The EE Sampler - Jefferson County Public Schools

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David Soleimani-Meigooni Native Species Letter October 22, 2007 Dear Riverview Neighborhood Association Members: As I was driving to work, I passed by the new landscaping and gardening project that is underway as part of our community beautification plan. I was particularly dismayed to find that Crown Vetch plants were considered for this project. Crown Vetch is a plant species that is nonnative to Kentucky and has been shown to grow invasively in numerous communities within the state. In fact, the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council deemed Crown Vetch as the “least wanted” plant species for the year 2003. Crown Vetch grows aggressively because of its reproductive mechanism that uses both the vegetative distribution of offspring via creeping underground roots and the prolific distribution of seeds. Since the plant is nonnative, it has no natural consumers; therefore, without mechanical (i.e. pulling or mowing plants) or herbicidal maintenance techniques, the unchecked growth would result in significant spread of the plant through our community. Other Kentucky communities have documented that the uncontrolled spread of Crown Vetch excludes naturally growing plant species by covering and shading them. Additionally, there have been instances where Crown Vetch has killed small trees and shrubs by growing over them. Quite simply, this invasive species outcompetes native plants that have controlled growth (i.e. limited by established natural predators and relatively low reproduction). Additionally, the destruction of our native plants removes primary sources of food for native wild animals, ultimately resulting in the collapse of the wildlife that we enjoy around our community. How would you like to wake-up to a front yard full of Crown Vetch, noticing the absence of morning tweeting because all of the birds moved to a place with an adequate supply of native plants? It is in the best interest of our community to preserve our native plant species and wildlife. Thus, we must either replace the Crown Vetch with native Kentucky plants or allocate new funds for regular herbicidal or mechanical control of Crown Vetch. Respectfully, Jack Smith 23
Farming v. Fishing? Is One Industry Literally Killing the Other? By Kim Nelson In order to produce more and better crops, farmers around the world have been using fertilizers since ancient times. Modern fertilizers contain the nutrients Potassium and Nitrogen, which help plants grow healthy and strong, producing more food than the same plants would without such fertilizers. Unfortunately, if these fertilizers are over applied, or are applied immediately prior to rainfall, many of the nutrients end up in our streams and rivers from rainwater runoff instead of staying on the field. Even when correctly applied, some of the nutrients find their way to our water. This is unfortunate because the nutrients are good for plants, not fish. Even though fish feed on plants, there is such a thing as too much. Algae is at the bottom of many aquatic food chains, but when an algae bloom covers the top of an entire lake or slow moving stream, fish cannot get the oxygen they need and the algae blocks out the sun, making the water colder than the fish can handle. Occasionally such overloading of nutrients and algae blooms can cause fish kills, where the poor conditions last so long the fish cannot live through them. Jefferson County has done, and is doing, a lot to reduce the amount of excess nutrients entering our water. Currently the county is working on redirecting the Combined Sewage Overflows, which occur when a lot of rainwater overflows our sewage system to the point where some of the rainwater and raw sewage flows out into our streams, eventually leading to the Ohio River. However, we are only a small part of the water going into the Ohio River, and the Ohio runs into the Mississippi River along with rivers from other parts of the United States. Where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, there is a dead zone where fish cannot survive. Though overloading of nutrients is not the only problem in the Gulf of Mexico, and we are not the only area contributing to this water pollution, there are things we can each do to help the fish in the Gulf, where fishing is a major industry for local people. If everybody, farmers or just people with a garden or yard full of grass, follows instructions for the amount of fertilizer to apply for their circumstances, and only use it as often as recommended, this would reduce the amount of excess nutrients available to run off into our streams and lakes. Fertilizer companies do extensive testing to ensure their recommendations allow for best use of their product, so there is no need to apply more or more often than the packaging directs. Though this may not seem like much when each person changes their routine just a little bit, the combined efforts of everybody involved can make a big difference. Somebody needs to set the example for others to follow, and that somebody can be us in Jefferson and surrounding, more agricultural, counties in Kentucky. If others living along the Mississippi River or its tributaries do the same, the dead zone will shrink, allowing fish to move back in while not affecting farming or people's green lawns negatively. Helping to alleviate the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is only one example of how small changes in everyday life for each of us can add up to big results. Simple things like recycling the daily newspaper, turning off the lights when leaving home, or doing laundry only when a full load is needed, can make a noticeable difference if everybody puts forth the effort. 24
Page 1 and 2: The EE Sampler Selections from the
Page 3 and 4: Introduction This environmental sam
Page 5 and 6: The EE Sampler Selections from the
Page 7 and 8: Cleaning Beargrass Creek Kristen Ba
Page 9 and 10: the many shopping carts. We piled a
Page 11 and 12: A Beargrass Creek Experience By: Du
Page 13 and 14: Patti Reitz 13 Nov 2007 Second Hand
Page 15 and 16: Do you hear the noise? By Vanessa H
Page 17 and 18: Liz Gramiak to as “fussy” and o
Page 19 and 20: Brian Durham Similarly, riding the
Page 21 and 22: Rain Gardens: What, Why, and How? K
Page 23: Disposal of Animal Waste Sarah Payn
Page 27: David Soleimani-Meigooni Mining Pro
Page 31 and 32: Literary Writing: Short Stories, Mo
Page 33 and 34: Cory Child Urban Water “As you ca
Page 35 and 36: The Lights come up with Evan and Ja
Page 37 and 38: Literary Writing: Poetry Poetry is
Page 39 and 40: Diana Neamtu The Oak Tree A tall oa
Page 41: Recycle - Amy Kuhn Empty, Sort, Sta

The EE Sampler - Jefferson County Public Schools

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