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Here are five questions about tropical cyclones that you need answeredPosted: February 20, 2015 Filed under: Environment, News, Oceans | Tags: climate change, cyclone, Queensland, Tropical Cyclone Lam, Tropical Cyclone Marcia, weather Leave a comment
By Simon Torok
Tropical cyclones are an ongoing threat during Australia's cyclone season, which generally lasts from November to April. On average, the Australian region experiences 13 cyclones a year.
But as the coastlines of Queensland and the Northern Territory are threatened on two simultaneous fronts (Marcia and Lam), we've asked our climate scientists what we can expect from tropical cyclones in the future, as Australia's climate continues to change.
1. Has the frequency of tropical cyclones changed?
Some scientific studies suggest no change and others suggest a decrease in numbers since the 1970s in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones in the Australian region.
The Bureau of Meteorology's satellite record is short and there have been changes in the historical methods of analysis. Combined with the high variability in tropical cyclone numbers, this means it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding changes.
However, it is clear that sea surface temperatures off the northern Australian coast have increased, part of a significant warming of the oceans that has been observed in the past 50 years due to increases in greenhouse gases. Warmer oceans tend to increase the amount of moisture that gets transported from the ocean to the atmosphere, and a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and so have greater potential for intense rainfall events.
2. Will the frequency of tropical cyclones change in future?
The underlying warming trend of oceans around the world, which is linked to human-induced climate change, will tend to increase the risk of extreme rainfall events in the short to medium term. Studies in the Australian region point to a potential long-term decrease in the number of tropical cyclones each year in future, on average.
On the other hand, there is a projected increase in their intensity. In other words, we may have fewer cyclones but the ones we do have will be stronger. So there would be a likely increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones in the more intense categories (category 4 or 5). However, confidence in tropical cyclone projections is low.
3. What are the impacts of tropical cyclones?
Today, coastal flooding is caused by storm tides, which occur when low-pressure weather systems, cyclones, or storm winds elevate sea levels to produce a storm surge, which combines with high or king tides to drive sea water onshore. Although rare, extreme flooding events can lead to large loss of life, as was the case in 1899 when 400 people died as a result of a cyclonic storm surge in Bathurst Bay, Queensland.
4. How will impacts of tropical cyclones change in future?
With an increase in cyclone intensity, there is likely to be an increased risk of coastal flooding, especially in low-lying areas exposed to cyclones and storm surges. For example, the area of Cairns' risk of flooding, by a 1-in-100-year storm surge, is likely to more than double by the middle of this century.
5. How can we adapt to expected changes?
Almost all of our existing coastal buildings and infrastructure were constructed under planning rules that did not factor in the impacts of climate change. However, governments are now taking account of changes in climate and sea level through their planning policies. Just as the building codes and rules for Darwin changed in the wake of Cyclone Tracy, so they should now be re-assessed for each region and locality in Australia to take account of climate change.
You can track both Tropical Cyclone Marcia and Lam using our Emergency Response Intelligence Capability tool (ERIC).
And we also have more information about our latest climate projections here.
Eight million tonnes of plastic are going into the ocean each yearPosted: February 13, 2015 Filed under: Environment, Feature Articles, News, Oceans | Tags: beaches, marine animals, Marine Debris, plastic 10 Comments
By Britta Denise Hardesty, CSIRO and Chris Wilcox, CSIRO
You might have heard the oceans are full of plastic, but how full exactly? Around 8 million metric tonnes go into the oceans each year, according to the first rigorous global estimate published in Science today.
That's equivalent to 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every metre of coastline (excluding Antarctica). By 2025 we will be putting enough plastic in the ocean (on our most conservative estimates) to cover 5% of the earth's entire surface in cling film each year.
Around a third of this likely comes from China, and 10% from Indonesia. In fact all but one of the top 20 worst offenders are developing nations, largely due to fast-growing economies but poor waste management systems.
However, people in the United States – coming in at number 20 and producing less than 1% of global waste – produce more than 2.5 kg of plastic waste each day, more than twice the amount of people in China.
While the news for us, our marine wildlife, seabirds, and fisheries is not good, the research paves the way to improve global waste management and reduce plastic in the waste stream.
Follow the plastic
An international team of experts analysed 192 countries bordering the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. By examining the amount of waste produced per person per year in each country, the percentage of that waste that's plastic, and the percentage of that plastic waste that is mismanaged, the team worked out the likely worst offenders for marine plastic waste.
In 2010, 270 million tonnes of plastic was produced around the world. This translated to 275 million tonnes of plastic waste; 99.5 million tonnes of which was produced by the two billion people living within 50 km of a coastline. Because some durable items such as refrigerators produced in the past are also thrown away, we can find more waste than plastic produced at times.
Of that, somewhere between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes found its way into the ocean. Given how light plastic is, this translates to an unimaginably large volume of debris.
While plastic can make its way into oceans from land-locked countries via rivers, these were excluded in the study, meaning the results are likely a conservative estimate.
With our planet still 85 years away from "peak waste" — and with plastic production skyrocketing around the world — the amount of plastic waste getting into the oceans is likely to increase by an order of magnitude within the next decade.
Our recent survey of the Australian coastline found three-quarters of coastal rubbish is plastic, averaging more than 6 pieces per meter of coastline. Offshore, we found densities from a few thousand pieces of plastic to more than 40,000 pieces per square kilometre in the waters around the continent.
Where is the plastic going?
While we now have a rough figure for the amount of plastic rubbish in the world's oceans, we still know very little about where it all ends up (it isn't all in the infamous "Pacific Garbage Patch").
Between 6,350 and 245,000 metric tons of plastic waste is estimated to float on the ocean's surface, which raises the all-important question: where does the rest of it end up?
Some, like the plastic microbeads found in many personal care products, ends up in the oceans and sediments where they can be ingested by bottom-dwelling creatures and filter-feeders.
It's unclear where the rest of the material is. It might be deposited on coastal margins, or maybe it breaks down into fragments so small we can't detect it, or maybe it is in the guts of marine wildlife.
Wherever it ends up, plastic has enormous potential for destruction. Ghost nets and fishing debris snag and drown turtles, seals, and other marine wildlife. In some cases, these interactions have big impacts.
For instance, we estimate that around 10,000 turtles have been trapped by derelict nets in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria region alone.
