The two 600-foot stacks towering over the Detroit River at the idled Trenton Channel power plant in Trenton, Michigan, have been demolished. The rest of the nearly 100-year-old coal-fired power plant, which was idled in 2022, will be demolished on May 17, bringing southeast Michigan closer to a carbon-free future. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240315-trenton-stacks

Taaja Tucker-Silva

New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists provided an update on the black bass population in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin and the St. Lawrence River. Catches have either been stable or have increased in the past 10 years. Read the full story by WWNY-TV – Watertown, NY.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240315-bass-fishery

Taaja Tucker-Silva

Interested in learning more about Wisconsin’s native plants? Earn your Native Plant Certification by attending classes. A variety of classes are available throughout the year and throughout the state, and more may be added! Click here to learn more!

The post 2024 Classes: Wisconsin Native Plant Certification Program – Wild Ones appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/03/15/wisconsin-native-plant-certification-program-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wisconsin-native-plant-certification-program-2

Katie Reed

Chart listing fish species caught by commercial fishing operations on the Mississippi River.Carp, Cats, Perch and Pearls: Wisconsin’s Unsung Commercial Fishery

By Sharon Moen

Wisconsin Sea Grant exists because the state’s boundaries include parts of lakes Superior and Michigan, which are viewed as inland seas by the U.S. government. Commercial fishing for food happens in these waters and Sea Grant works to help these fisheries succeed. However, there is another Wisconsin boundary where commercial fishing for food occurs – the one defined by the Mississippi River. This lesser-known fishery is also within WISG’s statewide purview.

Commercial fishers of misi-ziibi (the Ojibwe word for Great River, the Mississippi) harvest an average of 3,000 tons of fish annually. This harvest makes up approximately 2% of the total inland catch in North America[1],[2]. Of the 119 species of fish swimming in the Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin commercial fishers are permitted to harvest members of eight families of rough fish (see sidebar). Rough fish is a catch-all term for edible, non-sports species. Wisconsin commercial fishers can also harvest two types of turtles from the Mississippi. 

During the summer of 2023, Wisconsin Sea Grant staff and summer scholars visited Mississippi River commercial fishermen to better understand their businesses and the fishery and to discuss ideas for amplifying seafood production across the state. Read on to learn what surprised the Sea Grant team and how Sea Grant is working to address a challenge shared by Mississippi River commercial fishers and their Great Lakes counterparts.

 

Surprise #1 – Common carp are truly common

Common carp, a Eurasian species intentionally introduced into North American waterways well over a century ago, dominates the Mississippi River catch (~37% of total weight)[3].  

Mike Valley, owner of Valley Fish and Cheese and a fourth-generation fisher said, “I got into fishing through my father and my grandfather who were in the same business. In the smoked fish end of it, we do carp, buffalo, bullheads, catfish, sturgeon and perch. And out of all of those, the carp is the number one seller. Second probably is catfish.”

Back in 1880, Wisconsin fisheries managers and residents welcomed common carp. One might imagine them cheering when 75 of these fish were shipped from Washington, D.C., to the Nevin fish hatchery near Madison, Wisconsin. Little did they know what mayhem would ensue as the offspring of the 75 were scattered throughout the Midwest. Carp can thrive and prolifically spawn in practically all types of water. After arriving at Nevin, it took common carp less than three years to show up in the Mississippi River. [4]

There are four other non-native invasive carp that Mississippi River commercial fishers in Wisconsin are encouraged to keep: grass, sliver, black and bighead carp. These animals were introduced to the southern U.S. in the 1970s. The purpose of the intentional translocations was to manage algae, weeds and parasites in aquatic farms, canal systems and sewage treatment facilities. Echoing a host of nature horror movies and real-life disasters, they escaped into the Mississippi, pushed their range northward and established breeding populations.

postcard showing Mike Valley sitting on a fiberglass musky

Mike Valley, owner of Valley Fish and Cheese. Photo by Bonnie Willison

 

Surprise #2 – Cats can be huge

 Arguably, there are two families of cats commercially caught in the Big Muddy: catfish (Ictaluridae) and buffalo (Catostomidae) (see sidebar). Both are native to the system and both can reach impressive proportions.

