Echo

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/14/preservation-project-launches-effort-to-restore-rare-ravine-ecosystem/

Bill would expand Michigan’s bottle deposit law while some want to abolish it

On: March 13, 2026

In: Echo, Waste

By Christian Vazquesz

A Michigan state senator is pushing for a statewide vote to expand the 10-cent bottle and can deposit law, while the Midwest Independent Retailers Association is calling for repeal of the law. Meanwhile, the state House approved a bill sponsored by a Clinton Township representative to give an income tax write-off to beverage distributors that move recycled cans and bottles from stores to recycling plants.

The post Bill would expand Michigan’s bottle deposit law while some want to abolish it first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/13/bill-would-expand-michigans-bottle-deposit-law-while-some-want-to-abolish-it/

Federal program can help nonprofits cover costs of clean-energy projects

On: March 11, 2026

In: Echo, Energy, solutions

By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov

Across Michigan, religious institutions, local governments, schools and nonprofits are turning to a federal program called Elective Pay to help pay for solar panels and other clean-energy projects.

The post Federal program can help nonprofits cover costs of clean-energy projects first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/11/federal-program-can-help-nonprofits-cover-costs-of-clean-energy-projects/

Utilities ramp up tree trimming to address long-standing reliability problems

On: March 9, 2026

In: Echo, Energy

By Sonja Krohn

DTE and Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest electric utilities, have ramped up tree trimming to improve reliability. Despite improvements, Michigan has the poorest reliability record among the Great Lakes states, the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan says.

The post Utilities ramp up tree trimming to address long-standing reliability problems first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/09/utilities-ramp-up-tree-trimming-to-address-long-standing-reliability-problems/

Bill would ban ‘dog-scrimination’ by insurers

On: March 7, 2026

In: Echo, solutions

By Justin Fox Clausen

A new bill in Michigan would prohibit home insurance companies from denying, canceling or raising premiums for homeowners and tenants based on the breeds of their dogs.

The post Bill would ban ‘dog-scrimination’ by insurers first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/07/bill-would-ban-dog-scrimination-by-insurers/

‘None of this is normal’ – Michigan watches winter drought ahead of growing season

On: March 5, 2026

In: Agriculture, Climate, Echo

By Sonja Krohn

The dry conditions and drought that Michigan is experiencing this winter may adversely affect the upcoming crop growing season.

The post ‘None of this is normal’ – Michigan watches winter drought ahead of growing season first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/05/none-of-this-is-normal-michigan-watches-winter-drought-ahead-of-growing-season/

Conservation, research and community collaboration aid in successful 2026 Black Lake sturgeon season

On: March 3, 2026

In: Echo, Recreation, Wildlife

The 2026 sturgeon season on Black Lake in Michigan lasted all of 48 minutes before the annual quota – six – was reached. There were 653 anglers competing for them.

The post Conservation, research and community collaboration aid in successful 2026 Black Lake sturgeon season first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/03/conservation-research-and-community-collaboration-aid-in-successful-2026-black-lake-sturgeon-season/

Anna Ironside

Shifting farm economy means changes for rural communities

On: February 28, 2026

In: Agriculture, Echo, Land

By Lillian Williams

he shrinking number of farms in Michigan – down by about 1,300 between 2023 and 2024 – and the trend of existing farms to expand to survive is changing the culture of rural communities.

The post Shifting farm economy means changes for rural communities first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/28/shifting-farm-economy-means-changes-for-rural-communities/

Climate migration may not dramatically reshape city growth, study finds

On: February 26, 2026

In: Cities & Suburbs, Climate, Echo

A recent study featuring Grand Rapids, Michigan suggests that climate migration may not significantly change how some cities grow.

The post Climate migration may not dramatically reshape city growth, study finds first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/26/climate-migration-may-not-dramatically-reshape-city-growth-study-finds/

Michigan farmers face bankruptcies, other financial challenges

On: February 24, 2026

In: Agriculture, Echo

By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov

Bankruptcies of Michigan farmers are troubling despite a dip in their Chapter 12 filings last year. Major reasons are higher expenses for inputs such as fertilizer coupled with flat commodity prices.