More than 690 marine species are known to interact with marine litter. Turtles mistake floating plastic for jellyfish, and globally around one-third of all turtles are estimated to have eaten plastic in some form. Likewise seabirds eat everything from plastic toys, nurdles and balloon shreds to foam, fishing floats and glow sticks.
While plastic is prized for its durability and inertness, it also acts as a chemical magnet for environmental pollutants such as metals, fertilisers, and persistent organic pollutants. These are adsorbed onto the plastic. When an animal eats the plastic "meal", these chemicals make their way into their tissues and — in the case of commercial fish species — can make it onto our dinner plates.
Plastic waste is the scourge of our oceans; killing our wildlife, polluting our beaches, and threatening our food security. But there are solutions – some of which are simple, and some a bit more challenging.
If the top five plastic-polluting countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka – managed to achieve a 50% improvement in their waste management — for example by investing in waste management infrastructure, the total global amount of mismanaged waste would be reduced by around a quarter.
Higher-income countries have equal responsibility to reduce the amount of waste produced per person through measures such as plastic recycling and reuse, and by shifting some of the responsibility for plastic waste back onto the producers.
The simplest and most effective solution might be to make the plastic worth money. Deposits on beverage containers for instance, have proven effective at reducing waste lost into the environment – because the containers, plastic and otherwise, are worth money people don't throw them away, or if they do others pick them up.
Extending this idea to a deposit on all plastics at the beginning of their lifecycle, as raw materials, would incentivize collection by formal waste managers where infrastructure is available, but also by consumers and entrepreneurs seeking income where it is not.
Before the plastic revolution, much of our waste was collected and burned. But the ubiquity, volume, and permanence of plastic waste demands better solutions.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.
It's raining water tanks: top tips for keeping them healthy and efficientPosted: February 11, 2015 Filed under: Environment, Land and Water | Tags: Maintenance, mosquito, Rainwater tank, report, Smart Water Fund, survey of savings and conditions of rainwater tanks 15 Comments
Australia is the driest populated continent in the world, and yet our water consumption per person is among the highest on the planet. For Australians, water is scarce and how we manage this resource is a concern for us all.
It's no surprise that people are looking to install some form of water catchment for their property. Recent data shows that 26 per cent of Australian homes have already installed a rainwater tank and an overwhelming majority reported that they are positive about the tanks.
From saving money on your water bills to the conservation of a valuable natural resource, there is a lot to like about the humble rainwater tank.
They can even have other positive flow-on effects for the community. For example, the use of rainwater tanks in urban areas can relieve pressure on public infrastructure because of reduced stormwater runoff. We've also seen the popularity of rainwater tanks increase year on year, with the ABS reporting that the total storage capacity in Australia has gone up by 30 per cent between 2006 and 2011.
This is all very encouraging news for the environment – but, it's not all drinking water and skittles. Just like buying a puppy dog or a Tamagotchi, owning a rainwater tank comes with its own responsibilities.
A recent study we conducted with the Smart Water Fund has shown that households may not be aware of some of the maintenance requirements that come with rainwater tank ownership.
In the report, Survey of savings and conditions of rainwater tanks, we conducted extensive research into rainwater systems across Melbourne, looking at the efficiency of the tanks and the water savings that can be generated at an individual household level.
One of the most interesting findings was lack of awareness around maintenance. Only 58 per cent of Melbournians indicated that they have conducted some form of maintenance on their system.
It's important to know that the installation of a rainwater tank isn't a set-and-forget scenario. There are some maintenance tasks that are unavoidable if you want to keep the tank healthy and efficient.
So here are our top tips for rainwater tank owners, or those considering a purchase in the near future.
Top 5 tips for maintaining your rainwater tank
- Get your mind (and the leaves) out of the gutter – every 3 months
- Cleaning out the gutters is a simple way to improve the water quality and the efficiency of the tank.
- 4 per cent of tested households were found to have faecal matter in the gutters. In addition, 31 per cent of sites inspected were found to have half or completely full gutters.
- Look into installing gutter meshing.
- Mozzie mesh – every 3 months
- A rainwater tank is a great place for mosquitoes and pests to set up shop and thrive.
- Of the tanks reviewed in the study 91.1 per cent had mosquito meshing, but more than 10 per cent were in a condition that would allow pests or vermin into the tank.
- Poorly maintained mesh can pose a risk to the health of the community, particularly if populations of disease carrying insects are free to multiply in the rainwater tank hotel in your backyard.
- Spend some quality time getting to know your water quality – every 6 months
- A majority of households use rainwater for the toilet or the washing machine so cleanliness of the water is less important. However, for those properties that use the water for showers, drinking or cooking, checking the water is crucial.
- We found 57 per cent of tanks had discoloured water and 19 per cent had odorous water, while 25 per cent of tanks had medium or high concentrations of sediment.
- Pump it real good – every 6 months
- The condition of the pumps and outlets will affect the quality of the water and the efficiency of how the household can access and use the water. A well-maintained system can also protect against long-term damage.
- Our report found that in homes with pumps installed, 5 per cent were not functioning and 18 per cent of properties inspected were reported to have leaky pipes.
- It's time to desludge
- Standards Australia recommends that households organise the removal of sediment with a qualified contractor once every two to three years.
- You probably don't want to be dealing with this water.
The report also advises should check to make sure tank foundations are even, and that the tank has a reliable water switch.
If you would like to review the report in full you can find it here.
Climate projections show Australia is heading for a much warmer futurePosted: January 28, 2015 Filed under: Environment, Feature Articles, News | Tags: BOM, climate change, climate projections 14 Comments
By Kevin Hennessy, CSIRO and Penny Whetton, CSIRO
Australia is on track for up to 1.7C of warming this century if the world curbs its greenhouse emissions, but under a worst-case scenario could see anything from 2.8C to 5.1C of warming by 2090, according to new climate change projections released by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.
The projections are the most comprehensive ever released for Australia. They are similar to those published in 2007, but based on stronger evidence, with more regional detail. These projections have been undertaken primarily to inform the natural resources management sector, although the information will be useful for planning and managing the impacts of climate change in other sectors.
Possible futures
The new report draws on climate model data used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC). The Fifth IPCC Assessment Report (AR5), released in 2013 and 2014, used a range various greenhouse gas and aerosol scenarios to project future climate change.
