Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
A walk on Pinnacle wet prairie with Amber Tripodi on July 23, 2011
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE photos from Saturday, July 23, 2011, at Pinnacle Wet Prairie. Please click on enlargement for closer view.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Can anyone explain the purpose of the work done early on July 21, 2011, where the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River flows under 11th Street between S. Duncan and S. Hill Avenue?
Please click on individual images from 11th Street crossing the Town Branch on July 21, 2011.
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| photos above made before limestone was poured to the edge of the Town Branch as shown in photos below. |
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
City Council passes rezoning of former Washington County Livestock Auction property on three readings in one meeting: Iraqi students on hand to see American citizens participating in government decision-making process
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for even closer view of people at the July 19, 2011, meeting of the Fayetteville City Council. Most of the people standing are Iraqi students from the University of Arkansas who are participating in the Spring International program at the UA.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Pinnacle Foods Inc.'s wet prairie an unplowed but long-ago grazed piece of mounded prairie that offers close look at what easily can be brought back on many former pastures and hayfields in Northwest Arkansas: Bruce Shackleford told the story of the 'restoration' project at Woolsey Wet Prairie on Monday night at Fayetteville library
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view. Click on enlargement for closer view.
For July 4, 2011, photos from Pinnacle wet prairie, please see July 4, 2011.
For more photos from Pinnacle wet prairie, please see Pinnacle wet prairie.
For photos from the Fayetteville National Cemetery, please see Fayetteville National Cemetery.
For July 4, 2011, photos from Pinnacle wet prairie, please see July 4, 2011.
For more photos from Pinnacle wet prairie, please see Pinnacle wet prairie.
For photos from the Fayetteville National Cemetery, please see Fayetteville National Cemetery.
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| Rattlesnake master on Pinnacle Prairie attracts numerous species on July 18, 2011 |
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| Great purple hairstreak was star of Monday's show |
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| Amber Tripodi, Cindi Cope and Bruce Shackleford teaching Arkansans how to 'bring nature home' as Doug Tallmay would say. |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Shortakes recorded Monday, July 11, 2011, to run July 18-22 2011 on Fayetteville public-access television Cox cable 218, ATT U-verse 99 and simulcast on YOUR MEDIA Web site: Fayetteville residents welcome for this free service. Tune in to see who else you know did a short take for this coming week. Maybe you want to visit the PEG Center across Rock Street from the Fayetteville Police station between 5 and 6 p.m. Mondays or between 11 a.m. and noon Thursdays and express your opinion or share photos, your home video or maybe other things
American basketflower in bloom on World Peace Wetland Prairie as well as many other places in Northwest Arkansas on July 15, 2011
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for closer view of Centaurea americana.
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| Centaurea americana |
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| American basketflower |
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Turk plant gets slowdown orders on wetland filling from U.S. court
U.S. 8th Circuit Upholds Partial Injunction on Turk Construction
Coalition of groups victorious; Court of Appeals decision protects wetlands
LITTLE ROCK, AR (July 14, 2011) - Today, a three-judge panel of the United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision that halted construction on eight acres of wetland and the water intake structure for the proposed Turk coal-fired power plant in southwestern Arkansas. The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) appealed the decision by United States District Court Judge Bill Wilson, Jr., who halted the construction on October 27, 2010.
Lev Guter, Associate Field Organizer with the Sierra Club, stated, “We are thrilled with the 8th Circuit’s decision to protect the wetlands and water resources jeopardized by the proposed Turk coal plant. Today’s ruling marks an historic victory to protect Arkansans’ public health from the devastation that dirty coal has on our water quality. Our victory is twofold: not only has the Court spared destroying Arkansas’ water resources, but we are one giant step closer towards stopping the burning of more dirty coal, which poisons our health.”
Last year, Sierra Club, Audubon and the Hempstead County Hunting Club sought an injunction to stop SWEPCO’s construction of the proposed John W. Turk 600 MW coal-fired plant in Hempstead County. After SWEPCO appealed the U.S. District Court’s decision, the parties presented oral arguments before the U.S. 8th Circuit in St. Paul on March 15th.
