IN THIS EPISODE:
In this episode of Great Lakes Now, “Oil Spills and Buried Rivers,” learn about how researchers are preparing for an oil spill in the Great Lakes, and then a look at “ghost streams” — the invisible buried rivers that flow beneath our feet.
When to Watch?
Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.
What happens if there’s an oil spill in the Great Lakes?
SEGMENT 2 | CHEBOYGAN, MI; ST. IGNACE, MI; MUSKEGON, MI; ANN ARBOR, MI; DETROIT, MI; SAULT STE. MARIE, MI
In September, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard was in the Straits of Mackinac along with partners from the US Navy and specialists in spill response, testing their oil spill preparedness in the event of a worst case scenario.
This exercise isn’t just about equipment. It’s about rethinking response strategies and exploring what’s at stake in a freshwater spill, where threats are unique and the stakes high.
Most spills happen in saltwater, so the skills and experience needed to respond in a freshwater environment are thin by comparison. And unlike the ocean, the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water for millions of people.
Freighters on the Move
Freighter food, mail delivery, and the life of a Great Lakes freighter pilot.
Deep Dives and Rising Waters
The future of rising lake levels, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and the secret lives of fish.
Old Boats and New Adventures
Heritage sailing on Lake Huron and a historic passenger ship returns to its former glory.
Protecting the Lakes from Pollution
Updates on Lake Erie algal blooms, Flint’s water, and coal ash regulation.
Reef Rescue and Wild Edibles
Cleaning up toxins caused by copper mining, and foraging for Great Lakes wild foods.
Saving Whitefish and Navigating Niagara
Teaching Lake Whitefish to thrive and getting up close at Niagara Falls.
Warming Waters and Mutant Crayfish
Sounding the alarm on an invasive crustacean and rising temperatures in Lake Superior.
Ski Slopes and Saunas
A skier’s paradise on Lake Superior shores, Great Lakes sauna culture and more.
Big Fish and Gray Skies
Great Lakes muskellunge, optimizing solar panels for snow, and another short winter.
Buried Relics and Falling Water – Episode 2401
A Great Lakes archeological dig site and power generation along the Niagara River.
Surf and Slide – Episode 2203 Rebroadcast
Sailing on ice, Lake Ontario winter surfing and three Lake Michigan news stories.
Rivers of Water and Sand – Episode 2311
Explore Indiana’s shoreline erosion dilemma and Michigan dam removal efforts.
Wild Islands and Salty Visitors – Episode 2310
Tracking wolves and moose on Isle Royale, and piloting Great Lakes freighters.
Featured Articles
Oil Spills and Buried Rivers
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
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
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
Tribal communities have played a critical role in lake sturgeon restoration efforts in the Great Lakes, yet their efforts are often overlooked and undervalued.