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Environmental cred questioned for Biden-backed ‘hydrogen hub’ in Northwest Indiana
- by WBEZ

Supporters say the billion-dollar federal investment will create green jobs and slash emissions, but opponents see a fossil fuel shell game.

Breaking Point: Minnesota’s mining legacy includes massive lake of wastewater
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide whether a mining company is required to examine how their proposed expansion will impact Lake Superior.

In Detroit’s Poletown East neighborhood, residents find healing among the trees
- by Planet Detroit

Detroit’s Poletown East residents turned a vacant lot into Circle Forest, a tree park offering a peaceful city retreat and encouraging nature enjoyment.

Points North: Saving David
- by Interlochen Public Radio

One minute David Holtfreter was kayaking on Lake Michigan, the next he was fighting for his life. A fisherman swam out to rescue him, but David wasn’t able to thank him in the commotion that followed.

5 Reasons to Build a Backyard Frog Pond
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Building a frog pond offers a variety of benefits and is a great way to connect with your local environment.

Where did all the climate voters go?
- by Grist

Michigan and other battleground states might have swung for Trump, but they elected environmentalists to U.S. Senate seats, too.

After a dramatic decline, lake trout have recovered in most of Lake Superior
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

Assessments show as many or more fish as there were prior to an invasion of sea lamprey.

Local governments appeal state implementation of renewable siting law
- by Grist

A lawsuit is challenging how the State of Michigan plans to approve big renewable energy projects.

Waves of Change: Meet Protect the Porkies founder Tom Grotewohl
- by Great Lakes Now

We spoke with Tom Grotewohl, a resident of Wakefield Township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and founder of the Protect the Porkies campaign.

Winter Wellness Pantry
- by Lisa M. Rose

As winter sets in, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your year of foraging, plan for the coming seasons, and ensure your pantry is stocked and your health fortified.

Oil Spills and Buried Rivers
- by Mila Murray

Preparing for a Great Lakes oil spill and a look at buried rivers beneath our feet.

The fight to keep grass carp out of the Great Lakes
- by The Narwhal

Canada and the U.S. are working together to stop a massive fish from gobbling up Great Lakes greenery.

MI and OH: Different strategies to reduce Lake Erie nutrient pollution
- by Michigan Public

Both states are working toward a 40% reduction goal set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So far, the efforts are not meeting the goals.

I Speak for the Fish: How Native Americans are saving lake sturgeon
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Tribal communities have played a critical role in lake sturgeon restoration efforts in the Great Lakes, yet their efforts are often overlooked and undervalued.

Navigating Northeast Ohio without a car? Planning group wants your ideas on better parks connections
- by Ideastream Public Media

Residents can view proposed trails connecting county parks and leave thoughts and concerns.

Environmentalists, Industry Divided Over Energy Permitting Bill
- by Sean Ericson, Great Lakes Now

The Energy Permitting Reform Act would make it easier to construct fossil fuel plants and electric transmission lines. Here’s what to know about the contentious energy bill.

Smashing pumpkins in Traverse City to reduce trash
- by Interlochen Public Radio

As part of a waste diversion effort, more than 3 tons of pumpkin waste are being composted in Traverse City.

Pressed for powder, study finds ski areas are relying more on snowmaking
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

Wisconsin ski areas say they’re investing more in snowmaking to remain viable.

New Federal Funds Aim to Cut Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution From US Ports
- by Inside Climate News

Four states in the Midwest will share more than $200 million in grants, which officials say will help improve air quality in communities long burdened by environmental harms.

He’ll try, but Trump can’t stop the clean energy revolution
- by Grist

The cost of renewables is plummeting, heat pumps are selling like crazy, and red states are raking in cash from the IRA.

Can environmental law move beyond bedrock 1970’s legislation, while adapting to current and future challenges?
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

To gain a better understanding of how environmental law has evolved, Great Lakes Now spoke with three environmental law attorneys.

Amish Farmers’ Partnership With Beef Giant Produces Manure Mess
- by Circle of Blue

Water pollution found in in three counties in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change
- by The Conversation

As the U.S. prepares for another Trump administration, one area unambiguously in the incoming president’s crosshairs is climate policy.

Presenting Atlas Obscura: The Mysterious Sinkholes of Mount Baldy
- by Interlochen Public Radio

One family’s visit to a famous Indiana sand dune turns into a wild tale of a missing boy and mysterious tunnels.

Energy News Roundup: More energy transition ups and downs
- by Nicole Pollack, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news.

National Park Service Issues Landmark Order for Tribal Consultations
- by Native News Online

The new order codifies existing policies while expanding the National Park Service’s Tribal engagement.

4 things to know about a youth-led court case against Ontario’s climate plans
- by The Narwhal

Ontario’s highest court says seven youth have a right to challenge the province in cutting its emissions targets.

Trump Wins, Planet Loses
- by Grist

With control of the White House and the Senate, Republicans are poised to upend U.S. climate policy.

Public hearing draws on big questions about Upper Peninsula copper mining
- by Interlochen Public Radio

In Gogebic County, on the western end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, towering old-growth evergreens carpet the landscape as it rolls down toward the deep blue of Lake Superior.

The race for clean energy is local
- by Grist

A couple hundred overlooked public officials control the U.S. power grid — and some of them are on your ballots.

Students at Michigan State and Wisconsin win EPA funding for environmental health innovations
- by Great Lakes Echo

Students from Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin are among the winners of a contest for innovations in sustainability.

Wisconsin communities receive $273M for drinking water projects
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

State awards financial aid to 86 communities for projects to address lead pipes, PFAS contamination.

Great Lakes Moment: Sacred Grounds
- by John Hartig

Restoring habitats and supporting green infrastructure with houses of worship in Detroit.

Waves of Change: Meet Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary founder Rebeka Ndosi
- by Great Lakes Now

Rebeka Ndosi — founder of Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary — is a healer, teacher, public speaker and community coach.

Competing Visions for U.S. Auto Industry Clash in Presidential Election, With the EV Future Pressing at the Border
- by Inside Climate News

“The outcome of the election can have a very significant impact on the potential growth rate of EVs in the U.S. market.”

Up to 3.2M in Michigan may be getting water from PFAS-tainted aquifers
- by Bridge Michigan

With lots of domestic well users and plenty of polluting industries, Michiganders are among the nation’s most likely to have ‘forever chemicals’ in their well water, according to a landmark federal study.

Ohio environmental advocates weigh in on 2024 presidential candidates’ stance on climate change
- by Ideastream Public Media

Advocates say Democrats and Republicans are leagues apart on climate change, so when looking for a climate-minded candidate, it’s best to turn to past actions and statements.

Carp Catch-22: Could improvements in Chicago waterways invite unwelcome guests?
- by WBEZ

New research suggests pollution from Chicago-area waterways might be creating an invisible barrier, deterring migration. But for how long?

A Foraged Great Lakes Woodland Chai Tea
- by Lisa M. Rose

As the season shifts and the air chills, the warmth and sustenance that the wild foods of fall offer become evermore appealing, among these appealing concoctions is Woodland Chai Tea.

2024 Election: State and Local Voters Consider Tax Increases for Water Protection
- by Circle of Blue

See how Minnesota and New York stack up against other states across the nation with water on the ballot.

Spooky Lake Superior: The SS Kamloops
- by Geo Rutherford

Just in time for Halloween, learn about the SS Kamloops — an eerie story about a shipwreck in Lake Superior, and “Old Whitey” who seems to follow divers around the wreck.

Points North: The Biggest Buck That Maybe Never Was
- by Interlochen Public Radio

In 1998, a hunter named Mitch Rompola claimed he’d shot the biggest whitetail in North America. It was all over the news, but instead of becoming a famous hunter, he became an infamous one.

Nibi Chronicles: Manoomin as medicine
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

The biochemical benefits of manoomin, or wild rice, according to collaborative research being done at the University of Minnesota.

PFAS Roundup: Vice President Harris supports Michigan-led plan to provide medical care for military victims of PFAS
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Climate change isn’t a top issue in this election. Some Wisconsin voters say it should be.
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

In polls, climate change ranks near the bottom of voters’ list of concerns.

Great Lakes most unwanted: Top 10 invasive species
- by Lily Stewart, Great Lakes Now

Researchers make sense of the extensive variety and effects of invasive species.

The climate stakes of the Harris-Trump election
- by Grist

From public health to public lands, here are 15 ways the next president could affect the climate and your life.

Freighters on the Move
- by Mila Murray

Freighter food, mail delivery, and the life of a Great Lakes freighter pilot.

The nation’s first commercial carbon storage plant is in Illinois. It leaks.
- by WBEZ

The leaks occurred at an ADM well in Decatur that’s part of a booming industry that promises to capture planet-warming carbon dioxide underground. ADM insists the well is safe, but locals are worried.

Virtual Town Hall: What does the election mean for Great Lakes climate and environment?
- by Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now Host Anna Sysling moderated a panel of journalists as they spoke about the big topics they’re covering in advance of voting day.

I Speak for the Fish: Where’s the line in fisheries research?
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Netting, tagging, shocking, sampling — a lot of things are done to fish in the name of science. So, it begs the question, who decides what can be done to Great Lakes fish?

Consequences of less ice on lakes due to climate change
- by Michigan Public

A study in the journal Science outlines the many consequences of the loss of ice on lakes because of climate change. Fishing, cultural activities, transportation, water quality, and greenhouse gas releases are all consequences of the loss of lake ice coverage.

Michigan a top winner of climate funds Trump wants to revoke
- by Bridge Michigan

If elected, Trump has vowed to revoke unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, a climate spending law that has heavily benefitted Michigan governments and industry. But experts say it wouldn’t be easy.

Federal aid to rescue Michigan cherry farmers after devastating crop loss
- by Planet Detroit

Federal aid is coming to Michigan’s sweet cherry farmers, who lost much of their crops this year due to erratic weather patterns and subsequent pest infestations.

Two high school students want to keep trash out of the Great Lakes. They think rivers are the key
- by The Narwhal

Using trackers to follow the path of plastic bottles in rivers around the Greater Toronto Area, the students found hot spots for garbage before it enters Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

How northern Michiganders can help people affected by hurricanes
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Organizations from northern Michigan have been sending people to assist with relief efforts on the ground. Here are some ways to help from home.

The lonely Lake Superior caribou and a lesson in limits
- by The Narwhal

Ontario’s southernmost herd illustrates how hard it is to bring a species back from the brink — and why we need to recognize tipping points before we reach them.

Environmental groups and industry at odds over plan to conserve old-growth forests
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

Environmentalists say the plan doesn’t go far enough while industry says no action is needed.

What a Trump vs. Harris presidency might mean for the Great Lakes
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Michigan and Ohio are key for continued Great Lakes restoration support. Line 5, groundwater and an emphasis on science make experts list.

This Historic Ship Runs on Coal. Can It Find a New Way Forward?
- by Inside Climate News

Owners of the S.S. Badger, one of the last coal-fired ships in the world, are trying to decarbonize. They recently received government funding that would help.

Points North: A New Hope for Anishinaabemowin
- by Interlochen Public Radio

When Theresa Eischen heard about the original Star Wars film being translated into Anishinaabemowin, she auditioned for Princess Leia. She had zero voice acting experience, so it was a long shot.

PFAS Roundup: Over $3M awarded to MSU scientists to address PFAS in agriculture, Wisconsin tackles PFAS during hunting season
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Wisconsin towns are trying to limit CAFO growth. Big Dairy is fighting back.
- by Investigate Midwest

The state’s dairy industry is suing towns over denied permits and environmental regulations.

