Land

More volunteers means less invasive plants

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As more invasive species attack the state parks, more hands are needed to fight them. The Michigan and Indiana recreation officials are calling for volunteers to help remove invasive plants from the state parks and recreation areas.  

“It is a great opportunity for families and friends to enjoy the outdoors, improve the conditions of parks and be engaged in its protection,” said Laurel Malvitz-Draper, stewardship coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Volunteers search for and pull invasive plants such as non-garlic mustard, Japanese bittersweet, shrubs, common buckthorn and vines. Invasive plants can contain chemicals that kill native plants and limit the native species growing nearby.

Water

Chicago River comes off endangered river list, but Ohio’s Grand River replaces it

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Here’s a milestone for the Chicago River: It’s no longer on a list of the most endangered rivers in the nation. American Rivers each year reports on what the river advocacy group believes are the most endangered. It’s a call for action to save rivers facing critical tipping point. The Chicago River was on the list for almost two decades, mostly because the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District spewed bacteria-filled sewage without disinfecting it. For years the EPA and local environmental groups pushed city authorities to apply clean up technology since the water is widely used.

Echo

Great Lakes cities listed as bicycle friendly communities

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The League of the American Bicyclists announced this week the largest number of cities it has ever added to its list of Bicycle Friendly Communities. 

Several Great Lakes cities were upgraded or added to the list for the first time.  The annual evaluation recognizes investment in bicycling promotion, education, infrastructure and. Regional cities on this year’s list:

 Minnesota

Minneapolis (gold)
Greater Mankato (bronze)- First time

Wisconsin

Madison (gold)
La Cross (silver)
Milwaukee (bronze

 

Michigan,

Ann Arbor (silver)
Grand Rapids (bronze)
Lansing (bronze)
Traverse City (bronze)

Indiana,

Bloomington  (silver)
Indianapolis and Monroe County (silver)
Columbus (bronze)- First time
Fort Wayne (bronze) — First time

Illinois,

Chicago (silver)
Schaumburg (bronze)
Naperville (bronze)

Ohio,

Cincinnati (bronze) — First time

New York,

New York City (silver)

Pennsylvania,

Philadelphia (bronze)
State College-Center Region (bronze)- First time
Franklin (bronze)
Pittsburg (bronze)

And here is how the league ranks the Great Lakes states in terms of bicycle friendliness:

Wisconsin (3)
Minnesota  (4)
Illinois (11)
Indiana (19)
Michigan (22)
Pennsylvania (25)
New York (34)
Ohio (37)

The entire state rankings are here.