Ecosystems


Companies, Landowners Partner to Create Carbon Offsets from Forest

CE2 Carbon Capital and Dogwood Carbon Solutions' ‘Red Fern’ project to help private landowners monetize and conserve forestry assets.

Mississippi Landowner Fills Wetlands, Pays $100,000

Rodney O. Corr discharged fill material into approximately 14 acres of wetlands to clear a site for commercial development without applying for a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit.

Energy Companies Retire Oil and Gas Leases

Nearly 29,000 acres in Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front is being returned to the Bureau of Land Management.

Agency Targets Stormwater, CAFOs for Chesapeake Bay Watershed

EPA has set a timetable to deliver ruelmakings on offsets, confined animal feeding operations, and stormwater to strengthen controls on major sources of pollutants to the bay.

Low Oxygen, Nutrients Slow Exxon Valdez Oil Degradation

A Temple University professor found that the nutrient concentration in the beaches was 10 times lower than what is required for optimal aerobic biodegradation of oil.

NSU Receives $15 M in Stimulus for Coral Reef Research

The Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Science Research Facility, a multi-disciplinary center will address national and international priorities.

Cigarette Litter Down 2% in 2009, KAB Reports

Communities implementing Keep America Beautiful's prevention program have averaged a 48 percent reduction in cigarette litter.

EPA Orders Developer to Restore Wyoming Wetlands

Michael and Richard Gard of Professional Home Design have expressed their intent to restore Wind River wetlands near Dubois to their pre-impact condition and grade.



37 Authorities to Get More Than $9 M to Help Protect Swimmers

EPA continues to support beach water quality monitoring under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act.

Company Restores 514 Wetland Acres for La. Mitigation Credits

Resource Environmental Solutions says oil and gas companies and developers who impact wetlands in Louisiana can offset their impacts by purchasing credits.

River Restoration Turns Out to be a Mixed Bag, Study Says

University of Georgia researchers found that, among other things, restoring natural water flows can change the vegetation and negatively affect animals.

Science Upgrades Ammonia Criteria; EPA Seeks Comment

Because freshwater mussels are more sensitive to ammonia than currently understood, EPA has proposed a revision to its criteria dataset.

Jane Goodall Institute to Expand Conservation with USAID Grant

The $5.5 million will enable the institute and its partners to continue work in western Tanzania for endangered species, including chimpanzees.

USGS-sponsored Study to Uncover Mineral Supplies

The U.S. Geological Survey says information about copper, lithium, rare earth elements, uranium, and phosphate resources is important for security and land-use decisions.

EPA Proposes Strict Smog Rules; One for the Public, One for Trees

Agency estimates the cost of standards will about equal their benefits, depending on the final standard adopted.

Baylor Study Links Phosphorus Level to Water, Plant Declines

Using the Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research stream facility, researchers found that concentrations above 20 parts per billion resulted in more algae growth and lower dissolved oxygen.

Development Threatens U.S. Conservation Areas

Data from a University of Wisconsin-Madison study found that 940,000 housing units were built between 1940 and 2000 in private land inside the boundaries of national forests.

F&WS Awards $19 M to Protect Wetlands in 11 States

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide $19 million in grants through the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation program that will be matched by nearly $26 million in partner contributions.

Watershed Academy Webcast Presents Lakes Assessment

On Jan. 5, EPA will present a Webcast on the draft findings of the National Lakes Assessment.

House Resolution Addresses Ocean Acidification

An Inslee-Markey resolution would call on the United States to adopt policies and support international agreements to address ocean acidification.