LimnoTech Inc. articles

On June 19th, 2012, the residents of Duluth, Minnesota experienced a storm event for the record books. Over the course of 24 hours, approximately 9 inches of rain pummeled the landscape, causing massive floods and landslides throughout the city. As a result, Duluth’s infrastructure and natural resources were severely damaged, notably miles of designated trout streams. In fact, the floods were so severe in parts, the polar bear at the Lake Superior Zoo was able to get out of its exhibit

There is mounting evidence that climate-changeinduced extreme events are expected to adversely affect the aquatic ecosystems and ecosystem services that they provide. To address this need to understand how climate, aquatic ecological, and social systems interact and how to manage these coupled systems, LimnoTech is participating with a large team of researchers (from Stanford University, the University of Michigan, Heidelberg University, University of Toledo, Grace College, and the Great Lake

The Laurentian Great Lakes contain an abundance of fresh water, collectively representing approximately 20% of the fresh surface water available globally. Despite the enormity of this resource, water levels and flows in the Great Lakes are subject to fluctuations caused by changing climate conditions that have cascading impacts on the coastal ecosystem and the regional economy. Proactive management of this freshwater resource has become increasingly important as we have observed recent change

Most power generation facilities rely on a significant quantity of water, primarily for cooling. The most recent USGS water use survey (2005) reports that thermoelectric power accounts for approximately 41% of total freshwater withdrawals in the United States—more than any other water-use sector. Although most water use for this sector is not highly consumptive (less than 5% of national freshwater consumption budget), projections indicate possible increasing thermoelectric power consump

Those of you who live in the U.S. Northeast, Midwest, and especially the Great Lakes region, endured a long and harsh winter this past year. You probably heard this phrase many times in recent months: "What happened to global warming?" It’s hard to imagine a warming world when you’ve just lived through one of the coldest winters you can remember. As it turns out, however, other parts of the world lived through the warmest winter in recent memory.

I started writing this

The electric power generation sector uses approximately 41% of all freshwater withdrawn in the United States—more than any other water use sector. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) conducts research and development to help address challenges in electricity generation, delivery, and use, including water sustainability issues. On behalf of EPRI, LimnoTech conducted research and is developing a tool to help address potential water resource limitations for electric power generato

Water footprint assessments were conducted for dehydrated onions and micro-irrigation systems (MIS), produced by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. in Maharashtra, India. A key objective was to understand the differences in the water footprints between onions grown under drip and flood irrigation, both in terms of water usage and agricultural productivity. The team was also interested in the practical application of the assessment methodology for understanding the sustainability of water use throug

Green infrastructure practices serve as decentralized alternatives to traditional wet weather controls in urban areas where land is limited and sewer infrastructure is often stressed to capacity. Green infrastructure attempts to restore natural hydrologic processes and decreases the quantity of runoff, reduces peak flow rates, and improves water quality. In addition, green infrastructure can improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effects, create urban habitat, add aesthetic beauty to n

The Coca-Cola Company is committed to balancing the water used in its finished products by participating in locally relevant projects that support communities and nature. LimnoTech, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), is supporting the Company’s “Replenish” commitment through a multi-phase project. The project is focused on the quantification of benefits from watershed restoration activities as a means of sustaining a clean and adequate water supply for all b

Habitat study determines limiting factors to fish
The Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) is a network of 78 miles of rivers and deep-draft canals in and around the City of Chicago. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) maintains the system for navigation, flood control, and wastewater conveyance. The CAWS is unique in that 75% of the system is manmade canals. A system of locks and dams controlling flow creates a completely artificial hy