Echo

Shifting carbon from roads to roofs

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By Haley Walker

Oct. 19, 2009

Planting the rooftops in Detroit has the same environmental benefit as removing 10,000 SUVs off the road, according to a recent study. Michigan State University researchers found that planting vegetation on roofs can store heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “This study is the first of its kind,” said head researcher Kristin Getter. “We knew these roofs had benefits, but we didn’t know they would be able to store carbon.”

Green roofs have been used to control temperatures, improve storm runoff and increase vegetation and wildlife habitat in urban areas.

Echo

VIDEO: Five questions for author and invasive species gumshoe Jeff Alexander

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By Andrew Norman
Oct. 16, 2009

Covering the Great Lakes and its environment for two decades made Jeff Alexander the obvious environmental sleuth to write a comprehensive history and investigative exposé of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway. The award-winning reporter and author’s most recent book, Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway, does just that.

Echo

Weighing the risks and benefits of eating Great Lakes fish

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By Sarah Coefield
Oct. 15, 2009

The Great Lakes teem with fish, but anglers looking to them for their next meal should be cautious. The fish contain an array of contaminants, including some known to threaten human health.  Methyl mercury inhibits brain development. PCBs can suppress the immune system and thyroid development and may cause cancer. The contaminants have lead to consumption advisories on many popular fish species, such as walleye, lake trout and salmon.

Echo

Column: Which Great Lake are you?

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By David Poulson
Oct. 14, 2009
I recently took one of those Facebook quizzes for my favorite television series: Which character on House are you? It turns out that I am most like the good doctor himself. Made sense to me — you know with the keen wit and brilliant mind. My wife agreed, but she thought it had more to do with the grouchy disposition.

Wildlife

Chemical carp control considered at Chicago

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By Shawntina Phillips
phill465@msu.edu
Oct. 13, 2009

State and federal officials are considering a fish poison as a way of pushing back a front of hungry carp that are advancing toward the Great Lakes. Recent DNA testing indicates that Asian carp are now within a mile of an electric barrier  designed to keep fish out of Lake Michigan. They already have reached the Des Plaines River, a body of water that runs parallel to the barrier. That’s worrisome said John Rogner, the assistant director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Echo

Low oxygen, mercury pollution interaction may pose even greater threat to Great Lakes

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By Haley Walker
Walkerh4@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
Oct. 12, 2009

Researchers are studying whether Great Lakes fish contaminated by mercury are threatened more by low oxygen in the water than healthy fish. The International Joint Commission recently recognized runaway plant growth, a cause of low oxygen, as a major Great Lakes problem. The U.S./Canadian commission advises those governments on Great Lakes issues. Low oxygen is called hypoxia, a condition the U.S. Geological Survey says is caused by an increase in nutrients.

Echo

How should carp be prevented from entering the Great Lakes at Chicago?

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Vote

The artificial connection between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds at Chicago is a highway for spreading invasive species between the regions. An electric barrier is meant to discourage invaders such as the voracious Asian carp which are knocking on the Great Lakes’ door. Is it enough? Cast your vote on how best to slam this door on invasive species. Read this Echo story and also this one for background.

Echo

Studies of fish sharing male and female characteristics raise concerns about Great Lakes contaminants

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By Elisabeth Pernicone
pernico1@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Oct. 9, 2009

Fish with characteristics of both genders are more prevalent than previously thought in U.S. rivers, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study. While this study did not analyze fish in the Great Lakes, it may raise new concerns as to whether previously noted hermaphrodite fish in this region are becoming more prevalent as well. “Until we take current sampling it is hard to know,” said Chris Metcalf, director of the Institute for Watershed Science at Trent University in Ontario. “However, all studies are symptomatic of more estrogens being discharged into streams.”

Fish with reproductive characteristics of both sexes are known as intersex, a condition linked to exposure to estrogenic compounds.

Echo

Coast Guard considers new rules to regulate ballast; takes up where Congress left off

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By Brian Laskowski
laskow26@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
Oct. 8, 2009
Editors note: This is part of a series about issues relevant to the biennial meeting of the International Joint Commission. Over the summer of 2008 environmental groups and Great Lakes shippers were on the edge of their seats. Congress was working on water quality standards to prevent invasive species from entering the lakes from the dumping of untreated ballast water on freighters. Then…nothing happened.