The Lake Erie coast in Ohio is home to a piping plover family for the first time in 83 years. Four piping plover chicks hatched at Maumee Bay State Park in Ohio on Thursday, July 1. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210702-plover
The Lake Erie coast in Ohio is home to a piping plover family for the first time in 83 years. Four piping plover chicks hatched at Maumee Bay State Park in Ohio on Thursday, July 1. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210702-plover
For the second year in a row, scientists predict the annual Lake Erie cyanobacteria bloom will be smaller than it has been in the past decade.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast, assembled with the help of multiple partners, indicates an expected bloom severity index of 3 on a scale of 10.5.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/2021-harmful-algal-blooms-toxic-algae/
NCEI News Feed
http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/ncei-releases-groundbreaking-microplastics-database
In an effort to battle invasive species, Michigan State University is becoming a more welcoming place for bees, butterflies and other native pollinators.
The post Campus works to become more pollinator-friendly first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/07/02/campus-works-to-become-more-pollinator-friendly/
Piping plovers, a small white-and-gray shorebird with striking orange legs, are making a comeback this summer – on the beach and at the bar.
The plover has been on the federal endangered species list since 1985, when the Great Lakes plover population dropped to about a dozen pairs.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/birds-brews-piping-plover-conservation-beer/
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 1, 2021) – Today, House Appropriators approved the fiscal year 2022 Interior and Environment funding legislation, advancing historic funding levels for key agencies and providing robust funding for clean water and Great Lakes restoration programs. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased to see the House respond to bi-partisan support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), proposing funding the program at $375 million in the new fiscal year. The committee also approved historic funding levels for the EPA, proposing a much-needed funding increase for the agency of almost 23% to $11.4 billion for fiscal year 2022.
On June 21, the Coalition and 93 of its members sent a letter to Congress advocating for full funding of the GLRI. Laura Rubin, director of the Coalition stated, “We are glad to see that such an effort did not go unnoticed. The GLRI has improved the lives of millions in the region and more funding will allow for more efforts to move forward in protecting and preserving the region, its communities, and its residents.”
Key Great Lakes and clean water programs funded under this proposal include:
The Interior and Environment funding bill now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The House is expected to vote on the bill later this month.
Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 160 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.
Contact for media: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Contact for policy: Alexis J. Lopez-Cepero, Senior Legislative Analyst, lopez-cepero@npca.org
The post Coalition Pleased to See Full Funding of GLRI Proposed appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.
Healing Our Waters Coalition
https://healthylakes.org/coalition-pleased-to-see-full-funding-of-glri-proposed/
By Laura Gersony, Circle of Blue
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/detroit-flooding-risks-warming-climate/
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 1, 2021) – Today, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive infrastructure legislation, advancing work to bring billions of dollars of new investment to communities across the Great Lakes region. H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, which passed the House by a 221-201 vote, would provide over $168 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and affordability measures over the next 10 years. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds the House for taking this important step forward, and in a letter sent earlier this week, the Coalition urged members of the House to ensure legislation to address the region’s water infrastructure crisis reaches the President’s desk this summer.
There is a nationwide water infrastructure crisis impacting the health and safety of people and communities. For the Great Lakes region states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, a staggering $188 billion over the next 20 years is needed to improve, upgrade, and repair drinking water and wastewater systems. This work is increasingly unaffordable for communities and residents, as the federal contribution to water infrastructure has declined precipitously over the last four decades, falling from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending to 9 percent today. Too often these costs are being passed on to those who can least afford it, disproportionately impacting communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice with water utility bills doubling or tripling over the last decade.
Coupled with the threat of climate change, failing infrastructure will only continue to get worse and more expensive the longer it takes to be fixed. We are already seeing these disastrous effects, as evidenced by the recent flooding in areas across the basin.
“Fixing our region’s failing infrastructure will put people to work, revitalize our communities’ economies, and ensure safe, clean, and affordable water is available to all,” stated Laura Rubin, director of the Coalition. “Our communities need action now.”
The INVEST in America Act is a good step for addressing our regional and nationwide needs. In particular, the bill:
The Coalition applauds the efforts of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee for getting these robust investments to the floor. With the passage of the House bill, Congressional and Administration leadership must now move ahead with negotiations on a final package. News of an agreement between the Senate and Administration last week provides hope for ongoing efforts to reach a final agreement in the coming months.
Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 160 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.
