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New Report: Climate Change Will Significantly Impact California’s Central Valley
Projected changes in temperature and precipitation, combined with a growing population, will have significant impacts on water supplies, water quality, fish and wildlife habitats, ecosystems, hydropower, recreation and flood control in California's Central Valley this century.

West-Wide Climate Risk Assessment
http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/wcra/docs/ssjbia/ssjbia.pdf
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/new-report-predicts-climate-change-will-significantly-impact-californias-central-valley.cfm
#climatechange   #californiawater   #science  
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Remove that Squirrel! (From the Endangered Species List)
Nearly half a century since it's listing as endangered (Fish and Wildlife folks have called it a member of the class of '67), the Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel may make its way off the list.
http://www.interior.gov/news/pressreleases/secretary-jewell-announces-conservation-success-story-in-recovery-of-delmarva-fox-squirrel.cfm

#endangeredspecies   #squirrel   #wildlife   #wildlifephotography  
Photo credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service
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Perhaps this should have been obvious, but hey -- we (the US) recycle lead!
And things aren't quite the same as they once were.
"The last primary lead smelter in the United States closed at the end of 2013, at which time the secondary [recycled] lead industry became the sole source of domestic lead production"

(http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20145086).

This industrial shift is worth taking a peek at, both from the perspectives of  #science  and #economy  

New research: Comparison of the U.S. lead recycling industry in 1998 and 2011
(http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20145086).

#lead  
Image: copper, zinc & lead ore (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1995/of95-688/)
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We Pause to Remember
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives. Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard one of the planes, Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted.  -- http://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm

#flight93   #sept11   #shanksville   #memorial  
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crocodylus73's profile photoSandra Wallen's profile photo
 
Such a sad day. 
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1,000 followers?
That's 1,000 Science lovers thank you very much

... and we do thank you very much. More #science  to come!
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Yay!!
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This Week -- The Wilderness Act, a touch of the sun, and ivory

Secretary Jewell visits New Jersey's Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to mark the 50th anniversaries of the Wilderness Act, and the Land and Water Conservation Act. Then it's over to New Orleans and the Society of Environmental Journalists. Our Bureau of Land Management helps break ground on the state's newest and largest solar array. Plus, the Fish and Wildlife Service teams up with National Geographic vs. illegal ivory trade. And #science  -- the USGS helps Americans prepare for disasters.

#wilderness50   #ivory   #sej  
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Coral communities and the Deepwater Horizon spill
"The Macondo oil spill released massive quantities of oil and gas from a depth of 1500 meters. Although a buoyant plume carried released hydrocarbons to the sea surface, as much as half stayed in the water column and much of that in the deep sea.

"After the hydrocarbons reached the surface, weathering processes, burning, and the use of a dispersant caused hydrocarbon-rich marine snow to sink into the deep sea. As a result, this spill had a greater potential to affect deep-sea communities than had any previous spill." -- USGS research published in the journal BioScience.
http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70126209

#oilspill   #deepwaterhorizon   #science   #coral  
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US Department of the Interior's profile photoJason Beardsley's profile photo
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This Week at Interior: three items for your consideration
 - Delisting the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel from the Endangered Species List -- a proposal.
 - What to do with six tons of crushed ivory -- a question.
 - See[ing] America at the Interior Museum -- an opportunity. 

Plus, bonus #science  from the +U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) -- this week on TWAI.

#twai   #delmarva   #endangeredspecies  
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Burn or bury the ivory: any other use condones butchering elephants.
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Earthquake -> Increased Streamflow?
OK, we'll read this one...

While the national streamflow database is documenting evidence of California’s historic drought, the database is also confirming another recently seen hydrologic phenomenon: earthquake-induced increases in streamflow. 

(http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4001)

Rivers and streams across California are flowing at record lows. Streamflow data from 182 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in California with at least 30 years of record, currently show that 62 percent of streamgages are recording flows less 25 percent of normal, and 44 percent are recording flows less than 10 percent of normal. At several streamgage sites, scientists have had to extend measurement scales and rating formulas that help calculate accurate streamflow, because of record low water flows.

