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Philly Water Dept. Looking for a Few Good Dogs
The Philadelphia Water Department is looking for two eco-friendly dogs who want to help keep Philly's waterways clean...one in the Manayunk/Roxborough area and one in East Falls! Spokesdogs will be chosen to teach bark-park buddies and their caretakers about the importance of picking up pet waste.
Each spokesdog will be chosen at a community event and will win a $200 gift certificate to a pet shop in their neighborhood.
Does your dog have "Spokesdog" star potential? Find out more at: http://www.phillywatersheds.org/Spokesdog |
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USGS Report: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels in Streams a Concern
 Elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients that can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and human health, have remained the same or increased in many streams and aquifers across the Nation since the early 1990's, according to a new national study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Nutrient sources in both agricultural and urban areas contribute to elevated nutrient concentrations in streams and groundwater across the nation. These same nutrients in high concentrations have resulted in 'dead zones' when they reach our estuaries, such as during the spring at the mouth of the Mississippi. Read the full Report at http://wren.palwv.org/library/Water_Pollution.htmlLearn more on the USGS website, including a Podcast with the study's lead author. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Rivers At Risk 
A recent global report on freshwater confirmed that rivers in California, the Columbia/Snake basin and the entire Eastern U.S. are among the world's most threatened aquatic ecosystems (see red areas in map). Published last month in the journal Nature, the report was authored by an international team of water resource experts at ten universities in Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and the U.S. It cites huge investments in water technology and treatment that reduces threats to humans in developed countries but leaves biodiversity at high risk. Read the full report at http://wren.palwv.org/library/Water_Pollution.html
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Water Consumption and the Production of Ethanol and Gasoline
Water consumption was analyzed for a number of sources, such as ethanol, conventional fuel feedstocks, oil sands. It appears that water consumption varies not only with region, but also according to the technologies employed, and recovery processes. Crop irrigation is the most important factor in the production of corn ethanol. 
Nearly 70 percent of US corn used for ethanol is produced in regions where 10-17 liters of water are consumed to produce one liter of ethanol. Water requirements for switchgrass ethanol production vary from 1.9 to 9.8 liters of water per liter of ethanol produced.To read the full report of this study, published in September 2009 in Environmental Management visit WREN Resources - General Water. For more info on climate change and water resources, visit http://wren.palwv.org/ClimateChange.html
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The Arctic Shifts to a New Climate Pattern in Which 'Normal' Becomes Obsolete
Warming continues to shrink the snow and ice cover that defines the Arctic, signaling the region's shift to a new climate pattern, scientists say. The area covered by sea ice hovered near its historic low this summer. In Greenland, record-high temperatures this year have helped accelerate the melting of the country's massive ice sheet.
Read more at Climate Wire/The New York Times
Watch a simulation of Greenland's Ice Sheet melting: http://geology.com/press-release/greenland-ice-sheet/ |
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Protecting Pennsylvania's Rivers and Water: Tying It All Together-
Where Are We Headed?
The October issue of Stormwater magazine, a Guest Editorial by Phillip Brath give a good summary of Pennsylvania laws and regulations as well as pending legislation that will help clean up the Chespeake Bay, and all PA's water resources.
The editorial has been posted on the WREN website at http://wren.palwv.org/library/General_Water.html |
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Quick Links
Penn State University's Natural Gas webinars
Schuylkill Watershed Congress, March 12 - Call for Presenters
For teachers - connecting kids to the natural world http://www.ecoexpress.org/
New resources on WREN's Publications page
WREN's Water Calendar
WREN websites: http://wren.palwv.org and www.drinkingwaterwise.org
Watch for WREN grant info to be posted in December - http://wren.palwv.org/grants/grants_wren.html |
