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Jeff Stratton’s beloved Larks Lake left his feet and legs covered in hundreds of itchy red welts.

“It was horrible,” said Stratton, 68, “Crazy itchy. Crazy painful.”

The post Researchers pioneer method to combat swimmer’s itch by relocating ducks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Rural Michigan residents who suffer from a chronic illness that requires specialized treatment may have to drive hours to receive care.

That barrier to access to health care is one reason rural county death rates tend to be higher than their urban counterparts, according to Robert Howe, the medical director of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

The post Limited access to health care contributes to higher rural death rates first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/05/20/limited-access-to-health-care-contributes-to-higher-rural-death-rates/

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It’s taken over 30 years and $80 million to restore Muskegon Lake and a few nearby smaller bodies of water.

Decades of pollution and rapid urbanization created ecological problems so severe that the lake was designated a “Great Lakes Area of Concern” by the U.S. and Canada in 1987.

The post Community input sought for cleaned-up lakes, shorelines first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/05/17/community-input-sought-for-cleaned-up-lakes-shorelines/

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When reporting in rural communities, journalists must “listen and shut up.”

That was the advice of former Native News Online managing editor and author Valerie Vande Panne, a panelist at a session of the recent Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Philadelphia.

The post Rural reporting needs trust, common ground first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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Environmental reporting experts at the recent Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Philadelphia discussed how to report on climate in a more productive way. 

Allen Arthur, the engagement director at Solutions Journalism Network, emphasized the need to avoid negative sentiments while engaging in the climate crisis dialogue to promote engagement in community-based activities.

The post Experts give insights on effective, ethical environmental reporting first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/30/experts-give-insights-on-effective-ethical-environmental-reporting/

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One of the many challenges of environmental journalism is making the general public care about animals that are not cute or ecosystems that are obscure. 

A recent session of this year’s Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference taught journalists how to do just that. 

The post Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling characters first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/23/making-obscure-animals-and-ecosystems-compelling-characters/

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New Jersey’s Delaware Bayshore isn’t called the road less traveled without reason.

Persistent rainfall, exacerbated by global warming, has increased the wetlands in this area of Cumberland County.

The post Unearthing climate change challenges along Delaware Bayshore first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/19/unearthing-climate-change-challenges-along-delaware-bayshore/

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Fields pockmarked by bombs, forests torn up by trenches and littered with landmines, cities around the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine flooded and then left with a water shortage as the reservoir dries up. 

These scenes in Ukraine and Gaza are a few examples of how war leaves long lasting damage to the environment.

The post Reporting the environmental impact of war first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/16/reporting-the-environmental-impact-of-war/

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A worrisome environmental issue is bubbling up from deep below Michigan’s ground with little public awareness, experts say.

The salinity of the state’s groundwater is on the rise, raising concerns about killed crops and corroded pipes.

The post Salty groundwater in Michigan could hurt agriculture, business and homeowners first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/15/salty-groundwater-in-michigan-could-hurt-agriculture-business-and-homeowners/

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Michigan’s corn farmers rejected a recent proposed assessment increase amid low prices, blocking additional funds for research and lobbying.

The proposal would have raised the assessment from 1 cent per bushel to 2 cents. 

The post Corn farmers again reject assessment bump amid “bad timing” for industry first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/04/corn-farmers-again-reject-assessment-bump-amid-bad-timing-for-industry/

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While the House and Senate have never had a direct, official connection to tribal governments throughout Michigan, new legislation could change that.

A bill would make Michigan the first state with a formal legislative connection with its tribal governments, 

The post Liaison office would be first to connect tribes and Legislature first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/03/liaison-office-would-be-first-to-connect-tribes-and-legislature/

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A tractor falls on you. A horse kicks you. A cow pins you against the side of a barn. Your hand gets caught in a corn shucker.

These are just some of the accidents Michigan State University researcher Laurel Morano documented in her recent study of agriculture-related injuries – and only among the most dramatic examples of the dangers farmers face every day on the job. 

The post Study offers new insights into farming-related injuries first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/02/study-offers-new-insights-into-farming-related-injuries/

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Steve Hall used to call public health “the invisible profession.”

“Previously, when we did our jobs well, people didn’t know about us,” said Hall, who for 10 years has been the health officer for the Central Michigan District Health Department.

The post Challenges, reduced public trust confront local health agencies first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/29/challenges-reduced-public-trust-confront-local-health-agencies/

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When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on expansive recycling reforms in December 2022, she also approved a last-minute amendment allowing chemical recycling — a process decried by many environmentalists — to be classified as a legal manufacturing process.

