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# Great Lakes Echo

Environmental news of the Great Lakes region

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://greatlakesecho.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Trash on ice sparks movement to keep waterways clean](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/18/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.
- [Study calls for more diverse viewpoints, ethical considerations in archaeology](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/25/study-calls-for-more-diverse-viewpoints-ethical-considerations-in-archaeology/) - By Joshua Kim A recent study explores the importance of more diverse viewpoints and ethical considerations when working in archaeology, especially involving Indigenous artifacts.
- [Endangered Great Lakes rattler once had a bounty](https://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/11/endangered-great-lakes-rattler-once-had-a-bounty/) - A species unique to the Great Lakes region once had a bounty on its head, but now experts are trying to save it.
- [Composting fabric fights climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/04/30/composting-fabric-fights-climate-change/) - Instead of tossing that old t-shirt, use it to help plants grow.
- [Conservation, research and community collaboration aid in successful 2026 Black Lake sturgeon season](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/03/conservation-research-and-community-collaboration-aid-in-successful-2026-black-lake-sturgeon-season/) - The 2026 sturgeon season on Black Lake in Michigan lasted all of 48 minutes before the annual quota – six – was reached. There were 653 anglers competing for them.
- [Preservation project launches effort to restore rare ravine ecosystem ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/14/preservation-project-launches-effort-to-restore-rare-ravine-ecosystem/) - By Samantha Ku A rare ravine ecosystem on Lake Michigan's western shore is vulnerable to human encroachment. A recent federal grant is supporting restoration efforts in the region.
- [Green energy boosters stress long-term savings](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/16/green-energy-boosters-stress-long-term-savings/) - By Madison Merrell Upfront costs of clean energy projects such as wind and solar may be high but the long-term savings on fuel and increased reliability more than offset those initial costs, experts say.
- [Bill would expand Michigan’s bottle deposit law while some want to abolish it](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/13/bill-would-expand-michigans-bottle-deposit-law-while-some-want-to-abolish-it/) - By Christian Vazquesz A Michigan state senator is pushing for a statewide vote to expand the 10-cent bottle and can deposit law, while the Midwest Independent Retailers Association is calling for repeal of the law. Meanwhile, the state House approved a bill sponsored by a Clinton Township representative to give an income tax write-off to beverage distributors that move recycled cans and bottles from stores to recycling plants.
- [Federal program can help nonprofits cover costs of clean-energy projects](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/11/federal-program-can-help-nonprofits-cover-costs-of-clean-energy-projects/) - By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov Across Michigan, religious institutions, local governments, schools and nonprofits are turning to a federal program called Elective Pay to help pay for solar panels and other clean-energy projects.
- [Utilities ramp up tree trimming to address long-standing reliability problems](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/09/utilities-ramp-up-tree-trimming-to-address-long-standing-reliability-problems/) - By Sonja Krohn DTE and Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest electric utilities, have ramped up tree trimming to improve reliability. Despite improvements, Michigan has the poorest reliability record among the Great Lakes states, the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan says.
- [Bill would ban ‘dog-scrimination’ by insurers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/07/bill-would-ban-dog-scrimination-by-insurers/) - By Justin Fox Clausen A new bill in Michigan would prohibit home insurance companies from denying, canceling or raising premiums for homeowners and tenants based on the breeds of their dogs.
- [‘None of this is normal’ – Michigan watches winter drought ahead of growing season](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/05/none-of-this-is-normal-michigan-watches-winter-drought-ahead-of-growing-season/) - By Sonja Krohn The dry conditions and drought that Michigan is experiencing this winter may adversely affect the upcoming crop growing season.
- [Shifting farm economy means changes for rural communities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/28/shifting-farm-economy-means-changes-for-rural-communities/) - By Lillian Williams The shrinking number of farms in Michigan – down by about 1,300 between 2023 and 2024 – and the trend of existing farms to expand to survive is changing the culture of rural communities.
- [Climate migration may not dramatically reshape city growth, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/26/climate-migration-may-not-dramatically-reshape-city-growth-study-finds/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira A recent study featuring Grand Rapids, Michigan suggests that climate migration may not significantly change how some cities grow.
- [Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/22/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.
- [Michigan farmers face bankruptcies, other financial challenges](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/24/michigan-farmers-face-bankruptcies-other-financial-challenges/) - By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov Bankruptcies of Michigan farmers are troubling despite a dip in their Chapter 12 filings last year. Major reasons are higher expenses for inputs such as fertilizer coupled with flat commodity prices.
- [Fight climate change from your garden with ‘birdscaping’](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/20/fight-climate-change-from-your-garden-with-birdscaping/) - By Ada Tussing If you’ve noticed fewer birds in the sky recently, they haven’t all flown south for the winter. The North American bird population has dropped nearly 30% in the last 50 years. Mariette Nowak's book "Birdscaping for Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region" offers a solution: birdscaping.
- [Research centers in the Great Lakes region change the scope of global freshwater ecology](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/16/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.
- [Book explores Hemingway’s experiences ‘up north’](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/12/book-explores-hemingways-experiences-up-north/) - By Julia Belden An Alanson-raised author whose book on Ernest Hemingway’s ties to Northern Michigan explains the region’s influence on the novelist’s work. The book “Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan,” has just been released in paperback.
- [Why Michigan’s rural residents are reluctant to drive electric vehicles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/14/why-michigans-rural-residents-are-reluctant-to-drive-electric-vehicles/) - By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov New U-M survey finds only about 5% of rural Michigan residents say they would choose an electric vehicle as their next car. Researchers attribute much of that reluctance to misinformation about the availability of public chargers and the cost of EVs and replacement batteries. The Whitmer administration is pushing to expand electric vehicle use to meet climate and clean energy goals.
- [Michigan is last state without a septic system code. Will that change?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/10/michigan-is-last-state-without-a-septic-system-code-will-that-change/) - By Justin Fox Clausen Lawmakers are making another effort to adopt Michigan’s first statewide septic code with mandatory inspections, intended to protect drinking water from contamination. It’s the only state without one.
- [Data center concerns lead to push for a one-year moratorium on projects](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/08/data-center-concerns-lead-to-push-for-a-one-year-moratorium-on-projects/) - By Karlee VanAntwerp Critics of the proliferation of data centers are calling for a one-year moratorium on the approval of new projects.
- [Michigan pushes toward 100% clean energy by 2040 despite funding cuts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/06/michigan-pushes-toward-100-clean-energy-by-2040-despite-funding-cuts/) - By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov Given dramatic changes in federal energy policy and spending, as well as possible reduction in state financial support for alternative energy projects, is Michigan still on target to reach its clean energy goals?
- [Invasive species expert teaches volunteers to overcome ‘plant blindness’](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/21/invasive-species-expert-teaches-volunteers-to-overcome-plant-blindness/) - By Anna Ironside Carolyn Miller is a botanical technologist at Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, as well as a master’s student. Her work has made her a driving force behind restoration projects on campus and beyond. From invasive species removal days to a growing movement to replace traditional turf lawns with native landscapes, Miller doesn’t quit.
- [Solar projects bring larger economic gains to smaller communities, study shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/27/solar-projects-bring-larger-economic-gains-to-smaller-communities-study-shows/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira A recent study examines how solar projects could be planned in ways that benefit rural communities without significantly increasing electricity costs.
- [Book helps residents, visitors, use Chicago’s public transit to access recreational sites](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/30/book-helps-residents-visitors-use-chicagos-public-transit-to-access-recreational-sites/) - By Joshua Kim “Chicago Transit Hikes," a new book by Lindsay Welbers, aims to help Chicago residents and visitors reach outdoor recreation sites car-free.
- [More funding approved to improve the Greater Chicago Area's public transit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/01/more-funding-approved-to-improve-the-greater-chicago-areas-public-transit/) - By Joshua Kim Following the passing of new legislation by the Illinois General Assembly, the Regional Transport Authority, soon to be the Northern Illinois Transit Agency, will receive an additional $1.2 billion for its annual budget this year. The additional funding will be used to improve “frequency, reliability, and safety”
- [Poll: Natural resources are state's best attributes but many residents favor cutting support](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/25/poll-natural-resources-are-states-best-attributes-but-many-residents-favor-cutting-support/) - They trailed only prisons and unsure when residents asked where they would first cut state spending.
- [Great Lakes water grows economy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/09/09/great-lakes-water-grows-economy/) - Great Lakes states' water-dependent economy grew tremendously in 2011, according to a recent report.
- [Great Lakes cities top some lists for park amenities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/11/02/great-lakes-cities-a-walk-in-the-park/) - Great Lakes cities rank on several national top 10 lists for parks and recreation.
- [Septic tanks flush water quality down the tubes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/09/24/septic-tanks-are-flushing-water-quality-down-the-tubes/) - EPA officials are holding the third annual SepticSmart Week. But water quality problems posed by septic systems are a year round challenge, especially in Michigan which lacks statewide oversight.
- [World Trade Center architect's Detroit vision](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/10/05/world-trade-center-architects-detroit-vision/) - John Gallagher chronicles architect Minoru Yamasaki from his humble beginnings and through his quest for a unique style that produced the New York City landmark and a more modest impact on Detroit's environment.
- [Born (horn) free: Minnesota lab stops them before they grow](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/10/15/minnesota-lab-stops-horns-before-they-grow/) - It edits DNA in a way that bypasses the need for painful horn removal.
- [Madison's numerous dog parks have tails wagging](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/11/08/madison-dog-parks-have-tails-wagging/) - They are part of a city goal for a"dog-positive parks system." Studies say dog parks are sources of support, information sharing and collective action.
- [Arrival of Uber means fewer cabs, cab drivers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/11/18/arrival-of-uber-means-fewer-cabs-cab-drivers/) - Uber's technological and business model poses a threat to local taxi companies.
- [Scientists seek to sic microbes on invasive plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/01/04/scientists-seek-to-sic-microbes-on-invasive-plants/) - They've already used insects. Now they are enlisting the help of another kind of bug.
- [Winter bounty: Supporting local agriculture even when it’s cold](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/12/14/winter-bounty-supporting-local-agriculture-even-when-its-cold/) - You could win a copy of Beth Dooley's "In Winter’s Kitchen.” Check out our recipes and help us build an electronic box of recipes of winter-themed meals.
- [Photo Friday: Storm wave sloshes sediment into Lake Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/12/04/photo-friday-storm-wave-sloshes-sediminet-into-lake-erie/) - Satellite image shows impact of a wave known as a seiche.
- [Digital map tracks factory farm environmental violations](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/01/06/digital-map-tracks-factory-farm-environmental-violations/) - The map uses Michigan as the model for other states.
- ["In Winter's Kitchen" winter recipe contest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/12/23/in-winters-kitchen-winter-recipe-contest/) - Win a copy of Beth Dooley's "In Winter’s Kitchen.” Check out our recipes and help us build an electronic box of recipes of winter-themed meals.
- [Bat recovery slow from white-nose syndrome](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/01/08/bat-recovery-slow-from-white-nose-syndrome/) - That's not good for margarita lovers as bats are one of the largest global pollinators of agave.
- [Opposition to straits pipeline spreading across state](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/02/10/opposition-to-pipeline-spreading-across-state/) - At least 15 townships and counties have voiced concerns to state officials about the pipeline.
- [Searching for woodland fairies and fingernail clams](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/01/19/searching-for-woodland-fairies-and-fingernail-clams/) - We explore vernal pools in the latest edition of the Great Lakes Echo podcast, Echos.
- [Odes to the Great Lakes: GVSU exhibition showcases collaborative pieces](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/02/18/odes-to-the-great-lakes-gvsu-exhibition-showcases-collaborative-pieces/) - The gallery features the works of artists with close connections to the region.
- [Photo Friday: Melting Lake Michigan ice creates mini stalagmites](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/02/26/melting-lake-michigan-ice-creates-mini-stalagmites/) - Photographer David Marvin captured the unique phenomenon in photo and video.
- [They’re back! A Beaver Tale: The Castors of Conners Creek](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/02/29/theyre-back-a-beaver-tale-the-castors-of-conners-creek/) - A new kid-friendly book tells the story of the discovery of a beaver family living near the Detroit River.
- [Untapped: When your only potable water comes in a bottle](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/03/04/untapped-when-your-only-potable-water-comes-in-a-bottle/) - Flint's water crisis changed how residents do laundry, cook, care for their pets, brush their teeth, bathe and even recycle.
- [Turning off the lights to see the sky's stories](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/05/20/turning-off-the-lights-to-see-the-skys-stories/) - The night sky has influenced human culture since practically its inception, but these days there are many people who have never even seen the stars.
- [How seeds from the past are saving a unique flower of the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/31/how-seeds-from-the-past-are-saving-a-unique-flower-of-the-great-lakes/) - By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva More than 30 years ago, a group of scientists planted just 4,200 seeds of the rare Pitcher’s thistle in the sandy dunes of the Great Lakes. At the time, no one knew if the new populations would survive. Today, three decades later, the restored populations are thriving and spreading.
- [Can the way you brush your teeth really save otters?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/03/23/can-the-way-you-brush-your-teeth-really-save-otters/) - There's a lot of water in the Great Lakes. Why be frugal with it?
- [Reclaiming the pecan's roots for the Midwest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/06/13/reclaiming-the-pecans-roots-for-the-midwest/) - Once called the "Illinois nut," the pecan is now a pride of the south.
- [Solar-powered brewing](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/08/12/solar-powered-brewing/) - Brewery Vivant takes sustainability goals to the next level with renewable energy.
- [Healthy ravines for healthy watersheds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/07/25/healthy-ravines-for-healthy-watersheds/) - The Great Lakes and the ravines that surround them share more than just a common geographic genealogy.
- [Should meteorologists talk about climate change?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/09/07/should-meteorologists-talk-about-climate-change/) - Broadcast meteorologists are often celebrities in their coverage areas. Should they use their notoriety to spread knowledge about the climate?
- [Anthology editor discusses art of being "Happy Anyway" in Flint](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/07/06/anthology-editor-discusses-art-of-being-happy-anyway-in-flint/) - It's easy to write off Flint, Michigan, as a tragic city. But to do so simplifies its complexities and ignores its residents' unique, hard-earned happiness.
- [Michigan chumming ban on trout streams upsets anglers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/09/12/michigan-chumming-ban-on-trout-streams-upsets-anglers/) - The Michigan Natural Resources Commission decided to err on the safe side, to the displeasure of bait anglers throughout the state.
- [Why conserve? Water experts discuss reporting on water in a time of scarcity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/10/03/why-conserve-californian-experts-discuss-water-in-a-time-of-scarcity/) - Coverage from the 26th annual Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Sacramento.
- [Great Lakes experts push for restoration funding after election](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/10/21/great-lakes-experts-push-for-restoration-funding-after-election/) - They published a white paper Thursday urging continuation of the multi-million dollar Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and to put it on a five-year rather than annual renewal.
- [Biotech company uses DNA to manage watermilfoil](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/09/23/biotech-company-uses-dna-to-watermilfoil-management/) - Managing a plant whose native, invasive and hybrid species look nearly identical is nearly impossible without some scientific guidance.
- [Lead poisoning is statewide, help is not](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/11/23/lead-poisoning-is-statewide-but-help-is-not/) - Federal authorities offer a handful of grants each year to provide lead abatement services, but because the competition is so fierce, they go to bigger metropolitan areas. Rural communities are left to fend for themselves to address lead problems that cause a myriad of serious health effects.
- [The environmental legacy of the California gold rush](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/10/07/the-environmental-legacy-of-the-california-gold-rush/) - Nineteenth century gold mining practices involving mercury still threaten this California landscape.
- [Homegrown and served without a moan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/11/28/homegrown-and-served-without-a-moan/) - Cultivate Michigan promotes the use of local produce into meal plans at large institutions such as schools and hospitals.
- [Michigan residents think state government could do better on environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/12/02/michigan-residents-think-state-government-could-do-better-on-environment/) - This quarter's State of the State Survey asked over 1,000 Michigan residents how they think the state government is handling the environment.
- [Local officials wary of new energy plan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/12/05/local-officials-wary-of-new-energy-plan/) - Some believe rural communities already have plenty of wind generators.
- [Trump's proposed budget cuts worry Great Lakes officials](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/03/31/trumps-proposed-budget-cuts-worry-great-lakes-officials/) - An NPR report looks at how officials in Ohio are responding to the proposed cuts.
- [New book paddles through history on canoe](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/01/04/new-book-paddles-through-history-on-canoe/) - Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims's "Canoes: A Natural History in North America" explores the rich history of the vessel and the people involved.
- [Do Midwesterners have an accent?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/02/07/do-midwesterners-have-an-accent/) - Edward McClelland's new book, "How to Speak Midwestern," claims yes, they absolutely do.
- [Trump 'priority list' includes construction projects for Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/02/01/trump-priority-list-includes-construction-projects-for-great-lakes/) - A leaked list of infrastructure priorities for the Trump administration includes bridges and other big projects for the Great Lakes region.
- [Model your watershed with free online app](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/05/22/model-your-watershed-with-free-online-app/) - Model My Watershed is an app being used by teachers, students, land use planners, conservationists and more to get a sense of how land use changes the health of specific watersheds.
- [Survey asks: How you dune?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/05/29/survey-asks-how-you-dune/) - Have you recreated on Michigan's coastal dunes? Tell Michigan officials about your experience.
- [Growth in shoreline armoring is reshaping Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast](https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/13/growth-in-shoreline-armoring-is-reshaping-michigans-lake-michigan-coast/) - By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva A new study documents a fivefold increase in shoreline armoring along Lake Michigan’s Eastern coast.
- [Wolves hunt beavers in Isle Royale National Park, changing the ecosystem](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/17/wolves-hunt-beavers-in-isle-royale-national-park-changing-the-ecosystem/) - By Akia Thrower A new study reveals how gray wolves in Isle Royale National Park seasonally alter their habitat preferences to align with beavers’ habitat preferences, a shift that might have implications for the island’s ecosystem.
- [Scientists update geological map of northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/26/scientists-update-geological-map-of-northern-wisconsin-michigans-upper-peninsula/) - By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva The U.S. Geological Survey has began large-scale low-level airplane flights over Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin to obtain high-resolution data on subsurface mineral structures and bedrock composition. The data will be used to create two- and three-dimensional maps to better understand the geological structure at depths of about 10,000 feet.
- [Restoration of historical site improves quality of life for Portage, Wisconsin residents](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/30/restoration-of-historical-site-improves-quality-of-life-for-portage-wisconsin-residents/) - By Joshua Kim Following the completion of segments 1 and 2 of the Portage Canal, local residents and visitors can use the historic site and its amenities following years of disrepair.
- [Michigan’s water infrastructure sees improvements, work still needs to be done](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/11/michigans-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.
- [From otters to butterflies: How Minnesota became a pioneer in nongame wildlife conservation](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/28/from-otters-to-butterflies-how-minnesota-became-a-pioneer-in-nongame-wildlife-conservation/) - By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva In the late 1970s, when most wildlife conservation programs in the United States focused almost exclusively on game species, a quiet but historic shift began in Minnesota. It was here that one of the nation’s first state programs dedicated to protecting so-called nongame wildlife emerged from butterflies and bats to bald eagles and river otters. That story is now told in detail by Carrol Henderson in his new book, “A National Legacy: Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in Minnesota."
- [Endangered spectaclecase mussels reintroduced into the Chippewa River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/09/endangered-spectaclecase-mussels-reintroduced-into-the-chippewa-river/) - By Ada Tussing To combat the population loss of spectaclecase mussels, researchers with both the Minnesota and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released over 177 mussels into the Chippewa River in Northwest Wisconsin.
- [Michigan allocates $77 million to clean thousands of contaminated sites](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/07/michigan-allocates-77-million-to-clean-thousands-of-contaminated-sites/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Michigan is pouring $77 million into clean-up of contaminated abandoned real estate such as former factories. The director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says the goal is to make the cleaned-up sites safe for housing, commercial developments and other uses.
- [Winter makes curved roads dangerous; researchers seek solutions](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/04/winter-makes-curved-roads-dangerous-researchers-seek-solutions/) - By Eric Freedman Flashing light on warning signs near curves can slow drivers and reduce the odds of a crash during winter weather conditions, says a new study by Michigan State University engineers.
- [Great Lakes books for your holiday gift list ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/02/great-lakes-books-for-your-holiday-gift-list/) - By Eric Freedman Looking for a holiday gift for a reader who loves the Great Lakes? Here are five prospects to consider – and what our reporters learned from interviewing their authors this year.
- [What herring gulls tell us about plastic pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/28/what-herring-gulls-tell-us-about-plastic-pollution/) - By Victoria Witke Christina Petalas, a doctoral student McGill University, studies herring gulls to learn about plastic pollution near the St. Lawrence River. Across two studies, she found plastic additives in every bird sampled, which could have human health consequences.
- [‘Refusal is insisting on your own terms’: Indigenous activism in the Midwest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/24/refusal-is-insisting-on-your-own-terms-indigenous-activism-in-the-midwest/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira “Indigenous Activism in the Midwest: Refusal, Resurgence and Resisting Settler Colonialism” explores how Dakota and Anishinaabe communities in Minnesota continue their relationships to the land and challenge dominant settler narratives about ownership, belonging and identity.
- [Cannabis workers are developing job-related asthma and some have died, study says](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/22/cannabis-workers-are-developing-job-related-asthma-and-some-have-died-study-says/) - By Clara Lincolnhol New research says workers picking, grinding and packaging cannabis are developing workplace-related asthma, and two deaths have occurred so far.
- [Swiss researcher studies ‘abandonment tourism’ in Detroit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/20/swiss-researcher-studies-abandonment-tourism-in-detroit/) - By Camila Bello Castro A recent case study of a former “abandonment tourism” business in Detroit found a disconnect between the lived experience of many city residents and the lives of the tour participants who were generally white, younger and more international than most Detroiters and generally first-time visitors to the city.
- [Green clues: Crime-busters turn to moss to help solve crimes ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/14/green-clues-crime-busters-turn-to-moss-to-help-solve-crimes/) - By Eric Freedman Tiny pieces of moss can be crime-busters, says a study examining how law enforcement agencies, forensic teams and botanists have used moss to solve murders, track missing people, calculate how long ago someone died and – in a notorious Mason County case – try to locate the body of a baby murdered by her father.
- [On the nineteenth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/19/on-the-nineteenth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the seventeenth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/17/on-the-seventeenth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the eighteenth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/18/on-the-eighteenth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the sixteenth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/16/on-the-sixteenth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the twenty-second day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/22/on-the-twenty-second-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the twenty-first day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/21/on-the-twenty-first-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the twentieth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/20/on-the-twentieth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the twenty-fifth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/25/on-the-twenty-fifth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [Echo's Top 10 Stories of 2017](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/29/2017-top-10/) - Here are the stories you read most in 2017.
- [On the twenty-fourth day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/24/on-the-twenty-fourth-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [On the twenty-third day of Fishmas...](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/12/23/on-the-twenty-third-day-of-fishmas/) - Follow along with Great Lakes researcher Katie O'Reilly's #25DaysofFishmas.
- [The whole deck is wild in this new game](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/11/12/the-whole-deck-is-wild-in-this-new-game/) - It's a painless bridging of nature and urban environments for kids.
- [Michigan residents care about the environment, poll reveals](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/11/21/michigan-residents-care-about-the-environment-poll-reveals/) - The Healthy People-Healthy Planet Poll surveyed 1,000 Michigan residents and found that the majority think environmental health is more important that economic gain.
- [Wild rice gets boost in Green Bay](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/11/30/wild-rice-gets-boost-in-green-bay/) - Wisconsin volunteers once again planted wild rice in Green Bay-area wetlands to protect the native plant from invasive species.
- [Haunting tales of Michigan’s lighthouses](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/04/25/haunting-tales-of-michigans-lighthouses/) - Meet Capt. Bill and other ghostly keepers of Great Lakes lights.
- [“Our community is a fishing community:” Michigan tribe seeks to set its own water standards](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/06/19/our-community-is-a-fishing-community-michigan-tribe-seeks-to-set-its-own-water-standards/) - The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, heavily reliant on fish, berries and wild rice, wants to join the 60 other US tribes who the feds have granted control over setting water regulations.
- [Hip-hop forestry with Thomas Easley](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/05/08/hip-hop-forestry-with-thomas-easley/) - Combining a love for both forestry and hip-hop, Thomas Easley has recruited diverse students into environmental sciences.
- [Boarders paddle across Lake Erie to support research below it](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/06/17/boarders-paddle-across-lake-erie-to-support-research-below-it/) - It's their fourth Great Lake. This time they're raising money for research.
- [A crack in the Great Lakes Compact? Approved water diversion prompts pushback](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/07/15/a-crack-in-the-great-lakes-compact-approved-water-diversion-prompts-pushback/) - "The idea that massive water bodies can be permanently transformed is not a fanciful one"
- [Paddleboarders finish Lake Erie transit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/06/20/paddleboarders-finish-lake-erie-transit/) - Four hours after the group landed in Sandusky, they had raised $14,425 for the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research at University of Michigan.
- [New research in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shows how invasive earthworms are changing forest soils  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/12/new-research-in-michigans-upper-peninsula-shows-how-invasive-earthworms-are-changing-forest-soils/) - By Georgia Hill Scientists studying the body size and growth patterns of non-native earthworms in the UP’s Huron Mountains say they are disrupting forest ecosystems. Contrary to popular belief, most North American earthworms are invaders unintentionally introduced during European colonization. They have a significant impact on ecosystems, especially in the Great Lakes region where they affect soil structure, nutrient cycling and biodiversity.
- [Anishinaabe fire practices shaped Great Lakes ecosystems, new research shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/09/anishinaabe-fire-practices-shaped-great-lakes-ecosystems-new-research-shows/) - By Victoria Witke New research shows Anishinaabe fire practices shaped today’s Great Lakes ecosystems. The region’s forests never existed and can’t continue to exist without people – or fire.
- [Michigan soliciting fisheries habitat projects ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/05/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.
- [Michigan court refuses to reinstate lawsuit over runaway carriage horse at Greenfield Village  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/07/michigan-court-refuses-to-reinstate-lawsuit-over-runaway-carriage-horse-at-greenfield-village/) - By Eric Freedman A horse-drawn carriage. A runaway horse. A crash. Sounds like an old-fashioned drama – not a bizarre 21st-century event. But that’s what happened three years ago when a visitor was injured while riding in a horse-drawn omnibus at Greenfield Village. The Court of Appeals has refused to reinstate her negligence suit against The Henry Ford and the driver.
- [Vacant lots boost diversity among Detroit’s birds, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/03/vacant-lots-boost-diversity-among-detroits-birds-study-finds/) - By Eric Freedman Empty lots in deindustrialized cities like Detroit may contribute to bird species diversity, says a new study by researchers at MSU and Carleton University in Canada. The study is based on sound recordings collected at 110 sites in 11 Detroit neighborhoods. The study recommends that vacant land management in the city takes a balanced approach that considers the needs of both residents and birds. There are other concerns about vacant land, too, including as sites for solar arrays.
- [New Lake Ontario initiative tackles climate hazards alongside Lakes Huron and Superior projects](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/17/new-lake-ontario-initiative-tackles-climate-hazards-alongside-lakes-huron-and-superior-projects/) - By Mia Litzenberg Climate change is creating new challenges for Great Lakes coastal communities. To tackle these hazards, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority launched the Lake Ontario Coastal Resilience Pilot Project last summer. Over the next four years, the project aims to engage communities in developing a coastal resilience plan.
- [New book shares how Mackinac Island became Michigan's tourism gem](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/29/new-book-shares-how-mackinac-island-became-michigans-tourism-gem/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueria Frank Boles, a retired Central Michigan University historian, has spent decades documenting Michigan’s past. His latest book, “Visiting Mackinac: 150 Years of Tourism at Michigan’s Fabled Straits,” explores how Mackinac Island and the surrounding Straits region became a hub for travelers from across the country.
- [Cover crop mixes can cut carbon emissions from farms, study says](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/27/cover-crop-mixes-can-cut-carbon-emissions-from-farms-study-says/) - By Victoria Witke A new U-M study done in Lenawee, Tuscola and Monroe counties finds that cover crop mixtures on farms can help mitigate adverse impacts of climate change, instead of single species cover crops. There are concerns about the freezing of federal payments for agriculture programs.
- [Better training for dairy farm workers would help farmers, study says](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/31/better-training-for-dairy-farm-workers-would-help-farmers-study-says/) - By Victoria Witke Consistent training of dairy farm workers can prevent mastitis, and improve milk quality and employee communication, according to a recent MSU study. The dairy industry contributes $15.7 billion yearly to the state economy. Huron and Clinton counties host the greatest number of dairy cows, and Lenawee, Missaukee and Ionia counties also have lots of them.
- [Corn season means return of farmers’ worries about tar spot fungus](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/17/corn-season-means-return-of-farmers-worries-about-tar-spot-fungus/) - By Victoria Witke Jacob Faist of Jackson County is among the state’s farmers worried about tar spot, an emerging disease in corn and silage fed to dairy cows. It can lower crop yield, reduce the nutritional value of the corn and reduce milk production. According to a study, Michigan and the Great Lakes region are particularly vulnerable. Researchers did the study in Branch, Ottawa, Ingham and Barry counties. Top producing counties include Lenawee and Ionia.
- [Western and Indigenous knowledge will help lake sturgeon, study shows ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/08/western-and-indigenous-knowledge-will-help-lake-sturgeon-study-shows/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira A recent collaborative study, conducted through the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, the College of Menominee Nation in Kenosha, Wisconsin, nine tribal entities and academic researchers to understand how climate change threatens the lake sturgeon and to develop adaptation strategies rooted in tribal knowledge.
- [‘Dig in and get my hands dirty’: New book explores citizen scientists and their contributions to the Wolf-Moose Project](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/13/dig-in-and-get-my-hands-dirty-new-book-explores-citizen-scientists-and-their-contributions-to-the-wolf-moose-project/) - By Isabella Figueroa In his new book “Dead Moose on Isle Royale: Off Trail with the Citizen Scientists of the Wolf-Moose Project," Jeffery Holden turns decades of volunteer field notes and short essays into an off-trail narrative about the people who sustain one of ecology’s longest-running studies. The Wolf-Moose Project at Isle Royale National Park started with scientists from Purdue University, Durward Allen and L. David Mech, in 1958. Since then, volunteers have collected data through on-the-ground fieldwork and built a six-decade record that reveals how climate, disease and food availability shape population cycles.
- [Increased precipitation, foot traffic pose trail erosion problems at Lake Michigan parks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/15/increased-precipitation-foot-traffic-pose-trail-erosion-problems-at-lake-michigan-parks/) - By Lauren Coin Park trails along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Wisconsin and Michigan are eroding because of more frequent extreme precipitation events and increased foot traffic from visitors in undesignated recreation areas.
- [New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/24/new-interest-in-domestic-mining-comes-with-call-for-sustainability-in-the-market/) - By Joe Lorenz Electrification and tariffs mean rural Midwest communities can cash in on their mineral resources. But how can these ventures balance local benefit to the ecological cost?
- [Microscopic changes could mean big things for Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/07/31/microscopic-changes-could-mean-big-things-for-great-lakes/) - Researchers are shocked by major shifts in zooplankton levels – most notably crashes in Lake Huron – that will determine which fish thrive.
- [Competing visions for a famed river in a Midwest hotspot: Part 2](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/08/30/competing-visions-for-a-famed-river-in-a-midwest-hotspot-part-2/) - This 2-part series explores two projects on Michigan's Grand River and how a fast-growing region is struggling to define a relationship with the river it was built around.
- [Competing visions for a famed river in a Midwest hotspot: Part 1](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/08/28/competing-visions-for-a-famed-river-in-a-midwest-hotspot-part-1/) - This 2-part series explores two projects on Michigan's Grand River and how a fast-growing region is struggling to define a relationship with the river it was built around.
- [Man from India captures award-winning images of Lake Erie while barefoot](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/10/09/man-from-india-captures-award-winning-images-of-lake-erie-while-barefoot/) - Barefoot hiker wins the 2019 Life on Lake Erie Photo Contest.
- [Record a prized catch for science without revealing your favorite fishing hole](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/09/04/record-a-prized-catch-for-science-without-revealing-your-favorite-fishing-hole/) - Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium has released the Great Lakes Fish Finder App to record fish sightings in the Great Lakes area.
- [Mooz the dog helps scientists study threatened turtles  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/04/mooz-the-dog-helps-scientists-study-threatened-turtles/) - By Rachel Lewis The Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians' Natural Resources Department has been working to conserve the threatened wood turtle. Their top team member is Mooz, a 9-year-old labradoodle who has been helping his owner, Bill Parsons, find wood turtles for the past five years.
- [Michigan DNR wants you to look out for invasive Asian longhorned beetle ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/17/michigan-dnr-wants-you-to-look-out-for-invasive-asian-longhorned-beetle/) - By Rachel Lewis The Michigan Invasive Species Program is asking the public to be on the lookout for the invasive Asian longhorned beetle. The inch-and-a-half long black beetle with white spots and long antennae is known to attack at least 12 species of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. Although the beetle has not yet been found in Michigan, the state Department of Natural Resources said the earlier they are found, the easier they are to eradicate.
- [Federal wildfire policy sparks debate: timber or trees? ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/29/federal-wildfire-policy-sparks-debate-timber-or-trees/) - By Samantha Ku New federal policy is aimed at addressing the nation’s wildfire crisis by boosting timber production, but some experts say it’s not expected to have a major impact in Michigan.
- [Ballot proposals advance, aiming to get ‘dark money’ out of politics](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/20/ballot-proposals-advance-aiming-to-get-dark-money-out-of-politics/) - By Georgia Hill Utility companies have a history of using “dark money” to influence Michigan elections. Now, organizations are attempting to advance ballot initiatives aimed at stopping utility companies from contributing to politicians who run for or hold offices that impact them.
- [Man’s ‘Around the Lake in 8 Days’ bike ride raises $25K for charity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/01/mans-around-the-lake-in-8-days-bike-ride-raises-25k-for-charity/) - By Camila Bello Castro A Chicago man biked around Lake Michigan in eight days, battling self-doubts and a major thunderstorm and raising $25,000 for the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, which advocates and promotes the credit union movement by providing educational opportunities and consumer awareness.
- [Michigan launches first annual Microplastics Awareness Week](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/18/michigan-launches-first-annual-microplastics-awareness-week/) - By Julia Belden The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and governor are marking Michigan’s first Microplastics Awareness Week. Scientists are now finding microplastics in the human body but don’t know their long-term effects.
- [Detroit River-based program aims to foster stewardship through community connection](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/22/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.
- [River lovers rally in Grand Rapids](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/05/12/river-lovers-rally-in-grand-rapids/) - River Network's annual River Rally conference took place this week.
- [Photo Friday: Waterspout over Lake Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/08/04/photo-friday-waterspout-over-lake-michigan__trashed/) - Central Michigan University student and photography hobbyist Kyler Phillips found himself in the right place at the right time for this shot.
- [“Alexis Rockman: The Great Lakes Cycle” debuts in Grand Rapids](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/01/31/alexis-rockman-the-great-lakes-cycle-debuts-in-grand-rapids__trashed/) - The major exhibition explores the past, present and future of the Great Lakes and is on view at the Grand Rapids Art Museum through Apr. 29.
- [Metal heads and body burdens: Lake Michigan turtles can't get the lead out](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/04/13/metal-heads-and-body-burdens-lake-michigan-turtles-cant-get-the-lead-out__trashed/) - A recent study proves painted and snapping turtles accumulate heavy metals and advances the limited existing freshwater turtle research.
- [Researchers look to brace Great Lakes forests for climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/01/12/researchers-look-to-brace-great-lakes-forests-for-climate-change__trashed/) - Warming temperatures and more frequent short-term droughts are forecasted for Great Lakes forests.
- [Giant owls descend on Grand Rapids, Michigan in "Animal Land"](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/10/13/giant-owls-descend-on-grand-rapids-michigan-in-animal-land__trashed/) - Watch video of "Animal Land,' by artists Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sollars, as it appeared in ArtPrize 10.
- [Field trip: everyone into the (vernal) pool](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/05/27/local-learning-field-trip-to-the-neighborhood-vernal-pool__trashed/) - Hear the Vernal Pool Patrol Project in action.
- [Wildlife getting sicker; people the culprit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/11/11/wildlife-getting-sicker-people-the-culprit__trashed/) - Many rising wildlife diseases are traced to human activities. That has implications for both wildlife and people.
- [Underwater photographer captures forgotten stories beneath Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2017/08/11/underwater-photographer-captures-forgotten-stories-beneath-great-lakes__trashed/) - Becky Kagan Schott recently shared video footage from her excursions into the depths of the Great Lakes.
- [Great Lakes Echo's greatest hits of 2018](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/12/31/great-lakes-echos-greatest-hits-of-2018__trashed/) - Reflect on 2018 with us. These are the Echo stories that garnered the most visits, shares and comments in 2018.
- [Algae is ugly: Why Lake Erie anglers avoid harmful algal blooms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/10/16/algae-is-ugly-why-lake-erie-anglers-avoid-harmful-algal-blooms__trashed/) - A new study reports that aesthetics are the main reason anglers avoid harmful algal blooms.
- [Bear-baiting bear hunting guide hit with hunting ban](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/13/bear-baiting-bear-hunting-guide-hit-with-hunting-ban/) - By Eric Freedman A Wisconsin bear hunting guide has been barred for a year from hunting on federal land. Timothy Collar’s crime: illegal bear baiting in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
- [New passenger train route between Holland and Detroit to be explored](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/03/new-passenger-train-route-between-holland-and-detroit-to-be-explored/) - By Clara Lincolnhol The Michigan Department of Transportation is developing a plan to potentially construct the state’s fourth passenger rail route. The proposed east-west route would carry passengers across the Lower Peninsula, connecting Holland and Grand Rapids with Detroit.
- [Michigan court clears South Haven in beach drowning suit ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/05/michigan-court-clears-south-haven-in-beach-drowning-suit/) - By Eric Freedman The Michigan Court of Appeals has cleared the city of South Haven of liability in the 2020 drowning of an 18-year-old swimmer at a public beach on the Lake Michigan coast.
- [Study finds high risk of injury or death in motorcycle-deer collisions ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/27/study-finds-high-risk-of-injury-or-death-in-motorcycle-deer-collisions/) - By Eric Freedman Motorcycles and deer don’t mix. And motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to injury or death when they do, according to a recent study of a decade’s worth of crashes in Michigan.
