MIG’s Post

The Pelican River Watershed District is working with Moore Engineering to modify the Buck’s Mill Dam in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. This project will include the addition of a natural-looking spillway to: ✅ Enhance the Pelican River ecosystem ✅ Improve fish passage and support lake sturgeon restoration ✅ Address safety and public access concerns ✅ Preserve seasonal water levels As part of Minnesota DNR’s Reconnect the Red initiative, the Get Out MORE campaign, and the Minnesota OHF Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, these updates will benefit both the environment and the community. Explore the history, location, and plans for the Buck’s Mill Dam Modification by watching our new video or visiting the project website at https://bit.ly/4iYGC3a

🚧 Progress is in full swing at the National Western Center!  Wilson & Company is rounding up their work on infrastructure improvements, paving the way for a more connected and sustainable campus. From upgraded drainage systems to enhanced roadways and public spaces, their efforts are helping to transform the historic site into a vibrant hub for innovation, agriculture, and community events. Read more about their contributions and the exciting developments taking shape: https://lnkd.in/gNdF4kbN

If you have lived in North Texas during the past couple of summers, you know we are almost always in some phase of water use restrictions. Hopefully, a new source or even two will help as the Metroplex area continues to grow. I think the next step is going to be promoting more drought resistant yard & landscape planting. AUSTIN – (July 23, 2024) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $320,845,000 in multi-year Board Participation financing from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)* program to the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (Fannin, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Grayson, Hunt, and Wise counties). The District will use the assistance for the construction of a water supply project. Due to an escalation in construction costs, the District requested additional funds to continue construction of Lake Ralph Hall reservoir in Fannin County. The reservoir will provide a firm yield of approximately 39,205 acre-feet and up to an additional 21,283 acre-feet of indirect reuse to meet projected water demands. The TWDB has previously committed $513,580,000 to the project.

🌊 In honor of National River Month and World Environment Day, we're thrilled to spotlight Pennichuck's Merrimack River Intake Project!  🌍As part of our commitment to resilience, we installed a 48” diameter Steel Pipe, stretching a remarkable 215 feet into the river's depths, and a 20 foot long, 48” diameter stainless steel screened intake system. 🔧The intake screen is maintained utilizing a 1500-gallon airburst system. 💧 Amidst the ebb and flow of construction, our existing intake station continued to be operational, providing uninterrupted service to our community. 🌟Through dedication and innovation, this project wasn't just about pipes and screens—it was about securing a year-round second source of raw water, allowing us to withdraw up to our permitted allowance of 30 MGD. 🌊 Our team overcame challenges of fluctuating river flows and unpredictable conditions due to the significant rainfall events that occurred. 🌍In the end, the Merrimack River Intake Project isn't just a feat of engineering—it's a testament to our commitment to resiliency, and a promise to safeguard our water resources for generations to come. 🌱 Together, let's celebrate National River Month and World Environment Day, as we continue to chart a course towards a brighter, more sustainable future. #MerrimackRiverProject #SustainableFuture #CommunityStewardship #NationalRiverMonth #WorldEnvironmentDay #Pennichuck #PennichuckWater

Tenacious Tree in Sheffield City 🌳 Back in 2017, a London Plane tree just outside our AWA Tree Consultants Limited office was damaged by a storm, snapping at a weak fork. The council’s contractors had to fell the tree, and later that year, they planted a replacement Plane tree next to the stump. Since then, we’ve watched from our office window as the felled tree began re-growing from the stump, creating a vigorous coppice right beside the planted replacement. We’ve quietly cheered on this tenacious regrowth, and now it’s catching up to the height of the replacement tree. If it’s allowed to keep growing, it may even surpass its neighbour soon. Observing this natural resilience has made us consider how coppicing might become a more widely used strategy for urban tree management. The standard approach to tree removal generally involves felling, grinding or treating stumps, followed by replanting. However, leaving a coppice stump to re-grow could be a simple, sustainable option with multiple benefits, and shouldn’t be overlooked as a management option. 

