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Want to promote fishing and boating?  We need your info

The GLSFC is posting club news online to give additional publicity to clubs and community oriented projects in the Great Lakes Region, to enhance club activities and the angling/boating community at large.

View a sample at:  http://www.great-lakes.org/wklyfish_nz.html

 Sample functions/projects we are looking for include:

Kids' activities

Banquets

Fund Raisers

Auctions/Raffles

Tournaments

Shows

Community activities

Use the 5 Ws:  Who, What, When, Where and Why, and give us a brief overview of the activity.  If there is a special speaker give us his name.  Again, send it all by e-mail.  We will post it on our weekly news segment so the world can see what we are all doing.

View a sample at:  www.great-lakes.org/wklyfish_nz.html

For more info:  info@great-lakes.org  630-941-1351

Critical Senate Bill  headed for vote
S. 659 No Blanket Immunity for Gun Industry
Debate begins today, February 25 in the Senate. The bill, contrary to what you've probably heard, does NOT protect those who break the law, are negligent or negligently entrust a firearm, or make or sell defective products. Contact your senator and ask for his support of S. 659 - The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. 

Don't be embarrassed by getting only one side of the story about S. 659 - The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.  The bill has broad support from labor union members and business interests, including those far outside the firearms industry.  It also has the broad support of the conservation community, including hunters, anglers, boaters and trappers.

S. 659 - The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act was overwhelmingly passed in the House, 285-140.  It now has bipartisan Senate support. It would prevent politically motivated junk lawsuits against law-abiding companies in

highly regulated industry making and selling non-defective products. 

The bill:
Does not provide blanket immunity. 
Lawsuits will proceed for illegal acts.  
Lawsuits will proceed for defective products.  
Lawsuits will proceed for negligent entrustment.

See for yourself with a visit to http://www.nssf.org/media_idx.cfm?nav=media&new=media&rel=media , the Web site for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. NSSF since 1961 has been the trade association for companies that make and sell firearms, ammo and the products 40 million Americans use each year in their enjoyment of the shooting sports.  Just click on the Media Resources section to read all about S. 659.

Contact your senator and ask for his support of S. 659 - The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. 

Suit stalls cormorant control

"The Fund for Animals and its allies eventually will lose their lawsuit against the federal government's new cormorant-control policies, but it might be able to stall the implementation of those measures until 2005" says Gerry Barnhart, the chief of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.

"I don't think they (the plaintiffs) have a very good argument," Barnhart said. "The worst scenario I can envision is that they could delay what we want to do for a year."  Barnhart commented on papers filed in U.S. District Court in New York City on Feb. 5 by the Fund for Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, Defenders of Wildlife and the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.

Attorneys for the four organizations and several individuals who joined in the suit asked the court to invalidate a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "depredation order" that gives New York and 23 other states the authority to use lethal measures to reduce populations of double-crested cormorants, which are having significant adverse impacts on sport fishing.

The new policy, which took effect in November following two years' worth of studies and a series of public meetings in affected states, marks the first time the feds have given state agencies the green light to kill cormorants that are damaging recreational fisheries. Previous authorizations for lethal measures applied only to birds that were chowing down at commercial fish farms.

Although there has been no official announcement, the DEC

was widely expected to step up its cormorant control efforts this spring, once the voracious diving birds return from their wintering areas in the South.

Double-crested cormorants are protected by international migratory bird treaties, and may not be killed or harmed in the United States without the permission of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

However, since the mid-1970s, the population of cormorants in the Atlantic Coast region has increased at an average rate of 7.5% a year. An 85,000 pairs nest on islands in the Great Lakes, alone. In recent summers, the colony on Little Galloo Island, near Henderson Harbor in eastern Lake Ontario, has consisted of between 5,000 and 8,400 nesting pairs.