- [The sustainable art of Blight Hernandez: ‘No waste’  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/25/the-sustainable-art-of-blight-hernandez-no-waste/) - By Maya Moore Blight Hernandez is a master of turning everyday trash into something of value. A Southwest Detroit native, Hernandez has called himself an artist since he was 6. Now a full-time working artist for five years, his sustainable business is called Be The Light. It’s born out of intention and focused on higher consciousness, keeping things out of the landfill, and making things that people love, Hernandez said.
- [Busy Blue Water Bridge gets positive auditor general report ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/23/busy-blue-water-bridge-gets-positive-auditor-general-report/) - By Eric Freedman The iconic Blue Water Bridge has received a clean bill of operational health from the Michigan Auditor General’s Office. Based on its preliminary survey of procurement, fleet vehicles, employee training and toll transactions, the office said it saw no need to do a full performance audit of the bridge’s effectiveness and efficiency.
- [Scientists debunk UFO claims about rare interstellar comet ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/21/scientists-debunk-ufo-claims-about-rare-interstellar-comet/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Online rumors are swirling that a comet from another solar system might be a UFO — but Michigan State University researchers say that’s pure speculation. It’s definitely a comet, they insist, with no credible reason to believe otherwise.
- [Meet Maple: Former K-9 now beekeeper  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/19/meet-maple-former-k-9-now-beekeeper/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Meet former K-9 Maple. She made a big career switch earlier this year—from a human remains detection dog to a beekeeper at Michigan State University’s Pollinator Performance Center. The friendly brown-and-white dog, with a long tongue that hangs out of her mouth, dons her own beekeeping suit and uses her powerful nose to detect American foulbrood -- a bacteria that left undisturbed, means certain death for an entire honeybee colony.
- [How inland fish farmers cultivate a sustainable future for the Great Lakes ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/14/how-inland-fish-farmers-cultivate-a-sustainable-future-for-the-great-lakes/) - By Donté Smith Despite being surrounded by the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, Michigan imports the vast majority of its seafood, between 65% and 90%, according to Michigan Sea Grant. As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are building a more sustainable, local supply. Researchers say doing so could ease pressure on wild populations, create jobs in rural areas and help restore public trust in the food on their plates. But with high regulatory costs, limited consumer awareness and strong competition from imports, these farms face an uphill swim.
- [Iconic Michigan songbird undergoes concerning population decline ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/12/iconic-michigan-songbird-undergoes-concerning-population-decline/) - By Clara Lincolnhol One of Michigan’s most rare, iconic and celebrated bird species is the Kirtland’s warbler. Once nearly extinct in the 1970s, decades-long, targeted conservation efforts helped their population rebound. But this year’s census revealed something concerning: a significant drop in warblers– nearly 700 fewer pairs.
- [These eye-catching murals are popping up around storm drains— here’s why ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/10/these-eye-catching-murals-are-popping-up-around-storm-drains-heres-why/) - By Clara Lincolnhol You may notice new bright and colorful murals surrounding a number of Mid-Michigan storm drains in your community by the end of this summer.
- [Biking booms in the Motor City: More lanes, fun rides — and high fatalities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/08/biking-booms-in-the-motor-city-more-lanes-fun-rides-and-high-fatalities/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen The popularity of groups like Wednesday Night Ride, Black Girls Do Bike and Soul Roll is an indicator that Detroit, long known for its ties to the auto industry, is making strides in becoming a cycling destination. However, Detroit streets remain unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians compared to other cities.
- [Dead deer and small fish: Michigan students learn to investigate poaching ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/06/dead-deer-and-small-fish-michigan-students-learn-to-investigate-poaching/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen For students hoping to become conservation officers for the state Department of Natural Resources -- tasked with enforcing fish, game and natural resource protection laws -- one Northern Michigan University class gives a glimpse into their day-to-day work.
- [Small city’s ‘community carbon fund’ promises hyper-local carbon reduction](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/09/02/small-citys-community-carbon-fund-promises-hyper-local-carbon-reduction/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen In 2023, community organizers from the outdoor Discovery Center, an outdoor education and conservation-focused nonprofit in Holland, Michigan looked for ways to further sustainability efforts in the west Michigan community. This led to a partnership with another local nonprofit to create the Carbon Community Fund, which accepts donations from residents to fund local conservation efforts.
- [The first Great Lakes steamboat was a Walk in the Water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/10/21/the-first-great-lakes-steamboat-was-a-walk-in-the-water/) - Marine artist and historian Robert McGreevy tells the tale of the first Great Lakes steamboat. Parts of it ended up in the steeple of a Presbyterian church in Lancaster, New York.
- [White pelicans extend their Great Lakes range, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/07/01/white-pelicans-extend-their-great-lakes-range-study-finds/) - The species “is undergoing a dramatic expansion of its breeding range in North America,” the study published in the journal Ontario Birds said.
- [Toxic chemical from Gelman Plume found in water wells in Scio Township, Michigan ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/16/toxic-chemical-from-gelman-plume-found-in-water-wells-in-scio-township-michigan/) - By Rachel Lewis Michigan environmental officials found 1,4-dioxane, a toxic chemical, in six residential water wells in Scio Township during annual state testing. The dioxane, coming from the Gelman Plume, ranged between 0.33 to 0.86 parts per billion (ppb), well under the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) drinking water limit of 7.2 ppb. Although the state says the water is safe, some advocates for a more aggressive plume cleanup say the new detection suggests the plume is moving north. They say it could be dangerous if it reaches Barton Pond, Ann Arbor’s main water source.
- [Trump’s budget would devastate sea lamprey control in Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/26/trumps-budget-would-devastate-sea-lamprey-control-in-great-lakes/) - By Maya Moore If Congress approves President Donald Trump’s proposal to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the operations and science budget of the U.S. Geological Survey, the scale and intensity of Great Lakes environmental restoration will be significantly diminished, experts say. Among the programs that could be dismantled entirely is the 70-year-old program to control sea lampreys, an exotic parasitic fish that attacks game fish and has caused billions of dollars in damage to Great Lakes fisheries.
- [Michigan home energy efficiency standards stalled amid homebuilders lawsuit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/24/michigan-home-energy-efficiency-standards-stalled-amid-homebuilders-lawsuit/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Michigan's attempt to adopt new home energy efficiency standards is facing more delays because of stiff resistance from homebuilders. The new standards were supposed to go into effect in August but are on hold while a lawsuit filed in June by representatives of the construction industry plays out in court.
- [John Ball Zoo Fights for Great Lakes’ Rarest Butterflies](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/23/john-ball-zoo-fights-for-great-lakes-rarest-butterflies/) - By Donté Smith Butterfly populations are in decline across the continental U.S., dropping by 22% between 2000 and 2020 according to a study in the journal Science. Almost a third of the 342 species studied have seen their numbers fall by more than half. To help combat that trend, the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, launched its Great Lakes Rare Butterfly Program in 2021 to protect the region’s most threatened species.
- [Michigan high schoolers take statewide road trip in solar-powered car  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/21/michigan-high-schoolers-take-statewide-road-trip-in-solar-powered-car/) - By Clara Lincolnhol On a cool and cloudy summer day, Michigan high school students recently drove the car they’d been engineering for months around the block and parked it in front of the state Capitol. The three wheeled, sharply angled, gray, white and black camo-print car seats two people and is powered by solar-charged batteries.
- [Michigan is selling over 120 plots of land. Why?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/19/michigan-is-selling-over-120-plots-of-land-why/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Lakefront property in Wexford County, 40-plus acres of forested land in the Upper Peninsula and a tiny island sitting in the middle of Lake Ponemah are up for grabs this year. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is auctioning off those and over 100 other “surplus properties” that officials say are better off in private hands, with the proceeds helping the state acquire more useful land.
- [Wild berry foraging gains popularity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/17/wild-berry-foraging-gains-popularity/) - By Rachel Lewis With summer in full swing, you-pick farms have been seeing customers picking their own fruits and vegetables across the state. From blueberries and strawberries to tomatoes and asparagus, many people have opted for gathering their produce themselves. For some, this food gathering goes beyond the farm. In recent years, many people have been turning to wild berry foraging. Instead of grocery stores, these foragers seek out fresh fruits, nuts and herbs from local hiking trails or even off the side of the road.
- [Nonprofits and robots help reduce food waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/14/nonprofits-and-robots-help-reduce-food-waste/) - By Rachel Lewis With the goal of cutting food waste by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030, The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has been helping to fund NextCycle Michigan. This program gives grants and advice to small companies in the state looking to reduce food waste. One of these start-ups is Penny Pickup. With robot food delivery vehicles becoming more popular, the company Orange Sparkle Ball decided to launch Penny Pickup as a pickup service, instead of delivery. Its focus is to remove trash and unwanted items, primarily food waste.
- [EPA grant will fund barrier to stop spread of sea lamprey in Grand River ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/12/epa-grant-will-fund-barrier-to-stop-spread-of-sea-lamprey-in-grand-river/) - By Rachel Lewis The Great Lakes Fishery Commission will receive a $2.1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to address the invasive sea lamprey in the Grand River in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- [Empowering environmental stewardship: Barn sanctuary champions compassion and Conservation](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/10/empowering-environmental-stewardship-barn-sanctuary-champions-compassion-and-conservation/) - By Donté Smith The Great Lakes, a vital freshwater expanse for millions, face an ongoing environmental crisis. Beneath the vast waters lies a significant threat: pollution stemming largely from agricultural runoff. This flow of excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen contributes to harmful algal blooms and expanding “dead zones,” jeopardizing ecosystems, water quality and public health across the region. Amidst these challenges, Barn Sanctuary in Chelsea, Michigan, works to make a positive impact on the region. Tom McKernan, sanctuary co-founder and operations director, wants the farm to stand as a living model where animal welfare and ecological stewardship aren’t just compatible, but linked.
- [Years after high water crisis, lax policies leave Michigan coast vulnerable](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/08/04/years-after-high-water-crisis-lax-policies-leave-michigan-coast-vulnerable/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen In 2020, Lawmakers gathered testimony, sought federal funding and considered creating a task force to combat coastal erosion. Local governments looked to replace outdated zoning rules that let people build too close to the shore. Experts suggested fixes, from incentivizing property owners to move their homes farther inland to banning seawalls that ultimately worsen erosion. But the political will for change seemed to recede with the water. Five years since the height of the crisis — with water levels now 6 inches below average — most Michigan communities still allow home construction perilously close to the shore. Bills aiming to curb construction on coastal dunes or make it easier for homeowners to protect their homes with temporary barriers have failed to gain traction in the Legislature.
- [Researchers studying why Michigan's moose population isn't growing](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/30/researchers-studying-why-michigans-moose-population-isnt-growing/) - By Rachel Lewis After the great “moose lifts” in the 1980s, researchers were confident Michigan’s moose population would continue to grow, with a projection that the population could reach numbers in the thousands within 15 years. However, since 2010, the DNR has seen the moose population growth stagnate, with population estimates half of what was expected after the reintroduction. This prompted a collaboration among researchers to look into what's causing the lack of population growth.
- [How Michigan is trying to stop the box tree moth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/28/how-michigan-is-trying-to-stop-the-box-tree-moth/) - By Rachel Lewis Boxwood shrubs are popular in Michigan because they add greenery in winter months and deer don't eat them. They had no predators until 2021, when the box tree moth was discovered in New York. Quarantine areas have grown from 11 to 13 counties in Michigan over the last two years.
- [Wake boats make big waves, bigger clashes on Michigan lakes. Time for limits?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/19/wake-boats-make-big-waves-bigger-clashes-on-michigan-lakes-time-for-limits/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Homeowners and environmental groups are pushing for reforms to restrict wake boats to deeper areas far from shore, aligning Michigan law with existing guidance from the Department of Natural Resources. A handful of states including Maine, Vermont and Tennessee in recent years have passed laws limiting wakeboarding to specific areas or deeper waters, while a push to do so in Michigan last year was dead in the water in Lansing. Wake boat enthusiasts say they’re being scapegoated for a larger problem.
- [Michigan residents have surprisingly higher risk of being struck by lightning](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/17/michigan-residents-have-surprisingly-higher-risk-of-being-struck-by-lightning/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Michigan experiences hundreds of thousands of lightning strikes each year and ranks 25th in lightning density per square mile, according to data from last year. Lightning strikes in Michigan are on the lower side of the scale because the state gets fewer storms than many others. But the number of people struck by lightning in the state is disproportionately high.
- [Michigan residents encouraged to report wild turkey sightings this summer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/15/michigan-residents-encouraged-to-report-wild-turkey-sightings-this-summer/) - By Clara Lincolnhol The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking state residents to report the number of wild turkeys they see this summer. The statewide survey will be used to get a sense of the turkey population to find out if baby turkeys are replacing adults. The survey, which runs through the end of August, asks residents to report when and where they’ve seen the birds in Michigan.
- [Can Michigan’s forests survive climate change? One researcher is finding out](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/12/can-michigans-forests-survive-climate-change-one-researcher-is-finding-out/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen As Michigan’s climate warms, tree species like red pine and eastern white pine may no longer thrive here. Their native regions are moving north faster than forests can keep up with. That could have devastating consequences for Michigan’s $26.5 billion timber industry and rob the state of the ecological services the forest provides like carbon storage, water filtration and wildlife habitats. To help forests stand a chance, Michigan State University forest genetics assistant professor Jeremy Johnson is experimenting with “assisted tree migration.”
- [Wildlife changes found on Lake Huron island](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/18/wildlife-changes-found-on-lake-huron-island/) - By Eric Freedman In nature, a lot can change on a largely uninhabited Great Lakes island over the course of a century. And a lot can stay the same. That includes the disappearance and appearance of wildlife species. That’s what scientists discovered when they inventoried mammals and amphibians on Charity Island, a 252-acre speck near the mouth of Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron. It’s one of about 35,000 islands in the Great Lakes, most of them even smaller than Charity Island, according to a recent study.
- [Wild rice being affected by climate change  ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/07/07/wild-rice-being-affected-by-climate-change/) - By Isabella Figueroa To the Ojibwe, manoomin is more than a plant: It’s a sacred relative. However, as lakes warm and waters rise, their ancient bond is being tested by climate change.
- [Illinois coal ash a statewide groundwater threat](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/06/05/groundwater-contaminated-by-coal-ash-a-statewide-problem-for-illinois/) - No one region of Illinois is safe from contamination of groundwater from coal ash.
- [Coal emissions can concentrate radioactivity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/06/06/burning-coal-can-concentrate-radioactive-particles/) - A 2015 Duke University-led study found radioactive contaminants, such as byproducts of uranium and thorium, can be highly concentrated in this ash.
- [Need a summer read? Join this basin-wide book club](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/05/13/need-a-summer-read-join-this-basin-wide-book-club/) - Readers across the Great Lakes states and Canada this year will participate in a basin-wide book club hosted by the Library of the Great Lakes. From now until September 2025 participants will read Michigan author Sally Cole-Misch’s The Best Part of Us and Ontario author Joanne Robertson’s children’s book, The Water Walker.
- [Piping plovers face new threat in the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2018/06/25/piping-plovers-face-new-threat-in-the-great-lakes/) - A new predator has emerged for piping plovers in the Great Lakes.
- [Aquaculture can help local communities, economies and food security, study shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/20/aquaculture-can-help-local-communities-economies-and-food-security-study-shows/) - By Isabella Figueroa There are many reasons for aquaculture, like food, stocking, ornamental and bait. Historically, commercial fishing provided local, sustainable seafood. Due to environmental regulations, species decline and economic shifts, however, this industry has shrunk in the Great Lakes Region, according to a recent study.
- [New state program encourages Michigan residents to report bat roosts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/24/new-state-program-encourages-michigan-residents-to-report-bat-roosts/) - By Clara Lincolnhol The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging residents to report bat roosts. These are the places where bats sleep and raise their babies like chimneys, trees and bridges. DNR bat specialist John DePue says the Michigan Bat Roost Monitoring Program will collect data that will help scientists better understand bat behavior and improve conservation methods.
- [Century-old shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan by a 25-year-old angler](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/26/century-old-shipwreck-discovered-in-lake-michigan-by-a-25-year-old-angler/) - By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira It was another foggy day of fishing on the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan. As 25-year-old Christopher Thuss was scanning the waters for bass, something unexpected appeared on his sonar: an unknown object beneath the surface. What he had discovered was no ordinary catch, but a 102-year-old shipwreck, the J.C. Ames.
- [Michigan’s bottle return rates keep falling. Is it time for change?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/16/michigans-bottle-return-rates-keep-falling-is-it-time-for-change/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Michigan beer and pop buyers increasingly aren’t bothering to return their bottles and cans to get their deposit back, and in the process left more than $116 million on the table last year. Some beverage industry representatives are pointing to the decrease as a sign that the law has become irrelevant. Meanwhile, retailers and environmentalists alike are looking at what could be done to make returning empties more convenient — although they butt heads on how exactly to do so.
- [Great Lakes slightly colder than usual ahead of summer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/11/great-lakes-slightly-colder-than-usual-ahead-of-summer/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Now that Memorial Day is behind us, thoughts naturally turn to summer and the return of watersports on the Great Lakes, but Michiganders tempted to take a dip in those inviting waters now might be in for a chilly surprise. Slowed by a cold May, the Great Lakes are slightly cooler than usual for this time of year.
- [Michigan’s fight against Lake Erie pollution didn’t work. What happens next?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/13/michigans-fight-against-lake-erie-pollution-didnt-work-what-happens-next/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Michigan and its neighbors have missed a 2025 deadline to curb the farm pollution that feeds toxic algal blooms in western Lake Erie, despite 10 years of work and millions of dollars spent on the effort. Now, state officials are revamping their strategy. But they’re not setting a new deadline for
- [New book digs into Indigenous cuisine through archaeology, culture and ecology](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/09/new-book-digs-into-indigenous-cuisine-through-archaeology-culture-and-ecology/) - By Isabella Figueroa In a new book, archeologists who study past societies of the Great Lakes and Midwest agree “you are what you eat,” but they say there’s a lot more to it than that. It’s also how we eat: the ways we “prepare, cook and consume” those foods are influenced by our history, family and natural environment.The book’s essays use the concept of cuisine to go beyond ingredients when studying thousand-year old foodways in regions that now make up Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and other states.
- [White throated sparrow takes first place in fattest bird competition ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/06/03/white-throated-sparrow-takes-first-place-in-fattest-bird-competition/) - By Clara Lincolnhol A very round white throated sparrow is the heavyweight champion of the 2025 Wisconsin Fat Bird Week contest. The bird, coined the “spherical white-throated sparrow,” won by a landslide, receiving 72% of the vote in the final round against its nearest competitor, a “rotund ruby-throated hummingbird.”
- [Skyline’s lost salamanders: What’s in a name?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/31/skylines-lost-salamanders-whats-in-a-name/) - By Ashley Han and Olivia Watters Can two animals look the same, act the same, even share a mother and yet be two different species? You can find an answer in a very particular kind of salamander which resides in the Skyline High School wetlands: the LJJ unisexual hybrid salamanders. These salamanders are akin to legend in this Ann Arbor school’s halls. Ask around and you’ll get a dozen different answers to what these creatures are, why they matter –and where they’ve gone.
- [Skyline’s lost salamanders: Forgotten wetlands and the fight for restoration](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/27/skylines-lost-salamanders-forgotten-wetlands-and-the-fight-for-restoration/) - By Ashley Han and Olivia Watters Every year, Skyline High School students go salamander hunting. AP Environmental Sciences (APES) students in this Ann Arbor school have heard too much about the school wetlands’ rare salamanders to not investigate for themselves. When construction for Skyline broke ground in 2004, it revealed a rare population of LJJ unisexual hybrid salamanders – first incorrectly thought to be silvery salamanders.
- [Michigan black bears move south ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/23/michigan-black-bears-move-south/) - By Gray Longcore “There’s bears here?” That was a common response this spring to the first public display of photos of a black bear taken from trail cameras just a half-hour drive from downtown Lansing. These sightings are part of a recent southward push of black bears in Michigan.
- [Scientists seek sources of fecal pollution that can contaminate rivers and close beaches](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/21/scientists-seek-sources-of-fecal-pollution-that-can-contaminate-rivers-and-close-beaches/) - By Joshua Kim Water quality experts are using DNA tools to track down contamination responsible for beach closures and reduced recreational opportunities along the Great Lakes and other Michigan inland lakes and streams.
- [Why smallmouth bass are getting bigger in Michigan waterways](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/07/why-smallmouth-bass-are-getting-bigger-in-michigan-waterways/) - By Victoria Witke Catch and release ethics is credited for the fact that smallmouth bass in Lake St. Clair have been getting larger over the past 50 years, a DNR study finds. Other factors may include warming Great Lakes water temperatures and longer growing seasons due to climate change.
- [Michigan Municipal League suggests delivery tax to help fund local roads](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/17/michigan-municipal-league-suggests-delivery-tax-to-help-fund-local-roads/) - By Victoria Witke A proposal would impose a 50-cent per delivery “retail delivery tax” to raise about $275 million a year to fix local streets. We hear from the Michigan Municipal League, which is floating the idea, and the Michigan Retailers Association and Small Business Association of Michigan which call it a no-go. An Ann Arbor legislator on the subcommittee that handles transportation funding says the money is badly needed.
- [New research offers hope in the war against the emerald ash borer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/18/new-research-offers-hope-in-the-war-against-the-emerald-ash-borer/) - By Victoria Witke After the death of tens of millions of Michigan ash trees from the invasive emerald ash borer, a new study done in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties shows white ash are more resilient than previously thought. Despite so many dying, they continue to reproduce in forests with the invasive bug.
- [‘Forest-to-table’: Rural, Indigenous communities rely on forests for food, medicine and cultural values, research shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/07/forest-to-table-rural-indigenous-communities-rely-on-forests-for-food-medicine-and-cultural-values-research-shows/) - By Victoria Witke When Roger LaBine was younger, he often drove his grandfather to the Ottawa National Forest to hunt porcupines for food and more, including birch bark-and quill baskets He’s a member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. A notable proportion of the population relies on public forests for food, and Michigan ranked third in a new study in the amount of wild meat hunted on public lands.
- [State asks residents to prepare their homes for wildfires ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/04/state-asks-residents-to-prepare-their-homes-for-wildfires/) - By Kayte Marshall It only takes a sunny afternoon, a yard full of dead leaves and one bad decision to turn spring cleaning into a wildfire. The DNR and National Fire Protection Association are advising homeowners to fight fire with foresight this year, especially in Northern Michigan where winter storms left massive amounts of flammable debris and dead trees on the ground.
- [Lake Michigan shipwreck earns National Register spot](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/02/lake-michigan-shipwreck-earns-national-register-spot/) - By Eric Freedman The National Park Service has put another Lake Michigan shipwreck on the National Register of Historic Places. But most of the boat’s history remains unknown.
- [Labor shortage keeps Ontario farmers from adopting sustainable methods, research finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/02/labor-shortage-keeps-ontario-farmers-from-adopting-sustainable-methods-research-finds/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Many Ontario farmers acknowledge the positive benefits of sustainable farming practices but don’t have the manpower to actually adopt them, according to a study published by the University of Waterloo.
- [Book tells stories of climate and community in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/05/01/book-tells-stories-of-climate-and-community-in-wisconsins-driftless-area/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Writer Tamara Dean left the city for a rural life in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, a region known for dodging the glaciers that carved the landscape of the surrounding states and the Great Lakes 10,000 years ago.
- [Michigan’s summer is ripe with produce festivals](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/30/michigans-summer-is-ripe-with-produce-festivals/) - By Kayte Marshall Hail to the annual produce and food crop festivals. We learn about the Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival and Romeo Peach Festival and talk to Pure Michigan.
- [DNR collecting steelhead eggs for annual hatching and release](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/29/dnr-collecting-steelhead-eggs-for-annual-hatching-and-release/) - By Dylan Engels The DNR is collecting 4.5 million steelhead eggs at the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee County. Most are incubated at the Thompson State Hatchery in Manistique and the Wolf Lake State Hatchery in Mattawan for release next spring.
- [What to expect with the start of 2025’s fishing season](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/22/what-to-expect-with-the-start-of-2025s-fishing-season/) - By Dylan Engels Fishing licenses for the year are available, and DNR has changed a few requirements. We talk to experts from the Platte River Hatchery in Beulah, DNR and Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
- [Law students, attorneys could advocate for animals in cruelty cases under new proposal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/18/law-students-attorneys-could-advocate-for-animals-in-cruelty-cases-under-new-proposal/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen Legislation would let law students and lawyers represent the interests of abused animals in criminal prosecutions related to the animal’s welfare or custody. The idea is rooted in a massive 1995 animal abuse case in Ottawa County.
- [Wisconsin grant to help spread the news on eating safe amount of fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/15/wisconsin-grant-to-help-spread-the-news-on-eating-safe-amount-of-fish/) - By Isabella Figueroa The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has been granted $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to better reach Spanish, Hmong and rural populations.
- [Chasing thundersnow: Students join scientists in electrifying lake-effect storm research](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/14/chasing-thundersnow-students-join-scientists-in-electrifying-lake-effect-storm-research/) - By Julia Belden From November 2022 to February 2023, scientists – and a small army of undergraduate research assistants – braved frigid temperatures and deep snow to document winter lightning along the easternmost shores of Lake Ontario as part of a National Science Foundation-funded study.
- [Tradition meets technology: Illinois report says future of farming includes AI and robots](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/14/tradition-meets-technology-illinois-report-says-future-of-farming-includes-ai-and-robots/) - By Shealyn Paulis The future of farming might be more digital than you expect. Researchers say technology and artificial intelligence could be the answer to future agriculture resilience and sustainability.
- [In debate over protecting large or small natural areas, answer may be both](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/09/in-debate-over-protecting-large-or-small-natural-areas-answer-may-be-both/) - By Ruth Thornton A new study finds that large, continuous natural areas protect more plants and animals than many small patches, but small patches also provide valuable biodiversity benefits. The UP has more large areas than the Northern Lower Peninsula.
- [Great Lakes water bird health suffers at polluted sites despite cleanup efforts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/07/great-lakes-water-bird-health-suffers-at-polluted-sites-despite-cleanup-efforts/) - By Joshua Kim Despite decades-long efforts to clean up toxic hot spots along Michigan’s Great Lakes shores, a recent study shows that the health of water birds in some areas continues to suffer. Researchers examined ten years of data on fish-eating birds living near Saginaw Bay, the River Raisin, and Grand Traverse Bay.
- [Seventh day of invasive species Christmas: Seven carp and counting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/12/31/seventh-day-of-invasive-species-christmas-seven/) - The latest of 12 days of invasive species Christmas.
- [Farmers claim state overregulates, but perspectives differ across the industry](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/04/farmers-claim-state-overregulates-but-perspectives-differ-across-the-industry/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen An Ottawa County legislator, who is also a dairy farmer, says the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy regulations of animal waste are too strict and harm businesses. The Michigan Environmental Council says strict rules are necessary, as does a Lenawee County farmer-activist who provides water testing training to rural communities.
- [Lawmakers consider new rules for pet cemeteries](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/04/02/lawmakers-consider-new-rules-for-pet-cemeteries/) - By Finn Mills here’s a proposal from a West Bloomfield senator to tighten state regulation of pet cemeteries, sparked in part by problems with a Howell pet cemetery that shut down in 2018, leaving pet owners to exhume the remains of their departeds.
- [Bacteria in Lake Superior reveal climate change’s impact on Great Lakes, research finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/31/bacteria-in-lake-superior-reveal-climate-changes-impact-on-great-lakes-research-finds/) - By Georgia Hill Rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions in the Great Lakes contribute to harmful algal blooms. New research suggests that the nearshore regions of Lake Superior could indicate climate change’s effects on the region’s ecosystem.
- [Proposal would give aid to students planning to work in nuclear and hydrogen energy fields](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/proposal-would-give-aid-to-students-planning-to-work-in-nuclear-and-hydrogen-energy-fields/) - By Finn Mills Lawmakers say the state should give scholarships and grants to students committed to work in Michigan’s nuclear and hydrogen. The lead sponsor is from Hazel Park. Cosponsors include legislators from Antrim Township, Negaunee, Grand Rapids, Brownstown and Midland.
- [Climate change is making Great Lakes water birds sick, research shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/26/climate-change-is-making-great-lakes-water-birds-sick-research-shows/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Climate change is making it easier for Great Lakes water birds to get sick, according to a recent University of Illinois study. Data from the last 50 years shows an increase in avian disease as climate change worsens, said study co-author Nathan Alexander.
- [Walkable communities associated with better health, study shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/24/walkable-communities-associated-with-better-health-study-shows/) - By Emilio Perez Ibarguen A new MSU study found that a community’s walkability – particularly the density of pedestrian crossings and public transit stops – influences residents’ health outcomes such as blood pressure, cholesterol and depression. Hamtamck ranks as Michigan’s most walkable city.
- [Picnics and Porcupines: Book explores history of eating outside in the U.P.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/11/picnics-and-porcupines-book-explores-history-of-eating-outside-in-the-u-p/) - By Isabella Figueroa A new book explores how picnics in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have brought communities together, connecting the past through nature with a shared meal outdoors.
- [Sneaky salmon live life in the fast lane](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/24/sneaky-salmon-live-life-in-the-fast-lane/) - By Julia Belden It’s one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular events. Mature chinook salmon, battered from a long and exhausting migration, return to the shallow tributaries of their birthplace to spawn. It’s the final act of the salmon’s short two-to-three-year life: after passing on their genes to the next generation, the fish quickly die.
- [Putting passion to pages: Minnesota authors release second guide to state wildflowers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/17/putting-passion-to-pages-minnesota-authors-release-second-guide-to-state-wildflowers/) - By Shealyn Paulis Two Minnesota nature enthusiasts have spent years chasing the state’s most elusive wildflowers. Their journey, filled with adventure and discovery, is now captured in their upcoming book, Chasing Wildflowers: An Adventurous Guide to Finding Minnesota’s Native Flowers in Their Unique Habitats.
- [House bill proposes state funds for noise control along highways](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/07/house-bill-proposes-state-funds-for-noise-control-along-highways/) - By Finn Mills A Utica representative and a Rochester Hills senator want to authorize new funding for noise abatement projects along state highways. MDOT is studying the legislation and says Michigan has suspended construction of noise abatement measures due to a lack of funding since 2007.
- [Forever chemicals in biosolids may pose problems for municipalities, farmers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/07/forever-chemicals-in-biosolids-may-pose-problems-for-municipalities-farmers/) - By Ruth Thornton A common practice by farmers to fertilize their fields may be spreading forever chemicals into new areas and into the food supply. It can be a cost-effective way for municipalities to dispose of sewage sludge but raises health concerns.
- [Michigan’s wolf numbers are growing, presenting challenges](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/03/michigans-wolf-numbers-are-growing-presenting-challenges/) - By Dylan Engels Michigan’s wolf population has grown since the animal was listed as an endangered species a half-century ago, and that raises some concerns. Meanwhile, a new study from the National Park Service and the University of Wisconsin looks at how the reintroduction of wolves on Isle Royale has affected the diets of two other island predators, the American marten and the fox.
- [Book gathers historic accounts of Michigan cougar encounters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/03/03/book-gathers-historic-accounts-of-michigan-cougar-encounters/) - By Anna Barnes A new book from a Rogers City-area writer collects tales of the contentious issue of the presence or absence of cougars in the Northern Lower Peninsula and UP.
- [Ice fishing returns to Lake Erie after years of thin ice and open water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/27/ice-fishing-returns-to-lake-erie-after-years-of-thin-ice-and-open-water/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Ice fishing has returned to Lake Erie this year after several seasons of thin ice and open water. Business owners and anglers have noted an increase in activity, with some reporting higher turnout than in previous years. At the same time, changing ice conditions in recent years have raised questions about long-term trends on the Great Lakes.
- [State continues to support restoration of iconic lighthouses](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/24/state-continues-to-support-restoration-of-iconic-lighthouses/) - By Dylan Engels State funds are now available for the North Pierhead Lighthouse restoration in Manistee, with the goal of opening to the public in 2026. Since 2021, the State Historic Preservation Office has awarded over $390,000 to restore lighthouses, among them Grand Haven Inner Pier Light, Eagle Harbor Light Station in Keweenaw County and, most recently, North Pierhead Lighthouse in Manistee.
- [State program brings fourth graders to state parks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/20/state-program-brings-fourth-graders-to-state-parks/) - By Kayte Marshall The DNR’s Nature Awaits program brings fourth graders to more than two dozen state parks, including ones in Mattawan, Holland, Paradise, Norton Shores and Detroit.
- [Legislation to increase land division could expand housing opportunities, but worries arise](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/17/legislation-to-increase-land-division-could-expand-housing-opportunities-but-worries-arise/) - By Daniel Schoenherr A new Senate bill would make it easier to subdivide parcels of 10 or more acres in what proponents say would encourage construction of more affordable housing. Critics counter it could put a strain on municipal infrastructure. Sponsor is from St. Clair Shores.
- [Michigan climate action plans must better address marginalized communities, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/24/michigan-climate-action-plans-must-better-address-marginalized-communities-study-finds/) - By Georgia Hill Many local governments in Michigan are taking steps to address climate change, but a recent study suggests that their efforts often overlook communities most vulnerable to environmental hazards.
- [Gun safety bill would add firearm education for middle and high school students ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/14/gun-safety-bill-would-add-firearm-education-for-middle-and-high-school-students/) - By Katie Finkbeiner A group of Democratic and Republican senators want to bring gun safety instruction into middle and high schools with DNR-certified instructors. The lead sponsor, from North Muskegon, said the program would improve gun safety among youth and perhaps increase the ranks of young hunters. Cosponsors include senators from Detroit, Harbor Springs, Manton and Mount Pleasant and Six Lakes. A U-M expert discusses.
- [Researchers scrambling to understand implications of forever chemicals found in fish, waters of Lake Huron](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/13/researchers-scrambling-to-understand-implications-of-forever-chemicals-found-in-fish-waters-of-lake-huron/) - By Ruth Thornton A new study finds new PFAS in the water and fish of Lake Huron near Rockport and Port Austin, raising concerns about human and wildlife health. We talk to one of the authors, experts from the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, an Alpena charter boat captain and an East Lansing legislator.
- [Artificial turf trend continues in high schools amid safety considerations](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/03/artificial-turf-trend-continues-in-high-schools-amid-safety-considerations/) - By Donté Smith Artificial turf fields are becoming a hallmark at high schools across the state with the Michigan High School Athletic Association reporting around 100 high schools now playing on them. A study by the University Hospitals Sports Medicine Institute and Case Western Reserve University showed athletes were 58% more likely to sustain an injury during athletic activities on artificial turf, compared to natural surfaces, with significantly higher injury rates observed in football, soccer and rugby.
- [Toledo’s community art highlights importance of native plants for safe drinking water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/10/toledos-community-art-highlights-importance-of-native-plants-for-safe-drinking-water/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Toledo, Ohio, has a rich Rust Belt history that influences its present-day culture. Local environmental groups and agencies are turning to public art to teach residents that the area’s natural history is just as important. "Telling this story through something visual that beautifies a community is a great way to educate Toledo residents and reconnect them to nature in the place they call home, said Rob Krain," executive director for the Black Swamp Conservancy.
- [CDC awards biomonitoring grants to Great Lakes states; Future funding unclear](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/02/06/cdc-awards-biomonitoring-grants-to-great-lakes-states-future-funding-unclear/) - By Isabella Figueroa New grants to Great Lakes states to measure harmful chemicals in marginalized communities are facing uncertainty under increased White House scrutiny on federal spending. In September 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded a first round of $5 million across six state biomonitoring programs that measure chemicals in people. Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin were among the states receiving grants.
- [Hotter temperatures worsen health inequalities in Detroit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/01/29/hotter-temperatures-worsen-health-inequalities-in-detroit/) - By Ayushya Gautam Big buildings, concrete and roads paint Detroit, just as they do other cities across the country. As a result, the city’s temperature also tends to be hotter than in nearby communities. Cities are prone to the heat island effect, a phenomenon in which urban areas experience more heat than rural or even nearby suburban areas due to the concentration of infrastructure.
- [More goose poop, more problems](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/01/27/more-goose-poop-more-problems/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Chris Compton, owner of a company called Goose Busters, has spent nearly 30 years addressing human-goose conflicts. Over the years, the goose population has continued to grow, especially in more populated areas, he said. “We have them all over,” he said. “They’re building up in Lansing quite a bit. Ann Arbor’s a big area. Troy, Detroit, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills too.” That also means there’s a lot of goose poop. One adult goose can produce up to two pounds of feces a day. Too much waste could cause environmental problems, research shows.
- [Michigan’s lost prairies: Grassland restoration fights wildlife decline](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/28/michigans-lost-prairies-grassland-restoration-fights-wildlife-decline/) - By Ruth Thornton Gary Groff fondly remembers hunting all day on his grandfather’s land as a boy. “For my dad’s life he could not believe that I could go out there before daylight and come back after dark,” he said. Now retired for many years, he still hunts the central Michigan property with friends. The
- [First-ever transit service hovercraft in North America plans to hit the water in summer 2023](https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/02/23/first-ever-transit-service-hovercraft-in-north-america-plans-to-hit-the-water-in-summer-2023/) - More modern versions have switched to a more conventional diesel engine, much quieter and much more fuel- efficient.
