Latest news with #DepartmentofNaturalResources
CBS News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Oxygen levels in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay decline after heavy rain in May, data shows
The Chesapeake Bay saw historically low oxygen levels in June, after heavy rain in May, according to data from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to a DNR report, the low oxygen levels led to hypoxia in the bay, which happens when the water has less than 2 mg/l of oxygen. An increase in hypoxia levels can impact fish and crabs that live in the water. The hypoxia increase in the Chesapeake Bay was reported between early and late June. However, no hypoxia was recorded in May. In the past 41 years, there were only nine times when hypoxia was not seen in May, according to the DNR. Data shows hypoxia increased from below average levels in early June to above average in late June. It comes after heavy rainfall in Maryland and Pennsylvania during May and hot temperatures during June. According to the DNR, heavy rainfall can lead to lower oxygen levels as runoff pushes excess nutrients into the Chesapeake Bay. This can impact algal blooms and reduce the clarity of the water. The regional weather patterns fueled algal blooms and resulted in less oxygen consumption. Temperatures also impact hypoxia levels as warmer water holds less oxygen. Data shows hypoxia in the Bay was triple the normal average in late June, the largest volume of hypoxia seen in Maryland since the monitoring program began. The increase in hypoxia levels can impact wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay, as crabs, fish, oysters and other animals need the dissolved oxygen to live. According to the DNR, some watermen reported finding dead crabs in shallow water in early July. An analysis found that winds between July 1 and July 4 likely pushed water east, allowing low oxygen levels to come closer to the surface in some locations. The DNR is studying the level and duration of hypoxia in the Bay to determine specific impacts to wildlife. DNR officials also emphasized that reducing phosphorus pollution from industrial and wastewater runoff, farms and cities could reduce hypoxia conditions in the Bay.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources seeking volunteers to teach next generation of hunters
(WFRV) – Many people know that hunting is part of Wisconsin's heritage; it's a widely popular activity, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking volunteers to help teach the next generation. The release states that volunteers should expect to teach and certify basic hunting education to students and hunters of all experience levels in practical skills. These opportunities are available statewide. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs announces closure of Green Bay's Veteran Housing and Recovery Program location The DNR's Hunter Education Program has been offered for nearly 60 years. Since 1967, over 20,000 volunteers have educated hunters across Wisconsin, certifying more than one million individuals. According to the release, the program has significantly decreased the number of hunting safety incidents. The release added that instructor dedication and commitment have been crucial to the program's success, immersing them in a connection with the state's hunting heritage while building up the next generation. There are multiple skills and education classes available that need volunteers to lead, as follows: Basic Hunter Education A firearm safety class is legally required for those seeking to hunt independently. About 4,000 volunteer instructors are needed to teach standard and internationally approved lessons while also administering exams. Volunteers should teach at least one class and attend a recertification workshop every three lessons are beyond basic education, and the DNR, along with partners, offer additional education to teach hunters of all experience levels. Volunteers are sought to coordinate and instruct advanced programs; training is optional but provided upon request. The advanced hunter education programs vary from Outdoor Skills to the Learn to Hunt program. The Learn To Hunt program requires a minimum of four hours of pre-hunting instruction for participants, while educators must have at least five years of experience in the target species. Local northeast Wisconsin cop to do ultra triathlon for charity Volunteers must pass a background check through the DNR. Click here for more details and to apply. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Ex-cotton grower sentenced for $8.7 million irrigation fraud
A former southern Queensland cotton grower has been told how long he will remain behind bars after he was sentenced for multiple fraud offences in a Brisbane court on July 16. John Douglas Norman appeared before the court after he was remanded in custody at his last appearance in June 2025. Norman, who entered a plea of guilty on April 28 to six counts of fraud adding up to a value of around $8.7 million, was given a head sentence of 9.5 years by Judge Bernard Porter KC, and will have to spend at least three of those years in custody before he will be eligible for parole. Judge Porter said he had "no doubt Mr Norman will not commit another offence like this". "I have no doubt that he regrets what he did," he said. During the June 25 sentencing hearing, Norman's defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter KC spoke to the nature of Norman's offending and stated it was not "a particularly elaborate scheme". "The record keeping, such if there was any, was utterly shambolic," Mr Hunter said. "Even after the event, it was not possible for the defendant to identify which invoices related to the Healthy Headwaters work." When delivering the sentence, Judge Porter did not accept Mr Norman's ADHD diagnosis was an excuse for his fraudulent offending. He also noted that the case was "nothing like a Ponzi scheme or an insurance fraud case". Judge Porter sentenced Norman to 9.5 years on each count of fraud, to be served concurrently, with 21 days of pre-sentence custody to be observed. He will be eligible for parole on June 24, 2028. Norman, who has a wife and four children aged between 15 and 21, was supported in court by a contingent of family and friends. Norman was initially charged in 2018 with six fraud