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Showing posts with label waterways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waterways. Show all posts

4/22/24

Coastal Lake and River Trails

Historic Cultural and Culinary Traditions along America’s Waterways
There are many points of interest in the United States; we have selected anchor locations from which you can best base your travel movements, mindful that you are likely to visit three to four places in a compressed period of time, typically 7 to 10 days, and experience multiple interests that range from cultural to culinary, wellness and the environment.

Northeast Atlantic
The Hudson Valley extends 150 miles above the tip of Manhattan. Designated as a National Heritage Area, the valley is steeped in history, natural beauty, culture, food and farmers’ markets.
The Delaware rises in two branches and flows 419 miles – 674 Km – into Delaware Bay. Its watershed drains an area of 14,119 square miles - 36,570 km2 - in the five Atlantic Coast States of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. 
The Hudson and the Delaware were originally called the North and South Rivers
The Susquehanna River is 464 miles (747 km) long and is the longest river on the US East Coast. With its watershed, it is the 16th-largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United States without commercial boat traffic today. In the Canal Era, navigation improvements were made to enhance the river for barge shipping by water on the Pennsylvania Canal.
The Lower Potomac, Anacostia, Patuxent and Wicomico rivers are among the major waterways in the region, but hundreds of smaller streams, creeks and rivers abound providing numerous opportunities for recreational boating.




Mid America
The Upper Mississippi is the portion of the river from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois - 2000 km (1250 mi) where it joins the Ohio River. In terms of geology and hydrography, the Upper Mississippi River valley likely originated as an ice-marginal stream during the Nebraskan glaciation.
The Missouri is the longest river in North America, rising in the Rocky Mountains and flowing east and south for 2,341 miles - 3,767 km - before connecting with the Mississippi north of St. Louis.
The First Westward leg of the Pony Express was a Ferry across the Missouri River
American South
The Lower Mississippi River flows downstream from Cairo, Illinois and the confluence with the Ohio River, for 1600 Kilometers – 1000 miles – to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the most heavily traveled component of this river system. Unlike on the upper rivers, there are no locks and dams on the Lower Mississippi. The river is, however, constrained by levees and dams that control flooding and secure the navigation channel for barge traffic.
The Ohio River is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh. From there, it flows northwest before making an abrupt turn to the southwest at the Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania border. The Ohio then follows a roughly west-northwest course until Cincinnati, before bending southwest for the remainder of its journey through the US Midwest and joining the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois.
Ohio means the Good River in Iroquoian



The Rio Grande rises from south-central Colorado and flows to the Gulf of Mexico, acting as the border between Mexico and the United States; it is the fourth longest river system in North America.
The Rio Grande Flows for much of its Length at High Elevation
US West
The Colorado River flows from the Rocky Mountains through the Grand Canyon to the Gulf of California. With dramatic canyons and whitewater rapids, the Colorado is a vital source of water for agricultural and urban areas.
The Imperial Valley is the most Productive Winter Agricultural Region in the United States
The Platte River originates in Nebraska and is a tributary of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
The South Platte is the Principal Source of Water for Eastern Colorado
The American River runs from the Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin Valley, eventually emptying into San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The Willamette River Valley basin contains two-thirds of Oregon's population and is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in North America, hence the destination of many 19th century pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail. The river supports 60 fish species, including salmon and trout.
The Columbia is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest; its watershed extends into seven US states and a Canadian province. The river's heavy flow gives it tremendous potential for the generation of electricity with 14 Hydroelectric Dams.

The Best Way to Travel is in the Company of People that Live and Work in the Places You Visit

1/21/20

Water Resources Best Management Practices

conservation submeters water projects storm water waterways watershed infrastructure
Water and Energy Projects are catalysts in generating new employment opportunities and entrepreneurial efforts in communities that are in the forefront of managing watershed and water resources issues in urban and rural settings.
Managing Water Resources
Communities are confronting new and complex challenges to achieve safe and affordable water supplies, collect and treat waste water and storm water, flood protection, rivers and streams for fishing and swimming. There are also challenges with aging infrastructure and the impact of climate change on human health and ecosystems.
Challenges that Require New Infrastructure and Approaches to Urban Water Resources
Storm Water if rain is not properly managed and flows over impervious surfaces into the nearest storm drain, it can have a detrimental effect on rivers and streams. In an urban environment, storm water is also closely related to safety, flooding, waterway health and drinking water.
Waterways urbanization is responsible for many of the sources that contribute to waterway degradation. Increases in impervious surface area and runoff have negative effects on stream flow. Once the natural physical condition of a waterway is compromised by pollution or excessive runoff, it sets off a chain of degradation: erosion, water temperature changes and habitat loss.
Watershed groups, municipalities, agencies, and conservation groups working together to develop watershed and restoration plans, implement projects and return streams to healthy thriving systems by implementing watershed assessments and planning programs, quality control plans, floodplain protection, land use management and storm water best management practices and more.
Infrastructure Requires Continuous Inspection and Maintenance
Water Conservation the true cost of water in a property should be measured as the water rate + the sewer rate multiplied by the water consumption volume + plus fees and other associated costs. In addition, while the water usage profile varies by building type and use, mechanical systems account for 30 percent of water use in a typical building, with cooling towers nearly 50 percent and outdoor usage another 20-30 percent.
Water Heating Accounts for Eight Percent of Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings
Sub meters help identify inefficiencies and malfunctions as leaks account for six percent of water usage and older fixtures consume up to five times more water prompting installation of leak detection systems.
Innovative Solutions to Achieve Water Quality