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In: animals, Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, I Speak for the Fish, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, mussels
I Speak for the Fish: Shell middens reveal interesting clues about the humble muskrat

Before the era of plastic, freshwater mussels were the material of choice for the global button industry.

The inside wall of a freshwater mussel’s shell can range in color from pure white to shimmering lavenders and iridescent purples.

European settlers were thrilled to find an abundance of button-worthy mussels in the Great Lakes.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/08/shell-middens-mussels-muskrats/

Kathy Johnson

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In: Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, mussels, News, science
I Speak for the Fish: Mussel memory, the race to save an endangered species

I was recently reminded of the summer I spent working a gold dredge on a remote creek in Michigan’s thumb. For eight hours each day, I knelt in waist-deep water sorting a steady flow of material moving along a two-foot-wide conveyor belt.

I was looking for treasure but not of the golden variety – our team was after an endangered freshwater mussel.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/fish-mussel-memory-endangered-species/

Kathy Johnson

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In: animals, Feature Homepage, fish, Fish, Birds and Animals, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, News, reptiles, Research, Research, Data and Technology, salamanders, wetlands
I Speak for the Fish: April showers bring vernal pools and baby salamanders

I Speak for the Fish is a new monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson, coming out the third Monday of each month. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/fish-vernal-pools-baby-salamanders/

Kathy Johnson

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In: culture, Feature Homepage, fish, Fish, Birds and Animals, History and Culture, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, News
I Speak for the Fish

I Speak for the Fish is a new monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor Kathy Johnson, coming out the third Monday of each month. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit Public Television.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/05/i-speak-for-the-fish/

Kathy Johnson

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In: Drinking Water, Groundwater Contamination, Illinois, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, News, Ontario, Research, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research, snow, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Road Salt: Researchers look at vegetables and juices for alternatives to salt

Salt-speckled sidewalks, driveways and highways are synonymous with winter in the Great Lakes region. But while road salt is highly effective at deicing surfaces, the safety that salt provides for humans places a heavy burden on freshwater ecosystems.

“We have an unhealthy addiction to road salt,” said Claire Oswald, a hydrologist and associate professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/02/road-salt-reducing-usage-great-lakes-freshwater-ecosystem/

Kathy Johnson

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In: fish, Fish, Birds and Animals, Kathy Johnson, lake erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Latest News, Michigan, Minnesota, News, Pennsylvania, Recreation, Recreation, Tourism and Culture, shipwreck, shipwrecks, Wisconsin
Shipwreck Life: How fish and other aquatic species utilize Great Lakes shipwrecks

All that remained of the schooner was a bit of its hull – a tightly-packed row of wooden planks stretching 40 feet across the bottom of Lake Huron. Sunbeams easily penetrated the 20 feet of clear lake water above the wreck.

The site appeared lifeless.

There were no schools of emerald shiners, black-striped minnows or yellow perch in sight.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/10/shipwreck-ecosystem-fish-great-lakes-species/

Kathy Johnson

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In: animals, enbridge, Enbridge Line 5 and Other Pipelines, Fish, Birds and Animals, kalamazoo river, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, News, oil pipelines, turtles, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Turtle Recovery: Studying turtles on the Kalamazoo River 10 years after Enbridge oil spill

Josh Otten reached down and pulled two turtles from the bow compartment of his kayak. One was the size of a dinner plate; the other was barely the size of a silver dollar pancake. Both were northern map turtles, the most common species of turtle in the Kalamazoo River watershed, according to Otten who played a key role in the rescue and rehabilitation of more than 2,000 turtles in 2010 following the Kalamazoo River oil spill.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/09/turtle-recovery-kalamazoo-river-enbridge-oil-spill/

Kathy Johnson

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In: Detroit, Feature Detroit, invasive species, Kathy Johnson, lake erie, Latest News, Michigan, News, zebra mussels
Tested and Rejected: Blasting zebra mussels off walls wasn’t the first method attempted

Wayne Brusate started a commercial diving company in the two-car garage of his home in Marysville, Michigan.

Ten years later, his business was contracted to maintain all the water intake systems at Detroit Edison’s power generating facilities in southeastern Michigan. Power generating plants require a massive volume of water to operate, Brusate said.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/blasting-zebra-mussels-invasive-species/

Kathy Johnson

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In: fish, Fish, Birds and Animals, Forests and Plants, Illinois, Indiana, invasive species, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, News, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, plants, Quebec, The Provinces, The States, Wisconsin
Controlling Invasives: States urge residents to help stop spread of invasive species

Spring in the Great Lakes region brings blooming tulips, pollinating bees, biting sunfish and the threat of spreading invasive species.

As residents head outdoors to freshen backyard ponds and launch fishing boats, state and provincial resource managers are urging everyone to keep a few simple guidelines in mind to keep the Great Lakes safe.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/states-stop-spread-aquatic-invasive-species/

Kathy Johnson

On:
In: border, canada, coronavirus, COVID-19, Detroit, economy, environment, Feature Detroit, Great Lakes, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, News, Ontario, Protect, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, united states
Tighter Restrictions: COVID-19 makes it harder to cross Great Lakes borders between U.S. and Canada

Customers who attempt to pay with cash at the Blue Water Bridge will be prohibited from crossing.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/covid-19-coronavirus-tighter-border-crossing/

Kathy Johnson

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In: canada, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Duluth, economy, environment, Great Lakes, Illinois, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Lighthouses, Museums and Cultural Institutions, Michigan, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, News, Ohio, Ontario, Recreation, Tourism and Culture, Tourism, Wisconsin
Inside Entertainment: COVID-19 has Great Lakes aquariums and museums offering online activities

The public can continue to enjoy aquariums, museums and centers as the facilities close buildings. But starting March 25, Parks Canada is closing all national parks.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/aquariums-museums-online-livestreams-covid-19/

Kathy Johnson

On:
In: canada, coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, environment, Great Lakes, Kathy Johnson, Latest News, Michigan, News, Ontario, Protect, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments
Headline: Cutting Contact: U.S. and Canada cut cash transactions and non-essential travel at border

At the Blue Water Bridge, International Bridge, Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and Mackinac Bridge, tolls will stop taking cash.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/bridge-tolls-travel-no-cash-coronavirus/

Kathy Johnson