Comments for Getting Into Nature http://into-nature.com Don Corrigan - Environmental Journalist and Nature Writer Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:17:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on TELL US YOUR SIMPSON LAKE or GREENTREE PARK STORIES! by Danelle Haake http://into-nature.com/2010/07/15/tell-us-your-simpson-lake-or-greentree-park-stories/#comment-329 Danelle Haake Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:17:45 +0000 http://into-nature.com/?p=279#comment-329 Don, Thank you for the information you shared with our community. I hope you were able to report the fish kill you described to the proper authorities - the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Emergency Response unit. They can be reached either by calling 573-634-2436 (24/7) or by visiting http://www.dnr.mo.gov/concern.htm. When it comes to our local urban lakes and streams, some might say, "oh, it's just a couple of fish" or "gee! I didn't realize anything was even living in this nasty water..." Well, there are fish in our streams - I've seen them in Deer Creek, Grand Glaize Creek, Gravois Creek, Sebago Creek, Sugar Creek, Two-Mile Creek, and in the River des Peres! In many of these, I've also seen crayfish and mayflies and several other kinds of aquatic insects. So, yes, there is life in our urban streams. And you know, a few dead fish is still a few dead fish - and something killed them. We have to make sure the authorities are made aware of this! When the state receives information on these instances, two things happen 1) they have proof that problems exist and 2) they have proof that the citizens care. Both are vital to improving our water resources. As a river enthusiast who works to protect and improve all of our local waterways (yes, including the River des Peres!), I would like to encourage anyone who comes across a fish kill (or turtles or other animals) to PLEASE call 573-634-2436 to report it. Danelle Haake Webster Groves Don,

Thank you for the information you shared with our community. I hope you were able to report the fish kill you described to the proper authorities – the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Emergency Response unit. They can be reached either by calling 573-634-2436 (24/7) or by visiting http://www.dnr.mo.gov/concern.htm.

When it comes to our local urban lakes and streams, some might say, “oh, it’s just a couple of fish” or “gee! I didn’t realize anything was even living in this nasty water…” Well, there are fish in our streams – I’ve seen them in Deer Creek, Grand Glaize Creek, Gravois Creek, Sebago Creek, Sugar Creek, Two-Mile Creek, and in the River des Peres! In many of these, I’ve also seen crayfish and mayflies and several other kinds of aquatic insects. So, yes, there is life in our urban streams.

And you know, a few dead fish is still a few dead fish – and something killed them. We have to make sure the authorities are made aware of this! When the state receives information on these instances, two things happen 1) they have proof that problems exist and 2) they have proof that the citizens care. Both are vital to improving our water resources.

As a river enthusiast who works to protect and improve all of our local waterways (yes, including the River des Peres!), I would like to encourage anyone who comes across a fish kill (or turtles or other animals) to PLEASE call 573-634-2436 to report it.

Danelle Haake
Webster Groves

]]> Comment on Oil Spill Disaster by don corrigan http://into-nature.com/2010/06/16/oil-spill-disaster/#comment-328 don corrigan Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:16:39 +0000 http://into-nature.com/?p=267#comment-328 Interesting that this poll draws the most votes, but the fewest comments. Is that because the Gulf is too far away from Missouri to draw intense interest? Is it because there is a consensus that BP is at fault? Is it because the well has been capped, at least temporarily, and it looks like the problem is over? Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this catastrophe is its implications for future energy policy and regulations. Interesting that this poll draws the most votes, but the fewest comments. Is that because the Gulf is too far away from Missouri to draw intense interest? Is it because there is a consensus that BP is at fault? Is it because the well has been capped, at least temporarily, and it looks like the problem is over?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this catastrophe is its implications for future energy policy and regulations.

]]> Comment on TELL US YOUR SIMPSON LAKE or GREENTREE PARK STORIES! by Donna Halsband http://into-nature.com/2010/07/15/tell-us-your-simpson-lake-or-greentree-park-stories/#comment-327 Donna Halsband Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:58:57 +0000 http://into-nature.com/?p=279#comment-327 Thanks for calling attention to Simpson Lake. Our Service Learning students have done clean-up and honeysuckle removal each semester for about 10 years. It's one of those jobs that never seems to go away. especially when it has flooded. We did do a fairly comprehensive water testing program there about 7 years ago and the lake was healthy. There is a really gross cove by MSD that we have never touched as it looks like it needs folks with hazmat suits. My understanding from St. Louis County Parks is that neighbors to the park use it as a dumping ground. Very sad. It's such a lovely little lake and I hope your efforts will lead to more care for this beautiful resource. We will keep up our efforts! Thanks for calling attention to Simpson Lake. Our Service Learning students have done clean-up and honeysuckle removal each semester for about 10 years. It’s one of those jobs that never seems to go away. especially when it has flooded.
We did do a fairly comprehensive water testing program there about 7 years ago and the lake was healthy. There is a really gross cove by MSD that we have never touched as it looks like it needs folks with hazmat suits.
My understanding from St. Louis County Parks is that neighbors to the park use it as a dumping ground. Very sad.
It’s such a lovely little lake and I hope your efforts will lead to more care for this beautiful resource. We will keep up our efforts!

]]> Comment on The 2010 Session of the Missouri Legislature by Phil http://into-nature.com/2010/04/09/the-2010-session-of-the-missouri-legislature/#comment-326 Phil Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:38:41 +0000 http://into-nature.com/?p=258#comment-326 Interesting poll questions and results. It does, of course, reveal a liberal bias in the sample, as one might expect. Even the insiders behind the increasingly obvious political power scam that is "global warming" have been replacing that term, with "climate change" since legitimate science informs us that a normal cyclical period of global cooling is currently underway. It is, or should be, clear by now to all that such shifts are not man-made. Yet, none of this seems to be having any effect on DC's bizarre locked-in political climate policies, as they continue with mindless anti-ghoulies and ghosties activity. And what remains unclear about the superior effectiveness and safety of nuclear energy? Can anyone think or read anymore? Interesting poll questions and results. It does, of course, reveal a liberal bias in the sample, as one might expect.

Even the insiders behind the increasingly obvious political power scam that is “global warming” have been replacing that term, with “climate change” since legitimate science informs us that a normal cyclical period of global cooling is currently underway.

It is, or should be, clear by now to all that such shifts are not man-made. Yet, none of this seems to be having any effect on DC’s bizarre locked-in political climate policies, as they continue with mindless anti-ghoulies and ghosties activity.

And what remains unclear about the superior effectiveness and safety of nuclear energy? Can anyone think or read anymore?

]]>