Summer is a wonderful time of year for sunshine and outdoor activities. In these hot and dry months there are a few things you can do to help our natural environments. Here are some suggestions for taking care of your natural areas in the summer months. MULCH...
Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtuse) is a ‘new’ aquatic invader that is getting a lot of attention in the upper Midwest and Northeast not only because of the speed at which it dominates the water feature where it resides, but also because management option choices...
One reason why invasive buckthorn persists in our yards is that it provides exceptional privacy screening. Why take buckthorn down when it is doing the job for you? Well, because buckthorn is bad for our environment, and you will feel a great sense of satisfaction...
This year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially listed the migratory monarch butterfly (Danaua plexippus plexippus) as endangered because of loss of habitat and climate change. What can you do? Put their habitat back! If, after...
Buckthorn is an aggressively invasive plant species that threatens the health of native plants and animals in environments across the United States. To maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem, you need to remove buckthorn from your property. Unfortunately, eliminating...
A healthy lake or pond is a beautiful addition to almost any property. A small pond is a decorative landscaping focal point while a large lake can be used for recreational activities. Either way, a lake or pond is typically only attractive if the water is clean and...
Any functioning ecosystem, including a pond, needs bacteria to sustain life and maintain a balanced ecosystem. Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms measured in microns (one millionth of a meter), ranging from 1 to 10 microns in length and 0.2 to 1 microns...
In most cases, proactive actions are more cost effective than reactive actions. When managing surface waters like lakes or ponds, this adage certainly applies. Using algae growth as the example. Algae grows in water because it has the three things needed to survive:...
Algae cells can multiply rapidly and despite all efforts, this growth can get out of control quickly. Even after chemical treatment, certain types of algae can rebound in as few as 3-4 days. The good news is that algae, along with a several species of rooted aquatic...
Electrofishing is a type of fishing technique that biologists use to capture fish in rivers, lakes, and streams. This technique provides a safe and efficient solution to the challenge of collecting data on fish populations. Based on the data gathered from small...