Valley said, “When I was 16 years old, raising nets with my father, we had two catfish in one net and they each weighed 96 pounds apiece. I haven’t topped that since. You know, we got a lot of catfish in the 60s and 70s. It’s nothing to get 25 a day over 25 pounds.”

Even though catfish can be big and plentiful, their market value plunged from $4.19/kg in the 60s to $1.07/kg in the 2000s.[5] Some suggest that the decline reflects the success of U.S. catfish farming. However, other species in the Mississippi River commercial catch also indicate that demand for these fish diminished over the past 50 or so years.

Catfish have no scales. Buffalo have giant scales. Within the Great Lakes commercial fishery, the scales of lake whitefish and cisco are sometimes referred to as fish glitter. Not so for buffalo and carp, which have scales so large they look like thumbnails in the bottom of a boat. Buffalo average about 26% of the Mississippi River catch[6] and make up the bulk of Jeff Ritter’s wholesale business, Ritter Fish. Ritter is a first-generation Mississippi River fisher who works with other commercial fishers to supply food to people in Minneapolis, Chicago and similar cities.

Ritter said, “We fish for buffalo, which is our number fish. But we basically harvest all rough fish. It’s a rough fish business, which is I guess is what you would call it.”

 

Surprise #3 – Sheepshead can be sold as perch 

The common names of fish are varied and regional. For example, Aplodinotus grunniens goes by quite a few names, such as freshwater drum, sheepshead, silver bass, thunder pumper, gaspergou and perch. Yes: commercially harvested freshwater drum can be sold as perch. This encourages its consumption, particularly in big-city markets serving ethnic neighborhoods. Don’t be fooled, though. This species is very different from the fish-fry staple yellow perch, which Ritter reports are doing quite well. As someone who can’t seem to get enough of the water, he fishes for yellow perch recreationally in Ol’ Man River.

When asked how he likes to prepare fish, Ritter said, “Basically I like to grill fish or pan fry it. My favorite here on the river is yellow perch. We have a population that has exploded in the last ten years so we have some really nice fish. A good old sheepshead, a medium-sized sheepshead when it’s grilled is really tasty, too.”

Ritter also said that they do not see many non-target species in the nets because of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ mesh size restrictions. “Over the course of a year, I might see ten game fish total. We don’t harm our resource.”

A male sheepshead makes grunting noises by rubbing muscles along its swim bladder, causing it to vibrate. Native Americans strung together the freshwater drum’s large otoliths (granules of calcium carbonate) as necklaces or bracelets. There is some indication that this fish, with its big molar-like crushing teeth, may be learning to eat zebra mussels.

two people standing and talking outdoors

Jeff Ritter, owner of Ritter Fish, in conversation with Sharon Moen, food-fish outreach coordinator for Wisconsin Sea Grant. Photo by Jeremy Van Mill

Surprise #4 – Freshwater pearls and clam shells were big business

Once upon a time, the people of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin,- lived in “the freshwater pearl capital of the U.S.” In these colorful years (1900-1920), clamming and button cutting was almost as important to the economy of the area as the fur trade had been.[7] A visit to Valley Fish and Cheese is also testament to this locally important industry. Artifacts from the clamming industry hang on the western exterior of Mike Valley’s processing building and, as a former clammer and adept storyteller, he is willing to share insights.

Valley remembers clamming in the 60’s, when the industry was in a revival. Then, the shells were being shipped to Japan to support the cultured pearl industry. Valley says that better pearls were being produced more quickly if the oysters were seeded with beads cut from Mississippi River clams. In the summer of 1966, 600 tons of shells were shipped out of Prairie du Chien.

Back in the day, though, buttons were the bread-and-butter of the industry. The high-value product was freshwater pearls. Freshwater pearls take on the color of their mothershells, which can range from pink to shades of blue, green and lavender. At one point, there were 27 freshwater pearl buyers in Prairie du Chien alone.[8] Summer tent cities involving entire families would line the riverbank while floating grocery stores would ply the water selling supplies.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports 39 species of mussels (commonly called clams) found along the Wisconsin portion of the Mississippi River. Their distribution varies and some are achingly rare. Most freshwater mussels can’t go it alone. They need particular fish or salamander hosts for their parasitic young (glochidia). To wit: Only gars function as hosts to the most valuable of all freshwater mussels: the yellow sandshell. This species was used for top-grade buttons, pearl handles for knives and similar artifacts.

two people processing fish

Jeremiah’s Bullfrog Fish Farm. Photo by Bonnie Willison

A common conundrum: Where’s the workforce?

