Land

Calling all students and teachers: Young Reporters for the Environment Competition

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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. Contest entries are accepted as:
-Single photograph
-Photo essay, consisting of no more than 12 photos
-A written article, no more than 1000 words
-Video, no more than three minutes long

The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2014. National winners, which are announced at the end of April, are then entered into the competition’s international level.

Waste

Mr. Great Lakes: Canadian trash, the Weadock Plant, and trees

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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. Great Lakes

Nearshore

Beach funding dwindles

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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.

Land

Hantz Woodlands ready to plant Detroit

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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.

Recreation

How many U.S. Olympians are from within the Great Lakes basin?

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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 for interpretation. The watershed, also called a basin, is all the land that drains into the Great Lakes.

Energy

Sound of wind turbines could pose health risk

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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.

Land

Landscope: Highway shaped Gaylord growth

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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.

Land

Wisconsin mine proposal stirs local, state politics

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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 the mine will bring jobs to the state; critics fear the mine’s potential impact on the environment. “We took a strong stand in opposition to the mine in 2011 almost as soon as we heard about it,” said Dave Blouin, chair of the political committee of the John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club based in Madison.