Lakeside Views

In the news: Greening yards to protect Lake Michigan

2012-01-27T14:23:00.000-06:00

From The Times:

A workshop for residents to help green their yards and protect Lake Michigan will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11. Location has not yet been determined.

Save the Dunes and partners will hold a free workshop to help residents in Northwest Indiana's Lake Michigan watershed to make simple changes on their property to protect Lake Michigan. Work days will be held late in the spring where participants get hands-on experience helping each other install practices. Each participant is expected to adopt at least two new "best practices" for water quality, such as phosphorus-free fertilizer, rain gardens, rain barrels, and many others. Participants will receive a free soil test, a rain garden manual, and a small stipend that must be put toward a best practice. Lunch will be provided. Read more.

Forecasting the fate of Lake Michigan storms

2012-01-26T13:55:00.000-06:00

University of Illinois atmospheric scientist David Kristovich tested a mobile sounding system that might help predict the fate of storms that move across Lake Michigan. This system measures temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.

“The Great Lakes make it difficult to predict summer weather. One problem weather forecasters face is determining what will happen when massive storms reach one side of the lake. It is hard to figure out if those storms will make it across to the other side and cause severe weather,” Kristovich said. “We don’t have a lot of information. On the lake, we don’t have people taking observations all over the place like we do on land.”

The device they used is called a rawinsonde, which is attached to a weather balloon with a parachute. Because the system is connected to a balloon, researchers were also able to record the wind direction and speed.

Kristovich said having a test run for the device was critical for ironing out issues for future projects.

This study is one of many funded as development of "seed" grants for researchers, either to begin start-up studies that may grow into larger work, or to complete ongoing projects. This project and others are highlighted in our latest issue of our newsletter, The Helm.

State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference seeks report feedback

2012-01-23T14:23:00.001-06:00

Last year’s SOLEC was very successful, offering some very useful feedback about conditions in the Great Lakes-basin ecosystem and how to present and communicate that information in the future.

Over 50 draft indicator reports were made available electronically to attendees at SOLEC 2011 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and these reports will be used to develop the main presentations at SOLEC that will be available online soon.

We are inviting SOLEC participants, indicator authors, and any other interested parties to read, review, and provide substantive comments on any or all of the reports until January 31, 2012. The draft indicator reports can be found here.

The SOLEC Steering Committee also recognized eight success story projects that exemplified strong commitment to improving the environment within the Great Lakes basin at the conference. The project summaries for those recognized projects are available here.

Congratulations to these recipients and all nominated projects.

For more information, send an email to SOLEC@ec.gc.ca.

IISG in the news: Focal Point projects promote interdisciplinary research

2012-01-20T11:15:00.000-06:00

IISG Director Brian Miller and geneticist Michael Plewa enlisted a team of five graduate students to develop strategies to combat the global water crisis. From the University of Illinois New Bureau:

All groundbreaking, earth-changing, multidisciplinary research has something in common: a starting point.

And the UI Graduate College’s Focal Point grant program has been providing that starting point for the past three years.

According to Debasish Dutta, the dean of the Graduate College, the program is designed to team faculty members and graduate students from sometimes far-flung disciplines with the hopes that together they’ll find a mutual spark leading to the next paradigm-shifting discovery.

“This is something that is normally done by faculty members,” Dutta said, “but we wanted to have graduate students be involved from the formation itself. It’s a huge advantage to them because they’ll have to do that as they become faculty members.” Read more.

New York, just like we pictured it

2012-01-13T09:26:00.001-06:00

In the middle of the crazy marketing world of Times Square, an important message comes through--Don't Flush Medicine! Here are two images from 42nd Street in New York City.

Since late December 2011 Sea Grant and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are informing audiences on the issue of medicine disposal on the CBS JumboTron “Super Screen.” The 15-second spot will run through March 31 about 18 times every day or about every 80 minutes. The screen is located on 42^nd Street between 7^th and 8^th avenues in Times Square Plaza.

This opportunity came about as a result of the publicity related to the partnership between NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program and the AVMA, which was officially established in November in a Memorandum of Understanding. Illlinois-Indiana Sea Grant is conducting the MOU on behalf of National Sea Grant on the issue of medications dispensed for animals as well as people.

Visit unwantedmeds.org to see the PSA and learn some sensible disposal options for unused medicine or contact Laura Kammin for more information on medicine collection programs.

IISG seeks your feedback for our future plans

2012-01-12T14:35:00.000-06:00

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is conducting a needs assessment survey in advance of our strategic planning process. We would like to know what you think the outreach and research priorities are for our two-state region.

Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think by visiting Survey Monkey before January 24.

The survey is short – just ten questions. Your participation is voluntary and your responses will be anonymous.

As always, if you have thoughts or comments about our program, we want to hear from you. If you have comments that don’t fit in this survey or want to talk to someone personally, please visit our website to find the right person, or contact us at 217-333-0045 or iisg@illinois.edu and we will direct you to the right place.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study, please contact the University of Illinois Institutional Review Board at 217-333-2670 (collect calls will be accepted if you identify yourself as a research participant) or via email at irb@illinois.edu

Recreation reduces Karner blue butterfly

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

Purdue University ecologist Patrick Zollner studied how people walking on nature trails can affect the reproduction habits of the Karner blue butterfly, which is a federally endangered species.

Resource managers are under increasing pressure to implement strategies that address the negative effects of outdoor recreational activities on wildlife. The study shows that human recreation can disrupt the breeding patterns of Karner blue butterflies, as well as other species.

Using a simulation model, the project found that significantly fewer eggs are laid by Karner blue butterfly females in sites at the Indiana Dunes National Park that are 10-15 meters from the trail. Plants that are farthest away have the most eggs. Zollner suggests that habitat patches be at least 25 meters from the trail.

“Depending on the circumstances, about 17 percent of the females are only laying half of their potential eggs because of human dis¬turbance,” Zollner said.

Zollner has studied how traffic affects Indiana wildlife and has submitted a proposal to study how the Huron-Manistee National Forest equestrian population impacts Karner blue butterflies.

This study is one of many funded as development of "seed" grants for researchers, either to begin start-up studies that may grow into larger work, or to complete ongoing projects.

This project and others are highlighted in our latest issue of our newsletter, The Helm. You can also read the complete study (PDF).

Latest issue of "The Helm," IISG's newsletter, now available online

2012-01-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

The latest edition of The Helm, our newsletter, is now available. Each issue highlights some of IISG's work to improve, study, and protect the waterways of Illinois and Indiana, especially southern Lake Michigan.This issue includes several research project results, including one that reveals a variety of pharmaceuticals in Lake Michigan.

Ensuring safe and healthy waterways for everyone is an ongoing process, and one that you can help with. To find out how, view the latest issue of The Helm, visit our website for ongoing projects and initiatives, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest developments.

Enjoy this issue of The Helm and check back for future issues.

IISG in the News: Asian Carp marketing summit yielding results

2012-01-05T16:16:00.001-06:00

IISG's Asian Carp Marketing Summit in September of 2010 played a significant role in bringing jobs and invasive species solutions to Illinois, as highlighted in one of The Telegraph's Top 10 local stories of 2011. Read the full article (and browse the other top local news items) here.

The summit brought together representatives from restaurants, commercial fishing, processing and related businesses, as well as agencies and academic institutions to discuss ways to address the potential threat that Asian carp pose to the Illinois River and the Great Lakes. You can download the proceedings from the summit here.

The 'Do Not Flush Medicine' message goes Big Apple

2012-01-04T14:30:00.000-06:00

Times Square—some call it the crossroads of the world. Annually, over 450 million people pass through this historic and dazzling site.

Since late December 2011 (which included the world famous New Year’s Eve celebration that attracts many, many thousands) Sea Grant and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are informing audiences on the issue of medicine disposal on the CBS JumboTron “Super Screen.” The 15-second spot will run through March 31 about 18 times every day or about every 80 minutes. The screen is located on 42^nd Street between 7^th and 8^th avenues in Times Square Plaza.

The public service announcement is raising awareness on the importance of not flushing unused medicine. Audiences are informed that medicines can contaminate lakes, rivers and drinking water, posing a threat to people, animals, and the environment.

Visit unwantedmeds.org to learn some sensible disposal options for unused medicine or contact Laura Kammin for more information on medicine collection programs.

Chicago students learn proper medicine disposal thru Earth Force partnership

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-06:00

IISG education team members Robin Goettel and Terri Hallesy partnered with the Field Museum’s Earth Force Program to work with students and teachers on raising awareness within the Calumet region about the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Earth Force engages 7th and 8th grade Chicago Public School students in action projects that address environmental issues in their community.

Windy City Earth Force coordinator Angie Viands invited Terri and Robin to visit classrooms on December 8 and 9 to offer students important information about the pharmaceutical and personal care product disposal issue, and to help teachers and students develop successful community projects. By talking with students about the problems that pharmaceutical and personal care products can create if not properly disposed of, they will be able to develop community-based information projects that will be showcased at a youth summit on May 18, coordinated by Earth Force.

Participating teachers included Mr. Neely, George Pullman Elementary; Ms. McNeal, Black Elementary School; Ms. Millner, Bennett Elementary; and Ms. Whitehead, Medgar Evers Elementary. Ms. McNeal’s students are members of an after-school science club, while the other teachers instructed formal science classes.

Terri and Robin provided an overview on the medicine disposal issue, then engaged the students in a Jeopardy game, a vocabulary word scramble game, and a marble labyrinth game called Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly. Activities were selected from IISG’s Medicine Chest, “It’s What You Can’t See” education tabloid from PA Sea Grant, and other curriculum materials.

Photos:
1) Ms. Millner’s students learn about medicine disposal by reading the new Great Lakes Sea Grant education tabloid, “It’s what you can’t see…Learn about hidden chemicals in your water.”

2) Environmental science club members at Black Elementary are fascinated play the GROSS marble game and learn about properly disposing of household items.

3) Ms. Whitehead's students research unwanted medicines and personal care products to solve a word scramble activity.

This “Undo the Chemical Brew” education project is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Check out the latest information on www.unwantedmeds.org.

Recreational water users: Join the discussion and help fight AIS

2011-12-21T11:26:00.000-06:00

Protecting the waterways of Illinois and Indiana requires everyone’s involvement. Now is your chance to voice your opinion, and help shape statewide education and outreach efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is conducting two focus groups with area boaters, anglers, & waterfowl hunters--in Springfield, Ill., on Monday, January 9, from 6-8 p.m. and in Indianapolis, Ind. on Tuesday, January 10 from 6-8 p.m.

AIS can easily be spread by recreational water users from one infested waterbody to another. The goal of these discussions is to learn what you think about practices to reduce the spread of Asian carp, Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels and other AIS. Practices include: inspecting craft for hitchhikers, not releasing live bait in water bodies, and flushing motors.

The results of these focus groups will instrumental in designing future campaigns that are effective and speak to the people of Illinois and Indiana.

“The negative effects of AIS are often seen first by those who recreate on lakes, rivers, and ponds,” said Sarah Zack, IISG aquatic invasive species specialist. “For example, invasive aquatic weeds can choke waterways, preventing fun activities, like boating, fishing, and swimming.” Food web changes caused by AIS can trigger declines in game fish populations, impacting recreational fishing. Asian carp, a fast growing invasive fish, has even been known to jump out of the water and strike boaters and personal watercraft users.

Most people will use a lake, river, pond or creek for recreation at some point or another in their lives – there are over four million registered boats and two million anglers in the Great Lakes region alone. All types of boaters, anglers, waterfowl hunters, and other water users are invited to take part in the focus group.

A small monetary compensation for participation will be provided. The specific meeting location will be disclosed upon registration. For more information, contact Sarah Zack at szack@illinois.edu. To register, please contact Erin Seekamp by phone at (618) 453-7463 or email at eseekamp@siu.edu.

IISG is one of 32 programs nationwide that address a number of coastal issues through research, education and outreach. The program is committed to informing the public about the problems posed by AIS as well as how to prevent their spread.

