Nearshore
Bracing for Lake Erie algae
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The amount of harmful algae forecast for Lake Erie is likely to be significant, coating parts of the western basin in toxic green slime. Even moderate blooms can threaten drinking water.
Nearshore
Beach cleanup no celebration
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One piece of trash isn’t a big deal. Multiply that by the thousands that flock to the beach for firework events and there’s a big problem. Beach officials are left cleaning up littered beaches after Fourth of July fireworks.
Nearshore
New Ohio water coalition to poll public
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A coalition of Ohio farm, industry, government and environmental groups is rolling out a poll next week to assess which water issues are most important to the public. The new group is called Healthy Water Ohio or HwO. Its mission is to improve water supply, quality and treatment. The group’s steering committee will use the poll and focus groups to plan how to resolve Ohio water problems within the next 20-30 years, said John Stark, freshwater director for The Nature Conservancy. Because the eight counties along Lake Erie generates $38 billion in tourism for Ohio each year, HwO is concerned about water shortages, said Larry Fletcher,the executive director of Lake Erie Shores & Islands, a travel agency that belongs to the coalition.
Nearshore
New weather buoys join network that protects Great Lakes swimmers
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One result of the buoy system is the discovery that waves near the shore can be much larger than those farther away.
Nearshore
Mr. Great Lakes: Dragonflies, beach wellness, Farm Bill help
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Mr. Great Lakes explains new Great Lakes help from the 2014 Farm Bill and the search for an endangered dragonfly. More from Jeff Kart here.
Nearshore
Leaky sewer pipes could export viruses to lakes
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A Milwaukee scientist who has found sewage migrating from old pipes through soil and into the stormwater lines that drain to lakes or streams says the problem is likely to occur in cities nationwide.
Beaches
Extreme precipitation closes beaches, endangers health
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Even after all of the snow Michigan received this winter is gone and melted, it could still find a way to impact people’s summer plans.
Nearshore
Photo Friday: Crystal clear Lake Superior
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Tired of all those ice-choke pictures of Lake Superior. Here’s a view from warmer times. This picture of Lake Superior was taken by Tim Trombley in the summer of 2013. The remarkably clear water might be nearly invisible if it weren’t for the ripples of the waves. We’re always open to viewer submissions for our Photo Friday series, so feel free to message us on Facebook or Twitter, or send an email to greatlakesecho@gmail.com.
Nearshore
Michigan longterm beach water quality declines
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Beach closure data shows improvement in the short term. A recent study of sediments indicate that in the longterm water quality has declined.
Nearshore
Cottages, invasive species, landscape fuel Lake Huron algae
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Lined along Lake Huron’s Canadian coast stand beach cottages and vacationers… and green globs of algae.