Most river flows across the US are altered by land and water management

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103111254.htm

Science Daily (nov. 3 2010)

This article is about the alternating flows of water in the US. The amount of water in flowing streams and rivers has changed alot. A study by USGS showed that 90 percent of the waters they tested nationwide, the water movement alternated. The alternation of water has been a effect of both land and water management. Activities like drilling for groundwater, wastewater inputs, and impervious surfaces (parking lots) have changed the water movement. This is having a huge impact on the native species that use the water. Some fish have grown dependent on the flow condition of the water and now face danger. Organisms in these waters are facing great challenges. These alternating movements are having fish that prefer fast moving waters in slow moving waters. More studies are being done to find out how much the water has alternated. The USGS erges us to keep a eye on the water movement.

I agree with the USGS. These changes in water movement are our faughlt. This just shows once again how much we are changing our world. Everything humans are doing is impacting the environment and sometimes cause negative effects. We need to stop causing so many water movement alternations. The fish that depend on the water movement are being killed because they cant survive. We should not be doing this to them. As i read this article i thought of the activity we did in class the other day. We measured accurate conditions about a particuler stream everyday at the same time. We would record the results and see the differences over the past days. This is what the USGS did to figure out the changes in water movement. We learned about the changes the water made just like the USGS. I hope that the waters will change back so the fish can survive.

Do you believe the fish will adapt to the new water movements?

Do you think the water movements will ever change back to normal? why or why not?

If the water continues to alternate, what do you believe will happen?

Many Coastal Wetlands Likely to Disappear This Century

Many Coastal Wetlands Likely to Disappear This Century ScienceDaily (Dec. 3, 2010) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101201134256.htm

Image:http://www.wetlands.org/DesktopModules/QuickImageRepository/image.ashx?thumb=1&w=300&fileid=1322

The image shows a destroyed wetland.

When I read this article, I was very suprised. This article is saying that scientist think that many of our coastal wetlands will be destroyed this century. Scientists say that due to the rising sea levels will basically "drown" most of the coastal wetlands. However they say that wetlands with higher sediment availability will have a good chance to survive. This artivle states that if we lose our coastal wetlands, we will be in a lot of trouble in the future. Wetlands absorb energy from storms, clean pollutants out of thew water, and are a home to many different species of birds. If wetlands are destroyed, everyone will face the consequences.

I think that we should do something about this now. This is a serious problem because it can affect humans and animals. If our wetlands do get destroyed, we may be seeing more storms like hurricane Katrina in our country. Also we could see many different species of animals going extinct due to their habitat being destroyed. If I had to try to think of a way to protect these wetlands, I would think about first making sure they are clean and not polluted. Then i would try to put a barrier around the wetland so they cannot "drown". This may cost a little but in the end, it will help us tremendously and maybe save some lives.

If you had to think of something to protect the wetlands, what would you do?

Do you think the wetlands will be destroyed? why or why not

Do you think that wetlands are a valuable thing to have in our country? why or why not?

New York City Can Buy More Watershed Land, State Says

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/new-york-city-can-buy-more-watershed-land-state-says/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Hudson River

New York City just got an agreement from officials that said they can continue to buy land to protect their watersheds! They can by land to protect the Catskills and the Hudson River Valley from development and they got a permit stating they can continue to aquire the land for the next fifteen years. Environmental officials are very excited about this, as is the city and state officials because this saves them billions of dollars! This land-and-watershed protection effort enables New York to not have to filter their drinking water. The city already has 160,000 acres and the state owns 200,000 so together they have about 35% of the state's watersheds. The acres are expected to increase to 10,000 a year and the state has already spent 400 million dollars on the project and plans to invest 140 million dollars more. The agreement also includes over 100 million dollars to limit water pollution and repairing ceptic systems. Experts say this will provide over half the state with clean drinking water deep into the 21st century.

This article makes me really happy because it shows some people are trying to help and do something about the water problem. The fact that these people are trying to protect their environments and they understand the risks of destroying watersheds makes me want to do something. There are so many people involved in this agreement and it's also nice to see other people taking notice. This gives me hope that other cities and states will follow in New York's footsteps to preserve their watersheds because in doing so they are protecting all kinds of other species too. When I was reading this article I just remembered the activity in class with the fake town and all the pollutants running into that lake and I thought of how bad the Hudson River must be. It makes me glad people are trying to change their actions and turn it around.

Do you think New York could really change from the effects of this?

Do you think other states will try and make this change?

What do you think we could do here, in PA to help our watersheds?

Water Pollution in Mexico

"Riviera Maya", located in Mexico

Title: "Report: Pollution in Mexico Could Hurt Tourism"

by Alister Doyle, Reuters Group - 2/6/2011

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41447818/ns/travel-news/

When the United Nations supported a study on the Mexican water supply,

they ended up finding a wide range of contaminants in an aquifer beneath a

Caribbean resort called "Riviera Maya". Among the substances found were

pesticides, roadway runoff, and traces of cocaine.

According to author Chris Metcalfe, of the UN University's Institute for

Water, Environment, and Health, the seeping of pollutants into Mexico's

groundwater could have a negative effect on tourism, which is an

important industry for the country. Additionally, the chemicals may

have already helped kill 50% of Mexico's coral reefs.

The study proposed combatting the threat by improving Mexico's wastewater

treatment capabilities. It also suggested that the government control the dumping of

sewage into the ground and begin lining golf courses with materials that will

stop pesticide runoff.

I think that it is quite scary that these chemicals - the cocaine especially - are

being found in water that could end up in a hotel room shower or a resort swimming

pool. The Mexican government should definitely get on top of its water quality

problems if it wants to keep vacationers returning.

My dad often travels around the world on business. When he went to Mexico City,

he told me that he had to drink only bottled water to avoid getting dysentry from

the city's contaminated supply. It's pretty shocking that pollution of this magnitude

can exist alongside tourist hotspots such as Riviera Maya.

If you are a tourist headed to Mexico, what is going through your mind now that you

know about this problem?

We tend to take water for granted here in the states. How would your life be different

if you lived in Mexico City?

Why do you think basic needs such as clean water are getting overlooked while luxurious

resorts flourish?