Great Lakes opportunity: Will Kirk lead or muddle along?
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A first-term senator from Illinois gets an early chance to lead on Great Lakes policy.
Will Sen. Mark Kirk fill the void left by many long-time Great Lakes advocates who have left Congress?
Take an ecofriendly Great Lakes break
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By Nicole LaChance
Between gas and fast food, a relaxing retreat can be hard on the planet. You can help by bringing a refillable water bottle and buying snacks in bulk before leaving. Other tips for eco-vacations are at the Michigan Green Lodging page or The International Ecotourism Society. Some Great Lakes getaways try to ease the planet’s burden and provide fun for travelers. A few eco-friendly vacation ideas in the region:
Candlelite Inn Bed & Breakfast
Location: Ludington, Mich.
Echo
Habitat projects protect rare butterflies in Southwest Michigan
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Two nature restoration projects in Southwest Michigan are rejuvenating wetland habitats as a hospitable home for endangered species, including one of the world’s rarest butterflies.
Great Lakes states “win” award; strive for the bottom
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It’s always good to make a top ten list, right? Well, that’s not the case in a list where Great Lakes states rank in the top 10 for being least green. The Huffington Post reported on the list compiled by 24/7 Wall St., a financial news and opinion website, and surprise! Great Lakes states claimed four of the 10 spots, including first (also known as last) and second places. 24/7 Wall St.
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Michigan restricts phosphorous; dead zones remain a mystery
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Phosphorous fertilizers will soon be restricted in Michigan as the state addresses one of the ways the nutrient infiltrates waters and spurs the creation of zones of low oxygen that harm aquatic life.
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Re-engineering history Part III: Soft engineering presence grows
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Great Lakes shorelines may pose s challenges for soft shoreline engineering–use of natural materials to control erosion and many states encourage its use but don’t require it.
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MONDAY MASHUP: State tracking beach, water pollution problems
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State agencies are striving to prepare Michigan’s recreational areas for the upcoming summer.
Beaches, farms, sewers and journalists
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I suspect that the whole “knee bone connected to the thigh bone” aspect of environmental issues is what fascinates scientists and journalists alike. Frustrates them both, too. Nowadays it borders on cliche to note the complex interrelationships that make up an ecosystem. Pull a thread on one corner of an ecosystem – an invasive species introduction, for example – and the consequences elsewhere are surprising, fascinating and oftentimes troubling. That’s true of a common summer environmental story – the inevitable closing of beaches due to bacterial contamination. It’s a good story for a journalist – human health, economic impact, political posturing.
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Indiana bottle bill fails
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In many Great Lakes states, countless soda bottles are tossed aside, never to see a recycling bin. The same goes for used medicine containers, juice bottles and food containers that are otherwise doomed for a landfill.