Over the past 10 years, carbon dioxide emissions have been tracking the highest IPCC emission scenario (known as RCP8.5). If there is limited international action to reduce emissions, then projections based on the highest scenario may be realised.
However, if emissions are significantly reduced over the coming decades, then intermediate emissions (RCP4.5) might be feasible. Following the low emissions scenario (RCP2.6) would be very challenging given the current trajectory of carbon dioxide emissions.
How does Australia compare?
By late in this century (2090), Australia's average warming is projected to be 0.6 to 1.7C for a low emission scenario, or 2.8 to 5.1C under a high emission scenario.
The warming under the high scenario is similar to the global average warming of 2.6 to 4.8C under the high emission scenario reported by the IPCC AR5. However, inland areas of Australia will warm faster than coastal areas.
For example, the Rangelands of inland Australia warm by 2.9-5.3C by 2090 under high emissions, while the East Coast, including Sydney and Brisbane, warms by 2.7-4.7C.
Historical context
The new projections should be viewed in the context of what has already been observed. Australia has become 0.9C warmer since 1910. Rainfall has increased in northern Australia since the 1970s and decreased in south-east and south-west Australia.
More of Australia's rain has come from heavy falls and there has been more extreme fire weather in southern and eastern Australia since the 1970s. Sea levels have risen by approximately 20 cm since 1900.
In future, Australia's average temperature will increase and we will experience more heat extremes and fewer cold extremes. Winter and spring rainfall in southern Australia is projected to decline while changes in other regions are uncertain.
For the rest of Australia, natural climate variability will predominate over rainfall trends caused by increasing greenhouse gases until 2030. By 2090, a winter rainfall decrease is expected in eastern Australia, but a winter rainfall increase is expected in Tasmania.
Historical climate data can be used as an analogue for the future. The analogue could be a location that currently has a climate similar to that expected in another region in the future.
For example, for a warming of 1.5-3.0C and a rainfall decrease of 5-15%, Melbourne's climate becomes similar to that of Clare in South Australia, Sydney becomes more like Brisbane, and Brisbane becomes more like Bundaberg in inland Queensland.
Extreme rainfall events that lead to flooding are likely to become more intense. The number of tropical cyclones is projected to decrease but they may be more intense and possibly reach further south. Southern and eastern Australia is projected to experience harsher fire weather. The time in drought will increase over southern Australia, with a greater frequency of severe droughts.
A projected increase in evaporation rates will contribute to a reduction in soil moisture across Australia. There will be a decrease in snowfall, an increase in snowmelt, and therefore reduced snow cover.
Sea levels will continue to rise throughout the 21st century and beyond. Oceans around Australia will warm and become more acidic.
What will Australia look like?
Freshwater resources are projected to decline in far south-west and far south-east mainland Australia. Rising sea levels and increasing heavy rainfall are projected to increase erosion and inundation, with consequent damage to many low-lying ecosystems, infrastructure and housing.
Increasing heat waves will increase risks to human health. Rainfall changes and rising temperatures will shift agricultural production zones. Many native species will suffer from reduced habitats and some may face local or even global extinction.
The most vulnerable regions/sectors are coral reefs, increased frequency and intensity of flood damage to infrastructure and settlements, and increasing risks to coastal infrastructure and low-lying ecosystems.
While reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions would increase the chance of slowing climate change, adaptation is also required because some warming and associated climate changes are unavoidable.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.
A shark's tale: is there something fishy in the waters off Newcastle?Posted: January 16, 2015 Filed under: Critter Corner, Environment, Feature Articles, Friday Fish Time, News, Oceans | Tags: Shark tagging, Sharks, White sharks 8 Comments
The coastal city of Newcastle is in the midst of a media frenzy, thanks to a string of shark sightings close to popular swimming beaches.
A 15 kilometre stretch of beaches has now been shut for a record six consecutive days, with lifeguards and police craft reporting shark sightings seemingly by the hour. Of most concern have been a purportedly 5 metre, 1,700kg White shark that has been lingering along the coastline; and what is suspected to be a 3 metre tiger shark that was photographed attacking and killing a small dolphin only 50 metres from the shore yesterday (warning: graphic images).
While no attacks on humans in the area have yet been recorded, the sharks have become national celebrities in their own right, with widespread media coverage and commentary. There has even been a Twitter account set up for the @Newy_Shark (which is one account you probably don't want to be "followed" by).
So what's the deal here? Are we seeing the real-life return of Jaws? Has a curse been struck down upon the town of Newcastle by Poseidon himself? Is a Sharknado next?
Our resident White shark expert, Barry Bruce, knows a thing or two about these ancient predators. He is one of Australia's pre-eminent authorities on the species and is the head of our White Shark Research Program. But he is perhaps most famously known for having one of Finding Nemo's most famous characters named after him.
According to Barry, the story behind Newcastle's shark saga is far less salacious. Thankfully, we're not gonna need a bigger blog.
The coastline just north of Newcastle (stretching from the appropriately named Stockton Bight to the even tastier-sounding Seal Rocks) is famously known as being a nursery ground for White sharks. These juveniles are usually about 2-3 metres in length, and a tagging program undertaken by Barry and his team has shown that they are more than prevalent in the area.
Seeing a larger sized White in this area, like the infamous #NewyShark, is slightly less common, but still not at all unusual.
Large White sharks are well known to move up and down the New South Wales coastline, stopping in certain areas when food is prevalent. White sharks have been exhibiting this exact behaviour for countless millennia – it is only when they stop near a heavily populated area like Newcastle that we would notice.
But these are nomadic creatures, and they won't stay in one spot for too long. We know through collaboration with our colleagues in New Zealand that white Sharks will travel as far north as the Great Barrier Reef – and even across the Tasman to NZ – in a span of just months.
Barry puts the current concentration of sharks in Newcastle purely down to natural variability. Sharks go where the food goes – if there are more sharks in one area at one point in time, it means there will be less in others.
And while we're in the mood for debunking myths, here's another one: dolphins are just as much a food source for sharks as are any other species of their size. While it is uncommon for us to observe – and the images were undeniably distressing – sharks are well-known to attack dolphins. Unfortunately, what Flipper taught us was wrong.