- [Many elderly Ohioans feel unprepared for severe weather, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/01/02/many-elderly-ohioans-feel-unprepared-for-severe-weather-study-finds/) - By Clara Lincolnhol Ohio took a beating from a record-breaking 73 tornadoes in 2024. Twisters and other severe weather events are becoming more common in the Midwest due to climate change, and seniors are more at risk. As the threat from major storms grows, roughly one in five older adults living in central Ohio say
- [EPA restricts use of chemicals used in dry cleaning, brake cleaners ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/01/01/epa-restricts-use-of-chemicals-used-in-dry-cleaning-brake-cleaners/) - By Elinor Epperson The Environmental Protection Agency has banned the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning processes. The chemical will be phased out over a 10-year period. The EPA has banned all uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE). Those are cancer-causing chemicals used in a variety of consumer products and industrial
- [Minnesota debates what counts as carbon-free energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/21/minnesota-debates-what-counts-as-carbon-free-energy/) - Carbon-free or renewable energy sources generally include wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal, Bresette said. Together, nearly one-third of Minnesota’s energy came from these sources in 2023, compared to about one-fifth of U.S. energy. However, not all of them are as reliable as fossil fuels. “Solar works best during the day, wind resources are typically strongest
- [Wolves could expand across the eastern U.S.—but they might need help](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/17/wolves-could-expand-across-the-eastern-u-s-but-they-might-need-help/) - By Ruth Thornton Gray wolves could thrive in the eastern United States well beyond their current range in the Great Lakes region, but they might have a hard time reaching other suitable habitats without human intervention, researchers say. Wolves once had the largest known range of any land mammal but they were nearly exterminated in
- [Transit agencies to test thermal cameras to beef up traffic safety](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/26/transit-agencies-to-test-thermal-cameras-to-beef-up-traffic-safety/) - By Anna Rossow Capital News Service Federal grant money will help Michigan’s Department of Transportation implement increased safety measures for public transit drivers and pedestrians. MDOT will receive over $500,000 in funding to install thermal imaging cameras on public transit vehicles to help prevent collisions with people and animals in a variety of weather and
- [West Michigan timber fraud earns prison term](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/24/west-michigan-timber-fraud-earns-prison-term/) - By Eric Freedman Capital News Service The former owner of a West Michigan timber harvesting business has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for cheating investors of more than $2 million. Authorities said Trent Witteveen of Montague ran a Ponzi scheme involving phony documents and misusing some investors’ money to repay others. U.S.
- [Robins may be a predictor of dangerous lead levels in soil, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/22/robins-may-be-a-predictor-of-dangerous-lead-levels-in-soil-study-finds/) - By Eric Freedman Capital News Service Remember the canary in the coal mine? If the caged canary died, that was an urgent early warning for miners that the air was too dangerous to breathe and to get above-ground as quickly as possible. Now there’s evidence from Southeast Michigan that the American robin can provide
- [New strategies driving public lands acquisitions](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/20/new-strategies-driving-public-lands-acquisitions/) - By Gabriel S. Martinez Capital News Service The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for deals to create more green space in populated areas as part of an updated public lands strategy. The goal is to equitably provide public access to green space, wildlife habitat and public hunting closer to where people live, department
- [New book explores the wonders of inland waters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/18/new-book-explores-the-wonders-of-inland-waters/) - By Isabella Figueroa Around 97% of all the water on the planet is in the vast oceans that cover more than two-thirds of its surface. “But Seas are not the only body of water that make Earth special,” ecologist David Strayer writes in his new book. “Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams,
- [Michigan wants to become a hub for hydrogen ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/16/michigan-wants-to-become-a-hub-for-hydrogen/) - By Elinor Epperson Capital News Service Michigan is part of an effort to build hydrogen infrastructure in the Midwest. The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) has received $22 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to plan several projects, three of which are in Michigan. The alliance, backed by the Michigan Infrastructure Office, wants
- [Human composting draws interest as alternative to traditional burials](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/14/human-composting-draws-interest-as-alternative-to-traditional-burials/) - By Anna Rossow Capital News Service The popularity of a cheaper and environmentally friendly burial alternative is rising in the U.S., but Michigan has yet to legalize it. Human composting transforms the body into soil, according to Earth Funeral, a human composting company with locations in Washington and Nevada.Human. Human composting, which accelerates the natural
- [State seeks feedback about pilot program for self-driving cars ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/12/state-seeks-feedback-about-pilot-program-for-self-driving-cars/) - By Elinor Epperson Capital News Service Three miles of westbound I-94 in Wayne and Washtenaw counties are already set up for connected and automated vehicles. Now the Department of Transportation wants public feedback on the proposed project, which would include almost 40 miles of I-94 if completed. It's proposed to eventually span about 39 miles
- [Targeted grants aim to increase Michigan’s recycling efforts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/10/targeted-grants-aim-to-increase-michigans-recycling-efforts/) - By Donté Smith Capital News Service For the third year in a row, Michigan’s recycling rate has hit a record-high, according to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Michigan’s recycling rate has risen from about 14% before 2019 to over 23% now. Officials say they expect the state will reach a 30% recycling rate
- [Great Lakes region hit hard by steel industry pollution, report finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/12/06/great-lakes-region-hit-hard-by-steel-industry-pollution-report-finds/) - By Joshua Kim Pollution from coal-based steel production causes hundreds of premature deaths each year, with people in the Great Lakes region bearing much of the burden, according to a recent report. The nonprofit research group Industrious Labs looked at 17 coal-based steel plants and coke facilities operating in the United States and the
- [Michigan conservatives join conversation on renewable energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/09/michigan-conservatives-join-conversation-on-renewable-energy/) - A new conservative group is hoping to open up the conversation about renewable energy. The Michigan Conservative Energy Forum is working to increase the state’s investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
- [Mid-Michigan Peregrine Falcons expecting ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/22/mid-michigan-peregrine-falcons-expecting/) - Few parents will produce offspring as rare as those of Eckert and Viper.
- [Stargazers drawn to dark sky park](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/29/stargazers-drawn-to-michigans-dark-sky-park/) - Due to their locations away from city lights and often near water, dark sky parks offer enhanced opportunities to see, study, and enjoy the night sky and everything in it.
- [Farm fertilizer produces greenhouse gas](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/23/farm-fertilizer-produces-greenhouse-gas/) - Most people are aware of the “sexy” greenhouse gas CO-2. Fewer know of its co-culprit nitrous oxide. The third-largest greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide is released in soil during a natural process. However, the increased use of nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture has resulted in harmful nitrous oxide emissions.
- [Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/25/michigan-may-authorize-new-uses-for-toxic-coal-ash/) - Michigan may authorize new uses for toxic coal ash by Great Lakes Echo One of the bills that cleared the Michigan legislature this session was a provision that allows certain bio-waste materials to be re-used for beneficial purposes. These substances include things like cement kiln dust, wood pulp and coal ash. Coal ash is the
- [Exploring Michigan's Pere Marquette River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/30/all-along-the-pere-marquette-book-explores-canoeing-kayaking-hot-spots/) - Since his college years, Doc Fletcher has been canoeing and kayaking the countless waterways in the Midwest. One of his favorite places to paddle is on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan.
- [Beyond beauty, Michigan plants offer environmental edge](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/10/beyond-beauty-michigan-plants-offer-environmental-edge/) - Bill Schneider grows native Michigan plants and also designs ecologically focused projects such as prairie and wetland mitigation, and storm water recovery works.
- [Air near chemical plant remains polluted long after it closed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/30/air-near-chemical-plant-remains-polluted-long-after-it-closed/) - A new study says that people living within six miles of the former plant are exposed to relatively high levels of contaminants in the air and linked to the site.
- [Expert: Drone technology a game-changer in agriculture](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/16/expert-drone-technology-a-game-changer-in-agriculture/) - Still in its early stages, with many technological, legal and public safety concerns to be ironed out, drone technology and uses in agriculture are on the rise.
- [Spiny water fleas in Great Lakes indicate a larger problem](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/17/spiny-water-fleas-in-great-lakes-indicate-a-larger-problem/) - When these invasive crustaceans can thrive, it means that there is plenty of other trouble in the water.
- [University spawns robofish to monitor Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/24/msu-spawns-robofish-to-monitor-great-lakes/) - A lot of sci-fi movies and books feature robots that look like people.
- [Dam failure raises questions for state waterways](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/04/dam-failure-raises-questions-for-state-waterways/) - Eighty-eight Michigan dams have a high hazard status. More than 90 percent of state's dams by 2020 will be older than 50.
- [Farmers, environmentalists at odds over proposed EPA water rule](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/12/farmers-environmentalists-at-odds-over-proposed-epa-water-rule/) - In March, the U.S. EPA issued a new rule clarifying its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Environmentalists praise it as a way to close loopholes for water polluters, but farm bureaus across the country say it goes too far and could hurt the agricultural industry.
- [Researchers eye spread of invasive faucet snails](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/14/researchers-eye-spread-of-invasive-faucet-snails/) - The population of the invasive faucet snail is expanding in the Great Lakes.
- [Scandal and slavery by Lake Minnetonka](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/19/scandal-and-slavery-by-lake-minnetonka/) - Eric Dregni's "By the Waters of Minnetonka" sheds light on the region's rich history of European settlers, wealthy vacationers and scandal.
- [Climate change calls on us to learn to live with fire](https://greatlakesecho.org/2021/08/27/climate-change-calls-on-us-to-learn-to-live-with-fire/) - Climate change presents an opportunity for Michiganders to change their relationship with fire.
- [Can wind decarbonize Great Lakes shipping? Cargo vessels “veer” into alternative power](https://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/08/can-wind-decarbonize-great-lakes-shipping-cargo-vessels-veer-into-alternative-power/) - A start up company recently got design approval to build a ship that moves cargo with sails rather than fuel. The 330-foot-long, hydrogen cell powered sailing vessel is proposed by the Veer Group, a Bahamas-based company committed to zero carbon emissions.
- [Study shows value of culturally appropriate environmental health resources](https://greatlakesecho.org/2022/11/17/study-shows-value-of-culturally-appropriate-environmental-health-resources/) - The research collaboration among the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan and the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan has demonstrated how an advisory program designed for the Anishinaabe is a useful tool for tracking fish consumption in Great Lakes tribes.
- [Photo Friday: Wall that once split contaminated river removed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/14/old-wall-at-velsicol-site-being-removed/) - A milestone for St. Louis! Construction crews are in the process of removing a metal sheet pile wall from the Pine River near the Velsicol superfund site.
- [Underground tank scam threatened water quality](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/11/underground-tank-insurance-scam-threatened-water-quality/) - Two Michigan men pleaded guilty to falsely certifying that aging, defective petroleum tanks did not threaten groundwater.
- [Mars technologies comes to Michigan to find water leaks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/18/mars-technologies-comes-to-michigan-to-find-water-leaks/) - The radar technology developed to find water on Mars is cheaper and more effective in detecting leaks in public water systems compared to traditional ones. And now it has arrived in Michigan.
- [Waukegan activists get federal grant to test for EtO that causes cancer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/03/14/waukegan-activists-get-federal-grant-to-test-for-eto-that-causes-cancer/) - Activists from Stop EtO established the nonprofit Lake County Environmental Works and got $270,000 to test the air for EtO.
- [Tiny homes tackle homelessness around Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/26/tiny-homes-tackle-homelessness-around-michigan/) - By Donté Smith Capital News Service Tiny homes are gaining attention in the state as a potential solution for housing challenges, offering a creative approach to affordability and community-building. While often showcased as a minimalist lifestyle choice on platforms like Netflix, where shows such as “Tiny House Nation” highlight their appeal, they're also being deployed as a
- [New quarantines on firewood are helping reduce the spread of invasive insects](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/25/new-quarantines-on-firewood-are-helping-reduce-the-spread-of-invasive-insects/) - By Gabriel S. Martinez Capital News Service The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is placing quarantines around the state to contain an outbreak of invasive species, mainly by way of transporting firewood infested with pests. Laurel Downs, the forest health conservation coordinator for the national Don’t Move Firewood campaign, said when insects
- [Rural population shrinks in Michigan, political clout weakens](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/23/rural-population-shrinks-in-michigan-political-clout-weakens/) - By Victor Wooddell Capital News Service The number of young people moving to small towns and rural areas across America has been increasing, but not so in Michigan, where populations in rural areas are shrinking and aging, according to a recent report by the Census Bureau. This national trend reverses a pattern since the 1980s
- [Wasp recruited for Michigan stink bug fight](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/10/31/wasp-recruited-for-michigan-stink-bug-fight__trashed/) - Sometimes you have to fight invasive species with outside help.
- [Identifying waterbird hotspots in the Great Lakes is important for birds' survival, a study shows](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/11/01/identifying-waterbird-hotspots-in-the-great-lakes-is-important-for-birds-survival-a-study-shows/) - A recent study done in the Great Lakes highlights the importance of waterbird hotspot conservation.
- [Farmer depression deepens as climate warms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/11/27/farmer-depression-deepens-as-climate-warms/) - The heavy rain in recent years has left farmers with dangerously high levels of stress.
- [Giving white-nose the cold shoulder](https://greatlakesecho.org/2019/12/16/giving-white-nose-the-cold-shoulder/) - A new approach to combating white-nose syndrome involves constructing ventilation systems in bat dwellings.
- [Microplastics are filling the Great Lakes and birds' bellies](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/02/03/microplastics-are-filling-the-great-lakes-and-birds-bellies/) - Researchers found man-made debris in the stomachs of baby cormorants from both urban and remote areas.
- [Fighting polarization in algae bloom controversy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/02/12/fighting-polarization-in-algae-bloom-controversy/) - A new study shows some surprising common ground in Ohioans’ beliefs about solving Lake Erie’s algal bloom problem, even when they disagree on the best solution.
- [The secret savior of the US and Canada's shared waters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/02/17/the-secret-savior-of-the-us-and-canadas-shared-waters/) - Read about the history of the little known International Joint Commission in “The First Century of the International Joint Commission.”
- [Looking back at Michigan's environmental risk](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/05/26/looking-back-at-michigans-environmental-risk/) - This is the first part of a four-part series on Environmental Risk in Michigan: Past, Present and Future.
- [Risks in Michigan's urban environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/06/01/risks-in-michigans-urban-environment/) - This is the second part of a four-part series on Environmental Risk in Michigan: Past, Present and Future.
- [The future of Michigan's environmental risk](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/06/15/the-future-of-michigans-environmental-risk/) - This is the final part of a four-part series on Environmental Risk in Michigan: Past, Present and Future.
- [Education builds lasting connections to Michigan's environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/06/08/education-builds-lasting-connections-to-michigans-environment/) - This is the third part of a four-part series on Environmental Risk in Michigan: Past, Present and Future.
- [Irrigation hides climate change threats to streams, water scorpions, trout](https://greatlakesecho.org/2020/02/25/irrigation-hides-climate-change-threats-to-streams-water-scorpions-trout/) - Drops in baseflow can harm stream’s health and the health of the organisms that rely on them. But irrigation can mask climate-driven drops in those flows, said Sue Borchardt, a doctoral student in the department of geography at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- [University of Michigan hosts smelly art installation](https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/25/university-of-michigan-hosts-smelly-art-installation/) - This project really provides a leverage for organizations to be more actively involved, and engage the community into big societal issues of our time.
- [Study warns of climate risks to hazardous waste facilities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/24/study-warns-of-climate-risks-to-hazardous-waste-facilities/) - By Anna Rossow Capital News Service A new Government Accountability Office study of hazardous waste facilities found them at risk of damage from climate-related events such as flooding and hurricanes. Some are in the six-state Great Lakes region, including ones near southern Lake Michigan. According to the study, there are more than 700 treatment, storage
- [New book explores efforts to restore West Michigan’s ‘water of the walleye’](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/22/new-book-explores-efforts-to-restore-west-michigans-water-of-the-walleye/) - By Isabella Figueroa Hundreds of years ago, the Ottawa people called it Ken-O-Sha, or "water of the walleye"—a 26-mile tributary of Michigan's Grand River where the fish were abundant. Today it is known as Plaster Creek, a name that refers to the gypsum mines that polluted the waterway near Grand Rapids beginning in the mid-19th
- [NOAA to study Great Lakes climate change with underwater robots](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/21/noaa-to-study-great-lakes-climate-change-with-underwater-robots/) - By Georgia Hill As climate change increasingly shapes the Great Lakes region’s ecology and economy, scientists plan to use underwater robots to gather previously inaccessible data they say will help communities adapt. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in September that its Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory received $1.9 million through the federal Bipartisan
- [How new charging stations are set to drive Michigan’s EV future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/17/how-new-charging-stations-are-set-to-drive-michigans-ev-future/) - By Donté Smith Capital News Service As electric vehicles become more common, Michigan is expanding its charging infrastructure to ensure accessibility for drivers statewide. The state’s Department of Transportation, supported by federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program funds, is accelerating construction of EV charging stations in both urban and rural areas. Currently, there are around
- [Fraudsters face sentencing in fake green energy venture ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/15/fraudsters-face-sentencing-in-fake-green-energy-venture/) - By Georgia Hill Two men who admitted conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud await sentencing for cheating 22 investors out of more than $2 million from June 2016 to April 2018. Former Pittsburgh resident Jonathan Freeze and Kevin Carney of Euclid, Ohio, have pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh. Freeze, Carney, and a
- [Proposed official state poem lauds Michigan natural resources](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/23/the-rhymes-the-thing-proposed-official-state-poem-lauds-michigan-natural-resources/) - “God knitted a mitten of wood, rock and lime, Made a foundation to last through all time..."
- [Winged Wednesday: Invaders bring bird-killing  botulism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/24/winged-wednesday-invaders-bring-bird-killing-botulism/) - Invaders have been driving a deadly surge in avian botulism in the Great Lakes over the past 15 years, killing an estimated 80,000 birds.
- [Judge OKs controversial land swap in Michigan’s Ottawa National Forest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/25/judge-oks-controversial-land-swap-in-michigans-ottawa-national-forest/) - He said Forest Service considered objections to losing public access to scenic Wildcat Falls, which the agency acknowledged give some visitors “a sense of place and attachment to the area.”
- [To catch a predator:  Citizens enlisted to track invasive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/26/to-catch-a-predator-citizens-enlisted-to-track-invasive-species/) - Online reporting helps put more eyes on the paths of destructive invaders.
- [Photo Friday: Watershed groups compete in dragon boat race](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/26/watershed-groups-compete-in-dragon-boat-race/) - Members of three organizations that work to preserve Michigan’s Grand River recently took home a second place in the Capital City Dragon Boat race.
- [DNR: Wolf management plan can include responsible hunting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/29/dnr-wolf-management-plan-can-include-responsible-hunting/) - Some states are considering hunting as a way to control potential wolf/human conflicts.
- [Microplastics discovered across the bottom of St. Lawrence River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/29/microplastics-discovered-across-the-bottom-of-st-lawrence-river/) - Researchers have discovered microplastics across the bottom of the St. Lawrence River, the first time these pollutants have been found in freshwater sediment. Scientists from McGill University and the province of Quebec published their discovery this month in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. The microbeads they found usually come from personal care
- [Great Lakes cities found at the intersection of walkable and affordable](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/30/great-lakes-cities-found-at-the-intersection-of-walkable-and-affordable/) - We’ve always known that the Great Lakes are the center of the freshwater universe. But who would have thought that they are the intersection of affordability and walkability? A group that’s developed a method of scoring a community’s walkability recently listed neighborhoods in a dozen U.S. cities that are not only easy to get around,
- [Great Lakes in review: mayors on algae, restoration update](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/01/great-lakes-month-in-review-mayors-conference-restoration-update/) - For today’s Great Lakes Month in Review, we talk about a summit on water resources led by the region’s mayors and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s update to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
- [Can you gamify Great Lakes news?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/01/can-you-gamify-great-lakes-news/) - A story about illegal fishing in West Africa is coupled with an interactive web game. It lets you play the role of a reporter tracking down the story.
- [Pennsylvania man faces sentencing for falsifying abandoned oil well plugging reports](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/02/pennsylvania-man-faces-sentencing-for-falsifying-abandoned-oil-well-plugging-reports/) - The fake reports caused the re-inspection of 95 wells in the Allegheny National Forest.
- [Bill that bans drone hunting likely to pass in November](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/02/bill-that-bans-drone-hunting-likely-to-pass-in-november/) - LANSING — Bills that would prohibit people from using drones to shoot wildlife and harass legal hunters likely won’t be taken up until November. But little opposition has arisen and proponents expect them to pass. Two Michigan senators on the Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes Committee sponsored the bills — SBs 926 & 927
- [New report: oil transportation poses risks to Great Lakes Region](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/03/new-report-oil-transportation-poses-risks-to-great-lakes-region/) - The boom in oil production in North Dakota and Western Canada has turned the Great Lakes region into a transportation corridor for crude oil.
- [Researchers discover skeleton in stuffed passenger pigeon while preparing extinction exhibit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/03/researchers-discover-skeleton-in-stuffed-passenger-pigeon-while-preparing-extinction-exhibit/) - You can even touch the rare skeleton of the extinct bird - sort of.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: wind park spins and septic tips](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/06/mr-great-lakes-wind-park-spins-and-septic-tips/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. This week, Kart discusses a new wind park spinning in Huron County, funding available for Watershed Initiative Network grants and faulty septic systems that can pollute local waterways and contribute to harmful algal blooms. Text at Mr. Great Lakes.
- [Push ahead to raise more shipwrecks onto the National Register of Historic Places](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/06/push-ahead-to-raise-more-shipwrecks-onto-the-national-register-of-historic-places/) - Deep below the chill waters of northwestern Lake Huron, four doomed ships have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- [Grand Haven considers climate change in master plan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/07/grand-haven-considers-climate-change-in-master-plan/) - Some communities are bracing for climate change by creating a resilient Michigan.
- [Some non-Michigan hunters, anglers could get break on licenses](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/08/some-non-michigan-hunters-anglers-could-get-break-on-licenses/) - Bargain license fees for out-of state hunters and anglers heading to Michigan would mean less money for wildlife and fisheries.
- [Four Great Lakes states rank among top in energy efficiency](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/08/four-great-lakes-states-rank-among-top-in-energy-efficiency/) - Four of the top 10 states in energy efficiency are from the Great Lakes region, according to WalletHub, a personal finance advice website that measured the energy use of cars and homes in each of the lower 48 states. Of the Great Lake states, New York (2), Wisconsin (3), Minnesota (6) and Michigan (10) are
- [Michigan bill would repeal renewable energy standards](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/09/michigan-bill-would-repeal-renewable-energy-standards/) - Meanwhile, Michigan utilities are on pace to meet the standard requiring that they produce 10 percent of their energy with renewables by the end of next year.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: A new Midland preserve and a larger marine sanctuary](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/09/mr-great-lakes-a-new-midland-preserve-and-a-larger-marine-sanctuary/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. This week, Kart discusses Great Lakes Action Plan 2, a new wildlife preserve opening in Midland and the large expansion of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Text at Mr. Great Lakes.
- [Collaboration in restoration mix; how about candor?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/10/collaboration-consensus-in-restoration-mix-how-about-candor/) - In an era where collaboration and consensus are rewarded before results, there’s pent up demand for candor and action.
- [Great Lakes group raises funds to showcase teachings of Anishinaabe women](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/10/great-lakes-group-raises-funds-to-showcase-teachings-of-anishnawbe-women/) - An organization focused on connecting the cultures of the Great Lakes region is raising money to share the stories of indigenous leaders. These leaders are Anishinaabe women, members of Native American groups living in the Canadian Great Lakes area. Their stories will be told in photos, sound, video and text and shared on the Great
- [Michigan Tech part of cellulosic ethanol milestone, US at bottom of sustainable list](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/13/michigan-tech-part-of-cellulosic-ethanol-milestone-us-at-bottom-of-sustainable-list/) - Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart, discusses cellulosic ethanol and the United States at the bottom of the list in sustainable behavior.
- [More trees, bushes planted to improve hunting in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/13/more-trees-bushes-planted-to-improve-hunting-in-michigan/) - Increased hunting fees allow for expanded program.
- [Michigan’s U.P. goes head-to-head with its energy future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/14/michigans-u-p-goes-head-to-head-with-its-energy-future/) - Michigan's Upper Peninsula is facing the question of how to deal with retiring power plants.
- [Living a Land Ethic: Q&A with author Steve Laubach](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/15/living-a-land-ethic-qa-with-author-steve-laubach/) - Laubach chronicles the cooperative history of the Leopold Memorial Reserve in light of challenges maintaining the natural integrity of public-private spaces.
- [Which book best captures the feel of your state's environment?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/20/which-book-best-captures-the-feel-of-your-states-environment/) - Brooklyn Magazine came out with a rather audacious list recently called The literary history of the United States: A map of the best book or every state.
- [Sentencing ahead in New York Clean Water Act criminal case](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/20/sentencing-ahead-in-new-york-clean-water-act-criminal-case/) - A demolition company and two of its managers pled guilty to illegal dumping of toxic materials into the Susquehanna River.
- [Last winter's cold legacy: Fall colors slower to peak](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/21/last-winters-cold-legacy-fall-colors-slower-to-peak/) - Winter stress and a cold spring delayed leaf-out for many trees. Heavy precipitation also contributed to color delays.
- [Michigan National Guard tests novel wind funnels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/22/michigan-national-guard-tests-novel-wind-funnels/) - Device captures wind from all directions and concentrates it.
- [DNR official explains carp DNA discovery](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/22/dnr-official-explains-carp-dna-discovery/) - Worry about an Asian carp invasion intensified recently when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources found silver carp DNA in the Kalamazoo River.
- [Big freeze to contain contaminated water at Fukushima](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/23/68346/) - In March of 2011, an earthquake and tsunami in Japan resulted in a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Three of the plants six reactors melted down, and substantial amounts of radioactive material was released. That includes contaminated water that escaped from the three units. Containing that water has proven to be an
- [Goosebuster and BirdXPeller fight disease from bird droppings](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/23/goosebuster-and-birdxpeller-drones-fight-contamination-from-bird-droppings/) - It's an aerial defense of human health.
- [New river reefs built to encourage fish spawning](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/24/new-river-reefs-built-to-encourage-fish-spawning/) - To encourage fish spawning, Michigan Sea Grant and its research and industry partners are laying rock for new spawning habitat in the St. Clair River.
- [Michigan, New York, Minnesota test fisheater's blood for contaminants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/27/michigan-new-york-minnesota-test-fisheaters-blood-for-contaminants/) - Blood and urine of volunteers were tested for PCBs, pesticides, mercury, lead and cadmium as part of federal health study.
- [New uses sought for old newspaper buildings](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/27/new-uses-sought-for-old-newspaper-buildings/) - Some of these cavernous quarters, once anchors of downtown business districts, are being renovated, divided up and in some cases torn down to make way for prospective buyers in the education and health fields.
- [UP consumers seek replacement for aging power plant](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/28/up-consumers-seek-replacement-for-aging-power-plant/) - Where you live in Michigan makes a big difference when it comes to the price you pay for electricity, especially if you’re living in the Upper Peninsula.
- [Hunting not sole issue in wolf debate](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/28/hunting-not-sole-issue-in-wolf-debate/) - Hunting is only one part of an effort to manage the state’s wolf population, and only one part of the larger issue, according to researchers at Michigan State and Michigan Technological universities.
- [Planetarium improves night vision](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/29/planetarium-makeover-improves-night-vision/) - It's a tool for peering deeply into the cosmos and engaging diverse students in science.
- [Drones could predict region's lake effect snow](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/29/drones-could-predict-regions-lake-effect-snow/) - But federal regulations keep a Great Lakes weather fleet grounded.
- [Great Lakes fishery managers need insight on climate change impacts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/30/great-lakes-fishery-managers-need-insight-on-climate-change-impacts/) - It ranks third in their greatest worries, but it has direct implications for the habitat loss and invasive species threats listed above it.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: rising lake levels, Asian carp DNA](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/10/30/great-lakes-month-in-review-rising-lake-levels-asian-carp-dna/) - For today’s Great Lakes Month in Review, we talk about the dramatic rise in lake levels this fall, the latest legal updates on Asian carp, and the U-N’s stance on the Detroit water shut-offs.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Suggest water monitoring sites](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/03/mr-great-lakes-suggest-water-monitoring-sites-beware-of-toxic-halloween-stuff/) - Also: toxic chemicals found in some popular Halloween costumes, accessories and party supplies.
- [Lake Erie isn't only lake with algae headaches; Lake Ontario also on the hook](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/03/lake-erie-isnt-only-lake-with-algae-headaches-lake-ontario-also-on-the-hook/) - Last summer's Toledo water woes is a warning to the entire Great Lakes community.
- [Snow, produce, gravesite apps wow Michigan officials](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/04/snow-produce-gravesite-apps-wow-michigan-officials/) - Snowfi, a new app designed by software engineers from Grand Rapids, would give drivers up to the second information updates on snow removal conditions.
- [Batman calls for help in the fight to save bats ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/05/batman-calls-for-help-in-the-fight-to-save-bats/) - Ben Affleck is switching on the bat-signal for one his favorite species — the bat.
- [Space station to give CATS scan to Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/05/cats-scanning-clouds-and-climate-over-great-lakes/) - Device probes clouds and air pollution with laser beams and helps build climate models.
- [Wet weather douses forest fires](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/06/wet-weather-douses-forest-fires/) - In the Huron-Manastee National Forest, crews responded to 81 wildfires, down from the annual average of 150.
- [Michigan communities grapple with upgrading water pipes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/06/michigan-communities-grapple-with-upgrading-water-pipes/) - The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that Michigan will need to invest around $15-billion in its drinking and waste water systems over the next 20 years.
- [Will a second term improve Michigan gov's Great Lakes leadership?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/07/68527/) - Commentator Gary Wilson suggests some leadership priorities for the governor of the Great Lakes state.
- [Money coming to help erase winter's damage in Northern Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/10/money-coming-to-help-erase-winters-damage-in-northern-michigan/) - The funds will partially reimburse more than 30 communities in the northern Lower and Upper peninsulas for repairing damaged roads and water mains, and to wrap up construction before the cold weather sets in.
- [Canadian, U.S. researchers tackle Great Lakes bee decline](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/10/canadian-u-s-researchers-tackle-great-lakes-bee-decline/) - University researchers are investigating the effects of parasites and pesticides on the behavior and immune responses of honey bees.
- [Explorers map Great Lakes shipwrecks with lasers, sonar, photo sleds and robots](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/11/explorers-map-great-lakes-shipwrecks-with-lasers-sonar-photo-sleds-and-robots/) - High-tech produces high-def views of mysteries of the deep.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on a group restoring Au Sable and windows killing birds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/11/mr-great-lakes-on-a-group-restoring-au-sable-and-windows-killing-birds/) - This week, Jeff Kart discusses a nonprofit group restoring the Au Sable River watershed and windows killing birds.
- [Immediate salmon outlook steady despite fewer eggs collected](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/12/immediate-salmon-outlook-steady-despite-fewer-eggs-collected/) - But record low collection could indicate longterm troubling trend.
- [Inviting invasives to the digital world](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/13/inviting-invasives-to-the-digital-world/) - Great Lakes researchers are building a time machine to help fight freshwater invasive species.
- [New tool helps visualize how climate change could affect the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/13/new-tool-helps-visualize-how-climate-change-could-affect-the-great-lakes/) - A new web tool, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shows how the Great Lakes would look in different climate change situations.
- [Environmental violators go to jail in crackdown](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/14/environmental-violators-go-to-jail-in-crackdown/) - An improving economy spurring demolition of old structures and redevelopment of contaminated industrial sites is creating more opportunity for environmental crimes.
- [Landfill expansion could further pollute Niagara Falls, critics claim](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/16/landfill-expansion-could-further-pollute-niagara-falls-critics-claim/) - Since the landfill is close to the Canadian border and Niagara River, there is great concern about the potential for pollution in both countries, environmentalists say.
- [Current State: Can't get to California? Surf the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/17/current-state-cant-get-to-california-surf-the-great-lakes/) - Current State speaks about surfing the Great Lakes with the president of Great Lakes Surfing Association Bob Beaton, and Joe Matulis, owner of Matuli, a paddleboard and surfboard company based in East Lansing.
- [How media frame climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/17/current-state-how-do-the-media-shape-perceptions-of-climate-change/) - Shaping perceptions of climate change risk.
- [Wilson on water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/19/wilson-on-water/) - Great Lakes Echo commentator Gary Wilson weighed in recently on the region's environmental politics on public radio's WMUK at Western Michigan University.
- [Michigan adds killer shrimp, others to banned species list](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/20/mi-adds-killer-shrimp-others-to-banned-species-list/) - Unlike Sharknadoes, the tiny crustacean poses a real threat, especially in the Great Lakes.
- [Long-eared bat listing gets pushback](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/21/long-eared-listing-meets-unexpected-pushback/) - A fight over logging restrictions is delaying federal protection of the northern long-eared bat, a Great Lakes species already decimated in the American Northeast.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Bike trails and superstorms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/24/mr-great-lakes-bike-trails-and-superstorms/) - Jeff Kart, Mr. Great Lakes discusses superstorm research that may save your life and new bike trails in Bay City.
- [Ethanol use in Michigan cuts greenhouse gas, study finds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/24/ethanol-use-in-michigan-cuts-greenhouse-gas-study-finds/) - A new study by scientists at Michigan State University shows that ethanol use in Michigan is reducing carbon emissions by nearly 1.4 million metric tons per year, equivalent to the emissions of 294,000 cars.
- [Software tracks smoke from forest fires](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/25/researchers-unveil-software-that-tracks-smoke-from-forest-fires/) - Much like a weather-forecasting model, it calculates changes in air and soil temperatures and wind speed to help fire managers determine where the smoke is headed.
- [“Indiana Barns” captures history from a disappearing landscape](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/11/26/indiana-barns-captures-history-from-a-disappearing-landscape/) - Photographer inspired by rural heritage to capture images of vanishing structures.
- [Sonar maps Lake Huron trout habitat](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/01/sonar-maps-lake-huron-trout-habitat/) - Maritime archeologists are swapping shipwreck surveys for trout habitat mapping in Lake Huron's Sixth Fathom Bank, an ancestral spawning ground for lake trout.
- [Top uses for remote sensing in conservation](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/01/top-uses-for-remote-sensing-in-conservation/) - Scientists recently identified the top ways to boost awareness of global conservation with satellites and drones.
- [Great Lakes breweries look to conserve region's water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/02/great-lakes-breweries-look-to-conserve-regions-water/) - It typically takes between seven and 12 gallons of water to produce one gallon of beer.
- [Canadian First Nations take lead on clean energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/03/canadian-first-nations-take-lead-on-clean-energy/) - Lumos Energy president Chris Henderson has spent the last two-and-a-half decades working, “at the intersection of clean energy, sustainable development, environmental action, economic development, and Aboriginal communities.”
- [Pesticide levels in rivers may threaten fish, insects](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/04/pesticide-levels-in-rivers-may-threaten-fish-insects/) - Levels of pesticides didn't exceed the benchmark for human health, but farm runoff remains a concern for fish and insects in many streams and rivers.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: Midterm elections may have implications](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/04/great-lakes-month-in-review-midterm-elections-may-have-implications/) - Great Lakes commentator Gary Wilson talks about what the results of the midterm elections could mean for the environment.
- [Grant program to fight Michigan invaders](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/05/grant-program-to-fight-michigan-invaders/) - Program battles harmful plants and animals.
- [Michigan utilities: Smart money on smart meters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/05/michigan-utilities-say-smart-money-is-on-smart-meters/) - They eliminate meter readers, help shift demand and address outages more quickly.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on the Great Lakes Bowl and a tool to view lake water levels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/08/mr-great-lakes-on-the-great-lakes-bowl-and-a-tool-to-view-lake-water-levels/) - Jeff Kart discusses the upcoming Great Lakes Bowl and a tool that allows viewers to see changes in water levels along the Great Lakes.
- [Video: Pine River cleanup reaches milestone](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/08/pine-river-cleanup-reaches-milestone/) - Removal of dam rids community of another ugly reminder of decades-long cleanup that is still ongoing.
- [Decision on Canadian nuclear dump site expected in mid-2015](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/09/decision-on-canadian-nuclear-dump-site-expected-in-mid-2015/) - Company seeks permanent storage of waste from plant that generates half the province's electricity.
- [Winged Wednesday review: Animal app is great guide](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/10/winged-wednesday-review-animal-app-great-guide-to-great-lakes-species/) - A team of students and researchers at the University of Michigan has created an app that is a pocket guide for Great Lakes animal species at the region’s parks, museums and zoos.
- [Emerald Ash borer moving on to new target in Ohio](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/11/emerald-ash-borer-moving-on-to-new-target-in-ohio/) - Ohio scientists say they’ve found evidence that the insect has made its way to a new host: the white fringetree.
- [Cheeseburgers, algae and Great Lakes candor](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/12/cheeseburgers-algae-and-great-lakes-candor/) - A scientist and a lawyer are unafraid to rock the boat with Great Lakes candor. We need more of that.
- [Stream app turns Great Lakes citizens into scientists](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/15/stream-app-turns-great-lakes-citizens-into-scientists/) - Anyone can contribute water level information with app unveiled today at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
- [Jobs in timbering, wood products go begging](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/16/jobs-in-timbering-wood-products-go-begging/) - Logging and wood product companies are searching for skilled employees with many experienced foresters and other Northern Michigan workers retiring.
- [Story withdrawn](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/17/story-withdrawn/) - Echo has withdrawn a story from its archive that was published Dec. 3, 2014 with the headline, "Great Lakes ice breaking all the rules."
- [Winged Wednesday: Early migration shows loon flight path](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/17/winged-wednesday-early-migration-shows-loon-flight-path/) - Cold weather meant they hatched late and migrated early, but tagged birds show strong survival.
- [New tool simulates climate change impact on Great Lakes shores](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/18/new-tool-simulates-climate-change-impact-on-great-lakes-shores/) - A new tool developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration lets people look at what varying water levels do to a shoreline.
- [U.S. wilderness areas study includes 16 in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/18/u-s-wilderness-areas-study-includes-16-in-michigan/) - The Sierra Club would like the Trap Hills part of the U.P.’s Ottawa National Forest to be added as a wildernss area, but public land agencies say they have no plans for major changes in Michigan.
- [Great Lakes legal expert discusses challenge to EPA mercury rules](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/19/great-lakes-legal-expert-discusses-challenge-to-epa-mercury-rules/) - Michigan's challenge to EPA emissions rule lands in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
- [Googlers ask why Great Lakes are salty](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/19/why-do-people-ask-google-about-the-saltiness-of-the-great-lakes/) - Autocomplete gives clues to what people wonder about the region.
- [New trees of all types to replace damaged ashes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/22/new-trees-of-all-types-to-replace-damaged-ashes/) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will award 21 cities and environmental groups between $800 and $20,000 to help regrow urban forests damaged by the emerald ash borer plague.
- [Arsonist gets 5 years for Superior National Forest fires](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/22/arsonist-gets-5-years-for-superior-national-forest-fires/) - U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejects bid for a shorter sentence for man who confessed to setting nine fires on federal and state forestland.
- [New college programs train clean energy technicians](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/23/new-college-programs-train-clean-energy-technicians/) - A bachelor's degree in electrical systems technology will be developed by Alpena Community College for employment in the fields of electric distribution, transmission and generation.