“There’s room for up-and-coming fishermen,” said Ritter. “If you have a good work ethic and stick your nose to the grindstone, I think you can make a good living at it.”

Commercial fishing on the upper Mississippi peaked in the mid-1960s when the industry produced more than 6,000 tons of fish and generated about $9 million. Since that heyday, the number of commercial fishers plying the Wisconsin waters of the Mississippi has declined to a mere handful. Many are over 50 and thinking of retiring. At least one is 80.

Valley said he fishes five days a week when he has help but when Sea Grant visited, he was fishing two. “We have no problem selling our fish. The problem is making it, finding enough time and the help. That’s the number one problem, you know? I can only clean 400 to 800 pounds in a day, so that’s what I catch. I could set nets and catch two or 3,000, no problem.”

Fisheries managers agree that the Upper Mississippi River commercial fishery is stable and could support larger harvests.[9] The gear needed is unsophisticated: gill nets, trammel nets, hoop nets, and trot lines. And it is common for people to participate in the commercial fishery to supplement other incomes. So, if you know of a youngster who, like Ritter, has a penchant for playing in the mud, chasing turtles and catching bluegills, or like Valley, who simply loves being on a boat at dawn, there’s a career opportunity as a commercial fisher worth considering.

Both Ritter and Valley say that commercial fishing is in their blood. “It has been in my blood since I was a little boy,” said Ritter. “The Mississippi River is God’s country, that’s for sure. If I’m not working, I’m playing on it. I just fish.”

A new fisher will reap the benefits of a less polluted river but also one that is being increasingly used for recreation including party boats and sports fishing events. Climate change will continue to challenge the commercial fishing industry with variable water levels, flash floods, droughts, heat waves and sedimentation caused by erosion. Invasive species will continue to add to the complications.

Sea Grant’s visits with commercial fishers are generating momentum for future workforce development programs. Additionally, the exchange of information with business and rural communities is helping to build a more resilient food-fish industry and supporting the Wisconsin Idea that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Find some of the results of the Mississippi River interviews here:

[1] Welcomme, R.L. ( 2011), An overview of global inland fish catch statistics. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68, 1751 – 1756 .

[2] Klein, Z.B., Quist, M.C., Miranda, L.E., Marron, M.M., Steuck, M.J. and Hansen, K.A. (2018), Commercial Fisheries of the Upper Mississippi River: A Century of Sustained Harvest. Fisheries, 43: 563-574. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10176

[3] Ibid.

[4] The first records of common carp caught in the Mississippi River were from Hannibal, Missouri, and Quincy, Illinois in 1883. https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/nature/ascarp_common.htm#:~:text=German%20and%20Scandinavian%20immigrants%20brought,and%20Quincy%2C%20Illinois%20in%201883.

[5] Klein et al. (2018).

[6] Klein et al. (2018).

[7] Temte, E.F., 1968, A brief history of the clamming and pearling industry in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Seminar paper presented to the faculty of the graduate school, Wisconsin State University at LaCrosse. 

[8] Ibid. 

[9] Johnson, B.L., and Hagerty, K.H., eds., 2008, Status and trends of selected resources in the Upper Mississippi River System: U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin, December 2008, Technical Report LTRMP 2008-T002, 102 p., plus 2 appendixes.

The post Carp, Cats, Perch and Pearls: Wisconsin’s Unsung Commercial Fishery first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/carp-cats-perch-and-pearls-wisconsins-unsung-commercial-fishery/

Sharon Moen

Judge holds Flint in contempt for continued lead pipe replacement delays

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/judge-holds-flint-in-contempt-continued-lead-pipe-replacement-delays/

Bridge Michigan

Efforts to thwart regulation of PFAS polluters move down parallel tracks

This article, first posted here, was republished with permission from Wisconsin Watch.

