet.
You'll also be able to identify leaf damage and sap on the plant.
To control aphid populations, first, thoroughly wash any susceptible plants with a strong jet of water; then either uses an organic insecticide or sprays derived from natural substances like peppermint oil or soap and alcohol.
These will not only kill off present pests but may discourage future ones.
Is Epsom salt good for blackberries?
Epsom salt is popular for detoxifying soil, but it may not be the best option if you're growing blackberries.
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, which can kill your plants and attract pests such as slugs and snails to your garden.
It's better to add a handful of bone meals or cottonseed meals instead because they will provide nutrients for your berries while encouraging beneficial insects such as ladybugs that prey on slug eggs in the ground.
How do you encourage blackberries to grow?
Prune your berry bushes in the winter to keep them manageable.
Cut back any parts that resemble a Christmas tree shape and are touching the ground, as it will inhibit their growth.
Mulch around your blackberry bush with redwood bark mulch or straw so weeds don't grow underneath and water can penetrate deep into the soil beneath.
This also helps prevent frost heaving, where freezing temperatures cause plants and soils to rise out of contact with moisture below, exposing tender roots to cold air when they melt again in the springtime.
The more sun exposure you give your berries bushes (and therefore produce) by pruning branches off each year for better light access, the less time needed between harvest cycles.
What month do you plant blackberries?
Blackberries are typically planted late fall through early spring.
However, you can plant them as soon as the ground is workable so long as there's a frost-free night for planting and germinating seeds.
How long does it take to grow sweet blackberries?
It takes about two years for blackberries to become sweet.
The plant will grow and produce fruit, but it won't be as tasty until the second year.
How do you water blackberries?
Blackberries are drought-resistant plants and need very little water.
They have a taproot system that captures rainfall, so they should not be watered from above to avoid rot in the crown area of the plant.
Instead, keep them moist by applying fertilizer at least every two weeks during dry periods or early morning dew after heavy rainfalls when moisture is most likely to reach the roots.
The soil needs more nitrogen than phosphorus for blackberry production because buds develop best with an abundance of nitrogen.
Still, too much potassium can cause disease problems such as anthracnose and cane blight, reducing fruit quality.
Overwatering will also kill off your blackberry harvest if the ground stays wet too long without drying out again before planting time in spring.
How do you fertilize blackberries?
Blackberries are heavy feeders, so be sure to fertilize them with composted manure or other slow-release fertilizer.
If you have an area where the soil has been depleted due to excessive watering and erosion, consider adding compost before planting blackberry bushes in that spot.
Growing blackberries is a great way to increase your property value.
There are many different ways you can grow sweet blackberries, but here are some of the easiest and most common methods we recommend.
If you have any questions about what method would work best for your home or garden, don't hesitate to contact us today.
We're happy to help answer all of your berry-related queries to make growing these tasty fruits as easy as pie.
Which techniques do you use when growing sweet blackberries?


Kansas Water Science Center
Human activity, such as groundwater pumping, land management, reservoir operations and urbanization, has a measurable effect on streamflows in Kansas locally, regionally and statewide, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey, done in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Two decades of harmful algal bloom, nutrient and sediment research by the U.S. Geological Survey is helping to support Wichita’s long-term vision of a sustainable water supply into the future. Early warning indicators of harmful algal blooms have been developed for Cheney Reservoir, Kansas, according to a new USGS publication done in cooperation with the City of Wichita, Kansas.
Study shows water quality minimally affected in nearby streams and groundwater


Funding source: Community Action Grants / Caring for our County
Start/ Finish: 1/0/2012- 31/8/2013
Project Overview: Tom’s Creek connects the Gippsland Lakes to the inland grassy woodlands of the plains and has relict chain of ponds which act as drought refugia for temperate eucalypt woodland birds.
We seek to bring together neighbouring landholders (many of whom are managing their woodlands via conservation covenant) to address weeds, in particular blackberry and African love-grass, on public land that are threatening woodlands on both public and private land. Landholders in both Landcare groups involved in cross property biodiversity plan own properties beside Toms Creek. Revegetation using locally sourced species will be carried out to assist weed control and improve diversity in the reserve. One leaflet on the reserve will be produced.
•Increase area of native habitat and vegetation managed to reduce critical threats over 20 Ha
•Reducing the impact of invasive species over 20 Ha
•Protecting Ramsar listed wetlands and other High Conservation Value Acquatic Ecosystems (HCVAEs) over 8 Ha
•Participant engagement throughout the project.