Anglers have long complained about cormorants taking a big bite out of their catch, and DEC research in the 1990s confirmed that the Henderson-area birds consumed up to 1.3 million smallmouth bass in a single year. Under terms of the new federal depredation order, state fish and wildlife personnel may not use lethal means against cormorants that are impacting sport fisheries until they have first tried non-deadly measures. States are also required to give the Fish and Wildlife Service at least 30 days' notice of their intent to kill cormorants.

Until the lawsuit brought things to a halt, Barnhart said, the DEC had expected to give advance notice of its 2004 cormorant-control strategy "within the next few weeks." He said the pending suit prevents him from divulging exactly what that strategy entails.

IJC and GLFC Urge for the Adoption of Strong Ballast Water Convention

February 11, 2004 -- The International Joint Commission and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) urged adoption of a tough international convention to regulate ballast water. This week, more than 160 member countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are meeting in London, England, for final negotiations on a treaty to prevent the spread of invasive species in ballast water.

The Great Lakes are especially vulnerable to invasion, making the need for a biologically protective convention especially urgent," said the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray, Chair of the Canadian Section of the IJC. "With the help of a strong convention, the IJC stands ready to help both Canada and the United States develop a cooperative, binational strategy to safeguard the biological diversity and ecosystem health of the Great Lakes."

"Preventing the next invasion is absolutely critical to protecting a healthy Great Lakes fishery," said Dennis Schornack, Chair of the U.S. Section of the IJC. "Of particular concern to the IJC is the risk that each new invader can have a devastating impact on both the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes."

The IJC and GLFC noted in separate correspondence to IMO delegates that the convention must include the ability for signatory nations to adopt stricter regulations that could be implemented as soon as possible.

"The IMO meeting that takes place this week is a momentous

opportunity for Canada, the United States, and the world to take strong action to stop the spread of invasive species through ballast water discharge," said Dr. Roy Stein, Vice-Chair of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. "Our fishery resources are threatened in the Great Lakes with each passing foreign ship. Unless the IMO treaty allows nations to impose ballast regulations uniquely designed to protect their waters, I’m afraid weak regulations in other countries will keep our Great Lakes vulnerable to future invasions."

Since 1988, both the IJC and the GLFC have raised the alarm regarding the threat posed by invasive species, especially the zebra mussel, and have repeatedly called for the implementation of mandatory regulations for the management of ballast water by vessels traveling to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Both agencies have also worked on preventing the spread of invasive species via other vectors, particularly the spread of Asian carp via the Illinois Waterway system. The IJC and GLFC have worked closely to block the carp from reaching Lake Michigan through the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal.

Estimates of the economic cost of controlling alien invasive species vary but range from the hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. The ecological threat posed by invaders make them a top threat to biodiversity because of their ability to disrupt the food web, possibly causing devastating negative impacts on fish populations in the Great Lakes.

DOI Announces $859,000 Grant to Improve San Francisco Boating Facilities

Interior Secretary Gale Norton last week announced an $859,000 grant to help the State of California improve boating access on the San Francisco waterfront.  The grant, awarded by the USFWS under its Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program, will be matched by $1.7 million in funds and in-kind services from partners including the California Department of Boating and Waterways, the Port of San Francisco, and Pier 39 Ltd.

The project will result in better and safer facilities for recreational boaters and increased tourism in the area.  Specifically, the grant funds will help fund a one-time dredging of the West Marina to allow access for large, deep drafting transient boats.  In addition, the project will reconstruct

transient docks that are in disrepair.

The renovated docks will provide 17 boat slips for transient boats up to 60 feet in length, resulting in an additional 9,300 transient boaters to the area. These recreational boaters are expected to pump an estimated $1.5 million into the local economy.

"We understand the importance of having safe and accessible tie-up facilities and the economic impact that boating can bring to local economies," Norton said.  "The BIG program works with partners to improve recreational boating and fishing opportunities. It strengthens community ties to the water's edge by enhancing access to recreational, historic, cultural, natural and scenic resources for millions of boat owners."

