Skip to content
  • logo
  • logo
  • Home
  • Solutions
  • Agriculture
  • Water
  • Cities & Suburbs
  • Nearshore
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
  • Energy
  • Waste
  • About
  • Contact

Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

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

  • Home
  • Solutions
  • Agriculture
  • Water
  • Cities & Suburbs
  • Nearshore
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife
  • Energy
  • Waste
  • About
  • Contact
A headshot of Sue Shink

Bill would let state enforce air pollution rules after EPA change

By Capital News Service | 3 hours ago

By Madison Merrell

A new bill in the Michigan legislature would let the state enforce air pollution rules amid Environmental Protection Agency rollbacks.

Study: Mulch, shade most effective methods of supporting Christmas tree survival 

Wahmoff Farms family members stand in front of evergreen trees.

By Owen McCarthy

A new study finds more natural methods of bolstering Christmas tree survival are more effective than chemical treatments.

World Cup 2026 brings sustainability promises and environmental concerns

Toronto Stadium filled with fans in the stands.

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, cities across North America are preparing for an influx of fans, matches and global attention – including Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) in Canada. Along with the excitement comes growing concern about the tournament’s environmental impact.

New book dives into history of ‘phenomenal’ Great Lakes ship architect 

A postcard of an old ship.

By Lily Cole

A new book explores the life of a prolific Midwestern naval architect whose vessels once carried passengers who are still alive today.

More Headlines

Great Lakes show signs of declining PFAS pollution
Hospitality and tourism industry scrambling to find seasonal summer help
More Michigan schools move toward EV buses

Climate

  • People skiing on a snow-covered slope.
    Varying snowfall’s effect on winter sport conditions in Canada

    By Amelia Fraser When many people think of winter sports and hobbies, snow often comes to mind. But what happens when the snow is no longer around? Climate change studies have shown that as the planet warms, snowfall will decline, leaving skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports at risk of fading into memory.

More climate

Wildlife

  • A white sucker swimming near the sandy bottom of a waterway.
    Fish tumors an indicator of ecological health, study says

    By Samantha Ku Skin and liver tumors in fish may provide clues to ecosystem health in the Great Lakes region, according to a recent study in the journal Ecotoxicology.

More wildlife

Energy

  • Solar panels being installed on the roof at Marquette Alternative High School.
    Converting public schools to clean energy will create jobs, group says

    By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov Michigan is expanding efforts to move public schools toward zero-emission energy systems, as new initiatives focus on cutting utility costs and modernizing aging buildings.

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

  • State grants will boost STEM education in K-12 schools

    By Christian Vazquez Michigan is awarding $800,000 to 17 school districts in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas to advance STEM education.

Agriculture

  • New legislation would change regulations for compost, fertilizers and soil conditioners

    By Georgia Hill Legislation in the Michigan House would update fee requirements and simplify regulations for composts, fertilizers and soil conditioners.

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

  • A playground constructed out of wood beams.
    Investing in greenspaces bring benefits to schools, student well-being

    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.

About Great Lakes Echo

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

Recent Articles

  • Gas prices, driver shortages challenge public transit agencies
    By Capital News Service
  • The Royal Oak Farmers Market sign and building.
    Rooted in community, farmers markets continue to grow
    By Lily Cole and Great Lakes Echo
  • Michigan farm in Washtenaw Co.
    Grants will boost research on PFAS contamination of farmland
    By Capital News Service
  • A plant with broad leaves and white flowers.
    Funding cuts hamper conservation groups’ invasive species efforts
    By Anna Ironside and Great Lakes Echo
  • A gray wolf during winter.
    Michigan’s main cause of wolf mortality? People
    By Capital News Service
  • The cover of "Wrecked," featuring a black and white photo of a shipyard.
    New book sails into the unknown political, legal stories of the Edmund Fitzgerald
    By Joshua Kim and Great Lakes Echo
  • Machines drop limestone into the lake.
    Lake Huron artificial reef restores fish spawning habitat
    By Great Lakes Echo
  • An antlered elk in a forest.
    Michigan mulls changes in elk hunt regulations
    By Ada Tussing and Great Lakes Echo
  • 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
  • Great Lakes Echo

Contact Us

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

Search This Site

Browse Archives

© Copyright 2026, Great Lakes Echo

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