By Bennet Goldstein, Wisconsin Watch

Last week, a divided Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that limited the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ ability to regulate PFAS and other emerging contaminants under the state’s long-standing spills law.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/efforts-to-thwart-regulation-of-pfas-polluters-move-down-parallel-tracks/

Wisconsin Watch

The Northwoods is now a month into unusually early maple tapping season

By Katie Thoresen, WXPR

This story was originally published by WXPR. WXPR is a community-licensed public radio station serving north central Wisconsin and adjacent areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Listen to their stories here.

Bright blue tubes web between the trees that run to the little red pump house that sits in the woods on the edge of 10 acres full of maple trees at Whataview Farm in Phelps.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/the-northwoods-is-now-a-month-into-unusually-early-maple-tapping-season/

WXPR

Opportunities Abound; Volunteer While Doing What You Love!

The warmer weather and open water is calling! When you’re out doing your favorite activities this spring and summer, you could be helping protect your lakes and rivers! Learn about some of the volunteer opportunities at Fox-Wolf below. Our volunteer opportunities give you the flexibility to do what you love while protecting your waters!

Adopt-a-Launch

Join community members in helping improve boat launches ! Interested individuals will adopt a local boat launch and help remove plants from the launch area, pick up litter, and report issues with the launch. Volunteers also help protect our lakes by searching for aquatic invasive species at their launch!  Adopt-a-Launch program is a Fox-Wolf program that works to engage community members in taking ownership of their lakes by helping to search for aquatic invasive species and improve boat launchesGet involved today!

Project Riverine Early Detectors

Love to paddle, kayak, or canoe in rivers and streams? Help look for invasive species during this relaxing pastime! You will be trained on how to easily identify aquatic invasive species, some native look-a-likes, and how you can keep an eye out for them when you’re floating just around the riverbend!

Citizen Lake Monitoring Network

Join 1000+citizen volunteers statewide to collect high quality data on the lakes that you love! CLMN volunteers help monitor their lakes for a variety of things including water quality parameters, ice on/off, and aquatic invasive species! Volunteers help determine which topics they are interested in monitoring. The information gathered by volunteers is even used by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and university biologists and researchers, UW-Extension, and other interested individuals in projects that work to improve your lake! Help keep track of changes in your lake while being near your favorite Winnebago lake! This opportunity is easy to do from both the shoreline as well as your boat!

Purple loosestrife Biocontrol

Love to garden! This one’s for you! Help control harmful invasive species in our community! The invasive plant Purple loosestrife can quickly dominate a wetland and harm our native plants. You can help by raising a natural predator of Purple loosestrife (Galerucella beetles) on caged, potted, loosestrife plants in your backyard. Once released into local infested wetlands, the beetles only eat purple loosestrife, giving native plants a chance to re-establish. This DNR program, locally coordinated by Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, offers free supplies and does not require previous experience. Access to an outdoor space within reach of a garden hose is ideal, but we are also looking for volunteers to help with plant potting and beetle release events.

Clean Boats, Clean Waters

Love talking with people? Get involved in the effort to protect Wisconsin lakes and rivers by stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. As a volunteer watercraft inspector, you will take up the front line by conducting boater education at boat landings in your community. Inspectors perform boat and trailer checks for aquatic invasive species, educate boaters on how to stop the spread, and collect and report new infestations. Meet other anglers and boaters from across the Midwest!

AIS Statewide Snapshot Day

Want a single day event that’s fun for the whole family? During the statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day, join other water quality enthusiasts in searching for invasive species that harm our waterways. Learn how to search for invasive species that may affect the waters that are special to you. You can choose to search from the shore with binoculars and a rake or wade into friendly waters to get a better look! This event is fun for the whole family and really makes a difference in the fight against invasive species. AIS Snapshot Day occurs on August 10th, 2024.