Chemical recycling, specifically the commonly used plastic pyrolysis process, turns plastic into fuel.

The post Scrutiny builds as Michigan awaits first ‘chemical recycling’ facility first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/28/scrutiny-builds-as-michigan-awaits-first-chemical-recycling-facility/

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The number of farmhands in Michigan working on H-2A visas — which allow farms that are struggling to hire U.S. workers to bring in temporary laborers from other countries—increased from 277 in 2010 to over 15,000 in 2023, according to the Michigan Farm Bureau. 

The post Advocates call for more protection of migrant farmworkers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/27/advocates-call-for-more-protection-of-migrant-farmworkers/

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Every fish studied recently in two southeast Michigan watersheds contained at least one of a family of toxic and persistent health-threatening chemicals.

The chemicals - collectively known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS - are found in some rivers, lakes, soils, drinking water, fish, cattle and crops.

The post High levels of toxic forever chemicals in Michigan fish alarm scientists first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/26/high-levels-of-toxic-forever-chemicals-in-michigan-fish-alarm-scientists/

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Precision agriculture technology has been evolving over the past decades, and farming has become more productive and efficient with the further implementation of artificial intelligence.

A 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found only 27% of farms and ranches nationally used such precision agriculture practices, but the rate was around 40% in Michigan.

The post High tech, AI, boost farm productivity, earnings first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/19/high-tech-ai-boost-farm-productivity-earnings/

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Being a state with direct access to a lot of freshwater creates opportunities for housing, jobs and tourism. 

However, the quality of Michigan’s water is threatened due to poorly maintained septic tanks, according to environmental advocates pushing for legislation to require periodic inspections of septic systems statewide.

The post Some want Michigan to regulate septic tanks to protect water quality first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/13/some-want-michigan-to-regulate-septic-tanks-to-protect-water-quality/

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When even the slightest amount of mercury enters a fish’s body, it can begin a long cycle that ends in disaster for aquatic wildlife and health concerns for humans, experts say.

That’s because mercury, an element often produced as a byproduct of mining and fossil fuel production, never breaks down or leaves an organism’s body.

The post Michigan hasn’t updated list of dangerous toxins in nearly 20 years. That might change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/12/michigan-hasnt-updated-list-of-dangerous-toxins-in-nearly-20-years-that-might-change/

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Two Pennsylvania farmers have been found guilty of poisoning over two dozen migratory birds with a restricted substance.

Many species of birds are declining in North America and many are at risk of extinction, Macdonald said.

The post Pennsylvania farmers convicted of poisoning over two dozen migratory birds first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/06/pennsylvania-farmers-convicted-of-poisoning-over-two-dozen-migratory-birds/

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Three Michigan artists are spreading awareness about the value of the Great Lakes through creating trash murals, shredding waves and telling legends about shipwrecks.

Hannah Tizedes spends her time along the shores of the Great Lakes not sunbathing nor swimming, but collecting trash to make art.

The post The Great Lakes inspire murals, doodles and poems first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/23/the-great-lakes-inspire-murals-doodles-and-poems/

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In a medical emergency, people generally want whichever emergency service they call to get to the scene fast, but ambulances in rural areas face special challenges to help residents. 

The biggest obstacle for fire and rescue stations in rural areas is the distance between someone in need and the station. 

The post Rural communities face challenges in providing ambulance services first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/22/rural-communities-face-challenges-in-providing-ambulance-services/

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An endangered Great Lakes shorebird that has survived earlier threats to its habitat now faces new challenges.

Report a banded plover and learn more at the Great Lakes Piping Plover website.

The post Endangered piping plovers face climate change challenges first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/21/endangered-piping-plovers-face-climate-change-challenges/

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About 250 acres of Indiana wetlands have been lost in the two years since wetland protections were eased, according to the Hoosier Environmental Council. 

Since the 2021 law passed, mitigation requirements have decreased.

The post Indiana conservation groups defend state’s wetlands that lost protection first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/20/indiana-conservation-groups-defend-states-wetlands-that-lost-protection/

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It takes two to three hours for Kevin Villalta to filter and distill a gallon of tap water, and he says the process is as expensive as it is time-consuming.

But it’s worth it, said the Lansing environmental engineer, who works for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. 

The post Some in Michigan hoping to change minds about drinking water and fluoridation first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/13/some-in-michigan-hoping-to-change-minds-about-drinking-water-and-fluoridation/

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As the winter progresses, food banks and other nonprofit organizations continue to tackle the increasing demand to alleviate hunger in Michigan.

