The Rise of Extreme Rain

It’s raining in Monroe County.

While our rain is a blessing, it goes without saying that the deluge in Texas and Florida as a result of hurricanes Harvey and Irma are catastrophic. The vast amount of water dumped on these communities is something that we haven’t seen before.

David Leonhart wrote an excellent piece in the New York Times on why we are seeing this now, entitled “Irma, and the Rise of Extreme Rain.” He shows why warm air carries more moisture than cool air. Naturally as the water warms with climate change, the hurricanes and tropical storms will continue to drop large amounts of water on these coastal communities.

The article ends with these words: “Welcome to the era of extreme rain. We can continue to pretend it’s all a coincidence and watch the consequences mount. Or we can start to do something about it — by using less of the dirty energy that’s changing the climate and by preparing for a future that’s guaranteed to be hotter and rainier.”

The Monroe County Environmental Commission is working locally to do something about it!

Top 5 Green Events for March

As Monroe County, Indiana seemed to start spring early, March 20th is still the official Spring Equinox. There are plenty of opportunities to learn about and enjoy emerging spring this month, and we have whittled it down to our Top 5 Green Events in March. For even more, make sure to visit the regularly updated Green Events Calendar.

Frog Watch Spring peepers are starting to call. Curious about frogs and toads? Learn more at a Frogwatch workshop, March 20-21, 6-8:30 PM at Karst Farm Park. We’ll talk about the value of wetlands, amphibian biology and life cycles, population declines, and the species found in our area. You’ll find out how to become a volunteer frog monitor and collect data to submit to Frogwatch USA. Cost is $5 for both nights and registration is required.

Marsh Madness The Marsh Madness Sandhill Crane Festival is a community-based event timed to coincide with the peak Sandhill Crane and waterfowl migration at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County, Indiana. Events include a kick-off banquet, craft fair, live birds of prey on display, informational and educational presentations, bus tours, self-guided tours, kids activities, and much more. March 03rd and 04th.

Better Preparation, Better Results in the Spring Garden Ready to get started in your garden? By putting in a little effort at the beginning, you’ll save time and work, enjoy a better looking garden, and have a more productive harvest. Learn how to test and prepare your garden soil, pick up tricks that will help prevent weeds, disease, and pest problems, acquire strategies around watering and nutrient delivery, become a savvy mulcher, and make the most of your available space. March 25th at 1pm.

Green Drinks Green Drinks Bloomington is a lively, informal social networking event for people from all walks of life who are interested in making a greener world.  Folks gather every month to share libations and ideas, discuss, debate, explore and make new friends and business connections. March 22nd at 5:30pm.
Ducks and Donuts Come join us at our 8th installation of Ducks & Donuts on Saturday, March 25th, 2017 at the Stillwater Marsh Overlook, off State Road 46, east of Bloomington. We will serve coffee and donuts and hopefully there will be plenty of waterfowl and other birds to look at. We will start at 8am and finish at 11am.

Members of the Monroe County Environmental Commission compiled this list. Their charge includes “educating the community and engaging residents and businesses in supporting initiatives which will help ensure a healthier and more economically viable future for the County.” The public is welcome to attend these meetings the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm.

Affordable Solar is Here

Interest in Solar power is growing even stronger in Monroe County! Solarize Bloomington is the latest effort to help residents afford solar panels on their homes.

The good news is that there are upcoming information sessions for interested home owners who wish to begin saving money or want to expand their current array. The next sessions will be:

• February 16 (noon at the Monroe County Public Library),
• February 18 (10:30am at Monroe County Public Library) and
• February 25 (10:30am at City Hall).

While an RSVP here would be nice, interested parties can also simply show up.

Monroe County is already home to one of the highest concentrations of residential solar panels. A searchable map of existing panels is maintained by SIREN, and while it is already an impressive array, efforts by Solarize Bloomington will only increase the points on the map.

With the improved technology of household batteries, the rational for installing solar panels is on the upswing. Tesla recently announced their Powerwall 2 battery, and the German firm Sonnen recently entered the US market. This competition will help drive innovation and further reduce costs.

Members of the Monroe County Environmental Commission compiled this post. Their charge includes “educating the community and engaging residents and businesses in supporting initiatives which will help ensure a healthier and more economically viable future for the County.” The public is welcome to attend these meetings the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm.