How To Get Started

Give the greatest gift this year to your waters; your time! Whether you want a single day opportunity or want to help out throughout the summer, we will help you fuel your environmental passions at Fox-Wolf! View more of Fox-Wolf’s volunteer opportunities by visiting: https://fwwa.org/join-us/volunteer-with-fwwa/

Interested? Contact – Chris Acy, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance AIS Coordinator. chris@fwwa.org. (920) 460-3674

Photo Credit: Dan O’Connell, Chris Acy

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Warming Weather? Help Volunteer to Protect Your Favorite Places appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/03/13/warming-weather-help-volunteer-to-protect-your-favorite-places/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=warming-weather-help-volunteer-to-protect-your-favorite-places

Chris Acy

Barring a late season snowstorm, the state of Michigan expects to use 175,000 tons less salt than usual which would save the state about $10 million. While applying salt reduces the risk of winter collisions, the briny runoff seeps into the soil and harms plants, or trickles into underground aquifers, rivers and lakes, polluting the water. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-salt-reduction

James Polidori

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that all five Great Lakes are below the lowest ice levels on record at this point of the season. As of Monday, only 1.21% of the Great Lakes were covered in ice; comparatively, on March 11, 2022, the Great Lakes had nearly 39% ice coverage. Read the full story by WOOD-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-ice-cover

James Polidori

A University of Windsor project, in partnership with the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, is breeding lake sturgeon for eventual release into the Detroit River to combat their declining populations. The project means Windsor is one of the only places in Canada where you can see juvenile sturgeon in vast quantities. Read the full story by CBC News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-sturgeon-breeding

James Polidori

Environmental advocates in Michigan are pushing for legislation to require periodic inspections of septic systems statewide. Despite its vast water resources, Michigan remains the only state without a statewide sanitary code, which would include septic systems. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-septic-regulation

James Polidori

In Illinois, the Yorkville City Council okayed the next agreement needed to begin receiving water from Lake Michigan. Because the city is currently drawing water from an aquifer expected to diminish in the coming years, it is joining the DuPage Water Commission which purchases and transports Lake Michigan water from the city of Chicago. Read the full story by WSPY – Plano, IL.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-water-agreement

James Polidori

According to American Iron and Steel Institute, steel mills in the Great Lakes region, clustered mainly along the south shore of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana, made 586,000 tons of metal in the week that ended March 9. This represents an increase of 3.5%, despite national steel production trailing last year’s pace by 3.3%. Read the full story by The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-steel-production

James Polidori

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be collecting over 23 million walleye fry starting March 18 through April 12, raising them to fingerling size and stocking Muskegon-area rivers, ponds and lakes. Experts say this helps keep the walleye population up, which is essential for many inland lake ecosystems. Read the full story by WZZM-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-walleye-stocking

James Polidori

This winter saw record low ice cover across the Great Lakes, which are among the fastest-warming lakes in the world. However, less ice means ships can travel longer, leading some to wonder whether the shipping season could be extended, a potential silver lining of declining ice. Read the full story by WUWM – Milwaukee, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-shipping-impacts

James Polidori

In what may be the first announcement of its kind in the state, the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association plans to reveal the identity of its latest shipwreck discovery during a live event later this month in Holland, Michigan. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240313-shipwreck-event

James Polidori

Oshkosh, Neenah Play Host Exotic Pet Surrender Events

Original Story: John Moyles, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue

In an effort to address the challenges of rehoming exotic pets and discourage the harmful practice of releasing them into the wild, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue hosted several successful Exotic Pet Surrender Events on January 13th and March 2nd, 2024. The event, held at the organization’s rescue center in Neenah, aimed to provide responsible alternatives and a judgement-free environment for pet owners who can no longer care for their exotic animals.

A staggering 460 animals, ranging from fish and reptiles to pet birds and small mammals, found their way to new beginnings through the event. Among the surrendered animals were fish, lizards, snakes, and even a colony of roaches, highlighting the diverse range of creatures in need of assistance.

The event was not only about surrendering pets but also about education and advocacy. Attendees had the opportunity to meet Animal Ambassadors and learn about their unique stories, reinforcing the message of responsible pet ownership. A photobooth with rescued pets allowed for cherished memories to be captured and shared, further fostering a sense of community and compassion.

Collaborating with regional rehoming partners such as Reptile Rescue of Wisconsin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Pet Advocacy Network, and University of Wisconsin Sea Grant/Water Resources Institutes, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue facilitated the surrender of four animals, including fish, a tortoise, and birds. This collaborative effort ensures that these animals are given proper care and attention.

All surrendered pets undergo a brief quarantine and evaluation period to ensure their health and well-being before becoming available for adoption. This meticulous process reflects the commitment of the organizers to find suitable homes for these animals and prevent any negative impact on the local ecosystem.