IISG in the news: Macon County residents get rid of unwanted medications safely

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

It isn't always easy to do the right thing. Especially when it comes to properly disposing of unused medicine. But, in Macon County, Illinois residents can now get unused controlled substances, such as pain medications, out of their houses. IISG recently purchased a collection box for the Maroa Police Department. This program is, in fact, the only place in Macon County that can accept controlled substances. All medications collected will be incinerated; keeping the drugs off of the streets and out of the water.

Read more about the collection program in Macon County at the Herald-Review.

Illinois Water Resources Center is seeking proposals

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources, is seeking proposals for research on topics related to improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply, including (but not limited to): enhancement of water supply infrastructure, development of drought impact indicators, evaluation of the dynamics of extreme hydrological events and associated costs, development of methods for better estimation of the physical and economic supply of water, integrated management of ground and surface waters, the resilience of public water supplies, and the evaluation of conservation practices. Proposals are sought in not only the physical dimensions of supply, but also the role of economics and institutions in water supply and in coping with extreme hydrologic conditions.

Proposed projects can be 1 to 3 years in duration and may request up to $250,000 in federal funds. Successful applicants must match each dollar of the federal grant with one dollar from non-federal sources. Proposals must be filed on the Internet at https://niwr.net/ by 4:00 PM, Eastern Time, Thursday, February 23, 2012.

Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply for a grant through a Water Research Institute or Center.

The full RFP is available at https://niwr.net/competitive_grants/RFP. In Illinios, contact Lisa Merrifield, lmorrisn@illinois.edu or 217-333-0045 for more about the Illinois Water Resources Center.

In Indiana contact Ron Turco, rturco@purdue.edu or 765-494-8077, for more information.

FAQs on the Buffalo River remediation get answers

2011-12-14T09:30:00.000-06:00

The Buffalo River was subjected to a great deal of industrial contamination years ago. Efforts at pollution prevention and cleanup have helped to rehabilitate the water way, but a great deal of contamination still exists in the sediment at the bottom of the river. These contaminants can still have a negative effect on economic, social, and environmental uses of the river, but an ongoing collaboration between a number of agencies is working right now to clean up and restore the river bottom.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, Honeywell and several other affiliated public and private entities have teamed up to complete a two-year dredging project that will remove 1.2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment, which will provide a clean and supportive environment for local, native species to flourish.

Part of the work is being performed under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which revitalizes once-thriving waterways through sediment cleanups and restoration. The act requires at least 35 percent of the project cost to come from non-federal partners. IISG’s Environmental Social Scientist Caitie McCoy has provided expertise for the project. For example, she prepared the publication The Buffalo River Restoration Project: Frequently Asked Questions. The FAQ gives detailed information on the Buffalo River Restoration Project, including the project’s timeframe, funding, impact, and more.

Aquaponics makes the most of water safely and naturally

2011-12-13T10:30:00.000-06:00

What do you get when you combine an aquarium, a greenhouse, and a fish farm? The answer is aquaponics.

Aquaponics is the process of operating fish farming and hydroponic plant farming in a contained system where the water is circulated, filtered, and reused between both. Here's how it works. The water in the fish tanks builds up waste that need to be filtered out to keep the fish healthy. But this waste can actually provides nutrients for plant growth so in an aquaponic setup, that water is used to hydroponically grown plants. The plant roots filter the water by taking up and using these valuable nutrients. By circulating the water through the system in this way, both the plants and the fish benefit, and the water is reused. The system also provides a natural environment where vegetables, herbs, and fish are all raised organically.

For a great explanation of the process, as well as a tour of what an aquaponic system can look like, watch this video from the Purdue University Extension office.

If you would like to learn more about aquaponics, contact IISG Aquaculture Marketing Specialist Kwamena Quagrainie.

Indiana planners take action on climate change, green infrastructure

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000-06:00

As the year ends, top ten lists begin to crop up, putting the year's events in perspective and celebrating accomplishments. IISG has put together our own list of successes from projects that have come to fruition in recent years, and here is an example:

IISG presented a seminar on climate change, land use, and human health impacts to the Northern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) Environmental Management Planning Committee. The seminar led to the development of a climate change steering committee, which drafted a resolution on climate change for the NIRPC Board of Trustees. Sea Grant also participated in this process.

The NIRPC Board of Trustees approved the resolution requiring that any future planning and funding efforts that NIRPC puts forth incorporate climate change components, especially green infrastructure. This kind of action provides positive action on climate change issues, both in the near term and in the future planning. It also fosters an impact at the local level, where communities and residents will benefit directly from the improvements.

To read more about the NIRPC’s commitment to the environment, visit their website here. For more information on IISG projects and their positive impacts, view our fact sheet here.

IISG provides medicine collection boxes to 15 communities

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000-06:00

Join IISG in taking a look at some of the projects we’ve been involved in during the past year or two. There have been a number of important initiatives that are already benefiting communities throughout the Great Lakes region, and here is just one example:

Flushing unused medicines is a bad idea. for aquatic wildlife, and for us--these chemicals can end up in local rivers and streams as well as drinking water sources. IISG has been at the forefront in efforts to to raise awareness on this issue and to help communities organize local medicine collection programs.

IISG and the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program created permanent medicine collection programs in several Great Lakes communities, and Sea Grant has purchased 15 medicine collection boxes for communities that now have ongoing pharmaceutical collection programs in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

As a result of the program, 15 Great Lakes communities collected 4,600 pounds of medicine in 2010 alone, preventing all of that from entering the water supply and negatively impacting the environment.

Pictured here is the drop box in Peru, Illinois and the local team that worked to make it happen. For more information on medicine collection programs and proper disposal of pharmaceuticals, visit the IISG webpage on Safe Disposal of Unwanted Medicines. And or more information on IISG projects and their positive impacts, view our fact sheet here.

IISG in the news: UW, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Programs Team Up to Produce Area of Concern Video

2011-12-02T11:30:00.000-06:00

IISG and Wisconsin Sea Grant and are teaming up teaming up to produce a public information video that’s designed to inform anglers, boaters, marina operators and local businesses of the benefits that can come from cleaning up Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC).

From the WSG website:

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are currently 49 Great Lakes AOCs, sites where water and sediment quality have become severely degraded. And chances are good that residents have absolutely no idea they may be living in one.

The video, funded by a grant from the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, will feature several Great Lakes AOCs, including the Sheboygan River AOC, the Milwaukee Estuary AOC, the Muskegon Lake AOC, and the Grand Calumet River AOC (pictured here). Caitie McCoy, a social scientist with IISG, will interview people who live and work in these AOCs, and UW Sea Grant videographer John Karl will shoot and edit the footage into a five- to seven-minute video. Read more here.

Green infrastructure becomes policy in Illinois

2011-12-01T11:30:00.000-06:00

As 2011 winds down, top ten lists begin to crop up, putting the year in review and celebrating recent accomplishments. IISG has put together our own list of successes that have come to fruition in recent years. Here is just one example:

Illinois EPA provided funding to IISG to study the costs and effectiveness of green infrastructure as a way to replace or supplement existing stormwater management. The study showed that on average, green infrastructure practices are equally effective in managing stormwater, while costing less to establish and maintain. Martin Jaffe, environmental planning specialist, presented these findings to the Illinois General Assembly.

As a result, the Illinois General Assembly established a $5 million discretionary fund to support green infrastructure projects in communities throughout the state. In addition, because of this study, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan, adopted in the fall of 2010, recommended incorporating green infrastructure practices in future development.

Managing urban stormwater is a significant matter facing communities throughout the U.S. – including northeastern Illinois and surrounding areas. Increasing storm intensity and aging infrastructure are combined threats to existing stormwater management, but green infrastructure may provide a useful and effective approach to these issues.

For more information on IISG projects and their positive impacts, view our fact sheet here. And to learn more about the Green Infrastructure Plan for Illinois, view the State’s EPA website, complete with details on the plan, here.

Visitors to the Washington County Fair learn about disposing of medicines properly

2011-11-30T09:22:00.000-06:00

Katie Vercek (pictured here) and Emily Allen are 4-H Teen County Council members with the Penn State Cooperative Extension 4-H Program. Pamela Paletta, Penn State Extension educator in Youth Development/4-H, asked the girls to use the IISG guide Sensible Disposal of Unwanted Medicine to learn about the concerns that improperly disposed of medicines can pose to waterways and community health, and then create informational posters to display at the Washington County Fair in Pennsylvania.

Sensible Disposal of Unwanted Medicine, which was developed by Purdue Extension Youth Development, is being circulated to state 4-H programs in the Great Lakes region to help spread awareness and inspire action, and provided the basic information for the posters. Katie shared the information on what people can do with their unwanted medicines with many of the visitors to the fair, and helped spread the word about preventing these medicines and related substances from entering water supplies.

This project was made possible through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Sea Grant and AVMA join forces to raise awareness on medicine disposal

2011-11-29T09:12:00.001-06:00

The most common poisons that threaten our beloved pets are our own medicines—ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antidepressants, and ADHD medications. Any medication, even those prescribed for a pet, can pose a risk to dogs or cats who decide to eat what they find.

For this reason and more, the National Sea Grant College Program and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have forged a formal partnership to raise awareness about the need for proper storage and disposal of unused medicines.

Pets, of course, are not the only victims of accidental poisonings. The Journal of Pediatrics recently reported that between the years 2001-2008, more than 430,000 children five years or younger were brought to emergency rooms due to self-ingested medicines. And, in the larger picture, drug-related deaths now outnumber motor vehicle fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

What’s more, pharmaceuticals are turning up in the environment. “Medicine disposal has become an emerging issue as numerous studies have found pharmaceuticals in drinking water and in lakes and rivers,” said Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention specialist. “The long term impacts are not known, but it’s clear that flushing medicines or throwing them in the trash contributes to the problem.”

"We are excited about this collaborative effort involving the AVMA and NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program," said Mike Liffmann, Extension leader for the National Sea Grant Office. "Our Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant colleagues will, on behalf of the National Sea Grant College Program, lead this joint outreach and education effort aimed at ensuring that leftover or unused medications for animals are disposed of properly so they cannot harm people, the animals or the environment."

For the past six years, IISG has worked with communities to develop local medicine collection programs. Through workshops and the IISG toolkit, the program provides information and support so that these efforts are safe and successful.

Now, alongside the AVMA, the information campaign can grow to encompass new audiences, including animal owners who, along with many in the general public, may need to dispose of unused and expired medicine.

“By increasing the general public’s awareness of options available to them for the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals and the environmental consequences of improper disposal, it is hoped and anticipated that fewer and fewer medications will flushed or poured into our waters,” said Kristi Henderson, AVMA assistant director of scientific activities.

For more information about medicine collection programs, visit unwantedmeds.org. There, you can download the toolkit Disposal of Unwanted Medicines: A Resource for Action in Your Community.

In the news: Des Plaines River runs red for research

2011-11-28T09:40:00.001-06:00

From NBC Chicago:

Scientists dumped a red dye "tracer" into the river between Route 83 and the Lockport area beginning late Tuesday night to study Asian carp and other species migrating to Lake Michigan. Read more.

IISG booth offers AIS info for science teachers

2011-11-18T10:14:00.001-06:00

Sarah Zack and Danielle Hilbrich organized an aquatic invasive species outreach booth October 27-28 at the Illinois Science Teachers Association Conference in Tinley Park, Illinois. The theme was “Never Release Classroom Plants and Animals,” and the information was aimed at explaining how even common classroom plants or animals can endanger the environment if not properly cared for and disposed of. They reached approximately 260 science teachers, with many engaging in conversations about how to prevent classroom specimens from becoming harmful invasive species.

Sarah and Danielle display some of the informational materials they provided for the conference.

