Northwest Arkansas environment central

Sierra Club's statement on SWEPCO wind-power purchase

2012-01-25T15:41:00.000-06:00

SIERRA CLUB STATEMENT ON SWEPCO WIND POWER PURCHASE

"The clean energy revolution is happening right now. Today, as a result of our recent legal settlement, hundreds of megawatts of clean wind energy will power homes and businesses in our region for the next 20 to 25 years. Unlike dirty coal, which devastates our air, water, and communities, wind power produces zero pollution.

"Unlike our neighboring states, Arkansas currently does not have wind energy production in place, although we are home to multiple factories that produce wind turbines and blades. If we did have wind energy production in place, SWEPCO could have bought it from an Arkansas company. Instead, that money to purchase wind power went to out of state companies and jobs. As Governor Beebe works toward the state's energy plan, Sierra Club calls on him to aggressively pursue clean, renewable sources of energy for the Natural State.

"In his State of the Union speech, President Obama didn't mention coal a single time but spent a lot of time talking about clean energy. Coal is on its way out. Clean, renewable energy projects--like those announced today--are the key to our nation's energy future."

--

Lev Guter

Associate Organizing Representative

Sierra Club

1308 W. 2nd Street

Little Rock, AR 72201

(501) 301-8280

January 2012 meeting of Environmental Action Committee of Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Government Channel video

2012-01-20T20:20:00.000-06:00

Robert McAfee and Joanna Pollock to present and lead discussion at Nightbird Books on January 26, 2011

2012-01-17T11:15:00.001-06:00

7 p.m. Thursday January 26, 2011, Ozark Headwaters Group of the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street to hear presentation by Dr. Robert McAfree and Joanna Pollock on recent climate change talks in Durban, South Africa (Update from Durban) and about the role of eco-therapy and spending time outdoors in individuals' mental health and willingness to advocate on behalf of the environment.

Short takes on Cox 218 and AT&T channel 99 something for today through the weekend

2012-01-16T01:23:00.000-06:00

Highway Department burning trees to make way for widening of Crossover Road portion of Arkansas 265

2012-01-12T10:53:00.003-06:00

Cedar trees are the main host plant for many insects in the caterpillar stage.
The Juniper hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly found on prairies and in woodlands where cedar trees serve as host plants for their caterpillars.
The widening of Arkansas 265 will wipe out more wildlife habitat than efforts to protect and recreate urban wildlife habitat in Fayetteville can achieve in the next few years.

To see photos of the Great purple hairstreak, use this link. Great-purple hairstreaks' caterpillars depend on mistletoe growing high in many species of trees.

Sierra Club's Ozark Highlands Group meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. today at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street in Fayetteville

2012-01-10T10:03:00.002-06:00

Please click on image to enlarge view of pair of tree frogs on November 4, 2005.

Tree frogs seen in fall are hibernating by now

Greetings all!
I am looking forward to seeing all of you except Eric, who is leading an OUTING!, and Rob who just leads a terribly adventurous life in the pursuit of justice!
Great job everyone!
I reiterate Michele's sentiment that we are elated to have such fine people stepping up to work in the OHG Sierra Club. For OHG Sierra Club to be as effective as possible we must have more than just the roles on the ExComm filled. With all of you we have just what we need to have the promise of a thriving and effective organization for 2012!
See you tonight!
Joanna Pollock
OHG Sierra Club

Dear Sierrans,

The new OHG Executive Committee is as follows:

Eric Boles, Dawn Farver, Michele Halsell, Shannon Joyce, Rob Leflar, Mikel Lolly, Tom McKinney, Joanna Pollock, and Aubrey Shepherd.

I want to thank everyone who stood for election on this ballot. We had an incredible slate! In fact, more than one ballot included a note stating that it was a difficult choice and that it was truly an outstanding group of candidates. We couldn't go wrong no matter what the outcome.

The Executive Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 6:30 pm, at Nightbird Books, and I hope ALL of you will attend. We really need everyone's help as we put together our committees for 2012: Political, Conservation, Outings, Programs, Communication, Fund Raising, Sierra Student Coalition, etc. The success of the Ozark Headwaters Group depends on leadership for the various committees in addition to the ExComm leadership.