For those who missed the event, J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue reminds the public that they can surrender pets at their Rescue Center in Neenah or find information about upcoming Surrender Events on their website: https://www.jraar.org/exoticpetsurrenderevents. With 29 events planned for the year there are ample opportunities for pet owners to seek assistance in rehoming their animals.

The success of the Exotic Pet Surrender Event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Ship Your Reptiles, Chemipure, Jellyfish Art, Reef Aquaria Design, and Festival Foods. Their support enables J&R Aquatic Animal Rescue to continue providing valuable services to the community and promoting responsible exotic pet ownership.

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on X! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Winnebago Waterways and Keepers of the Fox are Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance programs. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization working to protect and restore water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post 400+ Exotic Pets Rehomed, Mitigating Potential Releases Into Waterways appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/03/13/400-exotic-pets-rehomed-mitigating-potential-releases-into-waterways/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=400-exotic-pets-rehomed-mitigating-potential-releases-into-waterways

Chris Acy

a graphic announcing the Wisconsin and Minnesota Aquaculture conference on March 22-23

The largest aquaculture event in the upper Midwest, the Wisconsin & Minnesota Aquaculture Conference, will be held March 22–23 at the Legendary Waters Resort and Casino in Red Cliff, Wisconsin.

This year’s conference is being hosted and organized by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility (UWSP NADF) and Wisconsin Sea Grant. The conference will feature more than 40 presenters from industry, state, federal and tribal facilities discussing current research and best management practices. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour one of four local facilities: the Red Cliff Tribal Hatchery, Red Cliff Fish Company, Bodin Fisheries’ processing facility and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility.

Presentation topics are wide ranging and cover subjects such as water quality management, the economics of aquaculture, workforce development, fish health and how to bring aquaculture into the classroom. The event will also feature a trade show, silent auction, cooking demonstrations and student poster competition.

Attendees interested in learning more about recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) can sign up for a half-day workshop on March 23 at the UWSP NADF facility.

“This conference brings together such an amazing group of experts across our region, including representatives from state, federal, tribal and private industries and organizations,” said Emma Hauser, aquaculture outreach specialist with UWSP NADF and Wisconsin Sea Grant. “The most exciting aspect of this event is that it supports important networking opportunities, critical for building relationships within the aquaculture industry.”

Hauser will participate in a panel discussion with Dong-Fang Deng, aquaculture outreach and extension specialist with Wisconsin Sea Grant and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, on the workforce development issues and needs in the industry.

Said Hauser, “Workforce development continues to be one of the major bottlenecks to the aquaculture industry’s growth. I am thrilled to have aquaculture education experts, including Sea Grant, from across the country featured on this panel, to share their experiences, current educational pathways as well as help us strategically plan for workforce development into the future.”

The Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative, a major sponsor of the conference, is also supporting underrepresented students from around the region to attend and present on aquaculture topics. These student groups include Emerging Ladies Academy, Lakota Youth Development and Fiber Arts Omaha.  

Tiffany Gamble, founder of Emerging Ladies Academy stated, “Engagement in the conference for the academy ensures our curriculum stays current, fostering connections with industry professionals for potential collaborations and resources. This aligns with our commitment to empowering women in diverse fields, including aquaculture, and enhances our overall educational experience.”

Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Sharon Moen, food-fish outreach coordinator, will also facilitate an aquaculture marketing panel to showcase strategies and opportunities from various industry and state agencies. Moen will then don her chef’s hat alongside Titus Seilheimer, fisheries outreach specialist, as they demonstrate how to cook dishes featuring locally raised fish.

Conference registration is $125 for general admission and $80 for students. There is an additional $100 registration fee to attend the RAS workshop on March 23.

The conference is supported by the Wisconsin and Minnesota aquaculture associations, the Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Minnesota Sea Grant and UWSP NADF, as well as various business sponsors.

