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Sweet or Salty, Quality Counts: Sea Grant Prioritizes Clean Water |
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by Sharon Moen, Minnesota Sea Grant
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![]() From the shores of South Carolina to the beaches of Southern California (and in the coastal and Great Lakes states in between), NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program is working to improve water quality and to enhance peoples’ understanding of groundwater and surface water relationships. The journey begins with a trip to the Great Lakes, where Sea Grant programs are engaged in research and outreach efforts to ensure that these fresh, "sweet" water bodies are as safe and pristine as possible. Superior Waters
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![]() Minnesota Sea Grant has conducted seminal research on bacteria that trigger beach closures, chemicals that disrupt the normal production of hormones in animals, and toxins such as PCBs and toxaphene. In fact, Time Magazine (2006) recognized that the work of Minnesota Sea Grant researcher Michael Sadowsky would redefine how E. coli, a bacteria used for indicating fecal contamination, is used in water quality monitoring. They wrote: Sadowsky and his fellow researchers have found a way to tease out stretches of marker DNA that indicate whether the bacteria came from human or nonhuman sources. With cities and states across the country spending billions on new water-quality systems, the impact of Sadowsky’s work could be huge.
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![]() Partnering to Address Water Quality Several years ago, Sea Grant also initiated a Sustainable Coastal Community Development (SCCD) network to develop vibrant, productive coastal communities in healthy coastal and marine ecosystems. This network focuses on a variety of watershed and water quality issues.
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![]() A Prescription for Clean Water Sea Grant is also working to rid the nation’s coasts of non-biodegradable plastics by organizing the retrieval of derelict fishing gear and monofilament fishing line from beaches, and arranging shrink-wrap recycling at boating facilities. Millions of pounds of beach litter have been properly disposed or recycled through Sea Grant’s efforts. Each year, Sea Grant’s dedicated researchers produce new insights into ways to improve, manage and protect water supplies while extension professionals work to make sure research results are accessible to those people who most need and want them. Whether sweet or salty, clean water is essential. |
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November 9, 2012 |
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![]() CLIMATE · OCEANS, GREAT LAKES, and COASTS · WEATHER
and AIR QUALITY |