http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/03/sarah-palin-to-step-down-as-governor-of-alaska/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F07%2F03%2Fsarah-palin-to-step-down-as-governor-of-alaska%2F

http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090625/full/nj7250-1156a.html

This just in from a friend at the Fish and Wildlife Service.  First I’ve heard of it:

Last week, we had the largest fish kill on record for Illinois in the Rock

River.  We are still in the process of determining the status of the mussel

beds in the Rock River.  The fish kill started about 40 miles downstream of

and was proceeded by an ethanol release (133K gallons?) by about 24+ hours.

The ethanol release and fires were related to train wreck in Rockford, IL

if anyone want to Google the source.

It is our understanding that the "breakdown" or "conversion" of ethanol

will consume a lot of dissolved oxygen.  Our observations included fish

jumping out of the water suggestive of exposure to a toxin (e.g. ammonia,

or say ethanol -> acetaldehyde + acetic acid).

So, has anyone else experienced this "delayed" effect from an ethanol

related aquatic life kill?  Our intuition tells us that it took some

distance for the chemical and biological processes to act on the ethanol

load and this is why the fish kill occurred some 40 miles downstream and

about a day later.

No one is taking responsibility for the fish kill.  The Trustees endeavor

to determine the cause.

http://wbztv.com/local/tuna.steak.recall.2.1067545.html

http://www.kcbs.com/topic/ap_news.php?story=AP/APTV/State/CA/n/US--DamRemoval

Best use of free-roaming cats I've heard of yet:

(Washington, D.C. July 2, 2009) Coyotes regularly feed on outdoor cats, according to a scientific study Observations of Coyote-Cat Interactions by Shannon Grubbs of the University of Arizona and Paul Krausman of the University of Montana published in the Journal of Wildlife Management. The researchers tracked coyotes in Tucson, Arizona and observed 36 coyote-cat interactions, of which 19 resulted in coyotes killing cats.

Other studies have found that approximately 13% of a coyote’s diet consists of cats. However, during this study, in the 45 instances when coyotes were observed feeding, 42% of the meals were cats. The researchers concluded that any cat outside is vulnerable to coyote attack, and recommended that cat owners keep their cats indoors.

This finding raises questions about Trap, Neuter, and Release programs (TNR) that catch feral cats, neuter them, and then release them back into the wild. American Bird Conservancy has consistently raised concerns about TNR programs because these cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year and also because TNR programs do not provide a humane solution for the cats themselves.

“Well-meaning but misguided TNR practitioners are creating unsafe conditions for domestic cats by releasing them back into areas where they may become prey for coyotes and other predators,” said Darin Schroeder, American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President of Conservation Advocacy. “Providing an all-you-can-eat buffet for coyotes is not a sensible solution and we urge states and communities to reject this inhumane approach to the feral cat problem and require responsible care of pets and the removal of feral cats from the wild.”

Despite this risk of predation, TNR has been adopted in areas with large coyote populations. Arizona’s Maricopa County, which is the fourth largest county in the country with nearly four million people, has adopted TNR.

“County officials are wrong when they say TNR is an effective and humane solution,” said Schroeder. “The truth is that TNR fails to eliminate cat colonies, and instead perpetuates many of the problems these colonies create, including the predation of birds and other wildlife, risks to human and wildlife health, and public nuisance. Feral and free-roaming cats kill hundreds of millions of our nation’s birds each year, putting additional pressure on the populations of many species that are in decline.”

American Bird Conservancy recently produced a new, short film “Trap, Neuter, and Release: Bad for Cats, Disaster for Birds,” which reveals how Trap, Neuter, and Release is failing to substantially reduce cat numbers despite advocates’ claims, and is contributing to the deaths of millions of birds each year including endangered species.

#30#

American Bird Conservancy conserves native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. American Bird Conservancy acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. American Bird Conservancy is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. American Bird Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.