Swing state voters along the Great Lakes love cleaner water and beaches − and candidates from both parties have long fished for support there
- by The Conversation

For decades, presidential candidates from both major parties have committed to cleaning up and protecting the Great Lakes. Here’s why.

Ohio Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly
- by Ideastream Public Media

With spotted lanternfly populations on the rise in Ohio, experts are weighing their response. 12 counties are under quarantine on the transportation of plant material.

A decade after Flint, feds require nationwide lead pipe removal
- by Bridge Michigan

A rule finalized Tuesday gives water providers across the country 10 years to get lead pipes out of their drinking water systems.

Great Lakes Moment: Mink thriving along the Detroit River
- by John Hartig

Next time you are on the Detroit River, keep an eye peeled for a mink! This keystone species is now thriving along this once-polluted river.

Midwest States Struggle to Fund Dam Safety Projects, Even as Federal Aid Hits Historic Highs
- by Inside Climate News

Many dams in the Midwest do not meet grant eligibility requirements, leaving safety officials and residents worried about how they’ll prevent future collapses as flood risks increase.

Michigan’s New Rules To Protect Water From Manure Attacked By Lawmakers
- by Circle of Blue

State is a center of manure biodigester development.

Joliet, Illinois, Plans to Source Its Future Drinking Water From Lake Michigan. Will Other Cities Follow?
- by Inside Climate News

As aquifers dry up, some Midwest communities are looking to the region’s greatest natural resources for a solution.

National ballast water standards only apply to new vessels on the Great Lakes
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

Existing Great Lakes vessels are exempt from installing treatment systems to control the spread of invasive species.

Waves of Change: Meet Just Transition Northwest Indiana executive director Ashley Williams
- by Great Lakes Now

Ashley Williams is committed to realizing a just and equitable transition for her community.

How do fish survive in large urban waterways, like the Chicago River?
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

The Chicago River’s hardened shorelines, stormwater pollution events and limited habitat would seem inhospitable to fish. Yet, native species are finding ways to call the city home.

PFAS Roundup: Minnesota PFAS regulation said to be the strictest
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Chicago’s beach season is over … or is it? Lake Michigan temps are breaking records.
- by WBEZ

Lake Michigan’s surface temperature has been above average nearly every day this year so far. All five Great Lakes are heating up.

Nibi Chronicles: The Gift of Manoomin
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

The rice harvest — manoominike — has officially started across Ojibwe country. Columnist Staci Lola Drouillard talks with her cousin about harvesting and processing wild rice, as well as the importance of water quality for growing “the good berry.”

Points North: The Last to Leave
- by Interlochen Public Radio

A researcher in Ohio was surrounded by hundreds of dead ash trees. They had been wiped out by the emerald ash borer. But in that same forest, she found a lone tree thriving. Could this be the key to saving ash from extinction?

Traverse City lawyer gets national recognition for making economic arguments against coal
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Chris Bzdok has argued to state regulators that utility customers shouldn’t have to pay for coal infrastructure, because the investment isn’t worth it in the long run.

Groundwater: Who’s in charge?
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

As groundwater resources are increasingly under threat in the U.S. — including the Great Lakes region — regulation, oversight and planning for the long-term are diffused and often lacking.

Deep Dives and Rising Waters
- by Mila Murray

The future of rising lake levels, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and the secret lives of fish.

Wisconsin officials ask the public to report algal blooms in Lake Superior
- by Great Lakes Echo

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is banking on public oversight to help gauge the threat of algal blooms.

A tiny, endangered fish lies on the path of Highway 413. Canada has a plan, but no new power to protect it
- by The Narwhal

The new recovery strategy isn’t likely to tip the scales in the fish’s favor.

Retirements by water and wastewater plant operators are leading to workforce shortages
- by Michigan Public

Baby boomers are part of a “silver tsunami” of retirements sweeping across the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems.

Trying to build a more climate-resilient Chicago, one balloon at a time
- by WBEZ

Data collected by weather balloons in various Chicago neighborhoods should help scientists better understand extreme heat in the city.

Chicago reveals climate havens don’t exist — they must be created
- by Mia Litzenberg

Extreme heat and precipitation events are becoming more frequent and intense in Chicago. It’s the city’s preparation efforts that will determine climate resiliency.

After 10 million pieces of beach trash, Chicago advocates push for sustainable packaging
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

As plastic items dominate beach littering, Alliance for the Great Lakes’ says we need to ramp up reusable items and sustainable packaging. What about personal responsibility?

Energy News Roundup: Michigan, Michigan, Michigan
- by Nicole Pollack, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news.

Who is working to preserve and restore wetlands in Metro Detroit?
- by Planet Detroit

Most Michigan wetlands have been destroyed, even as climate change means we need their benefits. Here’s how groups are working to change that.

Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear case with broad implications for PFAS cleanup
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a case that could have sweeping effects on state environmental regulators’ authority to force businesses to clean up PFAS pollution under the state’s spills law.

Northeast Ohio composters reduce emissions from food waste, one pile at a time
- by Ideastream Public Media

Akron-based organizations are working to reduce food waste, and greenhouse gas emissions, by diverting food scraps from landfills to compost piles.

I Speak for the Fish: A Sturgeon goes to Wisconsin and a Michigan muskie visits New York
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

An elaborate system for tracking fish movements is rewriting our understanding of how fish use the Great Lakes.

Points North: Labor of Mixed Emotions
- by Interlochen Public Radio

For more than 20 years, Nic Theisen has spent his days on his hands and knees in the dirt farming. It’s a tough way to make a living, and for years Nic didn’t always know if the farm would make it. Until something big changed.

Major federal funding aims to speed transition to clean energy in the rural Midwest
- by WBEZ

A rural electric cooperative that serves Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin is getting more than $570 million to develop four wind solar installations and four wind power installations.

PFAS Roundup: Four Great Lakes states selected to test residents annually for environmental chemical exposure
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Michigan’s ambitious clean energy laws face a peninsula-sized hurdle
- by Grist

Natural gas power plants put in place just five years ago to replace coal in the state’s Upper Peninsula are now a conundrum for regulators.

Palisades nuclear relaunch gets more subsidies in Michigan — and more backlash
- by Bridge Michigan

The federal government will provide more than $600 million to help two rural electricity cooperatives buy money from the nuclear plant. While proponents celebrate, anti-nuclear activists say the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Gun Lake Tribe Releases Lake Sturgeon into Kalamazoo River for 2024 Nmé Celebration
- by Native News Online

A couple hundred people gathered to witness the release of the sturgeon, known as nmé to the Potawatomi, with many children participating by helping to release the fish by hand.

Tribal nations in Michigan get grants totaling more than $38 million to reduce greenhouse emissions
- by Michigan Public

The U.S. EPA announced four tribes in Michigan would receive grants to install renewable energy infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

25 years after a major toxic lead cleanup, westside neighbors still don’t feel safe
- by Mirror Indy

Residents want more soil testing to prevent future harm from contamination that’s plagued their neighborhood for decades.

Farmers turn to ‘predator-proof’ fences to deter wolves in northern Wisconsin
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

So far, no wolves have killed livestock within the fences on farms where they’ve been installed.

Cheryl Porter’s vision for the future of water
- by Great Lakes Now

With 28 years of experience in the water sector, Cheryl Porter shares her inspiring journey from junior chemist in Detroit to leading the American Water Works Association.

Michigan advocates hail ‘groundbreaking’ settlement to civil rights complaint over hazardous waste facility
- by Planet Detroit

New requirements to consider cumulative impacts in hazardous waste facility licensing could represent a shift in state permitting practices.

Foraged Fruit and Nuts: Wild Apples & Abundant Acorns
- by Lisa M. Rose

Autumn brings with it a bounty of fruits and nuts that often go unnoticed in our modern culinary landscape. Among the most abundant and overlooked are acorns and wild apples.

Great Lakes Moment: Ten natural wonders of The Great Lakes Way
- by John Hartig

Get your bicycle or kayak ready and consider adding these close-to-home natural wonders to your Great Lakes adventure bucket list.

Points North: A Natural Ending
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Peter Quakenbush’s dream is to create a conservation burial forest – a place that would both preserve the woods and give people the option to be buried in nature. But not everyone is on board with that idea.

‘These are not your lands to give away’: 6 First Nations take Ontario to court over mining law
- by The Narwhal

Indigenous communities in Ontario are flooded with mining claims that chip away at their territories. It’s a “racist, colonialist” system, the lawyer leading a new court case said.

Nibi Chronicles: A conversation about Ojibwe history in Fur Trade Nation
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

On Carl Gawboy’s new book Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History and how it’s “a field guide to the Ojibwe.”

Americans love nature but don’t feel empowered to protect it, new research shows
- by The Conversation

New research shows that Americans have positive feelings toward nature but also detects strong undertones of longing, guilt and worry.

Southeast Michigan facility will soon house waste from the Manhattan Project
- by Michigan Public

A southeast Michigan waste disposal site will soon be home to nuclear waste from the Manhattan Project, the World War II effort to develop an atomic bomb.

U.S. Movement to Limit CAFO Pollution Emboldened by Michigan Court Ruling
- by Circle of Blue

State Supreme Court strengthens authority to prevent mammoth tide of manure from contaminating water.

Michigan aims to tackle clean energy goals in Upper Peninsula
- by Interlochen Public Radio

As part of the state’s energy transition, the Public Service Commission has to pay special attention to the Upper Peninsula and the natural gas plants that went online there just five years ago.

Cleaning up pollution and removing crumbling dams help to restore Michigan rivers
- by Michigan Public

Michigan is removing some of its abandoned and obsolete dams. The benefits include cleaning up pollution and restoring nature.

Old Boats and New Adventures
- by Mila Murray

Heritage sailing on Lake Huron and a historic passenger ship returns to its former glory.

Advocates urge Hogsett to save Indy’s at-risk urban forests
- by Mirror Indy

The proposed 2025 city budget lacks funding to protect urban forests.

Storied Two Hearted River gets 21st century update in new book
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Author and hydrologist Bob Otwell calls for an end to “inertia” and “lip service” on climate change and expresses concern for Michigan’s groundwater.

PFAS Roundup: Wisconsin PFAS remediation funds still frozen due to partisan divide

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Points North: Frankenfish
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Lake trout are on life support in Lake Michigan. Every year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spends tens of millions of dollars raising and stocking them. But what if there was another way: genetic engineering. Could it be used for conservation?

Great Lakes Beach Closings Are No Protection From Harmful Pollutants
- by Circle of Blue

Updated water testing technology needed to make Great Lakes safer.

Great Lakes Learning: Recovering renewable resources
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

A New Paradigm: How climate change is shaping mental landscapes in the Great Lakes
- by Mia Litzenberg

A changing climate is causing psychological distress across the Great Lakes. From the loss of heritage crops, disappearing ice and record-breaking floods, residents across the region are looking for new forms of support.

I Speak for the Fish: Hand-feeding a rainbow trout is fun, but is it ethical?
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

To feed or not to feed is the question at hand. Kathy Johnson dives into the ethics of feeding fish.

Toxic blooms on Lake Erie still a problem 10 years after Toledo issued a ‘do not drink’ order
- by Michigan Public

It’s been ten years since Toledo issued a ‘don not drink’ order for its water system for three days due to cyanobacterial blooms near its water intake in Lake Erie. The blooms are not any worse, but they are not any less.

