Friday, January 18, 2013

How Climate Change Is Damaging The Great Lakes

Jan 18: Matt Kasper with the Center for American Progress (CAP) has posted an article as a guest blogger on the Climate Progress blog. The posting is entitled, How Climate Change Is Damaging The Great Lakes, With Implications For The Environment And The Economy.
 
    According to the posting, "Great Lakes Michigan and Huron set a new record low water level for the month of December, and in the coming weeks the could record their lowest water levels ever. It's becoming certain that, like the rest of the country, the Great Lakes are feeling the effects of climate change. Last year was officially the warmest year on record for the lower-48 states. The hot summer air has been causing the surface water of the Great Lakes to increase in temperature. One might think this causes more precipitation around the lakes, but the warmer winter air is causing a shorter duration of ice cover. In fact, the amount of ice covering the lakes has declined about 71 percent over the past 40 years. Last year, only 5 percent of the lakes froze over –- compared to 1979 when ice coverage was as much as 94 percent.

    "Furthermore, the continuing effect of the historic drought in the Midwest is causing increased levels of evaporation. This combination of climate change side-effects results in low water levels for the Great Lakes. The impact climate change has on the five lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron Erie, and Ontario) will have serious implications for aquatic life, as well as high economic costs for communities."

    The posting includes maps and information developed by the Great Lakes Environmental Assessment and Mapping project (GLEAM) that illustrate the severity of the environmental impacts on the lakes, as well as the warming temperature of the lakes. Also included are information from the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and the draft Third National Climate Assessment draft.

    Access the complete posting with links to the various cited resources (click here).

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USACE Wants Comments On ANS Control Methods

Jan 18: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District has posted aquatic nuisance species (ANS) Controls that can be used to prevent the transfer of algae, crustaceans, fish and plants via aquatic pathways. USACE is announcing in the Federal Register [78 FR 4137-4138] a comment period, extending until February 21, 2013, to allow for the submission of information on available ANS Controls for these organism types.

    In a December 8, 2010 notice of intent, Federal Register Notice (75 FR 76447), USACE announced it will prepare a feasibility report and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for GLMRIS. GLMRIS is a feasibility study of the range of options and technologies that could be applied to prevent ANS transfer between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic pathways. USACE is conducting GLMRIS in consultation with other Federal agencies, Native American tribes, state agencies, local governments and non-governmental organizations.

    This notice announces a comment period during which USACE is asking the public to submit: (i) information on ANS Controls that may be effective at preventing the transfer of fish, algae, crustaceans and plants in the Chicago Area Waterway (CAWS) but are missing from the USACE's lists of ANS Controls, or (ii) comments regarding the identified ANS Controls.
 
    Access the FR announcement (click here). Access the screened ANS Controls (click here). Access the ANS Control Paper website (click here). Access additional information regarding GLMRIS (click here).
 
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