Environment
Historical category no longer used.
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I wrote at length in 2020 about Pattison Sand wanting to mine the Jordan Aquifer and ship the water out west. They persist in needing water, and Iowa DNR sent me this email about their current permit request on Tuesday. You are receiving this email because you previously expressed interest in or commented on Pattison… Read more
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Supporting the environment has changed since the first Earth Day. Then the president was aware of public support for protecting the environment and took concrete action. Now, the president couldn’t give two hoots in a holler about it, as evidenced by his support for copper mining in the Boundary Waters. Times have changed, even as… Read more
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Pelicans have been on the lake for a few weeks now. For the moment, they gather overnight on the east end, a loose white raft in the shallows, then lift off just before dawn to find better fishing. In time, they will move on, continuing north. It is another sign that, despite the odd turns… Read more
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Things are happening in Big Grove Township. Songbirds are migrating, the ice cover on the lake is melting, and parts of the ground are thawing. Ambient temperatures hit 68 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday — it was shirt sleeves weather. Due to high winds and combustible material everywhere, the National Weather Service issued a special weather… Read more
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The sound of geese chatting and flapping their wings dominates the pre-dawn hour on the state park trail. Such vocalization and display on Jan. 15, can only mean one thing: the climate crisis has come home to roost. There is the science of weather. La Niña is present but fading into a neutral state of… Read more
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There is a lot of chatter in the national news media about the price of electricity. We are apparently in a war with China over dominance in artificial intelligence, which requires a lot of electricity. National Public Radio reported, “Electricity prices are climbing more than twice as fast as inflation.” We don’t hear that so… Read more
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When I visited the Iowa legislature, one of the people I sought was Rep. Chuck Isenhart from Dubuque. Almost every bill regarding conservation, climate change, renewable energy, and water quality involved him in some way. We were sad to see him lose his last election. Since then, Isenhart has been staying active including writing about… Read more
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There is a lot going on this summer. Here are some snapshots from my activities. Read more
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My words can’t compete with the beauty of a hike along the state park trail. Read more
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Here are some of the best shots from the first days of summer 2025: Read more
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