FWS Director Receives Conservation Award

Outdoor Life Magazine selection for Public Service     

Outdoor Life magazine selected USFWS Director Steve Williams for its prestigious Conservation Award for Public Service for his leadership in strengthening conservation partnerships between America's sportsmen and women and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The award was presented February 13th at the 2004 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.  Rollin Sparrowe, president of the Wildlife Management Institute and former chief of the Service's Office of Migratory Bird Management was also recognized.

"Hunters and anglers are among our nation's best conservationists," Williams said. "As someone who enjoys the outdoors and grew up hunting and fishing with my father, I  consider myself pretty fortunate to have had the opportunities

during my career to make a difference.  To be able to make a positive contribution to conservation, working with hunters, anglers, and others who enjoy the outdoors, is something upon which I place great value.  I am honored to join the distinguished past recipients of Outdoor Life's prestigious conservation award."

First presented in 1923, the Conservation Award is presented annually to two individuals, one in public service and the other in the individual achievement. Williams and Sparrowe were chosen from a list of worthy candidates nominated to the Outdoor Life Conservation Fund Advisory Board. Past recipients of the award include such notables as Aldo Leopold, U.S. Reps. John Tanner of Tennessee and Don Young of Alaska, and James D. Range of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

California marine preserve remains off-limits to fishing

LOS ANGELES — A judicial panel has rejected an attempt by the fishing industry to reopen waters around California's Channel Islands that were designated last year as one of the largest no-fishing zones in the country.

A three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision last week, saying studies have found that marine reserves quickly increase fish populations and eventually prove an economic boon to commercial fishing.  The fishing groups claimed an "absolute right to fish" in public waters under the state constitution.

The judges responded that the groups "have no constitutional right to deplete or destroy a fish preserve, in this instance, a marine sanctuary." Nick Migliaccio, an attorney for the industry, complained that the ban "prohibited fishing for an indefinite duration in one of the best parts of California."

Though the area will remain indefinitely off-limits for fishing, the growing fish population within it will eventually spread to other regions where fishing is allowed, said Drew Caputo, an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted in 2002 to create the 175-square-mile network of marine reserves near the island off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties west of Los Angeles.  The restrictions, which took effect in April 2003, are meant to give endangered white abalone, rockfish, giant kelp forests, and an array of other species a chance to recover from years of excessive fishing. Violations within the aquatic preserve will carry fines of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.

The nation's largest marine reserves are in the waters off the Florida Keys and the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.   

Source: Associated Press

Greens Oppose Energy Exploration...In the National Petroleum Reserve?

Washington, DC - Seven environmental litigation groups have filed suit in a U.S. District Court to stop the federal government from accessing oil in the National Petroleum Reserve, set aside by President Harding in 1923. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) issued the following statement:

"Most Americans know that environmental organizations operate outside the realm of common sense and accountability, but this time Americans will see just how radical they have become. Suing to stop petroleum production in a petroleum reserve is like suing farmers to stop producing milk from cows. If we can't get petroleum from the National Petroleum Reserve, where can we get it?

These groups say they are pro-environment, but it is clear that they are just anti-energy, anti-American jobs, and anti-economic growth. The more they halt production at home, the more we send American jobs and money overseas to make up the difference. Last year alone, the United States sent over $100 billion worth of American jobs to foreign nations for

energy that could have been produced here at home. As demand grows and so-called environmentalists continue to file lawsuits, Americans will lose more jobs and pay more for their energy. Given the choice, what taxpayer wouldn't want to spend $100 billion here on jobs, safe energy development, and a stronger economy?

There is a big difference between active environmentalism and environmental activism. Most Americans today fall into the first category, taking part in community conservation efforts and recognizing that balance must exist between man and the environment. The very shrill, vocal minority that fall into the latter category, such as those who filed this absurd lawsuit, do not believe in balance, nor can they claim to work on behalf of the environment. Their focus is on fundraising, politics, and obstruction.

The United States has the most advanced technology, the toughest safeguards, and the best workforce in the world. More domestic energy production, not less, will strengthen our economy and thus our environment. These groups have it backwards."