The post Wisconsin & Minnesota Aquaculture Conference showcases the latest in fish farming education and research first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/wisconsin-minnesota-aquaculture-conference-showcases-the-latest-in-fish-farming-education-and-research/

Jenna Mertz

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.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

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

Guest Contributor

Lake Superior is warming fast. Its national parks are starting work to cut fossil fuels

By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

As national parks around the country try to raise awareness about climate change, those around Lake Superior are taking steps to cut their emissions.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/lake-superior-is-warming-fast-its-national-parks-are-starting-work-to-cut-fossil-fuels/

Interlochen Public Radio

PFAS News Roundup: Indiana senators scrap bill that would change definition of polyfluoroalkyl substances in favor of manufacturers

Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

Click on the headline to read the full story:

 

Indiana

Manufacturer-friendly PFAS bill abandoned by Indiana Senate committee — Indiana Capital Chronicle

Indiana senators ditched a bill that would have changed the definition of toxic PFAS chemicals to exempt use by manufacturers.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/pfas-news-roundup-indiana-senators-scrap-bill-that-would-change-the-definition-of-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-in-favor-of-manufacturers/

Kathy Johnson, Great Lakes Now

Pennsylvania farmers convicted of poisoning over two dozen migratory birds

This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Anna Barnes, Great Lakes Echo

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

Robert Yost and Jacob Reese, located in Econ Valley, Pennsylvania, were found guilty in January of three charges related to poisoning 17 Canada geese, 10 red-winged blackbirds and one mallard duck, according to the U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/pennsylvania-farmers-convicted-of-poisoning-over-two-dozen-migratory-birds/

Great Lakes Echo

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.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

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

Guest Contributor

News

Request for Proposals: Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework Small Grants

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission today issued a request for proposals (RFP) to support participation in the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework (PAMF) and implementation of priority Phragmites management actions. Indigenous Nations, U.S.-based state or local units of government, lake associations/watershed protection groups, nonprofit organizations, universities/colleges, and conservation groups may apply for grants in the expected range of $5,000 to $30,000 (with higher amounts considered) to manage nonnative Phragmites using one of twelve priority management combinations during the period of July 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025.

This funding supports strategic advances in nonnative Phragmites management and is designed to expand and enhance PAMF, which is helping to determine best management practices for nonnative Phragmites in the Great Lakes region. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative webpage for a comprehensive overview of this funding opportunity. Grant recipients will be expected to report back monitoring and management data as stated in the PAMF Participant Guide.

A webinar for potential applicants will be held on March 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The due date for applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 12, 2024. Applications will be reviewed by representatives from the Great Lakes states and Indigenous Nations. Final decisions on funded projects are anticipated in May 2024. Selected projects may begin work as soon as July 1, 2024.

For more information, please contact GLC Project Manager Sam Tank at sam@glc.org or 734-396-6055. 


The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Beth Wanamaker, beth@glc.org.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/news/rfp-pamf-031124

Beth Wanamaker

Lake Superior is one of the fastest-warming lakes in the world. As national parks around the United States try to raise awareness about climate change, those around Lake Superior are taking steps to cut their emissions. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-lake-superior-nationalparks-cuttingfossilfuels

Hannah Reynolds

The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy was awarded a grant totaling over $48,000 to assist coastal communities and Tribes in Michigan’s upper peninsula address coastal hazards. Read the full story by Soo Leader.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-program-communities-promote-resiliency

Hannah Reynolds

With the warmer-than-average temperatures and lack of snow this winter, what will that mean for the water levels across the Great Lakes this spring and summer? Scientists say we can expect “larger beaches and shallower water” this year. Read the full story by WWJ – Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-abnormalwinter-waterlevels-greatlakes

Hannah Reynolds

Oneida, a First Nation south of London, Ontario, says compensation from the federal government in a class action settlement will be a relief for members who haven’t had clean drinking water in years. After a years-long court battle, Ottawa opened the First Nations drinking water settlement process in 2022, offering compensation up to $8 billion to First Nations that have suffered for long periods under drinking water advisories. Read the full story by CBC.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-oneida-cleanwater-classaction-lawsuit

Hannah Reynolds

The Soo Locks, a gateway on the St. Mary’s River between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, will open on the evening of March 22, kicking off the 2024 shipping season three days earlier than originally planned. Read the full story by the Star Tribune.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-lakesuperior-steelindustry-earlystart

Hannah Reynolds

A Michigan man saw an advertisement on social media for the Mackinac Bridge Swim. It offered a chance for him to swim the length of the bridge that links Michigan’s lower and upper peninsulas. To date, it has remained his most memorable swim. Read the full story by The Oakland Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-mightymac-swimming

