Volunteers recently collected trash from 243 Great Lakes beaches.

The most numerous piece of litter?

Cigarette butts.

This week Echo reporters asked the public and an expert to explain what cage-free actually means.

A dense population stresses Lake Michigan’s nearshore ecosystem.

Legislation to end sewage pollution highlights the issue, but fails to gain Congressional support.

The long battle over building a second bridge between Detroit and Windsor has been almost free of environmental debate.

The dry summer has increased the mosquito that spreads the West Nile virus.

The species easily reproduces in a warm, dry climate.

Michigan health officials say more than 115 cases and six deaths have been confirmed this year, up from 34 cases last year.

This week Echo reporters asked the public and an expert to explain why climate change is or is not a controversial teaching topic.

American and Canadian agencies added major updates to a binational water quality agreement, but it still lacks in the areas of implementation, transparency and accountability.

Make no mistake, there have been real accomplishments in Great Lakes restoration.

Now we face a financial and political environment that’s less friendly to spending of any sort let alone environmental projects.

This video shows efforts to prevent stormwater from polluting Meyers Lake and its outflows into the Nimishillen Creek in northeastern Ohio.

This week Echo reporters asked the public and an expert to explain what a watershed is.