Water Quality: An Ongoing Concern Locally

“Too many pipes in Indiana are at or near the end of their useful life”. That was a conclusion by the Indiana Finance Authority in their November 2016 report.

Water quality is on the minds of Hoosiers in Monroe County. The water that streams into every one of our residential or public buildings has a direct correlation to our health, and the water in our county is valuable for recreation. When I go out, a question I now ask is “What local environmental issues concerns you the most?” Time and time again I hear that water quality is a top concern.

Local water quality issues gives credence to this anecdotal evidence. Beginning in January 2016, increased testing began for Disinfectant Biproducts (DBPs). I’ll let you investigate the level of depth you want to learn about DPBs, but for those that want to track this issue the Herald Times’ GovTracker blog reports on water quality trends, and the City of Bloomington regularly publishes DPB and other water quality data at data.bloomington.in.gov/group/utilities. The bottom line is that water quality was enough of a concern that local leaders took action.

Additionally, the Indiana Finance Authority published a report detailing the problem of aging water pipes. The report was based on a survey conducted with every water utility across the state. Cost and infrastructure problems were reported regionally (see p. 21 of the report) and statewide as the report concluded that, “Too many pipes in Indiana are nearing or at the end of their useful life.”

It is important to protect our water quality, and Monroe County Government plays a large role in this protection. Monroe County Stormwater Quality staff work to control stormwater which can otherwise threaten public health and aquatic life, negatively affect recreational activities, increase costs of water treatment, contribute to flooding events and cause erosion of valuable land. The Monroe County Soil and Water staff work to provide leadership and education in the conservation of Monroe County’s natural resources: soil, water, air, wildlife, forests and lakes. The Monroe County Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission advises the County Commissioners and educates the public on local environmental issues.

The above report and recent water quality issues highlights the necessary work of local and state government and its leaders to invest in infrastructure. It also suggests the need for greater regional collaboration to preserve shared resources for all residents.

Federal Climate Change Denial and What to do About It

President-elect Trump is putting his team together, and his choice to lead the transition for the Environmental Protection Agency is one more step toward an official Federal policy of climate change denial. Trump repeatedly called global warming a hoax . The man Trump has called on to shape the EPA in his administration is a well-known climate skeptic and a critic of efforts by the Obama administration to address climate change.

The man’s name is Myron Ebell, and here is what you should know.

First, Ebell is against the the popular Paris Climate Deal. In May, he hoped “whoever was elected president would ‘undo the E.P.A. power plant regs and some of the other regs that are very harmful to our economy.’” This puts his views, against international agreements to help curb environmental changes, in the scientific minority. It also raises the specter that the U.S. could pull out of the agreement. NPR’s Susan Phillips wrote a great article summarizing this issue; she hopefully noted that countries gathered at the Marrakesh Conference exhibited “a defiant optimism”.

Second, Ebell is “a well-known and polarizing figure in the energy and environment realm” according to Scientific American. He is the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute. This institute questions climate change, supports increased fossil fuel use, and opposes initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol, cap-and-trade, and EPA regulation of greenhouse gasses. In a world imagined by this Institute, our air and water would be less clean, and our efforts to stop the effects of a warming world would be more isolated and less effective. The director of these ideas is now heading the transition to the EPA.

Third, Ebell is not a scientist nor does he have degrees or qualifications in climate science, according to Business Insider. Despite this he works to undermine the work of climate scientists. In interviews conducted by Business Insider, a climate scientist from NASA showed disdain for Ebell and the magazine called Ebell a gadfly whose views scientists had to stoop to acknowledge and whose views had little scientific content.

This is alarming even for us here in Monroe County because the decisions made by this administration will affect our lives and the ways we interact with our surroundings. This sends signals to the way states run their environmental protection activities that business interests trumps beneficial regulations and there is no middle ground or compromise. It also gives credence to conspiracy theories against the reliance on scientific inquiry and data.

This can be discouraging, but stay informed and get active! Read reliable, independent reporting on the environment and contact your elected officials to voice your opinions on environmental issues. You can also stay in touch with this blog which sends out a monthly alert of local green events and issues. Lastly, as the Federal Government goes down the climate denial rabbit hole, the role of state and local governments will increase. This means that local reporting and activism will be increasingly important.

