Ecosystems


Florida State Expenditure Plan Approved

It allocates $291 million in project funding to address environmental restoration and enhancement, as well as economic revitalization, along Florida's Gulf Coast in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010.

Aurora Flight Sciences Announces Solar-Powered Autonomous Aircraft

Named Odysseus, it is described by the Boeing-owned company as "a groundbreaking persistence aircraft inspired by the need for climate and atmospheric research."

Acquisition Expands Lake George State Forest

The forest in Volusia County, Fla., is composed of more than 10 natural communities, including pine flatwoods, floodplain wetlandsm and basin swamps, and is part of an extensive wildlife corridor that provides habitat and roaming area crucial to the survival of the Florida black bear population in the area.

Extensive flooding hit the Lynchburg, Va., area during 2018.

Eying Natural Disasters, Virginia's Governor Signs Resilience Executive Order

It calls for designating Virginia's secretary of natural resources as the chief resilience officer of the Commonwealth, a review of the vulnerability of Commonwealth-owned buildings, development of a Virginia coastal resilience master plan, a review of pre-disaster mitigation programs, and a review of compliance with flood protection and dam safety laws.

Surfer

From Grey to Green: Developing the Guidelines for Natural Infrastructure

By implementing natural infrastructure through living shoreline design, we can develop solutions that provide a multitude of benefits that include performing against the rising sea levels, managing flood risk, and providing ecological benefits, all at the same time.

Save Our Seas Act of 2018 Signed into Law

The new law extends the NOAA Marine Debris Program for five additional years and authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to declare severe marine debris events.

NOAA Revises Rainfall Qualifying as 100-Year or 1,000-Year Events in Texas

In Austin, 100-year rainfall amounts for 24 hours increased as much as three inches, up to 13 inches. 100-year estimates around Houston increased from 13 inches to 18 inches and values previously classified as 100-year events are now much more frequent 25-year events.

New Executive Director Appointed for PA Citizens Advisory Council

"Keith has provided outstanding legal counseling to DEP for the past four years," said Patrick McDonnell, Pennsylvania DEP secretary. "His broad experience within DEP and his extensive knowledge of environmental law will serve the council very well as they explore big-picture issue areas affecting the commonwealth."



Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in 11 More Missouri Counties

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Entomologist Robbie Doerhoff urged Missourians who own ash trees in areas where EAB has been found to make a plan now to either treat or remove those trees.

CAL FIRE announced that law enforcement investigators concluded a faulty gas water heater sparked one of the fires that merged to become the Rocky Fire, one of 16 active wildfires in the state as of Aug. 19, 2015.

High Fire Danger Causes Target Shooting Ban in Washington State

On average, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources responds to 22 wildfires annually on lands it manages that are caused by shooting, a number that includes illegal explosive targets and target practice.

July 28 Workday, Beach Cleanup Set at Hawaiian State Park

Volunteers are invited to build sand castles using sand that was deposited in an anchialine pool during the 2011 tsunami.

Scientists Analyzing Smoke of Western Wildfires

The project brings together scientists from five universities and the NSF-funded National Center for Atmospheric Research. "This is a challenging field campaign," said atmospheric scientist Emily Fischer of Colorado State University. "It's not like measuring the plume from, say, a power plant."

Senate Hearing Looks at Shark Research

"Sharks and the scientists who study them have led us to improvements in aerodynamics, renewable energy, electrical sensors, and health and medical research. Innovative shark research can benefit marine ecosystems and continue to raise public awareness about these important species," said committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D.

Authorities Worldwide Target Wildlife, Timber Smugglers

"Operation Thunderstorm has seen significant seizures at global level, showing how coordinated global operations can maximize impact," said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. "Operation Thunderstorm sends a clear message to wildlife criminals that the world's law enforcement community is homing in on them."

Efforts Accelerate to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales

During 2017, NOAA documented the deaths of 17 right whales within U.S. and Canadian waters. With an estimated population of only 450 right whales remaining in existence, only 25 percent identified as breeding females, the impact of these deaths is a major blow to conservation efforts and vitality of the species.

Montana Issues Bid Package for First Phase of Butte Cleanup

Gov. Steve Bullock on March 28 announced the next steps for the Parrot Tailings Waste Removal Project in Butte, saying the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program has issued the bid package for the first phase of the project.

State Study of Mohawk River Ice Jams Announced

The study will analyze storm and ice-jam flood mitigation needs in high-risk areas, including Schenectady, N.Y., which experienced ice-jam flooding in February 2018. The study will include recommendations to mitigate future hazards on the Mohawk River and other waterbodies across New York state.

Canada Funds $1.3 Million for Removal of Abandoned Boats

"Abandoned boats are not just an eyesore; they are a safety concern and a financial burden to communities," Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said.

Lodu Dime was convicted by Nepalese authorities following the seizure of wildlife products in Nepal during INTERPOL

Tiger Trafficker Arrested in Nepal

Lodu Dime, 40, had been convicted in absentia by Nepalese authorities after the seizure of wildlife products in Nepal during INTERPOL's Operation Prey IV in 2013.

China to Build $1.5 Billion Area for Panda Conservation

China to Build $1.5 Billion Area for Panda Conservation

The Bank of China has pledged at least 10 billion yuan, or $1.5 billion, to create an enormous panda conservation park in the Sichuan province, the forestry ministry said last week.