Environment

  After the strange weather we had this summer, it has been a beautiful fall, so far, prompting even people who don’t like yard work to get outside, rake leaves or work in their gardens. But there is plenty to do now to make the most of the nice weather we have left before the temperatures drop, and prepare our yards and gardens for winter. 

We are accustomed to odd weather in the Tri-state, but this summer has been particularly unusual: heavy rains and unseasonably low temperatures followed by days of intense, dry heat, followed by more rain and cooler days. One morning it’'s August, the next October, then we'’re back to August again. It’'s posed a real challenge to farmers and anyone trying to keep their lawns and gardens healthy.

Three Valley Conservation Trust in Oxford, Ohio is a non-profit land trust designed to protect and monitor about 160 properties, covering more than 18,000 acres and 70 miles of stream corridors, under permanent conservation and agricultural easement agreements.

Green roofs, also known as eco-roofs or nature roofs, have become increasingly more popular as people and organizations realize their benefits, from better storm-water management and reduced CO2 impact to cutting down summer air conditioning costs. You may not realize it, but Washington Park is a green roof. And a 2,400 square foot green roof grows on top of Giraffe Ridge Barn at the Cincinnati Zoo.

 This show originally aired October 24, 2014. 

The former Feed Materials Production Center in Fernald, Ohio, just 20 miles from Cincinnati, processed uranium as part of our country’'s nuclear weapons program from 1951 to 1989. When production at the site ceased, cleanup and environmental remediation began. Today, the once-contaminated site is home to the Fernald Preserve, more than 1,000 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat, covered in seven miles of trails for birders, hikers and photographers.

Native plants, those adapted to our local climate and soil conditions, don’t require the fertilizers, pesticides, water or maintenance of non-native plants. And they provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. 

As beautiful as the animals are, deer have become not just a nuisance but a real danger in many neighborhoods, especially during mating season. Over-population and dwindling natural habitat have forced more deer into yards and out onto roads and highways, and they are an increasing cause of vehicle accidents across the country. But there seems to be little consensus on the proper way to control deer populations. 

  Last week the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency issued an Air Quality Advisory, what used to be called a smog alert, for our region, the first of this year.

UPDATE:  Leaders of the Ohio River Paddlefest announced Thursday night that the annual Paddle on the Ohio scheduled for Saturday, June 20 has been canceled due to safety concerns.  The new date is Sunday, August 2.   Over 2,000 paddlers were expected to participate in the annual 8.2 mile paddle from Coney Island to the Cincinnati Public Landing.  

Saturday's Finish Line Festival at Yeatman's Cove also is canceled.

The Roots on the River Music & Outdoor Festival at Coney Island on Friday June 19 is still ON from 4-midnight with  music, SUP lessons, outdoor adventure vendors of all kinds, gear swap, kayak fishing contest, silent auction, etc.  Admission is free with a parking charge.

  Original Post: 

The Ohio River Paddlefest Weekend starts this Thursday with the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo, followed-up by the Ohio River Outdoor Music Festival and the Ohio River Paddlefest. Saturday morning the U.S. Coast Guard will close the Ohio River to commercial and power boat traffic as paddlers launch more than 1,400 canoes, kayaks and human powered boats for a trip down river.

The Ohio River is one of our greatest resources, the reason Cincinnati is even here in the first place. And each year thousands of recreational boaters enjoy the river. But while being out on the water is a great time, there are dangers involved, especially with the amount of commercial traffic that travels our stretch of the Ohio.

**The rescheduled Global Water Dances event will happen on Saturday, August 2 at 11am along the Serpentine Wall in Cincinnati**

Cincinnati again joins in the Global Water Dances movement to bring awareness of the need for healthy, fresh water.

According to the EPA, an estimated 600,000 tons of monitors, 67,000 tons of computer mice and keyboards and 20,000 tons of mobile devices are disposed of each year in the United States. Just a small percentage of that and other electronic waste, or e-waste, is recycled. But you can do your part to properly, and safely, recycle your old electronic products.

John Kamanga is the coordinator of the South Rift Association of Land Owners, a land trust in Kenya that works to involve the entire community in all conservation efforts. 

The first Earth Day was 45 years ago. And on April 22 every year since then, people around the world celebrate the day by taking some action to improve the environment. Joining us to talk about the progress we’'ve made to create a greener, cleaner, more sustainable environment, worldwide and here in our region, are Cincinnati Nature Center Chief Naturalist and Adult Program Manager Bill Creasey; Brewster Rhoads, executive director of Green Umbrella Regional Sustainability Alliance; and, Scott Beuerlein, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden horticulturist and chairman of the Taking Root campaign.

The Zoo's Earth Day celebration, “Party for the Planet,” takes place April 23; the 2015 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit will by held May 1 at the Xavier University Cintas Center, registration is open until April 29. And for recycling anything in Hamilton County, check out the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District website. 

  Long established in Europe, green, or living, roofs are becoming increasingly popular here in the United states, as more people  recognize their value in conserving energy, improving air quality, and managing storm water runoff, along with their aesthetic qualities.

  Owners of electric vehicles have more opportunities to get a re-charge in Greater Cincinnati with the addition of five new charging stations. Ann Thompson joins us for details. 

  Michael Bean has, literally and figuratively, written the book on wildlife conservation law and has directed the wildlife conservation activities of the Environmental Defense Fund since 1977. 

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is presenting its 23rd annual Barrows Conservation Lecture Series next month. Since 1993, the series has brought a slate of esteemed naturalists and scientists to Cincinnati to address wildlife issues and global conservation efforts. Joining us today with interviews of the speakers taking part in this year’'s lecture series is Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard.

  Maintaining a garden or landscape takes a lot of time and effort, mulching, weeding and watering, to keep everything healthy and looking good. You’re doing all of that work, why not get a bit more out of it by substituting blueberries, vegetables, herbs, or other edible plants for some of the flowers you typically grow, or maybe add a fruit tree to your yard? Joining us to discuss edible gardening and to answer your questions are apple orchardist Marsha Lindner; Melinda O'Briant Adult Education director at Turner Farm; and, David Koester, Campbell County Horticulture extension agent.

  After spending 20 years as a research biologist with the Florida Marine Research Institute, Dr. Blair Witherington joined the University of Florida'’s Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research where he is in charge of the Disney Animal Kingdom’'s sea turtle conservation effort.