Water- "The Taken for Granted" Resource and our Candidates

The abundance of water, that the Midwest and Michigan is so dearly blessed to have can not be taken for granted. There are several great websites to explore explaining the threats to the Great Lakes and Michigan's great resource: WATER. 

For more information contact: 

  Michigan Sea Grant

      517 353-5508

Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay

      231 935-1514

Tip of the Mit Watershed Council

      231 347-1181

Michigan Lake and Stream Associations, Inc. 

      989 257-3583

To you, the reading audience, I continually have tried to inform you about our natural resources that are imploding before our eyes. Water misuse, declining bird and insect populations, land mismanagement and the Phragmite infestation in Michigan wetlands. Like our aging infrastructure,which is necessary so for our pampered lives, water is taken for granted... the clean water we drink and bathe in, the electricity that runs our world and endless supply of food it offers to us.  The systems to protect our precious water are aging and as a country we are not addressing them. Just like how we turn our heads when environmental issues are brought to out attention, Phragmites are destroying our wetlands and they need to be controlled, Asian Carp DNA has been found  in the Great Lakes, so how did that happen, let's do another study?  the infrastructure is in need of repair.

Doesn't that sound like a lot of jobs that could be created? Millions to be spent to save our country, support families and recreate America. Yet we spend MILLIONS to elect a president. Millions that could be used in refurbishing the services and helping to restore our country's natural resources, feed the hungry, save people' homes.  It happens every four years. I can say I am actually ashamed that our candidates are not smarter and wiser and could actually see through this political mess. That would be someone I would be happy to vote for. After viewing this video created by Penn State University, please vote. Don't stop there, get involved with an issue that is near and dear to your heart. Don't let The United States of America implode. God Bless America! God Bless You!

Catching up.....

I came home energized from the presentation at with the Southern Michigan Beautification Council on Thursday, September 20, 2012.  After the presentation, I talked to several people who are just as concerned about Phragmite destruction to our wetlands as I am. Just as frustrated with the lack of concern and response by the people in charge, or who you would think is in charge and would be more concerned and aggressively acting to stop it and eradicate it. There was much discussion of loosing our beaches, wetlands and waterways. Loss of aquatic animals, the quality of our water and the huge fire hazard that it can present to homes, commercial buildings and roadways was discussed also.

This very week I learned a few positive things about Phragmites and I am working on getting more information

1. There is a woman in Oxford, MI, Deanne Bednar. She actually harvests Phragmites and uses them as building material. Visit her website, Straw bale studio for more information. 
2. Use Cut Phragmite plants for mulch on trail ways. It is sturdy and durable.

I am meeting with two individuals on the western part of the state October 14th. They have been successful in their communities to remove Phragmites. I will report on that later. 

Until next time, celebrate the fall weather and colors.