Nearshore

Photo Friday: Hydrilla Hunting

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The hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant, has an alarming growth rate clearly illustrated in the photographs above. The photos were captured by the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership (NIIPP), an organization that helps prevent and manage plant invasions, and show massive growth of hydrilla in a mere 18 days. Hydrilla grows up to an inch per day and forms dense mats of vegetation at the water’s surface, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Early detection can be key in controlling the plant, before it poses a threat to native plants and wildlife, recreational fishing and boating and waterfront property values. NIIPP is seeking volunteers for a Hydrilla Hunt, a program that encourages Illinois residents to learn how to identify hydrilla and keep a lookout for the plant at local lakes, ponds and rivers.

Nearshore

Beach safety app adds new hazard warning feature

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There is yet another reason to stay glued to our phones. The myBeachCast smartphone app, released in 2011 by the Great Lakes Commission, has just added a new feature — beach hazard warnings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The free app is available for download here. Although drownings appear to be on track to fall from a record high in 2012, the overall trend from the past several years have seen consistent increase, according to the Great Lakes Surf Commission. The hazard warnings on the app informs users when and where there is a potential for dangerous rip currents.

Nearshore

Experts discuss health of Great Lakes beaches

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This is the second of four Great Lakes Now broadcasts exploring the major environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes and produced by Detroit Public Television and The Nature Conservancy. It looks at the safety and health of the beaches, low lake levels and the threats of E. Coli, sewage and algae. The special features two panel discussions hosted by MiWeek‘s Christy McDonald. Panel 1: How Safe Are Our Beaches? Katherine Kahl, Ph.

Nearshore

Beach hygiene for a new water cycle

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High bacteria levels plague Great Lakes beaches by EmanueleB

 

Climate and infrastructure both play a role in beach health. Extreme weather events and old sewage systems are enabling bacteria to pollute Great Lakes beaches. According to a 2012 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council, bacterial levels measured in 2011 of Great Lakes beaches exceeded national recommended health standards more than beaches in any other region. Dr. Joan Rose is the  Nowlin Endowed Chair of Water Research  at Michigan State University. She joined Current State’s  Mark Bashore to discuss beach health.  

 

Nearshore

Plant a tree, save a beach

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Landowners on the Canadian shores of Lake Huron are being encouraged to plant natural vegetation on their beachfront property. Planting trees and other native plants on the bluffs can help prevent shoreline erosion, stormwater runoff, habitat loss and climate change, according to the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. The first step was putting together a guide for lakeshore landowners explaining how they can protect the bluff ecosystem, said Geoff Peach, coastal resources manager for the Centre. “The Bluff Ecosystem Stewardship Guide can provide some advice on how to deal with common environmental issues,” Peach said. “It’s about to go to print, and then will be distributed to landowners along Lake Huron’s bluffs in southern Ontario.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, natural lakeshores with abundant trees, shrubs, and native grasses are “living shorelines” that use deep, strong plant roots to stabilize soil.

Nearshore

Photo Friday: The beaches of the Indiana Dunes

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Although Kathleen Stachowski now resides in Montana, the Great Lakes, and Lake Michigan in particular, will always hold a special place in her heart. Born and raised in Michigan City, Ind. near Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Stachowski’s life has always been tied to the dunes and the lake. Her childhood was filled with family trips to the lake and the dunes, seeing it then as a place of both wonder and solace. “The dunes had a truly wild feel in those days and not many people went there,” she recalled.