The annual cleanup Stand Up for Great Lakes’ was held at Michigan’s Torch Lake. The lake is looking cleaner after a group of volunteers staged a major clean-up from the Fourth of July holiday. Read the full story by WWTV-TV – Cadillac, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230707-stand-up-for-great-lakes
It was 2010 when federal funding in the U.S. to restore the Great Lakes, via the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, began to flow to the tune of $475 million. Fast-forward to 2023 and a program focused on coastal wetland restoration has been renewed twice by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has received a total of $30 million since 2010. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-coastal-wetland-program
One of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s research vessels, the Lake Guardian, departed Monday afternoon to start an annual mission to monitor and collect samples of trout, small organisms, and more in Lake Huron. Read the full story by The Alpena News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-lake-huron-research-survey
In conjunction with its upcoming exhibit “The Maritime History of Charlevoix,” the Charlevoix Historical Society will present the program “Documenting Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes” on Wednesday, June 28. Read the full story by the Petoskey News-Review.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-shipwreck-program
Surprised onlookers got a glimpse of a deer swimming for hours in the Straights of Mackinaw. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-swimming-deer
Legal experts and state officials say it’s business as usual for wetlands protection in Michigan following a U.S. Supreme Court decision which significantly narrows federal authority to regulate wetlands. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-michigan-wetlands
U.S. District Judge James G. Carr recently approved a plan that is the result of cooperation between the U.S. EPA, State of Ohio, Lucas County Commissioners, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center. The Consent Decree outlines a timeline Ohio EPA must follow to create a Total Maximum Daily Loads that set maximum amounts of pollutants that may enter the water for Lake Erie. Read the full story by The Country Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-tmdl
Lake Erie is a great natural resource, but unlocking the lake’s potential, as well as making the shoreline accessible to everyone, has proven to be a significant problem in Northeast Ohio. There is not a simple solution, but Ohio’s Euclid community has at least cracked the code to the point where people have taken notice. Read the full story by WOIO-TV – Cleveland, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-lakefront-acess
Spiny water flea, Bithotrephes longimanus, are native to brackish Northern European and Asian waterbodies and were inadvertently introduced into the Great Lakes via shipping ballast. Due to their unusually large size for zooplankton, they disrupt the natural food chain and preventing them from invading new areas in the Great Lakes is key. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-spiny-water-flea
As temperatures warm up, more dead fish may be seen washing up on shore – but these fish kills are common as lake temperatures start to increase. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230614-fish-kills
New data published by the journal Science shows most of the world’s lakes are shrinking. But according to Environment Canada, lakes in Southwestern Ontario are slowly rising — contradicting that trend. Read the full story by CTV News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-lake-size-changes
The state of Wisconsin will add a half-mile of shoreline to the Brule River State Forest that will expand public access to Lake Superior and protect habitat for an endangered shorebird. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-lake-superior-shorebirds
Scientists believe saving black terns from extinction will take more than habitat protection across their breeding grounds in Michigan. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-black-terns
As of last November, Adam Tindall-Schlicht has been Administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, which oversees operations of the U.S. side of the system of locks and channels that connect the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. Read the full story by North County Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-st-lawrence-seaway
One research vessel owned and operated by the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) is dedicated to better exploring the Great Lakes region. This year, a team of researchers from UMD is looking at algae blooms on the lakes. Read the full story by KBJR-TV – Duluth, MN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-blue-heron
Over the course of eleven days, a device dating back to 234 B.C. successfully captured 704 fish and lifted them into a collection basket as part of a project to determine if the method could be used in the future to move fish across dams without injury. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-bypass-dams
Thousands of people will soon line Michigan’s St. Clair River together and celebrate the famous Blue Water Area sturgeon at Sturgeon Fest. Read the full story by the Times Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-sturgeon-fest
Lawmakers in Illinois and Pennsylvania are considering bills this year to promote offshore wind development in the waters off their coasts. Read the full story by Michigan Advance.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-offshore-wind
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative says that their member municipalities are willing to spend the money to protect the shoreline but are hampered by inflation and labor shortages. Read the full story by Bayshore Broadcasting.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-shoreline-protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will treat two West Michigan waterways for invasive sea lamprey this summer. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230531-sea-lamprey
More than 100 people drowned in the Great Lakes in 2022, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. At the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, kids and parents learn about life jackets, rescue rings and more so that every memory made on the water can be a good one. Read the full story by WITI-TV – Milwaukee, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-water-safety-expo
Last month, Chicago struck a deal to sell Lake Michigan water to a city 35 miles southwest of the city. Here’s what to know about this historic water deal. Read the full story by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-lake-michigan
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins has announced $480,000 will go to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper. The funds will be used for programs and efforts to keep and protect Lake Erie’s shoreline and water quality. Read the full story by WGRZ-TV – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-buffalo-niagara-waterkeeper
Two new innovative trash collectors, the BeBot and PixeDrone, will be joining in the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup event throughout the summer, collecting trash in Lake Erie and along the shoreline. Read the full story by WKYC-TV – Cleveland, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-plastic-cleanup
River connectivity and biodiversity are the focus of Michigan’s share of a federal grant-making program call “America the Beautiful.” Michigan will use the influx of federal dollars to help pay for removal of 27 dams or other stream barriers to restore natural pathways for native fish and other aquatic species in 14 counties. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-river-restoration