Feds zero out Upper Mississippi Locks $$

Army Corps Civil Works Program Slashed big time

Washington, DC — In a stunning development the Bush administration has quietly proposed ending all federal expenditures for the controversial Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway lock expansion in its fiscal year 2005 federal budget, according to a review released late last week by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

The Bush administration budget completely drops the line item for the estimated $2.3 billion navigation project, omitting any funding requests for further study, design, or construction.

Terminating the scandal-ridden Upper Mississippi project comes as part of the fourth consecutive major reduction in expenditures for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed by the Bush administration. This year’s budget contains a 13.1% cut in Corps civil works expenditures — the second largest percentage cut proposed for any federal government agency by President Bush.

“Not with a bang but with a whimper, this budget should pull the plug on the seemingly never-ending campaign by the Corps to build this multi-billion dollar white elephant,” said PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, whose organization represents Corps employees who have disclosed previous attempts by Corps management to manipulate study data in an effort to justify this project.

The Upper Mississippi project has been criticized by the President’s Office of Management & Budget (OMB), as well as by two National Academy of Sciences review panels for using faulty economic models, unrealistic traffic forecasts, and exhibiting a Corps-wide bias towards large-scale, expensive structural solutions ignoring inexpensive non-structural alternatives such as scheduling of barge traffic. At the same time, barge traffic on these rivers has been mired in a decade-long slump, further dampening the need to build bigger locks.

“OMB is taking their management role over the Corps of Engineers very seriously and is beginning to rein in this notoriously wasteful, rogue agency,” stated Ruch.

Ironically, the Corps just recently revealed its latest draft recommendation for replacing many of the existing, recently rehabilitated, and fully functional river locks on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway with larger new locks at a price tag of an estimated $2.3 billion. In an attempt to build support for the project, the Corps was seeking to couple this construction scheme with an even larger amount of vaguely defined “environmental restoration” spending estimated at $5.3 billion, an amount that would have made this overall $7.6 billion package the second most expensive Corps public works project ever-undertaken, exceeded only by the restoration of the Florida Everglades.

Feds bust Arkansas Fish Farmer selling Bighead Carp

Department of Interior Investigators on February 5 arrested an Arkansas Fish Dealer/Fish Farmer in Chinatown in Downtown Chicago.  The Arkansas dealer had illegally transported live bighead carp into Illinois and was retailing and wholesaling the fish, along with other fish species,  out of their semi-truck.  Additionally, they did not have a Non-Resident Fish Dealer's License either.

They were cited for no Non-resident Fish Dealers license, transporting live bighead carp without a required restricted Species Transportation Permit, and failure to have required labeling on aquatic life being shipped.

Contact was made with the fish markets where the live bigheads were delivered to and they were told to ensure that none of the bigheads could be transported or marketed alive to consumers.  The fish dealers were reportedly very cooperative.

Additionally, Investigators said they have not heard of the reported tradition of persons in the Asian community buying 2 fish and releasing one. They mentioned their observations have been that the consumer purchases the live fish and the fish is dressed and gutted in the buyer's presence and then delivered to the consumer. 

States pushing to limit mercury pollution

Wisconsin and Ohio state legislators are pushing for new laws aimed at limiting mercury pollution. The effort targets coal-fired power plants. The states are looking to enact stricter pollution controls on power plants than what's being proposed in Washington. Other states, including Michigan, are calling for a phase-out of products that contain mercury. They also want mercury parts and switches to be removed from cars and

appliances before they're scrapped.

Former Maryland lawmaker Leon Billings is with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators: "You've got to go at it from all perspectives. Power plants represent 30 to 40% of the ambient mercury. But these other sources are significant, especially if they're not controlled properly."

Dierauf  to Head USGS Wildlife Health Center - Madison, WI

Dr. Leslie Dierauf, a wildlife veterinarian and conservation biologist, has been selected as Director of the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, WI.

