Oct 22
How much sustainably caught fish comes out of the Great Lakes each year? We cast around for answers—and caught ’em. Listen up: Throughout history, people have been hooked on fishing the Great Lakes, from Native Americans in birch bark canoes to commercial fishermen in modern boats. A century ago, nearly 150 million pounds of fish were …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/water-and-the-economy/fishy-business/
Oct 19
You won’t believe what happens when water hits this surface—listen up: Now you see it, now you don’t…that’s what happens when rain falls on the magical pavement pictured here. With this wondrous material, water pools up briefly, and then seems to simply disappear into the surface. That’s quite the opposite of traditional, impermeable pavements, from …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/permeable-pavement/
Oct 18
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/
Oct 17
A beautiful purple plant has some very ugly effects on many wetland ecosystems—listen up: What do you call a purple alien that’s really tough to get rid of? Purple loosestrife…and it’s no joke. First spotted in the Great Lakes region near Lake Ontario in 1869, this pretty but invasive purple flowering plant takes over wetland …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/citizen-science-2/the-wetlands-devil-in-disguise/
Oct 16
Urban drainage, eroding bluffs and muddy water in the Minnesota River watershed—listen up: The river banks in the Minnesota River watershed are made up of sediment that gradually washes away. Erosion is a natural process, but in excess, sediment can block light to plants and smother aquatic life. Now, it’s happening at a surprising pace—with …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/agricultural-runoff/muddying-the-waters-in-minnesota-rivers/
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