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Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/)

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Michigan farm in Washtenaw Co.

Grants will boost research on PFAS contamination of farmland

By Capital News Service | 22 hours ago

By Karlee VanAntwerp

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will give out $400,000 in grants for research about PFAS on farmlands and livestock.

Investing in greenspaces bring benefits to schools, student well-being

A playground constructed out of wood beams.

By Samantha Plunkett

For residents of Dearborn, Michigan, creating greenspaces in the community has been an important mission for schools and researchers. In a recent study, academics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn partnered with Salina schools to assess their outdoor play spaces.

Funding cuts hamper conservation groups’ invasive species efforts

A plant with broad leaves and white flowers.

Michigan reduced funding for invasive species projects by $1.2 million. Conservation organizations like the regional Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are rethinking their funding priorities for 2026 and beyond.

Michigan’s main cause of wolf mortality? People

A gray wolf during winter.

By Sonja Krohn

Even though the grey wolf is classified as an endangered species, a new study found that the majority of Michigan’s recorded wolf deaths are caused by humans.

More Headlines

New book sails into the unknown political, legal stories of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Varying snowfall’s effect on winter sport conditions in Canada
Lake Huron artificial reef restores fish spawning habitat

Climate

  • ‘None of this is normal’ – Michigan watches winter drought ahead of growing season

    By Sonja Krohn The dry conditions and drought that Michigan is experiencing this winter may adversely affect the upcoming crop growing season.

More climate

Wildlife

  • An antlered elk in a forest.
    Michigan mulls changes in elk hunt regulations

    The Michigan DNR received a record 47,493 applications for 260 elk licenses in 2025. The state is considering changes in its regulations for elk hunting season in Pigeon River Country State Forest and an area near Gaylord.

More wildlife

Energy

  • Green energy boosters stress long-term savings

    By Madison Merrell Upfront costs of clean energy projects such as wind and solar may be high but the long-term savings on fuel and increased reliability more than offset those initial costs, experts say.

More energy

Nearshore

  • Preservation project launches effort to restore rare ravine ecosystem 

    By Samantha Ku A rare ravine ecosystem on Lake Michigan's western shore is vulnerable to human encroachment. A recent federal grant is supporting restoration efforts in the region.

More nearshore

Waste

  • Trash on ice sparks movement to keep waterways clean

    By Lily Cole No matter the season, organizations across the Great Lakes region are fighting to keep waterways garbage-free.

More waste

Recreation

  • A sturgeon rests on ice.
    Conservation, research and community collaboration aid in successful 2026 Black Lake sturgeon season

    The 2026 sturgeon season on Black Lake in Michigan lasted all of 48 minutes before the annual quota – six – was reached. There were 653 anglers competing for them.

More recreation

Solutions

  • Miranda Wāqsanāhkuhkiw in a canoe.
    Study calls for more diverse viewpoints, ethical considerations in archaeology

    By Joshua Kim A recent study explores the importance of more diverse viewpoints and ethical considerations when working in archaeology, especially involving Indigenous artifacts.

Agriculture

  • Shifting farm economy means changes for rural communities

    By Lillian Williams The shrinking number of farms in Michigan – down by about 1,300 between 2023 and 2024 – and the trend of existing farms to expand to survive is changing the culture of rural communities.

Water

  • A red ship travels through the waterways near Sault Ste. Marie.
    Study highlights need for community engagement in Great Lakes protection

    By Riley Wilson Climate change, invasive species and other human-driven pressures are among the leading causes of declining freshwater health in the Great Lakes, the National Wildlife Federation reports. There's a growing need for community engagement to protect the lakes, one study finds.

Cities & Suburbs

  • Climate migration may not dramatically reshape city growth, study finds

    By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira A recent study featuring Grand Rapids, Michigan suggests that climate migration may not significantly change how some cities grow.

About Great Lakes Echo

Environmental news of the Great Lakes region from the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

Recent Articles

  • A medium-sized gray and black bird perched on a post.
    Push on for bird habitat protection, expansion
    By Akia Thrower and Great Lakes Echo
  • A stamp featuring flying ducks.
    Wildlife stamps aim to improve conservation across the Great Lakes region
    By Anna Ironside and Great Lakes Echo
  • A stonefly on a branch
    Stoneflies or leafhoppers: Which could become the official state insect?
    By Capital News Service
  • Bill would expand Michigan’s bottle deposit law while some want to abolish it
    By Capital News Service
  • Federal program can help nonprofits cover costs of clean-energy projects
    By Capital News Service
  • Utilities ramp up tree trimming to address long-standing reliability problems
    By Capital News Service
  • Bill would ban ‘dog-scrimination’ by insurers
    By Capital News Service
  • Michigan farmers face bankruptcies, other financial challenges
    By Capital News Service
  • Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity
    By Mia Litzenberg and Great Lakes Echo
  • Goldfinch on a tree branch.
    Fight climate change from your garden with ‘birdscaping’
    By Ada Tussing and Great Lakes Echo
  • Great Lakes Echo

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Email: GreatLakesEcho@gmail.com
Phone: 517-432-1415

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