Risk vs. Reward: Amid the Flames, a Heated Debate About Fire Retardants---(Sacramento
Bee, November 1, 2003) "At the USGS, Little and others have been involved
in research into what happens to plants and streams after application of fire
retardants, which include such ingredients as diammonium phosphate and
ammonium sulfate." Contact: Ed Little,
Ecology
Kid's Corner ---(KOMU-TV the NBC affiliate, Columbia, MO) Water and its
properties, an important
science concept explained on the "Kid's Corner" of "Pepper & Friends", a
regional community television show on KOMU (NBC) in Columbia, MO, on September
3,
by Nile Kemble, scientist from the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Kemble was asked to reappear on the "Kids Corner" for another science topic on
October 22.
Contact: Nile Kemble, Toxicology
Groups Disagree on Best Way to Save Endangered Species (Argus Leader,
September 1, 2003) "Preliminary research suggests the pallids react by
spending time in deeper water, possibly to avoid light, said Robert Jacobson,
a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey."
Contact: Robb Jacobson, River
Studies Station, Ecology
BoatU.S. ---When Fish Strike Back (Asian carp) September issue, volume
VIII
Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
August
Pallids Haven't Replaced Themselves for Decades (Billings Gazette,
August 19, 2003) 'Then, last fall, on Sept. 4 and 5, FWP biologist Dave
Fuller and U.S. Geological Survey biologist Pat Braaten netted two larval
pallid sturgeon below the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers.
"We made history finding those two little pallids," Braaten said. "They were
small. We thought they were pallids, but we had to send them off to Dr. Darrel
Snyder (at Colorado State University's Larval Fish Laboratory) for
verification."' Contact: Pat Braaten, River
Studies Station, Ecology
Flying Fish Land in Boats on the Missouri River (ABC KMBC TV-9 Kansas
City, MO, August 6) "It may seem like the most farfetched fish story --
fish jumping into boats on the Missouri River. But it's happening. Find out
why."
Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
July
Kid's Corner ---(KOMU-TV the NBC affiliate, Columbia, MO) Water and its
properties, an important
science concept explained on the "Kid's Corner" of "Pepper & Friends", a
regional community television show on KOMU (NBC) in Columbia, MO, on July 27,
by Nile Kemble, scientist from the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Kemble was asked to reappear on the "Kids Corner" for another science topic on
September 3..
Contact: Nile Kemble, Toxicology
Asian Carp---CBS-TV News, CBS News Correspondent Bob McNamara, July 23,
2003) <
Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
Turtle Nest Search Had a Slow Season---(Corpus Christi
Caller-Times, July 14, 2003) "As
the seasonal search for sea turtles and their nests along the Texas coast
ends, Denise Eifler, one of more than 100 Padre Island National Seashore
volunteers, said she will always remember the first Kemp's ridley sea turtle
nest she found and the turtle that got away."
Contact: Donna Shaver-Miller, Padre
Island Field Research Station
Beware of 'Flying' Fish---(The Capital Times, July 2, 2003, Madison, WI)
"The reason is that people can get seriously hurt. Duane Chapman, research
fishery biologist with the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological
Survey in Columbia, told reporters at the 2003 Outdoor Writers Association of
America annual meeting here that, 'You can't water ski on the Missouri River
anymore, because you could get hurt.'"
Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
Asian Carp Now in Wisconsin?---(The Capital Times, July 2, 2003, Madison,
WI) Barry Poulton, a Ph.D. research ecologist with the U.S. Geological
Survey River Studies Station in Columbia, Missouri, was vacationing in
Wisconsin in mid-June and believes that he saw an Asian carp.
Contact: Barry Poulton, River
Studies Station, Ecology
June
Asian Carp a Concern in Missouri River---(Kansas City Star, June
30, 2003) "Duane Chapman was displaying a necessary piece of equipment on
Missouri River fishing boats these days -- a trash-can lid that serves as a
makeshift shield. Pointing at the letters "CDD" emblazoned on the lid, he
smiled and said, 'That stands for Carp Deflection Device. A lot of fishermen
on the Missouri are going down the river holding these right now. With all the
carp flying out of the water, this is a self-preservation device.' " Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
Secretary Norton Visits USGS Research Center: Research programs on
environmental chemistry; contaminant and ultraviolet light effects on
amphibian populations; freshwater mussel toxicity test development; sediment
quality criteria; issues surrounding the herbicide atrazine in surface and
subsurface waters across the U.S.; Missouri River sturgeon ecology and
reproduction, and river flow models and restoration; all filled Secretary
Norton's time during her tour of the Columbia Environmental Research Center on
June 17. Later that day, Secretary Norton presented DOI highlights to the
Outdoor Writers Association of America annual meeting in Columbia, MO, twice
mentioning CERC research with the exotic Asian carp, and contributions to
Missouri River science.
