Algae bloom in Lake Superior raises tourism concerns

Scientists collecting samples of the algae. Lake Superior is one of several major bodies of water where algae blooms have drawn scientific scrutiny.CreditCreditBrenda Moraska Lafrancois
Christine Hauser reports for the New York Times: In 19 years of piloting his boat around Lake Superior, Jody Estain had never observed the water change as it has this summer. The lake has been unusually balmy and cloudy, with thick mats of algae blanketing the shoreline.

“I have never seen it that warm,” said Mr. Estain, a former Coast Guard member who guides fishing, cave and kayak tours year-round. “Everybody was talking about it.”

But it was not just recreational observers along the shores of the lake who noticed the changes with concern. Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes with more than 2,700 miles of shoreline, is the latest body of water to come under increased scrutiny by scientists after the appearance this summer of the largest mass of green, oozing algae ever detected on the lake.

From the Gulf Coast to the northernmost shores of the United States, scientists and government officials are working to decipher algae blooms to help them interpret the causes of the blooms, changes to their climates, and the effects the blooms have on public health and regional environments.


Scientists generally agree that algae blooms are getting worse and more widespread, and are exacerbated by the warmer water, heat waves and extreme weather associated with climate change. They are also intensified by human activity, such as from farm and phosphorus runoff, leakage from sewer systems, and other pollution.
The problems that algae blooms pose to fresh and marine waters have been propelled to the forefront in recent years by high-profile events like the shutdown of the water supply in Toledo, Ohio, in 2014 after toxic algae formed over the city’s water-intake pipe in Lake Erie, as well as the production of a toxin by a species of algae off the West Coast in 2015.
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More recently, in the waters off southwestern Florida, a toxic algal bloom known as a red tide persisted this year for more than nine months, the longest time period since 2006. The overgrowth killed wildlife and made some beaches noxious.
Other areas, including the Finger Lakes in New York and Utah Lake south of Salt Lake City, have also experienced an unusually high number of blooms in recent years.
This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s laboratory for environmental research on the Great Lakes warned that some parts of Lake Erie were not fit for recreational activities because of an algal bloom.

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NYDEC announces record-breaking fishing in Lake Ontario

Survey Reveals Catch Rates of Chinook Salmon Double
the Five-Year Average during Spring and Early Summer 2018


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that fishing for trout and salmon in Lake Ontario has set records this year, with veteran anglers reporting some of the best fishing in decades.

“The New York waters of Lake Ontario provide a world-famous recreational fishery for trout and salmon, and fishing has been exceptional this summer,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Preliminary results from the Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey indicate that fishing for Chinook salmon has been outstanding along the entire New York shoreline.”

Fishing success is measured by “catch rate,” which is the number of fish caught per boat trip. The catch rate for Chinook salmon during April to June 2018 set a record that was 227 percent above the previous five-year average. The catch rate for all trout and salmon species combined also surpassed the previous record high, more than 37 percent above the previous five-year average.

Fishing for brown trout and Coho salmon has also been excellent in 2018, with catch rates 38 and 21 percent higher than their respective, previous five-year averages. Atlantic salmon represent a relatively small portion of the Lake Ontario fishery but catch rates for Atlantic salmon were 73 percent above the previous five-year average.

Like this? Click to receive free updatesChuck Parker, President of the New York State Conservation Council (NYSCC), said, “This is the second year in a row that the take of Chinook has been above average at Oswego, as reported by Council members. There are so many variables that can and do affect the quality of the fishing opportunities we have. We at the NYSCC recognize that the science-based management practices of the DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries are an integral force in sustaining the New York’s world-class Lake Ontario fishery.”

Captain Vince Pierleoni, of Olcott, said, “It’s the best Chinook fishing I’ve seen since 1989.”
Captain Bob Songin, of Pt. Breeze, said, “The fishing out of Wilson Harbor to the Niagara River has been spectacular, with many Chinook and Coho salmon hitting as well as the occasional lake trout mixed in.”


Fishing for Chinook salmon and brown trout has also been great in Eastern Lake Ontario with large numbers of fish caught all along the shoreline. Oswego produced a 28.1-pound Chinook salmon that won the grand prize in the Spring Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Trout and Salmon Derby.


Lake Ontario is consistently ranked among the top fishing destinations in the country by national publications. Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries comprise more than 2.7 million acres and support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout, salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch, and panfish.


A recent statewide angler survey estimated that more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million annually to local economies.


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Trump power plan can’t save coal from market forces



















Utilities with aging power plants are asking: Do I upgrade and retrofit or do I retire and replace? “When the price of natural gas is as low as it’s been, and for the foreseeable future looks to be very low, that decision becomes very easy,” said analyst Kenneth Medlock III. Credit: Volker Hartmann/Getty Images

The U.S. is on course for more coal plant closings as utilities shift to cheaper renewables and natural gas. Analysts say the administration can do little about it.

