Wise About Water

It's been a wild summer - catastrophic flooding and so much rain. There is a lot to think about as we adapt to future heavy rainfall events.

It's been 10 years since I typed in the first Wise About Water post! We've covered so much information that still resonates today. Take a look.

The Cladocerans, or water fleas, are common freshwater crustaceans. There are over 11,000 described species found around the world. Most of these important zooplankton are found in freshwater, though a few do live in marine waters. Cladocerans are abundant in Vermont lakes and ponds, regardless of waterbody size.

Rethink Runoff has recently published the results of their recent survey about residents’ perceptions and habits regarding stormwater runoff.

It's not easy to share scientific data with non-scientists. Some researchers are translating their data into art - visual and musical - to get their messages out to the world. The Wool and Water Project at the Adirondack Institute uses fiber art to tell data stories from the Champlain Basin.

There is SO MUCH going on this time of year! Everything is greening up, migration is in full swing, and garden preparation is underway. I couldn't wait until May to share these spring resources with you. They'll help you figure out what's croaking and chirping on the lakeshore, how to consider native bees and pollinators as you build your garden, and share opportunities to help scientists gather data.

Rotifers are common inhabitants of fresh water. They are microscopic, so most of us never see them. Despite their small size, they are important in the interconnected webs of life in the water. Let's meet another neighbor in the aquatic world - the rotifers.

Filamentous algae blooms are increasing in clearwater lakes. A recent journal article helps us understand what might be causing this to occur.

Lakes in winter are considered quiet places, with little happening under the ice. Scientists now know there is more going on than we think.

Deicing salts can harm our lakes and ponds. There are ways to reduce the amount of deicing materials we use, staying safe while keeping our waterways clean.