Water

PBS correpondent brings new meaning to ‘muckraker’ in Detroit sewers

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PBS NewsHour science correspondent Miles O’Brien proved just how far he’s willing to go for a story as he plumbed the murky depths of Detroit, Mich.’s sewer system. His report on the problems facing America’s waste water infrastructure and the various methods being explored to improve it took him below the city streets to a world of unsung heroes, strange new smells, and looming challenges for the Great Lakes region and the nation. Watch A Journey to Confront Our Aging Water Systems on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

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Chicago discovers local Asian carp, Shedd Aquarium puts them on display

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The invasive Asian carp is once again in Chicago waters — this time safely behind glass at the city’s Shedd Aquarium. Shedd executives thought it would be a good idea to make an example of three large carp discovered in the city’s Humboldt Park Lagoon Oct. 9. Experts believe the carp may negatively affect the Great Lakes’ $7 billion fishing industry if it enters the basin, according to the National Park Service. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, these three Asian carp have been removed from our urban habitats and will now serve as educational ambassadors to Shedd’s 2.1 million annual guests about the immediate need to protect our local waters,” Roger Germann, executive vice president of Shedd’s Great Lakes and Sustainability program said in a press release.

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Michigan expands low-interest energy loan program

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Local businesses looking to save on energy costs have an opportunity for low-interest loans through an expanded statewide energy financing program. This initiative comes from Michigan Saves Inc., a nonprofit organization helping businesses to lower their expenses and improve their energy efficiency.

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Bad bug bodes badly for berries

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A tiny invasive bug is threatening havoc on Michigan’s biggest-in-the-nation blueberry industry. The spotted wing drosophila is causing an estimated $27 million in damage to this year’s crop, with a more devastating hit predicted for 2013.

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Map shows community projects funded by Ontario Ministry of Environment

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View Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund Projects in a larger map

Ontario’s Ministry of Environment has released an interactive map detailing environmental protection efforts funded through its Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund. This year’s projects range from doing species inventories to improving nature trail systems to creating a tallgrass prairie zone for filtering surface water runoff. The fund was established for environmental associations and community groups that aim to protect and restore the province’s natural habitats.  

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Favorite Photo Fridays from 2012

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Echo readers and contributors submitted over 50 photographs and videos to our Photo Friday section in 2012. Check out the slideshow for some of our favorites:

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A stay at historic Lake Ontario lighthouse to be prize on Price is Right

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An episode of the popular game show The Price is Right will feature the historic Braddock Point Lighthouse bed and breakfast as a prize destination. The Victorian-era Lake Ontario lighthouse caters to visitors from across world and is one of a handful of lighthouses still in use by the U.S. Coast Guard, said Nandy Town, the establishment’s innkeeper. The 110-foot, red brick tower is located in Hilton, N.Y. It is among the 28 historic lighthouses along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, a recognized national scenic byway. You can view them all here. The expected airdate is on January 15.

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PSA: Mercury – Something in the air

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Vapors from household products containing mercury present a serious threat to human health, according to this public service announcement from the Michigan Department of Community Health. Mercury vapors are actually more harmful than physical exposure to mercury, according to department toxicologist Christina Bush. While mercury in its natural liquid state does not absorb through the skin, exposure to the fumes is dangerous. “It can be difficult to predict at what point exposure to mercury vapors will cause harm,” Bush said, “It depends on the amount in the air and how long people are breathing in the mercury.” The health department recommends that concentrations in a nonresidential setting (like an office or a store), where mercury normally is not handled but where a spill has occurred, not exceed 3 micrograms per cubic meter after the mercury is cleaned up properly.