Protection against the next hurricane Sandy

Better, Cheaper Protection Against the Next Superstorm Sandy

Ending government insurance subsidies and investing in the land’s natural defenses would save billions in disaster relief.

By

COLLIN O’MARA AND SCOTT CARMILANI

Oct. 31, 2014 6:29 p.m. ET

The second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy this month is a reminder that the U.S. remains woefully unprepared for superstorms and other extreme weather events. Federal statutes continue unwittingly to incentivize development in hazard-prone areas, while fiscal politics prevent sizable investments in resilience measures. This dichotomy distorts private markets and exacerbates the potential liability of the U.S. Treasury.

Fortunately there are policy reforms, which should enjoy bipartisan support, that will reduce risks from extreme storms and floods, reduce exposure for taxpayers, and expand private market opportunities—all in ways that enhance critical fish and wildlife habitat and other natural resources.

That’s why, as leaders of America’s largest conservation organization and a global provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions, we are issuing a call to action in a newreport, “Natural Defenses from Hurricanes and Floods.” Protecting the country and ecosystems from extreme weather should be confronted in three ways:

A volunteer helps rebuild a house for Habitat for Humanity in Coney Island, N.Y., on Wednesday. ASSOCIATED PRESS

First, fix federal and state laws that encourage risky development by privatizing economic benefits while socializing losses. Subsidies within the National Flood Insurance Program should be phased out with sensitivity to low-income households. In addition, a greater portion of federal disaster-relief funds allocated to state and local governments under the Stafford Act should be dedicated to mitigate hazards. Communities should be required to take proactive mitigation measures to be eligible for assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Congress also should strengthen the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, which prevents federal subsidies for risky development on some sensitive coastal lands. It should make restoration projects a priority in the Army Corps of Engineers’ budget; and it should finalize Clean Water Act protections of wetlands and streams that absorb millions of gallons of floodwater.

Second, government should encourage clear market signals and provide public information to enable people and investors to make informed, thoughtful decisions about the level of inherent risk of building or living in different locations. There are several efforts under way at the federal and state levels to improve floodplain mapping and other scientific data that will help, but this information has to be accessible, interoperable and understandable for all audiences.

Third, and perhaps most important, major investments in “natural infrastructure” should become the preferred means of defending communities against the dangers of extreme weather. Protecting and restoring wetlands, dunes, living shorelines, upland forests and other open space provides a host of benefits: flood protection, clean water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and increased opportunities for recreation and tourism.

Just as Sandy showed the growing risk from extreme storms in our changing climate, healthy urban marshes in New York, New Jersey and Delaware demonstrated how natural defenses can provide unrivaled protection from the damage they can inflict. For example, a broad coalition of federal, state and local agencies in New York have spent eight years restoring more than 150 acres of wetlands in Jamaica Bay using hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of dredged material and more than a million native marsh plants. These restored marshes held strong during Sandy and helped absorb the storm’s destructive wave action. According to a 2008 study published in the journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, coastal wetlands provide as much as $23.2 billion worth of storm protection annually in the U.S.

There are a growing number of natural-infrastructure success stories. Philadelphia, Chicago and Duluth are using healthy wetlands and vegetated floodplains to reduce flooding risks and clean storm water. Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and several Gulf states are restoring wetlands, building living shorelines that rely on plants and their roots instead of concrete to stabilize the shore, and restoring wetlands that can contain and absorb floodwaters to improve resilience and enhance wildlife habitat. California’s Yuba County has made levees protecting its farms and communities from floods more effective and cheaper to maintain by establishing setbacks and restoring native vegetation that allow “room for the river.”

Natural infrastructure is longer-lasting and more cost-effective than levees and sea walls for protection against storms and floods. A Marshall Plan-scale investment in resilience is needed, much of which could come from requiring that existing and future infrastructure appropriations prioritize natural infrastructure. According to a 2005 study by the Multi-hazard Mitigation Council, every $1 spent on risk reduction prevents $4 in disaster costs. Natural infrastructure investments will save lives and billions of dollars in property damage.

