By Anna Barnes
Invasive carp are spawning closer to Lake Michigan, but the federal government halted a construction project aimed to stop the fish from spreading without explanation.
Nearshore
Going to the beach? Check the water quality
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By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov
Nearly half of Great Lakes beachgoers rarely or never check water quality before swimming, according to a new study by researchers at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Water
When forests burn, lakes suffer
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By Victoria Witke
Wildfire risk is high in the upper Great Lakes, and research shows that large, scorching wildfires spell trouble for lakes in the region’s remote watersheds.
Water
Six years after the Edenville flood, residents reflect on loss and recovery
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By Lily Cole
Residents of Midland County, Michigan, who were affected by the disastrous Edenville flood are still feeling the effects six years later.
Water
Scientists find proof of invader established in Lake Superior
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By Eric Freedman
Scientists now have evidence that yet another invasive aquatic species — the bloody red shrimp — is established in all five Great Lakes.
Water
Study reveals how dissolved organic matter in the Great Lakes ice may impact spring melt
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By Riley Wilson
Ice covering the Great Lakes stores organic carbon, which is released in a burst during spring melt. As climate change reduces ice cover, researchers say this seasonal surge of energy may be shrinking, with uncertain consequences for these freshwater systems.
Waste
Great Lakes show signs of declining PFAS pollution
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By Riley Wilson
Rising levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination are prompting scientists to question whether the Great Lakes can safely sustain surrounding communities. A recent study shows signs of declining PFAS pollution in these waters using archived fish.
Water
Fish tumors an indicator of ecological health, study says
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By Samantha Ku
Skin and liver tumors in fish may provide clues to ecosystem health in the Great Lakes region, according to a recent study in the journal Ecotoxicology.
Water
Study highlights need for community engagement in Great Lakes protection
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By Riley Wilson
Climate change, invasive species and other human-driven pressures are among the leading causes of declining freshwater health in the Great Lakes, the National Wildlife Federation reports. There’s a growing need for community engagement to protect the lakes, one study finds.
Waste
Trash on ice sparks movement to keep waterways clean
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By Lily Cole
No matter the season, organizations across the Great Lakes region are fighting to keep waterways garbage-free.
Solutions
Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity
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By Mia Litzenberg
The Six Nations of the Grand River face ongoing water insecurity from pollution, climate change and corporate extraction. Many years of Indigenous water advocacy have led to the development of a new Haudenosaunee Environmental Research Institute as the next step to overcome these challenges.