The Annual Baltimore Waterkeeper Trash bash is this Saturday at Nick’s Cafe in Baltimore. Last year it was a blast and they are cranking it up this year even more. Should be quite the party! Come join us!
More info at: http://www.baltimorewaterkeeper.org/events/upcoming-events/
After visiting the Scottsdale area recently, we were struck by the incredible development and population in an area that has very little water. Irrigated golf courses everywhere? Really? While we’re sure it has been considered a marvel of engineering and mankind’s triumph over nature to be able to support such infrastructure in the middle of the desert, in the terms of this millennium’s trends (ie sustainablilty), it seems quite bizarre. That we are from the wet east coast no doubt plays into this observation.
Nonetheless, the following article points out the challenges of over-development in arid areas and the folly in some water politics. That rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse is illegal in some areas illustrates the crazy misguided politics. Seems to be pretty much the opposite of sustainability at the most basic level.
When we maintain stormwater management systems one of the most common things we find are plastic shopping bags. The amount of bags that are in stormwater systems, and therefore streams and the natural environment is amazing.
The dam failure of 2008 is evolving into an environmental debacle. TVA seems to be showing its true colors – which appear to be the opposite of green. We have to wonder where the EPA is as TVA permits continuing pollution to occur. Grey blood in the river….
Stormwater Mag has a new article on SWM Maintenance. Maintenance of Stormwater BMPs | stormh2o.com. Much to be said on this topic…. It is amazing that millions (billions???) of dollars of infrastructure goes in the ground and a small portion of it is maintained. … which results in increased pollution. It is the hidden pollution source of stormwater. Of course, we are a bit jaded, ’cause SWMaintenance is one of the things we do.
Our Stormwater Maintenance inspection crew happened upon this slope erosion in a stormwater management retention facility in Northern Virginia last month:
Nothing spectacular…. just another gully… with some neat autumn foliage….
Until the zoom into the material that was eroding. That’s about the coolest soil profile I’ve seen in awhile. Amazing what nature has hidden for us out there….