Michigan joins federal program that collects native flora and champions restoration
- by Michigan Public

Seeds of Success, a federal program that conserves and restores native flora, has come to Michigan.

South Shore residents are fed up with garbage on their streets
- by WBEZ

The community has more reports of sanitation code violations than any South Side neighborhood.

Chicago teachers demand climate solutions in their next contract
- by Grist

“That contract means nothing if our Earth is on fire.”

Oberlin Food Hub brings fresh produce to Ohio’s food banks while supporting local farmers
- by Ideastream Public Media

The Oberlin Food Hub facilitates a supportive network of Ohio’s small and midsized farmers to connect them with customers while delivering fresh produce to communities in need.

Cattle Production That Enhances Water and Environmental Quality
- by Circle of Blue

Michigan State’s Jason Rowntree is out to prove that ranching is an ecological asset.

PFAS Roundup: Government of Canada introduces potential plan for product-related PFAS regulation

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Great Lakes Learning: Solar power in every season
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Harnessing Mussels to Filter Fresh Water
- by Circle of Blue

A biological cure for contaminants is being studied.

How many manure spills is too many? St. Croix County residents scrutinize big farm’s new owner
- by Wisconsin Watch

The new owner of a large dairy farm with a history of manure spills is seeking to build trust among residents who worry about water quality.

Missed calls, forgotten instructions: Inside an oil spill cleanup on Toronto waterways
- by The Narwhal

A provincial spill report details a list of issues that arose as crews responded to an oil spill in two Toronto creeks that eventually made its way to Lake Ontario.

Michigan’s electric energy future could be wasting away in a junk drawer
- by Bridge Michigan

Valuable critical materials are sitting in junk drawers. Michigan is working with electronics manufacturers and researchers to recirculate these products back into the state’s economy.

Operation Manoomin: Restoring Wild Rice along the Detroit River
- by John Hartig

To reestablish the Potawatomi’s presence along the Detroit River, the local Indigenous group is interested in partnering on a project to restore wild rice in protected areas in and along the river.

In Significant Decision For Michigan’s Waters, State Supreme Court Rules EGLE Has Authority To Do Its Job
- by Circle of Blue

Decision sets stage for stemming mammoth tide of farm pollution in Great Lakes State.

A Decade After Crisis, Algal Blooms Persist

Efforts to cut nutrients in Lake Erie remain ineffective.

Points North: Shooting a Unicorn
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Two guys are hunting coyotes in Michigan, and say they lure in the biggest coyote they’ve ever seen. But it’s not a coyote at all — it’s a federally endangered gray wolf about 300 miles from its normal habitat. How did it get there?

On Lake Michigan, a coal-fired steamship and ferry eyes a clean-energy future
- by Bridge Michigan

For seven decades, the SS Badger has ferried people and goods across Lake Michigan while polluting the air with black smoke. The ship’s new owners are considering greener options.

TCAPS bond could mean more energy efficiency for schools
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Voters in the Traverse City area will choose whether to approve a $180 million bond for the school district to pay for what officials see as nuts and bolts upgrades to buildings. For some, it’s a chance for schools to become more energy efficient.

From pet to ‘monster.’ The battle to rid Michigan’s Glen Lake of giant koi
- by Bridge Michigan

When released into the wild, koi compete against fish and damage native plant life. Preservation experts partnered with bowfishers to remove invasive koi to keep the ecosystem safe.

Great Lakes Learning: The science of skiing
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

‘Containment breached’: How an oil spill in northwest Toronto made its way to Lake Ontario
- by The Narwhal

Last summer, contaminated sludge from a fire at a chemical plant reached Lake Ontario. The spill report raises questions about what the province told the public.

Raising monarch butterflies in Interlochen
- by Interlochen Public Radio

An effort to raise dozens of monarch butterfly caterpillars can not only teach summer campers about the insects, but is also an effort to call attention to the threats monarchs face.

Former state toxicologist says nitrate drinking water standards are too lax
- by Wisconsin Examiner

A former Wisconsin state toxicologist who was involved in creating nitrate standards for drinking water alleges the science that has informed those standards for decades is flawed.

When the Heat Is On, Water Can Still Be Off in Great Lakes Cities
- by Circle of Blue

Formal water shutoff policies in some cities are ill-defined for extreme heat.

What the overturning Chevron deference means for the Great Lakes
- by Nicholas J. Schroeck

The history of the Chevron precedent and how advocates can work within this new legal landscape to protect the future of the Great Lakes.

Ojibwemodaa! Let’s speak Ojibwe!
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

On the complicated history of naming a place and the value of language.

Making up for lost trees
- by Andrew Reeves

Canadian conservation groups purchase land from farmers to increase biodiversity around the Great Lakes region.

Canadian wildfires are heating up, bringing smoke to Michigan
- by Planet Detroit

This year’s fires are much smaller than 2023’s historic blazes. However, persistent dry conditions in Western Canada could mean more fires and smoke are coming.

Protecting the Lakes from Pollution
- by Mila Murray

Updates on Lake Erie algal blooms, Flint’s water, and coal ash regulation.

Heat, pollution, and climate change anxiety are affecting children
- by Michigan Public

Hotter days make heat exhaustion a greater hazard for kids. Unusual weather events, particularly storms that cause flooding, add stress to children’s lives.

Great Lakes Learning: Superior waters warming
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Detroit legislator takes the long view on Michigan’s water affordability struggles
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

“There are people counting on us to get this done,” says Senator Stephanie Chang in a Great Lakes Now interview.

Points North: Pedaling to the Beat of His Own Drum
- by Interlochen Public Radio

There’s this biker in the Upper Peninsula. He competes in some of the most challenging mountain bike races, but he doesn’t even ride one. He competes on a single-speed BMX bike. Why does he do it?

Seneca Nation Sues City for More than 450,000 Gallons of Wastewater Overflow
- by Native News Online

The Seneca Nation of western New York officially filed a Notice of a Claim against the City of Olean after its city’s wastewater treatment plant overflowed into the Nation’s waterways for the second time this year.

Green infrastructure job trainings aim to support growing field
- by Michigan Public

As more green infrastructure projects are installed across the state, more workers are needed to maintain them. Local organizations offer training for workers who want to expand their skills.

Ship doomed on Lake Michigan now moored on National Register of Historic Places
- by Great Lakes Echo

A Detroit-built sailing ship that sank in Lake Michigan during an 1864 storm has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Lake Erie Charter Life

Getting folks out to fish in Ohio means long hours, collaborating and cooperating.

Great Lakes Learning: All about aquaculture
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Foraged Flavors of the Sun: High Summer Wild Herbs and Plants
- by Lisa M. Rose

High summer brings an explosion of wild herbs and edible flowers like elderflower, Queen Anne’s lace, monarda, and chicory. Discover where to find and forage these delightful, edible plants and how these can add extraordinary flavors and colors to your summer dishes.

To tackle climate change, Michigan enlists a ‘corps’ of volunteers
- by Bridge Michigan

To prepare local communities for climate change, Michigan and other states are borrowing from a long American tradition of civilian service programs. Meet the inaugural members of the MI Healthy Climate Corps.

I Speak for the Fish: The Quest for a Largemouth

Largemouth are like 8-year-old English bulldogs; fierce guardians of their own with a standoffish demeanor and no interest in making friends.

New Michigan law requires homeowners associations to allow rooftop solar
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Supporters say it’s a step toward making rooftop solar and other energy efficiency measures more accessible to many in Michigan who belong to an HOA.

What is a liquid? Utilities sue to avoid coal ash cleanup — and lose
- by Grist

With the definition resolved, will the EPA come for polluting coal plants?

As climate change alters lakes, tribes and conservationists fight for the future of spearfishing
- by The Associated Press

As a result of warming waters, walleye numbers in some lakes are dwindling. Losing the species would mean losing a food source for community members, and a deep connection to tradition and nature.

FEMA will now consider climate change when it rebuilds after floods
- by Grist

The federal agency is overhauling its disaster rules in a bid to end a cycle of rebuilding in unsafe areas.

Great Lakes Learning: Bringing back buffalo reef
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Waves of Change: Meet Environmental Justice Public Advocate Regina Strong
- by Great Lakes Now

We spoke with Regina Strong, Environmental Justice Public Advocate at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

A cleaner Cuyahoga River faces a growing threat from stormwater runoff
- by Ideastream Public Media

As work continues to alleviate the impact of pollution on the Cuyahoga River, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is beginning to tackle the emerging threat from stormwater runoff.

Beaver Island takes early steps to test wave energy in its waters
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Wave energy converters use the movement of the water to generate electricity. A research team from the University of Michigan will spend the next couple years developing a prototype to install in the waters off the island.

This SCOTUS decision may make it harder to protect Michigan air and water
- by Planet Detroit

The Chevron decision could jeopardize federal policies addressing PFAS pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Remote-controlled robots cleaning up small Michigan beaches
- by Michigan Public

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is using a couple of roving robots on tracks to sift through the sand on beaches, cleaning up debris.

Environmentalists appeal Michigan regulators’ approval of pipeline tunnel project
- by The Associated Press

Environmentalists are challenging Michigan regulators’ decision to approve encasing part of an aging Enbridge Energy oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes, arguing that they failed to properly consider alternatives that would minimize climate impacts.

A Symbol of Survival: Red Pine Peels and Ojibwe Canoe Factories
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

Anthropologists discovered trees harvested for canoes during the fur trade formed a healing lobe like a scar. A symbol of survival — for the trees and for the Indigenous people of the border country.

How much can wetland restoration reduce farm fertilizers getting into Lake Erie?
- by Michigan Public

Michigan has a program to restore a large wetland area to reduce fertilizer runoff from getting into Lake Erie because it feeds toxic cyanobacterial blooms that spread in the western basin.

Wild Berry Bonanza: Juicy Jewels of the Great Lakes Summer
- by Lisa M. Rose

Summer in the Great Lakes region is a magical time, with long, warm days and the sweet taste of freshly picked berries.

Detroit deaf and hard of hearing kids have a role in climate resilience
- by Planet Detroit

AADHH received a $5,000 climate action plan grant to support Detroit’s climate resilience goals, including a community garden and solar panels.

Great Lakes Moment: An ecosystem approach
- by John Hartig

A method for co-producing knowledge and co-innovating holistic ecological solutions in natural resource management.

Waves of Change: Meet Little Village Environmental Justice Organization executive director Kim Wasserman
- by Great Lakes Now

Kim Wasserman played a major role in a years-long campaign to close two Chicago coal plants that were negatively impacting residents’ health.

Inside is Not the Answer: Air quality in the Great Lakes
- by Mia Litzenberg

The hidden impact of outdoor air pollution in the Great Lakes region is the public health epidemic of poor indoor air quality.

From Waters to Table: The story of the Great Lakes whitefish
- by Neely Bardwell

Some experts fear the total collapse of whitefish in just a few years. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Natural Resources Department is taking steps to ensure the future of this culturally important fish in the Great Lakes Basin.

Expecting smoke to be a more frequent part of seasonal planning

Experts say the wildfire smoke in the Great Lakes region, in 2023, was unique and will likely continue to be the case. However, some conditions making fires more likely are being exacerbated by climate change.

Michigan medical students fight to make climate change part of curriculum
- by Bridge Michigan

Doctors need to understand how climate change plays a role in health, so Michigan medical students are pushing for climate health education in their programs.

Surviving a metro Detroit summer in the climate change era
- by Planet Detroit

A recording of our live webinar on summer in Southeast Michigan– extended heat waves, high-intensity rainstorms and worsening air quality.