IISG welcomes Jason Brown to the communication team

2011-11-18T09:43:00.001-06:00

This month we welcome Jason Brown as our new media specialist at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Jason received his BA in Creative Writing at the University of Illinois, and has extensive experience in writing and editing for a variety of outlets. He also has several years’ experience in the radio industry, and has developed web content and social media strategies for other environmental causes. Jason will be working closely with Irene Miles and the rest of the Sea Grant group to keep the public informed and active in helping to protect Illinois and Indiana waterways.

Elementary school kids learn the latest on invasive species

2011-11-17T10:32:00.001-06:00

IISG’s Danielle Hilbrich conducted an outreach event at Walt Whitman Elementary School in Wheeling, Illinois earlier this week. She presented information about aquatic invasive species (AIS) to an enrichment group of third, fourth, and fifth grade students that was tasked with researching the effects of AIS and communicating them to their school. Danielle presented information on Asian carp, answering student-developed questions about where Asian carp came from, how they got here, why they could be a problem, and how we can control them. The presentation concluded with a hands-on demonstration of many AIS specimens.

Students at Walt Whitman Elementary learn about invasive species and share info with their schoolmates.

In the news: Quagga mussels threaten Lake Michigan ecosystem

2011-11-16T09:04:00.001-06:00

From WTTW Chicago:

Scientists believe the Quagga mussel first stowed away in the ballast water on transoceanic ships from the Caspian Sea. The mussels made their way into the lakes when that ballast water was purged.

The tiny fingernail-sized mussels closely related to another invasive, known as the Zebra mussel, first appeared in lake waters here in 1988.
The Quagga mussel is now the most pervasive and destructive invasive species ever to enter the Great Lakes. Over the last 15 years, the Quagga population has exploded, eclipsing the Zebra mussel and infecting all five of the Great Lakes. Read more.

Chicago River provides teachers a hands-on AIS experience

2011-11-11T10:45:00.001-06:00

IISG continues working to get students to become activestewards of the Great Lakes. On November 5, we held an Aquatic Invasive Species(AIS) workshop, “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers,” which provided 15 teachers with valuableinformation and resources they can use to educate students about keeping theGreat Lakes healthy.

Teachersindicate origin and destination of Great Lakes invaders in “Where in theWorld?” mapping activity.

Educators RobinGoettel and TerriHallesy conducted the workshop for geography and environmental scienceteachers in Chicago. The afternoon field trip offered an up-close experiencewith the Chicago River and its organisms, as well as a tour of the riverbankarea to see examples of best management practices for water conservation.Attendees participated in many hands-on activities and learned the latest aboutspread, impact, and control of common aquatic invaders in the region. They alsolearned how to incorporate problem-based learning about invasive species intotheir lesson plans.

High school teachers George Hill andMike Littmann compare their river species.

Many of the teachers plan to involve their students incommunity stewardship projects that will help them learn best practices toprevent further spread of these invaders.

DianneLebryk shows one of the many rusty crayfish that teachers collected during thefield experience.

This workshop was sponsored by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiativeand COSEE Great Lakes, incollaboration with the IllinoisGeographic Alliance and Friendsof the Chicago River.

IISG specialists attend 3rd National Sea Grant Academy

2011-11-07T10:54:00.000-06:00

The National Sea Grant Academy was established to provide continuing education for Sea Grant Extension faculty, to give a national perspective on the role and importance of each Sea Grant program, and to further the work of studying, improving, and protecting America’s waterways.

In March 2011, IISG specialists Paris Collingsworth, Carolyn Foley, Laura Kammin, Caitie McCoy and Kristin TePas attended the first half of the 3rd National Sea Grant Academy in Washington, D.C. This week-long training event gave participants the opportunity to interact with other Sea Grant staff from around the globe, learn how to better design their projects, and begin to understand the inner workings of the National Sea Grant Program Office.

Caitie and other Sea Grant specialists search for frogs in the Columbia Gorge. Back L to R: Greg Berman (Woods Hole Sea Grant), Jeffrey Brodeur (Woods Hole), Holly Abeels (Florida), Julie Anderson (Louisiana), Front L to R: Juliet Simpson (MIT), Sara Grise (Pennsylvania), Mike Spranger (Florida), Karla Kaczmarek (Pennsylvania), Caitie.

During the week of October 23-29, 2011, Carolyn, Laura and Caitie attended the second week’s events in Portland, Oregon. These sessions offered information on how to plan projects aimed at achieving meaningful outcomes, and solidified the connections made during the first week’s sessions by allowing participants to share their thoughts, experiences, and resources with other Sea Grant specialists. During the week, participants had the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by the work being done by other Sea Grant programs around the country, especially in the host state of Oregon.

Caitie and Laura participate in a trip to Washington Park, at 410 acre urban park located within the city limits of Portland. From L to R: Mike Liffman (NSGO), Karla Kaczmarek (Pennsylvania Sea Grant), Julie Anderson (Louisiana Sea Grant), Holly Abeels (Florida Sea Grant), Susanna Musick (Virginia Sea Grant), Laura Kammin, Chelsea Lowes (NSGO), Caitie McCoy, Sara Grise (Pennsylvania Sea Grant).

These recent graduates of Sea Grant Academy are looking forward to using the skills and connections made during these two training weeks as they work to create interesting, useful programs in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Sea anemones at the Hatfield Marine Science Center (hmsc.oregonstate.edu/).

Sustaining Water Systems Webinar

2011-11-03T09:59:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, Nov.8th, the Wisconsin and Illinois Sections of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will cohost a webinar entitled Ensuring Sustainable Water Systems through Innovative, Full Cost Water Pricing from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.

The webinar will give water utility staff and local elected officials an overview of how careful planning for conservation can recover costs, ensure adequate revenue to replace and maintain critical infrastructure, and enhance water conservation efforts by promoting environmentally sound consumer decisions. Presenters will include Drema Gross (Austin Water Utility), Margaret Schneemann (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program), and Jan Beecher (Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University).

This webinar follows the City of Chicago’s recently proposed 2012 budget, which includes increases in water rates to fund infrastructure improvements. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) highlights the proposed rate increases in their policy blog, Facing up to the Need for Investment in Water Infrastructure.

While Chicago’s customer utilities have been vocal on the proposed increases, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Act of 1889 requires the city to charge the suburbs that depend on Chicago-produced water the same rate that they charge city residents. The City of Chicago also has a public campaign called MeterSave, which enables residents to become more water efficient.

The Nov. 8th webinar will further inform the region about the need for cost-beneficial water conservation and rates that recover the full costs of water supply.

In the news: From invasive species to fertilizer

2011-11-02T09:26:00.001-05:00

As one solution to the threat posed by Asian carp, workers are investigating using the fish to create organic fertilizer.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Workers along the Illinois River are hunting for invasive fish to turn into organic fertilizer, fillets and other commercial products.

The hope is to reduce the population of Asian carp threatening the Great Lakes. Originally imported to cleanse ponds in the South, Asian carp made it into Mississippi River waterways and have traveled north. The voracious fish can starve other species by consuming their food.

In the news: Scientists head to D.C. with mercury findings

2011-10-25T12:57:00.001-05:00

From the Great Lakes Echo:

Scientists are in Washington D.C. today to present to federal lawmakers research suggesting the Great Lakes region has more problems with mercury than previously thought.

Their visit comes just weeks after the GOP-led House of Representative passed two bills that would handcuff the EPA from limiting mercury emissions.

As Echo reported, scientists reviewed research on mercury in the Great Lakes region and found despite overall decreases in the pollutant, concentrations are rising in some species and health risks are occurring at lower levels than expected. Read more.

In the news: Study: Basins separation could hurt water quality

2011-10-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

The Alton Telegraph:

A hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins would send Asian carp swimming back downstream, but also alter water quality.

The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study under way by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Chicago District aims to find a solution that would halt migration of Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species into Lake Michigan. But a hydrological separation also could affect other things, such as water quality or flooding.

So far, research indicates that while a separation of the waterways likely would not affect the degree of flooding Downstate, it could change the quality of water flowing toward Alton and St. Louis. The water now flowing this way contains treated wastewater and storm water runoff.

The feasibility portion of the federal study, anticipated for public review in draft form by early 2015, requires the corps to build models to test its theories before publishing any findings. Read more.

Clear Out Your Medicine Cabinet on October 29

2011-10-19T08:57:00.001-05:00

Do you have unwanted medicines taking up needed space in your cabinets? Haveyou been waiting for a better disposal option than flushing them down thetoilet or tossing them in the trash? Then mark your calendar for Saturday,October 29. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be partneringwith communities around the country to host another medicine collection eventthat day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is an opportunity to dispose of your expired orunneeded medicines in a way that protects people, pets, and theenvironment. To find a collection event nearyou go to the DEAwebsite. IISG will be hosting two collection events in Illinois: in Mahomet(601 E. Main Street), and in Maroa (120 S. Locust St).

Controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter medications will be collected.You can bring in liquids and creams as long as they are in their originalcontainers with the cap tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Intravenoussolutions, injectibles, and syringes will notbe accepted.

This event builds on the previous two DEA sponsored National Prescription DrugTake Back days, held in September 2010 and April 2011, in which more than 309tons of medicine were collected.

A goal of the collection event is to help curb the rising trend of drug-relatedinjuries and deaths, both accidental poisonings and overdoses. But it also servesto help protect the environment.

Pharmaceuticals that are flushed down the toilet or thrownin the trash eventually reach our rivers, streams, and lakes. Ultimately this cancontaminate our drinking water and has been proven to harm wildlife. While thelong-term impacts on human health are not known, there’s a long list ofpharmaceuticals that are causing negative ecological effects. Progestin, acommon contraceptive, has been shown to disrupt reproductive development infrogs. Trenblone, a steroid used in veterinary medicine, causes irreversiblefish masculinization. And antidepressants have been found to impair predatoravoidance in larval fathead minnow and in shrimp.

All of the medicine collected at the events will beincinerated by the DEA. For more information about this event, or permanentmedicine collection programs, contact Laura Kammin.

In the news: Suburbs would get soaked by water-rate hike too

2011-10-18T13:10:00.001-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

The ripple effects of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to hike water rates are spreading quickly into far-flung suburbs.

Residents and businesses in about 130 area suburbs and subdivisions that rely on city-supplied Lake Michigan water will also be hit by big rate hikes that Emanuel wants to impose on city dwellers to overhaul the water delivery system, the mayor acknowledged Friday. Read more.

In the news: Report says farm runoff declining near Great Lakes

2011-10-17T08:50:00.001-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

Farmers are making significant cutbacks in erosion of soil and nutrients into the Great Lakes, where runoff is suspected of being a leading contributor to rampant growth of algae that damages water quality, a new U.S. Department of Agriculture report said.

The study estimated that because of changes in cultivation practices, the amount of sediments washing into rivers and streams that feed the lakes is 50 percent less than it would have been otherwise. Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff is about one-third lower than it would have been without the improvements. Read more.

IISG in the news: Emerging Contaminants, Emerging Solutions

2011-10-12T15:17:00.004-05:00

A blog post from the Metropolitan Planning Council:

About 200 reports are now released annually about low levels of chemicals, such as drugs, detergents and plastics, in our waterways. As products, these compounds are beneficial (I am grateful that my office mates use soap.) Some of them, like heart meds, are even life-saving. The problem begins once we are done using them — when they are flushed (one way or another) down the toilet or swept away in stormwater, and flow into our streams and lakes. Because, especially in areas like the Fox River Basin, that is also our drinking water. We know that some of these chemicals, at certain levels, can disrupt our endocrine system, causing a host of health problems, ranging from infertility to cancer. But, is there enough in our water to make us sick?
To try to answer that, on Sept. 15^th, Openlands and MPC held “Emerging Contaminants, Emerging Solutions,” our latest roundtable on the region’s water challenges (listen to the audio recording, courtesy of Chicago Amplified). Almost 80 people from through the region convened in Elgin to hear about known (and unknown) risks, and possible methods to prevent or reduce contamination. The audience had the opportunity to ask national experts about cutting-edge scientific findings on the issue. Read more.

