I've been analyzing water quality data and plant data I collected this summer, and have started piecing together the ecological "story" of the lake.
I attended the North American Lake Management Society's annual conference, held in Cincinnati, OH, at the end of October. At the conference I had the opportunity to network with lake management professionals and listen to talks related to "innovations in water resources". Going along with this theme, I gave a presentation about using online resources provided by the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the potential effectiveness of incorporating green stormwater management practices in the Lake Ronkonkoma watershed.
Green practices, such as installing rain harvesting systems, rain gardens, and permeable pavement, are a great way to reduce the amount and better the quality of stormwater runoff. Green practices implemented in urban/developed areas are incredibly beneficial to the community. They can provide ecological, financial, and social benefits that typical grey infrastructure cannot!