Water

Former Echo reporter shows some Great Lakes love on Jimmy Fallon

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Andy McGlashen, a former Echo reporter and an alum of the graduate program at Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, showed his Great Lakes roots recently on the Jimmy Fallon Show. McGlashen was called up from the audience to participate in the program’s Wheel of Game Shows segment.  Fallon immediately asked, “What is your name and what is on your shirt.” McGlashen said he was sporting the outlines of each of the Great Lakes of Michigan. Fallon’s response: “Hey, very cool. I love that.”

Energy

How the wind blows in Michigan

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The state of wind power in Michigan by Great Lakes Echo

Michigan was one of the fastest growing states for wind power in 2012.  That’s according to the American Wind Energy Association’s annual market report. But the nuts and bolts of harnessing wind energy  is a complicated issue, with its fair share of supporters and detractors. Jim Dulzo of the Michigan Land Use Institute in Traverse City joined Current State to explain where the state stands in moving forward on wind power.

Echo

Great Lakes in Jeopardy: Substances in Lake Erie

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Our “Jeopardy in July for Lake Lovers” feature was so popular, we decided to continue posting Great Lakes trivia throughout the month of August. Keeping checking back for the answers – and new questions. panel management
The answer to the previous question: The waters of Lake Erie prompted the Clean Water Act of 1972.

Echo

PSA: Don’t feed the birds

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Throughout the summer Great Lakes Echo will feature an occasional series of public service announcements produced by Michigan’s Ottawa County Health Department  to promote clean beaches. This one tells swimmers that feeding the birds can ultimately lead to a greater risk for illness. Echo recently reported a similar issue in Chicago, where a large ring-billed gull population contributed to unsafe E. Coli levels on the beach. Researchers eventually used egg oiling to reduce the population, and swim advisories were lifted from a dozen Lake Michigan beaches. One way to help prevent the problem is to refrain from sharing food with the birds, said Kristina Wieghmink, spokesperson for the Ottawa County Health Department.

Echo

Great Lakes in Jeopardy: Lake Erie’s waters

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Our “Jeopardy in July for Lake Lovers” feature was so popular, we decided to continue posting Great Lakes trivia throughout the month of August. Keeping checking back for the answers – and new questions. customer survey
The answer to the previous question: Lake Michigan beaches are almost the only place in the world where Petoskey stones can be found.

Echo

Photo Friday: Scene from a bench

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Photographer Scott Thomas was sitting on a bench overlooking the Oswego Harbor when he captured this photo. Taken on June 23, the photograph shows people walking on the break wall to the West Pierhead Lighthouse in Oswego Harbor in Oswego, New York. See more of Thomas’ photography here.

Echo

Data Watch: Pennsylvania’s top priorities

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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 currently 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 EPA. Each site is scored through the Hazard Ranking System on a scale from 0-100. The higher the score, the greater threat they represent.

Nearshore

Jeopardy in July: Beaches of Lake Michigan

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This is part of our “Jeopardy in July for Lake Lovers” feature, where we will post Great Lakes trivia throughout the month. Check back for the answers – and new questions. survey solutions
The answer to the previous question: Lake Michigan islands include Beaver, North and South Manitou, Washington and Rock islands.

Echo

Little Things, Big Problems: Spotted Knapweed

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Last year, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the National Park Service began producing a series of educational videos about invasive species in the Great Lakes. New videos have recently been uploaded, and you can watch the entire “Little Things, Big Problems” series here on Echo. This video discusses the spread of the spotted knapweed and how it prevents the growth of native plants on the shores of Lake Superior.

Echo

Jeopardy in July: Islands of Lake Michigan

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This is part of our “Jeopardy in July for Lake Lovers” feature, where we will post Great Lakes trivia throughout the month. Check back for the answers – and new questions. polls
The answer to the previous question: Lake trout is a native fish species to Lake Michigan.