"Leslie brings a wealth of experience both with wildlife health issues and with the use of science in decision making," said USGS Eastern Regional Director Bonnie McGregor. "Research at the NWHC addresses a number of important wildlife and related human health concerns including West Nile Virus, Chronic Wasting Disease and Asian Avian Influenza. Leslie's commitment to leadership and public service will be a valuable asset to the USGS and the NWHC."

Prior to joining the USGS in Madison, Dierauf spent almost a

decade at the USFWS, where she worked on the Endangered Species Program for the Southwest.  She also conducted habitat conservation planning for threatened and endangered species, with a strong focus on partner and stewardship efforts with the private sector.  Before joining the Fish and Wildlife Service, Dierauf was a Congressional Science Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a staff scientific advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.

Dierauf received her B.S. in Microbiology and English from the University of Massachusetts in 1970 and her V.M.D. in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974.

Bighead/Silver Carp Threaten Kentucky & Ohio River Fisheries

Frankfort, KY – The meanderings of the lower Ohio River through the centuries carved sloughs and oxbows all over far western Ballard County in what is now the Boatwright and Ballard Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These wetlands provide winter habitat for thousands of ducks and geese.  These lakes also held sport fish until a weaponless conqueror from Asia showed up.

"Ten to 15 years ago, these lakes had good bluegill, bass and crappie fisheries," said Paul Rister, western fisheries district biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). "We sampled Fish Lake a while back and we literally did not see any sport fish. What we saw there were all bighead and silver carp. All of those lakes in the Boatwright, Peal, Swan Lake and Ballard wildlife areas are all over run with silver and bighead carp. They’ve taken over these lakes and replaced important game species. The native fish just don’t have a chance with those bigheads and silvers in there."

The silver and bighead carp swim into these lakes each time the Ohio River floods. Arkansas fish farmers imported these fish from Asia to control algae in their fish rearing ponds. These fish farms are on the floodplain of the Mississippi, Arkansas and White Rivers. The Asian carp escaped those fish farms during floods in 1993, 1995 and 2002 and began their conquest up the Mississippi River.

These Asian invaders fought their way up the Ohio River in Kentucky and threaten its tributaries. Biologists found many large dead bighead carp after the Wild Turkey distillery fire killed out a portion of the Kentucky River in 2000. In some pools of the Mississippi River, Asian carp make up 90 percent or more of the fish life.

"They will spawn and then take over," said Ted Crowell, assistant director of fisheries for the KDFWR. "They adapt to any environment and any weather. They can survive our winters and our summers."

The scariest aspect of the Asian carp invasion of the Mississippi River drainage is these fish are filter feeders. Like the native paddlefish, these fish filter plankton and microorganisms from the water for their food. All fish, regardless of species, compete for the same plankton and microorganisms in the first year of their lives.

"Because of this competition, they have the potential to replace native species," Crowell said. "If you dump 100,000 pounds of

fish that weren’t there before, it’s going to have an adverse impact. All of the fish are going to be competing for food and space and our native fish will suffer."

The bighead and silver carp seem poised to expand into other Kentucky waters. Rister said bighead and silver carp are now in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. They could potentially threaten their world class crappie, bluegill and black bass fisheries. "It is a serious threat and there is practically no commercial market for them," Rister said. "They are loading down the nets of commercial fisherman and causing damage."

Biologists are concerned about other ways these fish may expand their range. "I am concerned about water intake impoundments on the Ohio River," said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries of the KDFWR. "They pump water into a water supply lake out of the Ohio River. You can get the young of these carp in there and they go through the dam of the water supply lake and downstream. Where do they go after that? I am very worried about their impact on the food chain."

Anglers must do their share to help control the spread of these aquatic nuisance species. Those who collect their own live shad with cast nets out of the Ohio River or any major tributary could spread these menacing carp into waters where they currently do not exist. Young silver carp closely resemble native shad. "All it takes is one bait bucket released in Green River Lake and they are there," Kinman said. "And this could be the way of introduction into lakes that are now free of them."