Not much is expected from Washington these days, yet reforming disaster preparedness may have bipartisan appeal. For conservatives, our proposed solutions reduce federal expenses and support private markets. For liberals, the solutions protect local communities and restore natural resources. What are we waiting for?

Mr. O’Mara is president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. Mr. Carmilani is president and CEO of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings , AG.

Mule deer

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Photo Credit: Jennifer Jarrett

http://jenniferajarrett.blogspot.com/2012/03/deer.html

Mule Deer by http://jenniferajarrett.blogspot.com/2012/03/deer.html

In Kansas, mule deer are only found in the western one-third of the state, especially on the High Plains, Smoky Hills, and Red Hills. White tailed deer are more common east of these locations.

Compared to a white-tailed deer, the mule deer is slightly smaller in stature, has a black-tipped tail & larger ears. Also the antlers bifurcate as they grow instead of sprouting smaller branches off a main stem. The buck’s antlers are shed in the winter after rutting has occurred in the fall. Although mule deer can run, they frequently engage in stotting (pronking or pronging). This behavior is characterized by springing into the air with all feet off the ground simultaneously while the head is pointed downward as do gazelles. They have a relatively small rumen requiring them to eat only nutritious plants. Their habitat is becoming fragmented by construction of highways and residential subdivisions.

President Obama Expands National Marine Monument

Green Sea Turtle photo by Adam Victorino

From Defenders of Wildlife Blog

“The expanded Pacific Remote Islands National Monument will provide a necessary safe haven for protected wildlife, along with many other species that will benefit from these conservation efforts. Millions of seabirds from 19 different species depend on the refuge areas and play a critical role in the food chain in the shore ecosystems. In addition to the value to seabirds, the monument also expands the range in which manta rays can safely forage, supports at least 22 species of marine mammals and protects five species of sea turtles.”  To see full report from Defenders of Wildlife, visit:

http://www.defendersblog.org/2014/10/cool-water-president-obama-expands-national-marine-monument/

Relocating a prairie dog colony

By Kathy Hanks

The Hutchinson News

Off in the distance, a black-tailed prairie dog stood on watch duty as a group huddled around a burrow being filled with soapy water.

Then the varmint let out a chirp, no doubt warning its comrades to burrow deeper into the ground.

By the end of the day, about 40 prairie dogs would hopefully learn that surrender was the best option. Life would only get better. But they would put up a resistance to the group that included Jeff Wells with Advance Termite & Pest Control, members of Audubon of Kansas and Jay Mitzner’s Bobcat Service, which provided the thousands of gallons of water to flush them out of the prairie dog colony.

The plan was to take the captives peacefully and relocate the prairie dogs to a 42,000-acre ranch in the Red Hills of BarberCounty. That’s where they would begin a new life in an existing prairie dog colony.

“They are going to have a great life,” said Cheryl L. Mitchell, controller for Henzlik Real Estate Companies. She spent the past two months researching and developing a plan to relocate the prairie dog town so that dirt work could begin and properties could be developed north of 17th Avenue and K-61, east of the Olive Garden restaurant. Plans are for a Buffalo Wild Wings and Rib Crib to open in 2015.

Instead of running the prairie dogs off or killing them, Mitchell organized Tuesday’s roundup. She worked closely with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism as well as Ron Klataske, executive director of Audubon of Kansas, to ensure the best way to safely remove an estimated 40 prairie dogs.

Mitchell was determined the relocation would be successful. That’s why it was imperative, she said, that the prairie dogs be released into existing colonies.

With almost as many bottles of Dawn dishwashing detergent as there were prairie dogs and 2,000 gallons of water at a time, they began filling the prairie dog holes that led to an underground world. As the morning warmed up, a group of prairie dogs was sunning above ground, keeping their eye on the humans.

“The first one was easy to catch,” Mitchell said as the soaking-wet and sudsy rascal flew out of the hole and was grabbed by a gloved Wells. Standing at attention were two volunteers with large nets.

Klataske explained that the soapy water flushed down into the burrow would get into all the crevices, forcing the prairie dogs to come to the surface. Once each prairie dog was captured, Wells wiped the soap off the animal and out of its eyes and placed it inside a Stutzman Refuse trash container with straw bedding.

