Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/author/admin/page/10/)
The dependent relationship between energy and water is important, but in a water-rich state like Michigan, it’s easy to overlook. Skip Pruss discusses the water-energy nexus and its potential impact on the future of the Great Lakes. Pruss is a Principal at 5 Lakes Energy and former Deputy Director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Current State: Water-energy nexus in the Great Lakes Basin by Great Lakes Echo
A proposed bill making its way through the Michigan legislature aims to put tighter limits on the Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Commission. The DNR’s website says the agency promotes bio-diversity on state land by identifying, restoring and managing “those natural places or ecosystems in Michigan that, together, best represent the diversity of Michigan’s biological heritage.” Republican state Sen. Tom Casperson’s bill, SB 78, would prohibit the DNR from implementing its “Biodiversity Stewardship Area” program, which he claims would severely preclude human activity on the land. He says the measure is supported by sportsmen, businesses and recreational enthusiasts. To sort this out, Current State sat down with Senator Tom Casperson of Escanaba and Ann Woiwode, director of The Sierra Club’s Michigan chapter.
Associate Director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and editor of Great Lakes Echo, David Poulson, discusses the collaboration between Echo and Current State. This week’s segment features the 100- year study. It’s been a century since the International Joint Commission conducted a Great Lakes wide bacteriological study. Scientists are now looking to recreate the 1913 study. The 100 years study will assess how water quality in the Basin has changed over time. Lead researcher, Dr. Joan Rose, is the Nowlin Endowed Chair of Water Research, Co-Director of the Center for Water Sciences, and Co-Director of the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment at Michigan State University.
Scientists have conducted extensive research on the plastic-filled gyres of the ocean. This past summer, however, researchers decided to look inland for the first time and measure plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. Some of the groups’ water samples had concentrations of plastic greater than those found anywhere else. The study has resulted in several other projects. Chemistry professor Dr. Sherri Mason discusses the plastic pollution in the basin.
Climate change is continuing to influence Michigan’s environment. Last March a sudden thaw and freeze devastated the state’s berry crops. While recently, record low water levels have forced the government to spend millions on dredging. Jeff Andresen, Michigan Climatologist and assistant professor of geography at Michigan State University discusses Michigan’s climate future.
The iconic Michigan steamship, the SS Badger, may lose its permit to dump spent coal into Lake Michigan. The Ludington company that owns and operates the Badger, Lake Michigan Carferry, expects to hear soon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about its request to continue the practice. Hugh McDiarmid, communications director for the Michigan Environmental Council, discusses the impact of the SS Badger on the environment.
The drought of 2012 will affect Christmas tree farmers in the Great Lakes eight to nine years from now.
That’s because the dry landscape was bad for planting new trees.
Michigan ranks only behind Oregon and North Carolina in the national tree market.
The extremes of America’s culture of excess were on display this past weekend, with the madness of holiday shopping. But do people really need all that stuff? That’s the question some students at Michigan State University set out to answer. Earlier this year a group of them at the East Lansing campus decided to live a more minimal and sustainable lifestyle. They filmed the experience. The film and project, called Thrive With Less, started as a capstone for a documentary course.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is using social platforms “to help the public prepare for the hunt, share traditions, ask experts questions and share stories of Deer Season 2012,” according to an agency news release. This week the department is holding daily online chats about deer hunting. The discussions are an extension of the agency’s “Ask the Experts” series. The biweekly online chat sessions offer Wisconsin residents a chance to speak with experts on topics as diverse as fall fishing and frac sand. This week’s topics include hunting safety and hunting locations.
Six of the top 10 trends of 2012 listed by the National Restaurant Association focus on locally sourcing food and sustainability. Michigan restaurants are following suit, using tasty dishes to remind residents of the state’s agricultural assets. Echo’s Emanuele Berry takes us farm to table.