Echo

Scientists to complete sanctuary sinkhole research

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(MI) The Alpena News – A group of scientists who have been studying three Lake Huron sinkholes within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary will go on the lake today to gather geological data to wrap up more than a year of research. During the summer of 2008, a group consisting of scientists from varying scientific disciplines traveled to Alpena to begin gathering data as part of a research project funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean Exploration. More

Echo

Obama Seeks National Oversight of Waters

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(NY) The New York Times – The Obama administration called Thursday for a comprehensive national system for regulating the use of federal waters along the nation’s marine and Great Lakes shores, now administered by a hodgepodge of federal, state or other agencies with often-conflicting goals. The recommendation, outlined in an interim report by a panel appointed in June by President Obama, said regulators should consider marine regions as a whole when issuing rules rather than, say, regulating fishing one species at a time. More

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Canadian Coast Guard Commissions New Research Vessel

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(ON) The Gov Monitor – Canadian Coast Guard’s newest science research vessel CCGS Kelso will be based at the Canadian Centre of Inland Waters, where it will support researchers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada gathering information about the biological, chemical and physical properties of Canada’s Great Lakes. The vessel, classified as a Near Shore Fisheries Research Vessel, has been in service since June 2009, and will assume the duties of the soon-to-be-retired CCGS Shark. CCGS Kelso is named after the late Dr. John Kelso, a Canadian scientist for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who dedicated his life to advancing freshwater science. More

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Oceanographer to Lead NOAA Great Lakes Laboratory

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(DC) NOAA – A physical oceanographer who worked with satellites to generate climate, weather, and water products for operational and research use, will be the director of NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich. Marie Colton, Ph.D., who has been acting director since January, takes the permanent position on October 11. “Our Great Lakes laboratory plays a major role in helping NOAA and the nation address freshwater issues, including climate change, water resource management, invasive species, and human health. So we looked for someone with a broad range of experience and we were delighted that Dr. Colton was eager to continue,” said Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D, NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. More

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Advocates for Great Lakes cleanup meet, eagerly await funding boost

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(MN) Minneapolis Star Tribune – Environmentalists’ long-held dream of restoring the Great Lakes may be on the verge of being realized. More than 200 of them are meeting in Duluth this week to celebrate — and to plot their next moves to protect the lakes that hold nearly one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. More

Echo

Organizations seek volunteers to clean up lake, tributaries

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(OH) Cleveland Plain Dealer – The gorgeous shores of Lake Erie and the beautiful banks of its many tributaries are among the best environmental spots in Northeast Ohio. That may be in part because of the work done by an army of nature-loving volunteers who take part in various cleanups each year — both in the spring (RiverDay and other cleanups) and then the Lake Erie shore and its tributaries again each fall. More

Echo

Sanctuary’s new plan unveiled

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(MI) The Alpena News – Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council members were among the first to get a look at the sanctuary’s final management plan during its official release on Tuesday. Copies of the document were distributed during the council’s Tuesday evening meeting. The printed version is 42 pages and represents a culmination of nearly three years of work. More

Echo

Great Lakes watchers anxious to fill EPA post that’s key to restoration initiative

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By Allison Bush, bushalli@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 14, 2009

Great Lakes officials are anxious for the Obama Administration to appoint the region’s top Environmental Protection Agency administrator. “The appointment is always important, but for (the Great Lakes states), right now it’s absolutely critical,” said Andy Buchsbaum, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes region. “For the first time in history, we could get millions and millions of dollars from Congress, and the administrator is important to making sure the money is spent well.”

The Chicago-based Region 5 administrator is responsible for the Great Lakes program under the Clean Water Act. Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Echo

Great Lakes toxic hot spots could get restoration boost from GLRI

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Editors note: Congress is considering a $475 million appropriation for Great Lakes cleanup. This story is part of an occasional look at proposals for spending it. Weigh in on this and other ideas on Echo’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative forum. Other stories. By Andrew McGlashen
amcglashen@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
July 31, 2009
A plan to spend $147 million to restore Great Lakes toxic hotspots is inspiring cautious optimism among those involved in a long and often frustrating cleanup process.

Echo

Environmental group release beachwater report

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(IL) Chicago Tribune – An environmental group says data from the Environmental Protection Agency show water at many beaches in the United States is polluted, causing beach closings and advisory days. The Chicago-based Natural Resources Defense Council issued its annual beach water quality report on Wednesday. The report found that ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches nationwide can have contaminated water. The group says conditions are worse along the Great Lakes. More