Photo by sarahbarrow, Flickr.
A quick note for Iowans grilling on Memorial Day:
Charcoal grills release 11 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the air every hour. This is almost exactly twice the amount of carbon dioxide released during gas grilling.
If you have the choice, consider using a gas grill both today and the rest of the summer.
Check out a short video on this topic here.
Photo by U.S. Geological Survey, Flickr.
Listen to this week’s radio segment here or read the transcript below. This week’s episode highlights efforts of two Iowa organizations that are working to reduce flooding risks.
Efforts to increase flood preparedness in Iowa continue four years after the 2008 disasters.
This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.
Photo by USFWS Endangered Species, Flickr.
The story of Rochester Cemetery in Cedar County is not new, but I recently discovered this excellent article about the cemetery from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Rochester Cemetery is a controversial place. In addition to serving the county as a cemetery, it is also one of the best prairie remnants left in Iowa. Nearby residents are divided on whether to maintain the prairie, or mow it into a more traditional cemetery environment.
One of the complaints is that tourists visiting the prairie are disrespectful of the graves because they do not view it as a cemetery. However, with such a small amount of prairie left, conservationists do not want to see Rochester Cemetery’s natural environment damaged.
Photo by alice_henneman, Flickr.
A monthly dinner event brings Iowans closer to the farmers producing their food.
These dinners, known as The Farmer’s Table, are hosted by Chris Grebner – a personal chef in the Iowa City area. At the dinners, Grebner uses local food to cook a meal for about twenty people at a local farm.
This way, the attendees can meet and talk to the people who produce their food, while enjoying the product.
Read more about these special dinners from The Gazette here.
Check out The Farmer’s Table website here.
Photo by TushyD, Flickr.
President Barack Obama will visit a wind turbine blade manufacturer in Newton, Iowa today to promote two wind energy tax credits that are set to expire at the end of 2012.
The president intends to warn Iowans that the loss of the Production Tax Credit and the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Credit will hurt Iowa’s economy.
“This isn’t guesswork,” said Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy policy. “We know from the past that when these credits lapse, orders for wind turbines slow, installations drop and job losses occur.”
For more information on President Obama’s visit, read the full article at the Des Moines Register.
Lake MacBride State Park. Photo by Macomb Paynes, Flickr.
A boost in funding will make a noticeable difference in Iowa’s state parks this year.
In 2011, budget cuts led to the elimination of maintenance workers at the parks. Because of this, the parks’ quality suffered, leading many park goers to complain about unkempt lawns.
As recently as 2008, there were 325 seasonal maintenance workers in Iowa. That number dropped to 85 last year. Largely because of the complaints, the seasonal maintenance staff will increase to about 175 by the fall.
The new state budget will also add a half million dollars towards maintenance, but most of that money will go towards pay raises.
Read more from The Gazette here.
The Des Moines River. Photo by jimmywayne, Flickr.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday plans to spend $6 million on improvements to the Raccoon and Des Moines river watersheds.
The project, called the North Raccoon River Wetland Initiative, aims to improve wildlife habitat and water quality in the area while also taking measures to prevent flooding.
In total, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will spend $32 million to restore wetlands in seven states across the Mississippi River Basin.
For more information, read the full article at the Des Moines Register.