Top 5 Green Events for December

As Monroe County, Indiana heads toward colder temperatures and the new year, there are plenty of winter opportunities to learn about and enjoy local nature. Here are our picks for the Top 5 Green Events in December. For even more, make sure to visit the regularly updated Green Events Calendar.

Lunch with Nature Spend your lunch hour on December 19th on Monroe Lake at their lunch and learn series as they discuss clouds. This is a great excuse to visit one of Monroe County’s greatest resources and beef up your knowledge.

 

Winter Farmers Market Just because the ground is frozen doesn’t mean there isn’t local food and other goods offered by area farmers. This is a great time to visit Harmony school for meat, greens, and all sorts of other goods. Visit them online at http://www.bloomingtonwinterfarmersmarket.com/ for weekly events at the market.

Winter Solstice Celebration The folks at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice are holding a celebration of the winter solstice. This free event will feature a celebration with the word, symbol and sharing. Refreshments are even served. It all starts at 6:30pm.

 

Cemetery History Series December is a great month to learn about local history and the people who helped make our community what it is today. There are two tours on separate Thursdays featuring the cemeteries near Friendship and Chandler. Find more information by clicking on the links above.

Goose Pond and Monroe Lake are great places locally to find overwintering birds of all types. In particular, you will enjoy looking for Lake Monroe’s Bald Eagles. Find out more about the Sassafras Audubon Society’s trips at http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/node/269.

Members of the Monroe County Environmental Commission compiled this list. Their charge includes “educating the community and engaging residents and businesses in supporting initiatives which will help ensure a healthier and more economically viable future for the County.” The public is welcome to attend these meetings the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm.

Environmental Solutions in the form of Faith Groups

Faith groups offer environmental solutions in Monroe County. Not surprisingly, houses of worship are leading the way to reduce their carbon footprint and educate local Hoosiers about ways they can make a difference. This message is being spread to thousands of people weekly in committee meetings, sermons, and small groups.

These efforts also are coordinated through interfaith efforts. Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light (HIPL), which aims to “bring Hoosiers of faith together as stewards of creation in order to promote renewable energy, energy conversation and efficiency, as a faith response to climate change”, boasts two Monroe County individuals on their board, and Monroe County-based Earth Care is one of only eight regional affiliates of HIPL in Indiana and has 28 local faith communities who work together.

Here we highlight four of these faith communities: Beth Shalom, the Friends Meeting House, St. Thomas Lutheran, and the Unitarian Universalist church.

Beth Shalom represents Bloomington’s Jewish community. They proudly state, “With our solar panels we choose life for future generations”. And it backs this quote up with the solar panels that provide energy for the children that attend preschool there every day. In fact, Beth Shalom was an early adopter and has been a national leader in greening. They were a 2012 co-winner of the OED’s Community Conservation Challenge Grant for Indiana, and with a $25,000 grant from OED they leveraged funding to install a 23.32 KW photovoltaic array, which has been in operation since the end of April 2013. Whether it is the teaching or the actions, Beth Shalom continues to lead the way to a better life for future generations.

Bloomington Friends Meeting House. In 2009 this church was one of the first houses of worship to install solar panels. When they did so it was said, “Quakers are committed to the transformational power of love embodied in the Testimonies of Peace, Equality, Community, Simplicity, and Integrity. When we live in the Life which is attuned to nature and which finds joy and satisfaction in human relationships and personal growth, we will be less dependent on material possessions and more protective of our environment.” With their tradition of silence, I will let those words speak for itself.

St. Thomas Lutheran has been taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint and have been raising awareness throughout Monroe County. Yes they have solar panels, and if you ask the staff their thermostat is just on this side of being uncomfortable. Their building is designed to highlight natural light, and they have a community garden. But the church’s most recent action is that they are actively engaging their congregation by adapting their services. Throughout September, St. Thomas has focused on different themes in their liturgy, based on a model that comes from churches in Australia:

• Ocean Sunday: We join the Psalmists and call the sea to roar with songs of praise, and with our Creator, we rejoice with whales, dolphins and other sea creatures.
• Animal Sunday: We worship with the entire living family on Earth. We celebrate birds, animals, reptiles, and all living creatures.
• Storm Sunday: We worship with the storm. We sing with the winds, the clouds, and the thunder. We wonder at the power of storms and the fierce expressions of the elements.
• Universe Sunday: We worship with the entire universe, conscious that the universe is a vast sacred space. The special focus for this service is the spiritual impulse or presence that permeates the universe that scripture calls Wisdom!