Cornish Roots & Nettle Shoots: A Foraged Pasty Recipe from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
- by Lisa M. Rose

By blending the old with the new — traditional recipes with wild, foraged foods — we not only preserve our culinary heritage but also embrace a sustainable approach to eating and land conservation that honors both our past and our planet and our collective future.

Points North: Copper Country’s Conundrum
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is Copper Country. Some see copper mining as an economic boon for the region, but others worry it could come at the cost of some of the Great Lakes’ most pristine wild spaces.

Audit finds mix of successes, problems with Great Lakes restoration grants
- by Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has improved conditions in polluted lakes and rivers, but sometimes failed to deliver on environmental justice goals.

Millions sweating it out as heat wave nears peak from Midwest to Maine
- by The Associated Press

A heat wave extending from the Midwest to New England moved closer to a breaking point Thursday, with millions of people sweating it out for another day.

Energy News Roundup: Great Lakes shipping industry says it could use decarbonization funding too

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Heat Islands in the Great Lakes: Community, infrastructure and fresh water solutions

Heat is becoming a threat in cities everywhere. Here is the second half of our two-part series which looks at the connection between heat and health, the role water plays, what’s being done, and where these cities have room to improve.

Reef Rescue and Wild Edibles
- by Mila Murray

Cleaning up toxins caused by copper mining, and foraging for Great Lakes wild foods.

Why some municipalities are looking at putting solar panels on water
- by Michigan Public

Floating solar panels are somewhat new in the U.S. In some places, the competition for land makes putting solar panel on plastic rafts feasible.

Canada-U.S. mayors want to tap Great Lakes region’s water for economic transformation
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

“Sustainable prosperity” and innovation are key to mayors’ 10-year plan. Expert says economic transition from the Rust Belt era is more appropriate, cautions “today’s abundance may be tomorrow’s drought.”

I Speak for the Fish: What’s a true bass?

White bass are like freshwater wolves: elusive, with a love of wide open spaces and killer teamwork.

PFAS News Roundup: Michigan farmer threatens to sue EPA over PFAS

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Heat Islands in the Great Lakes: The human health cost

Heat is becoming a threat in cities everywhere. Here is part one of our two-part series that takes a looks at the connection between heat and health, the role water plays, what’s being done and where these cities have room to improve.

Butterflies race for state insect status
- by Great Lakes Echo

Three butterflies are racing to become Michigan’s official state insect – and one of them is ahead, at least politically.

Birders flock to the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass bills to improve the environment
- by Michigan Public

Audubon Great Lakes members held an advocacy day for the first time in Michigan. Wetlands topped the agenda, but was just one item in a list to improve the environment.

Points North: To catch an arsonist
- by Interlochen Public Radio

It’s a dry spring – 1984 in Wisconsin – and all these suspicious fires are popping up. A conservation warden named Dave is pretty sure it’s arson, but he can’t catch a break. So, he and a pilot decide to get creative.

A freighter ship in Lake Superior collided with something underwater, Coast Guards says
- by The Associated Press

The U.S. Coast Guard says a freighter in Lake Superior has hit something underwater and started taking on water.

‘None of us saw this coming’: Michigan confronts bird flu in cows
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Michigan is requiring more biosecurity measures on farms because of an outbreak of bird flu in dairy herds.

Michigan Bottlers Still Get Free Water, Despite Governor’s Tough Talk
- by ProPublica

Tough talk followed a public outcry six years ago, but the push for policy reforms and monetary compensation has petered out.

Indiana attorney general fights EPA rule that would reduce pollution on Indy’s west side
- by Mirror Indy

The state denied, for now, an application to destroy wetlands.

Drugs, microplastics and forever chemicals: New contaminants emerge in the Great Lakes
- by The Narwhal

Scientists studying unregulated “emerging contaminants” say Ontario and the federal government need a coordinated plan to protect our water and health

Great Lakes Moment: Birds of a feather flock together
- by John Hartig

American white pelicans were considered “a rare vagrant” to Lake Erie up until 2014. Then, sightings of these fascinating waterbirds became more common.

Wisconsin’s Jane Elder chronicles personal and professional Great Lake’s journey in new book

Coming of age in the 1970s, Jane Elder “cared about the environment and wanted to be in that space.” Now, Elder is concerned with today’s lack of oversight on climate change in the Great Lakes region.

Nibi Chronicles: Krishna’s quest for ticks
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

The hunt for tick varieties began after discovering that 30-40% of the local moose had “serological signs of having had Lyme Disease at some point.”

Waves of Change: Meet activist and We the People of Detroit president Monica Lewis-Patrick
- by Great Lakes Now

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Points North: A Struggle for Justice
- by Interlochen Public Radio

More than 120 years ago, a Native American village in northern Michigan was burned down at the behest of a white land speculator. Now, the descendants of that village want the federal government to know they’re still here.

In warming Great Lakes region, water, heat can be an unhealthy combination

From mosquitoes to sewer overflows, the heat and moisture of a changing climate are creating new health threats in the Great Lakes region, prompting a call to educate residents and doctors about the risks.

PFAS News Roundup: 3M scientist exposes 50 years of PFAS deceit just as the ‘forever chemicals’ are found in Great Lakes precipitation
- by Mia Litzenberg

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Bald eagles nearly died out. What can we learn from their return to the southern Great Lakes?
- by The Narwhal

The pesticide DDT nearly wiped out North America’s bald eagles. Communities, scientists and politicians worked hard to bring this symbolic bird back from the brink.

Saving Whitefish and Navigating Niagara
- by Mila Murray

Teaching Lake Whitefish to thrive and getting up close at Niagara Falls.  

I Speak For The Fish: Are muskies still the readers’ favorite?

My confidence that no other species had a chance of unseating muskies as the reader’s favorite seemed like a safe bet. But I was wrong.

It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants
- by The Conversation

“No Mow May” is a catchy concept, but it doesn’t provide the food that native North American pollinators need or lasting support for them.

Disappointed dogs, sad skiers, frustrated fishermen
- by Kari Lydersen

Looking back on the warm, snowless winter that wreaked havoc on cherished outdoor recreation, and how Great Lakes communities made do.

Dams may slow harmful algal blooms in urban lakes, expert says
- by Great Lakes Echo

Like clockwork, Michigan’s Ford Lake and its downstream neighbor, Belleville Lake, turn bright green every summer due to harmful algal blooms.

Wildfire Rampage Injures Lungs in the Great Lakes
- by Circle of Blue

People are unprepared for smoke from forest fires worsened by intense drought and heat.

Chicago groups spotlight the city’s water “abundance,” focus on innovation, collaboration as key to its future

“Innovation is integral to delivering on all of our water priorities,” says top executive. What about conservation?

Canadian wildfire smoke chokes upper Midwest for second straight year
- by The Associated Press

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has prompted health warnings across the Upper Midwest and Montana for the second year in a row.

PFAS News Roundup: White House official visits Minnesota high school in town known as “ground zero” for PFAS

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in the Great Lakes region.

Meet the man who has been cleaning the Rouge River for 35 years
- by Planet Detroit

The Rouge River got a D+ in a recent report card, but after 35 years of river activism, Bill Craig still has the energy to clean it up.

Michigan author reflects on 20th anniversary of landmark book The Living Great Lakes

Author Jerry Dennis revisits his sailing journey from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean where he searched for “the heart of the inland seas.”

‘No Mow May’ grows in Traverse City
- by Interlochen Public Radio

This spring, the Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden teamed up with the GT Butterfly House & Bug Zoo to encourage people to help out pollinators.

Foraging’s Spring Backyard Splendor: Dandelions and Violets
- by Lisa M. Rose

As spring unfolds its vibrant hues, what better way to celebrate the season than by embracing the often overlooked splendor of dandelions and violets?

Great Lakes Moment: Detroit River’s important role in lake whitefish
- by John Hartig

In 2006, lake whitefish spawning was documented in the Detroit River for the first time since 1916. Today, the Detroit River proves essential to the survival of the species.

New Interagency Agreement Supports Water Tribal Water and Sanitation Projects
- by Native News Online

The Department of the Interior and Indian Health Service are partnering to develop safe drinking water and improve community sanitation across Indian Country, the agencies announced this week.

A Detroit renter’s quest for drinking water clarity
- by Planet Detroit

“My journey through the pipes of Lafayette Park revealed the importance of proactive measures and city-wide advocacy for clean, safe tap water.”

Indigenous peoples rush to stop ‘false climate solutions’ ahead of next international climate meeting
- by Grist

COP29 could make carbon markets permanent. Indigenous leaders are calling for a moratorium before it’s too late.

New study: Great Lakes beaches are littered with plastic trash
- by Bridge Michigan

A group analyzed 20 years of beach cleanup data, finding that 86% of litter is composed at least partially of plastic.

The murky process of reopening Palisades and why it’s a turning point for nuclear

U.S. nuclear industry is closely watching Palisades, amid a surge of investments as demand climbs for low-carbon sources of electricity. Other recently shuttered nuclear plants could take a cue from Palisades.

Waves of Change: Meet educator and Friends of the Fox River president Gary Swick
- by Great Lakes Now

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Nibi Chronicles: The Return of Nenookaasiwag
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

An Ojibwe story about nenookaasiwag (hummingbirds) and how small actions lead to larger impact. With shared wisdom on how to properly care for your hummingbird feeder this season.

Points North: More Than Just a Filet of Fish
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Iceland has figured out how to use almost 100% of every fish caught — not just the filet. By making things like durable leather, it’s increased the value of an Atlantic cod from about $15 to over $5,000. Can this approach help the struggling Great Lakes fishery?

Children of Flint water crisis make change as young environmental and health activists
- by The Associated Press

Dozens of the children of Flint, Michigan’s lead-contaminated water crisis have turned their trauma into advocacy 10 years after it began.

PFAS News Roundup: PFAS are shown to be unique bipartisan voting concern in Wisconsin

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Marbled crayfish raises eyebrows, and concerns
- by Kari Lydersen

Cloning crustacean were found several miles from Lake Ontario.

Michigan gets $290M boost for water upgrades as Flint crisis anniversary nears
- by Bridge Michigan

Money from a bond voters authorized in 2002 is a big one-time boost for Michigan’s crumbling water infrastructure, but state officials say more is needed.

Warming Waters and Mutant Crayfish
- by Great Lakes Now

Sounding the alarm on an invasive crustacean and rising temperatures in Lake Superior.

A Fleeting Wild Taste of Spring Ephemerals: Ramps and Ostrich Fern
- by Lisa M. Rose

As the Great Lakes winter recedes, the forests from the shores of Lake Superior to Lake Erie begin to show signs of life. Among the first to announce spring are the ramps emerging in the undergrowth.

Ohio Birding Transitions

Amid climate and habitat concerns, the Biggest Week in American Birding festival will draw tens of thousands in May.

Great Lakes Now talks “Love Canal” with American Experience Executive Producer Cameo George
- by Great Lakes Now

In the interview, we discuss storytelling that centers community advocacy, and the history and present of the environmental justice movement.

Finding creative new ways to manage invasive cattails
- by Lily Stewart, Great Lakes Now

Scientists are thinking holistically about biodiversity, sustainability, and resilience when it comes to the role invasive cattails play in the Great Lakes.

Good news for Michigan smelt season: PFAS levels lower than feared
- by Bridge Michigan

State officials warned against eating too much of the silvery panfish due to high PFAS levels. Scientists now say that was an error, but aren’t yet ready to abandon fish consumption advisories altogether.

