The Spotted Salamander is Officially Ohio's State Amphibian

Although the designation of a state amphibian may seem trivial to many readers, there is a deeper meaning to all of this. As one who worked on the campaign to establish the Spotted Salamander as the official symbol of the Great State of Ohio, I am very grateful that this measure has finally passed.
The thought process behind this effort stems from concerns over the loss of significant habitat in the state of Ohio. Ohio has lost over 90% of its wetlands and the pressure is unrelenting. Among the remaining Ohio wetlands, vernal pools in wet woods are especially vulnerable. These transitional niches that reside between land and water are amazingly productive and diverse. When vernal pools are destroyed, much more is lost than most people realize. On one hand, these systems help control run-off and reduce the risk of flooding, reduce siltation of streams and lakes and delay the impacts of human impact to the ecosystem by filtering and temporarily storing water from farms and impervious surfaces. They are instrumental in recharging ground water, which is the source of drinking water for many communities. On the other hand, the biological setting is dynamic with many nutrients being recycled through these vernal pools and giving both depth and breadth to the life to the natural diversity of the forest.
What does this have to do with the spotted salamander? One of the most beautiful representatives of this special habitat in Ohio is the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum). Its image is adored by school children and adults throughout the state. It is found in all 88 Ohio counties. And unlike the bullfrog, it is only found in high quality habitats. As a representative of the Great State of Ohio, the spotted salamander stands for the best and highest quality natural environment. Its appeal is a stepping stone to the preservation of the finer things that Ohio offers its citizens. As a symbol for Ohio, we could hardly pick a better creature to represent what is good about Ohio.

Ray Stewart, President and Director of Communications, Friends of Wetlands

A friend of mine from my NYC days, Jim Charles, is now the Artistic Director of the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, NY. (http://www.cohoesmusichall.com/). His organization is competing in a on-line vote for a $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

His Proposal:

The Center For Disability Services and C-R Productions are combining forces to launch a program that will enrich the lives of 30 people with disabilities through the exploration of performing arts. The program will culminate with performances at the Cohoes Music Hall. The performing arts will act as a catalyst to achieve increased self esteem, independence, community inclusion, speech and language progress for the participants with disabilities. The program will consist of a group of individuals with disabilities and a number of staff, volunteers, and trained professionals in both theater arts and health fields.

Here is the link to show your support for community theatre and how it positively can affect the lives of others.

PLEASE HELP. VOTE ONCE A DAY, EVERY DAY UNTIL THE BALLOTING ENDS ON MAY 31.

Ontario bill blazes new trail in water conservation Will the Great Lakes states keep pace?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press release
May 20, 2010

Ontario bill blazes new trail in water conservation
Will the Great Lakes states keep pace?

Toronto – On Tuesday, the Ontario government tabled Bill 72, the Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act. This bill sets the legal groundwork for Ontario to implement and regulate its commitments under the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Resources Agreement, going beyond the baseline conservation requirements.
“When Great Lakes lawmakers shut the door to diversions, they also committed to addressing our own wasteful water use. With this bill Ontario steps ahead of the pack by legislating a conservation mandate,” said Derek Stack, Executive Director of Great Lakes United. “The real question is whether the Great Lakes states will keep pace.”
Pumping and treating water is a huge public expense that in Ontario can reach $80 million per month. Using less water lowers operating costs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and defers costly infrastructure expansion – often in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The benefits to the environment and ratepayers are clear.
If passed, The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act will encourage the creation and export of clean water technology, promote water conservation, attract economic development and create jobs.
Whereas some Great Lakes States such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana are focussing all discussion on voluntary conservation measures, and others such as Illinois are likely to depend on existing regulations and programs, the province of Ontario is legislating change with the eye to export Ontario skills and technologies in the water conservation and treatment sector.
In Michigan, an Advisory Council was set up that recommended conservation goals and targets but the Council was disbanded before any public consultation on conservation took place, and the effort is now stalled. It’s much the same in Minnesota.
In Wisconsin the general approach is for voluntary conservation targets, while in cases of larger withdrawals and diversions the DNR is drafting rules on mandatory conservation measures. Waukesha has been a focal point in the state, having long sought access to Great Lakes water. But earlier this week Mayor Jeff Scrima balked at the $160 million price tag to purchase water from Milwaukee, Racine or Oak Creek. Instead, the mayor indicated city council would now consider improved treatment of local sources.
Ontario is retooling its economy to save taxpayers money and garner access to global water conservation and treatment markets valued at over $400 billion, and doubling every five to six years.
The province signalled its intention to pass the act in the Speech from the Throne earlier this year. Since that time, Great Lakes United has joined forces with other environmental and conservation groups, green businesses, labour representatives, and citizens to form the Ontario Water Conservation Alliance, in an effort to ensure Ontario implements the strongest conservation plan possible.
“Ontario is recognizing that when we reduce our water use, we use less energy pumping treating, and heating water, we lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and we reduce the burden on an overwhelmed and aging sewer system that annually leaks billions of gallons of untreated sewage,” said Stack, adding: “Laggard states should take note. The Ontario bill shows that the province believes conservation is not only possible, it is profitable.”

