This blob of thunderstorms erupted today of the coast of South Carolina. There’s a good chance that this blob is turning into a tropical depression as I type, and given the current weather pattern, could possibly bring some much-needed globules of moisture next week. This is what the weather folks in Taunton have to say about it:

OTHER FEATURE WORTH MENTIONING WILL BE THE QUASI TROPICAL WAVE CURRENTLY OFF THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST. AS BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW BECOMES ESTABLISHED ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD EARLY NEXT WEEK IN RESPONSE TO LONG WAVE TROF OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND NORTHEAST…THIS SYSTEM WILL BEGIN MOVING NORTHEAST AND POSSIBLY TRACK ACROSS OR NEAR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND MON OR TUE. THIS MAY RESULT IN A WIDESPREAD APPRECIABLE RAINFALL EVENT.

The uppercase letters don’t necessarily mean they’re “yelling,” that’s just the way the National Weather Service discussions are formatted. But you never know – weather folks get excited about this kind of stuff.

We need globules of moisture.

I’ve been noticing an alarming number of denuded Sycamore trees around the state. Even the ancient Sycamores that line Post Road in Pawtuxet Village have lost their foliage. The cause of the leaf-drop can be traced to Sycamore Anthracnose. Anthracnose is a fungus that manifests in the Spring, affecting new leaf and twig growth. The mild Winter, coupled with the cool, wet Spring has contributed to a widespread outbreak of the fungus this year.

What to do
Trees are pretty resilient. Mature trees should rebound with little consequence. Younger, less established trees would benefit from some extra water during dry spells. The URI Cooperative Education Center in Kingston recommends cleaning up the affected leaf matter when it drops to inhibit the spread of the fungus. They also suggest pruning any dead wood from the trees, and applying a deep-root fertilization in the Fall. They don’t recommend the use of fungicide.

so much silence
on a path
lit by fireflies

-Roberta Beary (photo by Quit007)

Yesterday the House Finance Committee cut $35 million dollars worth of farmland protection and land conservation bond proposals, squandering millions in potential federal money and leaving the future of Rhode Island’s natural resources in question. The committee then allocated emergency funds for a proposed sign on the Connecticut border to read: “Welcome to Rhode Island, and by Island we mean traffic Island.”

The bonds had been targeted for saving farmland and open space, cleaning up storm water and helping communities reduce the nitrogen their sewer plants discharge into Narragansett Bay.

This will be the first year since the program’s inception that Rhode Island has not funded the farmland protection program. The program is broke, so the removal of the bond issues essentially shuts it down. And without farms, what am I going to eat?

Not Enough Doe?
So let’s talk about the economics of this decision. The passage of these natural resource bond measures would’ve had no impact on the ’09 budget. Even without hoofs I can still count to zero. In fact, the open space money would’ve guaranteed federal open space funding, matched dollar-for-dollar. So why were the bond measures omitted?

Natural Resources as Economic Resources
Too often open space is seen as a burden rather than a boon to the economy. Open space should be seen as an effective long-term economic engine. Protecting open space, parks and farmland strengthens communities, attracts new businesses, and, best of all, avoids the costs associated with sprawl. The monetary benefit of open space is summed up nicely in a post on Natural News by Rupert Friday of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council: “Today, less than 7% of the state is in agricultural production. Yet agriculture contributes $100 million/year to the Rhode Island economy and unmeasured other values such as farmer’s markets, pick your own berries, fruits, pumpkins, corn mazes, and enhanced aesthetic quality for our communities.” Not to mention the value of clean air, cooler microclimates and clean water.

Sometimes we forget why tourists stream into Rhode Island. They don’t visit because of the new Appleby’s on the corner with the blacktop of the freshly painted lines. They visit because of the beauty that’s been preserved by the years of investment. It’s the beauty that tourists will spend billions of dollars to experience.

Isle of Roads
In other news, the committee did preserve a $85 million dollar transportation bond. A part of that bond is earmarked to pave over Roger Williams Park in phase one of the state’s No Strip Mall Left Behind program.

The Buck Stops Here
I guess you can’t blame the House Finance Committee leadership for panicking. I mean, if I had to face a $434 million dollar deficit, with no economic growth, foreclosures and rising unemployment I suppose I’d react like a deer in the headlights too.

Tell the House Finance Committee how you feel:

Steven M. Costantino Chairperson rep-costantino@rilin.state.ri.us

Kenneth Carter Vice Chairperson rep-carter@rilin.state.ri.us

Find a Nearby Rep House Committee on Finance

Here’s an amazing Copper Beech on Pontiac Avenue. It’s hard to tell whether the green leaves in the midst of the tree is a branch that has reverted back to green, or a separate tree growing in soil formed by accumulated leaves.

Congratulations, Rhode Island, you made it through another winter. The Spring Peepers are awake. Those ear-piercing peeps emanating from your local pond, marsh or flooded drainage ditch are coming from these guys. You can hear them up to a half mile away, and not just in the sticks of Western Cranston. The fringes of Blackamore Pond, the reedy areas on the south end of Magnolia Street in Auburn, the flooded flats of the Pawtuxet – right next door.

More Info – from the URI Vernal Ponds Project