Energy News Roundup: Key figure in Ohio bribery scandal dead by suicide

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Line 5 activist group wants Gov. Whitmer to “be an advocate” for shutdown
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

In a late move, the Department of Justice sides with Canada on continued operation of Line 5, citing treaty and the public’s interest.

Your Foraging Journey: A Framework to Sustainable and Safe Practices
- by Lisa M. Rose

An introduction to “A Year in the Wild Kitchen of the Great Lakes” — a content series in partnership with expert forager Lisa M. Rose with the mission of nurturing a deeper connection with the natural world through the lens of foraging.

I Speak for the Fish: Never underestimate a smallmouth
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Smallmouth basses are like 3-year-old German Shepherds: powerful and intelligent with lethal guarding instincts.

Points North: The Quest for Kiyi
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Small, silvery fish called kiyi used to roam the deep, cold waters of nearly every Great Lake. Remnant populations still exist in Lake Superior, and scientists are wondering: Can we find them?

Ghostly Grey Specters
- by Andrew Reeves

How unprecedented water levels are fluctuating in the Georgian Bay, impacting the lives of long-standing residents, including humans and trees.

PFAS News Roundup: Landmark EPA decision implements first nation-wide PFAS limit in drinking water

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Campbell Soup pollution lawsuits raise concerns about additional Northeast Ohio phosphorus sources
- by Ideastream Public Media

Two suits allege pollution from the plant into waterways exceeded the company’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

In Chicago, one neighborhood is fighting gentrification and climate change at the same time
- by Grist

The secret to success? Build affordable housing next to transit.

Bald eagle return exceeds expectations

Everything you need to know about bald eagles in Ohio: where to see them, and what to know about their population return.

Indiana attorney general fights EPA rule that would reduce pollution on Indy’s west side
- by Mirror Indy

The pollution is so bad that one westside family hasn’t constructed a playground for their kids.

Wild fish spring to life in Lake Ontario, despite dams, pollution and hatchery competitors
- by The Narwhal

Non-native species of salmon and trout have become an important part of Lake Ontario’s ecosystem. Keeping them healthy is often at odds with stocking fish for anglers.

After a hot winter, Whitmer asks for more ways to get aid to businesses
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said this week that with warm winters expected to continue, businesses need better access to federal assistance.

During the 2024 eclipse, biologists like us want to find out how birds will respond to darkness in the middle of the day
- by The Conversation

Since an eclipse only lasts a few minutes, you need more than just a handful of scientists collecting data. That’s where a new app comes in.

EPA head Regan defends $20B green bank: ‘I feel really good about this program’
- by The Associated Press

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency defended a new $20 billion federal “green bank” program, saying it will finance a variety of projects to create low-carbon solutions to combat climate change.

Sault tribe challenges Michigan fishing deal, chides ‘preposterous’ rules
- by Bridge Michigan

With key species like whitefish nearing the brink of collapse, Michigan’s largest Native American tribe wants fewer restrictions on when, how and where its members can fish.

Energy News Roundup: Even the solar eclipse is an energy issue

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news.

Palisades “work family” reunites for shot at reopening a Michigan nuclear plant
- by Michigan Public

The Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township could be the first shuttered nuclear facility to reopen in the U.S.

‘You start with us’: Conservation authority head has parting message for Ontario government
- by The Narwhal

Outgoing CEO of Conservation Halton reflects on government cuts and how to enable development while protecting nature and future generations.

Great Lakes Moment: Saving the Conservation Crescent
- by John Hartig

Local conservationists coined the term “Conservation Crescent” 25 years ago to better understand and protect several islands in the Detroit River. Here is the recent history of those islands, detailing the success of this movement.

Points North: Not always the apex predator
- by Interlochen Public Radio

When hunter Ben Karasch sees something move out of the corner of his eye, he assumes it’s a deer. But as Karasch gets a better look, he realizes it’s not a deer, it’s a cougar. And it’s slowly creeping towards him.

Through a Glass Darkly
- by Sean Ericson, Great Lakes Now

Antidepressants can affect reaction times in fish and birth control gives male specimens female traits. How might pharmaceutical pollution impact life around the Great Lakes?

Nibi Chronicles: The nation-to-nation fight against extractivism
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

An Ojibwe elder traveled to Serbia to learn about the successful fight against a mining giant looking to set up a similar operation in Minnesota.

Feds award $1.5 billion for Palisades nuclear plant restart
- by Bridge Michigan

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm touted the southwest Michigan plant as a key part of America’s energy future. Opponents questioned the safety of the 53-year-old facility.

PFAS News Roundup: MIT chemists designed a sensor that detects PFAS
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Ontario weakens watershed protections (again) as natural resources minister gets new powers
- by The Narwhal

New rules reduce buffer zones between development and wetlands and empower Doug Ford’s cabinet to issue permits without their say.

Waves of Change: Meet bird conservationist and migration counter Alison Vilag
- by Great Lakes Now

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Illinois and Army Corps at an impasse over building barrier to prevent invasive carp
- by WBEZ

Gov. JB Pritzker sent a letter expressing concern over costs of the $1 billion project and the burden to Illinois taxpayers.

Are Great Lakes cities ready for climate migrants?
- by Great Lakes Echo

The Great Lakes region has a lower risk of extreme weather compared to other parts of the country.

From the Ice Age to Now: A Lake Erie timeline

The ups and downs of the southernmost Great Lake.

The solar eclipse is a great opportunity for students and citizen scientists alike
- by Sarah Derouin, Great Lakes Now

Educators, students, and science enthusiasts in the region are teaming up with NASA to take important weather measurements during the event.

Composting, water access and backyard chickens: Detroit’s urban farming evolution
- by Planet Detroit

The city’s first urban agriculture director aims to help gardeners access land and water while making urban farming a seamless part of the city’s policy.

Road salt use dips 37% in Michigan warm winter, saving millions, easing pollution
- by Bridge Michigan

Michigan in poised to save $10 million in road salt costs, bucking a trend of increased use — and pollution — in lakes, rivers and groundwater.

International nuclear energy expert questions Michigan’s Palisades restart
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Holtec’s lack of nuclear operating experience is cited as a potential issue, and expert Mycle Schneider urges a focus on renewables.

Where to see rare solar eclipse in Ohio

A solar eclipse is expected to draw large crowds to Lake Erie, and tourism officials are preparing for an early start to the 2024 season.

Ski Slopes and Saunas
- by Great Lakes Now

A skier’s paradise on Lake Superior shores, Great Lakes sauna culture and more.

I Speak for the Fish: When a bass is not a bass
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Rock bass are like 10-month-old golden retrievers: playful, energetic and a lot of fun to watch.

Video: It’s Detroiters vs dust in west side neighborhood
- by BridgeDetroit

BridgeDetroit found the city cited the company operating the crushing operation with nearly 300 blight violations over two years.

Points North: Olympic Dream Takes a U.P. Village
- by Interlochen Public Radio

When U.P. snowboarder Nick Baumgartner lost in a qualifying round at the 2022 Olympics, he broke down. It was his fourth Olympics, he’d never medaled, and he might not get another shot. But then he got some news.

Judge holds Flint in contempt for continued lead pipe replacement delays
- by Bridge Michigan

The city was supposed to finish replacing all lead service lines in Flint by 2020. The work still isn’t done. The ruling includes no financial penalties.

Efforts to thwart regulation of PFAS polluters move down parallel tracks
- by Wisconsin Watch

A divided Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that limited the DNR’s ability to regulate PFAS and other contaminants. The case is one of two efforts to weaken the spills law.

The Northwoods is now a month into unusually early maple tapping season
- by WXPR

Maple sap typically runs from mid-March to mid-April in Wisconsin. This year, the tapping process started almost a month ago.

Lake Superior is warming fast. Its national parks are starting work to cut fossil fuels
- by Interlochen Public Radio

As national parks around the country try to raise awareness about climate change, those around Lake Superior are taking steps to get cut their emissions.

PFAS News Roundup: Indiana senators scrap bill that would change definition of polyfluoroalkyl substances in favor of manufacturers
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Pennsylvania farmers convicted of poisoning over two dozen migratory birds
- by Great Lakes Echo

Two Pennsylvania farmers have been found guilty of poisoning over two dozen migratory birds with a restricted substance. Many species of birds are declining in North America and many are at risk of extinction, Macdonald said.

Fewer fish and more algae? Scientists seek to understand impacts of historic lack of Great Lakes ice
- by The Associated Press

Michigan Tech University biologists have been observing a remote Lake Superior island’s fragile wolf population every winter since 1958, but they had to cut this season’s planned seven-week survey short after just two weeks.

Tribes urge U.S. to weigh in on Line 5 case as appeal sits in court
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Tribes across the Great Lakes are asking the federal government to weigh in on a case in the Bad River Band Reservation.

Is the USDA’s spending on ‘climate-smart’ farming actually helping the climate?
- by Grist

A new report asks whether supposedly green livestock practices have proven benefits.

Energy News Roundup: Chicago organization to build geothermal heating and cooling in south side alleys

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Illinois lawmakers seek to protect state wetlands
- by WBEZ

The U.S. Supreme Court rolled back protections for wetlands last year, leaving states like Illinois vulnerable.

Three Great Lakes commissions announce partnership to advance restoration

First-of-its-kind agreement takes aim at leading threats to Great Lakes region.

Native Farm Bill Coalition Leaders Critical of USDA Equity Commission Final Report
- by Native News Online

In a critical response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Equity Commission Final Report, the Native Farm Bill Coalition co-chairs say the report doesn’t adequately address inequities in Indian Country.

Where will you be for the April 8 total solar eclipse? There’s still time to grab a spot
- by The Associated Press

Where will you be watching the April 8 total solar eclipse? There are just a few weeks left to pick your spot to see the skies darken along a strip of North America, whether by land, sea or air.

Great Lakes Moment: Gordie Howe International Bridge becomes part of binational trail system
- by John Hartig

World’s longest trail is about to become even longer. Plans are underway to make the Trans Canada Trail connect from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan.

Points North: The Legend of Heike’s Tombs
- by Interlochen Public Radio

In the mid-1900’s, a man moves to northern Michigan to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. He starts having religious visions and builds big stone monuments to commemorate them. That’s where the story starts to get twisted.

Ottawa National Forest creates shaded fuel brakes to help protect communities from wildfires
- by WXPR

The upper Midwest rarely sees the type of high-intensity, destructive wildfires that the west coast sees, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen here.

Indiana conservation groups defend state’s wetlands that lost protection
- by Great Lakes Echo

About 250 acres of Indiana wetlands have been lost in the two years since wetland protections were eased. Since the 2021 law passed, mitigation requirements have decreased.

PFAS News Roundup: UW-Stevens Point researchers look to plants to solve PFAS contamination
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

“Bad River” documentary combines historical treatment of indigenous people with the fight to protect Lake Superior 
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Filmmaker Mary Mazzio talks about capturing the Bad River Tribe’s fight to shut down Line 5 oil pipeline.

Not Just Pretty Pictures: Bearing witness to the night sky
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

“Spirits Dancing: The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge & Living Connections to the Cosmos” incorporates a “two-eyed seeing” approach to learning about the cosmos.

Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Winter Games go on despite little snow on the ground
- by WXPR

The Ojibwe Winter Games give Lac du Flambeau students a chance to learn about their culture while having some fun, but a growing concern is how climate change may impact the games.

Waves of Change: Meet Milwaukee Water Commons Co-Executive Director Brenda Coley
- by Great Lakes Now

We spoke with Brenda Coley, co-executive director of the urban network and non-profit organization Milwaukee Water Commons.

