May 21 2013 | | No Comments
50lakes

Chicago filmmaker George Desort spent eighty days on Lake Superior’s Isle Royale, making a documentary about the island’s 50 inland lakes, its wildlife and his experiences connecting to the wilderness.

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May 17 2013 | | 3 Comments
greylingkickstarterimage1

Greyling Modern Dry Gin is named for the Arctic grayling and features an image of the fish on the label. It recently was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

May 16 2013 | | One Comment
A bioswale area captures and filters contaminants from a marina's parking lot. Photo: Michigan Sea Grant.

Modules focus on topics such as sewage handling and petroleum control. Webinars are held every few months; past topics include boat-bottom washing, aquatic invasive species, storm water and grass runoff.

May 15 2013 | | No Comment
Dr. Jason Box gathers samples of cryocronite (impurities on the ice's surface) for analysis from the Petermann glacier in Greeland. Photo: Jason Box.

The Midland-based producer of the Climate Denial Crock of the Week is involved in examining the link between North American wildfires and Greenland’s increasing snow melt. It is among the first scientific research projects looking to crowdfunding.

May 14 2013 | | One Comment
The same site two years after restoration. Image: Jane Herbert, Michigan State University Extension.

Many inland lakes are ringed with cement seawalls. But for wildlife looking for a place to live, a natural lakeshore is a better option. It also keeps waves from scouring the lake bottom.

Photo: emperley3 (flickr)

Sand traps were constructed worldwide to save fish from excessive sand in freshwater streams. But Michigan Department of Natural Resources reserchers doubt their benefit.

Some sand traps could even harm river ecosystems, experts say.

May 10 2013 | | 6 Comments
chicagoview

While playing small ball is necessary, we should reach higher. If the Great Lakes region was a country, it would have the fourth largest economy in the world.
It deserves world-class solutions to its problems.

Fish stocking at Red Cedar River. Photo: Department of Natural Resources

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said its $9 million program is stocking 19 million fish – 370 tons – including eight trout and salmon species and four cool-water species, including walleye and muskellunge.

corn crop

The ethanol industry is looking to recover from its first national decline in 15 years, due in part to drought-damaged corn crops in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

Photo: EddieEatsOut (flickr)

In Michigan, dogs may be allowed to accompany their owners in outdoor dining areas if a bill introduced by Rep. Margaret O’Brien, R-Portage, passes.

May 7 2013 | | 2 Comments
SeaPerch

What’s the best way to teach youths about science, technology, engineering and math concepts?

By building a robot, of course.