The post Michigan farmers face bankruptcies, other financial challenges first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/24/michigan-farmers-face-bankruptcies-other-financial-challenges/

Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity

On: February 22, 2026

In: Echo, solutions, water

By Mia Litzenberg

The Six Nations of the Grand River face ongoing water insecurity from pollution, climate change and corporate extraction. Many years of Indigenous water advocacy have led to the development of a new Haudenosaunee Environmental Research Institute as the next step to overcome these challenges.

The post Water is Life, Six Nations lead international approach to long-standing water insecurity first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/22/water-is-life-six-nations-lead-international-approach-to-long-standing-water-insecurity/

Mia Litzenberg

Fight climate change from your garden with ‘birdscaping’

On: February 20, 2026

In: Echo, Land, solutions

By Ada Tussing

If you’ve noticed fewer birds in the sky recently, they haven’t all flown south for the winter. The North American bird population has dropped nearly 30% in the last 50 years. Mariette Nowak's book "Birdscaping for Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region" offers a solution: birdscaping.

The post Fight climate change from your garden with ‘birdscaping’ first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/20/fight-climate-change-from-your-garden-with-birdscaping/

Ada Tussing

Why Michigan’s rural residents are reluctant to drive electric vehicles

On: February 14, 2026

In: Echo, transportation

By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov

New U-M survey finds only about 5% of rural Michigan residents say they would choose an electric vehicle as their next car. Researchers attribute much of that reluctance to misinformation about the availability of public chargers and the cost of EVs and replacement batteries. The Whitmer administration is pushing to expand electric vehicle use to meet climate and clean energy goals.

The post Why Michigan’s rural residents are reluctant to drive electric vehicles first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/14/why-michigans-rural-residents-are-reluctant-to-drive-electric-vehicles/

Book explores Hemingway’s experiences ‘up north’

On: February 12, 2026

In: Art, Echo, Recreation

By Julia Belden

An Alanson-raised author whose book on Ernest Hemingway’s ties to Northern Michigan explains the region’s influence on the novelist’s work. The book “Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan,” has just been released in paperback.

The post Book explores Hemingway’s experiences ‘up north’ first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/12/book-explores-hemingways-experiences-up-north/

Julia Belden

Michigan is last state without a septic system code. Will that change?

On: February 10, 2026

In: Echo, Waste

By Justin Fox Clausen

Lawmakers are making another effort to adopt Michigan’s first statewide septic code with mandatory inspections, intended to protect drinking water from contamination. It’s the only state without one.

The post Michigan is last state without a septic system code. Will that change? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/10/michigan-is-last-state-without-a-septic-system-code-will-that-change/

Data center concerns lead to push for a one-year moratorium on projects

On: February 8, 2026

In: Cities & Suburbs, Echo, Land

By Karlee VanAntwerp

Critics of the proliferation of data centers are calling for a one-year moratorium on the approval of new projects.

The post Data center concerns lead to push for a one-year moratorium on projects first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/08/data-center-concerns-lead-to-push-for-a-one-year-moratorium-on-projects/

Michigan pushes toward 100% clean energy by 2040 despite funding cuts

On: February 6, 2026

In: Echo, Energy

By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov

Given dramatic changes in federal energy policy and spending, as well as possible reduction in state financial support for alternative energy projects, is Michigan still on target to reach its clean energy goals?

The post Michigan pushes toward 100% clean energy by 2040 despite funding cuts first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/06/michigan-pushes-toward-100-clean-energy-by-2040-despite-funding-cuts/

More funding approved to improve the Greater Chicago Area’s public transit

On: February 1, 2026

In: Echo, transportation

By Joshua Kim

Following the passing of new legislation by the Illinois General Assembly, the Regional Transport Authority, soon to be the Northern Illinois Transit Agency, will receive an additional $1.2 billion for its annual budget this year. The additional funding will be used to improve “frequency, reliability, and safety”

The post More funding approved to improve the Greater Chicago Area’s public transit first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/02/01/more-funding-approved-to-improve-the-greater-chicago-areas-public-transit/

Joshua Kim

Book helps residents, visitors, use Chicago’s public transit to access recreational sites

On: January 30, 2026

In: Echo, Recreation, transportation

By Joshua Kim

“Chicago Transit Hikes," a new book by Lindsay Welbers, aims to help Chicago residents and visitors reach outdoor recreation sites car-free.

