Environmental Issues: Who's Who

[MMDad]

I'm generally not up on the environemental issues around here, but the diminishing water supply is definitely a big and legitimate problem. Rainfall has been below normal for much of the past 15 years, so there hasn't been as much water coming in to replenish the aquafers. This by no means completes the picture, but it certainly has a lot to do with it.

Other environmental concerns around here are the natural evolution of the area: increasing erosion as the area topography ages, decreasing populations of certain types of marine life (while demand for crabs, etc. increases every year), and changes in the underwater environment due to the effects of runoff chemicals (such as fertilizers) on aquatic vegetation.

One environmental issue worthy of note is becoming universal: awareness leads to exaggeration. Depending on who you talk to, the issues are huge or insignificant in the big scheme of things. It's important to obtain a complete and unbiased collection of all the facts before doing or saying anything.

Are you trying to kill all participation in the forums?

 

[MysticalMom]

He11 I moved here in 1975. My mother's a Norris and the old mans a McKay and I'm still a newbie.

 

[Dougstermd]

Should she have bought it silently?

GOOD CATCH

 

[Railroad]

Are you trying to kill all participation in the forums?

 

[Dougstermd]

Is it getting warmer. Can someone expand on the greenhouse effect. will it be cheaper to heat my house in the winter ? with all the global warming?

 

[Railroad]

Is it getting warmer. Can someone expand on the greenhouse effect. will it be cheaper to heat my house in the winter ? with all the global warming?

When?

 

[Railroad]

A good example of exaggeration getting started:

The world's smallest fish has been discovered in Indonesia, according to an Associated press story. See this quote:

"This is one of the strangest fish that I've seen in my whole career,' said Ralf Britz, zoologist at the Natural History Museum in London, who helped analyze the fish's skeleton. "It's tiny, it lives in acid and it has these bizarre grasping fins. I hope we'll have time to find out more about them before their habitat disappears completely."

The article then goes on to explain that the little fellow's habitat, very acidic tea-colored water in a peat swamp, is in danger because of farmers and developers clearing land by burning. Nobody has mentioned (and I doubt anybody knows) if the little fellow will happily survive in clean, clear fresh water. But I'll wager the environmental slant makes a celebrity of both fish and scientists before long.

 

[willie]

Is it getting warmer. Can someone expand on the greenhouse effect. will it be cheaper to heat my house in the winter ? with all the global warming?

The only thing that will get cheaper is the dollar.

 

[oldman]

I want to understand the environmental issues in Southern Maryland.

Can anyone help guide me who's done what?

Although there is a fine line at times between environmental issues and conservation issues I can only say I belong to two conservation organizations here in southern Maryland, neither of which could be considered radical. The issues are ever changing. My suggestion is to attend some meetings of any group close to you, make up you own mind as to what's the correct thing to do, and follow through with your true beliefs based on facts. An example might be todays meeting in Annapolis with DNR to discuss commercial fishermen versus recreational fishermen rights. I won't go into details but it's one cause to fight for at the moment. National groups, of which there are many, have their own agendas and one just has to be knowledgible to understand the issues.

 

[forever jewel]

A lot of fuss is made over the Chesapeake Bay and for good reason.

Since the native SOMDer's love oysters, it seems we are overharvesting them, which in the long run diminishes the Bay's health. Also, developers expansion into wetlands does not help things either. The wetlands are what buffer the mainland and the Bay.

But, I don't know if there is a solution to it. Its not like we can put a limit on our population size. If there is land to accomodate it, then it will be developed.

 

[Midnightrider]

A lot of fuss is made over the Chesapeake Bay and for good reason.

Since the native SOMDer's love oysters, it seems we are overharvesting them, which in the long run diminishes the Bay's health. Also, developers expansion into wetlands does not help things either. The wetlands are what buffer the mainland and the Bay.

