Selection 24

Selection 24 Restoring Rivers, Margaret A. Palmer and J. David Allen

With the miss use of water, the bodies of water in the U.S are now heading back to 1970’s levels of pollution. Draining of water ways has also caused some rivers to diminish, and not make it to the ocean causing problems for areas surrounding these water ways.

With the destruction of the wetlands in the bottom half of the states, flood protection is at an all time low. It is also killing species living in these marine ecosystems, as they are polluted to the point where nothing can survive, called dead zones.

Restoration is vital to protecting both human and natural ecosystems along these water ways. Already underway are things like protecting land, river banks and waterways.

Human activity is at blame for the deterioration of the water ways in the U.S. In the past they were used to “Carry the waste away,”[1] and used to produce electricity by erecting massive dams. But this led to the loss of diversity downstream, and added pollution to the water.

Rivers continue to get more polluted today as regulation of the waterways is minimal. Even with rules like the Clean Water Act of 1972, polluting still occurs.

By altering the natural landscape with buildings and streets, rain water no longer has a chance of replenishing the ground water. Some places are seeing increases in floods and droughts as a result.

The U.S has put in regulations around pollution in water ways that reduce agriculture practices surrounding them. They also manage riparian zones; these zones clean runoff water before entering the river or water way, and help protect against flooding.

The fact is restoration projects in the U.S for cleaner water ways are well over 1 billion annually and is not preventing enough destruction. With little to no policy in these restoration projects the lack of knowledge prevents them from succeeding.

To do list for the U.S and other damaged water way restoration projects.

· Governments coordination, to promote the right type of restoration.

· Make national standards as guidelines.

· Tracking progress among projects

Basically we have to start thinking about the health of the river before doing business on or near the river. To promote a set of guidelines that protects and measures improvements in the river.

There are no such records today of past efforts made for or against the health of the river, so we cannot really learn from the past.

More government, districts, and companies are turning to restoring the health of the river, because it will benefit their areas, yet they have a hard time of cataloguing the actions and results. Things like GIS are needed to make restoring river banks more easily accessible when it comes to what works where.

Scientific certainty should be taken into account when looking at whether or not these restoration actions are actually helping the environment and doing what they’re suppose to do.

More efficient use of the resources going into river restoration, more accurate documentation, and more areas coming together in the effort to clean the rivers will be what is needed if our water ways are to be healthy again.

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[1] Environmental Studies, Thomas Easton (selection 24, Palmer &Allen)

Carl Honore praises slowness.

after watching it i pulled a few key things i think are important.

Humanity is moving to fast today, where even simple things like yoga, meant to be slow and relaxing, is now hurried along. Even sex is faster today, the term "quickie" that even something meant to be passionate and relaxing, is now spread up to fit our busy schedule. We think that faster is better, but others oppose that. The slow movement is one, where they believe you need to slow down, and sort of connect with nature, family and peace.

I find myself in the same situation, finding myself always doing something, either homework, studying for tests, work....it just seems to keep piling up, with no end in sight. I have now started to relax when i can, go outside more often....just to have some time for familly, friends, and myself.

Here is the video if you would like to learn more about it.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/carl_honore_praises_slowness.html