Last year, Sierra Club, Audubon and the Hempstead County Hunting Club sought an injunction to stop SWEPCO’s construction of the proposed John W. Turk 600 MW coal-fired plant in Hempstead County. After SWEPCO appealed the U.S. District Court’s decision, the parties presented oral arguments before the U.S. 8th Circuit in St. Paul on March 15th.
Ellen Fennell, Executive Director of Audubon Arkansas, stated, “We applaud the court for affirming what we knew - that the Corps and SWEPCO had willfully ignored the most basic requirements of NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) – ignoring environmental review as well as public input. This to the detriment of one of the most significant wildlife and bird production areas in our state, the Little River Bottoms. Recognized as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, these wetlands are an incubator for thousands of birds that populate the region. Everyone who cares about wildlife in our state should be happy with this decision.”
The Turk plant, already under construction, would cost more than $2 billion as well as contribute to climate change through releasing millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.Sierra Club and Audubon are represented by Richard H. Mays of Mays & White law firm of Heber Springs. Attorney Richard Mays stated, “The Eighth Circuit conducted an exhaustive review of the District Court record that covered five days of testimony, and concluded that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of the case at final hearing, and that there was a likelihood of irreparable harm from SWEPCO’s actions on the plant site that were authorized by the Corps of Engineers. This is an important ruling in this case. SWEPCO was foolish to continue to construct the plant in the face of the potential for this ruling.”
Visit Audubon Arkansas website for up-to-date information about the Turk plant.
| Audubon Arkansas 4500 Springer Blvd., Little Rock, AR 72206 (501) 244-2229 | ARaction@audubon.org |
Former UA Dean Donald R. Bobbitt named UA system president, reports University of Texas at Arlington, where he has been serving as vice president for academic affairs
Provost Donald R. Bobbitt has been selected as the University of Arkansas System president, according to several reports from Arkansas media outlets.
Bobbitt, 54, is a chemistry professor at UTA in addition to being vice president for academic affairs.
Bobbitt worked as the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences dean at the University of Arkansas from 2003 to 2008, according to his faculty bio webpage. He earned his bachelor's of science at the same institution.
Since 2008, Bobbitt has played an active role in the university's efforts toward pursuing Tier One, recognition as a national research institution.
"This is a great tribute to Provost Bobbitt and to the University of Texas at Arlington," President James Spaniolo relayed via email. "We congratulate Dr. Bobbitt on his selection and appointment to this prestigious position."
Blogger's personal comment:
I might have preferred an English major or a biologist, but my best friend from undergraduate and graduate days at Louisiana Tech was a chemistry major who got a Ph.D. in chemistry from LSU and was the most intelligent man I ever knew. His scores on the graduate-record exam were at the near-perfect level in all categories. He understood things I could only imagine.
So it sounds as though Dr. Bobbitt MIGHT be in the class with Ernest Ed Green. But, then, he doesn't have to be that smart to run the UA system well. But anything close should be enough to keep the UA system on course to do the right thing.
Bobbitt, 54, is a chemistry professor at UTA in addition to being vice president for academic affairs.
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| Donald Bobbitt |
Bobbitt worked as the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences dean at the University of Arkansas from 2003 to 2008, according to his faculty bio webpage. He earned his bachelor's of science at the same institution.
Since 2008, Bobbitt has played an active role in the university's efforts toward pursuing Tier One, recognition as a national research institution.
"This is a great tribute to Provost Bobbitt and to the University of Texas at Arlington," President James Spaniolo relayed via email. "We congratulate Dr. Bobbitt on his selection and appointment to this prestigious position."
Blogger's personal comment:
I might have preferred an English major or a biologist, but my best friend from undergraduate and graduate days at Louisiana Tech was a chemistry major who got a Ph.D. in chemistry from LSU and was the most intelligent man I ever knew. His scores on the graduate-record exam were at the near-perfect level in all categories. He understood things I could only imagine.
