Echo
Studies: Endocrine disruptors, cocaine common in Minnesota waters
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Researchers found 56 chemicals – including cocaine – at trace amounts in 47 of 50 Minnesota lakes, including many in relatively pristine parts of the state.
A Chicago View at the Calumet Summit
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Echo commentator Gary Wilson weighed in at the 2013 Calumet Summit held recently at Marquette Park in Gary, Ind. He was among the experts from Indiana and Illinois who spoke on environmental issues during a broadcast of a “Regionally Speaking” segment by Indiana-based 89.1FM The Lakeshore. Gary’s remarks are about 15 minutes into the program.
Water
Miami’s Pangaea Explorations launches research journey into Great Lakes
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The summer, anyone from senior citizens to students can assist in hands-on research in the Great Lakes. Florida organization Pangaea Explorations launches its first expedition into the Great Lakes, to conduct research on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Currently sailing in Bermuda, the expedition yacht Sea Dragon will travel to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in late June to kick off the Great Lakes expedition. Throughout the course of the trip, there will be eight separate legs, where the different “citizen science” groups will switch off to assist in hands-on research focused primarily on plastics in the Great Lakes. The groups include undergraduate students, senior citizens, teachers and more.
Echo
International Joint Commission issues Great Lakes report card
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Lana Pollack, chair of the International Joint Commission’s U.S. delegation, discusses past victories and future challenges of cleaning up the Great Lakes.
Echo
What’s up with the Great Lakes govs’ summit on Mackinac Island?
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This weekend’s Great Lakes Governor’s Summit agenda features less environment and more economic development issues.
Echo commentator Gary Wilson provides his take on Current State.
Echo
Great Lakes drownings down over last year
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The number of Great Lakes drowning deaths are down from last year, possibly because of the colder spring. Twelve people have drowned in the Great Lakes since Jan. 1, eight less than this time last year, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, an educational water safety group based in East Lansing, Mich. and Matteson, Ill. The record drownings in 2012 may have been due to unusually warm weather.
Echo
The politics of nature meet the nature of politics
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Some Michigan lawmakers are considering options for the use of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The fund, supported by growing oil and gas revenues from state-owned land, has a long and controversial history.
Echo
Mr. Great Lakes: Refuge expansion and forecasts for boaters
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Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM.
This week Kart discusses the growing Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and an online forecast tool for Great Lakes boaters. Text at Mr Great Lakes
Echo
Photo Friday: Minnesota lakes take their time “icing out”
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Some lakes in Minnesota are taking their time to thaw this spring, setting new “ice-out” records. Attributed to unusually cool spring temperatures, this satellite image shows lingering ice and white lake landscapes. The first photo was captured on May 12, 2013, when NASA’s Terra satellite passed over northern Minn. “Ice-out” is defined in this context as a lake being free of ice, but the definition often varies. Some define it based on ease of navigation, while others believe a lake has “iced-out” when it’s 90 percent free of ice, according to a report from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Restoring the Great Lakes 2.0: Keep it simple
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One of the strongest arguments for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is that everyone knew what needed be done, we just needed the money to do it.
My advice? Keep it simple, take on the big projects and prioritize values over metrics.