Black raspberries
Land

Wild berry foraging gains popularity

By |

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.

Waste

Toxic chemical from Gelman Plume found in water wells in Scio Township, Michigan 

By |

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.

Solutions

Nonprofits and robots help reduce food waste

By |

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.

Goat on an elevated surface in front of a red barn.
Solutions

Empowering environmental stewardship: Barn sanctuary champions compassion and Conservation

By |

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.

Buried sand bags in front of a blue lake shore house
Echo

Years after high water crisis, lax policies leave Michigan coast vulnerable

By |

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.

A collared cow moose nursing her calf in a forest clearing from an aerial view
Wildlife

Researchers studying why Michigan’s moose population isn’t growing

By |

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.

Map highlighting Michigan counties in the quarantine zone for box tree moth.
Solutions

How Michigan is trying to stop the box tree moth

By |

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.

Boat tugging wakeboarder
Recreation

Wake boats make big waves, bigger clashes on Michigan lakes. Time for limits?

By |

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.

Lightning strike
Climate

Michigan residents have surprisingly higher risk of being struck by lightning

By |

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.