So it sounds as though Dr. Bobbitt MIGHT be in the class with Ernest Ed Green. But, then, he doesn't have to be that smart to run the UA system well. But anything close should be enough to keep the UA system on course to do the right thing.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Trail Blazers announce Outdoor Rendezvous for October 2011
| Time | Friday, October 14 at 9:00am - October 16 at 4:00pm |
|---|---|
| Location | Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, Jasper, Arkansas |
| Created By | |
| For | Ozark Mountain Trailblazers |
| More Info | Hiking the Ozarks is proud to be organizing the 2nd Annual Hiking the Ozarks Outdoor Rendezvous, October 14-16, 2011, at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch near the Buffalo National River, in Jasper, Arkansas. This event will bring together outdoor enthusiasts from all over the Midwest for networking, camping, hiking, rock climbing, outdoor education and enjoying the outdoors. We will be offering various educational classes which w...ill include Basic Rock Climbing, Intermediate Rock Climbing, Wild and Edible Plants and “The 50 Things You Should Know While Outdoors.” There will also be hikes on some of the area’s best trails, including Hemmed in Hollow Falls, Eye of the Needle, Twin Falls at Richland Creek, Hawkbills Crag and the Goat Bluff. There will be great give-away prizes from brand-name outdoor companies, like North Face, Rab, Helly Hansen, Mountainsmith, Buff, Lowa and Teva, just to name a few. Cost for the event is $20.00, which gets you into all the classes, access to all the guided hikes and entry into the raffles and door prizes. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch offers camping for $5.00 per night and also has a limited number of cabins for rent. They also have a restaurant on the ranch, along with a gear shop. Please contact Dan Nash for more information. |
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
An Arkansas blog on the evils of hydro-fracking to produce natural gas in the KARST state of Arkansas
Fracking blog
Thanks to Sky Blaylock for supplying this link on Facebook.
All of northwest Arkansas is karst. The National Cave Association website describes karst as a geological term for an area characterized by the presence of caves, sinkholes, aquifers, and disappearing streams. According to tour guides at War Eagle Cavern there are over 2000 documented caves in north Arkansas alone with over 10,000 documented caves throughout all of Arkansas.
There is a river in Missouri that disappears and then reappears in Arkansas at Mammoth Springs. Determining where water flows underground in northwest Arkansas requires dumping dye into the water at one location then searching for springs and searching for that dye by educated guess work. The dye can be found surprising numbers of miles away.
For a better understanding of aquifers look at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) under Water Science for Schools.
Consider watersheds in general. How can puncturing the ground a mile deep in multiple places not make bedrock permeable?
Thanks to Sky Blaylock for supplying this link on Facebook.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Drilling Through Caves and Aquifers
All of northwest Arkansas is karst. The National Cave Association website describes karst as a geological term for an area characterized by the presence of caves, sinkholes, aquifers, and disappearing streams. According to tour guides at War Eagle Cavern there are over 2000 documented caves in north Arkansas alone with over 10,000 documented caves throughout all of Arkansas.There is a river in Missouri that disappears and then reappears in Arkansas at Mammoth Springs. Determining where water flows underground in northwest Arkansas requires dumping dye into the water at one location then searching for springs and searching for that dye by educated guess work. The dye can be found surprising numbers of miles away.
For a better understanding of aquifers look at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) under Water Science for Schools.
Consider watersheds in general. How can puncturing the ground a mile deep in multiple places not make bedrock permeable?
Tonight at Powerhouse Seafood
Tonight's climate-change science gathering free to all. More information at Climate Change Task Force.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A few of the interesting plants and insects on World Peace Wetland Prairie in the 102-degree heat on July 10, 2011
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click again for closer view of few plants and insects photographed on July 10, 2011, at World Peace Wetland Prairie. High temperature at XNA airport was 102.
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| Teucrium canandense aka Wood sage |
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| Extremely tiny insect on native thistle |
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| Minute insect's photo cropped to ENLARGE. Click to ENLARGE. Click again for more detailed view. |
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| Dragonfly on WPWP on July 10, 2011 |
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| American basketflower soon to bloom |
Joe Neal invites all to a bird walk at Chesney Prairie at 8 a.m. July 10, 2011
Audubon birding walk on Chesney Prairie northeast of Siloam Springs begins at 8 a.m. today. Free and open to all. Be there and enjoy the expertise of Joe Neal and Joe Woolbright as you walk a nicely restored prairie.
