Alabama Power experts helping survey for rare species
By Michael Sznajderman
March 5, 2021
Alabama Power is working with a number of partners to protect and grow populations of species such as the trispot darter, the gopher tortoise and the Black Warrior waterdog. (contributed)
As winter wanes and spring approaches, Alabama Power biologists are helping environmental partners with field work aimed at protecting rare species around the state.
Recent work has varied – from an ongoing search in east Alabama for an elusive, tiny fish, to gathering genetic material related to a rare salamander in the Black Warrior River Basin, to seeking out the underground homes of a protected tortoise in southeast Alabama.
Candace Krebs
The Ag Journal
Education and collaboration were repeatedly emphasized during the second-ever Ogallala Aquifer Summit, a virtual gathering space where hundreds of concerned farmers, researchers and resource managers shared ideas about how to preserve the vitality of a rural region that overlies one of the most heavily pumped underground reservoirs in the world.
Roughly 95 percent of all freshwater currently withdrawn from the eight-state aquifer goes to irrigate commodity crops.
Since the first aquifer summit in 2018, previous participants have expanded on several innovative programs or spread them to new areas.
The Kansas Water Office now has 15 water technology farms that demonstrate the latest irrigation technology in a real world setting.
Boy Scouts honor Brickley for conservation work
Former Virginia Delegate, David G. Brickley, of Woodbridge recently earned the Boy Scouts of America William T. Hornaday Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation at the Boy Scouts’ National Capital Area Council’s annual meeting.
Brickley, a retired attorney, has been active in the Boy Scouts of America for more than 40 years, and currently serves an assistant scout master of the all-girl troop 1888 in Fairfax.
He’s also the founder of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail, 1,300-mile biking, hiking and motor-friendly trail that connects the three 9/11 memorial sites via six states and the District of Columbia Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Former Va. Delegate/Founder of 9/11 Trail, Awarded Scouts Medal - Woodbridge, VA - David G. Brickley of Woodbridge, VA and founder of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail Earns National Recognition from Boy Scouts of America
By Staff
Eleven projects to restore, enhance or protect wetlands and other important natural resources around the state were selected to receive the latest round of funds from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program.
The projects include a dam removal project in Vassalboro, a tidal culvert upgrade in Cape Elizabeth, and conservation of high-value wetlands at sites ranging in size from 24 acres to nearly 500 acres.
In all, $2,455,038 was awarded to restore or enhance almost 10 acres of wetlands and help conserve over 1,300 acres of wetlands and upland buffer.
The Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program has become one of Maine’s most important tools for conservationists and developers to work together to protect fragile wetland habitats,” Melanie Loyzim, acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, said in a news release. “It’s a win for Maine’s natural environment, and it’s a win for Maine’s economy.”