Wisconsin’s state fish tops the food chain
- by James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

More anglers are targeting muskie and spending more on the pursuit. Fish populations are thriving in most Great Lakes states due to a combination of factors.

Energy News Roundup: Tribal leaders appear at a federal courthouse in Chicago to challenge Line 5
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Harris announces $5.8 billion for water infrastructure projects, says clean water is a right
- by The Associated Press

The Biden administration announced that states will share $5.8 billion in federal funds for water infrastructure projects around the country.

As some push for repeal, state seeks input on renewable energy siting law
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Michigan is tackling implementation of a law that approves large renewable projects, and they’re hoping public input will guide the process.

Big Fish and Gray Skies
- by GLN Editor

Great Lakes muskellunge, optimizing solar panels for snow, and another short winter.

I Speak for the Fish: Bringing muskie to the masses
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

The goal of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources muskellunge rearing program is to stock 40,000 new fish into the Great Lakes each year. But their challenges are real.

Teachers and scientists work together on the Lake Guardian 
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Each summer, 15 educators join the EPA on a research trip around one of the Great Lakes. Applications for next summer are due February 19.

Whitefish are on brink in Michigan. Can they learn to love rivers to survive?
- by Bridge Michigan

A staple for centuries, the fish are struggling to reproduce in the Great Lakes. So scientists hope to convince the whitefish to spawn in rivers, away from threats.

Warm winters are a wet blanket for small ski slopes in northern Michigan
- by Interlochen Public Radio

For businesses that depend on snow and cold temperatures, this weather has been tough.

Want a healthy walleye fishery? Stock some muskie
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Michigan Muskie Alliance founder William Schultz finds that lakes with the best walleye fisheries across the country are also the best spots for muskie, and it’s not a coincidence.

Cleveland, Cuyahoga County leaders urge EPA to finalize federal clean car standards
- by Ideastream Public Media

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne called on the EPA to finalize proposed federal clean car standards for new vehicles.

WATCH: Why Chicago will take decades to replace lead pipes
- by Great Lakes Now

The EPA recently proposed new rules that would remove lead pipes from America’s drinking water infrastructure over the next decade. But with more lead pipes than any other city, Chicago is a notable exception.

Preserving Minnesota’s bogs could fight climate change
- by Great Lakes Echo

Researchers in Minnesota are creating a national map to identify peatlands – soggy areas of slowly decaying organic matter – and guides for how to restore them. The PeatRestore project is set to span several years.

What a permitting debacle in Fremont could mean for biodigesters across Michigan
- by Interlochen Public Radio

A food waste digester in Fremont is closing after a years-long permit dispute with the state. Environmental groups say the outcome of that dispute could have far-reaching impacts.

Faced with COVID-era civil rights complaints, Chicago commits to environmental justice
- by Great Lakes Echo

Chicago is joining a nationwide trend of large cities incorporating equity or justice goals into preparing for climate change’s impact on public health.

PFAS News Roundup: CDC encourages doctors to start testing for PFAS
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

How safe are Great Lakes fish to eat? Depends on who you ask
- by Brian Owens, Great Lakes Now

There are big discrepancies among jurisdictions on what fish to eat and how often, making it difficult for individuals and communities to make informed decisions that affect their health.

Enbridge appeals to vacate an order that would shut down its pipeline
- by The Associated Press

An attorney for the energy company Enbridge tried to persuade a federal appellate court to vacate an order that would shut down part of a pipeline running through a Wisconsin tribal reservation.

The future of water management, with Curt Wolf
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

After Detroit’s 2021 catastrophic flooding event, new ideas emerged about climate adaptation. Curt Wolf sat down with Great Lakes Now to discuss how the Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation is bringing solutions to the table by getting everyone to the table.

Wreck of ship that sank in 1940 found in Lake Superior
- by The Associated Press

Shipwreck hunters have discovered a merchant ship that sank in Lake Superior in 1940, taking its captain with it, during a storm off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

As Michigan winters vanish, researchers study snow for clues about what’s next
- by Bridge Michigan

Scientists once believed little important happened during winters. But as they vanish, the study of snowpack is increasing.

Reimagined St. Ignace memorial to be a showcase of Native American history
- by Bridge Michigan

The DNR is rebuilding the Father Marquette National Memorial in St. Ignace. The exhibits, art work and signage will focus on the area’s rich Native American culture and history.

Globe breaks heat record for 8th straight month. Golfers get to play in Minnesota’s ‘lost winter’
- by The Associated Press

For the eighth straight month in January, Earth was record hot, according to the European climate agency. That was obvious in the northern United States, where about 1,000 people were golfing last month in a snow-starved Minneapolis during what the state is calling “the Lost Winter of 2023-24.”

Photobook illuminates the beauty of Michigan lighthouses
- by Great Lakes Echo

Michigan photographer Danielle Jorae wrote, designed and published Lighthouses of Michigan-Lower Peninsula to fulfill a wish of her childhood self. “I ran across a document from when I was in kindergarten that outlined how I wanted to become an artist and a writer one day.”

Michigan’s lost winter cancels sturgeon season, ski, dog sled races
- by Bridge Michigan

Cancellations mount as Michigan experiences one of the warmest winters in memory. Experts blame El Niño and climate change.

Study calls for EPA to include human well-being in Great Lakes restoration program
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Historically restoration work focused on measurable ecological outcomes. Researchers make the case to codify human well-being into the process.

Great Lakes Moment: Lest we forget – A history of Detroit River oil pollution
- by John Hartig

Today, the Detroit River is much cleaner, and sentinel wildlife species have returned. It is good to look back at the 1960s pollution of the river, notably oil pollution, and recognize how far we have come.

Warm weather forces park officials to suspend Isle Royale wolf count for first time in decades
- by The Associated Press

A stretch of unusually warm weather has forced federal officials to suspend researchers’ annual wolf-moose count in Isle Royale National Park for the first time in more than six decades.

Ontario sides with Enbridge Gas in fight to connect new homes to natural gas
- by The Narwhal

Saying fossil fuel use will decline, the Ontario Energy Board told Enbridge Gas to charge developers, not homeowners, for new natural gas hookups.

I-500 Snowmobile Race moving ahead despite warmer weather
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The race takes place on a one-mile track of ice, so snow isn’t critical. But even though the race doesn’t need a lot of snow, the region’s trails do.

Points North: Doe, A Deer, A (Sterilized) Female Deer
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Deer culling is common across the Midwest. Cities often hire sharpshooters or allow hunters to kill a certain number of deer.

Flint residents reach $25M settlement with engineers in water crisis case
- by Bridge Michigan

Engineering company Veolia North America settles class-action lawsuit before a trial was set to begin. The company consulted the city of Flint after its disastrous 2014 water switch.

Chicago could be first major Midwestern city to ban gas in new construction
- by Grist

Buildings are Chicago’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, but efforts to decarbonize them are facing union opposition.

PFAS News Roundup: Researchers fear PFAS factory air emissions contribute to widespread contamination in North Carolina
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Parts of Detroit could be radically transformed by city solar plan, for better or worse
- by Planet Detroit

Residents are divided over whether financial benefits outweigh risks.

Mandated East Palestine creek cleanup is entering final phase, environmental officials say
- by Ideastream Public Media

Cleanup efforts are still underway in East Palestine nearly a year after a train derailed. Officials say progress is being made at restoring water quality and aquatic life.

Smart buoys help brace Great Lakes for environmental challenges
- by Great Lakes Echo

Lake Erie is the first of the Great Lakes getting connected to the internet with a series of offshore “smart” buoys. And it’s not just for sending texts on the water.

Consortium of Great Lakes universities and tech companies gets $15M to seek ways to clean wastewater
- by The Associated Press

The National Science Foundation has given a consortium of Great Lakes-area universities and tech companies $15 million to develop ways to extract harmful substances from wastewater.

You can’t stop the lake
- by Astrid Code

Pollution plays a role in preventing shoreline erosion for lakeside properties.

Waves of Change: Meet Wisconsin Green Muslims founder and director Huda Alkaff
- by Great Lakes Now

We spoke with Huda Alkaff, an ecologist, environmental educator and the founder and director of Wisconsin Green Muslims.

‘It only makes sense’: Houses of worship adding solar arrays
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Organizations across the country are focused on getting more houses of worship to install solar panels, including in Michigan.

Defense Department to again target ‘forever chemicals’ contamination near Michigan military base
- by The Associated Press

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to install two more groundwater treatment systems at a former Michigan military base to control contamination from forever chemicals.

Energy News Roundup: Ohio bipartisan energy efficiency bill stalled by Koch-linked group
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Army Corps plans $1 billion barricade to deter invasive carp at Illinois and Des Plaines Rivers
- by WBEZ

Invasive carp could threaten the $7 billion recreation and commercial fishing industry around the Great Lakes.

Buried Relics and Falling Water – Episode 2401
- by GLN Editor

A Great Lakes archeological dig site and power generation along the Niagara River.

Lake Erie is 13% frozen, expect less freezing in the future
- by Ideastream Public Media

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said ice on the Great Lakes decreased by 5% each decade for 50 years.

Points North: Can AI Caribou Lead Us To Our Prehistoric Past?
- by Interlochen Public Radio

A team of archaeologists looks for signs of prehistoric life 100 feet underwater in Lake Huron. But they need help narrowing their search. So, they turn to artificial intelligence.

Nibi Chronicles: Violence in Ma’iingan Country
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

There has been an uptick in human-wolf conflict in northern Minnesota.

Restoring Ontario’s lost grasslands is as important as planting trees
- by The Narwhal

Most of the grasslands that once dotted Ontario have been lost to development and agriculture. Bringing back these carbon-rich landscapes would be good for birds, bees, butterflies and people.

The Supreme Court wrestles with major challenges to the power of federal regulators
- by The Associated Press

The court heard arguments in two challenges brought by commercial fishermen to a fee requirement, though the facts of their cases were barely discussed in the courtroom.

Strong winds uncover spectacular features and long-lost structures
- by Sharon Oosthoek

People on the western shore of Lake Erie witnessed a strange site after the weekend’s winter storm. Parts of the lake usually under water were suddenly dry and accessible.

The Toxic Sands Threatening Fish in Lake Superior
- by Undark

The slow-motion destruction of Buffalo Reef, a critical spawning ground, offers lessons for new mining projects.

Elk Rapids wants to help its shoreline through new state Climate Corps program
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Michigan is working with communities and organizations to tackle climate change by funding new staff positions.

Lawsuit could complicate drone laws for Michigan hunters and anglers
- by Great Lakes Echo

The suit questions one of the core principles of hunting and fishing in the United States, some experts say.

Michigan lawmakers have more energy priorities in 2024
- by Bridge Michigan

Michigan lawmakers made sweeping changes to Michigan energy laws last fall. But plenty of items missed the cut, from community solar to finding solutions for Michigan’s outage-prone power grid.

Where Northeast Ohio’s wildlife spends the winter
- by Ideastream Public Media

During the winter season, native species have three options: hibernate, migrate or stick it out. Warmer winter seasons may not immediately impact wildlife, but naturalists have concerns about long-term effects.

Great Lakes policy advocate calls out Illinois for intransigence on invasive carp solution
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

“Illinois is running out of excuses and right now it is single handedly delaying the project,” says the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Molly Flanagan in a Great Lakes Now interview.

