Bill Schneider grows native Michigan plants and also designs ecologically focused projects such as prairie and wetland mitigation, and storm water recovery works. Continue Reading →
Beyond beauty, Michigan plants offer environmental edge
|
Current State
Every Tuesday the Current State public affairs radio program on WKAR in East Lansing runs an environmental story in partnership with Great Lakes Echo. The stories also run on the Echo site and are archived here.
Recent Stories
Lansing oil spill could be part of a pattern; criminal probe continues
|
Environmentalist says city needs better preparation for larger spills. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Water, Catch of the Day, Current State, Podcasts, Water quality
Exploring Michigan’s Pere Marquette River
|
Since his college years, Doc Fletcher has been canoeing and kayaking the countless waterways in the Midwest. One of his favorite places to paddle is on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Recreation, Current State, podcast, Water, Wildlife
Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash
|
Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash by Great Lakes Echo
One of the bills that cleared the Michigan legislature this session was a provision that allows certain bio-waste materials to be re-used for beneficial purposes. These substances include things like cement kiln dust, wood pulp and coal ash. Coal ash is the leftover residue from coal burned by electric power plants. The bill permits coal ash to be used in road construction, but it may also be used in agriculture as a fertilizer supplement, causing some environmental advocates to become concerned. Current State’s Kevin Lavery speaks with Republican State Representative Wayne Schmidt, the bill’s main sponsor, who strongly states that coal ash is completely safe and does not pose any environmental threats. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Waste, Catch of the Day, Current State, podcast, pollution, Recycling
Farm fertilizer produces greenhouse gas
|
Most people are aware of the “sexy” greenhouse gas CO-2. Fewer know of its co-culprit nitrous oxide. The third-largest greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide is released in soil during a natural process. However, the increased use of nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture has resulted in harmful nitrous oxide emissions. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Climate, Catch of the Day, Current State, Farming, podcast
Back to the farm
|
A memoir of pursuing sheep dreams. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Land, Agriculture, Art, Books, Current State, Podcasts
Addressing challenges of urban watersheds
|
Drain Commissioner On Clean Water Challenges, Opportunities WKAR by Great Lakes Echo
Pat Lindemann has served as the Drain Commissioner of Ingham County for 21 years. He’s a Lansing native who’s spent his entire life in the area. As Drain Commissioner, Lindemann’s responsible for the operation of Ingham County storm drains and related issues including lake levels and soil erosion. Lindemann has earned a reputation as an environmental advocate. That’s put him at odds with developers, entrepreneurs and municipal officials eagerly pursuing business development. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Water, Catch of the Day, Current State, Podcasts, Urban, Wetlands
Finding a balance in Lake Huron’s fishery
|
About a decade ago, Lake Huron’s fishing was not very abundant because of a steep decline in fish numbers. To see how the lake is doing now, Current State’s Melissa Benmark spoke with David Fielder, Fisheries Research Biologist for the Department of Natural Resources and a doctoral student at Michigan State University. Fielder explained that the decline ten years ago was due to ecological changes after the invasion of zebra mussels, quagga mussels and a higher predator abundance. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Wildlife, Catch of the Day, Current State, Fish, Invaders, Podcasts
Grade schoolers vie to name top amphibian
|
Elementary students from mid-Michigan are lobbying for one of three candidates proposed for designation as the state amphibian. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Wildlife, Catch of the Day, Current State, frogs, Podcasts
Month in review: Carp and Waukesha
|
At the end of each month, we check in with Echo commentator Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the Basin. Click on the audio clip above for today’s Great Lakes Month in Review which discusses efforts to keep Asian carp and Waukesha, Wis., out of Lake Michigan. This segment is produced as part of a partnership with WKAR’s Current State public affairs program. More radio news about the Great Lakes environment can be found on Current State every Tuesday as part of our partnership. Continue Reading →