Water

Federal legislation would ban microplastics in personal care products

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BUFFALO – A New York U.S. senator recently introduced legislation to ban tiny plastic particles in personal care products. These plastic microbeads are found in products like facial scrubs, body washes, hand cleansers and toothpastes. They are too small to be caught by wastewater treatment plants so they end up in large bodies of water like the Great Lakes. Illinois has already banned plastic microbeads in consumer products and similar legislation is being considered in New York, Ohio and California. The plastics concentrate toxins that would normally settle in sediment at the bottom of the lake.

Water

Great Lakes restoration picks up another $12 million in grants

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A public-private partnership focused on Great Lakes habitat restoration recently announced $12 million in grants to 31 projects, including 10 in Michigan. The recipients will add another $11 million to this year’s Sustain Our Great Lakes funding, according to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Sustain Our Great Lakes program is funded and operated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ArcelorMittal, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Support for the program also comes from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which supplements the program’s goal to improve the ecological health of natural areas in the region. The program targets 1,700 acres of wetland and 300 miles of stream for habitat restoration and the improvement of fish passage, according to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Water

Detroit Public Television covers Great Lakes Restoration Conference

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Organizations focused on maintaining the Great Lakes meet this week in Grand Rapids to discuss environmental issues. This year’s Great Lakes Restoration Conference, hosted by Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, marks a decade of work. Attendees will diagnose possible future threats. Detroit Public Television is covering the conference the live on its Great Lakes Now program. Viewers can watch online speakers and panel discussions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (EST) today and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (EST) Thursday.

Water

Magazine highlights the best of Lake Superior

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Lake Superior Magazine’s September issue will includes its annual Best of the Lake list. The article highlights reader favorites in dozens of categories, from best spectacular views to best boat ride to best fish sandwich. All winners are chosen from the Lake Superior states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, plus Ontario, Canada. Current State’s Peter Whorf spoke with editor Konnie LeMay, who explains that certain categories are voted on every year because Michigan residents are interested to know about those particular hidden Michigan treasures.