Hydrograph showing an increase of gage-height in feet (.01 increments) at the Sonoma Creek at Agua Caliente gage, in the early morning of August 24, 2014. The sharp rise in water level between 4:15 - 4:30 a.m. reflects an increased streamflow due to the South Napa Earthquake an hour earlier.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the August 24 magnitude 6.0 South Napa Earthquake in California, water has begun to flow again in some previously-dry surrounding creeks, rivers and streams prompting many nearby residents to scratch their heads.

Hydrogeologic responses to earthquakes have been known by scientists for decades. In the case of the South Napa Earthquake, the discharge of springs and groundwater to some streams has increased. Based on experience in previous earthquakes, stream and spring flows are expected to decline again over the next several months, assuming that the Napa region does not get significant rainfall over that time period.

Post-earthquake changes in streamflow were recorded at a USGS streamgage on Sonoma Creek, near the city of Sonoma where measured increases in streamflow began after 4:15 a.m. on August 24, about an hour after the earthquake occurred. Streamflow has increased intermittently since the earthquake from 0.1 cubic feet per second to nearly 3 cfs on September 12. The median historical streamflow for this time period is about 0.5 cfs. Scientists theorize that this increase in streamflow is due to groundwater flow entering the river, and the intermittent nature of the streamflow is due to the non-uniform release of groundwater across the basin. 

Story and photos: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4001
#earthquake   #science   #water  
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Hae Kim's profile photoDan Berry's profile photo
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Pesticide Levels Still a Concern for Aquatic Life in US Rivers & Streams
20-Year study reveals issues with central nervous system toxin
From our colleagues at the USGS:
Levels of pesticides continue to be a concern for aquatic life in many of the Nation’s rivers and streams in agricultural and urban areas, according to a new USGS study spanning two decades (1992-2011). Pesticide levels seldom exceeded human health benchmarks.

Over half a billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the U.S. to increase crop production and reduce insect-borne disease, but some of these pesticides are occurring at concentrations that pose a concern for aquatic life.

The proportion of streams with one or more pesticides that exceeded an aquatic-life benchmark was similar between the two decades for streams and rivers draining agricultural and mixed-land use areas, but much greater during the 2002-2011 for streams draining urban areas.

Fipronil, an insecticide that disrupts the central nervous system of insects, was the pesticide most frequently found at levels of potential concern for aquatic organisms in urban streams during 2002-2011.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3997
#pesticides   #science   #waterpollution   #water   #usgs  
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Dan G.'s profile photoKaryn Koop's profile photo
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Ocean Warming Affecting Florida Reefs
Increased Temperatures Spell Trouble for Corals
Researchers indicate that warmer water temperatures (late-summer water temperatures near the Keys, warmer by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the last several decades compared to a century earlier) are stressing corals and increasing the number of bleaching events, where corals become white resulting from a loss of their symbiotic algae.  

The corals can starve to death if the condition is prolonged.
Good reading: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3996
#science   #climatechange   #coralreef  
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bob down's profile photoKaryn Koop's profile photoKelly Carne's profile photoShelley S's profile photo
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No I want to go to keys n ooooooo 
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Surely there's some science tie we can use to chat about #BurningMan  -- please?

Seriously though, we have more pix on the BLM Tumblr (http://tmblr.co/Z9wNeu1Q6RgLM) and a bit more story as well:

We’re kicking off the week with a photo collection from the BURNING MAN event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert – the largest Leave No Trace event in the world, authorized under the most complex special recreation permit issued by the BLM.  All photos were taken by BLM employees assisting with event safety, logistics and more.

