Water Film Fest II - January 29

Films can take us to places, share ideas, and open our connection to something.   Please join us and attend Water Film Fest II.  The date and place are being confirmed still.   Jan 29 (Thursday) from 6-8 p.m. in Room 1012 Swenson Hall at UWS is the place and time.  A dozen short films will be shown - all relate to water.   Several are local productions.
Thanks to UWS Lake Superior Research Institute for arranging the place.  It's easy to get to for students and the public.  Two screens.  Every seat is a good seat.
Free.  Bring a friend.  Bring a date :-)

Share the announcement with others who may want to attend: 

Here is the poster :

 

What is impervious? How much in Superior is impervious?

About 21% of the City of Superior is impervious.  On these types of materials water does not infiltrate into the ground.  Instead, it runsoff.  Whenever there is runoff there is the possibility of pollutants traveling along with the water.  Pollutants ranging from natural things like soil, leaves, small branches to chemicals and materials like oil and spills. 

From the pie graph below you can see that of the impervious areas most of it is due to roads (21%).  Buildings comprise about 16% of the areas. 
Other categories with 5% or over are: unpaved driveways (16%), paved parking areas (9%), railroad yard (7%), unpaved roads (5%), paved driveways (5%), and parking unpaved (5%).  Unpaved areas are considered impervious because of compaction of the soil.  Other areas considered impervious are pools, tanks, trails, alleys, sidewalks, decks, concrete, and holding ponds.

December 2 - EPA's Birthday

December 2, 1970 was the start of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.   The EPA was set up to help deal with and preventing environmental problems. 

Superior is in the EPA's Region 5 which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 tribes. 

The EPA encompasses preventing and cleaning up of air and water pollution,  education, and enforcement of laws.  Climate Change and sustainability are also big topics now where businesses, governments, and residents need to work together.

The City of Superior follows the WPDES (Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) from the EPA and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Superior Environmental Services is about keeping water clean and with the permit we are monitoring construction sites, educating the public, education municipal staff on preventing pollution, checking for illicit discharge, and finding ways to reduce nonpoint source pollutions.  The motto is "only rain down the drain."   The storm drains can help a street by reducing the likelihood of flooding but unfortunately, they are openings to local streams.  

Here are some national photos being submitted about views of America.
Documenting Photos - Documerica is place for people to submit photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/sets/72157620856436476/


SHARE A PHOTO

If you'd like to share any older or current photos of Superior with us please do so.  Local waters, native plant gardens, water recreation activities, flooding, snow or rain event shots, and such would be welcome to be part of a collection on local images. 
We won't be seeing leaves, green grass or flowers for awhile but if you have photos from other seasons that would be great.  Perhaps this will turn into a school project.

Remember we all make a difference in local water quality.  What we do on land affects our local surface waters.  The EPA is a government organization to help with keeping the environment healthy which in turn helps wildlife and humans.  Local organizations, local government, local businesses, and local cooperation is all important for finding ways to keep the environment in good shape for now and for the future.