May 12
Buoy oh buoy… The Great Lakes are wonderful places for boating and fishing. But they can also be dangerous, so it’s important to know the lake conditions before going out. Now, a system of near-shore buoys provides boaters with information about air and water temperature, wave height, currents, wind direction and speed… According to Kelli …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/water-and-climate-change/great-lakes-observing-system/
May 11
Lakefront landscaping is key to water quality. Listen up: You might like the look of a clean-cut lawn, but if you have lake front property, experts say not to mow all the way to the shoreline. Rozumalski: “The most important thing you can do for your lake is to create a buffer zone, and this …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/agricultural-runoff/less-lawn-more-native-landscaping/
May 08
Fertilizers can run off into streams and lakes, so, word to the wise—less is more. Listen up: You might think the more fertilizer on your garden, the better—but using too much may do more harm than good when it comes to clean water. This is in large part because nitrate in fertilizer can leach into water, …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/stormwater-management/fertilizer-leaks-pollution/
May 07
On the lookout for invasive plants: When a new plant moves into a lake or stream, take note – it could be cause for concern. Sandra Keppner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that rapidly spreading invasive plants like water chestnut and hydrilla are causing big problems for New York waters. “We see …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.currentcast.org/biodiversity/holding-the-invaders-at-bay/
Apr 29
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/
