“Although Kingston's air quality is, for the most part, doing well, we know that increased traffic, train activity, wood burning, and household heating systems can contribute to short-term air quality issues and long-term health issues if not appropriately managed,” said Eli Dueker, director of the Center for the Study of Land, Air, & Water, which partnered with the City of Kingston’s Conservation Advisory Council’s Air Quality Sub-Committee to form the Kingston Air Quality Initiative. “This research addresses what Kingston needs to be able to meet its sustainability goals long-term.”
Bard College and Hudsonia recently concluded a water quality and biodiversity assessment of South Twin Lake in New York’s Columbia County. Lakes and ponds are important as scenery and for their recreational amenities; they also make important contributions to biological diversity. Understanding the water quality and the kinds of organisms living in these water bodies allows an assessment of their condition as well as potential management actions.
The ability to fight bacterial infections with antibiotics has been a longstanding cornerstone of modern medicine. However, widespread overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to unintended consequences, which in turn require large-scale changes of policy for mitigation.
Watersheds connect people in multiple communities through a shared interest in water. Water doesn’t respect municipal boundaries, so watershed protection encourages water users to form partnerships—not only among towns and villages but also with colleges and universities.