The post Book helps residents, visitors, use Chicago’s public transit to access recreational sites first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/30/book-helps-residents-visitors-use-chicagos-public-transit-to-access-recreational-sites/

Joshua Kim

Solar projects bring larger economic gains to smaller communities, study shows

On: January 27, 2026

In: Echo, Energy

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira

A recent study examines how solar projects could be planned in ways that benefit rural communities without significantly increasing electricity costs.

The post Solar projects bring larger economic gains to smaller communities, study shows first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/27/solar-projects-bring-larger-economic-gains-to-smaller-communities-study-shows/

Invasive species expert teaches volunteers to overcome ‘plant blindness’

On: January 21, 2026

In: Echo, Land, solutions

By Anna Ironside

Caroline Miller is a botanical technologist at Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden, as well as a master’s student. Her work has made her a driving force behind restoration projects on campus and beyond. From invasive species removal days to a growing movement to replace traditional turf lawns with native landscapes, Miller doesn’t quit.

The post Invasive species expert teaches volunteers to overcome ‘plant blindness’ first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/21/invasive-species-expert-teaches-volunteers-to-overcome-plant-blindness/

Anna Ironside

Growth in shoreline armoring is reshaping Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast

On: January 13, 2026

In: Echo, Nearshore

By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

A new study documents a fivefold increase in shoreline armoring along Lake Michigan’s Eastern coast.

The post Growth in shoreline armoring is reshaping Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/13/growth-in-shoreline-armoring-is-reshaping-michigans-lake-michigan-coast/

Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

How seeds from the past are saving a unique flower of the Great Lakes

On: December 31, 2025

In: Echo, Nearshore, solutions

By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

More than 30 years ago, a group of scientists planted just 4,200 seeds of the rare Pitcher’s thistle in the sandy dunes of the Great Lakes. At the time, no one knew if the new populations would survive. Today, three decades later, the restored populations are thriving and spreading.

The post How seeds from the past are saving a unique flower of the Great Lakes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/31/how-seeds-from-the-past-are-saving-a-unique-flower-of-the-great-lakes/

Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

From otters to butterflies: How Minnesota became a pioneer in nongame wildlife conservation

On: December 28, 2025

In: Echo, Wildlife

By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

In the late 1970s, when most wildlife conservation programs in the United States focused almost exclusively on game species, a quiet but historic shift began in Minnesota. It was here that one of the nation’s first state programs dedicated to protecting so-called nongame wildlife emerged from butterflies and bats to bald eagles and river otters. That story is now told in detail by Carrol Henderson in his new book, “A National Legacy: Fifty Years of Nongame Wildlife Conservation in Minnesota."

The post From otters to butterflies: How Minnesota became a pioneer in nongame wildlife conservation first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/28/from-otters-to-butterflies-how-minnesota-became-a-pioneer-in-nongame-wildlife-conservation/

Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

Michigan’s water infrastructure sees improvements, work still needs to be done

On: December 11, 2025

In: Echo, water

By Clara Lincolnhol

The U.S. would need to invest nearly $3.4 trillion over the next 20 years to fix and update drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, says researchers from The Value of Water Campaign. Much of that infrastructure was built 40 to 50 years ago and shows its age. Michigan’s is no exception. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state a D+ for its drinking water infrastructure, a D in storm water management and a C for its wastewater infrastructure. Funding is a major problem. Proposed data centers would put more stress on the infrastructure.

The post Michigan’s water infrastructure sees improvements, work still needs to be done first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/11/michigans-water-infrastructure-sees-improvements-work-still-needs-to-be-done/

Clara Lincolnhol

Endangered spectaclecase mussels reintroduced into the Chippewa River

On: December 9, 2025

In: Echo, Wildlife

By Ada Tussing

To combat the population loss of spectaclecase mussels, researchers with both the Minnesota and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released over 177 mussels into the Chippewa River in Northwest Wisconsin.