But, I don't know if there is a solution to it. Its not like we can put a limit on our population size. If there is land to accomodate it, then it will be developed.

first step, no kids for you

next step, no kids for any!!!!


did i say "ummm 'sters"

 

[bcp]

first step, no kids for you

next step, no kids for any!!!!


did i say "ummm 'sters"

I suppose the gay population is doing good things for the environment.. maybe they are not so bad after all..


now, question.

take someone like myself that bought my house in what was a country type area back in 85. The house was built in 1931 on land that was owned by the same family since the early 1800s. (tobbaco farmers)

now, since I bought here to live in the country, as did the majority of the others living in this area at the time, do we have any rights to maintain what we bought for? Or do we have to accept the fact that Mr. and Mrs Baltimore moves in and starts crying becuase they have to travel 7 miles to get to the nearest store.

Who has rights over who?

 

[MMDad]

I suppose the gay population is doing good things for the environment.. maybe they are not so bad after all..


now, question.

take someone like myself that bought my house in what was a country type area back in 85. The house was built in 1931 on land that was owned by the same family since the early 1800s. (tobbaco farmers)

now, since I bought here to live in the country, as did the majority of the others living in this area at the time, do we have any rights to maintain what we bought for? Or do we have to accept the fact that Mr. and Mrs Baltimore moves in and starts crying becuase they have to travel 7 miles to get to the nearest store.

Who has rights over who?

If you bought the property around you, you can control it. Otherwise, deal with it.

 

[bcp]

If you bought the property around you, you can control it. Otherwise, deal with it.

well, I only bought five acres of it, so until the county wants it, I can control it to a point.
but I cant control the traffic in front of my home, or the impact on the water or the impact on the schools in the area, and likewise, the tax hikes needed to cater to these new people.

Little true story.

friend of mine had 20 acres in Chesapeak Virgina years ago. They put up town houses right up against the back of his property.
He ended up having to install a fence becuase the neighborhood kids from that development would come into his property and tear up the plants, start camp fires, and steal things from his barn.

the people in the town house development petitioned the city of chesapeak to use my friends property for a park for the children to play in.
they claimed that he did not need all of that property, and it would be a better use as their personal play ground.

He ended up loosing in a court battle over his property and the city took a little over 10 acres to put in a ball field and some play equipment for the townhouse developement, he was paid way below actual value for the land.

the next step was when the city took half of the remaining propert to put in an access rd for the townhouse community so they could reduce traffic on the now overcrowded road that the entrance was on.

By the time all was said and done, he ended up selling the property for what he could, and still owed money on the mortgage even after using the cities payments to reduce his principal.

now, how was that fair?

 

[Ken King]

Don't forget the "manhaden", that little fish being raped from the bay to make fertilizers, oils, and such. They are a filter fish and without them the bay doesn't get filtered as well as it once did.

 

[MMDad]

Don't forget the "manhaden", that little fish being raped from the bay to make fertilizers, oils, and such. They are a filter fish and without them the bay doesn't get filtered as well as it once did.

They were once the top commercial fishing crop in the world. Not any more. Too bad they were depleted.

We learned with the rockfish - the fishery was closed down, and now it has recovered. Why can't we learn this with Crabs - scavengers who break down dead animals - and oysters, who's efficiency is well documented?

I know some people will loose their livelihoods if the fisheries are shut down, but why not now while there is a chance for the bay to recover?

 

[Ken King]

They were once the top commercial fishing crop in the world. Not any more. Too bad they were depleted.

We learned with the rockfish - the fishery was closed down, and now it has recovered. Why can't we learn this with Crabs - scavengers who break down dead animals - and oysters, who's efficiency is well documented?

I know some people will loose their livelihoods if the fisheries are shut down, but why not now while there is a chance for the bay to recover?

Virginia still goes after them strong with fishing fleets and spotter aircraft all they way to the Maryland line. It's a shame how some turn the blind eye while continuing to reap what will soon be gone and destroy what once was the source of their livelihood.

 

[dems4me]

Virginia still goes after them strong with fishing fleets and spotter aircraft all they way to the Maryland line. It's a shame how some turn the blind eye while continuing to reap what will soon be gone and destroy what once was the source of their livelihood.