- [Federal study ahead for boating tourism study of Michigan harbors](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/24/federal-study-ahead-for-boating-tourism-study-of-michigan-harbors/) - The Michigan Sea Grant was awarded money by the federal government for a yearlong economic study that will help Michigan’s Great Lakes coastal communities capitalize on the growing recreational boating market by researching ways to draw more tourists to the area.
- [Echo rounds up most visited stories of 2014](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/30/echo-rounds-up-most-visited-stories-of-2014/) - A rundown of the most clicked on.
- [Writers, readers, tweets and likes. What resonated with you in 2014?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/12/31/writers-readers-tweets-and-likes-what-resonated-with-you-in-2014/) - Morning coffee in hand you click on the Echo homepage. What prompts you to read the lead story? Or exit and move on to the national news in your favorite paper? The divide between what a commentator writes about and what readers want to read can be wide. What I think is important for you
- [Great Lakes Year in Review: algae blooms, pipelines, and federal funding](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/01/great-lakes-year-in-review-algae-blooms-pipelines-and-federal-funding/) - Current State looks back at the biggest Great Lakes environmental stories of 2014.
- [When fire changes the landscape](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/06/when-fire-changes-the-landscape/) - Two years after the Duck Lake fire swept through 21,000 acres in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, experts this spring will assess the need for new plantings to restore the primarily jack pine forest.
- [Michigan behind other states in wood use innovation](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/07/michigan-behind-other-states-in-wood-use-innovation/) - Experts say Michigan is far behind states on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in exploring innovative markets and uses for wood products and wood energy.
- [What's in a name?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/08/whats-in-a-name/) - What was the former emperor of France doing in Northern New York, about an hour’s drive south of the St. Lawrence River?
- [Color-coded economies no cure for immediate environmental ills](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/09/color-coded-economies-no-cure-for-immediate-environmental-ills/) - How does a blue economy deal with unaddressed problems that are smack in our face today?
- [Landfills line lakeside landscape](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/12/landfills-line-lakeside-landscape/) - Growth of cement plant dramatically illustrated with contrasting photos.
- [New book details Duluth/Superior street car system](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/13/new-book-details-duluthsuperior-street-car-system/) - The physical remnants of this era are gone, but author Aaron Isaacs got his hands on an impressive wealth of research materials rich in interesting details, stories and images.
- [Michigan environmentalist criticizes new federal coal ash standards](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/13/michigan-environmentalist-criticizes-new-federal-coal-ash-standards/) - Michigan environmentalists are disappointed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new rules on coal ash.
- [When rock talks, science listens](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/14/when-rock-talks-science-listens/) - Ohio study of fossils in millstones give clues to their origin.
- [Hunter harassment conviction overturned in Illinois](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/15/hunter-harassment-conviction-overturned-in-illinois/) - The court said that the anti-harassment law exempts disruptive behavior that involves legal use of one’s own property by landowners and tenants.
- [Photo Friday: Chicago's Loop from space](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/16/photo-friday-chicagos-loop-from-space/) - Shadows of buildings detected from space station.
- [U.P. energy users get short-term rate relief](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/16/u-p-energy-users-get-short-term-rate-relief/) - The plan also achieves long-term goals of reliability and eliminating out-state utilities from the state’s energy future.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on new ash regulations and information on Great Lakes currents](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/19/mr-great-lakes-on-new-ash-regulations-and-information-on-great-lakes-currents/) - This week Jeff Kart discusses new Environmental Protection Agency regulations for the safe disposal of coal ash and the availability of information on Great Lakes currents.
- [Barn preservation makes economic sense](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/19/barn-preservation-makes-economic-sense/) - They can be recycled for other uses, are as cheap to preserve as demolish, cost less in taxes and boost the local economy
- [37 facts that prove Michigan is undeniably the greatest state](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/20/37-facts-that-prove-michigan-is-undeniably-the-greatest-state/) - Buzzfeed writer, Ahmed Ali Akbar, lists 37 reason why Michigan is "undeniably the greatest state."
- [Study: modest costs to renewables](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/20/michigan-study-shows-modest-costs-to-expand-renewables/) - Michigan could expand its reusable energy standard to 25 percent over 10 years at $2.60 each month per household, a price that could be cut in half if key federal tax credits are extended.
- [Film festival in Alpena will show more than 30 Great Lakes-inspired films](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/21/film-festival-in-alpena-will-show-more-than-30-great-lakes-inspired-films/) - The Thunder Bay International Film festival runs from today through Sunday. Competitors in an underwater robot competition and ice are among the featured subjects.
- [Project tackles green infrastructure](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/21/new-project-focuses-on-watersheds-green-infrastructure/) - The Great Lakes Commission wants to integrate conservation into communities' water management plans.
- [Agency prepares cities for climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/22/resilient-michigan-preparing-cities-for-climate-change/) - The Land Information Access Association helps towns on Michigan's Great Lakes coastline Brace for climate change.
- [Photo Friday: Chicago ice](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/23/photo-friday-chicago-ice/) - Ice flows in the Chicago River.
- [What’s on the marten’s menu?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/23/whats-on-the-martens-menu/) - Researchers found that shrews account for 38.6 percent and deer account for 30 percent of the prey detected in marten scat collected in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
- [Trail towns and urban farming in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/26/trail-towns-and-urban-farming-in-michigan/) - This week, Kart discusses trail towns coming to Michigan and Delta College teaching about urban farming.
- [Michigan court to determine price of poached trophy buck](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/26/michigan-court-to-determine-price-of-poached-trophy-buck/) - Is it the value of the meat? The antlers? Of a trophy hunt?
- [How cold was it on the Mesabi Iron Range?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/27/how-cold-was-it-on-the-mesabi-iron-range/) - A memoir answers the question
- [Are prescription drugs harming fish?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/27/are-prescription-drugs-harming-fish/) - Prescription drugs bypassing sewage treatment to enter the Great Lakes could harm fish.
- [Climate affects how the Great Lakes grow and flow](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/28/climate-affects-how-the-great-lakes-grow-and-flow/) - A recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey helps land managers cope with the seasonal changes resulting from climate change in the Lake Michigan basin.
- [Report explores future of green energy in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/29/report-explores-future-of-green-energy-in-michigan/) - A new report from the University of Michigan's Energy Institute looks at the costs and benefits of expanding renewable energy in Michigan.
- [Iowa runoff lawsuit, Flint's water woes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/01/30/iowa-runoff-lawsuit-flints-water-woes/) - WKAR's Current State checks in with Great Lakes commentator Gary Wilson about January's biggest environmental stories.
- [Revenue drops from region's environmental plate sales](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/02/revenue-drops-from-regions-environmental-license-plate-sales/) - Increasing competition for sales means that fewer drivers are buying the license plates that support environmental causes.
- [New website finds Great Lakes data in minutes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/03/new-website-finds-great-lakes-data-in-minutes/) - The Great Lakes Monitoring website provides viewers with decades of nutrient, contaminant and water data at the click of a button.
- [State-Fish student art contest promotes conservation education](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/04/state-fish-student-art-contest-promotes-conservation-education/) - The annual State-Fish art contest promotes conservation awareness, aquatic and artistic knowledge in a competition that earns some students national recognition.
- [As Michigan wind farms expand, protests increase](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/05/as-michigan-wind-farms-expand-protests-increase/) - Thanks to wind power, Michigan is on track to meet its renewable energy goals, but issues of transparency and turbine placement have some doubting this new shift toward wind.
- [A new focus on PBB](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/06/a-new-focus-on-pbb/) - Ken Winter comments on what some consider one of Michigan’s worst agricultural disasters, continuing to make headlines some 40 years later.
- [Emergency trout rule takes effect in Lake Superior](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/09/emergency-trout-rule-takes-effect-in-lake-superior/) - Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved an emergency rule that reduces the daily limit of trout in the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior.
- [Winged Wednesday: What does your old couch have to do with an eagle's health?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/11/winged-wednesday-what-does-your-old-couch-have-to-do-with-an-eagles-health/) - Michigan’s bald eagles are among the most contaminated birds on the planet when it comes to phased-out flame retardant chemicals in their livers, according to new research.
- [Good news? Smallmouth bass chow down on invaders](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/12/good-news-smallmouth-bass-chow-down-on-invaders/) - New studies show that the invasive species, round goby, has become a key food source for native species, including the small mouth bass, yellow perch and walleye.
- [Edible plants, bicycles, Lake Superior islands reflect artist's environment themes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/13/edible-plants-bicycles-lake-superior-islands-reflect-artists-environment-themes/) - His work deals with political and environmental issues in the Great Lakes and its indigenous communities.
- [New Lansing enviro leader focuses on environmental justice](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/13/new-lansing-enviro-leader-focuses-on-environmental-justice/) - The new leader of the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council outlines his priorities for the organization.
- [License fee change generated more funds for Michigan natural resources](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/16/license-fee-change-generated-more-funds-for-michigan-natural-resources/) - The restructuring is expected to put more boots on the ground, waders in the water and eyes in the field.
- [The 40-year legacy of PBB in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/16/the-40-year-legacy-of-pbb-in-michigan/) - The public health impacts of an agricultural disaster in Michigan are still lingering 40 years later.
- [The buzz about bees and biofuels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/17/the-buzz-about-bees-and-biofuels/) - The value prairie grasses bring to bees helps make such plants more attractive for biofuels production.
- [Congress may take up state management of gray wolves](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/18/congress-may-take-up-state-management-of-gray-wolves/) - A bipartisan bill that is still in draft would remove federal protection of the gray wolf in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
- [Michigan activists, local governments battle to regulate fracking](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/18/michigan-activists-local-governments-battle-to-regulate-fracking/) - Local governments have sought to regulate a procedure that industry officials say already has a strong safety record.
- [New NWF director says Great Lakes are a social glue](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/19/new-nwf-director-says-great-lakes-are-a-social-glue/) - They underpin the economy and help drive culture, he says. The danger is to not dismiss them simply as nice to visit, but to recognize their core value to every facet of the region.
- [15-year delay undermines Northern Michigan drilling suit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/19/15-year-delay-undermines-northern-michigan-drilling-suit/) - A judge ruled that Richard Brilinski waited to long to sue an energy company that may have drilled a natural gas well too close to his property line, and will now no longer be able to.
- [Ohio rolling the dice on Lake Erie drinking water quality?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/20/ohio-rolling-the-dice-on-lake-erie-drinking-water-quality/) - Stock up on bottled water. So far it's all show and little substance.
- [Photo Friday: Eastern Canada lights up the St. Lawrence](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/20/photo-friday-eastern-canada-lights-up-the-st-lawrence/) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station snapped midwinter photos to display the day-to-night changes along the St. Lawrence River.
- [Free online course provides Great Lakes climate change knowledge](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/21/free-online-course-provides-great-lakes-climate-change-knowledge/) - The University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering a Massive Open Online Course addressing Great Lakes weather and climate.
- [Fish heads and math could solve migratory mystery](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/23/fish-heads-and-math-could-solve-migratory-mystery/) - Chemical concentrations in bone and mathematical models can help resource managers decide how to stock salmon.
- [Bipartisan lawmakers seek to extend Great Lakes protection](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/23/bipartisan-lawmakers-seek-to-extend-great-lakes-protection/) - They seek to blunt proposed cuts, extend Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
- [Pennsylvania court upholds revocation of hunting, trapping privileges](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/24/pennsylvania-court-upholds-revocation-of-hunting-trapping-privileges/) - Illegal importation of five bear carcasses triggers loss of privileges for taxidermist.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on Michigan landfills, clean energy obstacles and a new statewide trail](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/24/mr-great-lakes-on-michigan-waste-landfills-clean-energy-obstacles-and-a-new-statewide-trail/) - Jeff Kart discusses a state waste report, obstacles to cleaner energy and a new Michigan hiking and bicycling trail.
- [Porcupine Mountains inspire artists](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/25/porcupine-mountains-inspire-artists/) - The Porkie Artist-In-Residence Program brings artists to the Upper Peninsula to immerse themselves in their craft and the area each summer.
- [Yacht club named to historic site list](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/26/yacht-club-named-to-historic-site-list/) - Architectural style of 101-year-old club models seaside villas found in France, Spain and Italy.
- [Great Lakes settle in for the deep freeze](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/26/great-lakes-settle-in-for-the-deep-freeze/) - This week’s subzero temperatures have the Great Lakes nearing record levels of ice coverage.
- [Pipeline company intervenes in Sierra Club suit against Forest Service](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/27/pipeline-company-intervenes-in-sierra-club-suit-against-forest-service/) - Environmental group says pipeline never underwent adequate environmental review.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: pet coke, fracking, Asian carp funding](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/02/27/great-lakes-month-in-review-pet-coke-fracking-asian-carp-funding/) - Great Lakes commentator Gary Wilson on February's biggest environmental stories.
- [Meet Echo commentator Gary Wilson](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/02/meet-echo-commentator-gary-wilson/) - He's answering questions in Oak Park.
- [Court upholds Minnesota tribal fishing rights](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/02/court-upholds-minnesota-tribal-fishing-rights/) - Defendants describe use of secretly recorded conversations, mobile tracking devices, interrogations, undercover surveillance as techniques more familiar to drug traffickers than to fishermen.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on smart phone app that fights invasive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/03/mr-great-lakes-on-smart-phone-app-that-fights-invasive-species/) - Also...groups fighting for rivers and lakes
- [Fur trade a suspect in Minnesota monument mercury contamination](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/03/fur-trade-a-suspect-in-minnesota-monument-mercury-contamination/) - How long does pollution linger? At Minnesota's Grand Portage National Monument, high levels of toxic mercury may date back to the 1700s.
- [Lower alcohol levels for snowmobilers advances safety efforts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/04/lower-alcohol-levels-for-snowmobilers-advances-safety-efforts/) - A new law lowered the maximum blood alcohol content allowed for snowmobile drivers from .1 percent to .08 percent.
- [Midwest initiative funds digital collection of Great Lakes environmental history](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/04/midwest-initiative-funds-digital-collection-of-great-lakes-environmental-history/) - A new project is collecting digital aspects of Great Lakes social, cultural and environmental history.
- [Grassland birds hold stock in the future of biofuels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/05/grassland-birds-hold-stock-in-the-future-of-biofuels/) - Birds stand to gain valuable grassland habitat if the appetite to balance conservation and biofuel production continues gaining support in scientific circles.
- [Beyond politics - the science behind gray wolves](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/06/beyond-politics-the-science-behind-gray-wolves/) - Politicians, activists and hunters continue to debate on the current state of the gray wolf's status as an endangered species.
- [Photo Friday: Lake Erie’s ice boom](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/06/photo-friday-lake-eries-ice-boom/) - This week Echo pulls a recent image along the Niagara River from a NASA earth observation satellite.
- [Aquaculture: Weighing economic potential, environmental risk](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/09/aquaculture-weighing-economic-potential-environmental-risk/) - Industry officials, scientists and regulators gather in East Lansing Thursday to discuss the opportunities and barriers to expanding Michigan aquaculture.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on Proposal 1, grant money for Saginaw Bay and resources for solar permitting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/09/mr-great-lakes-on-proposal-1-grant-money-for-saginaw-bay-and-resources-for-solar-permitting/) - This week, Jeff Kart discusses support for Proposal 1, a new program that provides grant money for Saginaw Bay and a website that provides information on permitting for solar power.
- [US scientists urge more research on climate engineering](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/10/us-scientists-urge-more-research-on-climate-engineering/) - U.S. scientists are pushing for more research on climate engineering.
- [Fish farm escapees grow fast, die young](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/10/fish-farm-escapees-grow-fast-but-dont-survive-long/) - Study assessing potential environmental impacts says farm fish are poorly equipped for survival in the wild.
- [Researchers battle disease that hinders aquaculture growth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/11/researchers-battle-disease-that-hinders-aquaculture-growth/) - The virus has cut into profits even though it has not yet been found in fish farms.
- [Special events, indoor promotions increase winter tourism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/11/special-events-indoor-promotions-increase-winter-tourism/) - In an effort to expand tourist-related economic activity, outdoor recreation businesses across Michigan are increasingly providing indoor tourist experiences to complement the great outdoors during the winter months.
- [Fish farmer says regulatory hurdles hinder industry expansion](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/12/fish-farmer-says-regulatory-hurdles-hinder-industry-expansion/) - Experts say that fish farms can efficiently produce protein to meet the demands of a growing population and help rural economies.
- [New fish vaccine technique could save fledgling industry time, money](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/13/new-fish-vaccine-technique-could-save-fledgling-industry-time-money/) - It goes into different nostrils, allowing two different kinds to be administered at once without limiting their effectiveness.
- [Planned project would nearly double Michigan's solar capacity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/13/planned-project-would-nearly-double-michigans-solar-capacity/) - A municipal utility hopes to put a large solar array on an old auto manufacturing site.
- [UM researcher says microplastics could threaten Great Lakes fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/16/um-researcher-says-microplastics-could-threaten-great-lakes-fish/) - A research project at the University of Michigan is looking at the impact that microplastics could have on Great Lakes wildlife.
- [Canoe lawsuit could establish New York recreational waterway access](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/16/canoe-lawsuit-could-establish-new-york-recreational-waterway-access/) - Case examines issues of trespass, navigability and commercial use.
- [Ohio high court says city can't stop drilling](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/17/ohio-high-court-says-city-cant-stop-drilling/) - Under the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling, Beck Energy Corp. will continue to drill for oil, despite the objection of Ohio city, Munroe Falls.
- [Prison terms loom in Michigan asbestos case](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/18/prison-terms-loom-in-mich-asbestos-case/) - Three people plead guilty to illegally removing asbestos from a former Southwest Michigan power plant. They are now facing possible prison terms after agreeing to reimburse the federal government for approximately $1 million to clean up the contaminated facility in Kalamazoo County’s Comstock Township.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on mosquitoes, Oak Wilt and Saginaw Bay invasive plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/19/mr-great-lakes-on-mosquitoes-oak-wilt-and-saginaw-bay-invasive-plants/) - Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart, discusses a tire cleanup in Bay County to ward off mosquitos, Oak Wilt as a potential danger to Bay County and the fight against invasive plants in the Saginaw Bay watershed.
- [This creature turns water into jelly](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/19/this-creature-turns-water-into-jelly/) - Declining calcium means this zooplankton is increasing in many inland lakes, clogging water intakes and disrupting the food web.
- [Great Lakes ice in retreat](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/20/great-lakes-ice-in-retreat/) - Use this nifty slider tool to see the dramatic change in three weeks.
- [Basic should trump bold for Michigan governor](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/20/basic-should-trump-bold-for-michigan-gov/) - Snyder deserves encouragement for renewable energy plan. But bold is an adjective best left to spin doctors.
- [Prison ahead for illegal deer trafficker](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/23/prison-ahead-for-illegal-deer-trafficker/) - Lawyer unsuccessfully argues that deer bred and raised in captivity are not wildlife.
- [MSU study: fertilizers throw off nitrogen cycle](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/23/msu-study-fertilizers-throw-off-nitrogen-cycle/) - They boost crops like corn but have some not so great side effects.
- [Great Lakes boating has a rich story](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/24/great-lakes-boating-has-a-rich-story/) - A new book details the lengthy history of boating in Michigan.
- [Hormone-mimickers widespread in Great Lakes waterways, fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/25/hormone-mimickers-widespread-in-great-lakes-waterways-fish/) - Great Lakes waterways are contaminated with known endocrine disrupting compounds; scientists warn that fish are at risk
- [Seafood Summit explores future of Michigan aquaculture](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/25/seafood-summit-explores-future-of-michigan-aquaculture-2/) - Michigan Sea Grant Director Jim Diana says Michigan could boost its seafood industry by investing in aquaculture.
- [Michigan's energy policy up for grabs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/26/michigans-energy-policy-up-for-grabs/) - With 2008 energy mandates set to expire, Michigan's future in clean energy is up for debate, with possibilities of the state turning back to fossil fuels.
- [Chefs prepare Michigan fish feast](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/27/chefs-prepare-michigan-fish-feast/) - A daylong examination of the potential of Michigan aquaculture ended with a fish feast.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on Michigan clean tech jobs, Powerley app and new energy stats](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/30/mr-great-lakes-on-michigan-clean-tech-jobs-powerley-app-and-new-energy-stats/) - Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart, discusses Michigan being ranked number four nationally in its number of clean energy jobs, a new app that could allow consumers to view their home energy use and statistics from the new State Energy Profiles.
- [Volunteers in forefront of monitoring Great Lakes streams](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/30/volunteers-in-forefront-of-monitoring-great-lakes-streams/) - Counting, identifying macroinvertebates helps assess water quality
- [Michigan court tosses elk farm suit against state](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/03/31/michigan-court-tosses-elk-farm-suit-against-state/) - The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the elk-breeding facility waited too long to sue after the state shut it down during a year-long chronic wasting disease quarantine. An appeal to the state Supreme Court is likely.
- [Robot fish to track real ones](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/01/robot-fish-to-track-real-ones/) - The robots carry receivers that follow acoustic devices surgically implanted in fish. They also can monitor the growth of toxic algae in the Great Lakes.
- [Great Lakes states receive more than $10 million from U.S. Fish and Wildlife](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/01/great-lakes-states-receive-more-than-10-million-from-u-s-fish-and-wildlife/) - Great Lakes states received more than $10 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, around 22 percent of the $45 million total given through the State Wildlife Grant Program.
- [Michigan's forests underused, experts say](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/02/michigans-forests-underused-experts-say/) - Michigan could expand forest use beyond harvested timber to products such as syrup, furniture and ethanol.
- [Feds push long-eared bat to threatened status](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/02/feds-push-long-eared-bat-to-threatened-status/) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials placed the northern long-eared bat under threatened protection. The April 1 decision contradicts the agency's 2013 recommendation to list the bat as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: fights over Flint’s water, mercury limits before SCOTUS](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/03/great-lakes-month-in-review-fights-over-flints-water-mercury-limits-before-scotus/) - A look at this month's biggest environmental stories with Great Lakes commentator Gary Wilson.
- [Mass transportation could move state beyond “Band-aid” fixes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/03/mass-transportation-could-move-state-beyond-band-aid-fixes/) - The Michigan Land Use Institute is exploring the possibility of creating new passenger train service between Ann Arbor and Traverse City, as a way to take some cars off the roads.
- [Andrew Revkin on energy, politics, species adolescence and the fate of the Earth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/06/qa-andrew-revkin-on-the-fate-of-the-earth-and-michigan/) - The former New York Times environmental reporter spoke recently after Michigan State University Environmental Science and Policy Program’s “Fate of the Earth” symposium. He is now the senior fellow for environmental understanding at Pace University.
- [Researchers study need to protect Great Lakes turtle habitat](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/07/researchers-study-need-to-protect-great-lakes-turtle-habitat/) - They used radio tracking, GPS loggers and aerial imagery to follow a dozen turtles on a Lake Huron island.
- [Slimy microorganism increasing in northern Michigan lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/07/slimy-microorganism-increasing-in-northern-michigan-lakes/) - Nope, that's not tapioca pudding in your lake; it's zooplankton, a microorganism in inland lakes that produces slime and can clog water pipes.
- [Can better utility planning replace clean-energy standards?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/08/can-better-utility-planning-replace-clean-energy-standards/) - A key component of energy proposals from the Michigan legislature is that stronger, more long-term planning requirements for utilities can effectively replace renewable energy and efficiency standards.
- [Bill would take some bang out of Michigan fireworks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/08/bill-would-take-some-bang-out-of-michigan-fireworks/) - Rep. Martin Howrylak has introduced a bill that would give local governments more control over when fireworks can be used after receiving complaints from his constituents.
- [University announces 2016 coal phase-out, cites environmental impact](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/08/university-announces-2016-coal-phase-out/) - Complete conversion to natural gas also saves money. Campus group pushes for renewables.
- [MSU study raises doubts about biodegradable plastics](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/09/msu-study-raises-doubts-about-biodegradable-plastics/) - New research from Michigan State University indicates that biodegradable plastics might not actually be breaking down in landfills any faster than other plastics.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on climate education, dark skies and biodegradable plastics](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/10/mr-great-lakes-on-climate-education-dark-skies-and-biodegradable-plastics/) - Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart, discusses Climate Education Week, International Dark Sky Week and (barely) biodegradable plastics.
- [Book Review: Mapping Detroit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/10/book-review-mapping-detroit/) - A new book details the complex social, political and environmental developments of Detroit, combining maps with recommendations for redevelopment.
- [Cannons from Chicken Bone Reef help solve Great Lakes mysteries](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/13/colonial-cannons-from-detroit-river-help-solve-historical-mysteries/) - Research on six 19th-century British canons recovered from the Detroit River is giving new information about colonial-era militarization of the Great Lakes region.
- [Counties seek state plow hand-me-downs to battle winter weather](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/14/counties-seek-state-plow-hand-me-downs-to-battle-winter-weather/) - An Upper Peninsula lawmaker is reintroducing a bill to give counties an opportunity to get first bid on affordable plows that the Michigan Department of Transportation auctions.
- [Piping plovers make comeback in the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/15/piping-plovers-make-comeback-in-the-great-lakes/) - Once nearly extinct in the Great Lakes region, piping plovers are on the rebound.
- [Invasive species reintroduce toxic chemicals to Green Bay food web](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/17/invasive-species-reintroduce-toxic-chemicals-to-green-bay-food-web/) - They can make a group of toxic chemicals deposited more than 45 years ago reenter the food web and contaminate predatory fish and possibly people.
- [Great Lakes connects Midwest with Middle East in Chicago](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/21/great-lakes-connects-midwest-with-middle-east-in-chicago/) - The summit spurs water management discussions and launches an initiative by three regional universities to look at water through a lens of the humanities rather than engineering.
- [Capturing the faces of Lake Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/22/capturing-the-faces-of-lake-michigan/) - A Milwaukee photographer hit the road with a mobile studio to capture images of people with unique connections to Lake Michigan. Check out our interactive map.
- [How an upstream ditch limits downstream algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/23/how-an-upstream-ditch-limits-downstream-algae/) - Digging the right kind of ditch to drain farm fields can improve water quality hundreds of miles away.
- [Michigan office prepares for health impacts of climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/23/michigan-office-prepares-for-health-impacts-of-climate-change/) - The Michigan Department of Community Health is looking at how climate change could impact public health.
- [Will shifting political winds impair Great Lakes recovery?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/24/will-shifting-political-winds-impair-great-lakes-recovery/) - One of this gaggle of candidates will be president in January of 2017. Will he or she rise to a new standard of Great Lakes care?
- [Young conservationists advise DNR on kids' interests](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/27/young-conservationists-advise-dnr-on-kids-interests/) - Applications for Michigan's Youth Conservation Council are accepted until Thursday. Members help provide outdoor recreation while learning about Michigan's natural resources.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on sugar trail kickoff, LEED gold for Delta and geothermal financing options](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/27/mr-great-lakes-on-sugar-trail-kickoff-leed-gold-for-delta-and-geothermal-financing-options/) - Jeff Kart reports that the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy is looking for volunteers for the Michigan Sugar Trails kickoff, the Delta College Health Professions Building earns a green award and the Michigan Geothermal Energy Association's spring meeting.
- [The Detroit Zoo's million dollar manure](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/28/the-detroit-zoos-million-dollar-manure/) - Zoo officials are proposing an anaerobic biodigester to turn animal waste into a bio gas that produces electricity.
- [Views of the post-tornado destruction in Fairdale, Ill.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/29/views-of-the-post-tornado-destruction-in-fairdale-ill/) - An image from a NASA earth observation satellite traces the twisted trail of debris left by the Fairdale, Ill. tornado, and drone footage shows the destruction from below.
- [Detroit River cleanup brightens gateway to Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/30/detroit-river-cleanup-brightens-gateway-to-michigan/) - Cleaning up Detroit and its river could be a key way to re-create and revitalize Michigan as a state, state officials say.
- [Great Lakes state gets worst grade for water policy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/04/30/great-lakes-state-gets-worst-grade-for-water-policy/) - Michigan ranked the lowest among Great Lakes scores on its most recent scorecard from the Alliance for Water Efficiency. It received a mere 3 points out of the possible 40 for water efficiency and policy.
- [Imperiled butterfly leads way for conservation of climate sensitive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/01/imperiled-butterfly-leads-way-for-conservation-of-climate-sensitive-species/) - Michigan has been the hotbed of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. But now a changing climate threatens the blue bug.
- [Drones are everywhere - here's why](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/01/drones-are-everywhere-heres-why/) - Drones are increasingly a part of the environment as people increasingly find ways to use them for commercial and other applications. Government officials struggle with how to regulate them.
- [Property owner snared in Ohio trapping case](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/04/property-owner-snared-in-ohio-trapping-case/) - Traps used to catch coyotes killing birds on hunting preserve also caught neighbor's dog.
- [State and local partners plan statewide trail](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/05/state-and-local-partners-plan-statewide-trail/) - The Iron Belle trail is a proposed 1,200-mile pathway starting in Detroit and ending in the western Upper Peninsula.
- [Energy policy debate is missing the point, advocates say](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/07/energy-policy-debate-is-missing-the-point-advocates-say/) - Michigan officials continue to debate on proposals for Michigan’s future energy policy, with goals for cheap, reliable energy.
- [What Great Lakes game fish should you be fishing for?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/08/what-great-lakes-game-fish-should-you-be-fishing-for/) - Take our quiz. Related story. What Great Lakes Game Fish Should You Be Fishing For? by ProProfs
- [New Michigan fishing regs allow year round catch and release of bass](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/08/new-michigan-fishing-regs-allow-year-round-catch-and-release-of-bass/) - Some anglers worry about longterm harm. Take our fish quiz.
- [Echo Eco Cup bracket](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/09/echo-eco-cup-bracket/)
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: drought, farming, climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/11/great-lakes-month-in-review-ca-drought-farming-and-climate-change/) - Current State discusses recent environmental stories with commentator Gary Wilson.
- [NHL seeks sustainability on ice](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/11/nhl-seeks-sustainability-on-ice/) - Creating a single sheet of ice for a hockey arena requires about 12,500 gallons of water. While the Stanley Cup playoffs continue, you can help decide which Great Lakes hockey team wins Echo's Eco Cup for sustainability. Fill out a bracket, weigh in with your picks.
- [Volunteer monitors track Michigan’s 150 butterfly species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/12/volunteer-monitors-track-michigans-150-butterfly-species/) - The Michigan Butterfly Network will soon be sending volunteers out to survey the state's butterflies.
- [Lake effect: Turning water into sound](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/12/lake-effect-turning-water-into-sound/) - Fascinated by projects that interpret environmental data as sound, an Echo reporter turns Lake Michigan/Huron water levels into a sound communications strategy.
- [Wilson redux](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/13/wilson-redux/) - Presidential wind shifting across the Great Lakes.
- [Eco Cup match-up: The Wild vs the Blackhawks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/13/first-echo-eco-cup-match-up-the-wild-vs-the-blackhawks/) - A first round match in Great Lakes Echo's first NHL Eco Cup.
- [Fake reefs are good for fishing - how about for the fish?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2015/05/14/fake-reefs-are-good-for-fishing-how-about-for-the-fish/) - While they attract fish to eat and spawn, artificial reefs in the Great Lakes need to be monitored longer to evaluate their success, according to a new study.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Cleaning Kawkawlin, home solar systems, and Saginaw Bay's sewage dollars](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/17/mr-great-lakes-cleaning-kawkawlin-home-solar-systems-and-saginaw-bays-sewage-dollars/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. March 14, 2014 - Mr. Great Lakes by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses clean-up efforts on the Kawkawlin River, solar energy and a new state sewer maintenance program. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Emergency officials brace for floods from snow, warmth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/18/emergency-officials-brace-for-floods-when-snow-and-warmth-converge/) - State and local officials in Michigan are bracing for spring floods after record-breaking snowfalls in some areas. And the risks are high, with a 50 percent to 90 percent chance of flooding predicted statewide this year.
- [Wildlife Forever announces 16th annual State-Fish Art contest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/18/wildlife-forever-announces-16th-annual-state-fish-art-contest/) - The contest originated in Minnesota in 1999 to promote learning about state fish.The deadline is fast approaching for Wildlife Forever's annual State-Fish Art Contest! To enter, students (K-12) must submit a portfolio that consists of a handmade artistic depiction of the fish in its natural habitat and a brief personal essay. Entries may be submitted
- [Invasive Species: Asian Carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/19/invasive-species-asian-carp/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes EchoAsian carp may be one of the better known of the many aquatic invasive species attempting to make their way into the Great Lakes basin. They are one of the five “usual suspects” recognized by The Nature Conservancy in a public awareness campaign. Big head and silver are the most common types
- [Dairy dilemma: Cold chills milk production, threatens cow health, increases feed costs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/19/dairy-dilemma-cold-chills-milk-production-threatens-cow-health-increases-feed-costs/) - Farmers are treating cows with more than the usual number of pneumonia cases, chapped teats and udders, disturbed calving cycles and injuries from slipping on ice.
- [Ohio court extinguishes bid to open pet crematorium](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/19/ohio-court-extinguishes-bid-to-open-pet-crematorium/) - A pet crematorium is not legal in a residential and farming community north of Dayton, the appeals court said in a dispute that pits kennel owners against township authorities.
- [Perfect conditions produce "snow rollers" in Ohio, New York](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/20/perfect-conditions-produce-snow-rollers-in-ohio-new-york/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo Everyone has seen images of tumbleweed blowing in the wind. This image shows what it looks like when the wind rolls its own snowballs. These snowballs were created by the wind in a field in Ohio, according to Earth Science Picture of the Day, a service provided by NASA’s Earth Science
- [Models help Detroit plan for climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/20/models-help-detroit-plan-for-climate-change/) - Determining the impacts of climate change is difficult. There are hundreds of factors that determine how communities are influenced. To understand the challenges associated with climate change, scientists use system dynamics models.
- [Photo Friday: Cold produces sundog above Lake Superior](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/21/photo-friday-cold-produces-sun-dog-above-lake-superior/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo This image taken over Lake Superior’s southern shore shows a reflection of light known as a “sundog” on the outer edges of a halo surrounding the sun. Fog is created when cold air moves over water that is much warmer. Because of the cold, this fog often contains tiny ice crystals.
- [St. Louis River Estuary restoration: Cleaning up the past](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/21/st-louis-river-estuary-restoration-cleaning-up-the-past/) - After over 200 years of damage, local, state, federal and non-governmental organizations are all joining forces to restore the St. Louis River Estuary.
- [Ontario shuns coal; will other provinces follow?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/24/ontario-shuns-coal-will-other-provinces-follow/) - At the beginning of this year, Ontario – Canada’s most populous province – became the first jurisdiction in North America to ban coal-fired energy production, shutting down all such plants in the province.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Saginaw Bay algae events, Earth Day and Ogemaw warblers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/24/mr-great-lakes-saginaw-bay-algae-events-earth-day-and-ogemaw-warblers/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Mr. Great Lakes, March 21, 2014. This week, Kart discusses two upcoming Saginaw Bay events about algae, an Earth Day essay contest and the Kirtland's warbler population in Ogemaw County, Mich. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Maps show spread of aquatic invasive species over time](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/25/maps-show-spread-of-aquatic-invasive-species-over-time/) - The Nature Conservancy has animated how six invasive species have spread across the Great Lakes over time. The group has created six maps that show population increase and spread since the appearance of each species in the Great Lakes basin and beyond. Sea lamprey, the first of the six invasive species to appear in the
- [Grass carp: the overlooked Asian carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/25/grass-carp-the-overlooked-asian-carp/) - There are many types of fish that fall under the Asian carp umbrella. Each brings their own unique peril to the Great Lakes basin.
- [Kittens, Great Lakes ice and paying for journalism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/26/kittens-great-lakes-ice-and-paying-for-journalism/) - Commentary The local historical society recently hosted a panel discussion of the history of the Lansing (Michigan) State Journal. That’s my local newspaper and I was particularly interested in the event as I had once worked there as an editor. What really caught my interest in a video of the discussion was a longtime State
- [Environmental group finds toxic chemicals in university promotional items](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/26/environmental-group-finds-toxic-chemicals-in-university-promotional-items/) - Both University of Michigan and Michigan State University fan gear contained varying levels of potentially toxic chemicals, according to a recent study by the Ecology Center.
- [Connecting environmental justice and biodiversity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/27/from-indiana-to-latvia-connecting-the-seeds-of-environmental-justice-agricultural-biodiversity/) - When the U.S. Supreme Court held last year that farmers can be liable for damages if they use patented seeds for more than one planting, the decision highlighted a debate over growers' rights, intellectual property and agricultural sustainability.
- [New book highlights eco-friendly Michigan travel destinations](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/27/new-book-highlights-eco-friendly-michigan-travel-destinations/) - By Greg Monahan Great Lakes Echo A new book from longtime journalist Sally Barber takes an environmentally conscious look at exploring outdoor attractions around the Great Lakes state. A new book from longtime journalist Sally Barber takes an environmentally conscious look at exploring outdoor attractions around the Great Lakes state. The Michigan Eco-Traveler is for
- [Spill response inadequate for tar sands crude on Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/28/spill-response-inadequate-for-tar-sands-crude-on-great-lakes/) - Emergency responders are readying for Lake Superior oil shipping proposals.
- [Photo Friday: Crystal clear Lake Superior](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/28/photo-friday-crystal-clear-lake-superior/) - 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: Ice and snow cover Green Bay](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/28/ice-and-snow-cover-green-bay/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo This photograph taken recently from the International Space Station shows the city of Green Bay, Wis. Just north of the city is the ice-covered Green Bay off the west coast of Lake Michigan. The landscape is covered in snow. Because the sun poorly illuminates the area, the entire scene is
- [Icy lakes made some towns, businesses winners or losers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/31/icy-lakes-made-some-towns-businesses-winners-or-losers/) - The record-breaking ice on Lake Superior is bad news for the steel industry but not for tourism in some parts of the Upper Peninsula.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Energy attitudes, spring migration and 'Clean Water' rules](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/31/mr-great-lakes-energy-attitudes-spring-migration-and-clean-water-rules/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan's Delta College Q-90.1 FM. This week, Kart discusses the attitudes on energy costs, spring migration and an added rule to the Clean Water Act. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: Tar sands, Great Lakes Day, water retail](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/03/31/great-lakes-month-in-review-tar-sands-great-lakes-day-water-retail/) - At the end of each month Current State checks in with Great Lakes commentator and journalist Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the Basin.