Another danger of the silver carp besides out-competing native fish is their curious habit of jumping high out of the water when a boat approaches. Motor noise from boats spurs the silver carp to jump. "A lot of boat operators have been hit by these fish with some sustaining injuries,” Kinman said. “Commercial fisherman on the Illinois River are using garbage can lids as shields when they drive their boats now. What is going to happen to jet skiers?"

The bighead and silver carp are not the last of these Asian invaders. Black carp, imported from Asia to control snails in the rearing ponds of fish farms, escaped from a fish farm in Arkansas.  "They brought them in to break the life cycle of a grub parasite in fish by eating the snails in their ponds," Crowell said. "They could hurt threatened and endangered native mussels in the wild by eating the young mussels. It is like bringing in saber-tooth tigers to control the coyotes."

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for February 20, 2004

Current Lake Levels: 

Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 9, 20, 9 and 5 inches, respectively, below their long-term average.  Lake Ontario is 6 inches above its long-term average.  Lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie, and Ontario are all above last year’s levels, while Lake Superior is at the same level as a year ago and Lake St. Clair is 7 inches below last year’s level.  Lakes Michigan-Huron, Erie and Ontario are 3, 5, and 19 inches above last year’s levels, respectively.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions: 

The Lake Superior outflow through the St. Marys River into Lake Huron is expected to be below average during the month of February.  Flows in the St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and St. Lawrence Rivers are expected to be near average in February.  

Temperature/Precipitation Outlook:

A major winter storm will bring a variety of precipitation to the

Great Lakes basin this weekend.  Rain is expected in the southern third of the basin, while sleet, freezing rain and snow will affect areas to the north.  Snowfall amounts may reach 1 foot in parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Forecasted Water Levels: 

Lake Superior is expected to continue its pattern of seasonal decline over the next four weeks.   Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair and Erie should start their normal seasonal rise over the next several weeks.  However, short-term fluctuations on Lake St. Clair could persist as long as the cold weather and ice conditions in the rivers continue.  Lake Ontario’s level is expected to stay fairly stable over the next month. 

Alerts:

Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

BASS hires USFWS Veteran

Clough replaces Shupp in BASS Conservation Post

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Noreen Clough, former southeast regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been named BASS Conservation Director, announced Dean Kessel, Vice President and General Manager of BASS. Clough replaces Bruce Shupp, who retired in January after nine years in that role. She will oversee conservation efforts at BASS while consulting on a wide array of advocacy issues in other areas of ESPN Outdoors.

"Noreen has both the experience and direction that we need to continue our conservation group's very important work," Kessel said.  "BASS has a 35-year history of leadership in conservation and we anticipate a seamless transition in our key projects, including work on the Largemouth Bass Virus and wetlands restoration."

With Conservation Manager Chris Horton, Clough will also

work with state BASS Federations and their conservation directors to enhance fisheries programs and protect public access to fisheries at the local and state levels.

Clough retired from the FWS in 1997 after 30 years in the federal government. She previously served as Deputy Director, External Affairs, in the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she was liaison to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. She also administered the $500 million FWS Federal Aid program, and the FWS legislative and public affairs programs. She also worked as Deputy Assistant Director/Fisheries, responsible for development of FWS "Action Plan for Fisheries," and as Chief of Resource Management, National Wildlife Refuge System.

Shupp, before taking the job with BASS worked at NYSDEC where he retired at their fish chief.  We wish Bruce tight lines and safe boating. Ed.

Bottled water's little secret

The Wall Street Journal reports most commercially produced water comes stamped with expiration dates - typically within two years of when it was bottled.

On most Poland Spring bottles there are tiny, white letters advising consumers to drink up within two years. Most Aquafina bottles sport two-year expiration warnings on their caps.  Coca-Cola Inc. puts a one-year expiration date on its Dasani brand water. So does Nestle Waters North America Inc., a division of Nestle SA that bottles brands including Poland Spring and Ice Mountain

The message that water has a shelf life has been further amplified in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security urges people to stockpile water in their disaster-preparedness kits. On its Web site (www.ready.gov), it instructs people to change their stored water every six months.