More than anything, Barry says that this is a positive advertisement for the health of marine ecosystems in Australia. That there is a large enough food source to sustain shark populations is a good thing, and should be celebrated.
But of course, it is important for beachgoers to take advice from authorities when entering the water. While this is a natural spectacle that should be enjoyed, it is advisable to do so from a distance – and on land. In time it will run its course, and we can all return to the water.
White shark fast facts:
- A common mistake people make is calling these awesome creatures, 'Great White Sharks', it's actually just 'White shark' (Carcharodon carcharias). But we still think they're still pretty great.
- Sharks play a vital ecosystem role as top predators. Declines in top predators can cascade through the food web, seeing some species groups increase while eliminating others.
- We have one of the most comprehensive White shark research programs in the world, with over 250 tagged White sharks in Australian waters. Check out a few shark tracks on our website.
- Our tagging program provides us with a good idea of migration patterns – we know for example that there is an East and a Southwest population.
- Our research on White sharks is a collaborative project funded under the Australian Government's National Environmental Research Program.
- We tag these beauties in a very humane way – in a sling, in the water:
Bushfires kill, but knowing exactly how might make them less deadlyPosted: January 9, 2015 Filed under: Environment, Feature Articles, fire, News | Tags: bushfire mitigation, bushfires, fire survival plan 2 Comments
By Justin Leonard, CSIRO
The latest round of bushfires, which claimed 27 homes in the Adelaide Hills, has once again highlighted the importance of planning for the worst. Mercifully, no human lives were lost, and it will be important to learn whatever lessons we can to avoid future tragedies.
My colleagues and I analysed 825 deaths in 260 Australian bushfires from 1901 to 2011, and our research has revealed some compelling evidence to help guide residents to plan for future bushfires.
Most people (58%) lost their lives when caught out in the open. Strikingly, 72% of those people were within 200 m of their own homes (this statistic is based only on cases where details are accurately known).
I encourage you to imagine what circumstances and decisions might have led to these outcomes. Do a large number of people simply wait to see if the fire is really going to arrive on their doorstep?
Bushfire deaths within a house are most prevalent during our most severe fire events, representing 75% of all fatalities during bushfires that occurred on days with "catastrophic" (code red) fire danger conditions. This is despite them representing only 27% of all bushfire deaths.
Of those who died inside homes, 92% were in rooms that did not have a door that led directly to the exterior of the house (once again, this is based only on cases where circumstances are accurately known). This raises uncomfortable questions: why did these people apparently not try to leave the home as the house fire developed? Were they monitoring the conditions outside as the fire passed? Had they thought about which exit was the safest?
Homes under attack
When a fire arrives at a property, the house will experience "ember attack". This attack is strongest as the main fire arrives and will persist for a long time after it has passed, and may also start to happen before the fire actually arrives. If the house is close enough to the bush it may also be affected by radiant heat, and if very close then direct flame contact is possible, although most houses are lost without any direct interaction from a bushfire front – which goes some way to account for the seemingly random loss patterns that occur.
Given the timing and intensity of ember attack, it is no surprise that our data show that houses can ignite before, during, and after a fire front's passage – with the most likely time being during and immediately after the fire front has passed.
For the relatively small number of houses that ignite before the fire front arrives, the occupants may be faced with life-threatening conditions both inside and outside at the same time. There are also a few cases were houses are built so close to the bush or other combustible elements that even the low-level fire that persists after the main fire front has passed is too intense to survive outside.
Nevertheless, for the vast majority of homes that burn in bushfires, it is likely that at any given time, conditions would be survivable either inside or outside the house. That means that, with the right strategy, lives should not be lost.
Designing a lifesaving strategy
It is interesting to note that the current building codes for bushfire-prone areas include specific fire weather severity limits beyond which these standards may no longer be effective. The standards aim to reduce the risk that a building will catch fire, but they also rule out any guarantee that it won't. The code also doesn't address the issues of how fast burning homes might succumb, or of how to provide a safe or effective exit path from the building.
So even if your bushland home is fully up to code, you need to plan for a wide range of scenarios. Fire agencies across Australia have stressed the importance for people living in bushfire-prone areas to develop a fire survival plan, and your local fire agency is the best place to start on developing a plan and educating yourself about the specific local fire conditions you might face.
Once a plan has been developed I encourage residents to test their fire plan by checking whether it answers the following questions:
- At what level of forecast fire weather severity will you retreat to a non-bushfire-prone area for the day?
- Do you understand the local potential fire severity for weather conditions below this level?
- For any given circumstances, what are the signs or triggers that indicate that it is no longer safe to evacuate to a non-bushfire prone area? For some isolated communities this will be when fire weather severity passes a certain level; for other, less isolated residents it will be when they are no longer certain that the roads are moving freely and fire will not impact their travel route.
- What and where is your personal protective equipment and firefighting tools?
- Is the property free from combustible items under or adjacent to the home?
- Is the home in an acceptable state of repair to survive a bushfire?
- Which areas would be the safest external location to move to if it becomes impossible to stay in the house?
- Does the path leading to this cleared area involve walking over or past combustible elements such as vehicles and decking?
- How do I monitor all rooms and cavity areas of the home for signs of ignition of fire development inside the house?
- What do you have on hand to monitor and put out these fires (stored water, ladders to monitor internal roof space, etc.)?
- If you can't put them out, which exit path is the most appropriate?
And remember:
A deep understanding of the nature of bushfire threat is your best tool in assessing and managing your own risk.
This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.
Staying MouseAlert, not MouseAlarmed, this ChristmasPosted: December 17, 2014 Filed under: Biosecurity, Critter Corner, Environment, Farming and Food, food security, Projects | Tags: mice, mice plage, mouse, MouseAlert 1 Comment
By Leon Braun
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …"
CSIRO scientists are keeping their eyes peeled for more than just Santa Claus this Christmas. With unusually high numbers of mouse sightings in Victoria this spring, CSIRO ecologist Peter Brown and colleagues at various Australian and New Zealand research agencies are monitoring mouse populations to see whether 2015 will bring a sigh of relief or send people scurrying for cover under a deluge of tiny, furry bodies.