The post Endangered spectaclecase mussels reintroduced into the Chippewa River first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/09/endangered-spectaclecase-mussels-reintroduced-into-the-chippewa-river/

Ada Tussing

Michigan allocates $77 million to clean thousands of contaminated sites

On: December 7, 2025

In: Echo, Land, Waste

By Clara Lincolnhol

Michigan is pouring $77 million into clean-up of contaminated abandoned real estate such as former factories. The director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says the goal is to make the cleaned-up sites safe for housing, commercial developments and other uses.

The post Michigan allocates $77 million to clean thousands of contaminated sites first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/07/michigan-allocates-77-million-to-clean-thousands-of-contaminated-sites/

Clara Lincolnhol

Winter makes curved roads dangerous; researchers seek solutions

On: December 4, 2025

In: Echo, solutions, transportation

By Eric Freedman

Flashing light on warning signs near curves can slow drivers and reduce the odds of a crash during winter weather conditions, says a new study by Michigan State University engineers.

The post Winter makes curved roads dangerous; researchers seek solutions first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/04/winter-makes-curved-roads-dangerous-researchers-seek-solutions/

Great Lakes books for your holiday gift list

On: December 2, 2025

In: Echo, Recreation

By Eric Freedman

Looking for a holiday gift for a reader who loves the Great Lakes? Here are five prospects to consider – and what our reporters learned from interviewing their authors this year.

The post Great Lakes books for your holiday gift list first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/02/great-lakes-books-for-your-holiday-gift-list/

Restoration of historical site improves quality of life for Portage, Wisconsin residents

On: November 30, 2025

In: Echo, Nearshore

By Joshua Kim

Following the completion of segments 1 and 2 of the Portage Canal, local residents and visitors can use the historic site and its amenities following years of disrepair.

The post Restoration of historical site improves quality of life for Portage, Wisconsin residents first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/30/restoration-of-historical-site-improves-quality-of-life-for-portage-wisconsin-residents/

What herring gulls tell us about plastic pollution

On: November 29, 2025

In: Echo, Nearshore, Waste

By Victoria Witke

Christina Petalas, a doctoral student McGill University, studies herring gulls to learn about plastic pollution near the St. Lawrence River. Across two studies, she found plastic additives in every bird sampled, which could have human health consequences.

The post What herring gulls tell us about plastic pollution first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/28/what-herring-gulls-tell-us-about-plastic-pollution/

Victoria Witke

Scientists update geological map of northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

On: November 26, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva

The U.S. Geological Survey has began large-scale low-level airplane flights over Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin to obtain high-resolution data on subsurface mineral structures and bedrock composition. The data will be used to create two- and three-dimensional maps to better understand the geological structure at depths of about 10,000 feet.

The post Scientists update geological map of northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/26/scientists-update-geological-map-of-northern-wisconsin-michigans-upper-peninsula/

‘Refusal is insisting on your own terms’: Indigenous activism in the Midwest

On: November 24, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira

“Indigenous Activism in the Midwest: Refusal, Resurgence and Resisting Settler Colonialism” explores how Dakota and Anishinaabe communities in Minnesota continue their relationships to the land and challenge dominant settler narratives about ownership, belonging and identity.

The post ‘Refusal is insisting on your own terms’: Indigenous activism in the Midwest first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/24/refusal-is-insisting-on-your-own-terms-indigenous-activism-in-the-midwest/

Cannabis workers are developing job-related asthma and some have died, study says

On: November 22, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Clara Lincolnhol

New research says workers picking, grinding and packaging cannabis are developing workplace-related asthma, and two deaths have occurred so far.

The post Cannabis workers are developing job-related asthma and some have died, study says first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/22/cannabis-workers-are-developing-job-related-asthma-and-some-have-died-study-says/

Clara Lincolnhol

Swiss researcher studies ‘abandonment tourism’ in Detroit

On: November 20, 2025

In: Cities & Suburbs, Echo

By Camila Bello Castro

A recent case study of a former “abandonment tourism” business in Detroit found a disconnect between the lived experience of many city residents and the lives of the tour participants who were generally white, younger and more international than most Detroiters and generally first-time visitors to the city.