One in nine people in the state faced hunger as of 2021, requiring $696 million more per year to meet their food needs

The post Food banks face crunch as demand rises first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/12/food-banks-face-crunch-as-demand-rises/

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Researchers in Minnesota are creating a national map to identify peatlands - soggy areas of slowly decaying organic matter - and guides for how to restore them. 

The PeatRestore project is set to span several years. Restoration will begin by summer 2025.

The post Preserving Minnesota’s bogs could fight climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/08/preserving-minnesotas-bogs-could-fight-climate-change/

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Delilah, the 13-year-old cat of Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, had to visit a veterinarian every time it got a respiratory infection.

That is, until emergency orders by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed a broad expansion of veterinary telehealth, where owners and pets see their vets through video calls.

The post Telehealth for pets: advocates, experts split on expansion of veterinary video-chats first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/07/telehealth-for-pets-advocates-experts-split-on-expansion-of-veterinary-video-chats/

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Lacking access to transportation is a significant barrier to employment, especially in rural areas and small towns.

Buses are often late because of construction or traffic, and Keson said the Ludington authority is trying to secure more funding for new dispatch technology.

The post Limited public transit options hinder employment opportunities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/06/limited-public-transit-options-hinder-employment-opportunities/

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Michigan photographer Danielle Jorae wrote, designed and published Lighthouses of Michigan-Lower Peninsula to fulfill a wish of her childhood self.

“I ran across a document from when I was in kindergarten that outlined how I wanted to become an artist and a writer one day,”

The post Photobook illuminates the beauty of Michigan lighthouses first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/05/photobook-illuminates-the-beauty-of-michigan-lighthouses/

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Michigan may have a sustainable answer to the contentious issue of fixing its roads: asphalt made from recycled rubber tires.

A partnership between state regulators, Michigan Technological University and county road commissions has been looking for ways to reduce the piles of used tires around Michigan

The post Thousands of tires hitting Michigan roads may someday be in them first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/02/thousands-of-tires-hitting-michigan-roads-may-someday-be-in-them/

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A bike ride is meant to be a relaxing and fun way to engage in physical activity. For other riders, bicycling is an essential form of transportation. All bicyclists want to feel safe. 

The post Bicycle accidents increase drastically in Michigan, study says first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/01/29/bicycle-accidents-increase-drastically-in-michigan-study-says/

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Environmental journalism is a difficult yet important field, says a freelance journalist who will be speaking at an upcoming environmental festival in Manistee, Michigan.

“Sometimes you’re asking people difficult questions,” said Genevieve Fox, a former Great Lakes Echo reporter who now writes for Planet Detroit, Metromode and The Keel.

The post Reporting on the environment is a tough job first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/01/24/reporting-on-the-environment-is-a-tough-job/

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The founder of a company that uses drones to recover deer carcasses that hunters cannot find says that Michigan’s prohibition of the practice violates his First Amendment rights. 

The suit questions one of the core principles of hunting and fishing in the United States, some experts say.

The post Lawsuit could complicate drone laws for Michigan hunters and anglers. first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/01/09/lawsuit-could-complicate-drone-laws-for-michigan-hunters-and-anglers/

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For outdoor recreation enthusiasts, the colder weather heralds the arrival of snow sports.

One of the more popular winter recreation sports is skiing, with over 2 million skiers visiting Michigan slopes every year, according to Pure Michigan, the state’s tourism and information agency.

The post Michigan snowsports organization promotes outdoor recreation first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/12/20/michigan-snowsports-organization-promotes-outdoor-recreation/

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With holiday travel approaching, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is urging dog owners to be aware of a “mystery illness” that is sweeping the nation.

The illness affects dogs’ respiratory systems, causing an unusual increase in coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite, eye and nasal discharge, fever and lethargy.

The post Caution urged for holiday travel with dogs due to virus first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/12/18/caution-urged-for-holiday-travel-with-dogs-due-to-virus/

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Fertilizer is an essential resource for farmers, but as prices rise, paying for it makes their job more difficult.

A 2023 study by the MSU Agriculture Product Center showed that fertilizer accounts for the highest cost per acre compared to other products, such as seed and machinery repairs. 

The post High fertilizer costs hit Michigan farmers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/12/11/high-fertilizer-costs-hit-michigan-farmers/

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A recent study discovered a fast evolution of coronavirus in free-ranging white-tailed deer throughout Ohio. It implied possible animal-to-human transmission.

