Ponds and pools are a common feature of our landscape – there are at least ten times as many ponds as lakes in the UK – and they are also important wildlife habitats. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of these freshwater habitats. The first chapter discusses what ponds, pools and puddles are, how they differ from rivers and lakes, their origin – natural or man-made, the different types of ponds and their abundance and distribution in Britain. A second chapter looks at ponds as ancient natural habitats that have existed for millennia on the earth’s surface. Ancient pond communities, as preserved in inter- and post-glacial sediments, are compared with modern pond communities. This chapter also examines the physical and chemical environment of ponds, covering aspects such as size, shape and depth, hydrology, oxygen and temperature. Ponds, pools and puddles are important wildlife habitats; they are as rich in species as rivers, and support rare and uncommon taxa including about half of Britain’s Red Data Book wetland plant and animal species. The authors give a comprehensive survey of the variety of plant and animal life for which ponds, pools and puddles are a habitat, with a chapter each on plants, invertebrates, amphibians, and fish, birds and mammals. The book discusses the importance of ponds to each of these groups and the ways in which the organisms exploit ponds, describing their habitats and major variations in life cycles. The pond ecosystem and colonisation and succession are discussed in two further chapters, before the final chapter, which is devoted to the subject of conservation and how best to protect and manage ponds and pond wildlife in Britain today. In spite of their evident importance, ponds have been largely ignored by freshwater biologists during this century. Ponds, Pools and Puddles makes an invaluable contribution to raising awareness of these popular, yet frequently underrated freshwater habitats, giving them the attention they rightly deserve.

The Santiam River is a tributary of the Williamette River in northwestern Oregon and drains an area of 1,810 aware miles. The U.S. Arm Corps of Engineers operates four dams in the basin, which are used primarily for flood control, hydropower production, recreation, and water-quality improvement.

The Umpqua River drains 12,103 km2 of western Oregon, heading in the Cascade Range and draining portions of the Klamath Mountains and Coast Range before entering the Pacific Ocean.

Well before quagga mussels were found in southern Nevada's Lake Mead in 2007, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and other federal agencies had prepared protective measures in case the mussels were detected west of the Continental Divide. Without examining the biological requirements of quagga mussels, the TRPA ignored dozens of scientific studies that showed quagga can't reproduce and survive in Lake Tahoe and implemented the nation's most aggressive watercraft inspection program. As water quality studies increasingly demonstrate that quagga can't survive in Lake Tahoe and its nearby lakes and reservoirs, the TRPA and their scientific partners have expanded the list of aquatic invasive species that could potentially infest Lake Tahoe. However, no reputable studies have been advanced that demonstrate that New Zealand mud snails, spiny water fleas, or hydrilla - the "new" organisms that boat inspections are protecting Tahoe from - can sustain in the lake. As the Town of Truckee considers whether to copy the five-year-old Lake Tahoe boat inspection program at Donner Lake, a draft edition of Tessie, Quagga Mussels, and Other Tahoe Myths has been given to the members of the Truckee Town Council and is made available to the public for their critical review. Publication of the marketed first edition will be withheld until the town council has had time to review the book and related material, and for those who may be critical of the book's science to comment. Documentation of factual errors and additional information are welcomed.

St. Clair River is a connecting channel that transports water from Lake Huron to the St. Clair River Delta and Lake St. Clair. A negative trend has been detected in differences between water levels on Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. This trend may indicate a combination of flow and conveyance changes within St. Clair River. To identify where conveyance change may be taking place, eight water-level gaging stations along St. Clair River were selected to delimit seven reaches. Positive trends in water-level fall were detected in two reaches, and negative trends were detected in two other reaches.

The availability of abundant new borehole data from recent coal bed natural gas development was utilized by the U.S. Geological Survey for a comprehensive evaluation of coal resources and reserves in the southwestern part of the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. This report on the Southwestern Powder River Basin assessment area represents the third area within the basin to be assessed, the first being for coal resources and reserves in the Gillette coal field in 2008, and the second for coal resources and reserves in the northern Wyoming area of the basin in 2010.

In 2003, the National Park Service (NPS) at New River Gorge National River (NERI) hosted a workshop to identify significant forest issues, resources, and processes occurring within the park (National Park Service 2003b). Several forest communities of concern were identified by the panel of scientists and resource managers. One such community, the rimrock pine forest lining the rim of the gorge, was chosen due to the importance of the community to wildlife and recreation. The rimrock pines also were thought to be a historically significant feature of the northern section of the gorge as evidenced by historic photographs from the 1940s and 1950s. The panel suggested an investigation be conducted to better understand the establishment and maintenance of the rimrock pine forest.