Contact: Michael Mac,
Center Director
Front page, above the fold, on June 17, is a "Boatload of Trouble,"
featuring USGS scientists Duane Chapman, Chris Witte, and Ning Wang in the
Columbia Missourian. The six-part story details USGS invasive species
research, specifically Asian carp in the Missouri River basin, and numerous
partnerships with other Federal, state and local agencies. The Asian carp
invasion is a serious potential threat to native species and their habitats,
negatively affecting aquatic ecosystems in riverways throughout the US. Links
include: Boatload of Trouble (Main article) http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2393;
Why They Fly http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2394; Threat to Native
Species http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2395; Here to Stay http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2396;
Carp: An Untapped Food Source http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2402;
Carp Invasion
http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=2406.
Contact: Duane Chapman, River
Studies Station, Ecology
Kid's Corner ---(KOMU-TV the NBC affiliate, Columbia, MO) Life
cycles, from birth to death, occur for all life on this planet, an important
science concept explained on the "Kid's Corner" of "Pepper & Friends", a
regional community television show on KOMU (NBC) in Columbia, MO, on June 17,
by Nile Kemble, scientist from the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Kemble was asked to reappear on the "Kids Corner" for another science topic on
July 28.
Contact: Nile Kemble, Toxicology
"Widbin's Way," a lighter look at life in mid-Missouri, from KMIZ
-TV (ABC affiliate), featured Will Bly of the USGS on June 17, holding his
catfish caught during the Rottmann Memorial Kid's Fishing Day in Columbia, MO.
This fishing clinic is co-sponsored by the Missouri Department of
Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the USGS Columbia
Environmental Research Center to teach children about the pleasures of fishing
and exploring life outdoors.
Contact: Will Bly,
Administration
Public interest continues as Kemp's ridley sea turtle hatchlings take
their first swim into the Gulf of Mexico from Padre Island National Seashore.
Keeping the Coastal Bend region of Corpus Christi, TX informed on the latest
USGS sea turtle news, KIII (ABC), KRIS (NBC), KZTV (CBS) covered the second
turtle release for this season on June 22, a USGS and NPS partnership research
program lead by USGS sea turtle ecologist Donna Shaver.
Contact: Donna Shaver-Miller, Padre
Island Field Research Station
May
A Sea of Hopes--Precious Kemp's ridley sea turtles begin their new lives
in the sea with a little help from us (Corpus Christi Caller-Times, May 30,
2003) "About 100 people gathered Thursday to watch the release of 92 baby
turtles, one step in a huge effort to save the endangered species. Only three
or four of the 2-day-old turtles are expected to survive to adulthood, said
Donna Shaver, research biologist and station leader of the U.S. Geological
Survey program at the seashore. "
Contact: Donna Shaver-Miller, Padre
Island Field Research Station
Partner's in Education ---(KOMU-TV the NBC affiliate, Columbia, MO)
Nile Kemble, CERC, and Lynda Schrader, New Haven Elementary, appeared live
on the Pepper & Friends show, interviewed about details on the CERC -
New Haven Elementary learning exchange program called, Partner's in
Education.
Contact: Nile Kemble, Toxicology
April
First
Kemp's Ridley Nest: 94 Eggs ---(Corpus Christi Caller-Times, April
10, 2003) "For only the 11th time in the history of Padre Island
National Seashore's Head Start program, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle that had
been tagged by the U.S. Geological Survey returned to the park to lay its
eggs."
Contact: Donna Shaver-Miller, Padre
Island Field Research Station
Missouri
Gets Money for Conservation ---(Columbia Missourian, March 20, 2003)
"Ongoing research on the endangered pallid sturgeon conducted by the
U.S. Geological Survey Columbia Environmental Research Center will be given
$500,000. The center was granted $300,000 last year to surgically install
satellite telemetry transmitters in the sturgeon, the majority of which were
caught within 50 miles from river access points near Columbia. The
transmitters allow researchers to track the sturgeon and study their
spawning habits. “A lot of absolutes about the pallid sturgeon are not
particularly known, especially about their spawning habits,” said Michael
Mac, center director. The center will expand its efforts this year to
install transmitters in the more common shovel nose sturgeon to analyze its
habits with those of the pallid sturgeon." <http://www.digmo.com/news/story.php?ID=1136>
Contact: Marcia Nelson, CERC
Outreach Coordinator
February
Onward
and Upward ---(Columbia Daily Tribune, February 17, 2003) "'ASTM
International announced the election of Christopher Ingersoll to the ASTM
Board of Directors. Ingersoll has been chief of the aquatic toxicology
branch of the U.S. Geological Survey in Columbia since 1996. Ingersoll is
the current chairman of Subcommittee E47.03 on sediment assessment and
toxicology."
Contact: Marcia Nelson, CERC
Outreach Coordinator