While taken individually, mice can be rather cute (think Mickey, Mighty and Danger), en masse they can be absolutely devastating. In 1993, Australia's worst ever mouse plague caused an estimated $96 million worth of damage, destroyed thousands of hectares of crops, blighted piggeries and ravaged poultry farms. The whiskered marauders chewed their way through rubber and electrical insulation, damaged farm vehicles, ruined cars and buildings. Another plague in 2010/11 was almost as bad, affecting 3 million ha of crops in NSW's central west and the Riverina, as well as parts of Victoria and South Australia.
Along with economic hardship and disease, plagues bring severe psychological distress for people living through them.
"The sheer stress of dealing with mice in your kitchen every night takes its toll," Peter says. "They're everywhere: chewing, defecating, breeding."
The good news is that with sufficient warning it is possible to prepare for mouse plagues, and to minimise the damage they cause, through early baiting and removing food supplies and cover. Over the years, our scientists have become increasingly accurate at predicting mouse plagues (they got it right in 1994 and 2001-2003) and have developed an ever more sophisticated range of tools to assist them. The latest weapon in their arsenal is "MouseAlert", a citizen science website where keen-eyed rodent reporters can notify CSIRO about mouse sightings. The website is optimised for mobile phones, and Peter and his team hope to have an app out soon.
"Numbers are everything when you're trying to predict a plague," Peter says. "Traditionally we've used traps and chew cards [thin pieces of cardboard soaked in vegetable oil], but they have disadvantages, not least the fact that we're not physically able to put them everywhere. MouseAlert allows us to capture data over a much wider area and potentially spot a plague well before it becomes a problem."
Equally important as sightings, Peter says, are reports of where mice haven't been.
"The jump from zero sightings to one or two can be an important indicator that mouse numbers are increasing," he says. "By participating in citizen science, the public can help us identify these trigger points."
So how are things looking this year? A little ominous, actually. Unusually high numbers of mice were seen in western Victoria in September. Depending on how much rain we get, they could build up to plague proportions by March or April next year. That's why Peter wants mouse watchers to keep their eyes peeled:
"If it looks like there's going to be a plague, we want to be able to give farmers plenty of time before sowing to prepare – or else put their minds at ease if it looks like there isn't."
So if you do see a mouse this Christmas Eve – stirring or not – get over to MouseAlert and report it. The pantry you're saving could be your own!


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Quiz: Remember the definition of mal de mer?
c.1200, from Old English cynn "family; race; kind, sort, rank; nature; gender, sex," from Proto-Germanic *kunjam "family" (cf. Old Frisian kenn, Old Saxon kunni, Old Norse kyn, Old High German chunni "kin, race;" Danish and Swedish kön, Middle Dutch, Dutch kunne "sex, gender;" Gothic kuni "family, race," Old Norse kundr "son," German Kind "child"), from PIE *gen(e)- "to produce" (see genus).


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Formulated to be an ideal blade for almost any circumstance, the Buck Knives - Folding Omni Hunter is great for any time where a high quality blade is the way to succeed. These Pocket Knives from the specialists at Buck Knives are meant using high grade blade components that will retain an edge for long stretches of time before necessitating consideration. The handle on the Buck Knives - Folding Omni Hunter was invented to provide you with the ultimate hold in virtually any situation. Here at OpticsPlanet it is our goal to make sure that you depart happy, and the Buck Knives - Folding Omni Hunter is among the list of folding pocket knives that we are pleased to be able to provide our shoppers. For an amazing way to make sure you are cutting with some of the best knives out there, pick the Buck Knives - Folding Omni Hunter.
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Sophista DD-3 Front Surround Media System with Network Media Player, Direct Drive Center, USB Port, HDMI Output, DivX, Progressive Scan, Dolby
The DD-3 from the JVC Sophista Series is a Front Surround Speaker System with Direct Drive Technology which produces realistic sound in a wide acoustic field. The DD-3 has impressive features, impeccably stylish good loo ...
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Panasonic SCBTT750
SC-BTT750 Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System with Pure Direct Sound Speaker, Audio Return Channel, HDMI Out, Ethernet Terminal, Wireless Terminal and USB Slot, Black
Step into the 3D World. Watch 3D movies at home with Full HD 3D technology with the SC-BTT750*. To learn more about Panasonic's Full HD 3D technology, visit www.panasonic.com/3D* 3D content is only available when using 3 ...
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KHTMODEL7GB Bookshelf Speaker System (Pair, Gloss Black)
Sound reproduction should be invisible - you want surround sound, with the hardware as unobtrusive as possible. That's why KEF came up with an alternative to the traditional 5 speaker home theatre systems. As its name im ...
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DJ Tech VEGAS218
VEGAS 218 18" 3-Way PA Loudspeaker With Dual 18" Woofers, 2" Titanium Compression Tweeter, Large Rectangular Horn & Standard Speakon
The Vegas 218 18" 3-Way PA Loudspeaker from DJ-Tech is a powerful 3-way PA loudspeaker that's ideal for professional music applications. The cabinet houses a pair of 18" woofers and a 2" titanium co ...
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American Recorder SAS1306SPL
SAS-1306-SPL Pro Tech 1.05 Home Theater Kit With Spl Meter
Residential installer kit for proper alignment of speaker, projectors and screens
Kit contains P-770 laser tool, lens kit, R2D2 rotary base and sound pressure level meter
Includes carrying case
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Bello HTS103BK
HTS103BK No Arm Reclining Chair in Black
Recliner has no arms and is used as a middle chair in a row to complete a row, sofa, or arc multiple-seat unit. There are connectors on both sides of the HTS103 for secure attachment of an adjacent component on either si ...
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Rack Distribution Panel power distribution panel ( PDRDPF10U-R )
APC sets the standard in its industry for quality, innovation and support. Its comprehensive solutions, which are designed for both home and corporate environments, improve the manageability, availability and performance ...
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Samsung HWH7500ZA
HW-H7500/ZA Wireless Curved Soundbar With 8.1 Channel Speaker System, Seamless Mounting, Side Firing Speakers, Wireless Active Subwoofer, Crystal Sound Pro, Anynet+ and In
The HWH750XZA wireless curved soundbar is designed to pair perfectly with the Samsung Curved TV. The side firing speakers create an immersive surround sound effect.