Many of our friends ask us if there is any opportunity for saltwater fishing in Bangladesh. We are really overwhelmed to see your interest about Bangladeshi angling, especially angling in saltwater. To be honest, saltwater angling has not been widely practiced in Bangladesh, though the country is full of potentials for saltwater angling adventures. The Bay of Bengal is full of biological diversity, diverging amongst coral reefs, estuaries, fish spawning and nursery areas, and mangroves. The Bay of Bengal is one of the World’s 64 largest marine ecosystems.
We have made a survey about the potentials and possibilities about saltwater fishing in Bangladeshi water. Geographically Bangladesh is situated in a very important fishing zone. The Bay of Bengal produces more than three million tons of fishes of different varieties every year where Bangladesh produces about two hundred thousand tons. It is the largest bay in the world. A wide range of marine eco-system has been developed here in millions of years. Besides, being the mouths of the Ganges delta it is as well as a spawning ground for many saltwater species.
The South-Western region of Bangladesh consists of Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans is zigzagged with hundreds of coastal rivers and water bodies. Fishing is one of the main ways of living in this area. This area has been reported to be a great place for shark anglers.
Cox’s Bazaar district consists of the largest sea beach of the world. This 120 kilometers of coastline has thousands of promising spots for any exciting fishing holyday. One of the main saltwater fishing zones belongs here. And luckily, it starts within 100 meters (in many places less) from the shoreline. Last year many record sized fishes were caught from the Bay of Bengal among them a 76 lbs golden snapper and two swords, each having a weigh of more than 200 lbs were prominent. Other than these catches five sailed fishes caught media attention last year. All these fishes were caught by nets. But it has given a message to all the hard-core anglers who want to explore the Bay of Bengal for big games.
The mouths of many great South-Asian river belong to the Bay of Bengal which is a very important fishing zone for Bangladesh. The Kuakata sea beach of Patuakhali district, Island of Cox’s Bazaar district, Sundarban of Khulna and Bagerhat district are the home of many game species. Talang Queenfish, Hard Tail Scad, Giant SeaPerch, Humphead Snapper, Giant Groupers, John’s Snapper, Red Snapper, Breams, Indian Salmon, Cobia are worth mentioning. For more adventurous people there are of course Sail Fish, Sharks, many exotic species of catfish and some Marlins as well.
The Saint Martin Island is the only coral island of Bangladesh. The island is a breeding ground for many exotic marine animals including some giant sea-turtles. The island is very promising for adventurous saltwater anglers. Especially the southern part of the island is full of surprises.
The possibilities of saltwater fishing in Bangladesh are beyond description. It requires some systematic survey to bring the hidden treasures out for everyone else. We hope extreme anglers would come forward to make more saltwater fishing expeditions and let others help with their experiences and information.
By: Nasim Hasan


Thursday, September 2
2:40 PM ET
Building Back Better: Time for Climate Action
The impacts of climate change continue to harm, displace, and create instability in our communities and the time for action is now. As we move forward into a new era after COVID-19, how can governments, businesses and community leaders build resilient and sustainable communities. What is the current situation of the global fight against climate change and the needed action to achieve a net zero economy.Join in on the conversation where will discuss initiatives, bills, and solutions on how to ensure that the Latino community is not left behind. Taking action on climate change now will give us the opportunity to build a better future for our communities and environment! Join us in the Building Back Better: Time for Climate Action panel as a part of our Virtual Summit along with young activists, business leaders, and elected officials.
Esther Sosa, Project Manager, Environmental Defense Fund


Snow showers, mainly before midnight. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 26. Windy, with a west wind 9 to 19 mph increasing to 23 to 33 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.