These examples come from the church’s September newsletter which you can find on their website. More importantly, the church is helping to educate its diverse congregation on ways they can help solve environmental problems.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington is setting ambitious environmental standards in Monroe County. Their sanctuary is certified as a Green Sanctuary through a program of the greater UU church. It’s associated task force has a goal is to help members create sustainable lifestyles and reduce carbon footprints. As a church they have installed solar panels and have generated enough energy to cover 57% of their usage! This has garnered the church accolades nationally: EPA Energy Star certification and one of the first twenty Interfaith Power and Light congregations. As UU of Bloomington moves forward they will continue to show other organizations what can be done!

Members of the Monroe County Environmental Commission compiled this list. Their charge includes “educating the community and engaging residents and businesses in supporting initiatives which will help ensure a healthier and more economically viable future for the County.” The public is welcome to attend these meetings the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm.

Top 5 Green Events for October

As Monroe County, Indiana heads into fall, there are plenty of October opportunities to learn about and enjoy local nature. Here are our picks for the Top 5 Green Events. For even more, make sure to visit the regularly updated Green Events Calendar.

1. Cider Fest Fall is apple time in Monroe County, and the Bloomington Community Orchard is ready to not only create cider but to share a community meal. Bring the whole family for this event to celebrate the value of fruit, not shipped across the country!

2. Nature on the Water: Fall Colors Parade
This is our featured event during the week. Lake Monroe hosts weekly activities on or near the lake to promote awareness and conservation. They do a great job keeping Facebook events up to date for you!

3. Bloomington Farmers Market This popular event promotes organic and sustainable farmers, homesteaders, ranchers, orchardists, and more. While Smithville, Ellettsville, and the Tuesday Bloomington markets all shut down after September, Downtown Bloomington continues!

4. Green Drinks If you have never attended a Green Drinks talk, you should start. Hosted at Upland Brewery, a growing group of concerned citizens host lectures and forums to discuss environmental problems and local solutions.

5. Ghostly Gathering October also means Halloween and Lake Monroe does is right in Monroe County! Trick-or-treating, Zombie history, costume contests, and the grand finale…the Campsite Decorating Contest. With events all weekend, there’s something for you!

Members of the Monroe County Environmental Commission compiled this list. Their charge includes “educating the community and engaging residents and businesses in supporting initiatives which will help ensure a healthier and more economically viable future for the County.” The public is welcome to attend these meetings the second Wednesday of every month at 5:30pm.

Stemming the Spread of Invasives

Invasive species cost Indiana an annual $5.7 million! This is an astonishing figure, but I never knew how prevalent invasives were in Monroe County until a MC-IRIS workshop at Snayl Day.

Bush honeysuckle is what comes first to mind. It’s sweet smell and white and yellow flowers are an annual occurrence throughout the county. The Indiana DNR recognizes no more than eight (8) terrestrial invasive plants. Of course this doesn’t include land invertebrates, vertebrates, or pathogens and diseases, nor aquatic varieties. The Indiana DNR has a great list with pictures for your reference. The Indiana Invasives Species Council is also a great resource.

Invasives are not just an Indiana problem; it effects some of the world’s poorest the most. Researchers found that “these invasions are also threatening the last remaining biodiversity strongholds in the world’s most fragile economies”. Nature Communications published these finding last month, complete with recommendations.

Here in Monroe County we have biodiversity strongholds including our lakes and streams. Fortunately, those here in Monroe County have two private resources: MC-IRIS and EcoLogic. While one is focused on education and the other to establish and restore native plant communities, they both are providing local solutions. You should contact them to remain knowledgeable as we are continually learning more!

There are also public resources such as the Monroe County Parks and Rec. The Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District is a great public resource as well. They have a variety of workshops for pollinators, edge of field maintenance, Oak community restoration and they offer native plants for sale to the public.

The Monroe County Environmental Commission hosts presentations at its monthly meetings. September’s presentation will made by representatives from MC-IRIS. The public is welcome to attend these presentations, and CATS also records these sessions.