I hope to see everyone at Nightbird on Tuesday with the exception of Rob Leflar who is travelling abroad, and Eric Boles who is leading an ice-climbing trek. Let's make 2012 an outstanding year for the environment!

Cheers!

Michele Halsell

2012 meeting schedule with programs listed for Flower, Garden & Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas

2012-01-04T11:16:00.004-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

Clearwing moth on thistle World Peace Wetland Prairie 2011 by Aubrey James Shepherd

December 20, 2011, meeting of Fayetteville AR city council draws comment on several important local issues on a 3-hour, 37-minute video

2012-01-01T02:01:00.000-06:00

December 2011 meeting of Fayetteville's urban-forestry board includes discussion of destruction of small tree-preservation area on wet-prairie north of Holiday Inn Express

2011-12-23T22:57:00.000-06:00

Turk plant lawsuits may have been settled. Please link below

2011-12-22T18:21:00.000-06:00

Turk coal-fired electricity-generating plant's lawsuits may have been settled. See news story at this link.

Second take on shortake video shares photos and comments on wet-prairie destruction north of Fayetteville Holiday Inn Express, and Environmental Action Committee video covers list of diverse subjects, including the prairie-tree destruction near its end

2011-12-17T12:45:00.000-06:00

Please click on individual images beneath the video file to enlarge view of wet-prairie and tree-protection area slated to become construction site.

More than 100 photos of mounded wet prairie parcel proposed as site for convention center on north side of Holiday Inn Express available on Flickr near bottom of urban infill set. A sample of the photos appears below the meeting video. Discussion of the site occurs near the end of the meeting. A slide bar at the bottom of the video allows a person skip over discussion of other subjects.

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE.

View east shows tiny wooded-wetland tree-protection area on low corner of several acres of remnant of mounded wet prairie.

Mowing vegetation out of swale that carries water north to a creek unnecessary and harmful.

Healthy habitat important especially where it also protects watershed

Existing tree-protection area is best place for natural swale and sheet-flow surface water to soak in.

Ditch and pipe from existing Holiday Inn Express parking lot exemplies outmoded high-impact water management

Existing stormwater pipe causes erosion of big ditch that sends dangerous flow to swale along road toward creek, increasing erosion and flooding of downtream property.

Natural swale through wet prairie takes water to low, wooded wetland at NW corner of property

Arkansas Sierra Club's Ozark Highlands Group minutes of most recent meeting

2011-12-16T21:11:00.001-06:00

OHG ExCom Minutes, 11/16/2011

Present: Eric Boles, Johnnie Chamberlain, Art Evans, Dawn Farver, Michele Halsell, Olivia Hines, Shannon Joyce, John Kester, Rob Leflar, Tom McKinney, Tiffany Morrow, Joanna Pollock, Aubrey Shepherd

1. Michele opened the meeting at 7:10. Everyone introduced themselves.

2. Joanna & Michele reported on upcoming OHG events:

a. The OHG ExCom election is about to be held, ballots to go out this Dec. 1, ballots to be counted at the beginning of January. We have a full slate of candidates.

b. Alternative gift fair, Sunday, Dec. 4, St. Paul’s, 9 am – 4 pm.

c. Next membership meeting Dec. 6: Bryan Welch, author of Beautiful and Abundant, publisher and director of Mother Earth News, Utne Reader, . . . Venue: Fayetteville Public Library.

d. Dec. 8: Trip to Little Rock on Beyond Coal, transportation paid for by SC.

e. Beyond Coal campaign: Turk plant update, Clean Air Act sec. 126 petition to Fayetteville to address Texas coal fired power plant pollution drifting up to Arkansas.

3. Tom reported on the Chapter Conservation Committee conference call.

a. Remington Arms pollution of Bayou Meto; SC 60-day notice of lawsuit we’re planning to file against against ADEQ and EPA for not enforcing the law, with clear violations established.

b. Process of setting up the Chapter’s environmental priorities.

