| Thanks, Kathleen! |
Much of the material in
this newsletter is the submission of articles that have been digested
for it by Kathleen Bradley. As a result of her efforts, a newsletter
that was originally pushing 25 pages has been distilled into 16. Having
seen the raw material from which she sculpted her contributions, I
know that it took many long and thoughtful hours to fashion these concise
and splendid renditions of many topics.
How many times on this front page have I begged, cajoled, and huffed
about the need for help with this newsletter? Kathleen's contributions,
submitted by e-mail, took my breath away: Yowzah!
I would like to dedicate this issue to Kathleen Bradley, but that would
be a vacuous gesture; her dedication has spoken for itself. Nevertheless
- Thank you, Kathleen! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank
you.
|
| Support the OEC |
For 35 years the Ohio Environmental
Council has stood in the breech between our environment and the efforts
of those who would run roughshod over it in their headlong pursuit of
their narrow interests.
more...
PDF |
| Remember the Manhattan Deal |
In August 1626, Peter Minuit, governor
of New Amsterdam, negotiated the Dutch entitlement of Manhattan from its
natives for 60 guilders' worth (about $24) of baubles. This act epitomizes
the nasty genius of White Men in Suits to shark unsuspecting peoples out
of their belongings, their patrimony, their money.
more...
PDF |
| A Nightmare |
Imagine yourself in an arid clime
trying to engage your neighbor in civilized and rational conversation,
only to suddenly realize that you are trying to talk to a baboon.
more... |
| Some Grateful Acknowledgments |
Jean Pease, Wife of US Representative
Don Pease, has very patiently and kindly made a very generous donation
to FOWL - and it took more than one try! (her first efforts went undeposited
so long the checks lapsed). There is no one whose support is more appreciated
than Jean's; her husband's support of HB 1330 in 1991 was one of the chief
motivating factors in the establishment of FOWL.
more...
PDF |
| Apologies Tendered, Cooks Wanted |
There has been a problem getting
checks to the bank in the last months. If you have sent in a membership
check that was not cashed in time, your membership will entered and dated
from now rather than when you tried to join.
more...
PDF |
| Invasive Species Control! |
Come to Sandy Ridge Reservation
and join Weeders in the Wild and land steward-Chris Grame on May 28 and
June 18. We will put on our boots or old shoes and go into the swamp to
scout and pull Reed Canary grass. ...or... if you can't beat 'm ... eat'm!
more...
PDF |
| Wetland Worlds Without End |
Patricia found a single mass of
leopard frog eggs in a sort of ditch puddle in the raped woods behind her
folks' house in North Ridgeville behind SR 57/113 just northeast where
it crosses US 20/SR113 - a little northeast of Bendix. The place is about
to be bulldozed for some truly truly truly important and necessary housing
or other commercial ordure (isn't it all?), just another story so sordid
and needless that I no longer have the stomach to go into it here.
more...
PDF |
| A Walk, a Couple of Sightings |
On May 14 we had a combination
FOWL meeting and walk at the McConnell farm just north of Wellington along
SR 58. Fred and Mary's digs have often been the material for wonderful
experiences and reportage in these pages, and that Saturday was no exception.
more... PDF |
| Soccerman Ltd. |
Soccerman Ltd, who is building
a Harbor Bay Estates and Marina along Lake Erie in Ottawa County began
digging, without a permit of any kind, another “canal” which
impacted local wetlands, migratory bird sanctuary and an historical site,
the Jamison Cemetery which contains an Indian burial site and evidence
of Late Archaic and Late Woodland occupation by native Americans. Once
discovered, Soccerman applied for an “after the fact authorization
for these impacts” permit on March 10, 2004
more...
PDF |
| EDISON DAM |
Advanced Hydro Solutions, a partner
with First Energy, wants to re-establish hydro-power on the Cuyahoga River
by revamping the “Edison” Gorge Dam. The problem is that this
dam on the list of dams to be removed to improve water quality by the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources in co-operation with the Ohio EPA.
more...
PDF |
| Norton Announces Funding for Wetlands Projects, |
Interior Secretary Gale Norton
announced today that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved
more than $27 million for wetland habitat conservation in the United States
and Canada to benefit migratory birds and other wildlife. At the same time,
the Commission also approved the acquisition of nearly 16,000 acres of
important migratory bird habitat to be added to units in the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
more... PDF |
| Ohio House of Reps' Budget "Stealth
Amendment" |
"Good" News
- The state budget proposal will restore important soil and water conservation
programs.
- Fee for “Surface water Protection” is adopted- this is an
increase on permit fees for impacts on streams, lakes and wetlands.
- Adopts the governor’s proposed “Environmental Protection
Fee” on disposal of solid waste and construction and demolition debris. |
"BAD" News
- Refuses to raise fee on hazardous waste.
- Exempts coal industry from proposed surface water protection fee.
- Slashed funds for recycling and litter grants and market development.
|
| Conservation Easement Protections Facing
Axe |
Three weeks ago, the Congressional
Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) recommended slashing tax deductions for
conservation donations. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you
on our progress and let you know what we still need to accomplish.
more...
PDF |
| Wetlands Month |
The Izaak Walton League of America,
www.iwla.org is slowly becoming the most active non-profit organization
working to save and restore wetlands in the United States
more...
PDF |
| Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership |
The Ohio Vernal Pool Partnership
is a collaboration of The Ohio Environmental Council and The Nature Conservancy,
and others including the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, to identify
and protect the few remaining wetlands in Ohio, particularly wooded vernal
pools.
more...
PDF |
| Stealth Bulldozer Amendment |
The Bulldozer Amendment strips
protections from Ohio's best waters!
more...
PDF |
| The Land of Milk and Honey? |
On my last visit, two years ago,
I explored the wetlands of the Canaan Valley on the southern end, not far
from the National Wildlife Refuge office. A large tract of land called
the ‘Glade Run’ area has been acquired in the north end of
the valley.
more... |