In 1971 an astronaut orbited the moon while carrying seeds that were later planted across the country. Exact records of the “Moon tree” locations weren’t kept, but astronaut David Williams has tracked down some locations.

By Thea Hassan
Michigan residents renewing their car registration can now simply check “yes” for an annual unlimited pass for state parks and boat launches.
Michigan is only the second state to develop this type of park payment plan. Montana is the other. Since the program began last October, almost 20 percent of renewing drivers chose to participate. The new program replaces the previous $24 annual passes sold at park offices.
The new Recreation Passport allows stir-crazy residents to visit parks and boat launches statewide for $10 a year. The pass can …

Sustainable communities will be a hot topic in the next 50 years, according to a coalition of environmental groups.

That movement will include activities such as the East Stadium Bridges Improvement Project in Ann Arbor, a new master plan in Grand Traverse County and a job training plan in Southeast Michigan.

The long-term vision outlined by the Michigan Environmental Council includes energy, water, great cities, sustainable communities, transportation, agriculture and natural resources.

It’s time to break out the brass band because trumpeter swans are back.

Standing up to 4-feet tall with up to an 8-foot wingspan, trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl in North America. Their Great Lakes range includes: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York and Ontario.

Early settlers hunted these birds nearly to extinction in the 1800s — using them to make powder puffs and feathered hats.

To submit to Great Lakes Echo Photo Friday, send your photo, a caption and your name to greatlakesecho@gmail.com.

You can get cash if you get wet and wild with urban water data.
Visualizing.org, a data design website, and a Traverse City, Mich.-based news organization specializing in global water issues called Circle of Blue teamed up for the World Water Day data visualization challenge.  They’re asking for people to visualize urban water issues caused by the mass migration of rural residents to urban areas and a lack of city planning.
The organizations want data to tell that story and hope to glean the water information and new ways to visualize it …

The invasive, tree-eating emerald ash borer is a costly addition to the Great Lakes region. See how state officials and homeowners are battling the destructive critter.

Plans to increase the import of a raw form of oil piped from Canada through the Midwest are worrying environment groups that say the trend could pose health and environmental dangers in the Great Lakes Basin.

A new report highlights what the groups say are escalating risks of major pipeline spills of the oil.

Four Great Lakes states rank in the top ten–for 2010 power plant carbon dioxide emissions.
A recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project shows carbon dioxide emissions from power plants rose 5.56 percent nationwide. More than 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide, a common greenhouse gas, were released nationally.
Texas topped the list with about 257 million tons. Ohio led the Great Lakes states and placed third nationally.
Staff used data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Markets database.
Sulfur dioxide emissions decreased nationwide between 2009 and 2010 while nitrogen oxide increased slightly.
Below …

The Great Lakes system of locks and canals opened up the region to more than just economic opportunities; it also paved the way for hundreds of destructive invasive species.
Their untold negative impacts on the region’s ecology and economy have lead some to consider them “bad company.”
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University examines the history of Great Lakes invasive species in its fourth documentary: “Bad Company.” Instructor Lou D’Aria and journalism student Matt Mikus co-produced the one-hour documentary with help from associate producer Rachael Gleason and a …