Hannah Reynolds

The Lake Huron Fishing Club celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Port Elgin, Ontario, fish hatchery with an open house where visitors of all ages had the opportunity to tour the hatchery. The hatchery has raised and cared for thousands of trout and salmon fry that volunteers transport to the Saugeen River where they make their way to Lake Huron. Read the full story by the Saugeen Times.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-lakehuron-fishing-hatchery

Hannah Reynolds

There’s a resounding call in Michigan to shut down Line 5 with thousands of individuals organizing rallies, sending postcards, and urging their elected officials to end this threat. Various legal challenges, permit processes, and environmental analyses are currently underway, but President Joe Biden has the ability to protect the Great Lakes by revoking Line 5’s presidential permit. Read the full story by The Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-biden-line5-greatlakes

Hannah Reynolds

Ship captains, cadets and other uniformed personnel from the United States and Canada gathered Sunday at Mariners’ Church in Detroit to receive blessings for themselves, their crews, their families, and their boats. Read the full story by The Detroit News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-detroit-blessing-fleet-crew

Hannah Reynolds

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Great Lakes Commission and the International Joint Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday in Washington D.C. to advance the commissions’ existing shared goals and objectives. Read the full story by SooToday.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240311-commission-trio

Connor Roessler

Fewer fish and more algae? Scientists seek to understand impacts of historic lack of Great Lakes ice

By Todd Richmond, Associated Press

RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Michigan Tech University biologists have been observing a remote Lake Superior island’s fragile wolf population every winter since 1958, but they had to cut this season’s planned seven-week survey short after just two weeks.

The ski plane they study the wolves from uses the frozen lake as a landing strip because there’s nowhere to touch down on the island.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/ap-fewer-fish-and-more-algae-scientists-seek-to-understand-impacts-of-historic-lack-of-great-lakes-ice/

The Associated Press

Fifteen years in the making, The Breeding Birds of Minnesota is the first all-encompassing Minnesota breeding bird book in nearly a century. 

Made for casual bird lovers and for professional ornithologists, the book features 250 breeding bird species in Minnesota. It will be available in April.

The post Three authors create the first Minnesota breeding bird book in nearly a century first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/11/three-authors-create-the-first-minnesota-breeding-bird-book-in-nearly-a-century/

Mya Smith

Tribes urge U.S. to weigh in on Line 5 case as appeal sits in court

By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

Twelve miles of the Line 5 pipeline cross the lands of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Wisconsin.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/03/tribes-urge-u-s-to-weigh-in-on-line-5-case-as-appeal-sits-in-court/

Interlochen Public Radio

The Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and International Joint Commission are all tasked with varying aspects of management in the Great Lakes. On Wednesday, they all gathered ahead of a Washington, D.C. event honoring the region to sign a groundbreaking formal agreement. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-commission-agreement

Nichole Angell

The Great Lakes Commission is calling on the federal government to invest in addressing algae blooms, funding research, and keeping the Great Lakes open for shipping and recreation. A reporter spoke with the Great Lakes Commission’s Executive Director Erika Jensen about the chance of funding passing in Congress. Read the full transcript of their conversation by WBFO – Buffalo, NY.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-great-lakes-funding

Nichole Angell

Saginaw Valley State University has officially approved the remaining $2.5 million needed to construct their new Lake Huron Environmental Research Station. It will be a place for people to go and discover things about the environment and how it relates to Saginaw Bay and its surroundings. Read the full story by WCMU Public Media.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-new-reserach-station

Nichole Angell

One of the most important shipwrecks in Wisconsin waters is now officially recognized as a historic place. Its rare, 156 year old, intact structure lies 270 feet below the surface of Lake Michigan. Read the full story by Green Bay Press Gazette.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-historic-shipwreck

Nichole Angell

As climate change accelerates, scientists are scrambling to understand how iceless winters could affect the Great Lakes. Most of the effects are still theoretical, but the changes could have serious environmental, economic and cultural impacts. Read the full story by The Associated Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-no-ice-impacts

Nichole Angell

The International Joint Commission is conducting an online survey to monitor aspects of the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and make recommendations related to water quality, fishing, shipping, hydroelectric power generation and other issues. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240308-ijc-survey

Nichole Angell