Water
Michigan’s Deer Lake could be taken off polluted hot spot list
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Deer Lake in Ishpeming, Mich., classified as a major international toxic hot spot since 1987, may get a clean bill of health this year after decades of costly cleanup.
Waste
Researchers troll for plastic on Great Lakes fishing boat
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Researchers aboard a converted fishing boat are trawling the Great Lakes for plastic.
Nearshore
Bracing for Lake Erie algae
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The amount of harmful algae forecast for Lake Erie is likely to be significant, coating parts of the western basin in toxic green slime. Even moderate blooms can threaten drinking water.
Water
Tricky Mackinac currents could send oil many directions – none good
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Islands and shoreline are at risk in both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Nearshore
New Ohio water coalition to poll public
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A coalition of Ohio farm, industry, government and environmental groups is rolling out a poll next week to assess which water issues are most important to the public. The new group is called Healthy Water Ohio or HwO. Its mission is to improve water supply, quality and treatment. The group’s steering committee will use the poll and focus groups to plan how to resolve Ohio water problems within the next 20-30 years, said John Stark, freshwater director for The Nature Conservancy. Because the eight counties along Lake Erie generates $38 billion in tourism for Ohio each year, HwO is concerned about water shortages, said Larry Fletcher,the executive director of Lake Erie Shores & Islands, a travel agency that belongs to the coalition.
Water
Lansing oil spill could be part of a pattern; criminal probe continues
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Environmentalist says city needs better preparation for larger spills.
Water
Mr. Great Lakes: Climate action and Great Lakes debris
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Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Climate Action For Michigan, A Response To Great Lakes Debris Mr Great Lakes by Great Lakes Echo
This week, Kart discusses the Climate Action Plan and debris in the Great Lakes. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
Water
Great Lakes mayors flex muscle on oil, climate change
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Other Great Lakes pols could learn something from the leaders of the region’s cities.
Water
Great Lakes Commons charter targets shared waters concept
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A group advocating that all citizens of the region assume responsibility for the Great Lakes as a common resource is meeting virtually with 100 people to discuss its new charter.
Water
Fish derby sees dramatic DDT drop after cleanup
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Anglers in a recent fishing derby on Michigan’s Pine River got news far better than pulling in the largest fish. The Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that the fish they sought are much cleaner of DDT than when the competition began 15 years ago. The concentration of the now banned pesticide in fish near the site of the Velsicol chemical manufacturing plant dropped by as much as 98 percent after a multi-million dollar cleanup of polluted river sediment from 2000 to 2006, the EPA said. Tempering the good news is that the fish were so contaminated then that even after the dramatic drop the Michigan Department of Community Health still advises not to eat fish downriver of the site. The contest is strictly catch and release.