GIS in Bay County, Nature Films in Midland, Clean Communities in the Great Lakes

April 2, 2016 — jeffkart

For Friday, April 1, 2016. No Foolin’.


…

1 – A new Geographic Information System is online for Bay County.

Bay County and Bay City government have spent almost a year on the project.

The new Geographic Information System, or GIS, Web viewer is a computerized mapping system. 

It contains a large database of information on items like water well locations, flood plain boundaries, soils, and wetlands.

The new online resource is a valuable tool, says Bay County Executive Tom Hickner.

It can be used by citizens as well as government agencies like the Bay County Road Commission, and businesses.

 

 

2 – The Chippewa Nature Center of Midland is hosting a stop on the world tour of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

banff-mountain-film-festival-midland.jpg

Via the Chippewa Nature Center

The festival will be stopping at the Bullock Creek Auditorium in Midland on Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9. The tour features a series of nature-themed films from around the globe.

Screenings include a special edit of “Chasing Niagara,” about a pro kayaker who decides to paddle over Niagara Falls.

Festival sponsors include the Little Forks Conservancy and the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy.

The festival is named after The Banff Centre, an arts and cultural organization in Alberta, Canada.

 

3 – Applications are due by May 4 for funding from the Great Lakes Clean Communities Network.

The Network’s Community Partnership Program funds small projects to assist communities with various practices to improve water quality in their watershed. Funding is made possible through the Great Lakes Protection Fund.

great-lakes-clean-communities-network-funding

via the Great Lakes Clean Communities Nework

The Network offers an Ecological Scorecard service where communities can evaluate and track their ecological improvements over time. 

Communities, municipalities, and watershed organizations within the Great Lakes region that have initiated or completed an evaluation are eligible to participate in the program.

Applicants may apply for up to $4,000 in funding.

Applications are due by May 4 for projects that directly improve water quality or support ecological indicators such as planting trees or installing green infrastructure.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 9 a.m. Fridays in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR.

Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

 

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Lake Huron Fisheries Workshops, Earth Day, and Refuge Fire

April 17, 2015 — jeffkart

For Friday, April 17, 2015

(No audio today – Pledge Drive)

1 – Bay City is the site of an upcoming Lake Huron Regional Fisheries Workshop.

The local workshop is from 6-9 p.m. on April 30 at Knights of Columbus Hall on South River Road, north of the James Clements Airport.

The workshop is being held by Michigan Sea Grant and others. It will include information on research findings, management updates, and fishing trends.

The workshops are free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

Two other evening workshops will be held in Oscoda on April 23 and Cedarville on April 28.

The agenda for Bay City includes discussion of a Saginaw Bay reef habitat assessment, and walleye movement in Lake Huron.

2 – Delta College is celebrating Earth Day, on April 22, with a guest speaker and other events.

delta-college-earth-day-2015

Delta College Earth Day poster, 2015.

Brent Lofgren, an atmospheric scientist from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor, will talk about “‘The Impact of Climate Change on Michigan’s Water Balance.”

The talk is from 10-11 a.m. in room E112.

Also on tap for the day is a screening of the “Growing Cities” film, free white pine and blue spruce seedlings, and a presentation on urban farming.

For more information, search for “Delta Sustainability” on Facebook.

3 – The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge caught fire this week.

Rx fire Bremer Marsh 4-13-2006 e

Credit: SNWR

It was intentional, for what’s known as a prescribed burn.

The fire was set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday at the refuge, located in Saginaw County. Prescribed burns were conducted in grasslands and marshes to improve wildlife habitat on the land.

Region 3 of the Fish and Wildlife Service uses fire to treat about 70,000 acres of refuge lands each year in the Midwest. Burn times are based on weather, and local governments and fire departments are given a heads up first.

The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge manages about 10,000 acres in Saginaw County for fish and wildlife habitat.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 9 a.m. Fridays in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR.

Follow @jeffkart on Twitter

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Wild and Scenic Enviro Film Fest in Marquette

October 12, 2010 — jeffkart

Soak up some environmental entertainment. Yes, climate change, food security and water quality can be entertaining, if they’re presented with popcorn.

I’m talking about the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, which is on a national tour and hits Marquette, Michigan, on Nov. 4. I had never heard of it either — just one more reason to spotlight the event here.

This year’s Marquette stop is the second annual, and will be held at 6 p.m. in Jamrich Hall on the campus of Northern Michigan University. The hosts are the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, Downwind Sports and Students for Sustainable Living. There will be food, displays, speakers, and films.

Ducats are $8 for civilians, $2 for students and free for kids 18 and under.

The fest is headquarted in Nevada City, California. See the video below. It’s worth checking out.

Films to be shown in Marquette include:

Planting Hope

Every Day at School and

Watershed Revolution.

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