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VIDEO: Invasive emerald ash borer upsets Great Lakes ecosystem, economy
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The invasive, tree-eating emerald ash borer is a costly addition to the Great Lakes region. See how state officials and homeowners are battling the destructive critter.
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VIDEO: Knight Center for Environmental Journalism presents ‘Bad Company’
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The Great Lakes system of locks and canals opened up the region to more than just economic opportunities; it also paved the way for hundreds of destructive invasive species. Their untold negative impacts on the region’s ecology and economy have lead some to consider them “bad company.”
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University examines the history of Great Lakes invasive species in its fourth documentary: “Bad Company.” Instructor Lou D’Aria and journalism student Matt Mikus co-produced the one-hour documentary with help from associate producer Rachael Gleason and a handful of additional Michigan State students. A screening of the documentary will take place Monday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at Michigan State University in the Snyder Hall Residential College of Arts and Humanities theater. Here’s a taste of the one-hour documentary:
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Can you pronounce Great Lakes cities better than a Texan?
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If you want to see traces of a region’s native inhabitants, look no farther than the names of its cities. Consider the Lake Superior coastal city Waukesha, Wis., named for the Chippewa or Ojibwe word for “little fox.”
The original Chippewa word most likely sounded like Wau-goosh-sha, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society’s state dictionary. Today, it sounds like Wok-a-shaw. It’s one of many Great Lakes city monikers originating from native languages. It’s also on my personal list of regional words specifically designed to torture Texans like myself.
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Minnesota earns top honor for recreational trails
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Recreational trail lovers should look to a Great Lakes state for the best network of hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and water routes, according to a national nonprofit promoting pathways. American Trails honored Minnesota with its “Best Trails State” award in late November. The North Star State has more than 30,000 miles of recreational trails, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. That’s the same length as traveling from the west to the east coast of the United States 10 times. “Minnesota’s extensive, scenic trails are a major draw for travelers and a significant asset to the tourism business in our state,” said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism, in a press release.
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The quagga mussel advances to the SmackDown! finals
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By Alice Rossignol and Rachael Gleason
The quagga mussel and Eurasian watermilfoil proved to be worthy opponents in last week’s semi-finals tussle. At first, it seemed like the two water-cloggers were playing nice. But one of the lake invaders prevailed in the end. Was it the thick and slimy Eurasian Invasion? Or the highly adaptable and shielded Quagmeister?
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What’s on your Great Lakes bucket list?
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“The glaciers made you, and now you’re mine” is a song lyric from a Canadian folk rock band called the Great Lakes Swimmers. The song – “Your Rocky Spine” – is a metaphoric love poem about the region. The words perfectly capture the affinity I now feel for Lake Michigan. A wilderness writing course brought me face to face with a Great Lake for the first time in my life last weekend. We camped at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area in Manistee, Mich.
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MONDAY MASHUP: Explore Indiana’s Great Lake shoreline
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An interactive map from the Indiana Geological Survey shows a string of scenic beaches and natural areas along Indiana’s Great Lakes shoreline.
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Researchers use planes, lasers to survey Lake Superior
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Planes outfitted with lasers have been probing the depths of Lake Superior for the past two months. Their mission? Measure lake bottom elevations along the coast using a laser surveying technique called LIDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging. The process is similar to how bats and dolphins use sound waves to judge distances. The planes shoot lasers into the water and measure how long it takes for the pulses to hit lake bottom and return; time indicates water depth.
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Great Lakes college recognized for sustainability
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Sierra Magazine recently ranked the nation’s greenest colleges. The Sierra Club’s publication asked 900 schools about their global warming and sustainability initiatives.
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MONDAY MASHUP: Water trails connect Great Lakes beaches
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If you unraveled the shoreline of the Great Lakes, it would just fall short of stretching half way around the Earth. The region has more than 10,000 miles of coast, and a good portion is open to the public for recreation.
Many states have interactive maps that display water trails – water routes for boaters and paddlers – and provide information about beach access and amenities.