When volcanoes erupt, these geologic monsters produce tremendous clouds of ash and dust plumes that can blacken the sky, shut down air traffic and reach heights of roughly 25 miles above Earth’s surface.
Volcanic ash is a mixture of rock, mineral, and glass particles ejected by volcanoes during eruptions. The particles have a diameter of less than 2 millimeters. They have a low density since they are pitted and full of holes.
Volcanic ash is part of the dark ash column that rises above a volcano as it erupts, along with water vapor and other hot gases. According to a recent study done by the University of Colorado Boulder, volcanic ash may have a greater impact on the planet’s climate than previously thought.
The new study looks at the 2014 eruption of Mount Kelut (or Kelud) on the Indonesian island of Java, which was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The scientists determined that volcanic ash appears to be prone to loitering in the air for months or even longer following a significant eruption, based on real-world observations and powerful computer simulations.
“What we found for this eruption is that the volcanic ash can persist for a long time,” said Yunqian Zhu, lead author of the new study and a research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder.
Volcanic ash is a potentially dangerous byproduct of volcanic explosions. Ash clouds shower down on the surrounding areas, covering the ground in feet of ash in some cases. The surface of areas near the volcano has been reported to be covered with 5-7 feet of ash. Fine ash particles can be carried away from the eruption site by the wind, causing harm to nearby populations.
The discovery was made by chance: members of the study team were flying an unmanned aircraft near the site of the Mount Kelut eruption, which blanketed most of Java in ash and forced many to flee their homes. The aircraft noticed something that shouldn’t have been there during the operation.
“They saw some large particles floating around in the atmosphere a month after the eruption,” Zhu said. “It looked like ash.”
Scientists have long recognized that volcanic eruptions can have a negative impact on the planet’s climate, she explained. Large amounts of sulfur-rich particles are blasted high into the atmosphere, obstructing sunlight from reaching the earth.
Researchers have assumed that ash is similar to volcanic glass. But what we’ve found is that these floating ones have a density that’s more like pumice.Yunqian Zhu
Volcanic ash can also generate thunderstorms and, if carried far enough into the atmosphere, it can deflect sunlight, lowering temperatures on Earth and causing a volcanic winter.
However, scientists do not believe that ash plays a significant part in the cooling impact. Scientists reasoned that because these chunks of rocky debris are so heavy, they will most likely fall out of volcanic clouds soon after an eruption.
Zhu’s team was curious as to why Kelut’s situation was different. The scientists discovered that the volcano’s plume appeared to be teeming with small and lightweight ash particles that were likely capable of floating in the air for lengthy periods of time, similar to dandelion fluff, based on airplane and satellite images of the unfolding disaster.
“Researchers have assumed that ash is similar to volcanic glass,” Zhu said. “But what we’ve found is that these floating ones have a density that’s more like pumice.”
These pumice-like particles also appear to change the chemistry of the entire volcanic plume, according to study co-author Brian Toon.
Sulfur dioxide is emitted by erupting volcanoes, according to Toon, a professor in LASP and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at CU Boulder.
Many scientists previously considered that such molecules interact with other molecules in the air and through a series of chemical processes that may take weeks to complete. Observations of real-life eruptions, on the other hand, imply that it happens far faster.
“There has been a puzzle of why these reactions occur so fast,” Toon said.
He and his colleagues believe they’ve found the solution: Those sulfur dioxide molecules appear to cling to the ash particles floating in the air. They may undergo chemical reactions on the ash’s surface, potentially removing around 43 percent more sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere.
In other words, ash may hasten the atmospheric transformation of volcanic gases.
It’s unclear what effect the ash clouds will have on the climate. After an eruption, long-lasting particles in the atmosphere might darken and possibly help to chill the planet.
Floating ash from places like Kelut might also blow all the way to the planet’s poles. It might spark chemical reactions there, causing damage to Earth’s vital ozone layer.
However, one thing is apparent, according to the researchers: when a volcano erupts, it may be time to pay much closer attention to all that ash and its genuine impact on Earth’s climate.
“I think we’ve discovered something important here,” Toon said. “It’s subtle, but it could make a big difference.”
- Agricultural Land being carried out Illegally causes Rainforest Destruction
- El Nino-induced Extraordinary Carbon Emissions of Burning Biomass
- There is no Precedent in History for the Rate of Coal and Gas Power Decline Required to Keep Global Warming to 1.5°C
- Big Data Analysis Reveals Great Concerns But Also Opportunity for the Future of the Environment
- A New Study Finds Stinkweed Could Make Greener Jet Fuel
- Difference between Weather and Climate