charges, as well as six other charges related to the falsification of records, which have since been discontinued. He had been accused of committing fraud to a value of $12 million, but in April 2025, the amount was reduced to $8.7 million and Norman entered his guilty plea, about three weeks before he was due to face trial. Norman's chief financial officer, Stephen Evans, was also charged with four similar fraud counts for allegedly helping to lodge the claims after he started working for Mr Norman's business in 2013. Evans received a head sentence of four years and six months, suspended after serving nine months. It was alleged that Norman submitted fraudulent claims to six projects managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy between 2010 and 2017. The claims related to the Healthy Headwaters Water Use Efficiency project, which helped Queensland's Murray-Darling Basin irrigation communities deal with climate change and reduced water availability. Under the program, irrigators were granted funds to undertake on-farm infrastructure projects to increase water use efficiency, such as improving water storage. A former southern Queensland cotton grower has been told how long he will remain behind bars after he was sentenced for multiple fraud offences in a Brisbane court on July 16. John Douglas Norman appeared before the court after he was remanded in custody at his last appearance in June 2025. Norman, who entered a plea of guilty on April 28 to six counts of fraud adding up to a value of around $8.7 million, was given a head sentence of 9.5 years by Judge Bernard Porter KC, and will have to spend at least three of those years in custody before he will be eligible for parole. Judge Porter said he had "no doubt Mr Norman will not commit another offence like this". "I have no doubt that he regrets what he did," he said. During the June 25 sentencing hearing, Norman's defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter KC spoke to the nature of Norman's offending and stated it was not "a particularly elaborate scheme". "The record keeping, such if there was any, was utterly shambolic," Mr Hunter said. "Even after the event, it was not possible for the defendant to identify which invoices related to the Healthy Headwaters work." When delivering the sentence, Judge Porter did not accept Mr Norman's ADHD diagnosis was an excuse for his fraudulent offending. He also noted that the case was "nothing like a Ponzi scheme or an insurance fraud case". Judge Porter sentenced Norman to 9.5 years on each count of fraud, to be served concurrently, with 21 days of pre-sentence custody to be observed. He will be eligible for parole on June 24, 2028. Norman, who has a wife and four children aged between 15 and 21, was supported in court by a contingent of family and friends. Norman was initially charged in 2018 with six fraud charges, as well as six other charges related to the falsification of records, which have since been discontinued. He had been accused of committing fraud to a value of $12 million, but in April 2025, the amount was reduced to $8.7 million and Norman entered his guilty plea, about three weeks before he was due to face trial. Norman's chief financial officer, Stephen Evans, was also charged with four similar fraud counts for allegedly helping to lodge the claims after he started working for Mr Norman's business in 2013. Evans received a head sentence of four years and six months, suspended after serving nine months. It was alleged that Norman submitted fraudulent claims to six projects managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy between 2010 and 2017. The claims related to the Healthy Headwaters Water Use Efficiency project, which helped Queensland's Murray-Darling Basin irrigation communities deal with climate change and reduced water availability. Under the program, irrigators were granted funds to undertake on-farm infrastructure projects to increase water use efficiency, such as improving water storage. A former southern Queensland cotton grower has been told how long he will remain behind bars after he was sentenced for multiple fraud offences in a Brisbane court on July 16. John Douglas Norman appeared before the court after he was remanded in custody at his last appearance in June 2025. Norman, who entered a plea of guilty on April 28 to six counts of fraud adding up to a value of around $8.7 million, was given a head sentence of 9.5 years by Judge Bernard Porter KC, and will have to spend at least three of those years in custody before he will be eligible for parole. Judge Porter said he had "no doubt Mr Norman will not commit another offence like this". "I have no doubt that he regrets what he did," he said. During the June 25 sentencing hearing, Norman's defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter KC spoke to the nature of Norman's offending and stated it was not "a particularly elaborate scheme". "The record keeping, such if there was any, was utterly shambolic," Mr Hunter said. "Even after the event, it was not possible for the defendant to identify which invoices related to the Healthy Headwaters work." When delivering the sentence, Judge Porter did not accept Mr Norman's ADHD diagnosis was an excuse for his fraudulent offending. He also noted that the case was "nothing like a Ponzi scheme or an insurance fraud case". Judge Porter sentenced Norman to 9.5 years on each count of fraud, to be served concurrently, with 21 days of pre-sentence custody to be observed. He will be eligible for parole on June 24, 2028. Norman, who has a wife and four children aged between 15 and 21, was supported in court by a contingent of family and friends. Norman was initially charged in 2018 with six fraud charges, as well as six other charges related to the falsification of records, which have since been discontinued. He had been accused of committing fraud to a value of $12 million, but in April 2025, the amount was reduced to $8.7 million and Norman entered his guilty plea, about three weeks before he was due to face trial. Norman's chief financial officer, Stephen Evans, was also charged with four similar fraud counts for allegedly helping to lodge the claims after he started working for Mr Norman's business in 2013. Evans received a head sentence of four years and six months, suspended after serving nine months. It was alleged that