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SuperMicro SBI7425CS3
SuperBlade SBI-7425C-S3 - Server - blade - 2-way - no CPU - RAM 0 MB - SAS - hot-swap 2.5" - no HDD - ATI ES1000 - Gigabit Ethernet - Monitor : none
The innovative SuperBlade touts enhanced system computing density leveraged from years of rackmount server design experience. Applying Supermicro's application-optimized engineering philosophy, each SuperBlade module del ...
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Digi 77000846
77000846 921.6Kbps Wired PCI Serial Adapter
The AccelePort Xp Universal PCI (3.3V & 5V) cards are powerful, highly integrated 80 Mhz RISC processor-based products that deliver the highest level of intelligence and performance available on the market. The availabil ...
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Intel EXPI9402PFBLK
PRO/1000 Pf Dual Port Server Adapter
Conserve valuable PCI Express (PCIe) server slots while adding multi-port fiber-optic connectivity to enhance network performance with the Intel PRO/1000 PF Dual Port Server Adapter. The dedicated input/output (I/O) band ...
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Flash Furniture BT702952BKGG
BT-70295-2-BK-GG Black Leather Pillowtop 2-Seat Home Theater Recliner with Storage Console
2-Seat Home Theater Recliner
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Netgear AX741
Prosafe AX741 10 Gigabit Ethernet Xfp Adapter Module
NETGEAR ProSafe AX741 - Adapter module - 10 Gigabit EN
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Flash Furniture BT702952BRNGG
BT-70295-2-BRN-GG Brown Leather Pillowtop 2-Seat Home Theater Recliner with Storage Console
2-Seat Home Theater Recliner
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5672 3Way Screen Channel System
The 5672 system is designed for critical film sound reproduction in mid-sized theater environments.
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Vocopro HIPSTART
HIPSTART Professional Wireless KJ System with Powered Vocal Speakers
The HipStart Pro package comes with the DVG-888K which has everything you need for home karaoke and DVD entertainment plus professional KJ features like front-mounted Master Mic and Music volume controls and Single Track ...
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Hewlett Packard J9148A#ABA
Procurve 2910AL-48G-POE Switch
The HP ProCurve 2910al switch series consists of four switches. Each switch has four dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity. Together with static and RIP IPv4 routing, robust security and manage ...
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Bello HTS103BN
HTS103BN No Arm Reclining Chair in Brown
Recliner has no arms and is used as a middle chair in a row to complete a row, sofa, or arc multiple-seat unit. There are connectors on both sides of the HTS103 for secure attachment of an adjacent component on either si ...


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Davis at the Legislature: Rain, brand fees, state aid to schools
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North Platte Community College Diesel Technology Instructors Kent Beel and Steve Kramer look on Friday as a transmission tester is loaded onto a trailer at Inland Truck Parts & Service.
Inland donated the transmission tester, which will be used for testing Eaton/Fuller manual transmissions, as well as an engine washer to the college, for use in its Diesel Technology department.
The engine washer can clean large engine blocks, parts and transmission cases.
Inland will officially open its new truck parts and repair shop Monday north of the I-80 and Newberry Road interchange.
Flatrock Publishing, Inc.
1300 E 4th St., Suite F
North Platte, NE 69101


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I am an artist, dancer, choreographer, teacher and healer. I grew up in Los Angeles but have lived most of my adult life in New York City where I had a career in classical ballet and contemporary dance. I lived in Europe for a couple years, and am now back in LA. I am also a practitioner and teacher of a hands-on system of therapy called Zero Balancing. My teaching takes me all over the world and I enjoy traveling, meeting people and exploring new places.
I'm a pretty relaxed, easy going guy. I like quiet and enjoy time alone as well as connecting with good friends. I am into meditation, yoga, energy work and bodywork practices.


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7 Black Friday Mistakes Most Businesses Make, Did You?
In all of the rush and holiday mania, it is easy to forget a few things … and make a few holiday business mistakes. Here's a look at seven holiday sales mistakes that you don't want to make.
This month
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March 28, 2015


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Kara Trivunovic | June 16, 2014 | Comments
As email marketing changes and matures, the old ways of measuring impressions don't always account for today's customers' actions. So how can we correctly measure the value of an email?
I started my career many years ago in direct mail. Because of the high cost and time involved in producing the actual pieces, there was a lot of scrutiny over who was going to receive the offer. There were countless hours and care devoted to developing offers that were ideal for the selected audience, creating hypotheses around expected performance, and defining measures of success.
Over the years, I have talked about devaluing some of the tried and true direct mail metrics that grew to mean so much to me more than 15 years ago. But as the email channel continues to mature, there is a greater need to get back to the basics and reinstitute value in some of the proven measures of success from the past, particularly the impression.
An impression counts as a single time that your brand is viewed by a consumer or target audience member. Many digital marketing channels still value (and sometimes even charge by) an impression. For example, every time a display ad is served, it is an impression. Paid search content rendered counts as an impression. Email served in the inbox...technically IS an impression, though it is not measured or valued as an industry-accepted metric. I think that needs to change.
Many believe that because the email marketing message is competing for attention with other messages in the inbox, very little value can be attributed to it. However, display and paid search similarly compete for attention, yet value is still implied. Others argue that an impression is an implied metric resulting from the measurement of inbox placement; the problem is that if the message landed in the inbox and wasn't opened, then today no further measurement is done.
The reality is that as marketers become more skilled at marrying the name in the "From" field, subject line, and pre-header copy to present a cohesive concept, fewer and fewer emails are actually opened because subscribers understand the value of the message without ever having to open it. If a consumer can completely understand the purpose of the email communication without opening it, yet is still interested in the small amount of content that was shared and goes to the website to convert directly...shouldn't the email receive credit for that impression? Today the email is not credited with the impression, though it should be.
As digital and email marketers, we have been spoiled by absolutes; knowing exactly who opened the email, when it was opened, where they linked from the email, how long they were in the site, how many pages were visited before they purchased, and ultimately what was purchased. Because we have those absolutes (and so many more) we have lost focus on metrics that are softer, but just as important.
So in the above scenario, how might a brand attribute value to an email impression? It is important to start with a weighted calculation to understand the period of time that can pass following the impression in order for that particular impression to be included and valued in a metric. A number of brands have made this determination based on previous customer purchase behavior, barriers to conversion, and price point. Many brands I have worked with have assigned a general period of three to seven days as an impression factor. For arguments sake, let's use three days. The brand would compare anyone that received an email on day one and did not open it to a list of email addresses for online purchasers in the last three days to find commonalities. Where there are commonalities, look to AOV for a directional understanding of the value of an impression on the inbox.