A floristic inventory of Bluestone National Scenic River, located in southern West Virginia, was conducted from 2003 to 2006 by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program. Prior to field work, literature and databases were reviewed to compile a list of vascular plants already known to occur in Bluestone National Scenic River. Six hundred sixty-eight vascular plant taxa were identified during the 2003-2006 field surveys including 367 taxa not previously documented from the study area.

"Stream Ecosystems in a Changing Environment" synthesizes current understanding in stream ecosystem ecology, emphasizing nutrient cycling and carbon dynamics, and provides a forward-looking perspective regarding the response of stream ecosystems to environmental change. Stream ecosystem ecology has undergone major advances in the past decade following a series of high-profile and innovative research initiatives focusing on nutrient cycling and metabolism. Each chapter includes a section focusing on anticipated and ongoing dynamics in stream ecosystems in a changing environment, and hypotheses regarding controls on stream ecosystem functioning. These innovative sections provide a bridge between papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and researchers development of new ideas areas of study.
Provides a synthesis of the latest findings on stream ecosystems ecology in one volumeIncludes thought exercises and discussion activities throughout, providing valuable tools for learningOffers conceptual models and hypotheses to stimulate conversation and serve to advance research"

There are more than 180 exotic species in the Great Lakes. Some, such as green algae, the Asian tapeworm, and the suckermouth minnow, have had little or no impact so far. But a handful of others-sea lamprey, alewife, round goby, quagga mussel, zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny water flea, and rusty crayfish-have conducted an all-out assault on the Great Lakes and are winning the battle. In Lake Invaders: Invasive Species and the Battle for the Future of the Great Lakes, William Rapai focuses on the impact of these invasives. Chapters delve into the ecological and economic damage that has occurred and is still occurring and explore educational efforts and policies designed to prevent new introductions into the Great Lakes. Rapai begins with a brief biological and geological history of the Great Lakes. He then examines the history of the Great Lakes from a human dimension, with the construction of the Erie Canal and Welland Canal, opening the doors to an ecosystem that had previously been isolated. The seven chapters that follow each feature a different invasive species, with information about its arrival and impact, including a larger story of ballast water, control efforts, and a forward-thinking shift to prevention. Rapai includes the perspectives of the many scientists, activists, politicians, commercial fishermen, educators, andboaters he interviewed in the course of his research. The final chapter focuses on the stories of the largely unnoticed and unrecognized advocates who have committed themselves to slowing, stopping, and reversing the invasion and keeping the lakes resilient enough to absorb the inevitable attacks to come. Rapai makes a strong case for what is at stake with the growing number of invasive species in the lakes. He examines new policies and the tradeoffs that must be weighed, and ends with an inspired call for action. Although this volume tackles complex ecological, economical, and political issues, it does so in a balanced, lively, and very accessible way. Those interested in the history and future of the Great Lakes region, invasive species, environmental policy making, and ecology will enjoy this informative and thought-provoking volume.

The Hudson is a mighty and magnificent river that holds a unique place in world history. This book gives readers the tools they need to understand the river and its variety of qualities that make up this special waterway. The goal of this book is twofold. First and foremost, it educates readers on the importance of the Hudson River as a natural resource, key transportation artery, and chief provider of food, oxygen, and water needed to sustain the local, national, and global ecosystem. Second, this book mentions its characteristics, tributaries, and how the river is an historic and scenic treasure-a treasure that also economically benefits New York and New Jersey by offering its residents and tourists many attractions and recreational opportunities. Chapters include: Hudson River: Overview of the Hudson River and Its Tributaries; Aquatic Plants, Habitats, Hudson River Estuaries (tributaries within the estuaries), Its Ecosystem, Fish and Wildlife; Hudson Estuary Program, Its Ecosystem (including changes in it), Fish and Other Wildlife (Con't)/River Pollution Problems & Solutions; Photo Section; Hudson River Access/Transportation Links (Railroads, Recreation and Commercial Vessels, Bridges, Tunnels, etc.); Hudson River Historical Attractions/Recreational Activities and Sites; Newly Completed & Future Hudson Riverfront Development Projects and Hudson River Real Estate Market; Some Historical Highlights of the Hudson River and Its Valley; and the Author's Summary.