News items from Eutrophication News

Under the best conditions, raising livestock is a dirty, smelly business. And right now in Ohio, the conditions are far from good. Record rainfall during the fall kept most farmers from spreading manure on muddy fields. That has agriculture officials concerned that some farmers, who will soon run out of storage space, will spread manure on snow-covered, frozen fields this winter.

Photosynthesizing micro-organisms called phytoplankton created the figure 8 in the south Atlantic Ocean, about 360 miles (600 kilometers) east of the Falkland Islands. The European Space Agency's Envisat spacecraft acquired the image on Dec. 2, 2011.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) federal advisory committee on agricultural issues, the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC), has submitted its report to the agency on agricultural and water quality issues.

Manitoba, Canada - The Province of Manitoba recently released its water quality standards regulations for 2012. The Manitoba Water Quality Standards, Objectives, and Guidelines set out water quality conditions that will protect water quality for various uses including fish and other aquatic life, sources of drinking water, irrigation and livestock watering, and recreation.

Montana - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Montana's plan to phase in strict limits on water pollution from municipal wastewater treatment plants, industry and other sources, officials said Monday.

Beijing - Some lakes in the Yangtze River valley are facing shrinking and extinction threats, according to a report "Protection and development of the Yangtze River in 2011" issued in Beijing on Jan. 6, 2012.

TRENTON – The federal Environmental Protection Agency warned that portions of a bill being considered by New Jersey’s Legislature could jeopardize the state’s ability to comply with the Clean Water Act and could have “significant adverse impacts” on water quality.

SANIBEL, FL -For the first time in a month, scientists are now saying the red tide bloom off the Sanibel coast is showing signs that it's starting to go away. The most recent Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission red tide reports now show very low to medium concentrations of the bloom near the island.

BELIZE - Preventing people from fishing in coral reefs does not necessarily protect them from being overrun by algae, according to a recent study.

AUSTRALIA - Authorities have slapped an emergency alert on Lake Tuggeranong, saying the waterway presents an ''extreme risk'' to the health of swimmers and animals. The Environment Directorate has placed the lake on its highest risk category of extreme, saying blue-green algae levels at the popular water spot have reached dangerous levels.

NY - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection reached a draft agreement to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) into area water bodies, the agencies announced today. The agreement modifies New York City's approach to improving harbor water quality, under which the city will invest an estimated $187 million in green infrastructure projects by 2015, part of a planned $2.4 billion public and private investment over the next 20 years.

A report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation concludes that storm water and sewage plant upgrades intended to help nurse the environmentally-battered bay back to health would create nearly 250,000 jobs.

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL - Water quality and flood control projects here are paying off in a healthier Sarasota Bay, and they are also receiving national attention.

WATER scientists from equatorial African states have launched a four-year project at a cost of Sh700 million to find out the source of Lake Victoria pollution.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Hundreds of dead fish have washed ashore in southwest Florida because of red tide. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s red tide hotline, the dead fish were found and reported Wednesday on Bunche Beach in Lee County and elsewhere along the coast.

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- A large bloom of red tide has been hovering off Southwest Florida coasts since October. The newest information is that the red tide is killing not only small sea creatures, but manatees as well.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA recently revised its national conservation practice standard on nutrient management to help producers better manage application of nutrients. Proper application of nitrogen and phosphorus offers benefits, including cost savings to the producer and the protection or improvement of ground and surface water, air quality, soil quality and ag sustainability.

US EPA - Pursuant to section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of the draft document Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC). The document contains the EPA's draft ambient water quality criteria recommendations for protecting human health in ambient waters that are designated for primary contact recreation.

NEW JERSEY - Water monitoring in Barnegat Bay and its tributaries will be stepped up next year, with five new science buoys to be deployed. In addition, a cast of dozens – from scientists and five boat captains to volunteers – will help in the campaign to better understand the bay’s biological and chemical cycles.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised its national conservation practice standard on nutrient management to help producers better manage the application of nutrients on agricultural land.