- [Giant aquarium coming to metro Detroit mall](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/01/giant-aquarium-coming-to-metro-detroit-mall/) - By Greg Monahan Great Lakes Echo Starfish, seahorses and sharks are coming to a southeast Michigan shopping center. Crain’s Detroit reports Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills announced plans for the construction of a 35,000-square-foot aquarium that could be completed by this time next year. Sea Life Michigan will feature an array of tropical
- [Under the ice, it's just you and your bubbles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/01/under-the-ice-its-just-you-and-your-bubbles/) - For Richard Skibsted and Rudy Prouty, Lake Superior offers a winter oasis that presents another way to continue their passion of scuba diving.
- [Landowner off the hook for Superfund clean up in New York](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/01/landowner-off-the-hook-for-superfund-clean-up-in-new-york/) - The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the landowner had fulfilled all its responsibilities under the Superfund law — officially called the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA. The decision apparently leaves the subcontractor that hauled away the contaminated soil out of luck. Here’s what happened, according to legal documents:
- [Extreme precipitation closes beaches, endangers health](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/02/extreme-precipitation-closes-beaches-may-endanger-human-health/) - 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.
- [National Geographic editor on photography, climate change, fate of the earth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/02/national-geographic-editor-on-photography-climate-change-fate-of-the-earth/) - While for some media outlets photography is taking a back seat, at National Geographic, it continues to be a central part of the brand.
- [New York contractor loses asbestos appeal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/02/new-york-contractor-loses-asbestos-appeal/) - A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a contractor for asbestos-related environmental crimes at several school and hospital projects in Western New York.
- [How to be a steward when you're "Lakeshore Living"](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/03/how-to-be-a-steward-when-youre-lakeshore-living/) - When they decided to write a book, Minnesota's Paul Radomski and Alberta's Kristof Van Assche originally set out to make their lives a little easier. What they created was an idea manual for lakeshore stewardship.
- [Photo Friday: Moonrise over Lake Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/04/photo-friday-moonrise-over-lake-michigan-2/) - The moon is bright enough in this picture to perhaps make one think it's the sun for a brief moment. This photo of a rising full moon was snapped by Jodie Opie in Kenosha, Wisc. looking east over Lake Michigan. We're always open to viewer submissions for our Photo Friday series, so feel free to
- [State officials launch tourism initiative to promote trail network](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/04/state-officials-launch-tourism-initiative-to-promote-trail-network/) - Information for all Michigan trails - including those on the water - would soon be available at the click of a button under legislation recently introduced by lawmakers.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Earth Day events in Bay City and Midland and more solar for Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/07/mr-great-lakes-earth-day-events-in-bay-city-and-midland-and-more-solar-for-michigan/) - Mr. Great Lakes, April 4th, 2014 by Great Lakes Echo This week, Kart discusses two events for Earth Day and DTE Energy's SolarCurrents program. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Snow delays spring corn planting, asparagus harvest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/07/snow-delays-spring-corn-planting-asparagus-harvest/) - By Nick Stanek Farmers may be off to a late start this year after snowfall and low temperatures put them behind schedule. There is good news and bad news associated with the snow. The heavy snow insulated the ground, protecting micro-organisms that are good for corn. But the high water remaining in fields could strain
- [Council of Canadians, environmental groups push Great Lakes protection](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/08/council-of-canadians-environmental-groups-push-great-lakes-protection/) - More than a year since the beginning of the second half of Ontario's 40th parliament session, environmental groups across the province are calling for adoption of key legislation to protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes.
- [Congress expands Great Lakes dredging](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/09/congress-expands-great-lakes-dredging-16-projects-planned-in-michigan-wisconsin/) - Everybody knows water flows, but not many people know that the sediment below it does too. That’ s why harbors need dredging, or excavating the gradually accumulated material at the bottom of the water and transporting it elsewhere.
- [Recent spill triggers closer look at tar sands shipping on Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/09/recent-spill-triggers-closer-look-at-tar-sands-shipping-on-great-lakes/) - Last week, as much as 1,600 gallons of oil spilled into Lake Michigan from the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, 20 miles from Chicago. After a week-long cleanup, authorities say they have found no further trace of spilled oil in the area. However, the political ramifications of the spill are likely to remain long after this incident.
- [Great Lakes vulnerable as new threats loom](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/11/unfinished-business-leaves-great-lakes-vulnerable-as-new-threats-loom/) - Commentary Wall Street's incessant past performance is no guarantee of future results disclaimer has applications to Great Lakes issues too. Here's what I mean. The period between 2004 and 2009 were heady days for the Great Lakes and their advocates. In that short span, President George W. Bush signed off on the concept of federal support for Great
- [Photo Friday: Wisconsin sunrise](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/11/photo-friday-wisconsin-sunrise/) - This picture of a clear early morning on the western side of Lake Michigan was snapped by Wisconsin resident Catherine Egger last summer. The photo was taken from the shores of Manitowoc, home to the Wisconsin end of the SS Badger car ferry, which transports cargo to and from Ludington, Mich. You'll notice a small
- [Your turn: grab a hammer and help build Echo's future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/13/64936/) - You are reading a milestone — the 3,000th post on Great Lakes Echo. And we’re celebrating with a new look. Echo recently turned five years old. That’s ancient for Internet publications, particularly those that produce news. But this facelift is no middle-aged desperate grasp to retain youth. Rather, we’re setting the foundation for another five
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Manure runoff, Lake Huron Summit and solar panel glare](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/14/mr-great-lakes-manure-runoff-lake-huron-summit-and-solar-panel-glare/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Mr. Great Lakes, 4.11.14 by Great Lakes Echo This week, Kart discusses a coalition to end the use of manure as fertilizer in winter, a Lake Huron Watershed Summit and issues with solar panel glare. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [National Wildlife Refuges expand hunting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/15/national-wildlife-refuges-expand-hunting-opportunity/) - Three national wildlife refuges in the Great Lakes region will expand hunting opportunities and two more will open to hunting for the first time, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and thePatoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area in Indiana will expand migratory
- [Michigan bats found with white-nose fungus](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/15/michigan-bats-found-with-white-nose-fungus/) - A fungus that has already killed more than 10 million bats nationwide has been found for the first time in Michigan. White-nose syndrome was confirmed April 10 in little brown bats in Alpena, Dickinson and Mackinac counties. It is expected to spread quickly through the state, said Bill Scullon, wildlife biologist and statewide bat coordinator
- [Fracking sand mines credited for fluctuating property values](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/16/fracking-sand-mines-credited-for-rising-dropping-property-values/) - By Alison Dirr Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Perry Schmitt describes himself as pro-mining but blames the frac sand mine across the highway from his home for driving down the asking price by more than $25,000, to $189,000. His neighbors made out better. Kari Curran and her husband sold 130 acres for $1.5 million to
- [New York court leaves turbine project dangling in the wind](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/16/new-york-court-leaves-turbine-project-dangling-in-the-wind/) - An appeals court has refused to order a local government to extend a special use permit for a proposed multimillion-dollar 29-turbine wind farm in Western New York. Allegany Wind LLC unsuccessfully sought a one-year extension of its permit for the controversial project in the town of Allegany, in Cattaraugus County just north of the Pennsylvania border. When the
- [Waste to work:  Penn State researchers use industrial waste in hydraulic fracturing](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/16/waste-to-work-penn-state-researchers-use-industrial-waste-in-hydraulic-fracturing/) - While the debate over the long-term environmental impact of what is commonly known as fracking rages, researchers at Penn State University say they have discovered how to use industrial waste products to make the practice more sustainable. During the lifetime of a fracking well, millions of gallons of water are pumped deep into the ground,
- [Authors “Canvas Detroit” for art’s impact on the urban environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/18/authors-canvas-detroit-for-arts-impact-on-the-urban-environment/) - In “Canvas Detroit,” Nichole Christian and Julie Pincus profile the Motor City’s brightest and most diverse of up and coming street artists. From murals on boulevards to grass sculptures, their work can actively improve the urban environment and shine a light on previously ignored and abandoned cityscapes. Detroit is a city that needs “problem solving,”
- [Photo Friday: Bois Blanc Island bullfrog](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/18/photo-friday-bois-blanc-island-bullfrog/) - This close-up photo is of a bullfrog in a marsh on the southwest end of Bois Blanc Island (known as Bo-Lo to locals), located in Lake Huron between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It was taken by Terry Heatlie, a habitat restoration specialist working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. We're always open
- [Southeast Chicago residents take petcoke fight to the streets](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/21/southeast-chicago-residents-take-petcoke-fight-to-the-streets/) - Feeling that elected officials have betrayed them in the battle over piles of petroleum coke on the Southeast Side of Chicago, residents have vowed to take the fight to the streets and into their own hands.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Birds in Tawas, white-nosed bats and Earth Day](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/21/mr-great-lakes-white-nose-syndrome-birds-in-tawas-and-earth-day/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. White-Nose Syndrome in Michigan, Birds in Tawas, and Earth Day in Bay City | Mr Great Lakes by Great Lakes Echo This week, Kart discusses the white-nose syndrome recently found in Michigan bats, the Tawas Point Birding Festival and Bay City's plans for
- [Researchers warn of health and environmental concerns surrounding livestock farms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/22/researchers-warn-of-health-and-environmental-concerns-surrounding-livestock-farms/) - By Kate Golden Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Six leading researchers at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health are warning northeastern Wisconsin rural residents that over-application of manure at intensive livestock operations could cause them a host of health problems and damage the environment. The authors, all at the school's Center for a
- [Some wastes would be reused, not landfilled, under bills](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/22/some-wastes-would-be-reused-not-landfilled-under-bills/) - Coal ash could be used in concrete, lime ash could be used for farming and copper sand could be made into shingles under legislation that would allow certain industries to sell byproducts that they now throw away.
- [State, university officials and entrepreneurs waiting for drone industry take-off](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/23/state-university-officials-and-entrepreneurs-waiting-for-drone-industry-take-off/) - The status of using what are also called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles — UAVs -commercially is in a holding pattern after a federal judge ruled last month that the Federal Aviation Administration had no authority to issue a $10,000 fine against a Virginia drone pilot. That set off celebrations in the drone community that were short-lived.
- [Trial to begin in Michigan asbestos case](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/23/trial-to-begin-in-michigan-asbestos-case/) - A jury trial is scheduled to begin April 29 on asbestos-related criminal charges stemming from the conversion of a former Bay City. Mich., church into a charter school. Roy Bradley Sr. and Gerald Essex are accused of violating the Clean Air Act by failing to properly handle, remove and dispose of material containing asbestos on
- [Turtles vs. turbines](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/24/turtles-vs-turbines/) - An Ontario court has ruled in favor of a wind turbine project that put environmental groups at odds with each other. On one side are supporters of an alternative energy project. On the other are those favoring the protection of a threatened turtle species and fragile soil.
- [Thanks to harsh winter, golf courses face tee time delays](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/24/thanks-to-harsh-winter-golf-courses-face-tee-time-delays/) - Golf courses in Michigan have reopened after a prolonged winter freeze that caused costly damage and set revenue behind for the season.
- [Local officials convert paved roads to gravel as lawmakers debate funding repairs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/25/michigan-officials-increasingly-convert-paved-roads-to-gravel-ones-as-lawmakers-debate-how-to-fund-repairs/) - The rough winter has given Michigan’s road funding concerns a violent push into the statewide spotlight as discussion swirls at the Capitol.
- [Photo Friday: Michigan ice skirts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/25/photo-friday-michigan-ice-skirts/) - These photos taken by Ken Scott on April 14 show ice skirts formed near the bottom of trees and shrubs in northern Michigan.
- [Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder: ‘atmosphere of crisis’ needed for faster action on Asian carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/25/michigan-gov-rick-snyder-atmosphere-of-crisis-needed-for-faster-action-on-asian-carp/) - Great Lakes Echo commentator Gary Wilson sat down with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in Chicago for a one-on-one interview Friday.
- [Test kitchen, production line could cook up jobs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/28/test-kitchen-and-production-line-could-boost-michigan-farm-economy-cook-up-jobs/) - Michigan State University and state officlals are creating a production line to test food products for entrepreneurs
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Dark Sky Week and another dam removal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/28/mr-great-lakes-dark-sky-week-and-another-dam-removal/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. This week, Kart discusses International Dark Sky Week and a dam removal project. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Green versus green and energy dilemmas](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/29/green-versus-green-and-energy-dilemmas/) - No alternative energy source is without its environmental costs. But as demand for power continues and as existing fossil-fuel and nuclear plants age, the truth is that the Great Lakes states need to aggressively explore alternatives.
- [Disclosure stirs Lake Huron nuclear waste worries](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/29/disclosure-stirs-lake-huron-nuclear-waste-worries/) - Ongoing concern over a proposed nuclear waste site very near Lake Huron took a new twist recently. A Canadian government review panel is exploring the viability of a new underground storage facility in Kincardine, Ontario. That's about 111 miles across the water from Port Huron. The facility is almost a half mile underground but little
- [Sales from specialty Ohio license plates help clean Lake Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/30/sales-from-specialty-ohio-license-plates-help-clean-lake-erie/) - Sales from specialized license plates in Ohio are resulting in $60,000 in grants to help clean up the state’s only Great Lake. A pair of Ohio’s plates raised money for the Lake Erie Protection Fund, which was established to finance research and implementation projects to protect and restore Lake Erie and its watershed. One plate
- [Great Lakes drowning education targets young men](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/30/sea-grant-targets-young-men-for-drowning-education/) - Sixty-six swimmers, including 13 men ranging from 15-28, drowned in the Great Lakes in 2013. More than 300 people have drowned in the lakes since 2010. Read more
- [Govs sign invasive species pact, but few show at Great Lakes meeting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/04/30/govs-sign-invasive-species-pact-but-few-show-at-great-lakes-meeting/) - For April's Great Lakes Month in Review Current State focused on the Council of Great Lakes Governors summit, which took place in Chicago this past weekend. Gary Wilson shares more from his one-on-one interview with Gov. Rick Snyder.
- [Advocate responds to bolstered Michigan recycling plan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/01/advocate-responds-to-bolstered-michigan-recycling-plan/) - Earlier this month Gov. Snyder released a plan to increase recycling in the State of Michigan. At 15 percent, the state has one of the worst residential recycling rates in the nation.
- [Other Great Lakes states fix potholes, why not Michigan?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/01/how-other-great-lakes-states-fund-roads-could-fix-michigans-potholes/) - Michigan and nearby Great Lakes states might share road funding concerns, but the Mitten might not have access to the same solutions. Michigan’s road funding is unique because of its comparatively low gas and diesel taxes, lower taxes for diesel than gas and an unusual funding formula that sends a disproportionate amount of money to rural areas.
- [Penn. State chases crows with lasers, fireworks, hanging birds and obnoxious smells](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/02/penn-state-chases-crows-with-lasers-fireworks-hanging-birds-and-obnoxious-smells/) - Researchers are trying to chase away crows whose excrement is causing unsanitary conditions on campus.
- [Photo Friday: Historic observation tower in Michigan City, Ind.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/02/photo-friday-historic-observation-tower-in-michigan-city-ind/) - These photos of a 77-year-old observation tower in Michigan City, Ind. were taken by Echo reader and Montana resident Kathleen Stachowski last year during warmer times. Growing up in Indiana, she said one of her favorite childhood memories was making the 220-step trek to the top with her mother. The tower was designed by Fred
- [Turkey love: Even birds need a wingman](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/05/turkey-love-even-birds-need-a-wingman/) - It's spring and love is in the air for turkeys. The ritual is not an event for two, but three. As Current State's Melissa Benmark discovered, even turkeys need a wingman to land the lady of their dreams.
- [Michigan farm officials oppose federal authority expansion over water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/05/michigan-farm-officials-oppose-federal-authority-expansion-over-water/) - Michigan farm officials are fighting an attempt by the federal Environmental Protection agency to regulate small bodies of water. They fear that a new permit process would make farming more expensive and time-consuming.
- [Celebrate migratory bird day early](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/06/celebrate-migratory-bird-day-early/) - Detroit Public Television is webcasting live an interview with author, blogger, columnist, educator and birding expert Sharon Sorenson at 1 p.m. today. Sorenson will explain how to better host birds in the backyard and around the world in the Great Lakes Now Connect program produced with The Nature Conservancy. The program is hosted by veteran journalist
- [Road restrictions hamper farmers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/06/road-restrictions-hamper-farmers-this-spring/) - Farming feels the lingering effects of the polar vortex in some parts of the state as cold temperatures continue into spring.
- [Ohio tries to prevent foodborne Illnesses](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/07/ohio-tries-to-prevent-foodborne-illnesses/) - Nearly a quarter of foodborne illnesses in the United States are cause by fresh produce, according to Ohio State University researchers. Research shows that leafy greens and sprouts cause the most illnesses, said Sarah Klein, senior attorney in Food Safety Program at the Center of Science and Public Interest in Washington D.C. Leafy greens and
- [“Little Traverse Bay” documents over a century of development](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/07/little-traverse-bay-documents-over-a-century-of-development-evolution/) - The region began to boom as the area embraced a tourist-friendly identity, but surprisingly, many streets, buildings and community traditions have stayed firmly close to their origins of well over a hundred years ago.
- [Public trust demands Great Lakes phosphorus cuts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/08/public-trust-demands-a-great-lakes-phosphorous-diet/) - International Joint Commission Great Lakes phosphorous report invokes public trust doctrine for protection.
- [Volunteers guard Michigan's spawning sturgeon](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/08/volunteers-guard-michigans-spawning-sturgeon/) - From now through early June, volunteers will be standing guard over the Black River in Northern Michigan. They’ll be on the banks of the river making sure that the lake sturgeon, a rare and threatened species in the state, are able to leave their homes in Black Lake and successfully spawn in the Black River. Why do the fish need guarding? Ann Feldhauser, who coordinates the program through the group, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, says the goal is to have a presence on the river 24/7 to prevent illegal taking of the fish.
- [Photo Friday: Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/09/photo-friday-manitowoc-breakwater-lighthouse/) - This picture of a perfectly clear sunrise over Lake Michigan was taken by Catherine Egger in Manitowoc, Wisc. during the summer of 2013. The city of Manitowoc is about 40 miles southeast of Green Bay, and the lighthouse in the distance is the Manitowac Breakwater Lighthouse, which has been a part of the shoreline for
- [For a city with big shoulders, Chicago is wimpy on the environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/09/for-a-city-with-big-shoulders-chicago-is-wimpy-on-the-environment/) - Weak recycling efforts and a tardy response to water quality concerns hardly lead the way to turning Chicago the same color as its river on St. Patrick's Day.
- [Ontario study: climate change impacts freshwater fish range](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/09/ontario-study-climate-change-impacts-freshwater-fish-range/) - The northern boundaries of sportfish species have moved further north in the past three decades, although the amount of change varied from species to species, according to the study published in the journal “Diversity and Distributions.”
- [New film showcases Michigan’s Au Sable River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/12/new-film-showcases-michigans-au-sable-river/) - The River is a new film that tells the story of Michigan's Au Sable River, covering the famous stream's logging history of the 1860s, angling heritage, modern threats and spiritual value .
- [Inland Seas needs Facebook votes to set sail with $25,000 grant](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/13/inland-seas-needs-facebook-votes-to-set-sail-with-25000-grant/) - The Suttons Bay group hopes to update its "Schoolship" and educational programs and buy new equipment and technology. All it needs to win are votes on Facebook.
- [Short’s Brewing ties seasonal beers to Clean Water Campaign](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/13/shorts-brewing-ties-seasonal-beers-to-clean-water-campaign/) - Short's Brewing Company in Bellaire, Mich. released its American Double IPA "Superfluid" this spring. (Photo: Short's Brewing Company)Short’s Brewing Co. in Bellaire, Mich. is using the creation of one of its popular summer beers to draw attention to an oil pipeline that the company fears could taint the waters of the Great Lakes. Short’s is
- [Preserving the lands of the wealthy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/12/preserving-the-lands-of-the-wealthy/) - A stretch of New York’s Hudson Valley is known for its old wealth, stately mansions–and encroaching new wealth and development. In the words of the National Park Service, “For nearly two centuries, this place has been home to socially prominent New Yorkers. It still is, and increasingly so. Median household income of $71,508 in 2008-12 is up by 34.70 percent since 2000. Those pressures make it imperative to preserve what can be preserved of the land and the culture.
- [Cheap natural gas a challenge for cogeneration plant](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/13/cheap-natural-gas-a-challenge-for-cogeneration-plant/) - In 2006 when a Minnesota group announced a $60 million biomass cogeneration plant, spot prices for natural gas topped $13 per million Btu. By the time the power plant began operating in May 2009, they had plunged below $4. Operators say they’ve stayed viable by cutting costs and upgrading efficiency.
- [Climate report sheds light on Great Lakes shipping challenges](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/14/climate-report-sheds-light-on-great-lakes-shipping-challenges/) - A recent federal climate report indicates decreasing ice coverage on the Great Lakes that could lead to more evaporation, lower water levels and costlier shipping.
- [Wisconsin officials cut  diseased trees at state park](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/14/wisconsin-officials-cut-diseased-trees-at-state-park/) - Wisconsin State officials are cutting down trees in Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County that are infected with beech bark disease. The park has lots of beech trees and those that are infected pose a safety hazard, said Linda Williams, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist. Weakened limbs and trunks can
- [Environmental groups, manufacturers find common ground on eliminating rules](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/15/environmental-groups-manufacturers-find-common-ground-on-eliminating-unneeded-rules/) - Michigan’s Environmental Advisory Rules Committee is a group of environmentalists, manufacturers, attorneys and state officials assigned to identify duplicative, obsolete or burdensome environmental rules.
- [Deadly piglet virus hits Midwest farms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/15/deadly-piglet-virus-hits-midwest-farms/) - Pig farmers in Michigan and around the nation are losing piglets to a virus that is easily spread and almost always lethal to very young animals. So far, it’s killed over six million piglets.
- [Inadequate tree-trimming contributed to lengthy power outages](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/16/lack-of-tree-trimming-blamed-for-michigan-ice-storm-outages/) - Consumers Energy was singled out in a Michigan Public Service Commission staff report for spending nearly $16 million less than the MPSC approved for the utility for vegetation management in 2013.
- [Photo Friday: Satellite view of ice melting on Lake Baikal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/16/photo-friday-satellite-view-of-ice-melting-on-lake-baikal/) - Russia's Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and holds more freshwater than all of the North American Great Lakes. This shot featured on NASA's Earth Observatory was taken from the International Space Station on April 22. Much of the lake is covered with ice. The brightest point reflects the sun from where
- [Former Great Lakes official appointed to EPA advisory board](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/19/former-great-lakes-official-appointed-to-epa-advisory-board/) - The former director of Michigan’s Office of the Great Lakes has been appointed to a board that advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency how to lower the cost of environmental protection. G. Tracy Mehan, now a principal with the Cadmus Group Inc., was recently appointed to EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board. The panel also provides
- [Emory University tests Michigan residents exposed to PBB](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/19/emory-university-tests-michigan-residents-exposed-to-pbb/) - The concern is whether contamination left by the Velsicol Chemical Co. in St. Louis, Mich., has longterm health consequences for the county’s residents more than 40 years later.
- [Wisconsin court clears controversial ‘frac sand’ mining permit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/19/wisconsin-court-clears-controversial-frac-sand-mining-permit/) - The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has upheld a decision by Buffalo County officials to grant a permit that would allow more than 100 truckloads a day of fracking sand to be trucked on local roads.
- [Great Lakes states examine alternatives to coal-fired power plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/20/great-lakes-states-examine-alternatives-to-coal-fired-power-plants/) - Illinois, Indiana and Ohio were all in the top five coal destinations in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2013.
- [Video: Michigan State University has nation's largest campus coal plant.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/20/video-michigan-state-university-has-nations-biggest-campus-coal-plant/) - tet
- [Commission advises linking environmental and human health data](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/21/commission-advises-linking-environmental-and-human-health-data/) - A recent International Joint Commission (IJC) report recommends monitoring chemicals and toxic substances in the fluid and tissues of young children and pregnant women.
- [Here's how to hunt for morels ](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/21/heres-how-to-hunt-for-morels/) - During the month of May, a different type of hunter takes to the Michigan woods. Their prey, the low-lying honeycomb shaped fungi, morels.
- [Here's how to cook those coveted morels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/21/heres-how-to-cooking-those-highly-coveted-morels/) - It's morel season in Michigan. The hard to cultivate, but delicious fungi is highly sought after by chefs. While many saute the mushroom in butter, there are plenty of other ways to cook the woodland delicacy.
- [Michigan offers hunting information on cell phone app](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/22/michigan-offers-hunting-information-on-cell-phone-app/) - Have any spring hunting plans in Michigan? Well, there’s an app for that. In 2010, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, launched the Mi-HUNT website,www.michigan.gov/mihunt, that allows hunters and outdoor lovers to view about 10 million acres of land available for hunting and other outdoor recreation. Now, just in time for the spring
- [Leaky sewer pipes could export viruses to lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/22/leaky-sewer-pipes-could-export-viruses-to-lakes/) - 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.
- [Manure spraying under scrutiny](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/23/manure-spraying-under-scrutiny/) - Spraying manure on farm fields while rare now has taken on new urgency as more large dairy farms consider the practice.
- [Photo Friday: Educational cruise](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/23/photo-friday-educational-cruise/) - The Leelanau School - an experiential boarding high school for kids with learning differences in Glen Arbor, Mich. - braved the spring chill on a field trip with the Inland Seas Education Center. Inland Seas is a Suttons Bay, Mich., non-profit organization that helps people of all ages experience the science and spirit of the
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Climate change, health and mussels](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/27/mr-great-lakes-climate-change-health-and-mussels/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Mr. Great Lakes, Climate Change, Children's Health and Mussels by Great Lakes Echo This week, Kart discusses climate change in the Great Lakes, protecting children's health and fighting mussels with algae. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Local policy revision spares non-aggressive mute swans](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/27/policy-revision-spares-non-aggressive-mute-swans-on-west-michigan-lake/) - Residents of a small west Michigan lake recently limited a policy on killing invasive mute swans to only those that are aggressive. State officials say the bird can displace native trumpeter swans, eat and destroy wetland vegetation and chase wildlife and even people.
- [Researchers look to spin grass into beef](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/28/researchers-look-to-increase-production-of-sustainable-grass-fed-beef/) - They hope to overcome climate and other hurdles to produce leaner cuts increasingly demanded by consumers.
- [Upending the basin: Name the best town in the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/28/upending-the-basin-what-is-the-best-town-in-the-great-lakes-watershed/) - Let's have a real regional competition for the fairest town in the basin. Make your case here.
- [Wisconsin scientists unveil climate change narratives for 2070](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/29/wisconsin-scientists-unveil-climate-change-narratives-for-2070/) - Will it take a disaster to respond to climate change? A group of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers on Wednesday released a series of detailed science-based scenarios envisioning life in 2070 in the Madison area’s Yahara Watershed. The idea is to help people envision the effects of climate change before it worsens.
- [Contamination monitored with bird blood](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/30/birds-measure-contaminants/) - Scientists are measuring the contaminants in birds to track Great Lakes environmental trends and monitor the success of chemical cleanups.
- [Photo Friday: Kitch-iti-kipi spring](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/30/photo-friday-kitch-iti-kipi-spring/) - Lake, brown and brook trout are found in the 45 degree Kitch-iti-kipi spring at Palms Book State Park in Manistique, Mich. The water moves through porous sandstone and is discharged into a pond at 10,000 gallons a minute. Visitors can watch the roiling of the clean sands some 40 feet below from a viewing raft.
- [Month in review: Carp and Waukesha](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/05/30/month-in-review-carp-and-waukesha/) - At the end of each month, we check in with Echo commentator Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the Basin. Click on the audio clip above for today’s Great Lakes Month in Review which discusses efforts to keep Asian carp and Waukesha, Wis., out of Lake Michigan. This segment is produced as
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Dragonflies, beach wellness, Farm Bill help](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/02/mr-great-lakes-dragonflies-beach-wellness-farm-bill-help/) - 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.
- [New weather buoys join network that protects Great Lakes swimmers](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/02/new-weather-buoys-join-network-that-protect-great-lakes-swimmers/) - One result of the buoy system is the discovery that waves near the shore can be much larger than those farther away.
- [Decades-long research values ecosystem services to farming, environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/03/decades-long-research-values-ecosystem-services-to-farming-environment/) - The research recently reported in BioScience magazine also shows the public's willingness to pay for such services.
- [Grade schoolers vie to name top amphibian](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/03/grade-schoolers-vie-to-name-top-amphibian/) - Elementary students from mid-Michigan are lobbying for one of three candidates proposed for designation as the state amphibian.
- [Michigan seeks to expand use of coal ash](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/03/michigan-seeks-to-expand-use-of-coal-ash/) - For at least the past decade, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has sought comprehensive regulations on reusing industrial byproducts like coal ash, the material generated from burning coal for electricity, as an alternative to sending it to landfills. The “beneficial use” bills, which recently passed the state House, would formally regulate the use of over a dozen forms of industrial byproducts across a variety of sectors, including construction fill and on agricultural land.
- [Transparency wouldn't satisfy Joe Rossi, how about you?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/04/transparency-wouldnt-satisfy-joe-rossi-how-about-you/) - Commentary Many reporters of my generation went into journalism because of the Watergate scandal. Holding public officials accountable — public service journalism - was the attraction then. So, too, were Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in All the president’s men, the movie version of that story. Me? I was more of a Lou Grant kind
- [Au Sable hatchery poses resource, economic questions](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/04/au-sable-river-hatchery-poses-new-resource-economic-questions/) - A proposed expansion is indicative of broader issues involving resource protection and the weighing of emerging and established economic forces.
- [Court upholds UP ethanol plant review but project likely dropped](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/05/court-upholds-up-ethanol-plant-review-but-project-likely-dropped/) - The project has stalled, perhaps permanently, because of the withdrawal of the lead private investor and elimination of a federal mandate for ethanol made from wood.
- [Finding a balance in Lake Huron's fishery](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/05/finding-a-balance-in-lake-hurons-fishery/) - About a decade ago, Lake Huron’s fishing was not very abundant because of a steep decline in fish numbers. To see how the lake is doing now, Current State’s Melissa Benmark spoke with David Fielder, Fisheries Research Biologist for the Department of Natural Resources and a doctoral student at Michigan State University. Fielder explained that
- [Water deal could be key to Detroit’s future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/06/water-deal-could-be-key-to-detroits-future/) - How will Detroit and its neighboring counties deal with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department in the bankruptcy proceedings?
- [Got art? We need it.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/06/help-echo-add-to-its-photo-friday-series/) - You might be aware of Great Lakes Echo’s end-of-the-week series, “Photo Friday.” We want your help to make it better! Each week, we post a picture of an environmental scene or event. It can be anything from the sky to the dirt and anything in between. Sometimes these photos come from us, sometimes they come
- [Michigan crosswalk safety rules unclear, hinder walkability](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/09/michigan-crosswalk-safety-rules-unclear-hinder-walkability/) - Communities are increasingly requesting "Yield to pedestrian" signs to improve walkability, but others fear the signs provide a false sense of security.
- [PSA: Mercury - It's in the fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/09/psa-mercury-its-in-the-fish/) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KLSoDJJnVo&feature=plcp Mercury has found its way not only into our households, but also into our aquatic environment, according to this public service announcement from the Michigan Department of Community Health. "A person’s susceptibility to being harmed by the mercury in fish depends on their age, current health status, genetics, and chemical exposure history," said Christina
- [Will report shine light on Michigan’s solar future?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/10/will-michigans-solar-working-group-bear-any-fruit/) - In less than two weeks the Michigan Public Service Commission will report on how the state’s two largest investor-owned utilities could improve solar options.
- [Television show examines Wisconsin mine proposal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/10/television-show-examines-wisconsin-mine-proposal/) - The battle against what could be the nation’s largest open pit mine in a rural, pristine area of northern Wisconsin is now the subject of a television show. In Wisconsin’s Penokee Mountain Range just south of Lake Superior, Gogebic Taconite, or GTAC, a mining company from West Virginia, seeks to develop an open pit iron
- [Above average number of wildfires predicted by summer's end](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/11/above-average-number-of-wildfires-predicted-by-summers-end/) - The increased fire incidence is expected in August and September as a long winter and late spring delayed the fire season.
- [Addressing challenges of urban watersheds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/11/addressing-challenges-of-urban-watersheds/) - Drain Commissioner On Clean Water Challenges, Opportunities WKAR by Great Lakes Echo Pat Lindemann has served as the Drain Commissioner of Ingham County for 21 years. He's a Lansing native who’s spent his entire life in the area. As Drain Commissioner, Lindemann’s responsible for the operation of Ingham County storm drains and related issues including
- [Public Service Announcement: Recyclers launch statewide campaign](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/12/public-service-announcement-recyclers-launch-campaign/) - The Michigan Recycling Coalition, has launched a state-wide recycling campaign, Recycle, MI, to increase recycling awareness and practices. The campaign is to help residents and businesses reduce waste, according to a press release. It encourages people to start recycling at their homes and work places, volunteer at recycling events or facilities and distribute information about
- [Back to the farm](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/12/modern-shepherd-pursues-agrarian-dream/) - A memoir of pursuing sheep dreams.
- [Photo Friday: Map turtle](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/13/photo-friday-map-turtle/) - Here's what Great Lakes Echo reader Dan Slider has to say about capturing this image in late May: Our backyard slopes down to the Red Cedar River in Williamston (Mich.) When our border terrier mix, Roari, and I started our usual evening stroll, we heard something rustling in the garden bed behind us and
- [Hiker built writing career one step at a time](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/13/hiker-built-writing-career-one-step-at-a-time/) - Great Lakes Echo recently caught up with Jim DuFresne, author of numerous travel and outdoor guidebooks for Michigan and elsewhere.
- [Researchers study how to keep lures on the line](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/16/researchers-study-how-to-keep-lures-on-the-line/) - Lost lures can expand inside the stomach of fish. They don't decompose underwater.
- [Animated satellite data shows record-setting Great Lakes ice](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/16/satellite-data-reveals-record-setting-great-lakes-ice-cover/) - The longest period of ice cover in the Great Lakes officially ended on June 6 — much to the relief of everyone who suffered post-traumatic stress from last year’s harsh winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] recently released a year’s worth of Great Lakes surface temperatures. The animation at right shows ice cover
- [Fish derby sees dramatic DDT drop after cleanup](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/17/dramatic-ddt-drop-in-fish-after-river-cleanup/) - Anglers in a recent fishing derby on Michigan’s Pine River got news far better than pulling in the largest fish. The Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that the fish they sought are much cleaner of DDT than when the competition began 15 years ago. The concentration of the now banned pesticide in fish near the
- [Community solar coming of age in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/17/community-solar-coming-of-age-in-michigan/) - In northern Michigan’s Grand Traverse County, a model for bringing solar power to those without the best location for it could set the path for a state lacking solar development.
- [Great Lakes Commons charter targets shared waters concept](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/18/great-lakes-commons-charter-targets-shared-waters-concept/) - A group advocating that all citizens of the region assume responsibility for the Great Lakes as a common resource is meeting virtually with 100 people to discuss its new charter.
- [Best town right here in the Great Lakes region?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/18/best-town-right-here-in-the-great-lakes-region/) - Duluth, Minn., got the nod in Outside Magazine's Best Town contest. It beat out Provo, Utah, with 55 percent of the vote in the final round. Do you agree? Is Duluth the best town in the Great Lakes states, let alone the U.S.? To get to the final showdown, in head to head competition Duluth
- [New mercury fish consumption warnings now include benefits of eating uncontaminated fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/19/new-mercury-fish-consumption-warnings-now-include-benefits-of-eating-uncontaminated-fish/) - For years, pregnant women have been advised to stay away from eating fish because of their mercury content. But last week’s announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tweaked that advice, making it clear that it is healthy to eat fish without troublesome mercury levels. Fish that are
- [Great Lakes mayors flex muscle on oil, climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/19/great-lakes-mayors-flex-muscle-on-oil-climate-change/) - Other Great Lakes pols could learn something from the leaders of the region's cities.
- [Great Lakes golf greens get freezer burn](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/20/great-lakes-golf-greens-get-freezer-burn/) - The winter damage delayed play while golf course managers made repairs.
- [Photo Friday: Tire trash](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/20/photo-friday-tire-trash/) - Diana Popp Rossiter took this image in early June during a walk through Lyle Park in Bridgeport Township, about six miles southeast of Saginaw. The pedestrian trail starts at a restored historic bridge across the Cass River in downtown Bridgeport and extends through Lyle Park which runs along side the Cass River. "Running alongside the
- [Chasing clouds](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/23/chasing-clouds/) - Review: This character-rich tale is deep with history, context and lessons for environmental battles elsewhere.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Climate action and Great Lakes debris](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/24/mr-great-lakes-climate-action-and-great-lakes-debris/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Climate Action For Michigan, A Response To Great Lakes Debris Mr Great Lakes by Great Lakes Echo This week, Kart discusses the Climate Action Plan and debris in the Great Lakes. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Frac sand mining ruling could affect similar Minnesota cases](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/24/frac-sand-mining-ruling-could-affect-similar-minnesota-cases/) - “We are aware that the issues involved in this case stir the passions of many people, but our role is limited to faithfully applying the law, whether or not that decision is popular,” the court said.
- [Can curbing carbon build the economy?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/25/can-curbing-carbon-build-the-economy/) - A funny thing has occurred — some in the GOP and the industry have backed away from the initial relentless criticism of the Obama plan to curb carbon emissions.
- [Innovative farm energy projects clash with Wisconsin policy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/26/innovative-farm-energy-projects-clash-with-wisconsin-policy/) - Central Wisconsin has rolling fields, numerous dairies and potential new sources of energy.
- [Starting a Great Lakes island trek - sneak preview](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/27/starting-a-great-lakes-island-trek/) - Great Lakes Echo recently interviewed Loreen Niewenhuis in the middle of her third 1,000 mile hike. She's the author of A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk. Both chronicle her hiking adventures around the Great Lakes. This time she is hiking, biking and kayaking on islands in each of the five
- [Another 1,000 miles of adventure](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/27/another-1000-miles-of-adventure/) - Loreen Nienwenhuis takes her third 1,000 mile Great Lakes adventure, this time aroundsome of the region’s islands
- [Photo Friday: Spring on the Baltimore River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/06/27/photo-friday-spring-on-the-baltimore-river/) - Kate Clover of St. Paul, Minn. took this image of the Baltimore River in late May while hiking to O Kun de Kun Falls on part of the North Country Trail in Ontonagon County, Mich. The trail head is just north of Bruce Crossing. The river is muddy with find red sediment. "On each visit
- [Upending the basin: Can Fotokite ease drone drama for journalists?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/01/upending-the-basin-can-fotokite-ease-the-drone-drama-for-journalists/) - Tether increases control, accountability, reliability of flying devices that can provide a unique perspective on environmental problems
- [Quick, name the greatest of Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/02/quick-name-the-greatest-of-great-lakes/) - Don't confine your answer to this era.
