Many people–adults and youth–are fascinated by the weather. Now, there is an opportunity to do more than just talk about it. Volunteers are needed for a new weather monitoring program that is designed to increase the number of recording locations throughout the country. The program is called the "Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow" (CoCoRaHS) network. It is a grassroots system of backyard weather observers working together to measure and map precipitation–including rain, hail and snow. The program is being established in the state by the Illinois State Water Survey and the National Weather Service, in cooperation with University of Illinois Extension.
The only requirement is having enthusiasm for watching and reporting weather conditions. However, observers are requested to attend a training workshop, and they will be responsible for the cost of their own monitoring equipment, approximately $25. Participants need access to the internet.
CoCoRaHS is a non-profit organization supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and other contributors. By using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education and utilizing an interactive website, the aim is to provide the highest quality data for natural resource education and research applications.
For more details about the program network and to watch for upcoming workshops, visit www.cocorahs.org.
- John Church, Extension educator, natural resources
World Water Monitoring Day
Want to learn more about your local water quality? Then take part in World Water Monitoring Day on October 18. Monitor your local water quality between September 18 and October 18 ,and then compare your water quality results to international data!
This world monitoring effort is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association, in cooperation with several other environmental groups and government agencies. World Water Monitoring Day is an international event that will create awareness on water quality issues throughout the world.
Monitoring test kits are $18.35 and include supplies for up to 50 tests. The monitoring test kits measure dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity/clarity and temperature.
Selling Timber in Small-town, USA: Don't Sell It–Market It!
The biggest problem with selling your timber directly to a timber buyer/logger is that you just don't know if you're getting a fair deal. How often have you ever told someone, "Yeah, take whatever you want, and just give me what you think is fair," or "Go ahead and take my best cattle and leave me the runts?" Who says that? Well, nobody does because all farmers and ranchers know better than that! So why on Earth do so many forest landowners fall victim to the oldest trick in the book? Why? Because 99 percent of the population has no idea what timber is worth.
Timber is a unique commodity in that you just can't flip through the Chicago Tribune and find out what black walnut sold for yesterday. Timber is a special commodity, and special commodities need to be brokered through experienced and trained professionals. Such a professional is called a forester, i.e., a trained expert with a four-year college degree in forestry.
If you are honestly thinking about selling some timber, whether it is five black walnut trees or 500+ oak, hickory, maple, ash, cherry, poplar and sycamore trees spread across your 60-acres of forest land, do me a favor and call a professional forester first.
For more information on marketing your timber, contact your local DNR forester, professional consulting forester or state Extension forester.
- Jay C. Hayek, Extension specialist, forestry
Lighting for Beauty
When most of us think about outdoor lighting, security and path lighting come to mind. In the last few years, lighting has become a part of commercial and residential landscaping. Landscape architects use lights to highlight and add interest to gardens and plant areas. The impact is added function and beauty.
New technologies can save some of the hassles and annual operating cost associated with landscape lighting. The hassle of running the wires and locating exterior electrical outlets has discouraged may landscapers from installing lights. Solar lights have been an option for several years to avoid these hassles. Recent innovations in light bulb, battery and solar panels have greatly improved the performance of solar lights.
Most new lights use light emitting diodes (LED) instead of traditional incandescent bulbs. LED lights emit more light for the energy used then previous bulbs. LED-equipped solar lights can be used to light walkways, backlight plants and spotlight features of the landscape.
Advances in battery technology and solar panels have led to more power from smaller packages. Newer batteries types are able to store more energy and slowly release the energy over longer periods of time. These batteries hold up much better under the constant drain and recharge cycles then their predecessors. Solar panels have become more efficient, resulting in a small foot print to achieve the necessary power generation.
In addition to the self-contained solar lights, systems are available to run several lights from one solar panel. These are similar to the traditional electric landscape lights with wires running between individual lights. The solar panel is a separate unit that can be set in a sunny location while the lights are in more shaded locations. These are great for path lighting or spot lights under trees.
The result is a wide array of solar accent, path, deck and spot lights for use in landscapes.
- Jay Solomon, Extension educator, engineering technology
Wetlands Improve our Environment
In the past, wetlands were believed to only serve as a breeding ground for diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. For this reason, they were typically drained. Today, however, our society views wetlands as valuable natural resources, which improve water quality, provide habitat for endangered species and decrease flood damage.
Wetlands are transitional zones consisting of swamps, bogs and marshes located between dry land and bodies of water. The water table in a wetland is located near or above the surface of the soil allowing wetlands to remain covered in water the majority of the year. Wetlands can appear to be dry during part of the year. Characteristics of wetlands are hydric soils (soils that are saturated with water all or part of the year), water on or near the surface for a large part of the year and hydrophyte plants (plants that are able to tolerate water saturated soils).
Wetlands provide many benefits to society. They act as a natural sponge, which captures and slowly releases surface water. This action allows more water to enter the ground or evaporate, decreasing the damage from flooding and recharging groundwater aquifers. Plants in wetlands reduce erosion by slowing down the water flow and holding soil in place with their root system. Water quality is improved as wetlands filter out nutrients, pollutants and sediment from runoff water. Wildlife is abundant in wetlands. More than one-third of the nation's threatened and endangered species live in or around a wetland area. Individuals who like to hunt, fish or watch animals enjoy the diversity of species provided by a wetland habitat.
Wetlands play a crucial role in the ecology of the Earth. By protecting our wetlands, we improve water quality, reduce damage caused by flooding and protect nearly a third of our endangered species.
- Susan Meeker, Extension educator, natural resources
Illinois Deer Killed By Vehicles–What Are the Rules?
Since 2001, drivers in Illinois can keep a vehicle-killed deer without having to make a phone report of the situation to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources IDNR unless the deer is taken to a taxidermist or tannery. However, you must keep a personal record of the date of the accident, location of the accident, sex of the animal and storage location of the meat until the animal is consumed. If you plan on taking the animal to a taxidermist or tannery, you must first call (217)782-6431.
The driver of the motor vehicle involved has priority in possessing the deer. If the driver does not take immediate possession and leaves the scene, any citizen of Illinois may possess the animal. There is no limit to the number of deer that may be possessed by these circumstances. However, no inedible part of the deer may be bartered or sold.