Norman submitted fraudulent claims to six projects managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy between 2010 and 2017. The claims related to the Healthy Headwaters Water Use Efficiency project, which helped Queensland's Murray-Darling Basin irrigation communities deal with climate change and reduced water availability. Under the program, irrigators were granted funds to undertake on-farm infrastructure projects to increase water use efficiency, such as improving water storage. A former southern Queensland cotton grower has been told how long he will remain behind bars after he was sentenced for multiple fraud offences in a Brisbane court on July 16. John Douglas Norman appeared before the court after he was remanded in custody at his last appearance in June 2025. Norman, who entered a plea of guilty on April 28 to six counts of fraud adding up to a value of around $8.7 million, was given a head sentence of 9.5 years by Judge Bernard Porter KC, and will have to spend at least three of those years in custody before he will be eligible for parole. Judge Porter said he had "no doubt Mr Norman will not commit another offence like this". "I have no doubt that he regrets what he did," he said. During the June 25 sentencing hearing, Norman's defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter KC spoke to the nature of Norman's offending and stated it was not "a particularly elaborate scheme". "The record keeping, such if there was any, was utterly shambolic," Mr Hunter said. "Even after the event, it was not possible for the defendant to identify which invoices related to the Healthy Headwaters work." When delivering the sentence, Judge Porter did not accept Mr Norman's ADHD diagnosis was an excuse for his fraudulent offending. He also noted that the case was "nothing like a Ponzi scheme or an insurance fraud case". Judge Porter sentenced Norman to 9.5 years on each count of fraud, to be served concurrently, with 21 days of pre-sentence custody to be observed. He will be eligible for parole on June 24, 2028. Norman, who has a wife and four children aged between 15 and 21, was supported in court by a contingent of family and friends. Norman was initially charged in 2018 with six fraud charges, as well as six other charges related to the falsification of records, which have since been discontinued. He had been accused of committing fraud to a value of $12 million, but in April 2025, the amount was reduced to $8.7 million and Norman entered his guilty plea, about three weeks before he was due to face trial. Norman's chief financial officer, Stephen Evans, was also charged with four similar fraud counts for allegedly helping to lodge the claims after he started working for Mr Norman's business in 2013. Evans received a head sentence of four years and six months, suspended after serving nine months. It was alleged that Norman submitted fraudulent claims to six projects managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy between 2010 and 2017. The claims related to the Healthy Headwaters Water Use Efficiency project, which helped Queensland's Murray-Darling Basin irrigation communities deal with climate change and reduced water availability. Under the program, irrigators were granted funds to undertake on-farm infrastructure projects to increase water use efficiency, such as improving water storage.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfires prompt evacuations in western Washington
Firefighters are battling two wildfires in Mason County that have prompted evacuations. The Toonerville Fire is burning along Northeast Toonerville Drive, north of Belfair, and is threatening about 50 homes, according to Norma Brock of Central Mason Fire and EMS. 'We do have a Level 3 'go now' evacuation that is in place for Toonerville Road communities,' Brock said, adding that several other neighborhoods have been told to get ready to evacuate if necessary. Firefighters estimate the fire is burning between 70 and 100 acres. Brock said the Department of Natural Resources, which is assisting local fire crews, plans to fly a drone over the wildfire to get a better assessment of how large it is. Crews are using bulldozers and excavators to dig lines around the fire, which is 0% contained, but firefighters were hopeful that Wednesday's cooler, wetter weather would help them make progress. 'It's still warm, the fire is still burning actively, but definitely the cooler temperatures are a positive thing,' Brock said. She said it's not known what started the fire Tuesday afternoon. Brock said a second fire in Mason County, which sparked Sunday on the Olympic Peninsula, was human-caused. The Bear Gulch fire is located above Lake Cushman. 'It's burning about 327 acres up a really steep hill and rocky hill, so access has been extremely hard,' she explained. There were evacuations when the fire threatened a critical access road in the area. Residents have been allowed to go home, but area parks and campsites remain closed to the public.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ohio sending troopers, dogs to Texas to help with recovery from catastrophic flooding
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will send troopers to Texas to help respond to the catastrophic flooding, the DeWine administration said on July 7. Twenty troopers from the patrol's mobile field force are expected to be in Texas for a week, helping with search, rescue and recovery work following the flooding disaster along the Guadalupe River. Destructive flooding triggered by unrelenting rain that rapidly overwhelmed the Guadalupe River has killed at least 81 people across central Texas, USA TODAY reported. Search and rescue efforts are still underway, including for 10 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the edge of the Guadalupe River. At least 27 children from the camp have died, according to USA TODAY. Gov. Mike DeWine called Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the holiday weekend to offer support from Ohio. Ohio is also sending multiple search dogs and their handlers from the Department of Natural Resources. More: Texas flood victims remembered Ohio has previously sent troopers to Texas to assist law enforcement at the country's southern border. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Texas flooding response: Ohio State Highway Patrol, K-9s to help