PFAS News Roundup: ‘Forever chemicals’ in fish, building a better response to PFAS contamination
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

I Speak for the Fish: The great seasonal flip
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

The Great Lakes underwater realm has distinct seasons just like the topside domain.

Why poor air quality isn’t just a summer problem in Detroit
- by Planet Detroit

“Atmospheric inversions” caused several days of polluted air this week in much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, though it did not rise to the level of an air quality action alert.

Twenty companies pledge to use all parts of Great Lakes fish by 2025
- by Great Lakes Echo

Fish-leather purses and wallets may make their way into Great Lakes fashion with an initiative to use 100% of commercially caught fish by 2025.

Supreme Court poop dispute could have big impact on Michigan environment
- by Bridge Michigan

How far can Michigan go in its quest to limit farm pollution in Michigan’s lakes and rivers? That’s the subject of a case now before the state’s highest court.

Energy News Roundup: Line 5 approval is appealed by tribes and environmental groups
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Carbon pollution is down in the US, but not fast enough to meet Biden’s 2030 goal, new report says
- by The Associated Press

Climate-altering pollution from greenhouse gases declined by nearly 2% in the United States in 2023, even as the economy expanded at a faster clip, a new report finds.

Michigan’s state park camping reservations are open and filling up quickly
- by Bridge Michigan

Campsite reservations are 35-80 percent booked through July across Michigan’s state parks.

Michigan hopes community groups can get piece of $2B climate justice fund
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The EPA called it “the largest single investment in environmental justice in history.”

Episode 2312 Lesson Plans: The science of stonefly larvae
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Traverse City-based policy center appeals Michigan’s Line 5 permit
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The nonprofit For Love Of Water, which was an intervenor in the case, says the commission’s decision violates the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.

Great Lakes Moment: Ohio provides example for funding Detroit and Rouge rivers’ sediment cleanup
- by John Hartig

Ohio will soon embark on removing the Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River. Their approach could be a model for cleaning up contaminated sediments in the Detroit and Rouge rivers.

For the first time in a century, martens have been spotted on Lake Superior’s Madeline Island
- by Wisconsin Public Radio

The discovery indicates a positive trend for the recovery of Wisconsin’s only state endangered mammal.

Warmer winters mean less ice on Lake Michigan – hurting lake trout and whitefish
- by WBEZ

All of the Great Lakes are experiencing declining ice coverage in the winter, which could affect recreation and shorelines.

Group launches campaign to overturn Michigan solar siting law
- by Bridge Michigan

Opponents of the new law, which stripped away local permitting control over large wind and solar projects, are pushing a ballot initiative that would ask voters in November to overturn the law.

Points North: The turtle takeover
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Red-eared sliders are one of the most common pet turtle species in the world. They can grow to the size of dinner plates and live around 40 years. Because of that, people often release them. That causes a big problem.

Michigan group looks to grow a statewide coalition for water affordability
- by Planet Detroit

Lawmakers and advocates say new legislation is needed.

‘A valuable resource’: Traverse City restaurants aim to reduce food waste, greenhouse gases
- by Interlochen Public Radio

So far about a dozen of Traverse City’s downtown restaurants have said they are interested in composting.

PFAS News Roundup: ‘Forever chemicals’ awareness lacking among U.S. adults
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Book Review: Author Sue Leaf’s latest takes a philosophical look at life on Lake Superior’s South Shore
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Copper mining and receding shorelines intertwine with omnipresent impermanence.

Biden administration moves to protect old-growth forests as climate change brings fires, pests
- by The Associated Press

The Biden administration moved to conserve groves of old-growth trees on national forests across the U.S. and limit logging as climate change amplifies the threats they face from wildfires, insects and disease.

Upper Peninsula tribe closer to compensation for land seized by the U.S. government
- by Michigan Public

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community would get $34 million if legislation passed by the U.S. Senate is approved by the House and signed by President Joe Biden.

Energy News Roundup: Community solar projects seen as key step toward energy justice in Illinois, Great Lakes offshore wind farm put on hold
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Great Lakes Now sits down with director of Flint water crisis film “Lead and Copper”
- by Great Lakes Now

William Hart, director of a documentary about the Flint water crisis called “Lead and Copper,” joined Great Lakes Now’s Anna Sysling for a discussion about the film.

Nibi Chronicles: How to craft a memorandum of understanding with trout
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

In Ojibwe country, change is understood to be a constant condition or state of being. Sometimes change is difficult, and sometimes change is good. A very good effort to change happened on May 2, 2023.

New EPA Great Lakes executive warns on “moon shot” cleanup goal for toxic sites
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Greater effort, creativity needed to secure required funding at the state and local levels, lagging Detroit River effort “stands out.”

Cleveland’s Icebreaker Wind project on hold due to rising costs, pushback
- by Ideastream Public Media

Cleveland’s off-shore wind turbine project has been halted after the project’s private development partner pulled financial support.

PFAS experts gather to address growing chemical crisis
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

In light of the ongoing PFAS crisis, stricter groundwater regulations were part of a Michigan statewide effort to protect resident’s health and improve water quality. This legal dilemma took center stage during EGLE’s fourth annual Great Lakes PFAS Summit.

Can Michigan reduce phosphorus pollution getting into Lake Erie by 40 percent?
- by Michigan Public

Michigan won’t reach the phosphorus reduction goal by 2025 as planned. It’s uncertain when it might attain that goal to help reduce cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie.

PFAS News Roundup: Ohio settles with DuPont over PFAS liability for $110 million
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Flooding drives millions to move as climate migration patterns emerge
- by The Associated Press

Flooding is driving millions of people to move, limiting growth in some prospering communities and accelerating the decline of others, according to a new study.

I Speak for the Fish: ‘Twas the night before Fishmas
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

A whimsical remake of the classic holiday tale ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas featuring the Spirit Sturgeon and other Great Lakes fish.

Michigan farm czar: Our fight against Lake Erie pollution isn’t working
- by Bridge Michigan

Ahead of a gathering to assess the health of Lake Erie, Michigan acknowledges it won’t meet a 2025 deadline to cut phosphorus runoff into the lake by 40 percent.

Surf and Slide – Episode 2203 Rebroadcast
- by GLN Editor

Sailing on ice, Lake Ontario winter surfing and three Lake Michigan news stories.

Energy News Roundup: Opponents appeal decision to allow drilling under Ohio state parks and wildlife areas, preparing for the green economy
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

WATCH: Ontario’s greenhouse sector with The Narwhal
- by Great Lakes Now

The Catch took a look at why experts are saying water from greenhouses in southern Ontario could be harming Lake Erie. Journalist and farmer Matt McIntosh recently reported on the issue for The Narwhal.

The Great Lakes Compact at 15: Region celebrates, veteran policy experts caution against complacency
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

“The compact is a step forward for the Great Lakes but it’s just the beginning of a long journey.”

Episode 2311 Lesson Plans: Shoreline science
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

WATCH: Milwaukee’s polluted hotspot
- by Great Lakes Now

The Catch took a look at the largest project ever funded under a Great Lakes cleanup program. The aim is to remove contaminated sediments from a polluted hotspot in Milwaukee.

Lake Erie is full of algae again. Southwestern Ontario’s exploding greenhouse sector won’t help
- by The Narwhal

Experts say nutrient-rich water from greenhouse farms could be harming Lake Erie, but Ontario’s Environment Ministry has issued very few fines for potential algae-causing infractions.

Four Michigan tribes receive funding to support recycling initiatives
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Tribes and organizations in the Great Lakes were awarded more than $11 million as part of a big federal investment in recycling.

Points North: The prince fish
- by Interlochen Public Radio

In October 1960, Prince Akihito of Japan visited Chicago for 21 hours. Chicago’s mayor presented the prince with a diplomatic gift: 18 bluegill. What happened next would change the underwater world of Japan forever.

Will Energy From Manure Help or Harm Water Quality in Michigan?
- by Circle of Blue

Chevron and two utilities are building big methane biodigesters on the state’s largest dairies.

The EPA is aiming to get rid of lead pipes in 10 years. But not in Chicago.
- by Grist

The city’s nearly 400,000 pipes wouldn’t have to be fully removed for nearly 30 years after the rest of the nation.

PFAS News Roundup: How to avoid toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in your kitchen
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Great Lakes Moment: Creating a green oasis in southwest Detroit
- by John Hartig

Southwest Detroit has long been known for its heavy industry. In recent years, neighborhoods have teamed up with Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Detroit refinery to strengthen and revitalize these communities.

See a bear den? The Michigan DNR wants to know about it
- by Michigan Public

Michigan Department of Natural Resources asks the public to notify the agency if they spot a black bear den. It’s part of a program to place orphaned cubs with a mother bear.

Book Review: Wisconsin author touches third rail of drinking water issues in new book
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Can wastewater recycled for drinking water survive the court of public opinion?

Michigan regulators approve key permit for Enbridge Line 5 tunnel
- by Bridge Michigan

The ruling puts Enbridge Energy a step closer to tunnel construction despite opposition from environmental and Native American groups.

Documentary explores climate resilience in northern Michigan
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The Grand Valley State University documentary was screened at the Dennos Theater in Traverse City on Nov. 30.

Energy News Roundup: Renewable energy fuels major economic payoffs in rural Indiana, Amazon announces its first Michigan solar farm project
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Science Says What? Global worming and the Great Lakes (yes, you read that right)
- by Sharon Oosthoek

Invasion of the earthworms! It sounds like a bad Hollywood movie, but science can be stranger than fiction.

New York state sues Pepsico over plastic pollution in Buffalo
- by James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

The Buffalo River’s 450-square-mile watershed is a source of much plastic pollution, and officials say the vast majority of that pollution consists of single-use containers and packaging.

Remaking Port Milwaukee into a Great Lakes trade hub
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan on Jones Island, Milwaukee’s newly updated port is emerging as a potential force in the city’s economy. 

Michigan could implement ambitious clean energy mandates and have carbon-free electricity by 2040
- by The Associated Press

Michigan is on the verge of implementing one of the nation’s most ambitious clean energy mandates, aiming to be carbon-free by 2040.

After a pandemic pause, Detroit restarts water shut-offs – part of a nationwide trend as costs rise
- by The Conversation

Detroit residents with past-due bills are facing water shut-offs again after a reprieve during COVID-19. At the same time, providers are also raising rates.

Waves of Change: Meet Executive Director Alicia Smith
- by Great Lakes Now

We spoke with Alicia Smith, executive director of the Junction Coalition, a community nonprofit based in Toledo, Ohio.

Points North: Ghost towns lost and found
- by Interlochen Public Radio

David Exelby was scrolling through Reddit when he came across a mysterious post. This guy had stumbled on a ghost town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The problem was no one could find it.

We’re going to need a bigger fishbowl
- by Brian Owens, Great Lakes Now

Tracking escaped goldfish in Hamilton Harbour could help control the invasive species.

The Four Sisters: Bangs, Lugalette, Bannock and Frybread
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

“I think next time I decide to make a batch, I’ll add a bit of manoomin — wild rice — flour along with a touch of maple sugar, to see how that fries up in a little bit of grease, and give thanks for all that we have.”

PFAS News Roundup: Wastewater is key contributor of ‘forever chemicals’ pollution, according to report
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Rivers of Water and Sand – Episode 2311
- by GLN Editor

Explore Indiana’s shoreline erosion dilemma and Michigan dam removal efforts.

As Great Lakes warm, collaboration and Indigenous self-determination are keys to adapting
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The Great Lakes are among the fastest-warming bodies of water. They contain one fifth of the world’s freshwater, and climate change is affecting everything that depends on them.

