May 2007

Ray is Becoming Official

Because Ray Stewart so expertly handles much of the internet communications for FOWL, and because he often represents us at hearings and such (see inside, Farm Bill Article) it is only appropriate that he have some official title within FOWL. He has hit on "Communications Director" as an impressive and accurate descriptor for his efforts.

Did I Just Hear What I Think I Heard??

During much blathering, repetition, dithering, and ducking at his May 24 press conference George Bush said a really interesting thing. He said, more or less, "Before 9/11 there was a lot of anger and frustration in the Middle East, and this frustration led to the 9/11 attacks.

We need to address the root causes of this anger and frustration.

A Counting Correction

In the March 2007 Newsletter I reported that Dr. Matson of CMNH was doing studies on 30 vernal pools, 11 of which were "transplant" pools and 29 of which were "natural" pools. This latter number should have been 19 natural pools. Gee, Katko - subtract much, do you? It's a good thing you don't teach math, sir (and in actuality I do). There were also corrections from Dr. Matson for the original article that I missed in that issue.

A Note from Dr. Kashtan

Thanks for the latest newsletter.
I think, however, that you are seriously misguided re: the Canadian threat.

Given the inevitability of a US invasion of Canada as global warming makes increasing areas of the US uninhabitable, a Canadian strike against us would seem more likely than not (the Bush doctrine of preemptive rather than reactive defense).  It is a little known fact that the so-called ice fishing houses are actually the upper ends of Trident missile launchers.  - Dr. Jack Kashtan

note: Jack was a friend back in my Oberlin College days. Many times when the rest of us were tooling around having fun, Jack was busying studying. As a result he is now a doctor in the Sacramento area and, upon receiving a newsletter I sent out to some of my long-lost pals, became an esteemed lifelong member of FOWL. His wonderful wry humor survives decades, as evinced by this little zing all the way from sunny California.

Slooowly I turned...
Honeymoon Pollution
- R. F. Mueller ,
Virginians for Wilderness

The following seems to be a good illustration of our insensitivity to pollution and perhaps other environmental problems. We all know how polluted lower Great Lakes-in this case Erie-water is, and how, when this water plunges over Niagara Falls, it forms a thick mist that is regularly breathed in by honeymooners. It’s obvious that the water that forms this mist is not like that of a mist that forms by condensation in the atmosphere. Rather it at least in part consists of droplets of Lake Erie water dispersed by the Falls, and this water has not been approved for drinking without treatment.

Updates

• The piles of sawdust placed in the Sheffield Pin Oak Forest wetlands will be required to be removed.
  
• Sheffield is, at last word, still working on its tree ordinance. At the March Council meeting the ordinance provisions provoked both support (from several residents, including Dr. Charles E. Herdendorf - the expert on Lake Erie science - and myself) and criticism. A number of residents felt the restrictions ( a $200 application fee) were too onerous for landowners who just wanted to cut some firewood. Council agreed to revisit these provisions. Lawyers for the Homebuilders Association attended and professed general support for the ordinance but offered to "work with" Council to tailor it to a version more agreeable to them (read: would end up with an ordinance that would be hard to recognize as a tree protection regulation).
  
• The fate of the filled wetlands near Midview HS is still uncertain.
  
• A late April walk around Diane, Bill, and Matt Mahorn's beautiful woods in Amherst revealed many beautiful wildflowers and a healthy ecosystem - except for soil/subsoil runoff into a riparian wetland from a development site next to them. Though the developer has been cited by the OEPA, he apparently feels he is too important to remedy the situation. The case continues....

New Big Book on Pitcher Plants

In his new book, Pitcher Plants of the Americas (~$50 hardcover, $40 paper), released in late December, Stewart McPherson, a British geographer, shares his fascination of these alluring and beautiful plants by consolidating information about some 45 species, hybrids, and cultivars, and providing images of several species and varieties in their natural habitat. The book contains over 250 spectacular full-color photographs. It provides a detailed overview of the systematics, biology, ecology, biogeography, conservation, and horticulture of the five genera of American pitcher plants, including three genera of true pitcher plants (Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, and Sarracenia) and two genera of tank bromeliads (Brocchina and Catopsis). 

For more information about this book and author, please visit the publisher’s website at www.mwpubco.com/PitcherPlants.htm.  

Some FOWL Appearances

Dr. Wendt; Sliman; Burns; Wellington Preserve; Dan Manik (select a format, below, to read details)

“Peak Oil”
The hottest buzz-word of the year… What it means for our life-styles
- By Bob Weigl

Dr. Marion Hubbert was a Shell Oil geologist for whom the term “Hubbert's Peak Oil” was coined. In 1956 he accurately predicted the peak of domestic American-produced oil would be 1970 and is credited for current thinking that 2005 was the year of peak production word-wide.  This means there will never be more oil produced in a single year than in 2005.

Columbia Gas Sues its Victims
from the BuckeyeForest Council

Columbia Gas slashed through private lands near Mohican State Forest which is owned by a church, an outdoor school, and a land trust.  These three charities are asking Columbia Gas to replant the trees that they shadily cut, and prevent further cutting.

Ohio's Coastal Management Plan

Normally when I'm testifying at a government hearing I'm spanking somebody, trying to get the dab-durned agency to do its job. It was a rare pleasure to be able to so genuinely support a program; the OCMP, which operates out of ODNR, is an opportunity to do so.

Clean Water Restoration Act Introduced

Washington, DC - At a press conference held today, Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Rep. John Dingell (Mich.), and Rep. Vernon Ehlers (Mich.) announced the introduction of the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA). The bipartisan bill, H.R. 2421, restores Federal protection of waters and wetlands by clarifying Congress' original intent in the 1972 landmark Clean Water Act (CWA).

Farm Bill 2007 and Wetlands
by Ray Stewart

We don’t often think of farming and its relation to wetlands. Those of us who do not live on farms might think that there is pasture, row crops and little else. Most of America, most of our continent, is agriculture. Riding along with that are the wood lots, stream corridors, and impassable bottomlands. The rich natural habitat of our country is wrapped around agricultural production. Natural areas, including precious wetland areas prosper on private farm land. National, state, and local parks will never provide the entire habitat that wildlife requires. Private land protection is the best hope for extensive and lasting wildlife conservation.

Lake Erie's Shoreline is Drifting - Littorally!

When moving water erodes material from land and carries it in its flow, as the water slows it sorts this material because the heavier sediments drop out first, and then smaller and smaller particles as the water movement slows further and further. Rivers do this as they erode their channels; when rivers enter lakes or seas deltas are formed via this process.