As they began capturing more prairie dogs, the animals would burrow together in the trash barrel. Mitchell said the dark trash bin was more humane for the prairie dogs than putting them inside a cage.

‘Here’s some fresh poop,” said Wells. “A sign of life.”

Mitchell took the long hose and shoved it down the hole. Within minutes, a soaked and slippery varmint shot up out of the hole and Wells grabbed it in his gloved hands.

It continued like this until they hit what Klataske said was the prairie dogs’ “convention center.” That’s when the varmints began swimming up to the surface.

“Operation Sudsy Water” was in full swing.The smell of dish soap mingled with the smell of the worst wet dog imaginable as each critter was captured.

Meanwhile, Wells was on the ground with his arm all the way up to his shoulder in one of the burrows. He looked like an arm wrestler, red-faced and determined to win. He came up with two more prairie dogs. The trash containers were filling. Inside of them, the prairie dogs were drying off, their hair fluffy and clean. They would nest deeper into the straw.

Klataske noted that the colony, which was growing smaller as the day progressed, had been a perfect environment for prairie dogs.

“There are not many predators because the grass is mowed,” said Klataske. But development was inevitable. And the prairie dogs were going to a good home.

The real estate deal would close next week, Mitchell said, and they would begin moving dirt.

She was thrilled with the outcome of the relocation project. She even netted one of the 40 prairie dogs that were captured.

“We have far exceeded any expectations,” Mitchell said.

17th annual youth & women’s pheasant hunt at WacondaLakeNov. 22nd

Event provides outstanding hunting opportunities for new young and women hunters

If you want to learn more about hunting but don’t know where to start, the 17

Annual Youth & Women’s Pheasant Hunt At Waconda Lake might be for you. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and sponsoring partners will conduct the 2014 pheasant hunting event for youth and women at WacondaLake on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Designed to provide women and youth new to hunting with a safe and productive initiation into hunting, the event will begin at 7:15 am with breakfast at the HopewellChurch basement in GlenElderState Park. Breakfast will be followed by a pre-hunt safety talk and participants will be divided into hunting groups. The hunters, guides, and mentors will then head out to various refuge areas (where a very limited amount of hunting is allowed) around WacondaLake and hunt for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. A noon meal will be provided by the Waconda Lake Association.

Women of any age and youth ages 11–16 are encouraged to apply for this hunt, which is geared toward providing a comfortable and positive hunting environment for new or inexperienced hunters. Previous hunting experience is not required, and some shotguns and ammunition can be provided to applicants who do not have access to their own equipment.

To apply, contact the Glen Elder Area Office by Monday, Nov. 10 by calling 785-545-3345 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Up to 40 applicants will be selected to participate in the hunt.

This year’s new format will divide participants into groups based on their hunting experience and skill levels. The most inexperienced hunters will start their activities with some basic field safety exercises and trap shooting, then progress pheasant hunting later in the day. Participants who have some prior pheasant hunting experience will spend more time in the field.

A unique aspect of this event is that each group of pheasant hunters will get to hunt alongside hero/celebrities who have been invited to serve as hunting mentors. These individuals may be former professional athletes, TV personalities, or military personnel who have recently returned from deployment.

Trap shooting will be available for hunters to work on refining their shooting skills. From 1:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. the trap shooting will also be open to the general public. The trap shooting area will be located immediately west of the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office. Everyone is encouraged to bring novice shooters with them.

All participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt that recognizes event sponsors. Each of the youth hunters will also receive a prize bag containing several items of “essential” outdoor gear for beginning hunters.

Additionally, a hunters’ banquet is planned for Saturday night. The banquet will include a meal, recognition of event sponsors and partners, and opportunity for hunters, mentors and the hero/celebrities to interact. All event participants are invited to attend and will be asked to RSVP for the banquet when they sign up for the hunt.

Extra volunteers will be needed for the event to serve as hunting and instructional mentors. For further questions concerning the event or if you would like to be involved, please contact Chris Lecuyer at the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office 785-545-3345.