Doing this type of analysis is not a direct, exact science, but measuring offline impression in the direct mail world never was either - yet it was a completely acceptable measurement method that for years was relied on by marketers. Let's get back to making a positive impression on our customers, and actually measure that email marketing impression!
Want to learn more?
Attend ClickZ Live New York March 30 - April 1. With over 15 years' experience delivering industry-leading events, ClickZ Live brings together over 60 expert speakers to offer an action-packed, educationally-focused agenda covering all aspects of digital marketing. Register today!
As an email marketing veteran dating back to 1999, Kara Trivunovic has been actively involved in programmatic email development, execution, and strategy in a variety of senior positions on the client, agency, and provider side. She was founder and principal of The Email Advisor, a respected email marketing consultancy focusing on email strategy and channel optimization that was subsequently acquired by an enterprise email service provider in 2009. Over the course of her career, she has had the opportunity to work with a variety of brands and global organizations structuring a variety of custom email education programs, conceptualizing and implementing new and innovative email programs, optimizing contact strategies, and developing staffing and budget plans. Kara currently serves as the vice president of digital solutions at Epsilon.
Mar 30-Apr 1, 2015
June 23-25, 2015
July 9, 2015
August 10-12, 2015
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Hong Kong, May 5-6, 2015
A Buyer's Guide to Affiliate Management Software
Manage your performance marketing with the right solution. Choose a platform that will mutually empower advertisers and media partners!
Google My Business Listings Demystified
To help brands control how they appear online, Google has developed a new offering: Google My Business Locations. This whitepaper helps marketers understand how to use this powerful new tool.
May 6, 2015
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT


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Welcome to Clear Brew
Clear Brew is an eco-led professional beer line cleaning company that has been operating from its base in Cornwall for the best part of a decade, with branches located all around England, Scotland and Wales. We provide a regular professional dedicated beer line cleaning service to the licensed trade, including; public houses, social clubs, sports clubs, holiday parks, hotels and just about anywhere that has a traditional bar. As part of our green policy we aim to continually look at new ways to lessen our impact on the environment. Our machinery is eco-friendly and 100% energy efficient. All the chemicals we use are non-caustic and alkaline based.
"Clear Brew can reduce wastage by 66%"
Clear Brew simply offer an alternative to regular in house line cleaning. Our beer line cleaning service includes all labour, machinery and chemicals. It is designed to save time and money whilst improving the delivery and quality of draught products that you serve your customers. Our beer line cleaning service runs over a 21-day repeat cycle and can reduce costs up to 60%, reduce waste and improve draught product quality. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our regular beer line cleaning service, our one-off deep cleaning service or our fantastic range of total cellar to bar chemicals.
Why use Clear Brew?
Reduction in costs
Reduction in wastage
Less water and chemicals used
Energy efficient
Benefits Of Using Clear Brew
Eco led company Established since 2006
Professional beer line cleaning that pays for itself
Free yourself from your weekly regime
Guaranteed to be cheaper than doing it yourself
Non-automated, so your lines get a thorough clean
Enhance your reputation for draught products
No contract involved, it keeps us on our toes
Our methods reduce wastage (ullage) by up to 66%
Initial clean free and no commitment to continue
Stop pouring cash away start ringing it in the till
Our Service uses up to 70% less water, chemicals & no propellant gas
Our machinery is fully eco-friendly & 100% energy efficient
Our Chemicals are non-caustic and alkaline based
Our Inhibitors are a natural energy source
Latest News
Expo South West 3rd – 5th MarchVery excited to be exhibiting at this forthcoming show in March Situated at the famous Royal Cornwall show ground in Wadebridge. Clear Brew will be on Stand Number J12 offering all sorts of advise on all things Beer and with the odd prize giveaway coupled with an... read more
Welcome to Paul and AndreaCongratulations to Paul and Andrea from Liverpool and good luck in there new venture , please see our franchised areas page for all their contact... read more
PUB15 the only dedicated show for the uk pub industryWe will be there !!!!! Stand 172 18-19th February in London's Olympia , come along for a chat and a great prize draw !!! read more
Follow Us
Contact Us
Tel: 0800 7810 577
Tel: 01209 219889
Email: email@example.com


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You limited your search to:
Decade: 2010-2019
Year: 2010
Collection: Congressional Research Service Reports
American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat
Date: December 7, 2010
Creator: Bjelopera, Jerome P.
Description: This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. "Homegrown" and "domestic" are terms that describe terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Comparison of the Current World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the World Trade Center Health Program Proposed by Title I of H.R. 847
Date: December 14, 2010
Creator: Szymendera, Scott & Lister, Sarah A.
Description: This report compares the current federally supported medical screening and treatment program offered to various persons affected by the terrorist attack on New York City on September 11, 2001, with the federal program proposed to be established by Title I of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, as amended and passed by the House of Representatives.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Federal Cocaine Sentencing Disparity: Sentencing Guidelines, Jurisprudence, and Legislation
Date: August 5, 2010
Creator: Yeh, Brian T.
Description: This report discusses legislation and several court cases to examine the changing nature of Crack Cocaine penalties in comparison to powder cocaine. Until 2005, the Guidelines were binding on federal courts: the judge had discretion to sentence a defendant, but only within the narrow sentencing range that the Guidelines provided. In its 2005 opinion United States v. Booker, the Supreme Court declared that the Guidelines must be considered advisory rather than mandatory, in order to comply with the Constitution. Instead of being bound by the Guidelines, sentencing courts must treat the federal guidelines as just one of a number of sentencing factors (which include the need to avoid undue sentencing disparity).
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
The United States and Europe: Current Issues
Date: December 8, 2010
Creator: Mix, Derek E.