Invasive species workshop provides teachers Chicago River tour

2011-10-11T12:20:00.000-05:00

Sinceyouth are the future, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) has been working hardto get students actively engaged in becoming tomorrow’s stewards of the GreatLakes. On November 5, IISG will hold the “Stop the Aquatic Hitchhikers”workshop, which will give teachers the information and resources they need toeducate students about keeping the Great Lakes healthy.

“Wewill supply teachers with tools to help them provide authentic, issue-basedlearning opportunities for their students,” said Robin Goettel, IISG associatedirector for education. “This workshop will give teachers first-rate classroomactivities. It will also provide them with field-based experience on theChicago River to help them understand the biology, spread, and impacts ofaquatic invasive species, as well as the best approaches for the public to takeaction and control them.”

IISGis also partnering with the Friends of Chicago River for an afternoon fieldtrip that will give workshop attendees an up-close and personal experience withthe Chicago River and its organisms, as well as tour of the riverbank area tosee examples of best management practices for water conservation.

Teacherswill also explore how to incorporate problem-based learning about invasivespecies, how to involve their students in a community stewardship project, andhow to integrate content about aquatic invasive species in their biology,geography, and environmental science units.

Teacherswho attend will receive a $200 stipend upon completion of their classroomstewardship projects. Plus they will receive classroom resources, includingposters, the Great Lakes Invasioncurriculum guide, the Stewardship Projects on Exotic Aquatic Species guide, as well as ContinuingProfessional Development Units.

Also,the best stewardship project will qualify one teacher to win free registrationat the National Geographic Council for Education 2012 Conference in San Marcos,Texas.

Theevent will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will meet at the VolunteerResource Center at Edgebrook Woods in Chicago, Ill. To register for thisworkshop, contact Terri Hallesy. Tosee more educational resources and student activities, visit Nab the Aquatic Invader!.

Forthis event, IISG has also partnered with the Illinois Geographic Alliance, andthe Chicago Geographical Society. Funding is through the U.S. EPA Great LakesNational Program Office as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

SOLEC 2011 expands on the land-water connection

2011-10-06T13:46:00.001-05:00

Researchersover the past three years have been studying the chemical, biological, andphysical indicators of the Great Lakes ecosystem’s health, and this informationwill be presented in the upcoming two-day State of the Lakes EcosystemConference (SOLEC).

“Thisconference brings people together who make decisions that affect the GreatLakes. This brings to them the most up-to-date science of this ecosystem, whichlays the foundation for them to make decisions about the future,” said ParisCollingsworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) Great Lakes ecosystemspecialist, who also serves on the SOLEC Executive Committee. IISG has beenworking to provide support and promote the conference.

SOLECis being hosted by U.S. EPA and Environmental Canada. This year’s theme is“Linking Land to the Lakes,” which will expand on the 2008 conference’s focuson the nearshore. The event will also highlight land-based issues that relateto the Great Lakes’ water quality.

Thekeynote speaker is Robert Glennon, who will talk about the actions required toimprove the United States’ water crisis. He is also the author of Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis andWhat to do About It.

Theevent is being held Oct. 26 and 27 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie,Penn. For more information, or to register, visit the SOLEC 2011 web page.Registration is open until Oct. 14, and the full event costs $190.

Purdue Green Week hosts medicine collection event

2011-10-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

From Carolyn Foley, IISG assistant research coordinator:

Green Weekis a week-long event, sponsored by the Purdue University Sustainability Council, intended to teach faculty, staff, students and local citizens howto lead greener, cleaner lives. On September 30, as part of Green Week 2011, Illinois-Indiana Sea Granthosted a booth at the Sustainable World Expo. AngelaArcher and I demonstratedthe good work being done by IISG specialists and provided information on stoppingthe spread of invasive species, keeping unwanted chemicals out of the waterways, and developing sustainable aquaculturepractices.

Students fromthe Purdue Department of Forestry andNatural Resources andthe Purdue Chapter of the Student National PharmaceuticalAssociation collectedunwanted medicines and educated expo-goers about how to dispose of theirunwanted medicines in responsible ways. Although just about 10 people broughtin medicines, those that brought, brought a lot. We heard from more than one,“I’ve been waiting for an event like this for a long time!”

In spite ofthe windy weather, many participants learned something along the way and newpartnerships were forged between IISG and members of the Purdue community.

In the news: Voracious invasive quagga mussels gobbling Great Lakes' food chain

2011-10-03T10:01:00.002-05:00

From the Detroit Free Press:

They eat as much as 98% of their weight each day, multiply rapidly and could alter the Great Lakes forever.

No, they aren't Asian carp. They are the true scourge of the lakes: quagga mussels. Their exploding numbers and rapid spread are leading scientists to use words like "startling," "dramatic" and "unprecedented."

"Quaggas are causing the biggest changes we've ever seen in Lake Michigan," said Tom Nalepa, a research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory who has studied the lake for more than 30 years. "The numbers are still going up. We are going to see more severe impacts." Read more.

Who is eating whom in Lake Michigan?

2011-09-28T13:30:00.000-05:00

The Lake Michigan food web has under gone some changes in recent years—one reason is a dramatic influx of invasive species. So how does the food web function at this time? Who is eating whom?

Researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, the Lake Michigan Biological Station in Illinois and the Water Research Institute in Wisconsin are using state-of-the-art methods, including stable isotopes, fatty acid signatures and fish gut contents, to examine the Lake Michigan food web. In the end, they hope to put all of the results together to understand linkages in the food web.

The two-year project, funded by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Michigan Sea Grant and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, spans 11 sites around the lake.

Wisconsin Sea Grant has developed a video that takes you aboard a research vessel as samples are collected, and back to the lab for analysis.

In the news: 17 state AGs favor watershed divide

2011-09-27T09:24:00.000-05:00

From the Associated Press:

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said he and his counterparts in 16 other states want to demand quicker federal action on preventing invasive species such as Asian carp from migrating between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds.

Schuette told The Associated Press that a coalition of state attorneys general reaching from West Virginia to Nevada would push Congress and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a plan for severing the connection between the two giant drainage basins that engineers constructed a century ago in Chicago rivers and canals.

Supporters contend it's the only way to slam the door on species invasions that have disrupted aquatic ecosystems and cost billions in damages in both basins. Local cargo shippers and their allies say such a move would cause massive flooding and job losses in the Chicago area. Read more.

Workshop spotlights natural lawn care benefits and practices

2011-09-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Natural lawn care is an important way municipalities and landscapers can make an impact on water quality. An upcoming workshop will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13, at the College of Lake County to provide education and practical solutions that will reduce the impact of pesticides and fertilizers in our region. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Safer Pest Control Project, Liberty Prairie Conservancy, College of Lake County, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and University of Illinois Extension will be presenting this workshop, which runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes Workshop is a program of Lawn to Lake, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The three-year project aims to reduce the amount of toxins entering Great Lakes Basin waters.

“A natural lawn is a healthy lawn. A perfectly weed-free and green lawn should be a warning sign that it has been chemically treated. Using pesticides on your lawn is not a sustainable practice,” said Safer Pest Control Project Executive Director Rachel Rosenberg, who is also a speaker at the event.

The workshop is geared specifically to municipalities, professional landscapers, homeowner associations, and park district managers that manage lawns and landscapes.

“Not only can natural lawn care and sustainable landscaping benefit our water quality, but it can also open new markets for lawn and landscape companies and help municipalities save money while meeting sustainability initiatives,” said Margaret Schneemann, IISG water resource economist.

Some of the other topics that will be covered are: greening municipal ordinances, creating rain-friendly landscapes, what to look for in contracts, and more.

“These practices can save time and money. That is part of the reason why this is becoming a national and regional trend,” said Sarah Surroz, conservation and outreach manager for Liberty Prairie Conservancy. “People want to do the right thing, but they aren’t always sure what that is. This workshop will provide information and resources.”

The workshop costs $25 to attend, but College of Lake County students can come for free. The event will be held in Room C005 of the College of Lake County’s Workforce and Professional Developmental Institute, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, Ill.

For registration information, go to Liberty Prairie Conservancy's website. For additional information, call Schneemann at 312-676-7556.

In the news: 5 chemical threats to the Great Lakes

2011-09-23T14:55:00.000-05:00

From the CBC:

The Great Lakes have faced various threats for years, from industrial pollution to invasive species, but another challenge worries many researchers these days — the emerging chemical threat.

It’s not just pesticides, as scientists are finding worrying levels of pharmaceutically active compounds such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, anti-epileptics, and beta blockers in lake water. As well, hormones, pesticides and alkylphenols have been identified as threats. Read more.

In the news: Governors speak out against Great Lakes regulations

2011-09-22T10:09:00.000-05:00

From The Badger Herald:

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and several other governors are joining the federal government and Canada in demanding New York reconsider shipping regulations that protect waters from invasive species but could damage Wisconsin’s economy.

In a letter sent to New York’s Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week, Walker joined forces with the Republican governors John Kasick of Ohio and Mitch Daniels of Indiana to argue that unless the New York Department of Environmental Conservation regulations are amended, the regulations could require the St. Lawrence Seaway to close down, resulting in thousands of martime-related job losses in the Great Lakes states and in Canada.

Read more.

IISG informs 2,000 visitors at the Illinois State Fair

2011-09-15T13:53:00.000-05:00

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant once again participatedin this year’s Illinois State Fair with a booth that educated fairgoers aboutthe sensible ways to recycle, reuse, and dispose of household items andmedications. Children were able to play the Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly or GROSSgame, while adults were given brochures, pillboxes, as well as mailers for their oldmedication and cell phones.Throughout the week, almost 2,000 people stopped by atthe IISG exhibit.

IISG spreading the word about medicine collection programs

2011-09-12T09:32:00.001-05:00

InIllinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s ongoing effort to educate the public about ways toprevent medicines from getting into our water, IISG Pollution PreventionProgram Specialist Laura Kammin will be one of the invited speakers at anupcoming workshop.

The“Emerging Contaminants, Emerging Solutions” panel discussion is organized byOpenlands and the Metropolitan Planning Council. It will be held from 12:00p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at North Banquet Facility at The Centre in Elgin,100 Symphony Way, Elgin, Ill.

Kamminwill be talking about IISG’s work in reducingcontamination by chemicals known as endocrine disruptor compounds through theuse of medicine take-back programs. IISG’s toolkit The Disposal of Unwanted Medicines: A Resource for Action in Your Community helps communities wisely dispose of unwanted medicines byproviding background information on the topic, by describing how to hold asuccessful collection event, by proving materials for public outreach andeducation, and more.

“This is a great opportunity to discuss solutions tothis problem with prominent researchers and water treatment professionals,”Kammin said. “The roundtable helps get the word out about the work that we aredoing. There will be many city planners and leaders of municipalities presentat the event, so this is an exciting way to connect with people and let themknow that we are there to help them.”

Alsospeaking are U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist Dana Kolpin, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency toxicologist Carole Braverman, and Fox MetroWater Reclamation District Pretreatment Supervisor Debra Ness.

Formore information on proper disposal practices and collection programs, contactLaura Kammin or go to our website. For more information about the workshop, visitthe MetropolitanPlanning Council.

Fun and games lead to learning at the Clean Water Celebration

2011-09-09T10:39:00.000-05:00

The Clean Water Celebration 2011 in Gary, Indiana on Saturday,September 3 offered an opportunity for IISG’s Leslie Dorworth and Carolyn Foleyto talk with visitors about what they can do to reduce unwanted inputs intowaterways. However, this was not a dry lesson--learning took place by playing theWatershed Game, which was developed by Northland NEMO, Minnesota Sea Grant, and Universityof Minnesota Extension. In this game, participants apply plans, practices, andpolicies that help them achieve a water quality goal for a stream, lake, orriver.