But does water really spoil? Despite the labels reminding consumers to drink up, there is virtually no evidence that drinking water beyond the expiration date has any health impact at all. The Food and Drug Administration considers

bottled water to have an "indefinite shelf life." Even the bottled-water industry is hard-pressed to justify the labels.

"There's no real rationale," says Jane Lazgin, a spokeswoman for Nestle Waters North America Inc., a division of Nestle SA that bottles brands including Poland Spring and Ice Mountain, and imports European waters such as Perrier and Vittel. The practice "is not health-based," she adds.

Expiration dates are just one example of how shifting tastes and successful marketing have complicated what was once one of life's simpler acts - drinking water. This year, for the first time, Americans are expected to buy more bottled water than beer or coffee. Sales of bottled water reached $7.7 billion in 2002, up 12 % from 2001, according to Beverage Marketing Corp., a New York-based consulting company.

Store shelves are filled with an array of options, from "spring water" and "artesian water" to "purified water" and "drinking water." (The latter is often industry code for filtered tap water.) And, for all the popularity of bottled water, there is little evidence that it's any better for you than what flows from the faucet.

Seagull droppings top source of beach bacteria, study finds

In a study released February 16, Lake County officials used DNA to identify seagull droppings as the top source of E. coli bacteria in water samples collected last summer. Human waste, most likely from sewage spills, came in second.

The study is the latest attempt to grapple with a high number of swimming bans every summer. There were 178 beach closings in Lake County last year. Chicago had 130.

Seagulls, lured by abundant food and attractive nesting grounds, are increasingly common at beaches along the Great Lakes. Many have become so addicted to human handouts that they no longer are afraid of people. Some birds are so aggressive that throwing them a fry or a piece of bread is the only way to get rid of them--for a moment.

Reducing litter, in particular food and food packaging, is considered one of the best ways to keep beaches clean. But it's not the only solution. A panel of federal, state and local officials that reviewed the study said more also needs to be done to eliminate sewage spills into Lake Michigan. "It's obviously more than the birds," said state Sen. Susan Garrett

(D-Lake Forest), who secured the funding for the $30,000 study.

In July, power failures at pumping stations in Lake Bluff and Lake Forest allowed more than 350,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill into the lake. Human waste also occasionally escapes treatment when heavy rains overwhelm the region's aging sewers, or when sewage seeps out from leaking pipes.

Officials from the North Shore Sanitary District welcomed the new study because it confirmed their long-standing belief that sewage isn't the only cause of beach closures.  "We know more needs to be done," said Brian Jensen, the district's general manager. "But this study suggests we need a more comprehensive effort to get these bacteria counts down."

In an attempt to predict when bacteria levels will be high, officials plan to install equipment this summer that will monitor wind, sunlight, rainfall and temperature at Lake Forest Beach and the South Beach at Illinois Beach State Park. A similar system tested at Chicago's 63rd Street Beach four years ago predicted unacceptable E. coli levels 86% of the time.

Goose Feces may be source of Bacteria in City Water

Bacteria contaminating Aurora's water supply might have come from goose feces, authorities said Monday, February 16 after shutting down a 4 million gallon underground reservoir they believe may be the source of the bacteria.

A boil order remained in effect, and Aurora residents likely will have to continue boiling water before drinking it until at least Wednesday.  Aurora, a western suburb of Chicago is but one of many  DuPage County suburbs over-run with thousands of

resident Canadian Geese.

The boil order for Aurora's 157,000 residents was issued on February 13 after city workers discovered total coliform bacteria in the water supply. That type of bacteria occurs naturally in the environment, but is used in water systems as an indicator that other, potentially harmful types of bacteria may be present.  Two samples analyzed since then have tested positive for E. coli bacteria, a type of fecal coliform that can be hazardous if ingested by humans.