People and things you may see this morning at Chesney Prairie.
For more detail, please see NorthwestArkansasAudubonSociety.blogspot.com
People and things you may see this morning at Chesney Prairie.
For more detail, please see NorthwestArkansasAudubonSociety.blogspot.com
Friday, July 8, 2011
Cecropia moth's caterpillar may be the most beautiful caterpillar in the Ozarks. Today, I got lucky!
Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Cecropia moth's caterpillar. Use link to read about its life cycle and see image of the moth on another blog.
For an extensive study of this species, please see this link.
For more photos of this and other creatures of World Peace Wetland Prairie, please see this link.
Cecropia moth and its caterpillar
For an extensive study of this species, please see this link.
For more photos of this and other creatures of World Peace Wetland Prairie, please see this link.
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| See link to read more about Cecropia moth caterpillar |
Cecropia moth and its caterpillar
Thursday, July 7, 2011
David Druding's 132-year-old cottonwood tree draws fans of shade, clean air, clean water and all the living things that depend on trees on July 7, 2011
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for even closer view.
Video of Council of Neighborhoods meeting during which David Druding discussed his big-old tree issue now added to this post. Available in larger format by clicking through to YOU TUBE.
Video of Council of Neighborhoods meeting during which David Druding discussed his big-old tree issue now added to this post. Available in larger format by clicking through to YOU TUBE.
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| People who CARE begin arriving for ice tea and fellowship in shade of cottonwood |
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| Grass swales will be piped and paved over |
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
World Peace Wetland Prairie and Pinnacle Prairie on the west side of WPWP are havens for an endless number of species of wildlife
For more photos from Pinnacle Prairie made in the past week, please see
July 4, 2011, at Pinnacle Prairie page 1
and
July 4, 2011, at Pinnacle Prairie page 2
To view July 4, 2011, photos from Pinnacle Foods Inc wet prairie in Fayetteville AR, please click on Slideshow link.
July 4, 2011, at Pinnacle Prairie page 1
and
July 4, 2011, at Pinnacle Prairie page 2
To view July 4, 2011, photos from Pinnacle Foods Inc wet prairie in Fayetteville AR, please click on Slideshow link.
Widening Cato Springs Road need not kill historic tree: Please attend gathering at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011
HUGGING FAYETTEVILLE'S TREES
ON THURSDAY, JULY 7, AT 1:00PM there will be a FAYETTEVILLE TREE HUG in celebration of the very old and large COTTONWOOD TREE at Cato Springs Road and Vale Avenue (1410 Cato Springs) west of the railroad.Everyone is welcome to come celebrate this tree, which was growing in Fayetteville during the early days of our town's settlement in this area called Fayette Junction, and to cool off beneath its branches whileenjoying some iced tea or lemonade. Bring a lawn chair if you wish.Because of road widening, great concern for the long-term survival
and health of this tree has been expressed by people familiar with the
area, its history, and this tree's beauty.The celebration is to bring attention to the various threats, which this
tree may face and to ask the city for two specific
written commitments:
at a depth recommended by the Arkansas Forestry Commission's urban forester1.
That there will be no trenching within the drip-line of this tree
because that would sever its vital root system, and instead that the
needed utilities be installed via a bored tunnel beneath the root system
and/or the city's urban forester. In this process the bore should also
extend beyond the root system of the healthy 22-year-old pine tree just
west of the cottonwood in order to protect it as well.
2.
That there will be no driving, paving, digging, dumping, parking, or
other disruptive construction activities done around these trees'
crucial root systems/drip line areas, which will be fenced and the
fencing will remain for the duration of the construction process.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Numerous insects use the flowers of the Rattlesnake master
Please click on image to ENLARGE view of beetle on Rattlesnake master on July 4, 2011, at Pinnacle Foods Inc. wet prairie in Fayetteville AR. Click on enlargement for even closer view.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
My favorite small piece shown in studio show of Hank Kaminiski's Sacred Ground works
Please click on image to ENLARGE view. Click on enlargement for closer view.
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