4. Michele explained PACE and REFIT programs in Arkansas. Joanna mentioned the possibility that municipalities can move first, under home rule principles. Some lawyer on the ExCom is supposed to be researching this for her.

5. Aubrey announced that Nat’l Wildlife Federation is trying to get 200 households into the Habitat Communities program in Fayetteville. If successful, Fayetteville will be the first community in Arkansas.

6. Michele moved and Dawn seconded that the ExCom authorize Joanna to be reimbursed for the following expenses:

a. $160 for Carlos Velasquez, speaker at last meeting at the Fayetteville Public Library

b. $35 FPL charge for the use of the Walker community room

c. $43 for printing flyers

The motion passed without dissent.

7. Next ExCom meeting: Jan. 10 (Tues), 6:30 pm, Nightbird. OHG officers will be elected at that meeting, and the 2012 year will be mapped out.

8. Adjourned at 8:10, after Aubrey took photos of the distinguished members.

Respectfully submitted,

Rob Leflar

Secretary

Park Board approves accepting money in lieu of land that will result in destruction of all habitat on Hollywood Prairie despite plea to preserve bit of wetland

2011-12-13T22:46:00.001-06:00

Pesticide rules from EPA

2011-12-12T23:42:00.002-06:00

A One-Hour TeleBriefing

EPA's Final NPDES Pesticide General Permit

December 14, 2011

12:00 pm Pacific / 3:00 pm Eastern

View the agenda here. Register now!

Mr. Shepherd:

After years of debate stemming from a 2009 court order, EPA has released a final general permit governing the use of pesticides in and near lakes, rivers, and other navigable waters. At least 365,000 pesticide applicators, including farmers, forestland owners, and public land managers, must now seek permit coverage. Approximately 10% of these entities can seek coverage under EPA's permit, with the rest reliant on state general or individual permits. Together, EPA estimates that the new permit requirements will more than double the total number of permittees under the Clean Water Act's (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.

In this one-hour TeleBriefing, our distinguished panel, representing both industry and regulatory perspectives, will address the practical implications of the new permitting requirement and discuss strategies for compliance.

Our Distinguished Panel:

Jeff B. Kray, Moderator, partner at Marten Law PLLC
Jack Faulk, NPDES Pesticides Permitting Team Leader for the US EPA
Douglas T. Nelson, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of CropLife America
Meline G. MacCurdy, of Marten Law PLLC

Registration

Tuition

$125 to dial in; $175 to dial in and receive continuing education credit; $50 for each additional person on the same line who wishes to receive credit

Intended Audience

Attorneys, industry executives, government officials, agricultural professionals, and environmental advocates.

Available Credits

This TeleBriefing qualifies for 1.0 Washington CLE credit. For CLE credits in other states:

We will apply for credits in the following states: AK, AL, AZ, AR, BC, CA, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY You can self-apply for credits in: CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NJ, and OK. CLE credits currently are not available in: DE or OH.

If you need other types of credits, please call (800) 854-8009.

No longer interested in receiving email announcements? Is this topic not of interest? Or, is just one announcement per program enough? You can safely tell us by replying to this email. You also can give us a quick call at (800) 854-8009 or click here:

Which watershed-protection rule violation would actually result in a criminal penalty if witnessed by proper authorities?

2011-12-12T14:21:00.005-06:00

Would it be picking up litter from the street and tossing it into a storm drain (second photo) that leads to Tanglewood Branch (photos 1, 3 and 4) and eventually into the area's major water supply, Beaver Lake, or tracking mud from a construction site onto a city street (lower photo) to be washed by coming rain into Spout Spring Branch and eventually into Beaver Lake?

Tanglewood Branch above and Spout Spring Branch watershed below.

Small lot's water-absorbing soil being dug out and hauled away and red dirt being spread for construction in Spout Spring Branch watershed above and below

Second truck backs onto lot to dump large chunks of limestone to protect street from muddy silt a few weeks too late.