Dan Gearino reports for Inside Climate News:

The Trump administration’s proposal for rolling back federal power plant regulations could affect the short-term fate of some plants, but utility companies appear likely to maintain their long-term course in a market where coal power can no longer compete with natural gas and renewables.
And even if the Trump proposal—which only addresses existing power plants—is made final after a period of public comments, it will still face legal challenges from states and environmental groups. It is unlikely to go into force until well after 2020.
Energy analysts say the administration and coal interests can do little to change the industry’s trajectory.
The market points inexorably toward continued closing of coal plants in favor of renewables and natural gas. Gyrations in U.S. energy policy are making companies less likely to make investment decisions that assume the latest policy will endure. And some big states, especially California and the Northeastern states, are moving in the opposite direction from Trump with cap and trade carbon regulations on all power plants or laws demanding a steady shift to renewables.
And even if the Trump proposal—which only addresses existing power plants—is made final after a period of public comments, it will still face legal challenges from states and environmental groups. It is unlikely to go into force until well after 2020.

Here’s What Utilities Are Saying

Where utilities come down on the Trump administration’s “Affordable Clean Energy plan,” proposed last week as a replacement for the Clean Power Plan, depends largely on how much they rely on coal.
On one side are those like Pacific Gas & Electric, which has no coal-fired power plants. It was one of 10 utility companies that had argued for retaining the Clean Power Plan in a case before U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that’s currently on hold.
“We are disappointed by the EPA’s proposal, and will continue to advocate for decarbonizing the U.S. economy through public policy that recognizes the changing dynamics of the electric power sector, including new sources of low-carbon energy,” PG&E spokesman James Noonan said in an email. He said the Clean Power Plan “achieved a thoughtful, balanced approach that gave companies and states considerable flexibility on how best to pursue that goal.”
Dean Seavers, president of National Grid U.S., which also supported the Clean Power Plan in court, said in a statement: “National Grid believes significant and urgent action is needed to combat climate change and has long supported reasonable decarbonization policies and strategies—including the Clean Power Plan and the Paris climate accord.”
“As one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, the impacts of climate change are central to our business and infrastructure planning,” Seavers said. “We view this matter as one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Among companies that wanted to see the Obama-era plan repealed or revised, the statements have been much more subdued in tone.

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Exxon challenges NY to ‘put up or shut up’ in climate case

exxon mobil

 Bloomberg News reports:
Exxon Mobil Corp. told a judge that New York’s attorney general should either sue the company for misleading investors about the financial impact of climate change, or close its probe and move on.
“They should put up or shut up,” Exxon’s lawyer, Theodore Wells, said at a hearing Wednesday in New York state court in Manhattan. “We are ready to confront any complaint.”


The remark was part of a heated exchange between lawyers for Exxon and New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood about the production of internal corporate documents sought by the state, pertaining to a variety of exploration and chemical projects.

New York argues there’s evidence that Exxon for years used two sets of numbers — one public, one private — to calculate the future financial impact of climate change, with investors given the rosier figures.


This cannot go on interminably,” Justice Barry Ostrager told the attorney general’s lawyers at the start of the hearing. “You’ve been investigating for two years, so either you’re going to file a case, or you’re not going to file a case.”

“We are coming to an end in our investigation,” Manisha Sheth, a top lawyer for Underwood’s office, responded. Underwood’s office has repeatedly argued that Exxon’s tactics have delayed the probe.

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Ostrager ordered Exxon to turn over as many as 14 cash-flow spreadsheets detailing the finances of various global projects as well as any documents the company turned over to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of a related investigation, but that haven’t already been given to New York.

There’s “smoking gun” evidence, Sheth said, that justifies the continued digging for Exxon documents before a decision is made on whether to sue. She said there’s evidence suggesting former Exxon Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson was aware of the discrepancy in the so-called proxy cost numbers, and that he “seemed happy” with it.

The Irving, Texas-based company has long argued the case was politically motivated, having been coordinated behind the scenes with other Democratic-led states and environmental groups hostile to Exxon. Wells made that point again Wednesday.

“They brought this case for political reasons and now they’re backed into a corner,” he said.

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Largest Artificial Reef Expansion in New York State History

Expansion of State’s Network of Artificial Reefs Will Provide
New Marine Habitats, Promote Biodiversity and Restore Fishery Resources


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the deployment of materials to create a new marine habitat at Moriches Reef as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to develop a stronger, more diverse marine ecosystem and provide shelter for fish and other marine life off New York’s shores.


Moriches Reef is a 14-acre site located in the Atlantic Ocean 2.4 nautical miles south of Moriches Inlet.


Through the largest artificial reef expansion in state history, this milestone supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s efforts to bolster Long Island’s tourism and fishing industries.


DEC Commissioner Seggos said, “Long Island’s coastal communities, anglers, and our natural environment all stand to benefit from Governor Cuomo’s work to expand New York’s network of artificial reefs. This innovative initiative benefits fish and fishermen and women alike, recognizing that our environment and economy can both thrive and work together toward a common goal.”


