Great Lakes Echo (http://greatlakesecho.org/tag/Water-quality/page/22/)
This tag is further segmented with tags for pharmaceuticals, plastics, sewage, algae
(IL) Chicago Tribune – The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has released details of five major goals for its water protection programs.
The “Measures of Success” document focuses on ensuring safe drinking water; protecting groundwater; enhancing recreational waters; ensuring safe consumable fish; and protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems. More
(MI) Battle Creek Enquirer – Three grants totaling nearly $700,000 will fund three planning and restoration projects that will reduce flooding, improve water quality and help plan for the future, according to Calhoun Conservation District officials. The district, whose offices are in Marshall, received the following grants:
– Rice Creek Floodplain Reconnection Project, a Clean Michigan Initiative through the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The grant is $247,803, with a $143,426 local match, for a total of $391,229. It’s a three-year project in Marengo and Sheridan townships that began Oct. 1.
(IN) The Post-Tribune – More than a dozen stakeholders commented on U.S. Steel’s 2009 draft wastewater permit for Gary Works on Wednesday night at Indiana University Northwest in Gary. Representatives from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management were present to outline the basics of the permit, record testimony, and answer any questions. Those present included representatives from businesses that work with U.S. Steel and environmental groups; state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes; and about 20 Gary Works employees in dayglo orange work pants. More
(MI) Traverse City Record-Eagle – Temperatures 64 feet beneath Grand Traverse Bay are warmer than those that will greet some locals on their front porch this week. That’s because cold water descends and warm water rises, which resulted in 48-degree bay temperatures Tuesday. “We’re amazed at how mixed it is vertically,” said Guy Meadows, director of the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratories. More
(OH) The Toledo Blade – By tightening the rules on private septic systems, state health and environmental officials hope to prevent a repeat of a bacterial outbreak here that caused 1,400 people to have stomach cramps and diarrhea in the summer of 2004.
The agreement among the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ottawa County commissioners, the Ottawa County Board of Health, and Put-in-Bay Township will make it harder for South Bass Island to be developed without sewer lines in place. More
(MI) The Michigan Messenger – But here in the state’s third most populous county, downsizing the budget means supersizing the risk of contaminated water, among other public health calamities. “We have an extremely serious revenue problem,” Thomas Kalkofen, director of the Macomb County Health Department told Michigan Messenger last week. Already, the county has shed all of its parks employees. Over several rounds of budget cutting this year, 79 full-time positions have been eliminated overall, including 27 layoffs, from a county workforce that currently counts 2,200 workers. More
(MI) Bay City Times – To think we are receiving $475 million to help repair our precious Great Lakes, but not being able to use the money to clean up the sewage that is dumped into those same Great Lakes every time we get a heavy rain is ridiculous.I cannot believe in good conscience why this problem isn’t a No. 1 priority. I don’t care about the cost! More
(OH) Toledo Blade – For decades if not centuries, a portion of Lake Erie’s central basin has been so depleted of oxygen that it has not supported life. Two Bowling Green State University researchers believe they have uncovered cold-weather diatoms, or microscopic pieces, of algae that contribute to the lake’s infamous dead zone.
The research that Michael McKay and George Bullerjahn have done into Aulacoseira islandica (pronounced All-LE-sa-SY-ruh Eye-LAND-icka) is not likely to solve the dead zone’s mystery. More
(MN) Minneapolis Star Tribune – Minnesota’s first copper mine took a step forward Wednesday as state officials released a 1,500-page environmental impact study for the Iron Range proposal. The $600 million project, to be built by PolyMet Mining Inc., would include an open-pit mine near Babbitt and a processing plant near Hoyt Lakes, connected by an existing 6-mile railroad spur. Company officials said the mine would create 400 permanent jobs for more than 20 years, and would produce nickel, cobalt, platinum and other valuable metals. More
(IN) The Post-Tribune – U.S. Steel Gary Works will begin treating benzene-laden groundwater leaking into Lake Michigan from north of its coke plant by the end of October. In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved U.S. Steel’s plan for treating the groundwater in a well system. The plan involves testing the system during and after startup to make sure it performs properly. More