The study, published this year in August, found that the virus SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans to white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio from November 2021 to March 2022.

The post Ohio white-tailed deer get coronavirus – from people first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/12/06/ohio-white-tailed-deer-get-coronavirus-from-people/

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Canada is turning to Indigenous fire safety knowledge after record wildfires raged across the country last summer.

“One big issue with Indigenous services is there’s a gap,” Lazare said. “What we are doing is closing that gap to make sure First Nations are included.”

The post Indigenous firefighters lead fire safety efforts after record Canadian wildfires first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/12/05/indigenous-firefighters-lead-fire-safety-efforts-after-record-canadian-wildfires/

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Although it is the country’s eighth largest coal producer, Indiana has significantly decreased its use of the fossil fuel to generate electricity over the past decade. 

As the state moves from coal, activists are fighting for the use of renewable resources such as wind and solar instead of natural gas.

The post Indiana climate groups push renewable energy as coal use drops first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/29/indiana-climate-groups-push-renewable-energy-as-coal-use-drops/

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Seasonal weather patterns are changing and farmers are facing new challenges as a result, including how to handle their water management and irrigation practices.

Dennis Kellogg, a crop farmer in Ithaca, has felt the impacts of increased rain and longer droughts.

The post Changes in rain patterns create water challenges for farmers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/28/changes-in-rain-patterns-create-water-challenges-for-farmers/

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A newly discovered chemical compound that makes it difficult for invasive sea lamprey to find their breeding grounds may be a new tool in the toolbox for controlling a parasite that threatens Great Lakes fish.

Anne Scott, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, and her team of researchers are creating a new method of sea lamprey control

The post New compound may expand sea lamprey control first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/22/new-compound-may-expand-sea-lamprey-control/

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A deer with chronic wasting disease has been found in Ogemaw County — a county that had never seen the disease before.

And that worries the Department of Natural Resources.

The post Chronic wasting disease found in new county first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/21/chronic-wasting-disease-found-in-new-county/

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The state’s Natural Resources Commission wants to know more before deciding whether to allow the hunting of wolves – if Michigan’s largest predator is taken off the federal endangered species list.

They are one of the most controversial animals in the state, according to Brian Roell, a Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist.

The post ‘Little Red Riding Hood syndrome:’ Wolf controversy in the UP first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/20/little-red-riding-hood-syndrome-wolf-controversy-in-the-up/

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Northern Michigan is home to two unique land preserves, one in Harbor Springs and the other in Traverse City – both originating from golf courses. 

Golf has strong ties to Michigan, with around 650 courses. Enthusiasts have nicknamed it “America’s Summer Golf Capital,” according to The Travel Magazine. 

The post Michigan golf courses returned to their natural state first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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As the winter season approaches, counties across Michigan are preparing to handle the inevitable dumping of snow, especially on roadways. 

Technology and processes employed have helped plows become more efficient, said Bradley Wieferich, the director of the Department of Transportation. 

The post Reducing salt use on snowy roads proves challenging first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/16/reducing-salt-use-on-snowy-roads-proves-challenging/

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An invasive insect increasingly threatens one of the Great Lakes region’s most important trees for storing the carbon that causes global warming.

Researchers have found that eastern hemlock trees felled by the invasive woolly adelgid could emit 4.5 tons of carbon across almost two and a half football fields.

The post Invasive insect threatens carbon storage in Great Lakes forests first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/15/invasive-insect-threatens-carbon-storage-in-great-lakes-forests/

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When you reminisce about the Thanksgiving season, it’s easy to envision a belly stuffed with turkey, then leaning all the way back in your favorite recliner for a nap.

The hard work of small-town turkey farmers around Michigan is likely to go unnoticed when many consumers head to the supermarket for their frozen bird

The post Local farms compete with imported turkeys during Thanksgiving first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/14/local-farms-compete-with-imported-turkeys-during-thanksgiving/

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Michigan is the second-most agriculturally diverse state, with farmers growing a wide variety of produce and specialty crops, such as cherries, asparagus and blueberries. 

One bonus of buying locally grown produce is that the community’s economy benefits. 

The post Buying local fresh produce benefits farmers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/11/13/buying-local-fresh-produce-benefits-farmers/

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Michigan farmers, looking to expand crop insurance and research funding, are pushing to see their needs recognized as the federal Farm Bill moves along on the congressional agenda. 

“This would not be the first time that a Farm Bill was extended. It’s happened several times, but we need leadership to sit down to get the job done,” he said.

The post State farmers eye upcoming federal Farm Bill first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

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