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The problem is methane. Half of global methane emissions come from aquatic ecosystems
Nature Geoscience, Published: April 5, 2021
Bruce’s point is that water and water quality are in jeopardy all over the planet. We are beginning to finally put methane associated with nutrient impaired water on the radar. Finally.
A worrying trend. But it’s fixable. We can have our water back and with incredible quality to boot. And productivity. Fish Fry Lake in Shepherd, Montana, is the most productive fishery in the state of Montana right now.
Bruce’s point is that we have to deal with this issue. We don’t have a choice. We have to get a handle on the methane. The prototype solution at the facility in Shepherd will operate off grid, in small waterways, and can be turned on and left to function alone, because the engineering principles and the design is very straightforward. Why, because we’re partnering with nature. We’re letting nature show us how to get it done.
Hydroelectric dams are massive methane emitters. The photo to the right shows the Bighorn River, very near the research center in Shepherd. It originates in Wyoming and flows north into Montana. Back in 1981, at a place called Horseshoe Bend, sludge had accumulated to a depth of 82 feet. This is a meth- ane factory controlled in this case by the Bureau of Reclama- tion. But we can fix it. And the cure is based upon incumbent technology, technology that is already developed. It’s not about science-fiction. The floating island component is designed to take care of and to mitigate fugitive gases that come up with methane when the methane is raised from the anerobic bottom zone. Islands have the remarkable ability to do that.
What you are seeing on the Bighorn River and Horseshow Bend is happening all over the world. Here in the U.S. we have some 1,100 reservoirs. Just 122 of those reservoirs re- sult in the production of 3.7 million tons of methane every year. Can anybody guess who the largest emitter of methane in North America is? The Army Corps of Engineers.
Bruce had approached the Army Corp back in November but hasn’t heard anything from them yet. They may need a nudge. He is not trying to improve on nature; he just wants to let nature show us how to get it done.
Bruce asked for help in bringing others to the table, people who are associated with water and potentially people who are associated with top-down directives that could influence the decisionmakers in and from the Army Corp of Engineers up to the White House.The solution to the problem is known, but help is needed to get it implemented and we don’t have a lot of time. The solution is within our grasp.
Carey Matovich Billings, Montana
SUMMER 2024 JOURNAL 30