People of all ages joined in to play the game. They chose bestmanagement practices to employ in different landscapes (farmland, city,residential, or parks and open space areas) to help reduce phosphorus inputsinto a fictional lake.

This was the seventh annual event, which took place inMarquette Park. In addition to fun, the focus of the Clean Water Celebration iswater sports safety and protecting water quality.

Kiosks keep Milwaukee residents up-to-date on river clean up

2011-09-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

Theresidents around Lincoln Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have always used theirexpansive park to its fullest. It is intersected by Lincoln Creek and theMilwaukee River, which provides an opportunity for fishing and otheractivities. It also has a golf course, picnic areas, a water park, and trailsfor walking, biking and cross country skiing.

Sowhen it was announced that contaminated sediment in a section of the river inthe park was going to be cleaned up through the Great Lakes Legacy Act, localresidents had many questions—they wanted to understand what was going to behappening in their park.

IISG,working with all the project partners (U.S. EPA, Wisconsin DNR, MilwaukeeCounty Parks, Milwaukee County, University of Wisconsin Extension, Departmentof Health Services - State of Wisconsin, the City of Milwaukee and its HealthDepartment, North Shore Health Department, the Area of Concern Community ActionGroup, and local representatives) developed a plan to ensure the community waspart of the process and they had ample opportunities to learn about what was takingplace and why.

Thisprocess began with a series of town hall meetings where U.S. EPA and the Stateof Wisconsin provided a description of the project through presentations,posters and one-on-one discussion. The questions from the community weregathered and combined into a document and responses were provided both inwritten form and at a second meeting.

Inan effort to ensure that anyone visiting the park would have an opportunity tolearn about the project, the team developed a series of three signs or kiosks. Eachhas a different focus:

The Department of Health Services is providing clear guidance on contaminants in local fish--which ones are safe to eat and how often. This sign includes some simple safety tips during the project construction.
The U.S. EPA Areas of Concern (AOC) kiosk describes all the clean-up projects going on within the Milwaukee region to link this project to the larger goal of delisting the AOC. This kiosk provides direction for cleaning up after your pet and the potential impacts of pet waste to the waterway in its “Pick up your pet waste–it’s your doodie” campaign.
The Great Lakes Legacy Act kiosk provides specifics about this project including the activities that will occur, a timeline, and a weekly update. A dump truck that fills up over time will illustrate progress of the project.

Thereare two sets of kiosks in the park – one along a well-used bike path and asecond near the picnic area. The signs were designed so that at the end ofthe project, they can be repurposed for other topics, used in other parks, andfor other outreach activities.

In the news: Solution to Asian carp problem may be in kitchen

2011-09-07T09:12:00.000-05:00

From the Carmi Times:
Illinois residents know the Asian carp as an undesirable invasive species that is ruining state waterways, crowding out game fish and, occasionally, knocking out boaters by hurling their considerably large bodies out of the water.

But researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale who are studying the problem fish are looking into the possibility that residents might instead come to know the ugly critter by another name: "Dinner."

Working with a $1.1 million grant they received last year, the researchers are studying the economics of turning this river menace into a cash cow. And for one day in September, the researchers will join forces with a Louisiana-based chef who believes the fish's mild flavor is a perfect canvas on which to paint flavorful dishes. Read more.

In the news: Great Lakes, Mississippi split sought

2011-08-31T14:47:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

Six attorneys general in the Great Lakes region called for a multi-state coalition Wednesday that would push the federal government to protect the lakes from invasive species such as Asian carp by cutting off their artificial link to the Mississippi River basin.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the officials invited colleagues in 27 other states to join a lobbying campaign to separate the two watersheds, contending they have as much to lose as the Great Lakes do from migration of aquatic plants and animals that can do billions in economic damage and starve out native species. Read more.

Two new IL laws support medicine collection programs

2011-08-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

Two bills signed by Governor Pat Quinn are going to make it much easier for people to properly dispose of their unused medicines. Improper storage and disposal of medicines can lead to unintentional poisonings, medicine diversion and misuse, and can negatively impact aquatic wildlife.

“One of the main road blocks to medicine collection programs is the cost of properly disposing of the materials once they are collected”, says Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention program specialist. “This legislation will help communities that could not previously afford to have a program to start new collection programs, and it will provide financial support for police departments that already have medicine collection programs in place. HB2056 will provide critical funding to keep medicines out of the water until a national funding program is put into place.”

On August 24, 2011, Governor Quinn signed two bills that will provide a major boost to unused medicine collection programs in Illinois. House Bill 2056, sponsored by Rep. JoAnn Osmond (R-Antioch) and Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R-Villa Park) will make it easier for police departments in Illinois to pay for medicine collection programs. The new law authorizes law enforcement agencies to collect pharmaceuticals from residents and provides the funding to support collection and proper incineration of the medicines. Costs associated with medicine collection can be recovered through a $20 court fee levied against people who commit specified drug offenses.

House Bill 3090, sponsored by Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago) and Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago), authorizes the use of city halls or police departments to house medicine collection containers. Both laws go into effect on January 1, 2012.

“We don’t want these pharmaceuticals disposed of in an improper way. If they are just thrown down the toilet or thrown in the garbage they can end up in our water supply,” Governor Quinn said. “These bills will help Illinois conserve water, protect the safety of our drinking water supplies and ensure that unused medications are disposed of properly.”

Yesterday’s signing was actually the result of the hard work and enthusiasm of high school students. The Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2), was launched by students at Pontiac Township High School and their ecology teacher, Paul Ritter. High school students from Antioch joined the program and brought the idea of a bill to fund household medicine disposal to Rep. Osmond.

“Through the hard work and dedication of students from Pontiac, Antioch, and other schools in the state of Illinois, and with the guidance of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the P2D2 Bill [HB2056], which pays for the disposal of pharmaceuticals in Illinois, was signed by Governor Pat Quinn and become law,” said Ritter.

IISG and the P2D2 Program developed The Medicine Chest curriculum to educate other students around the country about proper disposal of medicines. And both organizations work together help communities start new medicine collection programs. For more information about how you can start a program in your community, contact Laura Kammin.

In the news: Panel rejects 5 states' bid to close Chicago-area shipping locks

2011-08-25T10:51:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

A federal appeals panel Wednesday rejected the request of five Great Lakes states to close Chicago-area shipping locks. But the panel warned that the issue could be revisited if ongoing efforts to stop the advance of Asian carp stall.

The ruling by the three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals follows a district court decision in December concluding that the invasive species did not appear to be an imminent threat and that closing the locks still might not keep them from reaching Lake Michigan. Read more.

AIS community stewardship highlighted at geography conference

2011-08-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

Amanda Miracle, an environmental science teacher at the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, was invited by Robin Goettel, IISG associate director for education, to co-present on her students’ aquatic invasive species (AIS) stewardship projects at the recent National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Conference. Here, Amanda is demonstrating a ballast water simulation model showing how invaders can easily spread throughout the Great Lakes. One of the session’s attendees was a geography curriculum specialist from the Denver public school system.

This presentation is part of a larger campaign through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative project, A Comprehensive Regional Public Outreach Campaign on AIS. A primary goal of this project is to actively involve Great Lakes region students in community stewardship projects, where they can implement their new understanding of AIS and associated impacts. This joint venture with teachers incorporates the Nab the Aquatic Invader! website, which is being enhanced with new activities and mapping information. A new AIS Stewardship Education Network—also serves to sustain and improve aquatic ecosystem biodiversity. Teachers in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and New York will be invited to co-present at next year’s NCGE conference in Texas.

In the news: Invasive species ballast battle gets bigger

2011-08-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

From the Duluth News Tribune:

Researchers working with the American Steamship Co. tested a new system Sunday to kill invasive species in the ballast water of a 1,000-foot Great Lakes freighter.

Crews pumped a biocide into two of 10 ballast tanks in the Indiana Harbor as it left Gary, Ind., treating 1.8 million gallons of ballast water. The chemical then was neutralized with a second chemical as the boat moved across Lake Superior before releasing ballast in the Duluth-Superior harbor.

It’s believed to be the first such major-scale test on the Great Lakes, with researchers from multiple universities and federal agencies involved along with funding from multiple state and federal grants. The issue is important because state and federal governments are moving to require ballast treatment to help stop invasive species that cause an estimated $5.9 billion damage annually in the region. Read more.

In the news: Quinn Signs E-Recycling Measures

2011-08-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

From NBC Chicago:

Governor Pat Quinn broke out his bill-signing pen once again Wednesday to sign legislation to increase e-recycling in Illinois.

Under the new law, the state's Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act will be overhauled, requiring more electronic products to be recycled. The recycling goals of manufacturers in Illinois also would be increased, and penalties on those who fail to follow the law will be strengthened. Read more.

IISG is looking for a media specialist

2011-08-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) has announced the opening of a new position in the program—visiting media specialist. This is a 12-month part-time academic professional position. The new employee will focus on enhancing and optimizing IISG’s communication component with an emphasis on website and social media activities to expand overall awareness of Sea Grant program activities. The position will be located at the IISG office in Urbana, Illinois. The job may become non-visiting and up to full-time depending on funding and programmatic needs. Closing date for this position is Aug. 30, 2011. For job details and other pertinent information, visit the position announcement page or contact Lisa Merrifield.

Illinois State Fair goers learn to get rid of stuff sensibly

2011-08-15T13:52:00.001-05:00

Kids are enjoying the Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly marble game, which gives them the chance to consider recycling, finding new homes for things, and bringing unwanted items to collection events. Robin Goettel (in blue) is one of many IISG staff members who are at the fair through August 20, providing information and inspiration to visitors in Conservation World.

In the news: Negative Image Aside, Asian Carp Are a Boon

2011-08-12T14:05:00.000-05:00

From The New York Times:

When federal and state environmental regulators spent a few days at Lake Calumet in Chicago earlier this month fishing for Asian carp with stun guns and half-mile-wide nets, their hunt seemed to underscore the carp’s status as the Midwest’s ecological enemy No. 1.

The subject of endless debate over the best control strategies, Asian carp, an invasive species, have earned a place of dread in local lore. None, however, were found in the Lake Calumet search, and some scientists say the ecological concerns may be overblown.

For many people, Asian carp are proving more boon than bane. Bolstered by government support, the Asian carp harvest has leapt thirtyfold in the past decade, creating a new industry, attracting fishermen and entrepreneurs, and feeding people all over the world.

“We’ve been ramping up for years,” said Mike Schafer, owner of Schafer Fisheries. Read more.

Sea Grant to teach about recycling at Illinois State Fair

2011-08-11T13:17:00.000-05:00

Look for Illinois Indiana Sea Grant's Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly display in Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair. The fair opens today, Aug. 11, and runs through Aug. 21. Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly provides helpful information about recycling, reusing or sensible disposing of a variety of items, including medicines, electronics, and aquarium fish and plants.

On Aug. 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, Sea Grant staff members will be there to answer questions, hand out informational prizes, and provide the opportunity for kids to play our educational marble game.

Asian carp solutions: Take them to market

2011-08-10T10:03:00.001-05:00

Last September, experts and stakeholders met to discuss ways to reduce Asian carp numbers by marketing the fish. In the months that followed, many who attended have been working hard to make the proposed solutions a reality.

At the marketing summit, which was organized by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), participants agreed that high-value Asian carp fillets marketed to restaurants and retailers may provide the financial incentive for extensive harvesting of these fish. Looking to have immediate impact, they also recommended that whole fish be exported in high numbers to Asian markets, where these species are already popular food fish. Finally, they recommended converting Asian carp by-products into pet food or treats to eliminate waste and maximize profit opportunities.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is now developing programs to help further the goals laid out during the summit. Tom Heavisides, IDNR contaminants assessment manager, said the organization is starting three pilot programs for this fall. They include an Asian carp food-handling training program, as well as another that will study marketing the invasive species. IDNR will also support researchers who will go to a pool of the Illinois River and study how pulling out Asian carp will ecologically affect the waters. All three projects are expected to be wrapped up by December.