After dumping load, previous construction truck pulls onto South Street headed west

Florida county battling water pollution from fertilizer mindlessly spread on lawns

2011-12-08T22:57:00.000-06:00

Palm Beach County proposes fertilizer rules aimed at reducing water pollution

Sierra Club says county should opt for even tougher fertilizer cutbacks

By Andy Reid, Sun Sentinel

7:34 p.m. EST, November 22, 2011

Palm Beach County's lush green lawns can come with damaging environmental costs.
Fertilizer washing off lawns after rainstorms pollutes waterways, leading to water-quality problems, fish kills and damage to ocean reefs.
To improve water quality, the county proposes new rules targeting the companies homeowners hire to tend to the sod that blankets neighborhoods.

That could require new training for landscapers who also would face fines if they don't follow tougher environmental standards for applying fertilizer and caring for yards.

"It's a major education process to protect our water bodies, to protect Florida's fragile water systems," said Audrey Norman, director of the county Cooperative Extension Service.
The county's move follows a statewide requirement to have tougher fertilizer rules in place by 2014.
But the county and the state should go further to limit the damaging effects of fertilizer runoff, according to the Sierra Club.
The environmental group proposes a ban on fertilizing during Florida's rainy season as well a limit on the types of fertilizer that can be sold to the public.
"When you apply fertilizer in the rainy season, it just runs right off," said Drew Martin of the Sierra Club. "If we lose our reefs, we are going to lose our nursery for our fish."
Fertilizer pollution dumps elevated levels of nutrients – primarily nitrogen and phosphorus – into canals, rivers, lakes and estuaries.
Those increased nutrient levels fuel algae blooms and other problems with water clarity and quality that can lead to massive fish kills and also kill off sea grasses and reefs that provide vital marine habitat.
Palm Beach County proposes new restrictions on companies that apply fertilizer to lawns and other landscaping.
Those companies would have to be certified by the county in techniques for applying fertilizer and landscaping in ways that reduce the runoff of pollutants into local waters, and would be prohibited from blowing yard clippings into sewage drains, for example.
Violators could face maximum fines $1,000 fines per violation initially and up to $5,000 for repeat offenders.
These rules would apply to areas outside city limits, but cities also are required to approve fertilizer rules by 2014.
Landscape and nursery industry representatives contend it goes too far to impose bans on fertilizing during certain times of year or limits on the types of fertilizer that can be sold.
The focus should be on educating the public to fertilize in moderation and giving professional landscapers the flexibility to apply fertilizer as needed, said Jim Spratt of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.
"It's shortsighted to say, 'Thou shalt not supply any fertilizer for four months,' " Spratt said. "You can have healthy green lawns and healthy landscapes and still have good water quality."
Fertilizer runoff – whether from sugar cane farms or suburban lawns – plagues South Florida water bodies from the Everglades to the coast.
Reducing polluted runoff through Palm Beach County's proposed rule is much more effective than trying to clean up polluted water bodies, said Rob Robbins, new head of the county's Environmental Resources Management Department.
abreid@tribune.com, 561-228-5504 or Twitter@abreidnews

fl-fertilizer-crackdown-palm-20111122

Joe Neal previews 'In the Province of Birds at 7 p.m. December 9, 2011, at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street in Fayetteville AR

2011-12-05T11:05:00.003-06:00

Hi Aubrey -- just wanted to let you know that Half Acre Press has a new book out from Joe Neal, In the Province of Birds, in case you'd like to mention it on your blog. There will be a booksigning and slideshow/bird talk by Joe at Nightbird Books on Friday, December 9 at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!

Thanks,
Liz

---------------------------------------------------
Liz Lester
479-236-0992
Liz Lester Design
lizlesterdesign@yahoo.com
www.lizlesterdesign.com

Half Acre Press
liz@halfacrepress.com

Please click on image to ENLARGE.

Nature photos on next week's video include frost flowers from this week and last year

2011-12-02T23:47:00.002-06:00

Please click on image to ENLARGE for easy reading.

