Jun 19
Rain gardens rock at capturing and slowing rainwater, allowing it to seep slowly into the ground so pollutants can be filtered out. Dig it: Rain is a good thing, right? Right—except for when it runs right off the land, picking up pollution all along the way. When fertilizers, herbicides, and oils are carried through drains …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/rain-gardens/
Jun 18
Native prairie grasses aren’t just pretty—they also improve water quality across the Midwest. Listen up: How do we love native grassland prairies? Let us count the ways—or at least, let us recount the number one water-related way: When restored, native grassland prairies can improve water quality big-time, and help prevent erosion during heavy rains. Once …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/green-infrastructure/prairie-grasses/
Jun 12
Climate change is bringing warmer, wetter weather to the Keystone State. Shen: “If we were to summarize the changes that Pennsylvania is facing in two words, that would be warmer and wetter.” Chaopeng Shen of Penn State says climate change affects fresh water, in part because unusually warm weather helps foster algal blooms that can contaminate water …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/climate-woes-in-pennsylvania-waterways/
May 23
Coal-tar sealants may protect your driveway—but they don’t protect water resources. Here’s the dirt: Driveways and parking lots are coated with a sealant to protect them. But the coating needs to be reapplied every two to three years because driving on it grinds it into dust. And that means as dust wears off, any given …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/green-infrastructure/when-good-driveways-go-bad/
May 15
Could a city famous for its lakefront become better known for its rivers instead? CurrentCast investigates—listen up: The “riverfront city by the lake” has a nice ring to it. And yet, Chicago’s key rivers—the Chicago, Calumet, and Des Plaines—have historically played a more utilitarian role for the Windy City, making it a center of commerce …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/green-infrastructure/re-envisioning-our-rivers/