The summit also provided opportunities to move new projects or plans forward. For example, Louisiana Sea Grant Fisheries Specialist Julie Anderson had been developing a plan with Operation Blessing, a non-profit organization, to send canned Asian carp to Haiti, where food is certainly needed and canned fish is preferred.

“At this point, we have been trying to pursue finding a company that is interested in doing the canning operation,” Anderson said.

The idea of marketing Asian carp has also received significant media exposure since the summit. For example, the New York Times recently published the article “Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate and Eat It.” However, this idea is not without controversy. IISG Aquatic Invasives Coordinator Pat Charlebois said some Great Lakes states are concerned about the idea of marketing Asian carp, but she believes there may not be any other options in the case of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

“The only other way to do this, I believe, is to harvest these fish and leave them on a shore or landfill to rot,” she said. “But that’s such a waste and all that harvesting is an expensive proposition.”

Charlebois said some are afraid that people will begin transplanting the species to other areas if there is a market for them, which would only intensify the problem.

“One of the reasons common carp were introduced here was because Europeans wanted food fish that they were familiar with,” Charlebois said. “It is historically a way these species have been spread. But I think there are ways we can reduce that risk.”

Ron Brooks, the fisheries division director for Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, has been diligently working on the Asian Carp issue for years, even before the invasive species was making big headlines. He said he is hoping to shift focus away from the Great Lakes to the states of the lower basin.

“Our message is pretty simple: If you don’t control the Asian carp numbers down here, you are never going to keep them out of the Great Lakes,” Brooks said. “If we don’t do something to crop off the spread of Asian carp, they are going to keep spreading. That is what they do; they stay in an area until they run out of food and then move on.”

However, Brooks added that funding right now is the major roadblock, but he hopes the summit will inspire people to get out and work on the problem.

“The meeting got all the stakeholders together to talk about this issue. It gave a good perspective from all sides,” he said. “But the commercial fishermen and the managers are out there every day, and they know something has to be done right now.”

The two-day summit took place at the Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, with sponsorship from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. The proceedings from the summit can found in our online catalog.

In the news: Toxic chromium found in Chicago drinking water

2011-08-09T09:49:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

Chicago's first round of testing for a toxic metal called hexavalent chromium found that levels in local drinking water are more than 11 times higher than a health standard California adopted last month.

But it could take years before anything is done about chromium contamination in Chicago and scores of other cities, in part because industrial polluters and municipal water utilities are lobbying to block or delay the Obama administration's move toward national regulations. Read more.

In the news: New smartphone app hits the Great Lakes beach

2011-08-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

A new smartphone app provides beach advisories and other environmental information in real time.

The myBeachCast app provides hourly updates from beach databases in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, said Christine Manninen, communications and web programming director at the Great Lakes Commission, the Ann Arbor-based agency that developed the widget.

Illinois will join soon. Read more.

Have a stockpile of unwanted medicines?

2011-08-03T13:33:00.002-05:00

You know not to flush your unused medications down the toilet. But you have children or pets in your home, which makes discarding the medicines in the trash a risky proposition. And you’re busy. So despite that nagging feeling that you really need to get rid of this stuff somehow, figuring out how to dispose of unused medicines just isn’t a high priority. The result? The medicines keep accumulating. If this describes your situation, know that you aren’t alone. And help is coming….on October 29, 2011 from 10a.m. to 2p.m.

That day, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be holding its third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to help consumers safely dispose of unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications, including controlled substances. During the first two DEA Take-back days more than 309 tons of pills were turned in at collection sites across the country.

“Due to the negative impacts that improper medicine disposal has on wildlife and the potential for accidental poisonings or drug diversion if the meds aren’t disposed of, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant always recommends that people take their unused medications to a local collection program,” said Laura Kammin, pollution prevention specialist. “Unfortunately, not every community has a collection program in place. That’s why we encourage people to participate in the DEA events.”

So if you have a stockpile in your medicine chest, and no local collection program, take heart. Remember to watch for updates on locations for the take-back day in October. If you want to be sure there is one in your community, contact Laura Kammin for more information. Further information about the upcoming DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is also available on the DEA website.

If you would like more information about organizing a take-back program in your community, check out IISG’s toolkit Disposal of Unwanted Medicines:
A Resource for Action in Your Community.

Meet the new members of the IISG AIS team

2011-08-02T13:34:00.002-05:00

IISG’s aquatic invasive species (AIS) team is back up to full speed. Sarah Zack is the program’s new AIS specialist and Danielle Hilbrich is the new AIS assistant. Both will assist Pat Charlebois, the program’s AIS coordinator, located at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe, Illinois.

Sarah will be responsible for outreach to recreational water users, including promoting the Stop Aquatic Hitchhiker Campaign as part of a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant. With funding from National Sea Grant, Sarah will be responsible for researching and developing AIS best management practices for tournament anglers.

Sarah comes to IISG from Loyola University Chicago where she was a biology instructor. Prior to that she worked as a wildlife biologist for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources where, among other things, she was integral in the chronic wasting disease program for the state. Sarah has a B.S. in zoology from University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.S. in biology with an emphasis on aquatic ecology from Loyola.

Danielle will be working on all aspects of AIS outreach, including helping out on the GLRI project and developing AIS risk assessment tools for the Great Lakes. Previously, Danielle was a research fellow for the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and was appointed to the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office. There, she contributed to the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, worked on the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conferences and with the associated Great Lakes Indicators, and spent time on the U.S. EPA research vessel, the Lake Guardian. Danielle has a B.A. in environmental science and geography from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In the news: Chicago flooding Q&A: Freak storm, aging sewers and Chicago's topography lead to flooding woes

2011-07-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

Chicago's Deep Tunnel was billed as an engineering marvel that would "bottle rainstorms," but one of the nation's most expensive public works projects was no match for the biggest rainstorm in the city's recorded history.

Last weekend's deluge quickly saturated aging sewers in the city and suburbs and soon overwhelmed the Deep Tunnel, a cavernous $3 billion backup system built to prevent flooding and protect Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and suburban waterways from water pollution. Read more.

Upcoming training sessions can add value to aquaculture production

2011-07-28T11:26:00.001-05:00

Consumer demand is growing for domestic, locally produced aquaculture products. To meet this growing need, Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) are hosting the Purdue Aquaculture and Sustainable Seafood (PASS) webinar series and workshop from August through September.

“The programs we have coming up are really looking to add value and enhance the existing aquaculture production that is going on here in the Midwest,” said Purdue University associate professor and food processing engineer Kevin Keener, who will be a webinar presenter. “It’s getting to the point where we have a lot of new ventures in aquaculture.”

“Aquaculture Food Safety” will be held on Aug. 17, “Waste Utilization” will be held on Aug. 24, and “Aquaculture Production” will be held on Aug. 31. Each session is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per live webinar session, or $100 to participate in all three sessions.

A PASS aquaculture workshop will be held Sept. 29-30 in Anderson, Ind. It will expand on the webinar topics, but also include a tour of Bell Aquaculture, which is the nation’s largest yellow perch farm and is a world leader in sustainable aquaculture. The workshop will also feature a chef who will discuss fish products that restaurant professions are looking for and the types of recipes that they prepare.

A workshop discount will be available for those who participated in all three webinars. Register at www.conf.purdue.edu/PASS. For more information about the webinars and workshop, contact Kwamena Quagrainie, IISG aquaculture specialist.

IISG reaches vetmed audience about unused medicine disposal

2011-07-27T11:33:00.000-05:00

What do ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antidepressants, methylphenidate (used to treat ADHD), anti-diabetic drugs, and vitamin D derivatives all have in common?
They are all on the top 10 list of human medications that poison pets according to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center.

“It is extremely important that people properly store and dispose of their medications”, said Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention specialist, “it doesn’t matter whether the medicine is intended for people or pets.”

For several years now, IISG has been providing people with science-based information on how to properly store and dispose of their unused medications, including pet medications. “We are always looking for new partners to help us educate people on this issue,” said Kammin. And partnering with vets is exactly what IISG is beginning to do, starting with an exhibitor’s booth at the American Veterinary Medical Association Convention that took place in St. Louis, MO on July 16–18.

Over 8,500 veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary students, and some families attended the convention, many of whom walked the exhibitor’s hall and saw the IISG display. Kammin, along with IISG staff members Robin Goettel, and Terri Hallesy, spoke with 168 attendees from 31 states, Canada, Egypt, and Brazil about how they can start incorporating the message of proper storage and disposal into information they provide their clients.

Many of the people were aware of the issue, and were excited to see materials that could help them educate their clients. Karen Liljebjelke, DVM, commented, “In the three vet med courses I teach at the University of Calgary, I not only share information about the proper use of pet medicine, but also make sure to discuss proper disposal techniques.” She added that IISG fact sheets and service-learning curriculum will be useful to her students.

As a result of Sea Grant’s participation in the meeting, C. Trenton Boyd, a veterinary medical librarian, will help distribute information on this topic by sharing posts through the International Veterinary Librarians Discussion Group, a forum reaching hundreds of professionals in university veterinary schools.

You too can do your part. Following a few simple steps can help prevent negative environmental impacts, accidental poisoning of people and pets, and diversion and abuse. Simply take back unused medications (for people or pets) to a local collection program. If a collection program is not available in your area, take the medication out of the original container, mix the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter in a sealable plastic bag, and place the bag in a sealed container such as a coffee can or margarine tub. In the case of prescription medication, be sure to mark out any personal information on the pill bottle before depositing it in the trash.

To find a collection program near you try these links: Illinois, Indiana or nationwide.

Fun, games, learning, and medicine collection take place at Wabash River Festival

2011-07-21T10:08:00.001-05:00

A festival might seem like an unlikely place to find a medicine collection event. But on July 9th, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the West Lafayette Police Department hosted a medicine collection event at Wabash Riverfest in Tapawingo Park, West Lafayette, Indiana.

“An event like Riverfest is a fun way to educate people about steps they can take to improve water quality in their community,” said Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention program specialist. “Many people know not to flush their unused medicines, but they don’t necessarily know the options for disposal in their area. These events really help get the word out,” she said. Volunteers collected 30 pounds of medicine brought in by festival participants.

Hundreds of families enjoyed the festivities including canoe races, food and music, and educational booths and games. Nearly 200 people engaged in the IISG display and game, Get Rid of Stuff Sensibly, which provides information about what to do with unwanted medicine, electronics, aquarium fish and more. More than 150 kids played the program’s Stop, Droplet and Roll in Pollution game, which educates kids and their parents about the effects pollutants can have on our waterways.

“One of the event organizers came up to us at the end of the day to see what everyone was ‘oohing and aahing’ about, and people seemed to really enjoy the game”, said Carolyn Foley, IISG assistant research coordinator at Purdue University. “I also heard many parents say, ‘I’d never thought about the medicines…’, so I’m hopeful that we did have an impact.”

In the news: More evidence of Asian carp found above electric fish barrier

2011-07-21T09:16:00.000-05:00

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Even as the federal government insists its electric fish barrier is working just fine, evidence of Asian carp above that barrier continues to roll in.

With no fanfare, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers posted on its website this week news that nine water samples taken above the barrier in recent weeks have tested positive for the giant, jumping fish. The federal government is spending tens of millions of dollars to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

Seven of those positive "environmental" DNA tests - taken between May 10 and June 27 - came from Lake Calumet south of downtown Chicago, a body of water that has a direct connection to Lake Michigan. Read more.

New specialist bring climate expertise to IISG

2011-07-20T11:13:00.000-05:00

Molly Woloszyn is Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s new extension climatologist. She has a joint position with the Illinois State Water Survey and IISG, which offers the opportunity to pair Sea Grant extension expertise with the survey’s climate science. Molly is located at the Midwest Regional Climate Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Molly received a B.S. from Northern Illinois University meteorology program. While she was a student, she participated in an internship with the water survey during which she essentially served as a service climatologist for a summer. She went on to earn a Master’s degree at Colorado State University and has been teaching at community colleges for the last few years.