And if you like the Burning Man photos, you’ll want to see the Burning Man videos by Jayson Barangan from BLM Arizona. Check them out on the BLM Nevada’s YouTube: Embrace: Art on Nevada's Public Lands Burning Man 2014 

Learn more about Burning Man here» http://tmblr.co/Z9wNeu1ObgRGT .
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Emily E. Effner's profile photoCarissa Braun's profile photoWolfgang Han's profile photoChristina Knauss's profile photo
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This was my first year out, and I'm proud to be part of the effort to maintain the Playa. Thanks to the BLM for being so open in working with the Org to make this happen.
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Protecting America’s Great Outdoors and Powering Our Future (with Science & Technology)
Introduction

Science & Technology

The U.S. Department of the Interior protects America’s natural resources and heritage, honors our cultures and tribal communities, and supplies the energy to power our future.

This Google+ page focuses on the science and technology we work with at Interior.

Legal Stuff

Here are a few reference documents and legal notices for Interior's social media channels: 

Terms of Participation

We welcome your comments and hope that our conversations here will be courteous. You are fully responsible for the content of your comments.

We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right to delete any of the following:

  • off-topic comments
  • violent, vulgar, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments
  • comments that threaten or defame any person or organization
  • the violation of the privacy of another individual
  • solicitations, advertisements, or endorsements of any financial, commercial, or nongovernmental agency
  • comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
  • comments promoting or opposing any person who is campaigning for election to a political office or promoting or opposing any ballot proposition
  • comments including phone numbers, e-mail addresses, residential addresses, or similar information
  • multiple, successive off-topic posts by a single user
  • repetitive posts copied and pasted by multiple users

Communication made through this service’s e-mail and/or messaging system will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) or any official or employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) for any purpose.

Please remember that U.S. Department of the Interior information resources are often used by younger members of the public, sometimes as part of school research projects.  As such, we would like to keep our social media presence as "G-rated" and "family friendly" as possible.  Let's keep the language clean and treat fellow participants in a civil manner.

DOI Privacy Notice

The Department of the Interior (DOI) uses Google+, a non-government third party social networking application, to share information, promote public participation, and enhance communication with the public.  Your use of the Google+ application to communicate with DOI is voluntary, and through your interaction with DOI your personal information may become available.  Generally, personal information is not actively collected by DOI; however, if you request information or submit feedback from interaction with DOI through use of Google+, your profile name, image, contact information, and other information may be used to communicate with you or provide the requested information.  You should know that any comments, images or videos posted on DOI’s official Google+ page may be viewed by any user, and that video hangout sessions may be broadcasted using an online streaming video application operated by a third party to facilitate communication and increase government transparency.  You are subject to Google’s privacy policy and terms of use during your interactions with DOI on Google+.  The Department of the Interior will not share information provided with third parties for promotional purposes.  Please review the DOI Privacy Policy for how information is handled: http://www.doi.gov/privacy.cfm.

Courtesy Follows

Once upon a time, we followed the time-honored SocMed practice of courtesy following.  However, after the headaches of avoiding link-farmers, purveyors of "adult" material, and other folks that a cabinet agency shouldn't be seen hanging around with, we gradually stopped. We are slowly unfollowing most of our old c-follows. BTW, we're happy to prioritize un-following your account, if that's what you'd prefer.  In any case, we don't keep records on you, your account, nor anything in it, from your use of G+. Check our Privacy Impact Assessment for details.

The #Calendar (No promises, but we're keeping our eyes open for appropriate stories)

Monday: We're still working on it.  #Mondayblues isn't a very good fit, as environmental science is cool even on Mondays.

#TransformationTuesday seems like a good fit for stories about our Bureau of Reclamation.  And let's not forget #TechTuesday and #TriviaTuesday!

#WaybackWednesday explains itself.

As does #ThrowbackThursday -- but two retro days?  Meh.  Needs work.

Fridays, we publish our This Week at Interior video news update.  #twai?

#Caturday.  No promises, but we do have some beautiful pix of wild cats.
#Baturday?  Oh yes.

#ScienceSaturday and #ScienceSunday -- absolutely.