A state study of the watersheds of the West, Williams and Saxtons rivers in the southeastern corner of the state shows the biggest environmental problem appears to be increased temperatures, a planner with the Agency of Natural Resources said.
Marie Levesque Caduto, a watershed coordinator with the agency, said Friday the study is one of 17 being conducted on the different watersheds in the state.
The article doesn't go into real detail, but refers to the importance of cool temperatures to the creatures living inside the rivers, not just the fish, but the creatures the fish eat as well.
The article itself doesn't necessarily attribute this to global warming, but it's obvious that this is a contributing factor, along with other factors, noting that:
it was not just the large ponds or lakes behind the flood control dams, which act as giant heat sinks, but that all along the rivers people are cutting trees and shrubs along riverbanks, eliminating its shade which is important not just to fish, but the tiny invertebrates they eat.
The second article is interesting. It discusses not just phone polling, but what people think after getting some education on the topic. The results of this sample group were (again, from the Rutland Herald:
strong support for wind and other forms of renewable energy, sharp divisions about nuclear power with high concern about radioactive waste, and very high concern about greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.
This is not rocket science. We can make wind power happen in Vermont, and we can find ways to make it happen in ways that greatly improve the quality of our environment.
Vermont's been very resistant to wind power in some circles. When I bring it up, it often ends up in this morass of people who claim I'm trying to destroy their mountains, mixed with other people who insist that I'm stupid to ignore the obvious benefits of nuclear power. You get the idea.
Vermont has large sections of farm land in very wide-open windy spaces along Lake Champlain. I suggest that we offer subsidies to some of those farmers (many of whom are struggling to make ends meet) to use portions of their land for small-scale wind projects, designed to bring wind power to their own communities. I also propose that ski resorts be used as test sites, putting wind turbines at the tops of mountains which have already been converted to commercial use.
I also propose a major investment in hiring researchers to find ways to make wind power more efficient, less damaging to the immediate wildlife and safe for any flying creatures that come near the turbines. This multi-tiered approach could greatly reduce our dependence on nuclear power and power supplied by Hydro-Quebec. It combines renewable energy with local economy in ways which are completely win-win.
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