- [Lansing oil spill could be part of a pattern; criminal probe continues](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/02/environmentalists-fear-lansing-oil-spill-a-pattern-criminal-probe-continues/) - Environmentalist says city needs better preparation for larger spills.
- [Urban walkability: Detroit's to rise, Cleveland's and Chicago's to drop](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/03/urban-walkability-detroits-to-rise-clevelands-and-chicagos-to-drop/) - The industrial economy yields to the knowledge economy which wants to operate in the experienced economy. That puts a premium on walkable communities.
- [The political climate of Great Lakes cities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/04/67135/) - A group of 114 mayors of U.S. and Canadian cities may be best equipped to influence Great Lakes policy.
- [Great Lakes exports mussels, advice and reporter to Texas](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/07/great-lakes-exports-mussels-advice-and-reporter-to-texas/) - Clean, drain, dry is common advice among the Great Lakes boating community. Now it's delivered with a southern drawl. The watercraft maintenance practice limits the spread of invasive species between lakes. And now it is used in Texas to limit the further spread of a Great Lakes menace threatening lakes in that state. Zebra mussels
- [Insect art: Competition sheds new light on garden damage](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/07/insect-art-competition-sheds-new-light-on-garden-damage/) - What has six legs and creates art? That's true of all the competitors in a new garden art competition In Ontario.
- [Great Lakes cities clear air](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/08/great-lakes-cities-clearing-the-air/) - Check out the improvements in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Gary, Toledo, Cleveland.
- [Balancing fish that are good dads and great sport](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/09/bass-lure-michigan-anglers/) - Those best at protecting the next generation of a significant source of tourism revenue are also the most fun to catch.
- [New Ohio water coalition to poll public](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/10/new-ohio-water-coalition-to-poll-public/) - 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
- [Tricky Mackinac currents could send oil many directions - none good](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/10/tricky-mackinac-currents-could-send-oil-many-directions-none-good/) - Islands and shoreline are at risk in both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
- [Beach cleanup no celebration](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/11/beach-cleanup-no-celebration/) - 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.
- [Ohio treads water as Lake Erie struggles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/11/ohio-treads-water-as-lake-erie-struggles/) - It’s natural to protect our greatest resource. We do it with our homes. Why not our water?
- [Pennsylvania ban on Sunday hunting upheld](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/14/pennsylvania-ban-on-sunday-hunting-upheld/) - Judge says there is no constitutional right to hunt.
- [Bracing for Lake Erie algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/15/bracing-for-lake-erie-algae-threats-to-drinking-water/) - 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.
- [Michigan League of Conservation Voters scores lawmakers on environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/15/michigan-league-of-conservation-voters-scores-lawmakers-on-environment/) - Scorecard ranks lawmakers, identifies priority votes.
- [Researchers troll for plastic on Great Lakes fishing boat](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/16/researchers-troll-for-plastic-aboard-converted-great-lakes-fishing-boat/) - Researchers aboard a converted fishing boat are trawling the Great Lakes for plastic.
- [Upending the basin: Making data dance](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/16/upending-the-basin-making-data-dance/) - Last week I covered the release of an animated model of an oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac. The greatest question it prompted in my mind: Why didn’t we do that? I’ll grant that the researcher who put that one together had studied Great Lakes currents for 30 years. Journalists aren’t going to replicate
- [Flash Point: Foggy evening at Miners Beach Falls](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/17/flash-point-foggy-evening-at-miners-beach-falls/) - We asked Great Lakes photographers to send us some of their favorite or toughest Great Lakes shots and a bit of a story behind the picture.
- [Mosquitoes triple](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/17/mosquitoes-triple/) - If you live in Michigan it seems like every summer is a time to complain about the mosquitoes being really bad this year, but how bad are they, really? Current State talked with Ned Walker about this year’s mosquito crop and some of the issues connected to mosquito-borne illness. He’s a professor in MSU’s Department
- [Business and water policy: A troubling brew](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/18/business-and-water-policy-a-troubling-brew/) - Water is a hot commodity. Should we treat it like any other Initial Public Offering?
- [Photo Friday: June dawn at Middle Bass Island](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/18/photo-friday-june-dawn-at-middle-bass-island/) - Have an environmental image you've taken somewhere within the Great Lakes region and that you'd like to submit for Echo's Photo Friday series? Send it to greatlakesecho@gmail.com along with the photographer's name and town of residence, approximate date it was taken, where it was taken and a little bit of description of what we're looking
- [Towns can ban fracking, New York’s top court rules](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/21/towns-can-ban-fracking-new-yorks-top-court-rules/) - Zoning doesn't intrude on state's regulatory oversight, court says. Minority dissent argues that local ordinances do more than regulate land use.
- [Petro pipelines: Public need or private profit?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/22/petro-pipelines-public-need-or-private-profit/) - Concerns about pipeline safety and disclosure continue to be the source of controversy.
- [Michigan's recycling rate is lousy - and people know it](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/22/michigans-recycling-rate-is-lousy-and-people-know-it/) - ff
- [Michigan's Deer Lake could be taken off polluted hot spot list](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/23/michigans-deer-lake-could-be-taken-off-polluted-hot-spot-list/) - Deer Lake in Ishpeming, Mich., classified as a major international toxic hot spot since 1987, may get a clean bill of health this year after decades of costly cleanup.
- [Michigan voters favor changing energy mix - especially if it doesn't cost anything](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/23/michigan-voters-favor-changing-energy-mix-especially-if-it-doesnt-cost-anything/) - More than 42 percent of Michigan potential voters think the state should dramatically reduce its reliance on electricity generated from coal over the next 25 years as technology improves and costs decrease for other sources, according to a recent poll by Public Sector Consultants. But only 13 percent favor a dramatic drop in coal-produced electricity
- [Michigan lawmakers launch bipartisan search for energy freedom](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/24/michigan-lawmakers-seek-energy-freedom/) - Their bills tackle net metering, microgrids, fair-value pricing and community renewable-energy gardens.
- [Photo Friday: Shipboard education](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/25/photo-friday-shipboard-education/) - BaySail in Bay City, Mich., is a 15-year-old non profit organization that teaches students through scientific observations and measurements of weather, water quality, aquatic life, and human impact on the environment, says Scott Ellis, the Lake Huron organization's communications manager. Lessons on board the tall ship Appledore IV encourage collaboration with peers and experts. Some
- [Misguided priorities, contradictions and benign neglect plague water management](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/25/misguided-priorities-contradictions-and-benign-neglect-plague-water-management/) - These are tough times for water. And we're still in our infancy when dealing with it in the Great Lakes.
- [Poll: A fifth of Michigan residents not Great Lakes wet yet](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/28/poll-a-fifth-of-michigan-residents-not-great-lakes-wet-yet/) - Michigan residents may live in a basin containing nearly 20 percent of the world’s freshwater, but more than 21 percent failed to boat, swim or wade in a Great Lake in the past five years, according to a recent poll conducted by Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants. Here’s what else the poll revealed: Only 13.5 percent
- [Judge OKs settlement with Illinois resin manufacturer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/28/judge-oks-settlement-with-resin-manufacturer/) - The agreement resolves a decade-long dispute that began with EPA inspections in September 2004 of a plant then owned and operated by PolyOne Corp.
- [State parks examine role in solving obesity](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/29/state-parks-examine-role-in-solving-obesity/) - Survey indicates few healthy food choices and campers' desire for more.
- [Winged Wednesday: A Great Lakes summer bird guide](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/30/winged-wednesday-a-great-lakes-summer-guide-for-birders/) - Bird experts give their favorite Great Lakes bird-sightings and advice for new bird watchers
- [Month in review: Detroit water shut-offs, carp and pipelines](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/31/month-in-review-detroit-water-shut-offs-and-carp/) - At the end of each month we check in with Echo commentator and journalist Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the basin. For today’s Great Lakes Month in Review, Gary discusses Detroit water shutoffs and the latest legal news on the Asian Carp situation. This segment is a feature of a partnership
- [Planted acres increase in region; warming climate among reasons](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/07/31/planted-acres-increase-in-region-warming-climate-among-reasons/) - It allows for earlier and longer growing season.
- [Great Lakes restoration produces results](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/01/great-lakes-restoration-produces-results/) - Great Lakes advocate sees substantive return on federal investment in restoration.
- [Photo Friday: An emerald on the beach](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/01/photo-friday-an-emerald-on-the-beach/) - Note: This image and explanation is by David Marvin. Kennedy’s emerald dragonflies (Somatochlora kennedyi) tend to be fairly shy dragonflies when it comes to being photographed. This female Kennedy’s Emerald got caught in a quickly moving cold front along Lake Superior that caused it to land on the sandy beach, creating a rare occasion to
- [Michigan's wind godfather seeks a solar sequel](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/04/michigans-wind-godfather-seeks-a-solar-sequel/) - Clean energy advocate pushes projects with social, economic and environmental value.
- [Failed algae policies leave Toledo high and dry](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/04/failed-algae-policies-leave-toledo-high-and-dry/) - Commentary Toledo citizens were without water this past weekend as life-threatening toxins caused by harmful algae far surpassed safe levels. That’s 400,000 people left to scramble for water wherever they could find it. Ohio declared a state of emergency and it was one of those all hands on deck situations. Toledo without water because of
- [Toledo water crisis passes but longterm threat looms](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/05/could-there-be-a-summer-rerun-of-toledo-water-crisis/) - The Great Lakes region and the rest of nation face more fertilizer-fueled algae attacks on water quality.
- [Rattlesnake bite triggers advisory](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/05/rattlesnake-bite-triggers-advisory/) - We recently reported on a snakebite incident in lower Michigan. A young, barefoot visitor to an Ann Arbor botanical garden was bitten by an Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, the only rattlesnake native to Michigan. The young girl was hospitalized and recovered. The incident has triggered an advisory from a group of Michigan naturalists of the risk
- [A deeper dive into Lake Erie's pea-green soup](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/06/a-deeper-dive-into-lake-eries-pea-green-soup/) - Karen Schaefer, an independent public radio journalist based in Ohio who has been covering algae blooms in Lake Erie for years, reported on the recent Toledo water crisis for Great Lakes Echo. Here she gives deeper background on the development of the threat posed by algae and what may lie ahead. Additional stories here. This
- [A bird that sees mouse urine makes first Winged Wednesday picks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/06/a-bird-that-sees-mouse-urine-makes-first-winged-wednesday-picks-1/) - Our first expert birder reveals his picks for favorite birds of the Great Lakes region.
- [Michigan farmers adjusting to climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/07/michigan-farmers-adjusting-to-climate-change/) - If you’ve found yourself putting on a sweater or light jacket on cool evenings this summer, you’ve probably wondered what’s going on with the weather. The polar vortex that visited us so harshly last winter made a return visit a few weeks ago, dropping temperatures below normal. It turns out that there’s at least one
- [Photo Friday: The Manistique River's slab wood islands](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/08/photo-friday-the-manistique-rivers-slab-wood-islands/) - Have an environmental image you've taken somewhere within the Great Lakes region and that you'd like to submit for Echo's Photo Friday series? Send it to greatlakesecho@gmail.com along with the photographer's name and town of residence, approximate date it was taken, where it was taken and a little bit of description of what we're looking
- [Dead birds spur cleanup of longstanding DDT contamination](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/07/dead-birds-spur-cleanup-of-longstanding-ddt-contamination/) - Nearly 100 residential yards in a nine-block neighborhood of St. Louis, Mich., are scheduled to be dug out and replaced with clean soil. It is the latest attempt to reduce the decades-old contamination legacy of the same chemical factory that brought Michigan's PBB crisis of the mid 1970s.
- [Bee story: Be cold, be dead](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/08/bee-story-be-cold-be-dead/) - Hobby beekeepers experienced a large loss of bees after freezing condition this winter. Bees were too cold to move from their clusters to feed.
- [Lake's legal saga unresolved after challenge to Minnesota summer camp rejected](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/11/lakes-legal-saga-unresolved-after-challenge-to-minnesota-summer-camp-rejected/) - The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld an Itasca County decision that no environmental impact statement is required to build a proposed summer camp and retreat on Deer Lake.
- [Former Echo reporter scores another national award, gives success formula](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/11/former-echo-reporter-scores-another-national-award-gives-success-formula/) - A former Echo writer has won national recognition for a series of environmental stories about the Great Lakes. Brian Bienkowski, now a reporter and editor at Environmental Health News, received second place in a beat reporting category in the contest sponsored by the national Society of Environmental Journalists. The series is called Stories of the
- [Mr. Great Lakes on meteors and meters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/12/mr-great-lakes-on-meteors-and-net-metering/) - The latest annual net metering and solar pilot program report from the Michigan Public Service Commission shows an 18 percent increase in the program’s size compared to 2012. One of the biggest and most-visible astronomical events of the year is happening this month. Kids in Nature events are planned for the Discovery Preserve at Euclid
- [Toledo water crisis: Credibility in question, critical thinking needed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/12/toledo-water-crisis-credibility-in-question-critical-thinking-needed/) - Let's focus on critical thinking of the Toledo water crisis and challenge a few assumptions.
- [Magazine highlights the best of Lake Superior](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/13/magazine-highlights-the-best-of-lake-superior/) - 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
- [Swallows make these Winged Wednesday picks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/13/swallows-make-these-winged-wednesday-picks-2/) - These birds are diverse and human-friendly.
- [Ohio farmers point to algae law loophole](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/14/ohio-farmers-point-to-algae-law-loophole/) - Ohio's new fertilizer certification law may be a step toward better management of algae threats to drinking water. But critics say its voluntary nature, delayed implementation and failure to address manure are significant flaws.
- [Kite boarders bring new conflicts to Great Lakes beaches](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/15/kite-boarders-bring-new-conflicts-to-great-lakes-beaches/) - An Ontario park launches kite boarders on a separate beach from swimmers. The increasingly popular activity is also a source of conflict for people sharing Great Lakes beaches.
- [Fireflies in southern Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/15/fireflies-in-southern-michigan/) - Photographer Ken Scott captured these fireflies streaking through the night sky near Willis, Mich., with a series of photos taken over 40 minutes. The technique of merging multiple short exposures into one eliminates the possibility of overexposing the ambient light such as that coming from a nearby city, said Scott, a Suttons Bay professional photographer.
- [New NWF chief to focus on education, outreach, engagement](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/18/new-nwf-chief-to-focus-on-education-outreach-engagement/) - The National Wildlife Federation has a new president and CEO. Collin O’Mara was recently in Michigan for an environmental tour of the Detroit Area, and stopped by Current State. For a CEO, he’s fairly young at 30 years old. Current State’s Melissa Benmark asked him what environmental values he brings to this position that might
- [Great Lakes explorers at rest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/18/great-lakes-explorers-at-rest/) - Great Lakes "men of adventure" buried in D.C. cemetery.
- [How do mosquitoes target a meal?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/19/whats-in-a-mosquitos-meal-plan/) - As summer winds down and people try to make the most out of the beautiful Michigan environment, many may be fighting off nature’s age-old enemy: the mosquito. But what makes mosquitoes more attracted to some people than others? Many myths have circulated about the cause of this rather annoying phenomenon, but scientific research is also
- [Hundreds meet to discuss Toledo water quality, algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/19/hundreds-meet-to-discuss-toledo-water-quality-algae/) - They told Ohio's Lake Erie legislators what should be done to reduce the lake's toxic algae — and protect drinking water for millions of residents.
- [Star Wars inspires one of these Winged Wednesday picks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/20/star-wars-inspires-one-of-these-winged-wednesday-picks/) - It burbles like R2D2.
- [Turning waste into watts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/21/turning-waste-into-watts/) - Consumers Energy has selected four Michigan farms to produce electricity with anaerobic digesters.
- [Flash point: The lighthouse Lake Superior nearly swallowed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/22/flash-point-the-lighthouse-lake-superior-nearly-swallowed/) - We asked Great Lakes photographers to send us some of their favorite or toughest Great Lakes shots and a bit of a story behind the picture. This image and explanation are by David Marvin. Most people have never heard of the Crisp Point Lighthouse, much less ever visited it. It stands on the Lake Superior
- [Leaking petroleum judgment gains $800,000 for state](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/22/leaking-petroleum-judgment-gains-800000-for-state/) - The money is for cleanup , civil fines and penalties for failure to properly remediate three sites with leaking underground storage tanks in Berrien County. The ruling could be appealed.
- [Questionable additive okay for toothpaste but not hand soap?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/25/questionable-additive-okay-for-toothpaste-but-not-hand-soap/) - Minnesota will ban an anti-bacterial chemical in consumer products. Canadians considering similar move.
- [Environmental group gives Michigan legislature an 'incomplete' grade](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/26/environmental-group-gives-michigan-legislature-an-incomplete-grade/) - It also rated every Michigan legislator individually after comparing voting records to the organization’s stated goals.
- [Mr. Great Lakes on sun, wind and tires](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/27/mr-great-lakes-on-sun-wind-and-tires/) - Click the audio for details and Mr. Great Lakes for the text. Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 9 a.m. Fridays in Bay City, Mich., on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR and is rebroadcast on Great Lakes Echo with permission.
- [This birder's Winged Wednesday picks favor the coasts](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/27/this-birders-winged-wednesday-picks-favor-the-coasts/) - Editor's note: Echo's Winged Wednesday series reports on expert birders' favorite Great Lakes birds to watch. Tell us your favorites in the comments. Summer birding is tricky. Birds are in the midst of the nesting season and are often quiet as they patiently sit on eggs and care for their newly-hatched chicks. Mark Cranford admires
- [Enbridge case indicates pipeline fast-track](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/28/enbridge-case-indicates-pipeline-fast-track/) - Recent federal court hearing allows construction to begin before environmental impact statement completed.
- [Great Lakes month in review: What's next in algae fight?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/29/great-lakes-month-in-review-whats-next-in-algae-fight/) - For today’s Great Lakes Month in Review we’re focusing on the Toledo water crisis, which was in the news for several weeks this month, and could be again
- [Michigan's environment makes front pages, but not political front burner](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/08/29/michigans-environment-makes-front-pages-but-not-political-front-burner/) - Newspapers reveal worries about fish, floods, farms, mines, trails, energy and Roscoe the deer.
- [Wisconsin criminal case shows how courts  value wildlife](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/01/wisconsin-criminal-case-shows-how-courts-value-wildlife/) - Spiritual and aesthetic values don't figure into it. Expert witness calculates replacement costs.
- [Rare birds dominate these Winged Wednesday picks](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/03/rare-birds-dominate-these-winged-wednesday-picks/) - Warblers and bitterns catch the eye of this expert.
- [Lake Superior agates are region's geological heritage](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/04/lake-superior-agates-are-regions-geological-heritage/) - Minnesota rock collector discusses one of Michigan's most characteristic natural materials.
- [Photo Friday: Restoration includes snake hibernaculum](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/05/photo-friday-restoration-includes-snake-hibernaculum/)
- [Native plants promote environmental health](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/05/native-plants-promote-environmental-health/) - It's a value increasingly recognized by the public.
- [Chef cooks up new way to explain threats from invasive species.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/08/chef-cooks-up-new-way-to-explain-threats-from-invasive-species/) - He cooks up invasive species and the stories that go with them.
- [Post Toledo crisis, a different approach needed for Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/09/post-toledo-crisis-a-different-approach-needed-for-great-lakes/) - An old management cliché is that no one was ever fired for hiring IBM. But the tried and true route that once served corporate America also doesn’t serve Great Lakes advocates.
- [Refuge picked for livability project; invasives sold at bait shops](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/09/refuge-picked-for-livability-project-invasives-sold-at-bait-shops/) - Click the audio for details and Mr. Great Lakes for the text. Jeff Kart is Mr. Great Lakes and heard at 9 a.m. Fridays in Bay City, Mich., on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR and is rebroadcast on Great Lakes Echo with permission.
- [Winged Wednesday: Quebec's toxic gulls offer clues about flame retardants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/10/winged-wednesday-quebecs-toxic-gulls-offers-clues-about-flame-retardants/) - Scientists have found that not only are flame retardants present in the birds but could be damaging their health and reducing their population.
- [Detroit Public Television covers Great Lakes Restoration Conference](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/10/detroit-public-television-covers-great-lakes-restoration-conference/) - 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
- [Bats play crucial role in Michigan's ecology](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/11/bats-play-crucial-role-in-michigans-ecology/) - Current State speaks with the executive director of the Organization for Bat Conservation, Rob Mies.
- [Where Wright went right — and wrong — on the lake](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/12/where-wright-went-right-and-wrong-on-the-lake/) - This Lake Erie home is a spectacular attempt at tying architecture into a Great Lakes shoreline environment.
- [Q&A: Tea Party star heads to Wisconsin to fight for solar](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/15/qa-tea-party-star-heads-to-wisconsin-to-fight-for-solar/) - Debbie Dooley is a right-wing grandmother, a founding member of the national Tea Party and a leader of the Atlanta Tea Party. She is also an outspoken proponent of distributed solar generation and other forms of renewable distributed energy.
- [Great Lakes restoration picks up another $12 million in grants](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/17/great-lakes-restoration-picks-up-another-12-million-in-grants/) - 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
- [Burgeoning beer brewers boost barley demand](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/17/locally-grown-barley-making-a-comeback-in-michigan-beer/) - But limited malting capacity is a brake on production.
- [Michigan officials fight proposed Lake Huron nuke waste storage](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/18/michigan-officials-fight-proposed-lake-huron-nuke-waste-storage/) - Residents of Michigan’s Thumb region are looking across Lake Huron with some concern about a Canadian utility seeking approval to build an underground nuclear waste disposal site near the town of Kincardine, Ontario.
- [Federal legislation would ban microplastics in personal care products](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/18/federal-legislation-introduced-to-ban-microplastics-in-personal-care-products/) - 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
- [Manistee dam removal yields snake hibernaculum](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/19/manistee-dam-removal-yields-snake-hibernaculum/) - Conservation biologists have built the first artificial home for snakes in northern Michigan. And they removed an entire dam to do it.
- [Risk and resilience in the Great Lakes Basin](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/22/risk-and-resilience-in-the-great-lakes-basin/) - The regional risks are many, but so is the resilience.
- [Walleyes, rivers and pollution settlement](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/09/22/walleyes-rivers-and-pollution-settlement/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. This week, Kart discusses Consumers Energy's cut to pollution, Huron Pines reconnecting rivers and Saginaw Bay Charters hooking more walleye. Text at Mr. Great Lakes.
- [No cure in sight for loon-killing botulism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/07/no-cure-in-sight-for-loon-killing-botulism/) - For a long time, botulism didn't much affect loons, but the bacteria has been taking its toll recently on the population in northern Michigan. Combined with a high mortality rate for offspring, experts are worrying about the future of this iconic bird.
- [Data Watch: Wisconsin's top priorities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/08/data-watch-wisconsins-top-priorities/) - Nationwide, there are 1,320 final sites on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priority List of waste sites that have released or can release hazardous contaminants. They are either awaiting or undergoing cleanup. Sites can be deleted from the list when “no further response is required to protect human health or the environment,” according to the
- [Report shows outbreak of algal blooms over summer 2013](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/09/report-shows-outbreak-of-algal-blooms-over-summer-2013/) - A recent report shows for the first time the widespread reach of harmful algal blooms that occurred this summer, including in parts of the Great Lakes.
- [Michigan lawmaker concerned about nuke waste near Lake Huron](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/09/michigan-lawmaker-concerned-about-nuke-waste-near-lake-huron/) - Ontario Power Generation plans to store radioactive waste in an underground cavern near Lake Huron. The storage site’s proximity to the lake has raised concern across the Great Lakes basin.
- [New app helps identify fish in Great Lakes states](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/10/new-app-helps-identify-fish-in-great-lakes-states/) - "Wisconsin Fish," a new smart phone application created by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, helps to identify and differentiate between species in the Great Lakes region.
- [Upending the basin: Can freshwater snorkeling promote preservation?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/08/upending-the-basin-can-freshwater-snorkeling-build-a-constituency-for-aquatic-diversity-preservation/) - Freshwater snorkeling is opening a window on Tennessee's river biodiversity. Could a similar effort in the Great Lakes region build a consitutency for conserving aquatic species here?
- [Michigan lawmakers propose wildlife council to promote hunting, fishing](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/10/michigan-lawmakers-propose-wildlife-council-to-promote-hunting-fishing/) - Michigan lawmakers are looking to create a new wildlife council to educate the public about the outdoors and the role of hunters, anglers and trappers - using money from hunting and license fees.
- [Green Gridirons: Indiana University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/11/green-gridirons-indiana-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Even water rich Great Lakes residents must adapt to climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/11/even-water-rich-great-lakes-residents-must-adapt-to-climate-change/) - According to a new report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 40 percent of the world’s population will live under severe water stress by 2050. While the Great Lakes region is water rich, the report suggest that even water wealthy areas should work toward adaptive policies to secure freshwater’s future.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Air quality in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/14/mr-great-lakes-air-quality-in-michigan/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan's Delta College Q-90.1 FM Oct. 11, 2013 - The Environment Report - Mr. Great Lakes - Jeff Kart by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a final draft on Michigan's air quality standards. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Invasive emerald ash borer hurts Michigan timber sales](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/14/invasive-emerald-ash-borer-hurts-michigan-timber-sales/) - The devastating spread of the emerald ash borer shows no sign of slowing and it is causing the pace of timber sales to quicken, as those in the timber sales industry race against the clock - and many dying trees.
- [Clean energy’s international future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/15/clean-energys-international-future/) - According to the Pew Clean Energy Program, global energy consumption is expected to increase 35% over the next 25 years, with much of that from growing electricity use and expanding vehicle fleets. Phyllis Cuttino is director of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Clean Energy Program. She addresses energy consumption in relation to clean energy. Energy by Great Lakes
- [Cleaning up a toxic river](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/15/cleaning-up-a-toxic-river/) - The Ashtabula River may soon be the first Ohio river to come off Ohio's list of Great Lakes toxic hotspots. The cost has been astronomical, but advocates say clean up of the toxins protects Lake Erie fishing and tourism.
- [Michigan food hubs seek to make local food more accessible](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/16/michigan-food-hubs-seek-to-make-local-food-more-accessible/) - The locavore movement has taken off in the last five years at least. This notion that consuming food that is raised and grown close to where we live was even given a memorable send-up in the hit IFC comedy "Portlandia." But parody is not the only thing the locavore movement has spawned. Over the last five years, food hubs have become an increasingly popular way to scale the local food movement affordably and efficiently.
- [Michigan resources help deliver clean water to parched land](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/16/michigan-resources-help-deliver-clean-water-to-parched-land/) - Surrounded as we are by the greatest freshwater system on the planet, even those occasional pesky dry spells rarely give us pause to consider how blessed we are. Recent days have brought announcements that help me both appreciate our abundance and the growing scarcity of clean fresh water that faces much of the planet.
- [Artificial wetland in Ohio filters runoff, fights algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/17/artificial-wetland-in-ohio-help-decrease-toxic-runoff/) - Ohio officials have built an artificial wetland to help prevent blooms of toxic algae in Grand Lake St. Marys by filtering runoff from a nearby creek.
- [Little Things, Big Problems: Spiny water flea](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/17/little-things-big-problems-spiny-water-flea/) - Last year, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative began producing a series of educational videos about invasive species in the Great Lakes for the National Park Service. New videos are being uploaded this spring, and you can watch the entire “Little Things, Big Problems” series here on Echo. This video discusses the impact spiny water fleas have on
- [Green Gridirons: University of Maryland](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/18/green-gridirons-university-of-maryland/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Great Lakes leaders: Choose good policy over convenient math and exaggerated rhetoric](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/18/great-lakes-leaders-choose-good-policy-over-convenient-math-and-exaggerated-rhetoric/) - We’re trained to trust numbers when analyzing complex issues. The assumption is that numbers don’t lie and will take us to the answer — the truth. But is that always the case?
- [With Michigan wolf hunt less than a month away, debate rages onward](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/21/with-michigan-wolf-hunt-less-than-a-month-away-debate-rages-onward/) - With Michigan's first wolf hunt set to begin in less than a month, citizens' right to hunt the once-protected species has developed into a polarizing issue.
- [What's on your bookshelf?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/21/whats-on-your-bookshelf/) - By Eric Freedman The more things don’t change… I’ve been perusing the shelves of the Knight Center’s conference room library, getting rid of–recycling–outdated books to make room for new ones. These, published from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, are just a sampling of our castaways: “Footprints on the Planet: A Search for an Environmental
- [Little Things, Big Problems: Aquatic invaders](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/22/little-things-big-problems-aquatic-invaders/) - Last year, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative began producing a series of educational videos about invasive species in the Great Lakes for the National Park Service. New videos are being uploaded this spring, and you can watch the entire “Little Things, Big Problems” series here on Echo. This video discusses invasive species in Lake Michigan and how
- [Fears rise about possible moose die-off in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and beyond](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/22/fears-rise-about-possible-moose-die-off-in-michigans-upper-peninsula-and-beyond/) - A national trend in moose die-offs may be hitting the Upper Peninsula, Minnesota and beyond — and officials are pointing to climate change as the culprit.
- [Restoration success and work in progress: Minnesota](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/23/restoration-success-and-work-in-progress-minnesota/) - In this series, Echo samples successful and ongoing restoration projects in each Great Lakes state. Minnesota projects include restoration efforts to help the moose population and a campaign to fight invasive the spread of species.
- [Michigan tourism workers can afford to live in scenic splendor](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/23/michigan-tourism-workers-can-afford-to-live-in-scenic-splendor/) - Michigan's most scenic destinations - like Traverse City and - are typically affordable enough to live at for the state's tourism workers, according to a new report. This bucks a national trend which shows tourism workers typically can't afford to live in the cities they work in.
- [Scientists inch closer to harnessing energy from nuclear fusion](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/24/scientists-inch-closer-to-harnessing-energy-from-nuclear-fusion/) - Achieving nuclear fusion has proven to be elusive for generations of scientists. According to the BBC, American scientists have brought us one step closer to nuclear fusion becoming a viable source of clean energy.
- [More trails, more water access recommended in public lands report](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/24/more-trails-more-water-access-recommended-in-public-lands-report/) - More access to forests, lakes and trails are among the goals the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has in store for public lands.
- [Michigan legislators hope to promote salvaging animals with new roadkill bill](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/25/michigan-legislators-hope-to-promote-salvaging-animals-with-new-roadkill-bill/) - Michigan state Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart, wants you to keep your roadkill — please. He, along with colleague Sen. John Pappageorge of Troy, are trying to lessen the paperwork involved in those interested in keeping roadkill.
- [Green Gridirons: Penn State University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/25/green-gridirons-penn-state-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Osprey from Michigan refuge arrives in Cuba](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/28/osprey-from-michigan-refuge-arrives-in-cuba/) - For the first time in Michigan, three ospreys have been fitted with tracking devices in order to get a better look at the birds' migration patterns. One of the birds, named Monroe Spark, recently made it to Cuba.
- [Play brings drama of historical Great Storm to the stage](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/28/play-brings-drama-of-historical-great-storm-to-the-stage/) - The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 is widely considered to be the defining tragedy of the region. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the storm that claimed the lives of more than 250 people and destroyed 19 ships. Now that tragedy is coming to the stage. “The Great Storm,” a play directed by Warren
- [Battling the Bloom: Lake Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/29/battling-the-bloom-lake-erie/) - Click here to watch Battling the Bloom: Lake Erie In 1970, sections of Lake Erie were declared dead due to an excess of toxic algal blooms created by industrial pollution. But a little over a decade later, the lake went through a transformation that saw a return of wildlife and recreation to the area.
- [Great Lakes state playing catch-up in effort to build water-based economy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/29/great-lakes-state-playing-catch-up-in-effort-to-build-water-based-economy/) - Michigan may be the Great Lakes state, but its neighbors to the east and west are leading efforts to turn water-based technology, academic research and tourism into jobs and revenue.
- [New report outlines attitudes on Michigan’s energy future](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/30/new-report-outlines-attitudes-on-michigans-energy-future/) - In 2008, the state legislature passed Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. The law requires that by the year 2015, utilities must generate at least 10 percent of their energy from renewable sources. As 2015 approaches, state officials are working to determine the next steps for Michigan’s energy policy.
- [More Michigan farmers markets welcoming food benefits](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/30/more-michigan-farmers-markets-welcoming-food-benefits/) - Food stamp use at farmers markets is expanding — and soon it may be easier for markets to accept food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently requested suggestions to improve service and eligibility requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, also known as SNAP or food benefits. And the East Lansing-based Michigan Farmers
- [Green Gridirons: University of Wisconsin](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/31/green-gridirons-university-of-wisconsin/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Aphids are treat for Halloween beetles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/10/31/aphids-are-treat-for-halloween-beetles/) - While homeowners may not be thrilled with Asian lady beetles, researchers are examining how the beetles control aphids, a pest that eats away at soybeans and other plants.
- [Photo Friday: The blooming of the rain gardens](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/01/photo-friday-the-blooming-of-the-rain-gardens/)
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: Fracking, ballast and petcoke](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/01/great-lakes-month-in-review-fracking-ballast-water-and-petcoke/) - This Great Lakes Month in Review, focuses on fracking, ballast water and petcoke.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Recreation, restoration and education](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/01/mr-great-lakes-recreation-restoration-and-education/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Oct. 25, 2013 - The Environment Report - With Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a Bay County recreation survey, how your tax dollars are being used for Great Lakes restoration, and new ways
- [Farmers' Almanac: Valid winter forecast or darts-at-a-dartboard?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/04/farmers-almanac-prediction-valid-winter-forecast-or-darts-at-a-dartboard/) - The Farmers' Almanac has been around longer than all of us - and injected itself into countless pop culture references. But just how valid and trustworthy are its famed and oft-cited weather predictions?
- [Great Lakes Commission launches restoration database](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/04/great-lakes-commission-launches-new-database-website/) - You can now track progress on restoring the Great Lakes at a new database provided by the Great Lakes Commission. It focuses on conservation plans implemented by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative over the past three years, and includes several projects in each of the eight Great Lakes states. The initiative, which is managed by
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Microbeads, the Great Lakes Bowl and the Clean Water Act](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/05/mr-great-lakes-microbeads-the-great-lakes-bowl-and-the-clean-water-act/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Nov. 1, 2013 - The Environment Report - Mr. Great Lakes - Jeff Kart by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a new app to help prevent microbeads in the Great Lakes, registration for the Great Lakes Bowl, and a comment on
- [Crisp Point natural beauty now protected, open to public](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/05/crisp-point-natural-beauty-now-protected-open-to-public/) - Two miles of pristine Lake Superior shoreline, sand dunes and an 83-acre inland lake are now open to the public as part of a 3,816-acre expansion of state-owned forestland in the central Upper Peninsula.
- [Homeowners lose chemical contamination appeal](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/06/homeowners-lose-chemical-contamination-appeal/) - Homeowners whose property was contaminated by materials from a now-defunct chemical plant in Michigan's Gratiot County have lost their lawsuit against contractors and trucking companies that removed toxic sediments from the adjacent Pine River.
- [Michigan economic developers eye Blue Economy](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/06/michigan-economic-developers-eye-blue-economy/) - When people think of Michigan’s economy, they typically point to the State’s automobile industry or its agricultural sector. Often overlooked is one of Michigan’s greatest natural assets: water. A new report commissioned by the governor’s office focuses on accelerating Michigan’s water based or ‘Blue economy.’ The paper’s author, John Austin, is the Director of the Michigan
- [Green Gridirons: Rutgers University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/07/green-gridirons-rutgers-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Poplars modified for ethanol production still fight bugs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/07/poplars-modified-for-ethanol-production-still-fight-bugs/) - A recent University of Wisconsin study looked at whether genetically modifying poplar trees to more easily produce ethanol could also make them vulnerable to insect pests.
- [Can a “systems guy” lead for Michigan and the Great Lakes?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/08/can-a-systems-guy-lead-for-michigan-and-the-great-lakes/) - Jon Allan describes himself as a “systems guy” and says that’s what drives his world-view. That’s important to know because his current “system” happens to be the Great Lakes and the waters of Michigan.
- [Photo Friday: Solar panels on a cloudy day](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/08/photo-friday-solar-panels-on-a-cloudy-day/)
- [Climate change opens door to forest pests new to Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/11/climate-change-opens-door-to-new-great-lakes-forest-pest-threats/) - As climate changes and growing seasons are interrupted by drought and frost, trees become more vulnerable to insects and disease.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: The oldest living red-tailed hawk?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/11/mr-great-lakes-the-oldest-living-red-tailed-hawk/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Nov. 8, 2013, The Environment Report, Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart, Q-90.1 FM Delta College NPR by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a red-tailed hawk that has been coming to Saginaw County's Shiawassee National Refuge for the last 27 years.
- [MSU researcher updates fight against ash borer](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/12/msu-researcher-updates-fight-against-ash-borer/) - The emerald ash borer has killed acres of ash trees across Michigan since 2002. However, research suggest the invasive beetle from Asia may have arrived in Michigan even earlier.
- [Climate change affects flavor, production of Great Lakes wine](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/12/climate-change-can-affect-flavor-production-of-great-lakes-wine/) - A changing climate has implications for the greatness of Great Lakes grapes. But researchers say the long term impact on taste and production is still a tough call.
- [Despite expert agreement, perceptions of climate change vary](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/13/despite-expert-agreement-perceptions-of-climate-change-vary/) - Reports,predictions and warnings of climate change are hard to avoid these days. But just how are Americans processing all of this news and what do we really think about climate change and our environment?