Fresh and Salt curriculum is inspiring teachers

2011-07-15T10:17:00.001-05:00

At the recent National Marine Educators Meeting in Boston, Lisa Chizek, a 5th and 6th grade teacher from Iowa joined other teachers to learn about the new curriculum, Fresh and Salt, which connects Great Lakes and ocean sciences. IISG’s Terri Hallesy, education specialist, led this session. Here are some comments from Lisa:

“I am so excited to have these wonderful and effective resources to help connect my students with the Great Lakes and Ocean Literacy Principles. I believe we are so interconnected with the Great Lakes and the ocean that it is very necessary for everyone to become literate about how these wonderful bodies of water affect our planet in so many ways and how we affect them. It is very important to me, as a person who wants my students to be able to understand and think critically about our world, to help my students become literate with these principles.

“Learning about our planet's great bodies of water is a responsibility of every member of society. Living in land-locked Iowa does not diminish this responsibility or make it irrelevant. We are all interconnected with these bodies of water. I plan to incorporate these wonderful lessons in both my 5th and 6th grade classes.”

IISG welcomes new natural resource planning specialist

2011-07-14T11:01:00.000-05:00

Deanna Glosser is IISG’s new natural resource planning specialist. In this position, she will coordinate, develop and deliver planning programs to community planning officials. Through the Planning with POWER and Partnering for Land Use Sustainability projects, she will serve as a link between communities and scientists conducting research on natural resource sustainability. Deanna is replacing Bob McCormick, who retired early this year.

For the past eight years, Deanna has been the president and CEO of Environmental Planning Solutions, Inc., located in Riverton, Illinois. She focused on work related to natural resources and provided technical assistance to local governments on sustainable development practices. She recently wrote the Illinois Sustainable Natural Areas Plan and served as the planning and communications coordinator for the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Update. She is also the director of Chicago Wilderness’ Sustainable Watershed Action Team, which works with local governments on a wide range of issues, now focusing on green infrastructure.

Prior to having her own consulting business, Deanna worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for 13 years. Deanna has an undergraduate degree in anthropology from Illinois State University and a PhD in urban and regional planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In the News: Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate and Eat It

2011-07-14T10:21:00.003-05:00

From the New York Times:

With its dark red and black stripes, spotted fins and long venomous black spikes, the lionfish seems better suited for horror films than consumption. But lionfish fritters and filets may be on American tables soon.

An invasive species, the lionfish is devastating reef fish populations along the Florida coast and into the Caribbean. Now, an increasing number of environmentalists, consumer groups and scientists are seriously testing a novel solution to control it and other aquatic invasive species — one that would also takes pressure off depleted ocean fish stocks: they want Americans to step up to their plates and start eating invasive critters in large numbers. Read more.

Invasive species info coming to a marina near you

2011-07-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

URBANA - In the fight for holding the line on aquatic invasive species, it is crucial to make sure people are not accidentally transporting these organisms by not removing them from their boats. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP) have officially launched their “Clean Boats, Clean Waters” program, which aims to inform boaters of preventative measures.

“To quote Benjamin Franklin, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” said Cathy McGlynn, the NIIPP coordinator. “And that definitely is the case with invasive species.”
Clean Boats, Clean Waters representatives will be at Hammond Marina on July 16-17, the East Chicago Marina on July 23-24, and the Illiana Yacht Club/Wolf Lake on July 30-31. During these times, McGlynn said they will quickly talk with boaters about the program, as well as give them a brochure and sticker that give tips on keeping boats and equipment clean. She added that the first outreach trip was done on July 2-3 at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor.

“The majority of the boaters were responsive, and a good number of them already take precautions, which is great,” McGlynn said, adding that they talked to more than 100 people each day.

Since this is the program’s pilot year in both Illinois and Indiana, it will only be in one county in each state for the first two years. However, NIIPP and IISG are hoping to partner with more organizations to make the program self-sustaining, as well as extend the program across more counties in the two states. This effort has been already implemented in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

To volunteer or for more information, e-mail McGlynn at cathy.mcglynn@niipp.net.

In the news: Report: Chicago’s Lake Michigan beaches have poor water quality

2011-07-11T09:33:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Sun-Times Southtown Star:

Illinois beaches along Lake Michigan have the sixth-worst water quality in the country, according to a study released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“Testing the Waters 2011” ranked the quality of Illinois’ beach water 26th out of 31 states sampled for quality along the Great Lakes and East and West coasts.

“The news is not good,” said Karen Hobbs, the group’s senior policy analyst and a former deputy director with Chicago’s environment department.

Of a reported 61 coastal beaches and beach segments in Illinois, Cook County’s Winnetka Elder Park Beach and Winnetka Centennial Dog Beach were the most often contaminated in 2010, the report found. The worst city beaches include South Shore, Rainbow, Jackson Park (also known as 63rd Street Beach), Montrose and 31st Street. Read more.

In the news: Dead Fish Wash Up On Lake Michigan

2011-07-08T13:46:00.001-05:00

From ABC News:

Thousands of dead fish are washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan.

"It brings back the horror stories we used to have in Milwaukee with the enormous populations of alewives would wash up and destroy our beaches," said Dan Steininger, of Milwaukee.

Experts said small, shiny fishes, called alewives, have been dying off and showing up on beaches around Lake Michigan in recent weeks. Read more.

Purdue and IISG to host PASS webinar and workshop series

2011-07-05T13:21:00.002-05:00

“The programs we have coming up are really looking to add value and enhance the existing aquaculture production that is going on here in the Midwest,” said Purdue University associate professor and food processing engineer Kevin Keener, who will be a webinar presenter. “It’s getting to the point where we have a lot of new ventures in aquaculture.”

Three webinars will take place in August. “Aquaculture Food Safety” will be held on Aug. 17, “Waste Utilization” will be held on Aug. 24, and “Aquaculture Production” will be held on Aug. 31. Each session is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $50 per live webinar session, or $100 to participate in all three sessions.

Each session is a 90-minute presentation, with 30 minutes allotted for a question-and-answer period. Questions can be submitted via text or by microphone. All webinars will be recorded and available for purchase for those unable to participate in the live presentation.

And for those who enjoy the webinars, a PASS aquaculture workshop will be held Sept. 29-30 in Anderson, Ind. The workshop will expand on the same issues as the webinars, but it also includes a tour of Bell Aquaculture, which is the nation’s largest yellow perch farm and is a world leader in sustainable aquaculture. A workshop discount will be available for those who participated in all three webinars.

Kwamena Quagrainie, an aquaculture economics and marketing specialist with Purdue Extension and IISG, said the workshop will also feature a chef as a guest speaker.

“The chef will talk about what other products people in his profession are looking for and what types of recipes that they prepare,” he said, adding that he also believes the workshop will be a good place for fish producers and processors to meet and network.

Registration can be done at www.conf.purdue.edu/PASS. For more information, contact conference coordinator Kim Stockment at 765-494-7225 or kstockme@purdue.edu.

Bring unused medicine to this year’s Riverfest

2011-07-01T13:18:00.001-05:00

At Riverfest at Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette, Indiana, you can drop off unused or expired medicine, doing your part to keep pharmaceuticals off the streets and out of the waters. This year’s Riverfest takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 9.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and the West Lafayette DARE are sponsoring this medicine drop-off opportunity. “Pharmaceuticals that are flushed can impact wildlife in local waterways or can end up in drinking water,” said Laura Kammin, IISG pollution prevention specialist. “These medicines can also contribute to a growing problem of drug abuse by teenagers. Bringing them to collection events like this one is an easy way to protect people and the environment.”

Riverfest, which has taken place for the past 10 years, is unique among area summer festivals because it builds on the theme of conservation and appreciation of the Wabash River. Festival activities include live music, numerous educational opportunities, rides, games, an opening parade for children, a 5K run/walk, and the spectacle of 14 teams of paddlers battling it out in historic canoes.

Riverfest is a free, family-friendly event that brings people to the shores of the Wabash to enjoy one of the area’s greatest natural resources. A full race schedule, kids’ parade details, and 5K registration information can be found at www.wabashriverfest.com.

For more information about the issue of unused medicine and collection events, visit www.unwantedmeds.org.

IISG wins two publication awards

2011-06-29T09:45:00.003-05:00

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant won two APEX 2011 Awards for Publication Excellence, both in the category Green Materials. Irene Miles, communication coordinator, and Susan White, graphic designer, won for the IISG impact statement series titled Impacts: Today and Tomorrow. These four publications describe the program’s success stories and ongoing projects related to aquatic invasive species, unused medicines, land use planning, and water resources. For a free copy of any of these, visit our program publications page.

The second APEX award goes to Robin Goettel, associate director for education, for the 4-H curriculum Sensible Disposal of Unwanted Medicines. This booklet provides five inquiry-based lessons to help high school youth understand the harmful effects of improper disposal of medicines and what they can do to help. Robin shares this award with Natalie Carroll of Purdue University Extension, Whitney Siegfried, who is now at the University of South Dakota, and Deb Eisenmann, a freelance designer. You can order or download this booklet on our education publication web page.

IISG in the news: Water resources studied in Lake Zurich

2011-06-28T13:24:00.000-05:00

From the Daily Herald:

A survey of Lake Zurich residents regarding household water use and other water related issues is under way as part of a trendsetting effort to determine how the village can best manage its resources.

Pursuing Lake Michigan water to replace groundwater or finding more efficient ways to treat wastewater are among several strategies that could result from a unique study that has the support of major regional planning agencies. Read more.

IISG in the news: Lake Michigan or groundwater? Water-strapped Chicago suburb eyes options

2011-06-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

From Great Lakes Echo:

Before the wells dry up and the sewers overflow, a northwest Chicago suburb has teamed up with an all-star squad of planners to guide future water policy and use.

The small village of Lake Zurich gets drinking water from an aquifer that is pumped faster than it can recharge, according to studies. The water also has low levels of radium, which means treatment and extra costs for the village.

And the village’s sewer system is strained to capacity, stirring fears of a double digit sewage rate increase to fix the problem, said Rich Sustich, village trustee, who is spearheading the water planning effort.

“When you have this nexus of issues like we have – drinking water, storm water and wastewater, it forces out-of-the-box thinking,” Sustich said.

In January, Illinois approved Lake Zurich and nine other communities in the northeastern part of the state to tap Lake Michigan for water because of growing concern that the groundwater they use now will dry up. Studies indicate that population and economic growth will cause water use to increase even if conservation measures are taken.

Lake Zurich is not ruling out sticking a straw into Lake Michigan, but has decided to take a more calculated approach.

“Most people don’t realize that there are substantial costs to get drinking water from Lake Michigan,” Sustich said. “You don’t just tap right in.” Read more.

In the news: Millions of Great Lakes fish killed in power plant intakes

2011-06-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

Despite decades of efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes, dozens of old power plants still are allowed to kill hundreds of millions of fish each year by sucking in massive amounts of water to cool their equipment.

Records obtained by the Tribune show that staggering numbers of fish die when pulled into the screens of water intake systems so powerful that most could fill an Olympic swimming pool in less than a minute. Billions more eggs, larvae and juvenile fish that are small enough to pass through the screens are cooked to death by intense heat and high pressure inside the coal, gas and nuclear plants. Read more.

In the news: Green trend comes to lawns — with a splash of dandelion yellow

2011-06-13T14:22:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

With a front-yard view of the Fourth of July parade route in Arlington Heights, Lisa Croneberg feels extra pressure to make her lawn look good.

So her husband puts away the old-fashioned manual lawn mower, borrowing a gas-powered model for the occasion. He uses organic fertilizer, aerates the sod and waters it until it's a deep green. But he won't spray weedkiller — that's where the couple draw the line.

"I'm scared of the toxic way we're treating the planet," she said. "Nobody feels like their little bit is going to make a difference. But I feel like every little bit does."

