Great Lakes Echo (http://greatlakesecho.org/tag/Water-quality/page/25/)
This tag is further segmented with tags for pharmaceuticals, plastics, sewage, algae
(MI) Bay City Times – A study by Michigan Technological University researchers aims to figure out how to best manage phosphorus inputs to Saginaw Bay. Phosphorus, a nutrient in everything from fertilizers to wastewater, helps fuel the growth of algae in the bay, which fouls shorelines when it dies and washes up on beaches. More
(MI) Michigan Tech News – The Great Lakes are many things: bodies of water, sources of life, a story and a poem. “Waterlife,” a film that follows the flow of the water in the Great Lakes from the Nipigon River to the Atlantic Ocean, captures the significance of the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes ecosystem in a compelling, feature-length documentary. Michigan Tech’s Center for Water and Society is sponsoring a free showing of the film at 7 pm Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, Room 641. It has only been shown once before in Michigan, at the Traverse City Film Festival.
By Jeff Gillies, jeffgillies@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 21, 2009
A marshmallow blimp and a yellow submarine are gearing up to explore the Great Lakes from above and below. The SkySentry Aerostat — an unmanned blimp designed for military use — wouldn’t be out of place advertising a used car clearance sale, Michael Scott writes in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Instead, officials are testing the big white blimp’s ability to collect imagery of Lake Erie algae blooms that turn the lake’s shallow western waters green and suffocate fish. Check the Plain Dealer’s story for video and a slide show.
By Jeff Gillies, jeffgillies@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 11, 2009
The Great Lakes states have more outdated sewers dumping waste into local waterways than anywhere else in the country. At the same time the region is on the verge of a federal infusion of $475 million for environmental protection. Happy convergence of problem and solution? Not really.
By David Poulson
poulsondavid@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 7, 2009
I attended a Great Lakes public hearing this week that really wasn’t. The event at Michigan State University was one of the EPA-sponsored meetings held to solicit feedback for the Obama Administration’s proposed $475 million investment in environmental restoration. And while the meeting was open to the public, not much of the public was represented. Instead, this was mostly a Great Lakes love-in.
By Mary Hansen
mehansen4@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 6, 2009
Muskegon County’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in Michigan was established more than 35 years ago because of an overburdened system that polluted waterways. Sandy soil filters and treats wastewater. The system encompasses 11,000 acres and a natural bird sanctuary – one of the largest inland nesting areas for seagulls. The operation produces hydropower and is considering windpower.
Editors note: Congress is considering a $475 million appropriation for Great Lakes cleanup. This story is part of an occasional look at proposals for spending it. Weigh in on this and other ideas on Echo’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative forum. Other stories. By Andrew McGlashen
amcglashen@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
July 31, 2009
A plan to spend $147 million to restore Great Lakes toxic hotspots is inspiring cautious optimism among those involved in a long and often frustrating cleanup process.
(IL) Chicago Tribune – An environmental group says data from the Environmental Protection Agency show water at many beaches in the United States is polluted, causing beach closings and advisory days. The Chicago-based Natural Resources Defense Council issued its annual beach water quality report on Wednesday. The report found that ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches nationwide can have contaminated water. The group says conditions are worse along the Great Lakes. More