Water-filled skies on the move, living with climate change.

More and more Canada geese are showing up in widely scattered fields this week. Last Summer's goslings are becoming young of the year. Training flights develop muscle endurance for longer, migratory flights. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources estimates that duck numbers are down but Canada goose numbers are up. Longer term, the National Wildlife Federation notes, for the Mississippi Flyway, that:

"Shoreline wetlands of the Great Lakes provide critical habitat for breeding and migrating waterfowl, especially diving and sea ducks. Global warming is projected to contribute to cause a 19-39 percent decline in ducks here by 2030."

waterfowl depend on wetland habitat

Photo by J. Harrington

Ducks Unlimited has produced a white paper on Conserving Waterfowl and Wetlands Amid Climate Change. Trout Unlimited answers a series of Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] about the impacts of climate change on coldwater fish resources that parallels DU's assessment for ducks:

"Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, and brown trout habitat is predicted to decrease by about 50 to 75% in the interior western U.S. by the 2080s due to changes in temperatures, hydrology, and interactions with non-native trout according to a study by Trout Unlimited and partner scientists."

Decreases in habitat usually are accompanied by decreases in the numbers of former occupants of those habitats. Fewer ducks to hunt also results in fewer duck hunters buying fewer duck stamps and paying fewer excise taxes on guns and ammo so there are fewer dollars going to habitat preservation. Fishing licenses and trout stamps and coldwater habitat improvements can end up following a downward spiral.

can Minnesota protect enough cold, clean water for people and trout

Photo by J. Harrington

Massive restoration efforts will be needed along the Harvey-bashed Gulf Coast and wherever Hurricane Irma hits. Many waterfowl also Winter along the Gulf Coast. The current occupant of the Oval Office denies climate change and cuts outdoor recreation and habitat restoration budgets. Those of us who enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, mountain biking and the list continues, had better do a better job electing those who share our concerns about maintaining and restoring quality habitat for people and other critters, unless we want to concede both the future and the present aren't worth a damn. We're not ready to make that concession yet, are you? On the off chance we've got your attention, here's where some positive and readily available actions can do some good.

Minnesota's DNR has six water appropriations permits under review that would allow a mining company to use 6.2 BILLION gallons a year for only $8/million gallons. Does that seem to fit well with the uncertain future we're all facing? We share WaterLegacy's concerns that:

"The DNR has not studied what harm that much water loss would do to the Partridge River, the 100 Mile Swamp, and vital wetland habitats."

You can have a say on these water appropriation permits if you act before the September 12 deadline.

Click here to tell the DNR to deny PolyMet’s draft water appropriation permits.

Established, proven climate change solutions can be found at: DRAWDOWN. Follow the links, we've got work to do to save ourselves, the trout and:

The Geese

Hyam Plutzik, 1911 - 1962

A miscellaneous screaming that comes from nowhere
Raises the eyes at last to the moonward-flying
Squadron of wild-geese arcing the spatial cold.
Beyond the hunter’s gun or the will’s range
They press southward, toward the secret marshes
Where the appointed gunmen mark the crossing
Of flight and moment. There is no force stronger
(In the sweep of the monomaniac passion, time)
Than the will toward destiny, which is death.
Value the intermediate splendor of birds.

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