Do snitches net fishes? Scientists turn invasive carp into traitors to slow their Great Lakes push
- by The Associated Press

Wildlife officials across the Great Lakes are looking for spies to take on an almost impossible mission: stop the spread of invasive carp.

I Speak for the Fish: Carp are crazy about corn
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Common carp are not the only species that enjoy a fresh ear of Michigan sweet corn as we discovered during a recent attempt at feeding.

Energy News Roundup: Mixing solar and farming could be key to clean energy future, new program to support energy efficiency in Ohio communities
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Worsening warming is hurting people in all regions, US climate assessment shows
- by The Associated Press

Revved-up climate change now permeates Americans’ daily lives with harm that is “already far-reaching and worsening across every region of the United States,” a massive new government report says.

Concerns about Michigan steelhead populations prompt new catch limits
- by Bridge Michigan

State regulators are ratcheting down the number of fish anglers can keep in some rivers, citing fears that the fish could be in trouble. State scientists disagree.

Episode 2310 Lesson Plans: Dynamic populations
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

Points North: The plant musician
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Tom Wall is a West Michigan rock star who uses plants as bandmates. He uses a device to harness the electricity in plants, which then turns those impulses into musical notes. Tom insists the plants are talking to us through the music. But can they really do that?

Canada says it can fight climate change and be major oil nation. Massive fires may force a reckoning
- by The Associated Press

Thousands of wildfires in Canada this year have incinerated an area larger than Florida, releasing into the atmosphere more than three times the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by Canada in an entire year. And some are still burning.

Wisconsin agency’s expanded mission led to record $450 million investment in Milwaukee waterways
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Sewerage district leadership sealed the deal to remediate two million cubic yards of contaminated sediment

Building a Smart Lake Erie Watershed
- by Michigan Public

Water quality sensors in Lake Erie are being networked to make more data accessible to researchers and government agencies, as well as the public.

How climate change can confuse fall foliage
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Northern Michigan had another beautiful fall full of brilliant foliage. When and how those leaves change depends on a lot of factors, including a changing climate.

PFAS News Roundup: How ‘forever chemicals’ affect the human body
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Charting a Safer Course: Mitigating flood risk in Great Lakes states
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Amid rising concerns over the increasing frequency and severity of flooding in the Great Lakes region, a new study unveils crucial insights into each state’s preparedness.

Great Lakes Moment: A Detroit perspective on the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act
- by John Hartig

On the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, it is good to reflect on some of its successes here in metropolitan Detroit’s backyard.

St. Lawrence Seaway labor strike ends
- by James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

New three-year contract includes 13-percent wage increase over three years.

Coastal erosion researcher appeals for help in finding her remote-control boat
- by Sharon Oosthoek

The student was gathering the final data set for her Ph.D. when her small research boat stopped responding to the remote control.

Energy News Roundup: States rebrand energy to meet electricity targets, Ohio legislation to declare nuclear power as ‘green energy’
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

No convictions for Flint: Attorney general ends water crisis prosecutions
- by Bridge Michigan

A state prosecution team on Tuesday announced it’s given up on the effort to criminally charge public officials for the Flint water crisis. One unsurprised community leader called it “the norm” for a city repeatedly failed by the state.

Points North: Pier pressure
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Lane Frame was visiting the Great Lakes for the first time. It was a windy day and the water was rough, but Lane and his brothers headed onto a pier to see a lighthouse. Then a wave crashed over the breakwall and pushed him into the water. Lane drowned, but maybe it didn’t have to be that way.

Waves of Change: Meet herbalist and forager Monica Cady
- by Great Lakes Now

Waves of Change is a new online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Strikers have shut down a vital Great Lakes shipping artery for days, and negotiations are looming
- by The Associated Press

A strike has shut down all shipping on the St. Lawrence Seaway, interrupting exports of grain and other goods from Canada and the United States via the Great Lakes to the rest of the world.

New University of Michigan led initiative expands climate research across borders
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

When it comes to fostering resilience in the face of climate change in the waters that border the U.S. and Canada, hydrologist Drew Gronewold wants the region to be a “role model for the world.”

Great Lakes imports and exports halted by strike
- by James Proffitt, Great Lakes Now

After failing to reach an agreement, hundreds of workers stationed between Lake Erie and Montreal walked off the job. Thousands of trips per year are made by ocean-going ships passing through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Michigan steps up dam removal in race against climate change
- by Bridge Michigan

As climate change threatens to warm Michigan rivers, dam removal can drive temperatures down by several degrees. An influx of money has boosted removal efforts, but advocates say more is needed.

Wild Islands and Salty Visitors – Episode 2310
- by Mila Murray

Tracking wolves and moose on Isle Royale, and piloting Great Lakes freighters.

PFAS News Roundup: Push to find ‘forever chemicals’ replacements in manufacturing
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Keeping an eye on Michigan’s current environmental legislation
- by Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

Quite a few bills are going through the Michigan Legislature that are poised to radically reshape the state’s approach to energy. These proposed legislations signal Michigan’s commitment to the climate crisis, and could set the stage for a significant shift in the state’s environmental policies. .

Nibi Chronicles: Grand Portage Water Warriors
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

The Grand Portage Band was the first Tribal Nation in the country to have a beach program and has been monitoring water quality at tribally-held beaches since 2007.

Federal forecasters predict warm, wet US winter but less snow because of El Nino, climate change
- by The Associated Press

The upcoming winter looks likely to be a bit low on snow and cold outbreaks, with forecasters predicting the North to get warmer than normal and the South wetter and stormier.

The spawn from lake sturgeon in Michigan to be introduced to Cuyahoga River
- by Michigan Public

The progeny of lake sturgeon from Michigan will be released into the Cuyahoga River at Cleveland, Ohio.

Federal, local officials agree on $450 million deal to clean up Milwaukee waterways
- by The Associated Press

Federal, state and local officials have agreed to spend about $450 million to dredge contaminated sediment from Milwaukee’s Lake Michigan harbor and area rivers.

Where Do Solar Panels Go To Die?
- by Interlochen Public Radio

The vast majority of panels are thrown away in landfills — only about 10% are recycled.

I Speak for the Fish: Bloomin’ jellies in Lake Huron
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

A jellyfish bloom in the Great Lakes is a rare sight to behold but a camera installed in the St. Clair River captured one of the largest blooms ever recorded and live streamed them to the world.

Michigan water rights advocate questions effectiveness of proposed affordability legislation
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Too much “wiggle room” for utilities, plus temporary assistance program doesn’t address underlying issues, says Monica Lewis-Patrick.

Wetland banks save cities, townships, and counties money for building roads
- by Michigan Public

Buying wetlands on the commercial market is expensive. The state of Michigan set up a program to give municipal road agencies a way to mitigate damage to wetlands more cheaply.

Episode 2309 Lesson Plans: Great Lakes gradients
- by Gary Abud Jr.

Lessons and activities based on the monthly Great Lakes Now program.

PFAS News Roundup: Ridding groundwater of ‘forever chemicals’ with ultrasound, increasing PFAS monitoring in rivers
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Milwaukee suburb begins pulling millions of gallons per day from Lake Michigan
- by The Associated Press

A Milwaukee suburb has finally started to pull millions of gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan after spending years seeking approval from regulators.

US EPA okays Ohio plan to reduce toxic cyanobacterial blooms; Environmentalists say it won’t work
- by Michigan Public

Environmentalists say the Ohio plan will not work because it doesn’t hold agriculture responsible for the runoff from fields using manure from factory farms as fertilizer.

Bird songs may ease the blues
- by Great Lakes Echo

The Great Lakes region’s more than 300 bird species may provide valuable mental health benefits.

In warming Great Lakes, climate triage means some cold waters won’t be saved
- by Bridge Michigan

Government officials begin the grim task of prioritizing which cold lakes and rivers to sacrifice — or save — as the climate changes. Not all cold-water loving fish may survive in the northern Great Lakes region.

WATCH: Supreme court un-protects many U.S. wetlands
- by Great Lakes Now

There is concern about millions of acres of wetlands across America, including the Great Lakes region, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Energy News Roundup: Vision for green energy in underserved communities, nationwide burst of clean energy jobs
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Enbridge: Federal review of Line 5 tunnel permit is ‘inexplicably lethargic’
- by Bridge Michigan

The Canadian energy giant pleads with Michigan officials to intervene, saying federal authorities are slow-walking their review of a key permit needed to build a tunnel in a pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.

I’m working to revitalize an Indigenous language and bring it into the future
- by The Conversation

Language revitalization efforts, both in Canada and the U.S., are opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reclaim their cultural ties. Strategies for revitalizing languages range from language documentation to immersion language schools.

Tracing for human remains on shipwrecks with environmental DNA

The study used environmental DNA, a revolutionary way to assist in studying life on earth. It allows scientists to uncover hidden aspects of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems by analyzing genetic material in the environment.

Great Lakes Moment: Detroit’s new Ralph Wilson Park will provide habitats for a healthy ecosystem
- by John Hartig

For over 100 years, the Detroit River was perceived as a working waterway that supported industry and commerce. As such, its shoreline was progressively hardened with concrete seawalls, steel sheet piling, or broken concrete.

Book Review: Saving our changing menu in the Great Lakes region and beyond
- by Capri S. Cafaro

“Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need” offers examples of how our global food system is affected by climate change. More importantly, it offers hope and solutions for the future that can be applied right here in the Great Lakes region and beyond. 

Climate change is harming Michigan hunting and fishing, groups warn lawmakers
- by Bridge Michigan

Michigan’s wild places are under threat as warmer temperatures cause species to migrate northward and rivers to overheat. Advocates called for more resources to protect Michigan’s fish and game from those changes.

Clock ticks for water utilities to join national PFAS settlements
- by Circle of Blue

A decision is needed soon for funds to remove toxic chemicals from drinking water.

New NASA imagery reveals startling behavior among group of ‘banished’ beavers: “[They] were just about everywhere”
- by Wild Hope Staff

NASA satellite imagery has recently shown that beavers banished to rural Idaho have made significant improvements to waterways in the region.

Michigan Legislature tackles ambitious climate legislation. How far will it go?
- by Interlochen Public Radio

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released the MI Healthy Climate Plan last year. Now the state legislature is trying to take those goals and turn them into law.

PFAS News Roundup: Can we get rid of ‘forever chemicals’?
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest updates on what’s happening with PFAS in this biweekly headline roundup.

Historians race to find Great Lakes shipwrecks before quagga mussels destroy the sites
- by The Associated Press

An invasive mussel is destroying shipwrecks deep in the depths of the lakes, forcing archeologists and amateur historians into a race against time to find as many sites as they can.

Waves of Change: Meet community organizer Justin Onwenu
- by Great Lakes Now

Waves of Change is a new online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

Michigan toddlers to receive universal lead testing under new legislation
- by Planet Detroit

Detroit kids test positive for lead at triple the state’s rate, but few get tested. A new universal testing law means more exposed kids may get help.

Nibi Chronicles: The art of Ojibwe linoleum
- by Staci Lola Drouillard

Preserving the remarkable legacy of Tchi-Ki-Wis Linklater’s cedar bark mats.

Energy News Roundup: Hazardous heat, equitable EV charging infrastructure
- by Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news in Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Great Lakes EPA office reaffirms 2030 cleanup goal for Detroit River, other contaminated sites
- by Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now

Activist coalition says Michigan funding urgently needed for the Detroit River, ongoing pollution from chemical plant threatens progress.