Description: This report examines the current state of the transatlantic relationship and discusses the key issues outlined above, which are likely to have implications for U.S. interests during the 112th Congress.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
Date: December 29, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Description: This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview
Date: December 22, 2010
Creator: Tollestrup, Jessica
Description: This report gives a brief overview of funding gaps. The interval during the fiscal year when agency appropriations are not enacted into law, either in the form of a regular appropriations act or a continuing resolution (CR), is referred to as a funding gap. When a funding gap occurs, the federal government begins a shutdown of the affected agencies, entailing the prompt furlough of non-emergency personnel and curtailment of agency activities. The general practice of the federal government after the shutdown has ended has been to pay furloughed employees for time missed, even when no work was performed.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Currency Manipulation: The IMF and WTO
Date: July 21, 2010
Creator: Sanford, Jonathan E.
Description: This report describes how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO) deal with the issue of currency manipulation. It also discusses apparent discrepancies in their charters and ways those differences might be addressed.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress
Date: December 16, 2010
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Description: This report provides background information and potential issues for Congress on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a relatively inexpensive Navy surface combatant equipped with modular "plug-and-fight" mission packages. The Navy's proposed FY2012 budget requests funding for the procurement of four LCSs. Current issues for Congress concerning the LCS program include changes or potential changes to the composition of LCS mission modules announced by the Navy in January 2011, the combat survivability of the LCS, and hull cracking on LCS-1. Congress's decisions on the LCS program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the shipbuilding industrial base.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress
Date: July 20, 2010
Creator: Figliola, Patricia M.
Description: This report discusses whether to enact new legislation specifically addressing spyware, or to rely on industry self-regulation and enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice under existing law, as well as the opinions of both the opponents and the supporters of industry self-regulation.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response
Date: August 5, 2010
Creator: Corn, M. Lynne & Copeland, Claudia
Description: This report addresses the importance of wetlands in general, the ecology of the coastal wetlands in the Gulf, impacts of oil spills on wetland habitats, response options, the implications of hurricane season for the spill's impacts, and cleanup and recovery issues.3 The emphasis is on the nearshore environment, though a few species found in deeper waters will be mentioned. In addition, some lessons from past spills such as the Exxon Valdez in Alaska will be discussed along with issues that may arise in the years after the leak from the deepwater well is capped.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department


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Flat Creek Inn and Suites
Situated in Hayward, Flat Creek Inn and Suites is close to National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, Lumberjack Bowl, and Hayward Information Center. Also nearby are Park Theater and Shues Pond Park.
Hotel Features.
Flat Creek Inn and Suites has an indoor pool and a spa tub. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas and a computer station is located on site. This Hayward hotel offers a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast. Additional amenities include a fireplace in the lobby, coffee/tea in the lobby, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Complimentary self parking is available onsite for guests. This is a smoke-free property.
The 66 guestrooms at Flat Creek Inn and Suites include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels. All units feature microwaves and refrigerators.
I stayed here during the Fat Tire Birkie. The room was clean, bright and comfrotable. I…
Just fine. Liked having a restaurant in the hotel. No free paper in am though and meals…
Enter dates to check prices
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $97
- Executive Room, 1 Queen Bed with Sofabed
- Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible
- Standard Room, 1 King Bed with Sofabed
- Standard Double Room, 2 Queen Beds
- Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub
- Grand Room, 1 King Bed
Recommended hotels
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 66 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 2 floors
- Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- Check-out time is 11 AM
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
Travelling with others
- Pets allowed *
Extra people
- Roll-away beds available, charges may apply*
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Free self parking
Other information
- Smoke-free property
In the hotel
- Free cooked-to-order breakfast
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Room service (during limited hours)
- Coffee/tea in the lobby
- Indoor pool
- Free use of nearby fitness center
- Spa tub
- Billiards or pool table
- Number of meeting rooms - 3
- Meeting rooms
- Conference center
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- ATM/banking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Fireplace in lobby
- Television in lobby
In the room
- Coffee/tea maker
- Hair dryer
- Satellite TV channels
- Free WiFi
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
Special features
DiningFlat Creek Eatery - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available.
Flat Creek Inn and Suites's small print
Also known as
- Ramada Hayward
- Flat Creek Inn and Suites
- Flat Creek Inn and Suites Hayward
Optional extras
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 15 per pet, per day
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.


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This is actually a profile for my girlfriend Jess and I.
I'm a computer engineer who quits my job every three years to travel around the world. Along the way I keep trying to write that elusive novel.
Jess is an artist who takes inspiration from her travels and daily life. She sometimes mixes cocktails to pay the rent.
A blog of our latest trip is here:
(sorry about the pompous sounding URL)
(website hidden)


text:
Big Sean »
2 Chainz and GQ come together once again to serve up the second season of "Most Expensivest Shit." Big Sean, Diplo, French Montana, Jhene Aiko, and Nick Young join Tity Boy as he glancesRead More »
Big Sean Performs 'Blessings' On Revolt Live! (Video)
Big Sean has to be feeling blessed right now, after releasing his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise on Tuesday. He took the stage in sunny LA at the Hollywood & Highland Center, andRead More »
Big Sean Gives Us Insight On His Album, Skipping College, Dating Ariana Grande And More On The Breakfast Club (Video)
Big Sean's third studio album dropped today, and as he makes his media rounds, he lands at The Breakfast Club. Sean sits down with the trio as they discuss his new album of course,Read More »
Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise (Album Stream)
Since hooking up with Hov's Roc Nation management, Big Sean has been on a rampage. Over the last few months he's been releasing great music to promote his album "Dark Sky Paradise," now the waitRead More »
Big Sean – Dark Sky (Skyscrapers) (Video)
G.O.O.D. music's young gunner has new album out for retail today. "Dark Sky Paradise" is Big Sean's third album, and over the past weeks he's been leaking music and making appearances promoting his latest work.Read More »
Big Sean Talks About His New Album, Ariana Grande, And More w/ Nessa (Video)
Big Sean sat down for a quick interview with Nessa of Hot 97, to talk about his new album, Dark Sky Paradise. He talks about the direction of the album and playing it forRead More »
Big Sean – Me Myself & I (Freestyle)
G.O.O.D Music wordsmith Big Sean has most of the hip-hop world awaiting his upcoming project "Dark Sky Paradise" which is set to hit the streets tomorrow. Before "Dark Sky Paradise" hits the streets, BigRead More »
Jay Z, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, & More Attend Big Sean's L.A. 'Dark Sky Paradise' Listening (Photos)
Days before the scheduled release of Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean hosted a listening event at SKY Studio in L.A. The Detroit native had some serious heavy hitters in the building to check outRead More »