Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/author/great-lakes-echo/page/8/)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
By Kate Golden
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Two potential endocrine disruptors found in Minnesota waters. Nonylphenol is a breakdown product of a chemical family used in industrial laundry detergents, in crop spraying, as a stabilizer in plastic food packaging, in cosmetics and many other products. It is “highly toxic” to fish and aquatic organisms. It has been found “in human breast milk, blood and urine and is associated with reproductive and developmental effects in rodents,” according to the EPA, which has concerns about risks to people, especially children, and plans to phase it out. It is toxic to aquatic organisms at milligrams per liter; the U.S. demand was estimated at 380 million pounds in 2010. Nonylphenol was found in most of the wastewater treatment plant effluent Minnesota tested, about half of the downstream samples and a third of the upstream samples.
Chemicals that act like hormones have entered waters in the Great Lakes region and elsewhere. They are in soaps, plastics, industrial solvents, pesticides, herbicides and medicines.
Lake Superior Magazine has opened voting for it’s annual Best of the Lake survey. Categories for the finest that Lake Superior has to offer include best swimming beach, strolling beach, public lake view spot, place for a day outside, local brew, on the water experience. Nominations are sought for all four shores – Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, Minnesota. Vote here.
Harmful algal blooms are likely to persist on Lake Erie, primarily due to climate change, land use, invasive species and farming practices.
An active storm season this May and June may be a contributing factor.
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.