U.S., Environmental Lagger

The United States ranked 39th out of 149 countries on an environmental performance list which evaluates sanitation, greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural policies, air pollution and 20 other measures. The U.S. scored an 81 out of a possible 100. The four countries at the top of the list were Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Finland, which received scores of 87 or higher. Switzerland's high scores for greenhouse gas efficiency can be, at least partly, attributed to its use of hydroelectric power and its transportation system, which relies heavily on trains.

This list was first created in 2002 from research done by Yale and Columbia Universities. The 2007 list will be released this month at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Daniel Esty, one of the reports authors, notes that the U.S. received low scores on three different greenhouse gas emission categories as well as a smog indicator. Another researcher noted that a country's wealth correlated with high scores on sanitation and disease control, but low scores on greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural policies.

Reagan Remembered

Some of Ronald Reagan's more memorable quotes:

"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."

"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program."

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Wetlands Restoration Could Reduce Dead Zone

The Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi River has a dead zone of approximately 975 square miles. That would cover 80% of the state of Rhode Island. This dead zone is an area of low-oxygen water created by extreme amounts of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. These nutrients typically come from fertilizers applied to farm fields and lawns which are then washed into the Mississippi River and flushed directly into the Gulf of Mexico. The nutrients rob the water of oxygen making it unsuitable for plants and animals in an area that makes up a large portion of the nations fishing grounds.

As wetlands are lost, this dead zone grows. Wetlands typically filter out these excess nutrients and provide fresh, oxygen-rich water to the Gulf of Mexico; however, Louisiana is losing a football field of wetlands every 38 minutes. Researchers are working furiously to restore balance to this fragile ecosystem. Wetlands are being developed upstream of the Gulf Coast to help reduce nutrient loads entering the Mississippi River and restoration efforts abound along the coast. Rebuilding wetlands along Louisiana's coast not only benefits water quality, but also provides invaluable hurricane protection by reducing storm surge and, in turn, reducing potential stresses on levees.

Sewage Restores Wetlands

Dr. Gary Shaffer, an environmental scientist at Southeastern Louisiana University, is working toward restoring Louisiana's wetlands...using sewage. Sewage from the city of Hammond is treated and then piped seven miles to an area known as 4-Mile Marsh. The sewage effluent is clean, but still high in nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. The wastewater is released into the marsh where cypress trees, tupelo trees, grasses and other plants absorb the nutrients. Approximately one month after wastewater is released from the pipline, it leaves the marsh system cleaner than it used to leave the treatment plant.

The Hammond pipeline cost $7 million, but saves the city $2 million a year by eliminating the final stage of sewage treatment. 4 million gallons per day of sewage effluent are pumped into 4-Mile Marsh. The nutrients feed the wetland plants and the plants clean the water. It's a perfect symbiotic relationship.

Numerous experiments are being conducted at 4-Mile Marsh to determine the most effective techniques for restoring the coastal wetlands. Plant species, growth techniques and plant spacing are all being tested. EMIP® cypress trees were planted alongside bare root and container grown trees in the spring of 2007 and growth and survival rates were measured after the first growing season. EMIP® cypress trees out performed the bare root and container grown trees by leaps and bounds. EMIP® cypress trees had almost 100% survival and increased in basal diameter four times more than other trees. Some EMIP® trees grew so much that they became top heavy and fell over in the wet soils; however, the ones that were righted before nutria could eat the roots seem to be recovering well. EMIP delivered 600 additional cypress trees to 4-Mile Marsh this month to be used in experiments testing the most effective tree spacing for maximum nutrient absorption.

Sewage Effluent Released into 4-Mile Marsh

Plastic Sleeves Protect Saplings in 4-Mile Marsh

Plastic Sleeves Protect Saplings in 4-Mile Marsh

EMIP® Cypress Trees Delivered for Placement in 4-Mile Marsh

Lesson Learned?

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Two and a half years later, have we learned any lessons? Hopefully, the next administration will promote the restoration of the wetlands to help prevent this from happening again.

2007 - The "Green" Year

Green was the color for 2007. Consumers converted to compact florescent lightbulbs and hybrid cars, corporate america reduced greenhouse gas emissions before legislation required reductions and politicians rallied around solutions to global warming. Green even moved into the world of rock with Al Gore's first ever Live Earth concert intended to raise awareness of environmental issues. The question is, will these trends continue?

In December, Congress passed the first increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in thirty years. Automakers will have to produce cars and light trucks which get an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, up from the current standard of 27.5. Congress is also working to pass a bill cutting greenhouse gas emissions. We may even see the environment appear in upcoming presidential debates.