The post Swiss researcher studies ‘abandonment tourism’ in Detroit first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/20/swiss-researcher-studies-abandonment-tourism-in-detroit/

Wolves hunt beavers in Isle Royale National Park, changing the ecosystem

On: November 17, 2025

In: Echo, Wildlife

By Akia Thrower

A new study reveals how gray wolves in Isle Royale National Park seasonally alter their habitat preferences to align with beavers’ habitat preferences, a shift that might have implications for the island’s ecosystem.

The post Wolves hunt beavers in Isle Royale National Park, changing the ecosystem first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/17/wolves-hunt-beavers-in-isle-royale-national-park-changing-the-ecosystem/

Green clues: Crime-busters turn to moss to help solve crimes

On: November 14, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Eric Freedman

Tiny pieces of moss can be crime-busters, says a study examining how law enforcement agencies, forensic teams and botanists have used moss to solve murders, track missing people, calculate how long ago someone died and – in a notorious Mason County case – try to locate the body of a baby murdered by her father.

The post Green clues: Crime-busters turn to moss to help solve crimes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/14/green-clues-crime-busters-turn-to-moss-to-help-solve-crimes/

New research in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shows how invasive earthworms are changing forest soils 

On: November 12, 2025

In: Echo, Wildlife

By Georgia Hill

Scientists studying the body size and growth patterns of non-native earthworms in the UP’s Huron Mountains say they are disrupting forest ecosystems. Contrary to popular belief, most North American earthworms are invaders unintentionally introduced during European colonization. They have a significant impact on ecosystems, especially in the Great Lakes region where they affect soil structure, nutrient cycling and biodiversity.

The post New research in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shows how invasive earthworms are changing forest soils  first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/12/new-research-in-michigans-upper-peninsula-shows-how-invasive-earthworms-are-changing-forest-soils/

Georgia Hill

Anishinaabe fire practices shaped Great Lakes ecosystems, new research shows

On: November 9, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Victoria Witke

New research shows Anishinaabe fire practices shaped today’s Great Lakes ecosystems. The region’s forests never existed and can’t continue to exist without people – or fire.

The post Anishinaabe fire practices shaped Great Lakes ecosystems, new research shows first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/09/anishinaabe-fire-practices-shaped-great-lakes-ecosystems-new-research-shows/

Victoria Witke

Michigan court refuses to reinstate lawsuit over runaway carriage horse at Greenfield Village

On: November 7, 2025

In: Echo, Green Gavel, transportation

By Eric Freedman

A horse-drawn carriage. A runaway horse. A crash. Sounds like an old-fashioned drama – not a bizarre 21st-century event. But that’s what happened three years ago when a visitor was injured while riding in a horse-drawn omnibus at Greenfield Village. The Court of Appeals has refused to reinstate her negligence suit against The Henry Ford and the driver.

The post Michigan court refuses to reinstate lawsuit over runaway carriage horse at Greenfield Village first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/07/michigan-court-refuses-to-reinstate-lawsuit-over-runaway-carriage-horse-at-greenfield-village/

Michigan soliciting fisheries habitat projects

On: November 5, 2025

In: Echo, water

By Finn Mills

Pre-proposal submissions for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ yearly fisheries habitat grants are now being accepted. Each year, the DNR allocates $1.5 million in fisheries habitat grants to governments and nonprofit organizations around the state.

The post Michigan soliciting fisheries habitat projects first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/05/michigan-soliciting-fisheries-habitat-projects/

Vacant lots boost diversity among Detroit’s birds, study finds

On: November 3, 2025

In: Cities & Suburbs, Echo, Wildlife

By Eric Freedman

Empty lots in deindustrialized cities like Detroit may contribute to bird species diversity, says a new study by researchers at MSU and Carleton University in Canada. The study is based on sound recordings collected at 110 sites in 11 Detroit neighborhoods. The study recommends that vacant land management in the city takes a balanced approach that considers the needs of both residents and birds. There are other concerns about vacant land, too, including as sites for solar arrays.