- [Carp report gains top award for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/13/carp-report-gains-top-award-for-milwaukee-journal-sentinel/) - Those troublesome Asian carp continue to attract national attention — this time starring in an award-winning series of stories in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reporter Dan Egan recently won the top award given by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the large newspaper category for science reporting. He was recognized for Deep
- [Shaping the world by watershed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/14/shaping-the-world-by-watershed/) - If you had the chance, how would you recreate the United States? John Lavey, a land use planner at the Sonoran Institute, designed this map that divvies up the country by its watersheds. The idea is to use water more efficiently while minimizing conflicts over its use. He gerrymandered state boundaries by Hydrologic Unit
- [Michigan's feral swine numbers are dropping... or are they?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/14/michigans-feral-swine-numbers-are-dropping-or-are-they/) - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the number of feral swine - known to infect farm pigs - is significantly decreasing. But one interest group is at odds with the DNR over the numbers, saying the problem is all but solved.
- [Destruction from tailgating at Michigan game called ‘worst ever’](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/15/destruction-from-tailgating-at-michigan-game-called-worst-ever/) - Every home football Saturday here in East Lansing, thousands of people flock to the Michigan State campus to take part in a sacred ritual: tailgating. But the pastime takes a toll. After the celebrating, landscaping personnel at MSU repair damage to grass and trees.
- [Podcast: John Vucetich on Michigan's wolf hunt, which begins today](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/15/podcast-john-vucetich-on-michigans-wolf-hunt-which-begins-today/) - We talked to John Vucetich, a wildlife biologist and professor at Michigan Technological University, last month about Michigan's first-ever wolf hunt, which begins today. His answers are featured in our latest podcast.
- [Green Gridirons: University of Illinois](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/15/green-gridirons-illinois-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Gales of November](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/17/gales-of-november/) - Check out this map for a scary picture of wind over the Great Lakes around 9 p.m. Sunday. This static shot doesn't do it justice. Click the image to catch the animation. Of course, if you're seeing this long after the wind has died, it won't be as impressive. Just know that Sunday evening would
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Bats, environmental art and a field guide to Saginaw Bay](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/18/mr-great-lakes-bats-environmental-art-and-a-field-guide-to-saginaw-bay/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Nov. 15, 2013 - The Environment Report - Delta Q 90.1 FM - Jeff Kart - Mr. Great Lakes by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses two new bat species, an art contest through NOAA and the new Saginaw Basin Field
- [Citizen rain collectors help measure storm threats](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/18/rain-collecting-community-assists-national-weather-service/) - Rain and snow fall have long been difficult to monitor comprehensively. But that’s less of a problem thanks to a simple rain gauge and citizen participation through a national group known as CoCoRaHS.
- [Minnesota's second wolf hunt offers lessons for Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/19/minnesotas-second-wolf-hunt-offers-lessons-for-michigan/) - After a year filled with controversy, Michigan is holding it’s first wolf hunt in nearly 40 years. Although this is Michigan’s first hunt, that’s not the case for other states in the upper Midwest. Minnesota and Wisconsin are both heading into their second wolf hunt this year.
- [Interview: Author Michael Schumacher on 'November's Fury'](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/19/interview-author-michael-schumacher-on-novembers-fury/) - Just in time for the 100th anniversary, Great Lakes author Michael Schumacher has penned “November’s Fury,” a comprehensive account of the devastating Great Storm of 1913.
- [Radar, algorithm analyze Great Lakes ice for boats, fisheries, forecasters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/20/radar-algorithm-check-great-lakes-ice-helps-boats-fisheries-and-forecasters/) - Think all ice is the same? That’s not the case on the Great Lakes. And now scientists have found out how to detect the differences. With math.
- [Realtor misled buyers of contaminated Lake Michigan condo, court says](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/20/realtor-misled-buyers-of-contaminated-lake-michigan-condo-court-says/) - A couple who bought a South Haven condo built on contaminated land two blocks from Lake Michigan is entitled to about $470,000 in damages, according to the Court of Appeals. The site of the house was formerly a factory that made coffins, gun stocks and pipe organs - and left behind chemicals.
- [Great Lakes Now focuses on freshwater and farming](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/21/great-lakes-now-focuses-on-freshwater-and-farming/) - Great Lakes Now has released a two-hour long special on agriculture and freshwater in the region, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and Detroit Public Television.
- [Report: Climate change threatens to alter big game in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/21/report-climate-change-threatens-to-alter-big-game-in-michigan/) - Throughout the 20th century large investments of time and money were made to help restore big game populations across the U.S. Many of these efforts were successful and continue today. But they may be short lived.
- [Photo Friday: Lake Michigan post storm](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/22/photo-friday/)
- [The Great Lakes' Sisyphean problem](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/22/the-great-lakes-sisyphean-problem/) - A Sisyphean task is one that is "endless and ineffective." Does protecting the Great Lakes fall under this definition?
- [Green Gridirons: University of Nebraska](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/22/green-gridirons-university-of-nebraska/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Mr. Great Lakes: A new urban nature preserve and the Thumb Loop](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/25/mr-great-lakes-a-new-urban-nature-preserve-and-the-thumb-loop/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Nov. 22, 2013 - The Environment Report, with Jeff Kart, Mr. Great Lakes by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses the first urban nature preserve in Bay City and the beginnings of a 140-mile Thumb Loop high-voltage transmission line. Text at Mr.
- [Only half the drugs in sewage are removed before entering Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/25/only-half-drugs-in-sewage-removed-before-entering-great-lakes/) - The impact of most of these “chemicals of emerging concern” on the health of people and aquatic life remains unclear, according to the International Joint Commission.
- [Is it mining? Timber? Weather? Upper Peninsula population trend puzzles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/26/is-it-mining-timber-weather-upper-peninsula-population-trend-puzzles/) - A curious, century-old population trend in Michigan's Upper Peninsula shows a yo-yoing cycle of growth and decline every 20 years. It could be rooted in natural resource issues. Perhaps the timber or mining industries are behind it... or maybe the weather.
- [A drone is still a drone by any other name](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/26/a-drone-is-still-a-drone-by-any-other-name/) - We’re always on the look out for innovative stories and reporting techniques at Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. In a couple weeks we’ll launch a series on civilian applications of drones for gathering information about the environment. I teach a course encompassing remote sensing, including the use of drones, as newsgathering tools.
- [Tech-savvy Michigan farmers seek better Internet for profits and environmental protection](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/27/tech-savvy-michigan-farmers-seek-better-internet-for-profits-and-environmental-protection/) - Michigan farmers are increasingly turning to technology to track weather, map the precise spreading of fertilizers and seeds and follow prices for input and services. Their only hurdle? Dealing with often shoddy broadband Internet service.
- [Curious about what the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 was really like?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/11/27/curious-about-what-the-great-lakes-storm-of-1913-was-really-like/) - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes regional team and the National Weather Service's Detroit team have simulated wave height during the Great Storm of 1913. The storm sunk 12 boats and killed 250 people.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: Asian carp and petcoke](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/02/great-lakes-month-in-review-asian-carp-and-petcoke/) - Current State checks in monthly with Great Lakes commentator and journalist Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the basin. For today’s Great Lakes Month in Review, we’re focusing on petcoke piles and Asian carp.
- [Here's how Great Lakes residents view climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/02/heres-how-great-lakes-residents-view-climate-change/) - A recent survey asked people if global warming had been happening and if they believed the government should regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Strangely enough, there were instances of states with noticeable disparities - people who want greenhouse gases regulated but don't believe they cause climate change, and people who believe in climate change but do not want to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
- [As harvesting labor dwindles, farms turning to mechanization](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/03/as-harvesting-labor-dwindles-farms-turning-to-mechanization/) - As workers at many farms and orchards become more and more scarce, the need for mechanical harvesting is rising. Blueberries, cherries and grapes are all increasingly being harvested by machines rather than farm workers.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Energy savings, the Electric Reliability Project and avian botulism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/03/mr-great-lakes-energy-savings-the-electric-reliability-project-and-avian-botulism/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Nov. 29, 2013 - Mr. Great Lakes - Jeff Kart by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses the savings of energy efficiency in Michigan, the Electric Reliability Project and avian botulism. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Smart meters are easier to read but spark privacy concerns](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/04/smart-meters-are-easier-to-read-but-spark-privacy-concerns/) - Smart meters are easy to read and an accurate way of measuring how much electricity is used by utility customers. The Michigan Public Service Commission recently approved rules to control how data collected by the meters is used. But some customers worry that the meters are a technological invasion of privacy.
- [Big lakes, big sound](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/04/big-lakes-big-sound/) - Folks in our neck of the woods tend to be a bit biased regarding big lakes. That's understandable when 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water flows through our region. But are North America's lakes the greatest of lakes? That depends on how you measure. Lake Superior has a surface area of 31,700
- [Report: Great Lakes ill-equipped to ship tar sands safely](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/05/report-great-lakes-ill-equipped-to-ship-tar-sands-safely/) - As the tar sands industry continues to grow, a pressing issue is finding ways to transport the crude oil to midwest refineries. Some are hoping to ship tar sands across the Great Lakes, while others fear another disaster like the Kalamazoo spill.
- [Study identifies obstacles to aquaculture expansion](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/05/study-identifies-obstacles-to-aquaculture-expansion/) - Better rules for sustainable fish farms could provide the state with a $1 billion a year industry, says a coastal conservation research group called the Michigan Sea Grant.
- [Don't let myth-making distort Great Lakes progress](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/06/dont-let-myth-making-distort-great-lakes-progress/) - Gary Wilson takes a look at some of the common myths surrounding the Great Lakes and how they have come to be perceived as realities.
- [Photo Friday: Wildlife sculpture at Refuge Gateway](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/06/photo-friday-wildlife-sculpture-at-refuge-gateway/)
- [Restoration success and work in progress: Ohio](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/09/restoration-success-and-work-in-progress-ohio/) - In this series, Echo samples successful and ongoing restoration projects in each Great Lakes state. Ohio projects include saving the rare Lake Erie watersnake and the removal of the Euclid Creek dam.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Cross winds in Tuscola County and hazardous holiday garland](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/09/mr-great-lakes-cross-winds-in-tuscola-county-and-hazardous-holiday-garland/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Dec. 6, 2013: The Environment Report - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses an energy development project in Tuscola County and hazardous chemicals found in holiday beads. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Green Gridirons: University of Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/10/green-gridirons-university-of-michigan/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Early warning program battles frog bit, other invasive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/10/early-warning-program-battles-frog-bit-other-invasive-species/) - A Department of Natural Resources (DNR) early warning program is trying to prevent the invasive species frog bit from destroying native aquatic plants.
- [Michigan officials seek to regulate carrier pigeons](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/11/michigan-officials-seek-to-regulate-carrier-pigeons/) - by Lacee Shepard Local officials could restrict ownership of carrier pigeons on a community—by-community basis under a new Michigan proposal. Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood , D-Taylor, introduced a bill that would allow cities and townships to decide their own restrictions on carrier pigeons. The bill began after Hopgood received a constituent complaint about a neighbor owning
- [Restoration success and work in progress: Illinois](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/11/restoration-success-and-work-in-progress-illinois/) - In this series, Echo samples successful and ongoing restoration projects in each Great Lakes state. Illinois projects include cleaning up Waukegan Harbor and statewide efforts to contain
- [Green Gridirons: Ohio State University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/12/green-gridirons-ohio-state-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Michigan residents support disaster relief after Philippine typhoon](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/12/michigan-residents-support-disaster-relief-after-philippine-typhoon/) - Public interest in (and donations for) the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines is alarmingly low compared to similar recent international disasters, a recent report says. But some Michigan residents, like Hollyann Powers and her family, are working to make sure information gets out - and leads to action.
- [Photo Friday: Satellite image of New York's Finger Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/13/photo-friday-2/) - New York's Finger Lakes, as seen in true-color by a NASA satellite.
- [We can summit Great Lakes challenges with informed action](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/13/learning-based-action-helps-sisyphus-over-the-great-lakes-hump/) - IJC Commissioner Dereth Glance says Great Lakes stewardship is fraught with frustrations and backslides. But a combination of learning and action can get that Sisyphean boulder further up, if not to the top of the hill.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: Indiana University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/16/big-tens-eco-efforts-indiana-university/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts. In the market for a karaoke machine or a piñata? What about a tie-dye lawn chair? The Hoosier to Hoosier sale may provide you with exactly what
- [Black bear shooting highlights poaching problem in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/16/black-bear-shooting-highlights-poaching-problem-in-michigan/) - A bear-poaching incident in Manistee County has attracted a lot of public and press attention - and shed light on a continuing poaching problem throughout Michigan.
- [Court OKs energy company's power plant permits](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/17/court-oks-michigan-energy-companys-power-plant-permits/) - The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld state permits for DTE Energy Co.’s modifications of its coal-fired power plant on the Lake Erie shore in Monroe, despite objections by a major environmental group.
- [Yellow jugs keep drugs from Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/17/yellow-jugs-keeps-drugs-from-great-lakes/) - Reports continue to show increasing traces of pharmaceuticals in the Great Lakes. Until recently, it has been commonplace to simply throw away or flush unused and unwanted drugs. The Yellow Jugs Old Drugs program offers a solution to this issue.
- [Popular Master Gardener program prepping for upcoming anniversary year](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/18/popular-master-gardener-program-prepping-for-upcoming-anniversary-year/) - The ever popular and widespread Master Gardener Volunteer Program - which teaches people how to turn horticultural research into community projects - is approaching another year. In Michigan, the program approaches its 35th anniversary looking to, among other things, rejuvenate Belle Isle and install a therapy garden in a Detroit-area shelter for abused women.
- [Chemistry getting greener at Michigan companies, universities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/18/chemistry-getting-greener-at-michigan-companies-universities/) - The "green chemistry" movement to make chemical manufacturing more environmentally friendly has gained steam and turned Michigan into a national leader.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: University of Maryland](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/19/big-tens-eco-efforts-university-of-maryland/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts. Students at the University of Maryland are so passionate about protecting their environment that they’re willing to pay for it. In fact, they volunteered to. In 2010
- [Paying more to lose water by the minute](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/19/paying-more-and-more-to-lose-water-by-the-minute/) - As your water rates creep higher, nearly six billion gallons of water that you paid to treat is lost nationwide every day. In the Great Lakes region, that means enough yearly water loss to submerge Manhattan... and then some.
- [Green Gridirons: Michigan State University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/20/green-gridirons-michigan-state-university/) - A football stadium may have green grass but does it have green habits? Each week, Great Lakes Echo highlights a Big Ten football stadium's attempts to do the most to impact the environment the least. All schools have information on the stadium's diversion rate - the amount of waste recycled instead of put in a
- [Report: Michigan needs more markets, fresh food access](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/20/report-michigan-needs-more-markets-fresh-food-access/) - Although farmers markets seem to be popping up all the time, both urban and rural areas adequate access to healthy, natural food, according to a report by the Michigan Food Policy Council.
- [Recent gain in Great Lakes coastal wetlands shadows impending losses, experts warn](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/20/recent-gain-in-great-lakes-coastal-wetlands-shadows-impending-losses-experts-warn/) - The Great Lakes region gained 13,000 acres of coastal wetlands from 2004-09, due to low lake levels - and experts warn that this gain may obscure much larger, longer-term losses that are likely to continue.
- [Campaign targets pollution in watershed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/23/campaign-targets-pollution-in-watershed/) - It’s safe to say most of us take for granted that when we turn on our faucets, clean water comes out. But where does our drinking water come from? How clean is it? And how much responsibility do we, as individuals, have to ensure that our water stays clean?
- [Feds could revoke Michigan's wetland authority](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/24/feds-could-revoke-michigans-wetland-authority/) - Michigan is one of only two states that have the authority to regulate wetlands. Recently the Environmental Protection Agency held a hearing to determine if Michigan’s environmental standards for wetland management meet federal benchmarks.
- [First day of Christmas: Carp barrier](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/25/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-1/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the first
- [The most viewed Echo stories of 2013](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/26/the-most-viewed-echo-stories-of-2013/) - It was a busy year for Echo; after all, it was the year of Michigan’s wolf hunt and the year of the Great Lakes Storm’s centennial anniversary. We look back at the year's stories that got the most views.
- [Second day of Christmas: Red swamp crayfish](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/26/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-2/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the second day of Christmas,
- [Third day of Christmas: Clean boat steps](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/27/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-3/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the third day of Christmas,
- [Marketing water: Spin, platitudes and tired phrases](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/27/marketing-water-spin-platitudes-and-tired-phrases/) - How do we talk about water? Great Lakes water isn't a Big Mac. Or a Budweiser. Or bottled water. We need talking points that inspire.
- [Fourth day of Christmas: Perch on ice](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/28/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-4/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the fourth day
- [Fifth day of Christmas: Boat-wash stations](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/29/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-5/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the fifth day
- [Sixth day of Christmas: Lamprey leaping](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/30/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-6/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the sixth day of Christmas,
- [Our favorite Echo headlines of 2013](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/30/our-favorite-echo-headlines-of-2013/) - Every now and then, our headlines can get a little kooky — sometimes intentionally and sometimes it’s unavoidable. Here are our favorites around the Echo newsroom.
- [Seventh day of Christmas: Carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/31/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-7/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the seventh day of Christmas,
- [The most commented Echo stories of 2013](https://greatlakesecho.org/2013/12/31/the-most-commented-echo-stories-of-2013/) - Surprise! The top five most commented Echo stories of 2013 involve wolves... and lots of carp.
- [Eighth day of Christmas: Shrimp a swarming](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/01/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-8/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the eighth day
- [Great Lakes year in review: Tar sands, governors' summit, budget battles and Waukesha](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/01/great-lakes-year-in-review-tar-sands-great-lakes-governors-summit-budget-battles-and-waukesha/) - Great Lakes Echo commentator Gary Wilson looks back at some of the biggest Great Lakes stories of 2013.
- [Women fastest growing outdoor recreation group](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/02/women-fastest-growing-outdoor-recreation-group/) - Women are storming into the great outdoors faster than ever, making up over a quarter of anglers...and boosting local economies. The continued success of the international Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program may have a lot to do with the changing face of the outdoors.
- [Ninth day of Christmas: Eggs in resting](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/02/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-9/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the ninth day of
- [Rivers in wintry cities remain salty year-round](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/03/rivers-in-wintry-cities-remain-salty-year-round/) - New research indicates that road salt applied on icy roads and that runs into rivers remains toxic not just in winter, but throughout two-thirds of the year.
- [Tenth day of Christmas: Alewives croaking](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/03/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-10/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the tenth day of
- [Eleventh day of Christmas: Gobies gobbling](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/04/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-11/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the eleventh day
- [Twelfth day of Christmas: Quaggas clogging](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/05/aquatic-invasive-species-christmas-day-12/) - Editor's Note: It's an Echo tradition to revisit one of our favorite holiday stories: Tim Campbell's The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas. Campbell rewrote the lyrics of the holiday tune for the Wisconsin Sea Grant in 2011. We're publishing a new verse on each of the actual twelve days of Christmas. On the twelfth day
- [Restoring Lake Erie's largest wetland](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/06/restoring-lake-eries-largest-wetland/) - The Nature Conservancy has a five-year restoration of Erie Marsh now underway.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: University of Wisconsin](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/06/big-tens-eco-efforts-university-of-wisconsin/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts at Big Ten universities. The F.H. King organic farm at the University of Wisconsin has been growing produce for students to veg out on since 1979. The
- [Pursuit of endangered species hooked on ethics, culture](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/07/pursuit-of-endangered-species-hooked-on-ethics-culture/) - Is hunting consistent with species recovery?
- [Clean, Green Breweries: Goose Island Beer Co.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/07/clean-green-breweries-goose-island-beer-co/) - The abundant freshwater of the Great Lakes region is increasingly used for craft beer brewing. Breweries compete for customers with an eclectic array of beers and a raft of sustainable efforts. Some companies recycle used grain, others use recycled packaging. Some run delivery trucks on vegetable oil or harness wind and solar power. Some even
- [Plastics in your face? There's an app for that](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/08/plastics-in-your-face-theres-an-app-for-that/) - It lets you scan bar codes of personal hygiene products to see if they contain microbeads of plastic, an increasing pollution concern in the Great Lakes and elsewhere.
- [Snowy mitten](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/09/snowy-mitten/) - Take a look at the NASA Earth Observatory's remarkable photo of the gigantic snowstorm this week that affected all of the Great Lakes region, plus many other states.
- [Photo Friday: Warm Great Lakes clash with frigid air to produce steam fog](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/10/photo-friday-jet-stream-pushes-storm-over-great-lakes/) - This color-enhanced picture from the NASA Earth Observatory shows how the cold air moving across warmer waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior during this week's arctic storm transformed water vapor into steam fog. NASA says one of its satellites on Jan. 6 captured the data used here to illustrate the difference between snow (bright orange),
- [Study shows invasive species not as abundant as some assume](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/10/study-shows-invasive-species-not-as-abundant-as-some-assume/) - Invasive species are a problem, but are they a death sentence for the ecosystems that they infect? Not quite, according to a new university study.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Algae pics, Clean Energy Roadmap and Asian carp comments](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/13/mr-great-lakes-algae-pics-clean-energy-roadmap-and-asian-carp-comments/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Jan. 10, 2014 - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) - Friday EDITION - Q-90.1 FM Delta College Public Radio by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a project to gather algae photos, Michigan's Clean Energy Manufacturing Roadmap project and a study
- [Wisconsin court decides value of manure; insurer liable for 'pollution' claims](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/13/wisconsin-court-decides-value-of-manure-insurer-liable-for-pollution-claims/) - Ironically the ruling that manure is not a contaminant or waste may mean that an insurer has to pay to fix or replace wells polluted by it.
- [Clean, Green Breweries: Short's Brewing Co.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/14/clean-green-breweries-shorts-brewing-co/) - The abundant freshwater of the Great Lakes region is increasingly used for craft beer brewing. Breweries compete for customers with an eclectic array of beers and a raft of sustainable efforts. Some companies recycle used grain, others use recycled packaging. Some run delivery trucks on vegetable oil or harness wind and solar power. Some even
- [New invention could ease apple harvest](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/15/new-invention-could-ease-apple-harvest/) - The machine replaces ladders and allows handpicking with vacuum tubes and foam-lined pails.
- [Landscope: Southfield explosion](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/14/landscope-southfield-explosion/) - Now a booming suburb of Metro Detroit, Southfield has come a long way from a small agricultural town. The city grew from around 18,500 residents in 1950 to more than 78,000 residents in 2000 before declining to 71,758 residents by 2010. This increase was due to the growth of suburbs, where fresh air and having your own backyard was advertised by real estate agencies, as opposed to city living, where housing was crowded and dense.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: University of Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/15/big-tens-eco-efforts-university-of-michigan/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts. In January, the University of Michigan launched an online certification program to promote sustainable behaviors and culture. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to join the Planet
- [Why Small Parks Matter](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/15/why-small-parks-matter/) - Ask natural scientists why small parks matter and you’ll hear about habitats, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and buffer zones between developments. Ask the same question to social scientists and you’ll hear about maintaining human connections with nature, centers of community concern, neighborhood identity and healthy outdoor activities. Small parks can even serve a public policy purpose
- [Ice forming along Chicago River](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/16/photo-friday-ice-forming-along-chicago-river/) - The Chicago River just west of where it enters Lake Michigan with what is known as brash ice, floating fragments of ice usually less than two meters across. Image: Greg Monahan
- [Unmanned aircraft business takes off](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/16/unmanned-aircraft-business-takes-off/) - Flint area man and his son shoot promotional video with remotely operated drone aircraft.
- [Illinois pols won't back separation; environmental groups whiff on carp report](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/17/illinois-pols-wont-back-separation-environmental-groups-whiff-on-carp-report/) - Opportunities of this magnitude to protect the Great Lakes are rare and don’t last forever.
- [Photo Friday: Ice atop Lake Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/17/photo-friday-ice-atop-lake-erie/) - When last week's snowstorm and cold spell made its way through the Great Lakes, nearly 90 percent of Lake Erie froze over, according to the NASA Earth Observatory. The colorized picture above shows ice (pale blue) and snow (blue-green) formed on top of the lake. A report by Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at Wunderground.com, showed that these
- [Despite failed bid for FAA test site, Michigan officials see promise in drones](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/20/despite-failed-bid-for-faa-test-site-michigan-officials-see-promise-in-drones/) - Minnesota and Ohio are also among the states that unsuccessfully sought the designation to host test sites for drones.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Great Lakes funding on tap and a new "green book"](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/20/mr-great-lakes-great-lakes-funding-on-tap-and-a-new-green-book/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Jan. 17, 2014 - The Environment Report with Mr. Great Lakes, Jeff Kart by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses an increase in Great Lakes restoration funding and a book on sustainability. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Cold weather anglers flock to thick ice; effects of ice on fish mixed](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/20/cold-weather-anglers-flock-to-thick-ice-effects-of-ice-on-fish-mixed/) - In a few years, Michigan anglers might have the polar vortex to thank for good hauls. But in a few months, they might have it to blame for particularly disappointing catches.
- [Green gavel: taxpayers stuck with $3.7 million tab for hazardous waste cleanup](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/21/green-gavel-taxpayers-stuck-with-3-7-million-tab-for-hazardous-waste-cleanup/)
- [Landscope: Backpacks trace birds to Bahamas](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/21/landscope-bird-backpacks-trace-route-to-bahamas/) - Endangered Kirtland's warblers spend the summer nesting only in certain areas of Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario. They winter in the Bahamas. Researchers are using tiny light sensors to track how the birds travel between those areas. Advances in technology help researchers track the birds to get a better understanding of their migration route to the Bahamas.
- [First Arctic vortex, then thaw, now potholes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/22/first-the-arctic-vortex-then-the-thaw-now-potholes/) - Although the immediate effects of the Arctic vortex storm that devastated the Midwest have passed, there is one lasting effect that Michigan residents will continue to deal with. Jagged potholes on the state's already-damaged roads.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: University of Nebraska](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/22/big-tens-eco-efforts-university-of-nebraska/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts. Nebraska is the only state in the country that recognizes the last Friday in April as a civic holiday known as Arbor Day. Every year, businesses across
- [Clean, Green Breweries: Lakefront Brewery, Inc.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/22/clean-green-breweries-lakefront-brewery-inc/) - The abundant freshwater of the Great Lakes region is increasingly used for craft beer brewing. Breweries compete for customers with an eclectic array of beers and a raft of sustainable efforts. Some companies recycle used grain, others use recycled packaging. Some run delivery trucks on vegetable oil or harness wind and solar power. Some even
- [West Michigan video company shoots environment from a drone](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/23/michigan-video-company-shoots-environment-from-a-drone/) - West Michigan company shoots projects as diverse as extreme sports, high end real estate, marketing materials.
- [Green gavel: Illinois man loses appeal in asbestos case](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/23/green-gavel-illinois-man-loses-appeal-in-asbestos-case/) - By Eric FreedmanGreat Lakes EchoA federal appeals court has upheld a 10-year prison term for an Illinois sprinkler contractor who hired untrained workers to illegally remove asbestos without protective equipment and then arranged to dump the contaminated material. Prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to the jury that Duane “Butch” O’Malley knowingly violated the Clean Air Act
- [Green cars take back seat at 2014 NAIAS](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/23/green-cars-take-back-seat-at-2014-naias/) - How green is the 2014 North American International Auto Show? We’ll it’s not greenest.
- [Photo Friday: Land distribution around railroad supply town](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/24/photo-friday-land-distribution-around-railroad-supply-town/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes EchoThe small town of Reese, just south of the crease of Michigan’s Thumb, was once a bustling supply center at the crossroads of two railways. This true-color image, taken by NASA’s Earth Observing — 1 satellite on May 21, 2012, shows the town at their intersection. The green and white square
- [Echo newsroom adds fleet of planes, drones and satellites](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/24/seeking-environmental-context-with-planes-drones-and-satellites/) - Seeking the high ground: Two new Echo features and another longstanding one produce a different sort of environmental journalism.
- [Clean, Green Breweries: Great Lakes Brewing Co.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/27/clean-green-breweries-great-lakes-brewing-co/) - The abundant freshwater of the Great Lakes region is increasingly used for craft beer brewing. Breweries compete for customers with an eclectic array of beers and a raft of sustainable efforts. Some companies recycle used grain, others use recycled packaging. Some run delivery trucks on vegetable oil or harness wind and solar power. Some even
- [Cold spells may kill some but not worst invasive bugs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/27/cold-spells-may-kill-some-but-not-worst-invasive-bugs/) - Severe winter weather may lead to the death of some invasive species, according to a recent study, but some experts aren't convinced.
- [Seven of the snowiest campuses in the nation, right here in the Great Lakes basin](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/28/seven-of-the-snowiest-campuses-in-the-nation-right-here-in-the-great-lakes-basin/) - Seven of the 10 snowiest college campuses across the nation are in the Great Lakes states, according to a list recently released by Accuweather. Blame that lake effect for making winters in our parts exceptionally snowy. As cold air gusts across the lakes, it meets the warm air rising off the water, creating lots
- [Landscope: A city lies buried under Michigan's west coast](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/28/landscope-a-city-lies-buried-under-michigans-west-coast/) - Before it was buried in the late 19th Century, Singapore, Mich. was a bustling lumber town on the southwest coast of Michigan. As time passed, it was lost under the shifting dunes.
- [Will cold kill grapes? Only spring will tell](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/29/will-cold-kill-grapes-only-spring-will-tell/) - While cold weather isn't particularly new for Michigan vineyards, the recent string of record-breaking lows have raised some serious concerns amongst winemakers.
- [Researchers determine turf health with drones](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/29/researchers-determine-turf-health-with-drones/) - Michigan State University officials hope to collaborate with a landscape services company to use unmanned aerial vehicles to determine turf health.
- [Big Ten's Eco Efforts: Purdue University](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/30/big-tens-eco-efforts-purdue-university/) - In the spirit of our “Green Gridirons” series (but just in case college football wasn’t your thing), the “Big Ten’s Eco Efforts” series highlights creative off-the-field sustainability efforts. In order to create a "living building," Purdue University needed a small building with an apartment and classroom for an ecologist-in-residence. They wanted to build it to
- [Hunt for crop-eating bears could start early](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/30/hunt-for-crop-eating-bears-could-start-early-bill-says/) - In 32 years, there has rarely been a season when Michigan farmer and politician Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, hasn’t found bear damage in his cornfield. Now, he’s fighting to do something about it.
- [Month in Review: Icy waters and carp fatigue](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/31/month-in-review-throwing-ice-water-on-carp-fatigue/) - At the end of each month, Current State check in with Great Lakes commentator and journalist Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the basin. For this Great Lakes Month in Review, Gary focuses on ice cover and Asian carp fatigue. Wilson last spoke with Current State after the Army Corps’ study on
- [Ecologist James Ludwig discusses the “Dismal State of the Great Lakes”](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/01/31/ecologist-james-ludwig-discusses-the-dismal-state-of-the-great-lakes/) - Ecologist James Ludwig spent his career studying the chemical pollution of the Great Lakes - most notably with the help of his cross-billed cormorant, Cosmos. Great Lakes Echo recently spoke with Ludwig about his new book, "The Dismal State of the Great Lakes."
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Low water levels and a new name for a nature preserve](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/03/mr-great-lakes-low-water-levels-and-a-new-name-for-a-nature-preserve/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Jan 24 2014 - The Environment Report - With Jeff Kart - Mr Great Lakes by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses low water levels in the Great Lakes and a new nickname for Euclid Linear Park. Text at Mr. Great Lakes
- [Michigan health officials struggle to anticipate disease threats from climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/03/michigan-health-officials-struggle-to-anticipate-disease-threats-from-climate-change/) - Officials say that unusual weather brought on by climate change can have health consequences that range from something as minor as dehydration to as serious as a West Nile virus outbreak.
- [Some ideas for keeping carp out of the Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/03/some-ideas-for-keeping-carp-out-of-the-great-lakes/) - By Great Lakes Echo Check out this nifty graphic produced by QUEST and that details strategies for keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Better yet, check out the story that goes with it.
- [Unmanned aircraft program lends students unique opportunities](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/04/northwestern-michigan-college-unmanned-drone-program-lends-students-unique-opportunities/) - The U.S. government isn’t expected to open airspace for civilian unmanned drone flight until 2015. But Northwestern Michigan College students can fly drones today.
- [Green gavel: Judge says EPA can sue former owner of South Bend site for cleanup costs](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/04/green-gavel-judge-says-epa-can-sue-former-owner-of-south-bend-site-for-cleanup-costs/) - What seemed like a good idea at the time could prove to be costly nightmare for an investor being sued for the cost of cleaning up contaminated manufacturing property in northern Indiana.
- [How much snow does it take to close school?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/05/how-much-snow-does-it-take-to-close-school/) - Great Lakes school administrators are among those who hold out the longest before closing schools for snow, according to this map of how many inches trigger such an action. Any snow - in fact, any prediction of snow - triggers closings in the south, according to mapmaker Alexandr Trubetskoy, who recently posted the map to
- [Clean, Green Breweries: Arbor Brewing Co.](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/05/clean-green-breweries-arbor-brewing-co/) - The abundant freshwater of the Great Lakes region is increasingly used for craft beer brewing. Breweries compete for customers with an eclectic array of beers and a raft of sustainable efforts. Some companies recycle used grain, others use recycled packaging. Some run delivery trucks on vegetable oil or harness wind and solar power. Some even
- [Controversial Michigan bill would remove ban on state-owned land](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/06/controversial-michigan-bill-would-remove-ban-on-state-owned-land/) - Sponsored by Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, the bill would raise the 4.626 million acre cap on land and allow the Department of Natural Resources to acquire more.
- [Landscope: Grand Rapids growth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/05/landscope-grand-rapids-growth/) - In this installment of our "Landscope" series, get a bird's eye view of the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids - and its evolution from farming town to one of the most popular cities for young professionals.
- [Green justice: Court impact on environment often overlooked](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/06/green-justice-court-impact-on-environment-often-overlooked/) - You may have caught this weird judicial twist in a recent Great Lakes Echo story: A Wisconsin judge ruled that manure was not a waste but a valuable commodity. That's no surprise. Anyone with a backyard garden knows that. But providing that legal stamp produced a counter-intuitive outcome. It meant that an insurer was on
- [Record levels of banned insecticide found in Illinois otters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/07/record-levels-of-banned-insecticide-found-in-illinois-otters/) - The concentrations of dieldrin, an insecticide banned in 1978, are the greatest ever found in otters. Once used on cornfields, the chemical lingers in sediments and accumulates in fish and wildlife. Six Great Lakes states are among the nation's top 12 corn producers.
- [Upending the basin: drone count](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/07/upending-the-basin-drone-count/) - You've heard of the annual Audubon bird count. Now you can take part in a drone count. Not the bees - the unmanned aircraft. Here at Great Lakes Echo we've been running a series of stories about the use and potential of unmanned aerial vehicles. If nothing else, we've discovered that no one seems to
- [Help Echo make a bucket list](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/09/help-echo-make-a-bucket-list/) - Echo is considering a redesign. I say that with some trepidation. I have found that technical and design questions regarding web projects can paralyze action. The delays frustrate getting quality content into your hands fast. And Echo works now. There may be prettier and more efficient websites. But in terms of shoveling content out the
- [No surfing on frozen lakes but snow kiters fly high](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/10/no-surfing-on-frozen-lakes-but-snow-kiters-fly-high/) - Michigan’s winter surfing season is in a freeze with record-breaking lows that froze the Great Lakes.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Recyclemania, "Healthy" Asian carp and the best carp barrier](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/10/mr-great-lakes-recyclemania-healthy-asian-carp-and-the-best-carp-barrier/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Feb. 7, 2014 - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) - The Environment Report, Q 90.1 FM by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses a collegiate recycling tournament, research on the consumption of Asian carp and an "almost foolproof" barrier for carp.
- [Environmental, farm, animal rights groups clash over Indiana farm practices bill](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/11/environmental-animal-rights-groups-mobilize-against-indiana-pro-ag-industry/) - Legislators and environmentalists in Indiana are engaged in a full-on tug-of-war over a bill that would give legal support to farmers.
- [Lawmakers consider regulation of carbon dioxide to extract more oil from Michigan wells](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/11/lawmakers-consider-using-carbon-dioxide-to-extract-more-oil-from-michigan-wells/) - The bill is supported by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, but it is not without controversy.
- [China's environmental concerns could be GM's problem too](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/11/chinas-environmental-concerns-could-be-gms-problem-too/) - You’ve probably seen the pictures of the Chinese smog problem, including shots from Shanghai or Beijing that show buildings disappearing in what appears to be a thick, brown, fog. There are a number of things that cause smog, but one of them is the increasing numbers of cars and that has implications for U. S. automakers like General Motors, which counts China as its biggest market.
- [Lincoln lacked drones that give new view of old battles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/12/modern-weapon-provides-new-perspective-on-old-battles/) - Filmmakers like the unmanned aerial vehicles for providing an informative vantage point. But Civil War reenactors say that they detract from the authenticity of their efforts.
- [Orphaned Alaskan moose finds new home at Michigan Zoo](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/12/orphaned-alaskan-moose-finds-new-home-at-michigan-zoo/) - A baby moose has moved into Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo. Willow the moose was orphaned in Alaska when her mother died after being hit by a car. When that sort of thing happens, wildlife officials in Alaska arrange to send the orphaned animal to a zoo. Lansing has been hoping to get a baby moose for about a year, and when the call came in, the zoo was ready to act.
- [Judge rejects challenge to development plan for Toronto telescope site](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/12/judge-rejects-challenge-to-development-plan-for-toronto-telescope-site/) - An Ontario judge has rebuffed a local nonprofit group that’s fighting plans to develop property near Canada’s largest telescope.
- [Michigan proposes local control of backyard livestock](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/12/michigan-proposes-local-control-of-backyard-livestock/) - An important debate over urban farming in Michigan continues today in Lansing. Officials from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and others will discuss proposed rule changes governing farm animals in developed, residential areas.
- [Landscope: Moving Detroit's 2,700 ton Gem Theater](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/13/landscope-gem-theater/) - Normally construction for a major project like Detroit's Comerica Park requires the demolition of everything in its way. One building, the Gem Theater, was fortunate to survive.
- [Michigan group postpones petition to ban fracking](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/13/michigan-group-postpones-petition-to-ban-fracking/) - Led by volunteers, The Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan has decided to postpone its petition until the next election season in order to gain momentum.
- [Old tires could build pothole-resistant roads, solve disposal problem](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/13/old-tires-could-build-pothole-resistant-roads-solve-disposal-problem/) - Old tires could create pothole resistant Michigan roads. If it works, it may help address a disposal headache.
- [Changing mindset is powerful solution for pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/14/changing-mindset-is-powerful-solution-for-pollution/) - Money, regulations and enforcement are necessary. But that's playing defense. Industries, governments and environmental groups can get ahead of the game with new mindsets.
