Sorel, QC, Jun 29, 2011 — The last couple of weeks, our Adirondack reporter Brian Mann has been exploring the St. Lawrence River. Yesterday, we heard his report on questions surrounding the shipment of nuclear waste through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

This morning, Brian sends an audio postcard from a different sort of trip. He explored a vast marsh in Sorel, Quebec known as the Lake St. Pierre Bisophere Reserve.

The wetland --one of the biggest heron nesting grounds in North America--is formed by the St. Lawrence and by the Richelieu River which flows north out of Lake Champlain.  Go to full article

Quebec, QC, Apr 06, 2011 — A couple years ago, a friend of the station e-mailed us to say she had heard something about a "strategic maple reserve"--a vast bunker of maple syrup hidden somewhere in the Great White North just in case of--well, we didn't know.

The "strategic maple reserve" fell off the radar until this spring, when David Sommerstein snooped around. Turns out it wasn't hard to find. Simon Trepanier is the director of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. Trepanier's organization maintains the strategic maple reserve, and it's pretty serious. Quebec is the world's largest maple syrup maker by far. The province's 7500 producers boil down 75% of all the maple syrup on Earth.

So as more countries and more people hanker for the sweet stuff, one bad year in Quebec could turn the market upside down. That is, until the strategic maple reserve was created. Trepanier told David Sommerstein the reserve isn't as secret or mysterious as it sounds.  Go to full article

Mar 07, 2011 — Northeast states are increasingly looking to Canada to meet a growing demand for low cost hydro electricity from renewable sources.

But the energy imports are stirring controversy. In northern New Hampshire, local activists are fighting a power line that would send the electricity south. And questions are being raised about whether big hydro is really green.

As part of a collaboration of Northeast stations John Dillon of Vermont Public Radio reports.

Northeast environmental reporting is made possible, in part, by a grant from United Technologies. Northeast environmental coverage is part of NPR's Local News Initiative.  Go to full article

Brockville, ON, Dec 31, 2010 — Brockville storyteller Deborah Dunleavy shares a midwinter tale about a young logger and a flying canoe at a lumber camp in northern Quebec.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Jul 22, 2010 — One of the highlights of Burlington's summer is the yearly "brewfest" on the waterfront. It brings brewers and beer fanciers together for a big, cheery, Canadian-American party. As Angela Evancie found, there's serious tasting going on, with some unexpected elements.  Go to full article

Buffalo, NY, Jun 17, 2010 — The purple boxes are up on ash trees again this summer. They're traps for the emerald ash borer, an invasive bug that has devastated ash stands in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. In this state, the insect's been confined to western New York. Today we revisit the fight against the emerald ash borer. David Sommerstien has more.  Go to full article

Gatineau, QC, Jun 03, 2009 — Aviation and history buffs may be interested in events on tap this year from Vintage Wings of Canada. The organization near Gatineau, Quebec has an extensive collection of still-flying, restored planes, including legendary World War II aircraft like the Spitfire, Hurricane and Tiger Moth. Two open house events this year will celebrate classic airplanes. The first is Saturday in Gatineau. Aircraft from the Vintage Wings collection will also appear at this year's air show in Geneseo, NY in mid-July. In May, Lucy Martin toured Vintage Wings of Canada with founder Michael Potter, a pilot and retired executive. Afterwards, she got more personal impressions from Communications Manager Dave O'Malley. That day featured sedate work inside the hanger. But O'Malley says the place is busy this month.  Go to full article

Nov 06, 2008 — Franklin County's waste authority is hoping to dramatically expand its landfill -- which sits just south of the U.S.-Canada border. The waste authority held a hearing last night to take comments on possible environmental impacts. As Jacob Resneck reports, the meeting attracted a large crowd from both sides of the border.  Go to full article

Sep 08, 2008 — The binational board that controls water levels on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario is doing an about-face that's a victory for environmentalists. In a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, the International Joint Commission said there was "little support" for the water levels plan that came out of a five-year, $20-million study. The IJC appears to be abandoning the plan, saying it is "not a practical option." Instead, the IJC said 20 public hearings and more than a thousand comments over the last year indicated "broad, strong interest" for returning the natural ebbs and flows to the river and lake. That was the overwhelming opinion across the North Country. Jennifer Caddick directs Save the River, based in Clayton. Save the River led a campaign for management of water levels that's better for the environment. Caddick told David Sommerstein the IJC's announcement is encouraging news.  Go to full article

Aug 07, 2008 — A Canadian cable maker will soon open a manufacturing plant in Plattsburgh. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article