This just in from a fish-activist friend:

Seems as if worrying about the state of wild bluefin populations isn't enough--eventually we may have to concern ourselves with escapes of genetically-modified bluefin and the effect on the wild populations' genomes. Maybe they'll at least keep it in the Pacific, although I doubt it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/5720201/Japanese-sc ientists-to-breed-super-tuna.html ">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/5720201/Japanese-sc ientists-to-breed-super-tuna.html

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_181090419.html

Penobscot River Restoration Trust Awarded Funds to Remove Fish Passage Barriers

Old Town and Augusta, ME:  Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it will invest $6.1 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help rebuild the sea-run fisheries of Maine’s Penobscot River. A grant to the Penobscot River Restoration Trust (the Penobscot Trust) will fund removal of the Great Works dam, a key barrier to the sea-run fish restoration, as well as scientific monitoring of the Penobscot River Restoration Project.

The Penobscot Project is an innovative public-private partnership to restore self-sustaining runs of Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring, and seven other species while also maintaining hydropower generation on Maine’s largest river system. The Trust will purchase three dams, remove the two closest to the sea - Veazie and Great Works – and construct a fish bypass at a third at Howland to significantly increase access to nearly 1000 miles of habitat. Great Works, which will be removed with this award, lies above Veazie and is the second dam from the sea. Removal of the Veazie dam will occur at a later date for fish management reasons.

“NOAA’s decision to invest in the Penobscot Project will produce restoration-related jobs for the region now, and the natural infrastructure to support increased, more diverse economic, culture, and recreational opportunities well into the future,” stated Laura Rose Day, Executive Director of the Penobscot Trust.  “This is fantastic news for the region and we are committed to working with businesses, communities, and others to ensure a smooth transition to a restored river.”   

Work to deconstruct the Great Works dam, combined with pre-dam removal scientific monitoring, will yield nearly $5 million in jobs for the region and is expected to employ nearly 155 people in restoration-related engineering and heavy construction jobs (the equivalent of 38 annualized jobs). The work, over a 24-month project period, will create jobs for construction workers, technical experts such as engineers and hydrologists, work for local businesses such as nurseries and contractors, as well as jobs related to scientific monitoring.

“In addition to the immediate jobs created by the projects, stronger and healthier coastal communities will boost our nation’s long-term economic health,” Commerce under secretary of oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said.

This federal funding reinforces the national significance of this unprecedented partnership between PPL Corporation, the Penobscot Indian Nation, seven conservation groups, and state and federal agencies. The Trust was awarded this grant through a highly competitive process that considered over 800 proposals requesting nearly $3 billion from this $170 million federal funding opportunity.  Funding was made available by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act because of the recognition that investment in “green jobs” is both good for the economy and the environment. 

As part of the project, PPL will maintain at least current levels of energy production on the river; it has already increased power generation by raising water levels and by repowering the Orono Dam. PPL will have the opportunity to reuse turbines from the decommissioned dams to increase generation at its remaining dams. PPL will also enhance fish passage at four dams, including construction of a fish elevator at Milford which will become the first dam on the river. PPL will maintain its employment levels. 

The Penobscot Trust partners, with strong leadership from Maine’s Congressional Delegation, the state of Maine, NOAA Fisheries and the USFWS, have raised $25 million in private and public funds to purchase the dams. Additional funds will still be needed to complete the restoration. The Trust will complete its purchase of dams once it has received final permits, currently under review. 

Investment in projects like the Penobscot River restoration bolsters the economy and restores valuable natural resources.  The return of healthy fish stocks will have multiple benefits, including providing food for fish eating birds and for commercially important fish in the Gulf of Maine such as cod and other important species. Economic and cultural benefits may include new and expanded angling, boating, and near shore recreation; new tourism opportunities; and community revitalization that can attract job-creating businesses. The project will render meaningful the Penobscot Nation’s federally recognized sustenance fishery rights and revitalize river-related cultural and spiritual practices. 

American Rivers, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Penobscot Indian Nation, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited are members of the Penobscot Trust. In addition to PPL Corporation, other project partners and supporters include communities, businesses, conservation and civic organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, and the state of Maine (Department of Marine Resources, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and State Planning Office).  

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