As directed by Governor Cuomo in April, and with unprecedented, multi-agency coordination, recycled materials from the State Department of Transportation, Canal Corporation, and the Thruway Authority are being put to new use and helping to develop New York’s artificial reef sites, including Moriches Reef. Materials deployed today on the Moriches Reef include concrete and steel material being recycled from demolition of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The deployment marked a significant milestone as part of the state’s historic artificial reef expansion initiative.


Construction of New York’s first artificial reef dates back to 1949, and the Governor’s expansion initiative is the state’s first coordinated effort to stimulate the full environmental and economic benefits of artificial reefs.


The artificial reef expansion will increase the variety of reef habitat on this site, expand the biodiversity of fish and crustacea, promote environmental sustainability, and boost Long Island’s recreational fishing, sport fishing, and diving industries.


DEC manages the state’s 12 artificial reefs, which include two reefs in Long Island Sound, two in the Great South Bay, and eight in the Atlantic Ocean.


In May, the Governor announced the inaugural deployment at Shinnecock Reef,which included recycled materials from the Tappan Zee Bridge project, DOT, and Canal Corporation. State agencies began deploying barges of Tappan Zee Bridge recycled materials and decommissioned vessels that have been cleaned of contaminants. Earlier in July, deployments were made at Smithtown and Rockaway reefs and deployments were made on Hempstead Reef in early August. Fire island Reef is also expected to receive material this summer.


The deployment of materials at Moriches reef will enhance the aquatic ecosystem along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, provide new habitats for marine life, and expand recreational fishing and diving opportunities for generations of New Yorkers.


Materials used for the reef expansion are being strategically placed and are built out of hard, durable structures such as rock, concrete, and steel, and usually in the form of surplus or scrap materials that are cleaned of contaminants before being recycled on the reef sites. Once materials settle to the sea floor, larger fish like blackfish, black seabass, cod, and summer flounder, move in to utilize the habitat, and encrusting organisms such as barnacles, sponges, anemones, corals, and mussels cling to and cover the material. Over time, these recycled structures will become habitat similar to a natural reef.




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New York’s marine resources are critical to the state’s economy, supporting nearly 350,000 jobs and generating billions of dollars through tourism, fishing and other industries. More than 500,000 anglers in the region will reap the benefits of the Governor’s initiative, supporting the region’s growing marine economy which accounts for approximately 9.7 percent of Long Island’s total GDP.


Artificial reef construction is part of Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, an effort to improve recreational activities for in-state and out-of-state sportsmen and sportswomen and to boost tourism opportunities throughout the state. Visit DEC’s website for more information about the Artificial Reef Program.


The Governor’s Artificial Reef initiative builds on the state’s record $300 million Environmental Protection Fund investment, $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act, more than $2 million to NY Sea Grant to support the Ocean Action Plan Research Fund, and actions to ban offshore drilling along New York’s coastline.


A map, site coordinates and additional information on New York State’s Artificial Reefs (PDF, 914 KB) are available to plan trips to a New York State reef site. Before visiting one of New York’s artificial reefs, please be familiar with the current NYS Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations.View DEC’s artificial reef building video on YouTube and learn more about our volunteer observation program.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html

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NRDC, others sue Newark over lack of action on lead pipes

Lead corrosion in water pipes




























An environmental group suing the city of Newark over alleged systemic violations of clean water rules wants to force the city to take immediate measures while the lawsuit proceeds.


David Porter reports for the Associated Press:

An environmental group suing the city of Newark over alleged systemic violations of clean water rules filed a motion Friday to force the city to take immediate measures while the lawsuit proceeds.
In a filing in federal court, the Natural Resources Defense Council asked a judge to order the city to provide alternate water supplies for vulnerable residents and provide free testing for all residents, conduct a public awareness campaign and “establish drinking water resource centers, where residents may pick up water bottles, filters, and drinking water testing kits, and may drop off completed testing kits for lab analysis.”
The NRDC and the Newark Education Workers Caucus, an association of educators who work in the city, sued in June alleging the city hasn’t adequately monitored and tested a water system it said contains “dangerously high” levels of lead.
The lawsuit contends Newark has minimized the problem by telling residents the water is safe to drink and that the problem is confined to a limited number of homes with private service lines, the suit alleges.
Prolonged exposure in children to low levels of lead has been linked to nervous system damage, learning disabilities and impaired formation of blood cells
At the time the lawsuit was filed, the city called the allegations “outrageously false” and said the water complies with state and federal regulations. In response to Friday’s motion for a preliminary injunction, Andrea Adebowale, Newark’s director of water and sewer utilities, said in an email that excessive lead levels are caused by privately owned lead service lines, which are the responsibility of homeowners.
Adebowale added that Newark “is already implementing a plan to help property owners replace the approximately 15,000 lead service lines in the city at an estimated cost of $75 million,” aided by funding from the state.
“Contrary to the false allegations of the NRDC, the city has conducted an extensive public information campaign to inform residents of the lead service line problem,” Adebowale wrote.

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