By Anna Barnes
Officials from Michigan’s Fisheries division say further cutbacks on staffing and fish stocking are likely as the costs of operations rise.
Water
Study reveals how dissolved organic matter in the Great Lakes ice may impact spring melt
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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.
Water
Research centers in the Great Lakes region change the scope of global freshwater ecology
|
A new study examines the uniqueness of work that research centers conduct in the Great Lakes region, highlighting their importance amid dramatic changes in federal funding.
Water
Michigan’s water infrastructure sees improvements, work still needs to be done
|
By Clara Lincolnhol
The U.S. would need to invest nearly $3.4 trillion over the next 20 years to fix and update drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, says researchers from The Value of Water Campaign. Much of that infrastructure was built 40 to 50 years ago and shows its age. Michigan’s is no exception. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state a D+ for its drinking water infrastructure, a D in storm water management and a C for its wastewater infrastructure. Funding is a major problem. Proposed data centers would put more stress on the infrastructure.
Water
Michigan soliciting fisheries habitat projects
|
By Finn Mills
Pre-proposal submissions for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ yearly fisheries habitat grants are now being accepted. Each year, the DNR allocates $1.5 million in fisheries habitat grants to governments and nonprofit organizations around the state.
Solutions
Detroit River-based program aims to foster stewardship through community connection
|
By Anna Barnes
The Detroit River serves as an important geographic feature, connecting lakes St. Clair and Erie and creating a natural border between the U.S. and Canada. Despite its physical prominence in Detroit, its rich cultural significance is lost among many community residents. Programs are underway to address that disconnect.