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Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

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

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People skiing on a snow-covered slope.

Varying snowfall’s effect on winter sport conditions in Canada

By Great Lakes Echo | 7 hours ago

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.

Lake Huron artificial reef restores fish spawning habitat

Machines drop limestone into the lake.

By Samantha Ku

A newly restored reef at Channel Island in Saginaw Bay is intended to support native fish spawning and increase their numbers, ensuring the sustainability of local fisheries. Construction to restore the nearshore fish spawning reef ended last October.

Study highlights need for community engagement in Great Lakes protection

A red ship travels through the waterways near Sault Ste. Marie.

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.

Michigan mulls changes in elk hunt regulations

An antlered elk in a forest.

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 Headlines

Push on for bird habitat protection, expansion
Wildlife stamps aim to improve conservation across the Great Lakes region
Stoneflies or leafhoppers: Which could become the official state insect?

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

  • 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 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

  • Book explores Hemingway’s experiences ‘up north’

    By Julia Belden An Alanson-raised author whose book on Ernest Hemingway’s ties to Northern Michigan explains the region’s influence on the novelist’s work. The book “Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan,” has just been released in paperback.

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

  • Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity

    By Mia Litzenberg The Six Nations of the Grand River face ongoing water insecurity from pollution, climate change and corporate extraction. Many years of Indigenous water advocacy have led to the development of a new Haudenosaunee Environmental Research Institute as the next step to overcome these challenges.

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

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  • Goldfinch on a tree branch.
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  • Great Lakes Echo

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