Arctic ice melting too fast

Hearing about the disappearance of the arctic ice caps doesn’t resonate with nearly the same urgency until you realize it will happen in your lifetime.

Just a few years ago, the scientific community thought this would occur in the distant future around 2100, but now researchers are discovering that it is happening at a much faster rate than anyone expected. And the consequences will be devastating.

A study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that 40 percent of the ice cap will have melted by 2050. The National Snow and Ice Data Center predicts that all the ice in the Arctic sea will be depleted by 2030. Both findings are based on computer climate simulations. According to James Overland, NOAA oceanographer, there isn't anything that can be done to reverse this fate because today's existing greenhouse gases will remain in the atmosphere for 50 years or more.

Who’s taking the bait on over-fishing?

Since the 1950s, when large-scale commercial fishing began, our seas have been increasingly depleted of fish. This is causing an alarming imbalance in the oceans ecosystems, not to mention the impact its having on the fishing industry. A key indicator is that the ocean’s renowned predator species, the shark, is rapidly disappearing. CNNMoney.com reports that by 2048, tuna, cod, swordfish, flounder, and other popular large fish may no longer be available, at market or at sea.

Legislators, marine biologists, environmentalists, and even some fisheries are trying to tackle this issue, albeit with very different approaches. Lawmakers are deadlocked in revising the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to include more stringent conservation regulations. Experts in the field hope to see efforts made to protect entire ecosystems - not just the species at risk, which would involve more research and better instrumentation to track populations underwater, according to washingtonpost.com. Some companies in the industry, like Kona Blue, have started to cultivate fish from controlled deepwater conditions within the ocean, a practice known as aquaculture.

Americans’ obsession with green grass

Most everyone living out West is aware that fresh, usable water is in limited supply; but not everyone is taking appropriate action. The agriculture industry, which is responsible for a large percentage of the water consumption, has been adopting efficient irrigation systems for years to conserve this resource and reduce costs. Unfortunately, many landscapers, developers, and homeowners are voluntarily contributing to the water shortage by choosing to grow grass where it wouldn’t otherwise exist.

Instead of embracing the beauty of the natural landscape, Americans are consuming 7.8 million gallons of water per year to maintain lush, pristine lawns, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This accounts for 30 percent of all water use in the United States. To make matters worse, an article in the San Francisco Chronicle estimates that each year $40 million is spent on toxic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which end up polluting the water table.

Our American culture highly values gorgeous green grass at an exorbitant cost to the environment–and for what? To keep up appearances with the neighbors, create a caca carpet for the dog, or make a date with the mower every weekend? Just think how much better off we’d be without tending turf.

America's Icon is Saved

In March of this year I was lucky enough to spot a bald eagle soaring overhead while driving East on I-70, near Parachute, CO. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I’d never seen one in the wild before, only in zoos. Less than a month later, I saw a golden eagle in flight three miles south of Windsor, CO. These eagle sightings left a lasting impression in my mind.

It turns out of course that it wasn’t just dumb luck. Eagles have made an astounding comeback. In fact, this past June the Department of the Interior declared the bald eagle is no longer an endangered species, a classification it’s had for almost 40 years. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division, today there are more than 10,000 mating pairs living in the continental U.S.; only 400 existed in 1963.

The success of our national symbol’s return is a testament to the power of the federal government and propaganda. Without the leverage of the Endangered Species Act, regulation to ban DDT pesticide, and considerable funding spent to protect the famous bald eagle, which appears on so much government-issued Americana, who knows what its fate might have been?

Colorado cuts carbon dioxide emissions control

Beginning in January 2007, Colorado lifted emissions testing requirements of gasoline-fueled automobiles in Larimer, Weld and El Paso counties. Testing will continue for motor vehicles with diesel engines, but even this is now limited to designated areas.

Why would the State of Colorado choose to forego monitoring automobiles’ carbon dioxide emissions in these three highly populated counties? Close to 950,000 residents live in Larimer, Weld and El Paso counties combined. This adds up to a lot of vehicles polluting the atmosphere. Equally disturbing is the fact that Colorado also does not mandate yearly inspections that would help screen for both unsafe and environmentally hazardous automobiles. This means cars that burn oil or have broken exhaust pipes can legally remain on the road indefinitely.

It’s ironic that as other states are starting to finally adopt emissions testing and taking actions to protect the environment, Colorado is taking steps in the opposite direction. In the face of global warming (aka climate change), it’s time to be responsible not neglectful.

Hetch Hetchy inspires the conservation movement

Nestled in Yosemite National Park there once stood a natural wonder of formidable grandeur and boundless beauty. The Hetch Hetchy Valley, often referred to as Yosemite’s little sister, used to boast cascading waterfalls over magnificent granite cliffs as the Tuolumne River freely flowed through the valley floor. An abundant and diverse population of bird species, other wildlife and lush fauna also thrived there. Unfortunately, we will never know more about Hetch Hetchy than what has been documented by the few men and women who witnessed its beauty before it was destroyed.

Today the Hetch Hetchy Valley is submerged under 400 feet of water (Felzer, 1973). A monument to man’s ingenuity, the municipally owned O’Shaughnessy Dam now situated in the valley provides water for 2.4 million residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. The reservoir and aqueduct system also generates hydroelectric power that is distributed by a private utility company. In his historical account of the dam''s construction, author Ron Felzer exclaimed, “390,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured, and over 6 million board feet of lumber were cut—within the Park!”

Some people mourn the demolition of Hetch Hetchy as a national treasure, while others marvel at exploiting its natural resources. Regardless, the Hetch Hetchy controversy, which began at the turn of the twentieth century, has played a pivotal role in America's conservation movement. Of the many voices that influenced history on this subject, none were more prevalent than those of preservationist John Muir, and conservationists Gifford Pinchot and President Theodore Roosevelt. The outcome of the Hetch Hetchy debate symbolized the adoption of a “wise-use” conservation policy by the United States.

The black-footed ferret returns

Two decades ago the black-footed ferret population was on the verge of extinction in North America. In fact, the situation was so dire that even amidst the Cold War the Russians were willing to help with the United States’ captive breeding efforts (AP, 1987). Today, however, the fate of the black-footed ferret appears more than hopeful.

This success story originates in the Shirley Basin of Wyoming, an ideal natural ferret habitat which is also home to thriving colonies of their main prey, the white-tailed prairie dog. Reuters reports, as recently as 1986, only 18 of these endangered species were found living in the wild. Since this discovery, biologists from the University of Wyoming joined forces with zoos and researchers across the country and abroad to launch a reintroduction program. Fortunately local ranchers, who were eager to see the number of prairie dogs controlled, supported their mission.

Now twenty years later, after addressing reproduction issues and diseases affecting the species, nearly 220 descendents of the original 18 black-footed ferrets inhabit the Shirley Basin according to National Geographic News. However, some experts believe this number may be a bit conservative. Nevertheless, exponential population growth like this is almost unheard of for endangered species in such a short period of time.

Ferret reintroduction is not limited to Wyoming; five other Western states are also participating in the effort. Thanks to the dedication of many hard-working individuals and government funding, there are now approximately 700 black-footed ferrets in the U.S (Mott, 2007).