Wildlife
The challenges of sturgeon stewardship
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Rearing sturgeon for stocking has proven to be difficult, uncertain and expensive, but it may be the only practical way to rebuild sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes.
Land
Little Things, Big Problems: Invasive plants in our parks
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Last year, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative began producing a series of educational videos about invasive species in the Great Lakes for the National Park Service. New videos have been uploaded this spring and summer, and you can watch the entire “Little Things, Big Problems” series here on Echo. This video discusses how invasive plants can be harmful to the native vegetation in Great Lakes parks.
Water
Revisiting the best beers brewed in the watershed
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It’s that time of year again: nominate the best beer brewed with water from the Great Lakes watershed and make your case in the comments section.
Wildlife
Anishinabek say project could restore fish, knowledge, weather cycle
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Its size and age make the endangered lake sturgeon a fascinating species for most people. But for many Native Americans, the fish is also sacred. And it’s survival of greed, oil spills and habitat destruction signals that the sturgeon remains vigilant in protecting the environment.
Echo
More on the Great Lakes govs at Mackinac Island
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Great Lakes Echo commentator Gary Wilson follows up his Monday column on last weekend’s Great Lakes governors’ summit on Mackinac Island with an interview on WMUK public radio in southwest Michigan.
Echo
Where’s the Concern? Week Fourteen
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Each week, Great Lakes Echo features a photo story about a different Area of Concern designated by the U.S. or Canadian governments in the Great Lakes basin. Guess where the area is located, based on the description of the site.
Echo
Wisconsin replicates Michigan’s certified natural shoreline program
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Many inland lakes are ringed with cement seawalls. But for wildlife looking for a place to live, a natural lakeshore is a better option. It also keeps waves from scouring the lake bottom.
Nearshore
Low water is high time to plant beaches
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Ecologists encourage property owners to plant their beaches to reduce erosion and provide wildlife habitat. Upshore gardens can prevent pollution and runoff. And maintaining native plants impedes invasive species.
Echo
Tainted fish: Chemicals trigger consumption warnings
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By Kate Golden
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health Services warn residents to limit their consumption of wild fish to prevent possible health problems from chemical contamination, as do many other states. Those problems include a range of health effects, but the four groups of chemicals that trigger consumption advisories – PCBs, mercury, dioxins and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfate) – have been associated with endocrine disruption, DNR toxicologist Candy Schrank confirmed. Most fish contain at least low levels of mercury, while the other three chemicals are of most concern at specific locations. Chemicals to blame
Mercury: A natural element that is mobilized and emitted into the air via combustion and other activities. Mercury has been shown to affect the cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language, fine motor skills and visual spatial skills of children exposed in the womb.
Echo
Where’s the Concern? Week Thirteen
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Each week, Great Lakes Echo features a photo story about a different Area of Concern designated by the U.S. or Canadian governments in the Great Lakes basin. Guess where the area is located, based on the description of the site.