The MWRD and the Forest Preserves of Cook County are partnering on a feasibility study in southeast Cook County for a collaborative project to provide flood relief, restore the local ecology and create new outdoor recreational opportunities for neighboring communities. “We are excited to launch the Deer Creek-Third Creek Reservoir feasibility study with our partners at the Forest Preserves of Cook County to promote resilience and the beauty of the Southland,” said MWRD President Commissioner Kari Steele. “We look forward to evaluating a project of this magnitude that can potentially mitigate flooding and yield multiple benefits.” This 20-month study will assess the potential for the MWRD and the Forest Preserves to coordinate and share costs for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of a Deer Creek-Third Creek Reservoir. If feasible, the system would provide naturalized stormwater storage for flood-prone communities in nearby Glenwood, Ford Heights, Lansing, Thornton, South Holland, Calumet City, Dolton and unincorporated areas. MWRD.org/News: https://lnkd.in/deXH-ivM #MWRD #CookCounty #Glenwood #FordHeights #Lansing #Thornton #SouthHolland #CalumetCity #Dolton #StormwaterManagement

Big trees + blue paint = pending timber sale. A century of fire suppression in the Southern Appalachians, along with some well-intentioned reforestation in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, has resulted in an overabundance of Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine) on sites that should be anything but. A group of us were in the field today, discussing how to engage state and private partnerships to cut the white pines, kill most of the non mast-producing hardwood sprouts, do site prep burns, and plant shortleaf pine, which should steer this area back within the natural range of historic variation - less an elk here, mountain lion and woods bison there, of course.

Can proactive pavement preservation really impact your reserve funding? Lone Mountain’s story says yes. Last week I posted about how cheap surface treatments may actually cost you more money in the long run. Today I wanted to share a success story demonstrating how utilizing HA5 impacts your HOA's bottom line. That's where the Lone Mountain community in Cave Creek, Arizona comes in. They were facing a common issue—how to maintain their roads without draining their budget. By adopting HA5 High Density Mineral Bond as part of their proactive pavement preservation strategy, they were able toextend the life of their roads and increase their reserve funding from 70% to 100%. This isn’t just about keeping the roads in good condition—it’s about smart financial management. By making the right investments in pavement preservation today, Lone Mountain saved thousands of dollars in long-term repair costs, allowing them to build a stronger financial foundation for their community. Want to hear how they did it? Check out the full story in our video. https://lnkd.in/gMWAE7Sw #pavementpreservation #roads #HOAmanagement #asphalt #reservefunding #arizona

There have been many posts regarding fire resistance with plantings and building materilas in reference to how it may have helped spreading of the LA fires. It is odd o me that some see this as NEW ideas and tout as such. This is not new. It has been proven that native plants are more resistant to fire as they have adapted to it as a natural part of the California patterns of natural processes> California is mostly coastal scrub and desert. By introducing non native plants that require added amounts of water to survive one is creating a layer of fuel that isn’t resistant to fire as it hasn’t adapted to the natural cycles. Following the fires in San Diego in 2006(?) a great effort was put into touting the use of fire resistant plants and eliminating fuel zones around homes as well as building with fire resistant materials. We have short memories though, and the process wasn’t adapted to more densely populated areas. Granted much of what burned was older established neighborhoods and I am not touting that ther was an easy way to rehabilitate structures to deter fire but. Native plants introductions along with fire resistant roofs could have helped.

Quidnessett Country Club's illegally built wall has been up for over 400 days since a cease and desist order was presented to the country club on August 28, 2023. CRMC staff have recommended denying Quidnessett’s petition to change the water type classification, a move that, if approved, could allow the illegally built wall to stand. We side with the coastal scientists and engineers who make the following arguments about the detrimental effects of a structural wall in the area: -The shoreline area in the proposal is particularly unsuitable for structures due to the area’s exposure to severe wave action and erosion, which could potentially lead to further erosion and loss of coastal beach and lateral access beyond the area of proposed reclassification. -The long-term resiliency of the coastal wetland and tidal marsh will be reduced, accelerating habitat loss, including for the state-endangered and protected diamondback terrapin. Read Save The Bay's Comment Letter to CRMC: https://lnkd.in/egeFq79F