Lake Superior’s water level rose significantly last month, and continues a larger than average rise this month. There is a scenario that could put Lake Superior very near a record water level sometime this summer. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-lake-superior-water-level
A current loophole in the Coal Combustion Residuals Rule allows waste created before 2015 to remain untouched. A proposed rule change could force a Michigan City power plant to clean up tons of toxic ash along Lake Michigan. Read the full story by WSBT-TV – South Bend, IN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-ash-cleanup
According to the U.S. Coast Guard in Alexandria Bay, recent high waters and spring snowmelt, large pieces of debris, such as trees and floating docks have been spotted in the area. Cold water poses additional danger as temperatures in the St. Lawrence have only warmed to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Read the full story by WWTI-TV – Watertown, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-st-lawrence-river
Folks are gearing up for the Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe’s 11th annual Run, Smelt, Run! Parade and Party on May 28, which honors the end of winter and the spawning season of the small, silver smelt that swim in Lake Superior. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-smelt-run
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Fisheries Chief, Lake Ontario Unit Leader, and respective regional fisheries managers will hold two upcoming public meetings in Rochester and Mexico, New York to discuss the current state of the Lake Ontario sport fisheries and take questions on a wide array of management actions and research taking place on the lake and tributaries. Read the full story by Oswego County Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230522-dec
NASA’s new satellite is a huge upgrade for measuring Earth’s surface water. The satellite will measure surface currents and the height of water in Earth’s lakes, rivers, oceans, and reservoirs. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-nasa-satellite
A federal judge ruled Thursday that the Ohio EPA must create an action plan to address the toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie, requiring the submission final plan known as a Total Maximum Daily Load to the U.S. EPA by June 30. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-ohio-epa
New Ohio Sea Grant research indicates nocturnal migrating songbirds might rely on archipelagos like North, Middle and South Bass islands on Lake Erie as a navigation aid or resting place. Read the full story by The Beacon.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-bass-slands
The threat of erosion of Lake Ontario’s shoreline is a serious issue for property owners. New York Sea Grant, an almost 50-year-old nonprofit organization, wants to help lakefront owners understand and protect their property. Read the full story by the Niagara Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-ny-sea-grant
In a final report issued Friday, an Indigenous-led United Nations panel recommended that Canada and the United States shut down the controversial Line 5 oil pipeline that transports oil through tribal treaty lands and waters in Michigan. Read the full story by Michigan Advance.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-line-5
The State of Michigan will start using a new test to detect so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will begin using U.S. EPA Method 533 this month. Read the full story by Michigan Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-pfas
As spring flooding continues in Québec, public safety officials are asking citizens to pay particular attention to landslides as about 100 municipalities are affected by flooding, particularly in areas north of the St. Lawrence River, from the Outaouais to the Québec City region. Read the full story by CTV News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-landslide
Heavy rain in recent days across the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River basin has led to rapid increases in Ottawa River flows and rising Lake Ontario water levels. Lake Ontario levels have been rising at a rate of approximately 2 cm per day. Read the full story at Finger Lakes Daily News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-water-levels
Construction of a $286 million pipeline to bring Lake Michigan water to Waukesha, Wisconsin is underway. Here’s what you need to know about this important public works project. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-water-pipeline
The unexpected arrival of “no trespassing” signs on the Port Dover, Ontario beach late last week caused a stir in Norfolk County and beyond, with residents and social media users wondering if the popular beach would be off-limits this summer. Read the full story by the Hamilton Spectator.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230505-port-dover
Great Lakes divers are organizing “eco-dives” to help clean up trash in the Great Lakes and protect habitat. An eco-dive cleanup is planned for Michigan’s Clinton River on August 26. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-eco-dives
An advocacy group wants Cincinnati to recognize the right of the Ohio River to thrive. Read the full story by WVXU – Cincinnati, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-ohio-river-rights
Many along Lake Ontario are waiting for the next report from the International Joint Commission and the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board, which will include insights on the potential for flooding this season. Read the full story by WROC-TV – Rochester, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-ijc-report
The government agency that oversees Toronto’s waterfront is mulling the idea of an expanded water shuttle network that could serve the city’s waterfront communities. Read the full story by CBC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-toronto
When lake sturgeon were designated as a threatened species in Michigan in 1994, conservation programs to protect the fish and help regenerate the population took action. Today, researchers are learning more about the cryptic fish in order to better protect them. Read the full story by WOOD-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-lake-sturgeon
Offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes could provide enough carbon-free energy to meet all of Ontario’s growing demand at nearly half the cost of new nuclear reactors. There’s just one problem: Ontario declared a moratorium on offshore wind projects in 2011. Read the full story by the Toronto Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-offshore-wind
The Maumee River is causing issues for the city of Toledo by increasing suspended solids in the city’s drinking water. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-maumee-river
The Great Lakes account for 90% of North America’s fresh water and 20% of the global supply, yet water affordability is a real issue in many Great Lakes states as households contend with some of the most expensive tap water rates in the nation.Read the full story by WKSU- Kent, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-water-accessibility
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht toured the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor last week to see expansion work. Read the full story by The Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-great-lakes-st-lawrence-seaway
Reporter Dan Egan discusses the unchecked flow of phosphorus into our waterways, often from farm runoff, and how it contributes to “dead zones” and toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie. Read the full story by Chicago Business.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230419-dead-zones