- [Convicted sewage dumper loses another court challenge](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/14/convicted-illegal-dumper-loses-another-court-challenge/) - By Eric FreedmanGreat Lakes EchoA federal judge in Detroit has rejected a challenge to a former landlord’s conviction for illegally dumping an estimated 107,000 gallons of raw sewage into Southeast Michigan’s Huron River. U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland rebuffed an effort by David Kircher to overturn his 2006 conviction for violating Michigan’s Natural Resources and
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Saginaw Bay reefs, a wetland-surveying helicopter and the solar industry](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/17/mr-great-lakes-saginaw-bay-reefs-a-wetland-surveying-helicopter-and-the-solar-industry/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Love Feb 14 2014 - Mr Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) - Delta College Q-90.1 FM by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses the restoration of two historic rock reefs in the Saginaw Bay, an expansion in the Midwest's solar energy industry and a small
- [Science is a salmon named Salami](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/17/science-is-a-salmon-named-salami/) - From Barbies that explain sand mining to geology themed music videos, one seventh-grade class in Michigan is exploring science in the most unexpected ways.
- [Wisconsin mine proposal stirs local, state politics](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/17/wisconsin-mine-proposal-stirs-local-state-politics/) - By Alan LeagueGreat Lakes Echo A proposed open-pit iron mine in the Penokee Range in northern Wisconsin has sparked debate over the state’s mining law. Gogebic Taconite, a mining company based in Hurley, Wis., first proposed the mine in 2011. As the application process continues, debate over whether the mine should open increases. Supporters hope
- [Michigan officials plan for new park around Capitol](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/18/officials-plan-for-new-park-around-capitol/) - Lansing, Mich. and Madison, Wis. are two of three capital cities who will receive Green Design Assistance from the EPA. With the grant, Lansing plans to develop a park on the state capitol complex .
- [Landscope: Highway shaped Gaylord growth](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/18/landscope-highway-shaped-gaylord-growth/) - In this installment of our "Landscope" series, get a bird's eye view of the northern Michigan town of Gaylord, which has seen much economic development in the last couple decades.
- [Illinois thermostat collection nets 8 tons of mercury](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/18/mercury-thermostat-numbers-high-collection-efforts-to-follow/) - A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 1.86 million mercury thermostats are still being used in the state of Illinois. The state continues to set collection goals to help reduce this number.
- [Michigan cities brace for a changing climate](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/19/michigan-cities-brace-for-a-changing-climate/) - Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Marquette and Ludington are among those planning for climate trends that they are already seeing take shape.
- [Sound of wind turbines could pose health risk](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/19/sound-of-wind-turbines-could-pose-health-risk/) - In an effort to increase the U.S.’s renewable energy portfolio, the wind industry has grown tremendously. Michigan is now home to just under 700 turbines, but not everyone is happy about the growing wind farm industry.
- [Ontario's exhaust inspection weighs impact against criticism](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/19/ontarios-drive-clean-exhaust-inspection-program-weighs-impact-against-criticism/) - The program has cut smog 36 percent, stopping 35,000 tons of poisonous vapors from entering the atmosphere each year.
- [Waterfowl confuse roads with water](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/20/waterfowl-threatened-when-confusing-roads-with-water/) - There is an increase in reports of waterfowl stranded on roadways that they confuse with open water. Some birds cannot take off again because their bodies are adapted to lifting off from water.
- [How many U.S. Olympians are from within the Great Lakes basin?](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/20/how-many-u-s-olympians-are-from-within-great-lakes-basin/) - How many U.S. Olympic athletes are from the Great Lakes watershed? Well, that probably depends on the map you’re looking at. We know that the eight Great Lakes states are home to 82 of the United States’ 230 Winter Olympic athletes. But accounting for each that also lives within the Great Lakes watershed is open
- [From aquarium beauty to pond bully – it’s parrot feather!](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/21/from-tank-to-pond-bully-its-parrot-feather/) - Michigan officials fear a return of the aquatic invasive plant that was once popular in home aquariums.
- [Hantz Woodlands ready to plant Detroit](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/21/red-tape-cleared-hantz-woodlands-ready-to-plant/) - Back in 2010, Echo reported on John Hantz's plans to build the world’s largest urban farm in Detroit. After cutting through red tape and shifting plans to center on building an urban tree farm, the project is starting to unfold.
- [Beach funding dwindles](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/24/where-should-michigans-dwindling-beach-funding-be-allocated/) - Michigan received $152,000 in federal grants in 2014 to monitor the cleanliness of its lakes and beaches. That’s more than $200,000 less than the state was allotted in 2013.
- [Mr. Great Lakes: Canadian trash, the Weadock Plant, and trees](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/24/mr-great-lakes-canadian-trash-the-weadock-plant-and-trees/) - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) reports from Bay City, Michigan’s Delta College Q-90.1 FM. Feb. 21, 2014 - Mr. Great Lakes (Jeff Kart) - Delta Q 90.1 FM - Environment Report by jeffkart This week, Kart discusses an increase in Michigan's trash, the shutting down of a coal-burning plant and a spring tree sale. Text at Mr.
- [Calling all students and teachers: Young Reporters for the Environment Competition](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/25/calling-all-students-and-teachers-young-reporters-for-the-environment-competition/) - Student reporters and educators alike — the National Wildlife Federation’s “Young Reporters for the Environment Competition” is looking for your environmental work! The contest is open to students ages 13-21. Eligible submissions should demonstrate investigation about an environmental topic, offer solutions, and reflect knowledge of how the topic relates both globally and to the community.
- [Fur dealers could trap beavers under proposed law change](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/25/fur-dealers-could-trap-beavers-under-proposed-law-change/) - The Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association pushed for the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Casperson, R-Escanaba.
- [Cottages, invasive species, landscape fuel Lake Huron algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/26/cottages-invasive-species-landscape-fuel-lake-huron-algae/) - Lined along Lake Huron's Canadian coast stand beach cottages and vacationers... and green globs of algae.
- [Illinois, Wisconsin differ in culling deer to control disease](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/26/illinois-wisconsin-differ-in-culling-deer-to-control-disease/) - By Elizabeth DagresGreat Lakes EchoHunting combined with the controversial practice of culling can help control chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer better than hunting alone, according to a recent study done in Illinois and Wisconsin. Culling removes breeding animals to minimize reproduction. It’s been used in both Illinois and Wisconsin to control the spread
- [Tough winter good for some endangered species](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/26/tough-winter-good-for-some-endangered-species/) - Heavy snowfall is proving to be helpful for some of Michigan’s endangered species, like Karner blue butterflies.
- [Invasive Species: Sea Lamprey](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/27/invasive-species-sea-lamprey/) - By Evan KreagerGreat Lakes Echo The Nature Conservancy has named sea lampreys one of the five “usual suspects” invading the Great Lakes basin. These eel-looking parasites find a host and suck the life out of it. During the length of one life cycle, a sea lamprey can kill up to 40 pounds worth of fish
- [Landscope: Small Saline grows quickly](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/27/landscope-small-saline-grows-quickly/) - In this installment of our "Landscope" series, get a bird's eye view of the growth of Saline, Mich., which has expanded from small farming town to an ever-growing community.
- [Green gavel: N.Y. supplier liable for poison in baby food apples](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/27/green-gavel-n-y-supplier-liable-for-poison-in-apples-for-baby-food/) - A company that supplied a baby food maker with apples contaminated with rodenticides is liable for damages for breach of contract, a federal judge in Rochester, N.Y., has ruled.
- [Great Lakes Month in Review: Algae blooms and Gov. Snyder's record](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/28/great-lakes-month-in-review-algae-blooms-and-gov-snyders-record/) - At the end of each month Current State check in with Great Lakes commentator and journalist Gary Wilson for updates on environmental stories from around the basin. Today’s Great Lakes Month in Review, focuses on Governor Snyder’s environmental efforts and algae blooms.
- [Drone pilot wants to livestream video to firefighters](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/28/drone-pilot-wants-to-livestream-video-to-firefighters/) - As firefighters and several fire trucks work to put out the flames, that's when Harry C. Arnold launches his drone and flies towards the big cloud of grey smoke.
- [More snow means more snowmobiling, but not an increase in accidents](https://greatlakesecho.org/2014/02/28/more-snow-means-more-snowmobiling-but-not-an-increase-in-accidents/) - Despite the near-record snowfall in Michigan that created a banner year for snow-related sports, snowmobile fatalities haven’t climbed with the piles of snow.

## Pages

- [About](https://greatlakesecho.org/about-us/) - Great Lakes Echo is produced by the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. Original content is produced by students, faculty, professional journalists and Capital News Service.
- [Contact](https://greatlakesecho.org/contact/) - How to contact us Lead Editor Eric Freedman, freedma5@msu.edu Assistant Editor Julia Belden, beldenju@msu.edu General email: greatlakesecho@gmail.com
- [Subscribe](https://greatlakesecho.org/subscribe/) - Subscribe your email address to a daily alert with links to original Echo content: Delivered by FeedBurner
- [Africa Echo](https://greatlakesecho.org/east-africa/) - East Africa's Echo The headline below these images of Tanzania's Lake Manyara links to environmental stories of the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Background on this feature.
- [Special Reports](https://greatlakesecho.org/special-reports/) - The Heat is On A gathering of all the Great Lakes Echo stories from 2012 related to this year's unusually warm weather. Satellite Watch Satellite Watch provides a diverse collection of stories and photos featuring satellite imagery of the Great Lakes. WhadayaKnow? A weekly video project in which Echo

## Categories

- [Echo](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/test/) - Stories that have not been categorized default to here.
- [Wildlife](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/wildlife/) - This broad category encompasses fish. It is further divided on the main menu with tags for mammals, insects, amphibians, birds, mussels, invaders and endangered wildlife.
- [Air](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/air/) - This category is for air quality. Wind power is found under the energy category.
- [Land](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/land/) - This category encompasses land-based issues. It is further segregated with tags into such issues as farm, urban redevelopment or decay, forest, mining.
- [Water](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/water/) - Includes water quality, quantity and use.
- [Waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/waste/) - Everything from litter to nuclear waste.
- [Climate](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/climate/) - This includes climate change and stories about extreme weather. The main menu further divides this category with tags for drought and cold.
- [Nearshore](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/nearshore/) - The nearshore encompasses beaches and wetlands. It extends from uplands through the coasts and into the water near the shore.
- [Energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/energy/) - These stories are about traditional and alternative energy sources and challenges.
- [Recreation](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/recreation-2/) - Outdoor, resource-based recreational activities.
- [The Buzz](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/the-buzz/)
- [Transportation](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/transportation/)
- [Solutions](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/solutions/) - Stories that offer environmental solutions.
- [Art](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/art/)
- [Agriculture](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/agriculture/)
- [Cities & Suburbs](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/cities-suburbs/)
- [Green Gavel](https://greatlakesecho.org/category/green-gavel/)

## Tags

- [Forests](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/forests/)
- [carbon](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/carbon/)
- [Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/michigan/) - Stories tagged with Michigan should have this description at the top.
- [Ohio](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ohio/)
- [Indiana](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/indiana/)
- [Illinois](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/illinois/)
- [Wisconsin](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wisconsin/)
- [New York](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/new-york/)
- [Ontario](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ontario/)
- [Pennsylvania](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pennsylvania/)
- [Great Links](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-links/)
- [Minnesota](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/minnesota/)
- [Region](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/region/)
- [Solar](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/solar/)
- [Wind](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wind/)
- [environmental politics](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-politics/)
- [oil](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/oil/)
- [Coal](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/coal/)
- [conservation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/conservation/)
- [endangered species](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered-species/)
- [drinking water](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/drinking-water/)
- [Agriculture](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/agriculture/) - All stories related to farming, including urban agriculture.
- [Brownfields](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/brownfields/)
- [environmental Justice](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-justice/)
- [fisheries](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fisheries/)
- [hazardous waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hazardous-waste/)
- [invasive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invasive-species/)
- [livestock](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/livestock/)
- [Mining](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mining/)
- [pesticides](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pesticides/)
- [public lands](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/public-lands/)
- [toxics/chemicals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/toxicschemicals/)
- [Air Quality](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/air-quality/)
- [Water quality](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-quality/) - This tag is further segmented with tags for pharmaceuticals, plastics, sewage, algae
- [food safety](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/food-safety/)
- [Lake levels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-levels/)
- [Cars](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cars/)
- [greenhouse gas](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/greenhouse-gas/)
- [transportation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/transportation/)
- [technology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/technology/)
- [Obama](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/obama/)
- [Echo](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/echo/)
- [Human health](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/human-health/)
- [sediment](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sediment/)
- [Parks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/parks/)
- [EPA](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/epa/)
- [Mercury](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mercury/)
- [Hunting](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hunting/)
- [Recycling](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/recycling/)
- [bottled water](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bottled-water/)
- [pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pollution/)
- [cap and trade](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cap-and-trade/)
- [National Parks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/national-parks/)
- [Superfund](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/superfund/)
- [Birds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/birds/)
- [garbage](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/garbage/)
- [frogs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/frogs/)
- [dredging](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dredging/)
- [pharmaceuticals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pharmaceuticals/)
- [water conservation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-conservation/)
- [planning](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/planning/)
- [groundwater](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/groundwater/)
- [global warming](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/global-warming/)
- [renewable energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/renewable-energy/)
- [swine flu](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/swine-flu/)
- [Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes/)
- [Nuclear](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/nuclear/)
- [water withdrawals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-withdrawals/)
- [education](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/education/)
- [Areas of Concern](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/areas-of-concern/)
- [business/technology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/businesstechnology/)
- [runoff](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/runoff/)
- [emerald ash borer](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/emerald-ash-borer/)
- [Climate change](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/climate-change/)
- [planning/development](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/planningdevelopment/)
- [remediation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/remediation/)
- [water levels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-levels/)
- [deer](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/deer/)
- [environmental journalism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-journalism/)
- [shipping](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/shipping/)
- [locks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/locks/)
- [trains](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trains/)
- [dams](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dams/)
- [carbon dioxide](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/carbon-dioxide/)
- [toxins/chemicals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/toxinschemicals/)
- [Videos](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/video/)
- [Landfills](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/landfills/)
- [chronic wasting disease](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/chronic-wasting-disease/)
- [PCBs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pcbs/)
- [Lake Superior](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-superior/)
- [Lake Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-michigan/)
- [Lake Huron](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-huron/)
- [Circumnavigation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/circumnavigation/)
- [mudpuppies](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mudpuppies/)
- [research](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/research/)
- [Fishing](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fishing/)
- [zebra mussels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/zebra-mussels/)
- [public health](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/public-health/)
- [Biomass](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/biomass/)
- [lakes/rivers/wetlands](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lakesriverswetlands/)
- [Urban farming](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/urban-farming/)
- [water withdrawal](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-withdrawal/)
- [wildlife/endangered species](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wildlifeendangered-species/)
- [wolves](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wolves/)
- [greenhouse gases](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/greenhouse-gases/)
- [bats](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bats/)
- [Great Lakes Restoration Initiative](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-restoration-initiative/)
- [sinkholes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sinkholes/)
- [business/industry](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/businessindustry/)
- [GLRI](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/glri/)
- [environmental education](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-education/)
- [Natural Gas](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/natural-gas/)
- [industrial pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/industrial-pollution/)
- [Endangered wildlife](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered-wildlife/)
- [Poll](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/poll/)
- [wastewater](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wastewater/)
- [Nuclear Waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/nuclear-waste/)
- [Asian carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/asian-carp/)
- [water pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-pollution/)
- [sustainability](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sustainability/)
- [phosphorus](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/phosphorus/)
- [Algae](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/algae/)
- [Lake Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-erie/)
- [IJC](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ijc/)
- [pbde](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pbde/)
- [clean energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/clean-energy/)
- [Fish](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fish/)
- [industrial waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/industrial-waste/)
- [sea lamprey](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sea-lamprey/)
- [contamination](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/contamination/)
- [special report](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/special-report/)
- [politics](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/politics/)
- [water use](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-use/)
- [Mashup](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mashup/)
- [green jobs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/green-jobs/)
- [Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lakes/)
- [sewage](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sewage/)
- [industrial contamination](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/industrial-contamination/)
- [septage](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/septage/)
- [ballast](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ballast/)
- [BPA](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bpa/)
- [Books](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/books/)
- [salmon](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/salmon/)
- [environment](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environment/)
- [lake](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake/)
- [Hydroelectric](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hydroelectric/)
- [public pools](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/public-pools/)
- [clean up](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/clean-up/)
- [carp](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/carp/)
- [State Parks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/state-parks/)
- [PCB](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pcb/)
- [Walleye](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/walleye/)
- [food](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/food/)
- [Detroit](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/detroit/)
- [litter](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/litter/)
- [Bobcat](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bobcat/)
- [Great Lakes Restoration](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-restoration/)
- [dunes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dunes/)
- [Mammals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mammals/)
- [Special Reports](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/special-reports/)
- [Catch of the Day](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/catch-of-the-day/)
- [stormwater](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/stormwater/)
- [Little Black Creek](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/little-black-creek/)
- [map](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/map/)
- [Upper Peninsula](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/upper-peninsula/)
- [transparency](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/transparency/)
- [Chicago](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/chicago/)
- [weather](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/weather/)
- [energy efficiency](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/energy-efficiency/)
- [upending the basin](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/upending-the-basin/)
- [journalism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/journalism/)
- [carp bomb](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/carp-bomb/)
- [Wetlands](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wetlands/)
- [ice](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ice/)
- [moose](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/moose/)
- [garlic mustard](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/garlic-mustard/)
- [sturgeon](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sturgeon/)
- [Guest Columns](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/guest-column/)
- [Satellites](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/satellites/) - Satellites provide an usual view of the Great Lakes environment.
- [Beer](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/beer/) - Beer requires a water-intensive process and is an exploding industry in the region. Many brewers market their process as environmentally friendly.
- [environmental racism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-racism/)
- [phthalates](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/phthalates/)
- [feral pigs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/feral-pigs/)
- [David Poulson](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/david-poulson/)
- [Great Lakes compact](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-compact/)
- [whitefish](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/whitefish/)
- [Monday Mashup](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monday-mashup/)
- [Diversion](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/diversion/)
- [plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/plants/)
- [lake trout](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-trout/)
- [CAFOs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cafos/)
- [bees](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bees/)
- [Kirtland's warbler](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/kirtlands-warbler/)
- [Endangered birds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered-birds/)
- [Michigan State University](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/michigan-state-university/)
- [MSU](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/msu/)
- [monkey flower](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monkey-flower/)
- [Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-water-quality-agreement/)
- [Desperate Alewives](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/desperate-alewives/)
- [Greening of Flint](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/greening-of-flint/)
- [PBB](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pbb/)
- [GLWQA](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/glwqa/)
- [remote sensing](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/remote-sensing/)
- [Water quantity](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-quantity/)
- [walkability](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/walkability/)
- [cougar](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cougar/)
- [loons](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/loons/)
- [piping plovers](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/piping-plovers/)
- [Hiking](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hiking/)
- [Bicycling](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bicycling/)
- [ej](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ej/)
- [native americans](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/native-americans/)
- [nearshore ecosystem](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/nearshore-ecosystem/)
- [urban renewal](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/urban-renewal/)
- [Photo Friday](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/photo-friday/) - Echo runs images from the Great Lakes region on Fridays. Most submissions come from readers. Submit one to GreatLakesEcho@gmail.com. Include your name, a brief description of the image, when it was taken and any unusual circumstances involved in taking it.
- [Mussels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mussels/) - Includes native and invasive unionids
- [Commentary](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/commentary/) - Opinion and commentary about Great Lakes issues.
- [Carp Watch](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/carp-watch/)
- [Podcasts](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/podcasts/)
- [Gary Wilson](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gary-wilson/) - Gary Wilson gives his view on Great Lakes issues from Chicago.
- [Water privatization](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-privatization/)
- [aquaculture](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/aquaculture/)
- [Michigan rivers](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/michigan-rivers/)
- [Minneapolis](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/minneapolis/)
- [dead zones](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dead-zones/)
- [hypoxia](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hypoxia/)
- [freshwater eels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/freshwater-eels/)
- [phragmites](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/phragmites/)
- [wild rice](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wild-rice/)
- [urban redevelopment](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/urban-redevelopment/)
- [Rivers](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/rivers/)
- [geothermal](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/geothermal/)
- [Surfing](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/surfing/)
- [Canoeing/Kayaking](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/canoeing-kayaking/)
- [squirrel](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/squirrel/)
- [hemlock woolly adelgid](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hemlock-woolly-adelgid/)
- [white pine](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/white-pine/)
- [Monday Memes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monday-memes/)
- [PFCs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pfcs/)
- [Herring gull](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/herring-gull/)
- [perfluorinated compounds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/perfluorinated-compounds/)
- [perfluorooctane sulfonate](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/perfluorooctane-sulfonate/)
- [E. Coli](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/e-coli/)
- [Flash Point](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/flash-point/)
- [fracking](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fracking/)
- [giant hogweed](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/giant-hogweed/)
- [InsideClimate News](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/insideclimate-news/) - Republished with permission of InsideClimate News, a non-profit, non-partisan news organization that covers energy and climate change—plus the territory in between where law, policy and public opinion are shaped.
- [tar sands](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/tar-sands/)
- [The Heat is On](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/the-heat-is-on/)
- [Insects](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/insects/)
- [shipwrecks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/shipwrecks/)
- [music](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/music/)
- [Environmental Health News](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/environmental-health-news/)
- [Mirex](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mirex/)
- [milfoil](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/milfoil/)
- [Kent State University](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/kent-state-university/)
- [sandhill crane](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sandhill-crane/)
- [WhadayaKnow](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/whadayaknow-2/) - This series of person-on-the-street interviews tests general knowledge of key environmental concepts. An expert at the end of each section provides perspective on the questions.
- [St. Lawrence River](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/st-lawrence-river/)
- [muskellunge](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/muskellunge/)
- [Drought](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/drought/)
- [Where's the Concern?](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wheres-the-concern/)
- [PBS](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pbs/)
- [Great Lakes remediation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-remediation/)
- [turtles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/turtles/)
- [Round goby](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/round-goby/)
- [gobies](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gobies/)
- [low water levels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/low-water-levels/)
- [light pollution](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/light-pollution/)
- [Mr. Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mr-great-lakes/) - Mr. Great Lakes is a weekly radio broadcast produced by Jeff Kart, the owner of an online environmental communications company called Enviroprose.
- [Current State](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/current-state/) - Every Tuesday the Current State public affairs radio program on WKAR in East Lansing runs an environmental story in partnership with Great Lakes Echo. The stories also run on the Echo site and are archived here.
- [canarygrass](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/canarygrass/)
- [Canada Thistle](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/canada-thistle/)
- [camping](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/camping/)
- [gulls](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gulls/)
- [local food systems](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/local-food-systems/)
- [endangered plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered-plants/)
- [Jeopardy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/jeopardy/) - This is part of a series of Great Lakes watershed trivia questions. More here.
- [Data Watch](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/data-watch/)
- [locally sourced](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/locally-sourced/)
- [Green Gridirons](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/green-gridirons/)
- [spiny water fleas](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/spiny-water-fleas/)
- [UAV](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/uav/)
- [Skywatch](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/skywatch/) - This is a series of stories of how remote sensing technologies examine or are proposed to examine the environment of the Great Lakes region.
- [Landscope](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/land-use-images/) - This is an occasional series about Michigan land use changes documented with historic aerial images from of Michigan from Michigan State University’s Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems center.
- [Green Gavel](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/green-gavel/) - Green Gavel is an occasional series of stories about court decisions affecting the Great Lakes environment.
- [cormorant](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cormorant/)
- [parrot feather](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/parrot-feather/)
- [Eurasian Ruffe](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/eurasian-ruffe/)
- [waterfowl](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/waterfowl/)
- [osprey](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/osprey/)
- [Invaders](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invaders/)
- [Urban](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/urban/)
- [Art](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/art/) - Paintings, books, music, plays and other arts are effective ways of communicating environmental issues.
- [Law](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/law/)
- [outdoor recreation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/outdoor-recreation/)
- [Cold](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cold-2/) - These are stories about the effects of the particularly cold winter of 2013-14.
- [nearshore](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/nearshore-2/)
- [Jane Elder](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/jane-elder/)
- [mice](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mice/)
- [beavers](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/beavers/)
- [Alewives](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/alewives/)
- [Amphibians](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/amphibians/)
- [Clean](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/clean/)
- [reptiles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/reptiles/)
- [snakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/snakes/)
- [invasive plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invasive-plants/)
- [midwest energy news](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/midwest-energy-news/)
- [Diving](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/diving/)
- [Beaches](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/beach/)
- [Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wisconsin-center-for-investigative-journalism/)
- [Incinerators](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/incinerators/)
- [Herring](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/herring/)
- [Burbot](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/burbot/)
- [Swimming](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/swimming/)
- [Plastics](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/plastics/)
- [Bears](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bears/)
- [Beetles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/beetles/)
- [Earthworms](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/earthworms/)
- [Gypsy moth](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gypsy-moth/)
- [CSOs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/csos/)
- [Salamander](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/salamander/)
- [Farming](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/farming/)
- [Pigeons](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pigeons/)
- [Restoration](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/restoration/)
- [Chicago View](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/chicago-view/)
- [bat](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bat/)
- [Contaminants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/contaminants/)
- [Biking](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/biking/)
- [quagga mussels](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/quagga-mussels/)
- [plays](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/plays/)
- [podcast](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/podcast/)
- [Regulaton](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/regulaton/)
- [recreation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/recreation/)
- [Transmission](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/transmission/)
- [swans](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/swans/)
- [farm](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/farm/)
- [mute swans](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mute-swans/)
- [weather buoy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/weather-buoy/)
- [Sewers](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sewers/)
- [Forestry](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/forestry/)
- [Wildfire](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wildfire/)
- [Jim DuFresne](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/jim-dufresne/)
- [50 Hikes in Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/50-hikes-in-michigan/)
- [city](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/city/)
- [golf](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/golf/)
- [review](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/review/)
- [safety](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/safety/)
- [mosquitoes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mosquitoes/)
- [dragonflies](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dragonflies/)
- [lighthouses](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lighthouses/)
- [bird watching](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bird-watching/)
- [c](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/c/)
- [Great Lakes history](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-history/)
- [lan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lan/)
- [drones](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/drones/)
- [Fossils](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fossils/)
- [Commetary](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/commetary/)
- [drone](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/drone/)
- [tourism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/tourism/)
- [green infrastructure](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/green-infrastructure/)
- [Mass transit](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mass-transit/)
- [University of Michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/university-of-michigan/)
- [film festival](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/film-festival/)
- [Flint](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/flint/)
- [Eagles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/eagles/)
- [Native American](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/native-american/)
- [Boating](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/boating/)
- [Pipelines](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pipelines/)
- [energy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/energy/)
- [cougars](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cougars/)
- [bass](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bass/)
- [butterflies](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/butterflies/)
- [hockey](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hockey/)
- [Enbridge](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/enbridge/)
- [baseball](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/baseball/)
- [biotechnology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/biotechnology/)
- [invader](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invader/)
- [Great Lakes View](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-view/)
- [prairie](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/prairie/)
- [Great Lakes favorites](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/other-resources/)
- [Wildlife](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wildlife/)
- [Land](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/land/)
- [Water](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water/)
- [Waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/waste/)
- [Climate](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/climate/)
- [Capital News Service](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/capital-news-service/)
- [Great Lakes Echo](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-echo/)
- [Guest Contributor](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/guest-contributor/)
- [Tom Henry](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/tom-henry/)
- [Michigan River News](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/michigan-river-news/)
- [LakeVoice](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lakevoice/) - Editor’s note: This story first appeared in LakeVoice and is reproduced here with permission.
- [Eric Freedman](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/eric-freedman/)
- [economy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/economy/)
- [Cameron Davis](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cameron-davis/)
- [poaching](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/poaching/)
- [cormorants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cormorants/)
- [septic](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/septic/)
- [Pitcher's thistle](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pitchers-thistle/)
- [Perch](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/perch/)
- [The Food Fix](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/the-food-fix/)
- [feral hogs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/feral-hogs/)
- [Chciago View](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/chciago-view/)
- [elec](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/elec/)
- [Offshore wind](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/offshore-wind/)
- [Jeff Kart](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/jeff-kart/)
- [Citizen science](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/citizen-science/)
- [Shipwreck](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/shipwreck/)
- [Lead](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lead/)
- [Vernal pools](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/vernal-pools/)
- [education grants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/education-grants/)
- [invasive speciesive species](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invasive-speciesive-species/)
- [plastic bags](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/plastic-bags/)
- [rural](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/rural/)
- [study](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/study/)
- [GLOS](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/glos/)
- [data](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/data/)
- [Wine](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wine/)
- [Grapes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/grapes/)
- [Microplastics](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/microplastics/)
- [gardening](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gardening/)
- [community](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/community/)
- [coyote](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/coyote/)
- [Skiing](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/skiing/)
- [Africa Great Lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/africa-great-lakes/)
- [orchids](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/orchids/)
- [foxes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/foxes/)
- [predators](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/predators/)
- [documentary](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/documentary/)
- [Infrastructure](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/infrastructure/)
- [Soo Locks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/soo-locks/)
- [Great Lakes shipping](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/great-lakes-shipping/)
- [dogs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dogs/)
- [fraud](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fraud/)
- [pollinators](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pollinators/)
- [book review](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/book-review/)
- [disabilities](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/disabilities/)
- [5k](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/5k/)
- [airports](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/airports/)
- [land use](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/land-use/)
- [ticks](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ticks/)
- [lyme disease](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lyme-disease/)
- [maple syrup](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/maple-syrup/)
- [maple](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/maple/)
- [syrup](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/syrup/)
- [Flame retardant](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/flame-retardant/)
- [ethanol](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ethanol/)
- [history](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/history/)
- [springs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/springs/)
- [disease](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/disease/)
- [Cisco](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cisco/)
- [science](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/science/)
- [dairy farm](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dairy-farm/)
- [archaeology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/archaeology/)
- [prehistory](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/prehistory/)
- [soil](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/soil/)
- [Arcadia](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/arcadia/)
- [Grand Rapids](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/grand-rapids/)
- [dam](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dam/)
- [mussel](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mussel/)
- [endangered](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/endangered/)
- [toads](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/toads/)
- [inland lakes](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/inland-lakes/)
- [Travel](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/travel/)
- [west michigan](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/west-michigan/)
- [Whales](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/whales/)
- [flame retardants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/flame-retardants/)
- [nature](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/nature/)
- [Trees](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trees/)
- [National park](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/national-park/)
- [meteorology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/meteorology/)
- [paint](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/paint/)
- [Catch and release](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/catch-and-release/)
- [invasives](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invasives/)
- [Ohio Historical Register](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ohio-historical-register/)
- [Fungi](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fungi/)
- [Fungus](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fungus/)
- [Pediatric Cancer](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pediatric-cancer/)
- [stewardship](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/stewardship/)
- [Activist](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/activist/)
- [St. Louis](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/st-louis/)
- [Velsicol](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/velsicol/)
- [DDT](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ddt/)
- [bicycle safety](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bicycle-safety/)
- [indigenous](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/indigenous/)
- [parasites](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/parasites/)
- [forest](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/forest/)
- [lighthouse](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lighthouse/)
- [bugs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bugs/)
- [isle royale](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/isle-royale/)
- [flint water crisis](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/flint-water-crisis/)
- [harmful algal bloom](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/harmful-algal-bloom/)
- [straws](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/straws/)
- [geology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/geology/)
- [discovery](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/discovery/)
- [First Nations](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/first-nations/)
- [renewable](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/renewable/)
- [dairy](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dairy/)
- [farms](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/farms/)
- [Game](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/game/)
- [survey](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/survey/)
- [PFAS](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pfas/)
- [snowmobiles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/snowmobiles/)
- [angling](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/angling/)
- [Polar vortex](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/polar-vortex/)
- [algal bloom](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/algal-bloom/)
- [government shutdown](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/government-shutdown/)
- [CIGLR](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ciglr/)
- [tech](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/tech/)
- [cities](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cities/)
- [schools](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/schools/)
- [book](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/book/)
- [copper](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/copper/)
- [Kayak](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/kayak/)
- [Diversity](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/diversity/)
- [monarch](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monarch/)
- [marijuana](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/marijuana/)
- [International Joint Commission](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/international-joint-commission/)
- [zoo plankton](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/zoo-plankton/)
- [Petoskey stones](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/petoskey-stones/)
- [Lake Baikal](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/lake-baikal/)
- [paleontology](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/paleontology/)
- [recycle](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/recycle/)
- [plastic](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/plastic/)
- [Wisconsin Dells](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wisconsin-dells/)
- [beaver island](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/beaver-island/)
- [ecosystem management](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ecosystem-management/)
- [prescribed fire](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/prescribed-fire/)
- [prescribed burns](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/prescribed-burns/)
- [Health](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/health/)
- [sound](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sound/)
- [photography](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/photography/)
- [instagram](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/instagram/)
- [erosion](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/erosion/)
- [pheasant](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pheasant/)
- [feral swine](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/feral-swine/)
- [wineries](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wineries/)
- [monitoring](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monitoring/)
- [threatened species](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/threatened-species/)
- [blanchard's cricket frog](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/blanchards-cricket-frog/)
- [frog](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/frog/)
- [craft](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/craft/)
- [coronavirus](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/coronavirus/)
- [hemp](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hemp/)
- [indigenous communities](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/indigenous-communities/)
- [arctic grayling](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/arctic-grayling/)
- [COVID-19](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/covid-19/)
- [electric vehicles](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/electric-vehicles/)
- [wild pigs](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wild-pigs/)
- [Coping with Covid-19](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/coping-with-covid-19/)
- [Research delayed](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/research-delayed/)
- [commercial fishing](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/commercial-fishing/)
- [line 5](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/line-5/)
- [white nose syndrome](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/white-nose-syndrome/)
- [trails](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trails/)
- [hab](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/hab/)
- [covid](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/covid/)
- [heating](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/heating/)
- [ballast water](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ballast-water/)
- [drownings](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/drownings/)
- [water spouts](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-spouts/)
- [election](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/election/)
- [wildfires](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wildfires/)
- [gift guide](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/gift-guide/)
- [night sky](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/night-sky/)
- [equity](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/equity/)
- [foraging](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/foraging/)
- [telehealth](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/telehealth/)
- [Granholm](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/granholm/)
- [Detroit River](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/detroit-river/)
- [pets](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pets/)
- [zoonotic disease](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/zoonotic-disease/)
- [native plants](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/native-plants/)
- [breweries](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/breweries/)
- [zoos](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/zoos/)
- [shorebirds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/shorebirds/)
- [canada](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/canada/)
- [rapids restoration](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/rapids-restoration/)
- [government](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/government/)
- [muskrats](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/muskrats/)
- [migratory birds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/migratory-birds/)
- [ev](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/ev/)
- [industry](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/industry/)
- [legislation](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/legislation/)
- [electric](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/electric/)
- [mountain biking](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/mountain-biking/)
- [meat](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/meat/)
- [civic engagement](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/civic-engagement/)
- [community science](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/community-science/)
- [trade](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trade/)
- [olympics](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/olympics/)
- [fire](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fire/)
- [toxins](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/toxins/)
- [food security](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/food-security/)
- [girds](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/girds/)
- [snowmobiling](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/snowmobiling/)
- [winter](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/winter/)
- [sports](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/sports/)
- [trout run](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trout-run/)
- [DNR](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/dnr/)
- [food sovereignty](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/food-sovereignty/)
- [elk](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/elk/)
- [windsor](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/windsor/)
- [trash](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/trash/)
- [holidays](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/holidays/)
- [christmas](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/christmas/)
- [Strayer](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/strayer/)
- [TikTok](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/tiktok/)
- [Solutions Journalism](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/solutions-journalism/)
- [water test](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/water-test/)
- [Food Waste](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/food-waste/)
- [cosmic](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cosmic/)
- [grains](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/grains/)
- [pipeline](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/pipeline/)
- [Cleanup](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/cleanup/)
- [Memories](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/memories/)
- [space](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/space/)
- [winterstorm](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/winterstorm/)
- [Adaptive Reuse](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/adaptive-reuse/)
- [Bowfin](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/bowfin/)
- [Monuments](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/monuments/)
- [Fireflies](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/fireflies/)
- [Biofuel](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/biofuel/)
- [Erie](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/erie/)
- [Wells](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/wells/)
- [Road salt](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/road-salt/)
- [Salt](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/salt/)
- [solutions](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/solutions/)
- [social media](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/social-media/)
- [News](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/news/)
- [light](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/light/)
- [Invasive](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/invasive/)
- [Animals](https://greatlakesecho.org/tag/animals/)

## Stats Types

- [view](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/view/)
- [Chrome](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/chrome/)
- [Safari](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/safari/)
- [iPhone](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/iphone/)
- [Macintosh](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/macintosh/)
- [Windows](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/windows/)
- [Android](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/android/)
- [unknown](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/unknown/)
- [Android Browser](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/android-browser/)
- [Firefox](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/firefox/)
- [Samsung Browser](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/samsung-browser/)
- [Linux](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/linux/)
- [iPad](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/ipad/)
- [event](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/event/)
- [Opera](https://greatlakesecho.org/wpa-stats-type/opera/)

## Post Prominence

- [Homepage Featured](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/homepage-featured/) - If you are using the Newspaper or Carousel optional homepage layout, add this label to posts to display them in the featured area on the homepage.
- [Sidebar Featured Widget](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/sidebar-featured/) - If you are using the Sidebar Featured Posts widget, add this label to posts to determine which to display in the widget.
- [Footer Featured Widget](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/footer-featured/) - If you are using the Footer Featured Posts widget, add this label to posts to determine which to display in the widget.
- [Featured in Series](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/series-featured/) - Select this option to allow this post to float to the top of any/all series landing pages sorting by Featured first.
- [Featured in Category](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/category-featured/) - Not yet implemented, in the future this will allow you to designate a story (or stories) to appear more prominently on category archive pages.
- [Top Story](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/top-story/) - If you are using the Newspaper or Carousel optional homepage layout, add this label to a post to make it the top story on the homepage
- [Homepage Top Story](https://greatlakesecho.org/prominence/top-story-3/) - If you are using the Newspaper or Carousel optional homepage layout, add this label to a post to make it the top story on the homepage