Late Bloomers Garden Club meeting at 10 a.m. Nov. 28, 2011,

2011-11-27T10:48:00.013-06:00

For a sample of photos shown at Late Bloomers' meeting, please see this flickr link.

A.	Lost Bridge Village Community Association 12477 Lodge Drive Garfield, AR 72732-9758 (479) 359-3204

Show on Google Maps

Late Bloomers Garden Club, Monday, November 28, at 10:00 A.M.

Aubrey James Shepherd will be our speaker at the November 28 meeting.

Aubrey is going to show us how to submit individual applications to the National Wildlife Federation in order to have our yards or property certified as a wildlife habitat.

Aubrey will bring samples of his photographs.
Aubrey has said, “When I focus my camera on a tiny creature I can see, my photos often reveal creatures I never actually saw and sometimes the even smaller creatures they are eating, driving me to books such as 'Bringing Nature Home' to try to find out what I am seeing. And the Internet offers more information in an hour than I can find in a library in a day.”

Don’t miss this presentation by Mr. Shepherd! We’ve attached photographs of the N.W.F. “Certified Wildlife Habitat” yard signs which you may be interested in ordering from N.W.F. after your yard or property is certified. Mr. Shepherd does not represent the N.W.F., their programs, or their products.

Don't forget, November is our seed/plant exchange. Bring any seeds or plants you would like to share with other members. Also, please bring canned goods for Gods Pantry. At this meeting we'll also have a sign-up sheet for our Christmas Lunch.
Our Hostesses for the November meeting are Nancy Riedesel and Roxie Geddie. Our Author is Lyn Kennedy. Hope to see you then!!
Anita, Patti, Lyn and Diane

Whitney Mountain Lodge google map at this link.

Please click on text in image form below to ENLARGE driving directions to Lost Bridge Village Association Building meeting room near the Whitney Lodge building.

2011 – 2012

Late Bloomers Garden Club

Programs

2011

September 26 – 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC* - “Hard Scape Using Rock Design to Collect and Conserve Water” by Lawn Care and Irrigation Specialist -- Reggie Murray, U of A grad, and Tom Bellach, from Bradford Nursery and Landscape Architect. [L]

October 24 – 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC – “LakeSmart and Evaluating Your Home and Property for Potential Pollution Risks” by Jane Maginot [P]

November 28 – 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC – “Creating Wildlife Gardens in Our Yards, Certify Your Wildlife Garden with a National Wildlife Federation Certification” by Aubrey James Shepherd. [A] [CWH Sign Order Form]

December 12 – 11:00 Noon - Luncheon at Fred’s Hickory Inn Restaurant, 1502 N. Walton Blvd., Bentonville, and Dirty Santa Exchange

2012

January 23 – 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC – “Friendly and Non-Friendly Insects of NW Arkansas” by Dr. Dayton Steelman. [A]

February 27 – 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC – “Backyard Birds” by Joe Neal [P]

March 26 - 10:00 a.m. at LBVCC – “Ozark Forest 101 – Ozark Trees and Their History” by Dr. Fred Paillet, a tree expert. [A]

April 23 – 11:00 a.m. - Presentation (and walking the trails) by Scott Eccleston, Director of Trails, Crystal Bridges plus box lunch at 12:30 noon in the Crystal Bridges Museum Restaurant, followed by time to visit the art museum if you like. [A]

May 14 – Pot Luck Luncheon

*LBVCC – Lost Bridge Village Community Center

Fayetteville Planning Commission reviews plans for projects that will affect Beaver Lake watershed and hears public comment on related issues

2011-11-23T09:54:00.000-06:00

Flower, Garden and Nature Society to hear presentation by Steve Sampers, president of Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists

2011-11-19T01:06:00.002-06:00

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE for better view of Heirloom Italian arugala (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) with two individuals from different flower fly species nectaring and for easier reading of meeting announcement.

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of two species of flower fly nectaring on Diplototaxis tenuifolia, an heirloom variety of Arugala.

OHG SIERRA MINUTES FOR NOV. 16, 2011

2011-11-18T01:15:00.000-06:00

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