The Mayors Council Rahway River Watershed Flood Control will be meeting in Springfield Town Hall September 18 at a meeting hosted by Mayor Erica Dubois to discuss the status of the Federal-State Rahway River Flood Mitigation Plan.
Mayors Council consists of representatives of the affected communities including Springfield Mayor Erica Dubois; Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca; Cranford Mayor Pat Giblin; Garwood Mayor Sara Todisco; Millburn Mayor Diane Eglow; Union Mayor Michelle Delisfort; Rahway Mayor Ray Giacobbe; and Kenilworth Mayor Anthony Deluca.
After six years of working on various alternatives, last year the federal project received a positive recommendation to proceed to final approval but the federal US Army Corps of Engineers Chief Engineer had reservations about a federal policy that was established after Hurricane Maria. The Chief Engineer committed to our federal representatives that a solution would be found. The multi-phase project was sent back to the drawing boards and a new alternative is now under consideration by the stakeholders in the region.
The plan would establish additional storage of stormwater upstream to protect Millburn, Union and Springfield and lower river elevation downstream during the most severe storms like Irene. Channel modification to enlarge the capacity of the river for 1.5 miles through Cranford while keeping its natural appearance. Lenape Park spillway would be modified and house acquisition projects would be funded in Rahway. Communities from Millburn to Rahway would benefit from the flood mitigation.
Irene in 2011 cost the communities over $100 million of damages. Dorian was headed our way until it veered like many tropical storms do. Most who live in areas affected watched closely as the weather forecast indicated direction. But it could have been a different story.
Communities like Cranford have done much on its own to better prepare including flood proofing the municipal building and schools and joining the Community Rating System which lowered homeowner flood insurance. Recently however federal law dramatically increased insurance rates causing resident’s financial harm.
Dorian initially had the signs of a path that communities along river could have been impacted. Mayors working cooperatively to be more resilient need progress on the federal state plan to be implemented so the next major storm can be mitigated to best of ability.
Currently, Essex County and Union County are evaluating the new plan before it is presented to the NJ DEP and US Army Corps of Engineers for approval and then to Congress for funding.
Citizens are urged to contact their county and state representatives to express urgent action is needed.


Apples, Podosphaera leucotricha, Western Australia
First Page Number
Last Page Number
Powdery mildew of apples is found in orchard districts throughout the South-West.
recent years a rapid build-up of the disease has occurred in some plantings as a result of changes in orchard practice.
Satisfactory control can be achieved by pruning out infected shoots and spraying with Karathane or Morocide
Doepel, R F. and Hardisty, S. E.
"Powdery mildew of apples : results of recent spray trials,"
Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 4:
5, Article 5.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol4/iss5/5


The head of a food campaign group has said that most of the world's food waste happens courtesy of food companies.
Feeding the 5000's founder Tristram Stuart said:
The message peddled by supermarkets and their representatives, and indeed some international institutions, that in rich countries most food waste comes from consumers, is a distortion of the facts.
The reality is that the supply chain is the main source of preventable food waste.
A third of the world's food is wasted and most of this happens courtesy of food companies. Retailers can use their power to help farmers, manufacturers and consumers to reduce waste from farm to fork.
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The returns of Benedict Cumberbatch's detective and the X Factor judge were among 2014's most tweeted TV moments in a billion conversations.
A family has issued an appeal to help find their missing pet turkey - in case he gets gobbled up as someone's Christmas dinner.
The winner of X-Factor Ben Haenow has revealed how keen he is to have the Christmas number one.


Slight Chance Rain/Snow
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Today 22 Oct Western Clinton
Cloudy. A chance of rain Showers this morning. Highs in the upper 40s. West Winds 15 to 20 Mph with Gusts up to 30 Mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
Tonight 22 Oct Western Clinton
Cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. West Winds around 10 Mph.
Ellenburg Depot Temperature Statistics
Plattsburgh International Airport (23.6 miles)
Lowest 7 October, 202142.1 °F
Average October56.3 °F
Highest 8 October, 202171.1 °F
Plattsburgh International Airport (23.6 miles)Take a look at our website widgetsAvailable free! Find Out More
Average Low 2010–Present38.2 °F
Average 2010–Present47.5 °F
Average High 2010–Present56.1 °F