BP Spill Potentially Grows to Hundreds of Millions of Gallons of Toxic Soup - National Wildlife Federation

BP Spill Potentially Grows to Hundreds of Millions of Gallons of Toxic Soup - National Wildlife Federation

Cornell lab of Ornithology Tribute to birds of the Gulf Coast

Take a moment to enjoy these photographs of healthy birds the rely on the Gulf Coast to live, bread, and stop on their northward migration.

This month, as an oil spill looms in the Gulf of Mexico, we present a tribute to the vistas of saltmarsh, bayou, estuary, and barrier island. We've selected 17 species, photographed by members of our Flickr group, Birdshare, as reminders of the magic of the Gulf Coast.

More than 1,200 photographers have contributed nearly 40,000 photos to Birdshare over the last two years. Their photos cover the breadth of the continent and capture intimate images of birds both common and rare.

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

 

House Moves to Restore Clean Water Protections,
Vital to Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

 

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April 21, 2010)—The U.S. House of Representatives today introduced legislation that restores historic safeguards to wetlands, lakes and streams that millions of people depend on for drinking water, jobs and recreation.

 

“Reinstating clean water protections to U.S. wetlands, lakes and streams is a vital component of Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery,” said Jeff Skelding, national campaign director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Millions of people will benefit from the swift passage of this bill.”

 

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) introduced America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act (H.R. 5088) today along with Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.)

 

“We applaud these Great Lakes members for introducing this bill and urge the rest of the Great Lakes congressional delegation to join this effort to pass the bill quickly,” said Skelding. “Delay in restoring protections will jeopardize many of our nation’s waters that supply drinking water, jobs and swimming, boating, hunting and fishing opportunities for millions of Americans.”

 

The compromise legislation restores Clean Water Act protections that were placed in doubt by U.S. Supreme Court decisions (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2001) and Rapanos v. United States (2006)) and Bush Administration guidance. These decisions placed millions of acres of so-called “isolated” wetlands and lakes, intermittently flowing streams, and wetlands adjacent to these streams at risk of losing federal safeguards, leaving them vulnerable to pollution and destruction.

 

“This legislation ends confusion over how to protect our nation’s waters and re-affirms safeguards that Congress originally intended and that were in place before the Supreme Court muddied the waters—nothing more, nothing less,” said Skelding. “Quick passage of this bill will benefit the Great Lakes and our economy.”

 

Wetlands provide essential services for people. Healthy wetlands supply and recharge drinking water; improve water quality; prevent erosion; provide habitat for wildlife, waterfowl, and fish; and support multi-billion dollar hunting, fishing, bird-watching and boating opportunities in the Great Lakes states. One acre of wetlands, according to researchers, provides $10,573 of ecosystem services.

 

Passage of the America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act is essential to protect and restore wetlands—a core component of the multi-year effort to restore the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy has a long-term goal of restoring 1 million acres of high quality wetlands in the region. More than 66 percent of Great Lakes’ original wetlands have been filled in or destroyed. In states like Ohio, over 90 percent of wetlands have been lost.

 

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is comprised of more than 100 environmental, conservation, hunting and fishing organizations; museums, zoos and aquariums; and businesses representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes.