Numerous newspapers and news radio shows interviewed and quoted USGS scientist, Duane Chapman, about the invasive Asian carps, bighead and silver, nearing entry into the Great Lakes. From January 22 to 27 interviews and quotes appeared in: CBC News Radio Canada, WJR News Radio Detroit, the Washington Post, Associated Press, ABC News Money, The Daily Reporter Milwaukee, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids News and Outdoor America magazine. These news stories are available at: <http://www.cerc.usgs.gov/WhatsNew.aspx?ContentId=327>.

On January 13 in the Columbia Missourian, the Columbia Environmental Research Center was featured in the story, "U.S. Geological Survey in Columbia Plans $7million Facility Overhaul," announcing a public meeting at the Center to display the upcoming renovation options. This article is available at: <http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/01/12/us-geological-survey-hosts-open-house/print/>.

Through the DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program (NRDAR), the American public is compensated for the damage and loss of natural resources resulting from ASARCO's past mining, smelting and refining operations. The contribution of USGS scientists to the settlement of this case provides long-term ecological benefits to an area that has been heavily affected by decades of mining activity. CERC and PWRC provided scientific expertise and legally defensible information to the NRDAR program since its inception in the late 1980s. Studies from these Centers documented the extent and severity of contamination from mining activity by focusing on aquatic, vegetative, and avian resources. Critically important were investigations demonstrating the sensitivity of endemic crayfish and endangered freshwater mussels to metals and mining activity. At the request of the Department of Justice, two CERC scientists and one PWRC scientist prepared expert witness reports that were relied upon in court-ordered mediation to defend the Departmental claim that mining activity resulted in adverse effects on biological resources, ecosystem service loss, and overall extensive habitat injury.  (Susan Finger, Columbia, MO  573-876-1850)

News media interviews, from December 5-10, continue to occur featuring Duane Chapman, USGS research fish biologist, surrounding the issues of the invasive Asian carp close to entering the Great Lakes. Included in these numerous interviews are: AP, Washington Post, New York Times, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Detroit Free Press.
http://www.cerc.usgs.gov/WhatsNew.aspx?ContentId=327#DivNews

Duane Chapman, USGS fisheries biologist, is quoted in a few news articles from November 23 through December 1, all concerning the USGS research on invasive Asian carp and the possibility that these invaders may be close to entering the Great Lakes. On November 27, UPI picked up the story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's article (also November 27), but UPI featured information on whether or not the carp can survive in the open waters of the Great Lakes. On December 2, Duane was interviewed by the AP for fact-checking and the latest situation where the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is poisoned (rotenone) removing any Asian carp that are near the Great Lakes electric fish barrier. The UPI article is at: <http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/11/27/Open-lake-waters-may-defeat-Asian-carp/UPI-77221259345131/http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/11/27/Open-lake-waters-may-defeat-Asian-carp/UPI-77221259345131/>, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is at: <http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/75356897.html>.

CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Dean Reynolds Correspondent
The small mouth is also a fish of special value to researchers who suspect it may tell us something alarming about our water. In Columbia, Mo., the U.S. Geological Survey is keeping smallies in some artificial ponds, investigating why so many males are showing female characteristics. "Because it's male, you're seeing sperm here and here," said USGS Diana Papoulias while examining a fish. "But oddly, you're also seeing eggs. Small, undeveloped eggs. It is an abnormality," she said. "In bass we would not expect to see eggs in a male."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/25/eveningnews/main5778106.shtml (text)
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5779348n&tag=related;photovideo (video)

USGS scientists from the Columbia Environmental Research Center will present environmental contaminant research findings at the 29th annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) on November 19-23, in New Orleans, LA. Presentations include freshwater mussel toxicity tests for evaluating coal fly ash releases, contaminated sediments as a result of Hurricane Katrina, evidence of cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Mead, heavy metal toxicity effects of endangered sturgeon, and sediment toxicity test harmonization between the U.S. and Canada. SETAC promotes the advancement and application of scientific research related to contaminants and other stressors in the environment, and the use of science in environmental policy and decision-making. (Marcia Nelson, Columbia, MO 573-876-1875)

On October 3, scientists Diana Papoulias and Edward Little appeared in the New York Times article, "After A Devastating Fire, an Intense Study of Its Effects". The article focused on the Station fire in the Angeles National Forest, Calif., which started in late August and burned over 160,000 acres of this forested area, leaving behind charred and denuded mountains, fire retardants, ash and debris. The Columbia Environmental Research Center was asked to assess environmental effects on fish and amphibians in the aftermath of this damaging fire. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/science/earth/03fire.html>

Scientists from the Columbia Environmental Research Center will present findings from USGS sturgeon research conducted on the Missouri River, at the 6th International Symposium on Sturgeon. This symposium, "Harmonizing the Relation Between Humans and Sturgeons", from October 25-30, is held in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Scientists, students and enforcement authorities from different parts of the world will attend this event to discuss the recent developments in sturgeon status from various ecosystems, habitat restoration efforts, and management and conservation policies. <http://www.iss6.org/en/> (Aaron DeLonay, Columbia, MO  573-876-1878)

USGS scientist Jo Ellen Hinck responded to numerous media requests from several news and broadcast outlets about the intersex condition found in black bass across nine U.S. river basins. Media outlets included NPR, Discovery Channel, the Washington Post and the Denver Post. In addition, the AP, UPI and Greenwire picked up the story.

Beginning September 20, the Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) will host three Russian scientists from the Institute for Biology of Inland Waters (IBIW), Borok, Russia, of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The science exchange program continues between IBIW and CERC for over 30 years, with senior and student scientists participating. The Russian scientists in this two week exchange are involved in effects of contaminant exposure at the cellular level, genomic molecular techniques and large river hydrodynamics. (Diana Papoulias, Columbia, MO  573-876-1902)

On a one-year sabbatical from Pusan National University, Dr. Jeong-Eun Oh of Pusan, Korea, just joined the environmental chemists of the Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC). Dr. Oh has chosen to investigate pharmaceuticals released from wastewater treatment plants using passive samplers invented at CERC. In addition, CERC and Dr. Oh are fostering what hopes to be further joint research endeavors between the USGS and Pusan National University. (David Alvarez, Columbia, MO  573-441-2970)

Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and nanoparticles are throughout our environment, and in some cases, in our drinking water. These and other emerging contaminants are associated with significant environmental impacts, such as the feminization of fish, presenting challenges for scientists, engineers, regulators and the public. Dr. David Alvarez of the Columbia Environmental Research Center will present findings on the use of passive samplers in emerging contaminant studies and research in Lake Mead and the Potomac/Shenandoah Rivers, at the 2nd International Conference of Occurrence, Fate, Effects, and Analysis of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment. This Conference is on August 4-7 in Fort Collins, CO, sponsored by the USGS and Colorado State University. Details can be obtained at: <http://soilcrop.colostate.edu/EmCon2009/>. (David Alvarez, Columbia, MO  573-441-2970)

USGS scientists of the Columbia Environmental Research Center will participate in an educational canoe trip on the Missouri River, July 11, near Columbia, MO, to share information about the endangered pallid sturgeon and factors affecting its reproduction and survival. The event, hosted by the nonprofit Missouri River Communities Network, provides an opportunity for scientists to brief the public on five years of research conducted on the endangered fish in the Lower Missouri River. (Aaron DeLonay, Columbia, MO  573-876-1878)
Media

USGS scientist Duane Chapman of the Columbia Environmental Research Center, was interviewed for a Columbia Missourian story on Asian carp facing starvation and reproductive problems in the Missouri River. In the article published June 7, Chapman discussed their health decline, which is hypothesized to result from a low supply of zooplankton in the river <http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/06/07/asian-carp-facing-starvation-and-reproductive-problems/>.

"Reuse the Past, Recycle the Present, Save the Future" the theme for this year's Missouri Earth Day in Jefferson City, MO, on April 24, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and others, hosted about 1,200 Kindergarten through grade 12 students. Julia Towns-Campbell and Robin Tillitt of the Columbia Environmental Research Center set up an exhibit to interact with these young students, teaching and guiding them about aquatic contaminants, large river ecology and the fish and wildlife that inhabitat river environments. (Julia Towns-Campbell, Columbia, MO  573-876-1853)