The post Vacant lots boost diversity among Detroit’s birds, study finds first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/03/vacant-lots-boost-diversity-among-detroits-birds-study-finds/

New book shares how Mackinac Island became Michigan’s tourism gem

On: October 29, 2025

In: Cities & Suburbs, Echo, Recreation

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueria

Frank Boles, a retired Central Michigan University historian, has spent decades documenting Michigan’s past. His latest book, “Visiting Mackinac: 150 Years of Tourism at Michigan’s Fabled Straits,” explores how Mackinac Island and the surrounding Straits region became a hub for travelers from across the country.

The post New book shares how Mackinac Island became Michigan’s tourism gem first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/29/new-book-shares-how-mackinac-island-became-michigans-tourism-gem/

New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market

On: October 24, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Joe Lorenz

Electrification and tariffs mean rural Midwest communities can cash in on their mineral resources. But how can these ventures balance local benefit to the ecological cost?

The post New interest in domestic mining comes with call for sustainability in the market first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/24/new-interest-in-domestic-mining-comes-with-call-for-sustainability-in-the-market/

Detroit River-based program aims to foster stewardship through community connection

On: October 22, 2025

In: Echo, solutions, water

By Anna Barnes
The Detroit River serves as an important geographic feature, connecting lakes St. Clair and Erie and creating a natural border between the U.S. and Canada. Despite its physical prominence in Detroit, its rich cultural significance is lost among many community residents. Programs are underway to address that disconnect.

The post Detroit River-based program aims to foster stewardship through community connection first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/22/detroit-river-based-program-aims-to-foster-stewardship-through-community-connection/

Anna Barnes

Ballot proposals advance, aiming to get ‘dark money’ out of politics

On: October 20, 2025

In: Echo, Energy

By Georgia Hill
Utility companies have a history of using “dark money” to influence Michigan elections. Now, organizations are attempting to advance ballot initiatives aimed at stopping utility companies from contributing to politicians who run for or hold offices that impact them.

The post Ballot proposals advance, aiming to get ‘dark money’ out of politics first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/20/ballot-proposals-advance-aiming-to-get-dark-money-out-of-politics/

Michigan launches first annual Microplastics Awareness Week

On: October 18, 2025

In: Echo, Waste

By Julia Belden
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and governor are marking Michigan’s first Microplastics Awareness Week. Scientists are now finding microplastics in the human body but don’t know their long-term effects.

The post Michigan launches first annual Microplastics Awareness Week first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/18/michigan-launches-first-annual-microplastics-awareness-week/

New Lake Ontario initiative tackles climate hazards alongside Lakes Huron and Superior projects

On: October 17, 2025

In: Echo, solutions

By Mia Litzenberg

Climate change is creating new challenges for Great Lakes coastal communities. To tackle these hazards, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority launched the Lake Ontario Coastal Resilience Pilot Project last summer. Over the next four years, the project aims to engage communities in developing a coastal resilience plan.

The post New Lake Ontario initiative tackles climate hazards alongside Lakes Huron and Superior projects first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/17/new-lake-ontario-initiative-tackles-climate-hazards-alongside-lakes-huron-and-superior-projects/

Increased precipitation, foot traffic pose trail erosion problems at Lake Michigan parks

On: October 15, 2025

In: Echo, Nearshore

By Lauren Coin

Park trails along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Wisconsin and Michigan are eroding because of more frequent extreme precipitation events and increased foot traffic from visitors in undesignated recreation areas.

The post Increased precipitation, foot traffic pose trail erosion problems at Lake Michigan parks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/15/increased-precipitation-foot-traffic-pose-trail-erosion-problems-at-lake-michigan-parks/

Bear-baiting bear hunting guide hit with hunting ban

On: October 13, 2025

In: Echo, Land

By Eric Freedman

A Wisconsin bear hunting guide has been barred for a year from hunting on federal land. Timothy Collar’s crime: illegal bear baiting in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

The post Bear-baiting bear hunting guide hit with hunting ban first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/13/bear-baiting-bear-hunting-guide-hit-with-hunting-ban/