Once a rarity, natural lawn care is becoming a feature of Main Street U.S.A. Although for many homeowners a carpet of spotlessly green grass remains the American ideal, a small but growing group is willing to accept a weed or two if they can do without synthetic fertilizers or weed-killers. Read more.

The many ways to value water: Forum June 9th

2011-06-07T10:36:00.002-05:00

For many decision-makers, the major bottom line that is on their minds is the financial one. However, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant are presenting a water resources forum that hopes to bring to light the often-forgotten bottom lines – environmental and social.

The event is “Sustaining the Triple Bottom Line: The Full Value of Water Resources.” It will provide information to policymakers, sustainability managers, sustainability officers, and others on how water resource impacts can be measured, valued, and incorporated into decision-making. Speakers will address valuing sustainability initiatives, water certification, water impact indexing, methods for valuing water resources, and other related topics. The forum is part of implementing the CMAP “Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Plan,” which was commissioned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to address rapid population growth that could lead to water shortages in coming years.

“Measuring the full impact of human activity on our water resources and increasing awareness of economic valuation techniques will go a long way toward moving our region forward with sustainable water supply planning,” said IISG Water Resource Economist Margaret Schneemann.

The forum will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 9th at the CMAP offices in Chicago, 223 S. Wacker Drive, suite 800. It is being sponsored by the University of Chicago Program on Global Environment, as well as the Environment, Agriculture, and Food Working Group at the University of Chicago. To RSVP for this event, e-mail Jamie Krell at jkrell@cmap.illinois.gov or call (312) 386-8658.

Lake Zurich dips into water supply planning

2011-06-06T10:23:00.001-05:00

From our latest issue of The HELM:

In Lake Zurich, a northwest Chicago suburb, leaders are looking at their current water situation as a glass that is half full. This Lake County village is in the process of deciding what will be its future water source because continuing to pump from its deep aquifer is not sustainable.

“Some people think of these issues as challenges; I think of them as opportunities,” said village Trustee Richard Sustich, who is spearheading the water initiative.

On March 7, the Lake Zurich Village Board signed a memorandum that approved hiring an integrated water resources management team to advise the community as it develops its future water plan. The team will assist the village with the engineering, cost, and analysis of the different water options.

The Metropolitan Planning Councilis leading the team, which also consists of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Read more.

In the news: A Toxic River Improves, but Still Has Far to Go

2011-06-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

From the New York Times:

Thomas Simon remembers the day he found a carp in the Grand Calumet River in 1985, barely alive, bloody and with no fins. “It looked like someone had beaten it up,” said Mr. Simon, a biologist who studied the river for 26 years.

Yet state officials were thrilled, because it was the first fish found in years in the northwest Indiana river that is widely considered the nation’s most toxic waterway.

A quarter century later, fish are more plentiful and look healthy. But state and federal agencies say they are still unsafe to eat, their flesh laced with toxins from sediment poisoned by decades of dumping from nearby steel mills, chemical plants, meatpacking operations and other industries. Read more.

In the news: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District may stop fighting Chicago River cleanup

2011-06-02T09:13:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

In response to efforts to clean up the Chicago River, top officials at the taxpayer-funded agency that handles Cook County's sewage and stormwater have argued that the endeavor would waste money, cause global warming and lead to children drowning.

But after spending eight years and more than $13 million fighting tougher water-quality standards, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is poised today to officially drop its long-standing opposition. Read more.

In the news: Dogs, new computer models help keep beaches open

2011-06-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

As beaches officially open this weekend, health officials are using cutting-edge computer systems, frequent water testing and even specially trained dogs to monitor water quality and keep Lake Michigan safe for swimming.

Communities across the country traditionally have relied on testing water samples to determine if there are dangerous levels of bacteria. The tests can take up to 24 hours to process, however, forcing officials to decide whether to ban swimming based on day-old data.

But new technology is beginning to slash that lag time, allowing health officials to analyze results more quickly and accurately. Read more.

In the news: Prozac Killing E. coli in the Great Lakes

2011-05-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

From National Geographic:

When antidepressant pills get flushed down the drain, they do more than create happier sewers.

Scientists in Erie, Pennsylvania, have found that minute concentrations of fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, are killing off microbial populations in the Great Lakes.

Traces of antidepressants such as Prozac have been found in both drinking and recreational water supplies throughout the world, in quantities experts say are too dilute to affect humans but which have been found to damage the reproductive systems of mollusks and may even affect the brains of animals like fish. Read more.

In the news: A Great Lakes Invader is Doing Some Good

2011-05-27T15:03:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago News Cooperative:

When University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professor John Jannssen found a round goby in Calumet Harbor in 1994, he feared the worst. The small fish with an almost endearing wide-eyed stare reproduces prolifically and eats voraciously. Jannssen and other scientists expected it to gobble up the eggs of prized sport fish and hog the mussels and snails that other fish would normally eat.

Today millions of round gobies are thriving in the waters of Lake Michigan off Chicago and throughout much of the Great Lakes. But as is often the case with invasive species, their ecological impact has not been devastating, but complicated–even beneficial in some cases. Read more.

What's in Your Watershed?

2011-05-24T11:20:00.001-05:00

The Lawn to Lake program promotes healthy landscape practices, offering communities, landscapers, residents, and others, tips for maintaining healthy lawns and landscapes without over-relying on chemicals. This new Lawn to Lake factsheet, What’s in Your Watershed?, explains exactly what a watershed is—simply, the area of land that drains to a specific body of water—and more. The focus is Indiana and the six coastal watersheds that have a direct impact on the water quality and quantity of Lake Michigan. The factsheet also gives advice on how protect watersheds by reducing fertilizer inputs.

In the news: A City Prepares for a Warm Long-Term Forecast

2011-05-23T13:54:00.000-05:00

From the New York Times:

The Windy City is preparing for a heat wave — a permanent one.

Climate scientists have told city planners that based on current trends, Chicago will feel more like Baton Rouge than a Northern metropolis before the end of this century.

So, Chicago is getting ready for a wetter, steamier future. Public alleyways are being repaved with materials that are permeable to water. The white oak, the state tree of Illinois, has been banned from city planting lists, and swamp oaks and sweet gum trees from the South have been given new priority. Thermal radar is being used to map the city’s hottest spots, which are then targets for pavement removal and the addition of vegetation to roofs. And air-conditioners are being considered for all 750 public schools, which until now have been heated but rarely cooled. Read more.

Need tips for restoring Great Lakes habitats? Look no further

2011-05-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

Many natural areas in the Great Lakes region have been degraded due to urbanization, invasive species, and more. This has led to the decline of water quality, wildlife populations, and native fish. So, there is work to be done to repair wetlands, streams, and shorelines, and in some case, there is money to get it done.

To help organizations or individuals interested in restoring Great Lakes natural areas, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, with funding and support from NOAA, has developed the brochure, Great Lakes Restoration: Best Management Practices. This downloadable publication provides basic guidelines on how to effectively work on dam removal projects, create fish passages, restore wetlands, and more, while keeping the ecosystem’s health in mind. It also includes tips on writing successful grant proposals, managing grants once you get them, and assessing your successes.

IISG and P2D2: More ‘super’ than the sum of their parts

2011-05-19T11:07:00.002-05:00

What could have been a dry event was injected with humor when Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the National Prescription Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) signed a memorandum of understanding May 10 at Pontiac Township High School (PTHS). Much to the surprise and delight of the people attending, National P2D2 Coordinator and PTHS teacher Paul Ritter dressed like the program’s mascot, superhero Pill Bottle Phil, while tossing P2D2 T-shirts to students.

“In a lot of ways, Ritter is really a superhero kind of guy,” said IISG Director Brian Miller, who co-signed the document. “He’s been traveling all over the country, and it seems like he can be everywhere at once.”

The purpose of P2D2 is to provide communities with a proper method of pharmaceutical disposal that effectively reduces the misuse and abuse of pharmaceuticals as well as improves water quality.

IISG has been working with P2D2 for several years, but signing the MOU officially recognizes the partnership. IISG provides P2D2 with information and helps fund tools for the program, including drug drop boxes, billboard space, and brochures. IISG also produced The Medicine Chest, a compendium of classroom activities, many developed through the P2D2 program.

Many PTHS students and teachers have been integral to the program, and teacher Megan Bozarth’s junior and senior social studies class work closely with P2D2. The students have also been promoting Illinois House Bill 2056, which would create a special fund for pharmaceutical collection and disposal by establishing a $20 fine for people who commit specified drug offenses. If passed, the bill would also provide funding for Illinois police departments to establish pharmaceutical take-back programs so people can properly dispose of their unwanted medicines.

“It’s been amazing to watch how far this has gone,” Miller said.

Also at the signing was Pollution Prevention Program Specialist Laura Kammin, who also serves as IISG’s direct contact with P2D2. “Both IISG and P2D2 work to help communities legally dispose of unused medicines in ways that protect humans, pets, wildlife, and the environment,” Kammin said. “Working together, we can accomplish much more than when we work alone. This is an exciting day for both programs.”

Many of the students spoke at the signing, including Trevor Ross, Kendra Warren, Alex Borgstrom, Debi Johnson, Nora McCune, Beth Guilde, and Tiffany Patterson.

“P2D2 is life changing,” Johnson said. “This program protects our environment, keeps our water clean, and prevents anyone from using these unused drugs and dying from them. This will help make our world a little greener.”

Ritter praised the students, saying they were responsible for more than 145,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals being disposed of properly in Illinois.“We are talking about two semi tractor-trailers full of pharmaceuticals,” Ritter said. “You guys have changed people’s lives in ways that we’ll never actually know if we do our job right.”

The HELM newsletter covers Asian carp and more

2011-05-18T14:27:00.002-05:00

The new issue of IISG’s newsletter The HELM is now available. This issue covers a number of pressing issues in the Great Lakes and southern Lake Michigan region, including Asian carp and water supply planning in suburban Chicago. Here are some headlines:

• Lake Zurich dips into water supply planning
• Asian carp summit fosters networking, new programs
• Seed grant funding helps projects bloom
• New ‘Clean Boats, Clean Waters’ looking for volunteers

Visit our newsroom to read more.

In the news: Volunteers to help shape standards for Lake Michigan pollution

2011-05-16T13:42:00.000-05:00

From Lake Michigan Shore:

Water quality data collected by Chicago-area volunteers is being used to help Illinois shape the state's water quality guidelines in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Our Adopt-a-Beach program has been working with volunteers in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois and we've been closely engaged with partners at the EPA and trying to share our volunteers' data more broadly," says Lyman Welch, water quality program manager for the Alliance for the Great Lakes in Chicago. "It's been an intentional process to share our data with state and federal regulators." Read more.

In the news: Arctic Ice Melting Faster Than Previously Thought: Report

2011-05-12T14:49:00.000-05:00

From the Huffington Post:

A new assessment of climate change in the Arctic shows the region's ice and snow are melting faster than previously thought and sharply raises projections of global sea level rise this century.

The report by the international Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, or AMAP, is one of the most comprehensive updates on climate change in the Arctic, and builds on a similar assessment in 2005.

The full report will be delivered to foreign ministers of the eight Arctic nations next week, but an executive summary including the key findings was obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

It says that Arctic temperatures in the past six years were the highest since measurements began in 1880, and that feedback mechanisms believed to accelerate warming in the climate system have now started kicking in. Read more.

In the news: U.S. demand Chicago River cleanup

2011-05-12T11:20:00.000-05:00

From the Chicago Tribune:

The Obama administration is ordering an ambitious cleanup of the Chicago River, a dramatic step toward improving an urban waterway treated for more than a century as little more than an industrialized sewage canal.

In a letter obtained Wednesday by the Tribune, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency demands that stretches of the river must be clean enough for "recreation in and on the water," a legal term for recreational activities including swimming and canoeing. The order also applies to two connected waterways, the Cal-Sag Channel and Little Calumet River. Read more.