Contact for media: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Contact for policy: Alexis J. Lopez-Cepero, Senior Legislative Analyst, lopez-cepero@npca.org
The post House Passes Comprehensive Infrastructure Legislation appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.
Healing Our Waters Coalition
https://healthylakes.org/house-passes-comprehensive-infrastructure-legislation/
This spring, Freshwater Future has awarded five groups with Project Grants to provide financial assistance for projects that promote water protection. These grants range from $500 to $5,000 and were awarded to community groups working to promote river, lake, shoreline, wetland, groundwater, and drinking water protection within the Great Lakes Basin. Learn more about these important projects.
Michigan proposed that Federal infrastructure funds will be targeted for the following improvements to water systems:
Contact your Michigan legislators today to ask them to spend more on drinking water to keep Michigan’s residents safe.
In other states, let us know if you hear specifics about water infrastructure spending, and contact your legislators to let them know your priorities.
After the Michigan statewide moratorium on water shutoffs expired June 15th, the City of Saginaw water department underwent mass water shutoffs, cutting off water to as many as 750 homes. These efforts are inexplicable given that funding for water arrearages is coming from the federal government, and COVID has already proven the need to always permit running water in homes. Water affordability programs are the proven way for municipalities to recoup revenue for water service and water shutoffs are proven to be more costly.
Over 185 aquatic invasive species like the zebra mussel and Eurasian water milfoil have been introduced to the Great Lakes. Invasive species harm our natural water ecosystems by disrupting the food web, negatively impacting recreation and economy requiring billions on control measures. Before the summer holiday weekend, Canada and the eight Great Lakes states joined forces on the Landing Blitz campaign that enforces and encourages boaters to clean their boats from any debris that may have tagged along for the ride.
Freshwater Future’s Own Jill Ryan Speaks at Bay View
Freshwater Future’s Executive Director, Jill Ryan, will be a special guest speaker for Bay View Association ‘Scarrow Friday Forum’ on July 9th. The discussion will talk about the special qualities of the Great Lakes that make them so important, as well as highlighting issues of concern in the region and the solutions Freshwater Future brings to those concerns. Topics will include: rebuilding trust in water in Flint and beyond; pushing for faster notification of residents when water contamination is found; ensuring protections are enforced to protect our rivers, lakes and wetlands from acid mine drainage; and more. If you are in northern Michigan, please join us!
Water Celebration on July 16th, 2021 is a gathering in Stephenson Island, Wisconsin to support protection from mining contamination of the Menominee River. Great speeches and fun activities are featured at this outdoor event. Learn more here.
The Water is Life Festival is an annual event that celebrates our connection to the water and builds power through community so we can work towards living in a holistic way with water and protect it from those who seek to exploit or endanger it. The festival is held Saturday, September 4th before Labor Day in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-future-weekly-july-1-2021/
This spring, Freshwater Future has awarded five groups with Project Grants to provide financial assistance for projects that promote water protection. These grants range from $500 to $5,000 and were awarded to community groups working to promote river, lake, shoreline, wetland, groundwater, and drinking water protection within the Great Lakes Basin. Listed are our five awarded projects and a description of their efforts.
Blue Mountain Watershed Trust Foundation received $2,000 to join in the fight to keep a summer-only road from becoming a year-round road in Ontario, Canada. To represent the Watershed Trust at the Niagara Escarpment Hearing Office, they are hiring environmental, fisheries, and engineering consultants, as well as organizing a publicity campaign to highlight the threat to the wetlands in the road corridor and the threat to the fisheries in the Pretty River.
The Friends of the Black River Forest was awarded $3,000 to support their ongoing legal action to protect both the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Black River from the development of a private golf course which would be located in Wilson, Wisconsin.
$3,000 was awarded to the Wellington Water Watchers, who are located in Guelph, Ontario. The Wellington Water Watchers are collaborating with five grassroots groups, focusing on the impacts of aggregate to the rivers and aquifers that supply drinking water. To create both municipal and provincial pressure for a moratorium to be placed on the distribution of new permits taking water for aggregate operations, they are coordinating a public awareness campaign. This moratorium would allow for current regulations to be reviewed and improved to better protect drinking water.
To WaterLegacy, Freshwater Future awarded $4,500 to help with securing a reversal of the PolyMet water pollution permit in the Minnesota Court of Appeals. This permit was issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in 2018 and Freshwater Future has been pleased to support WaterLegacy in their advocacy, investigation, and litigation along the way.
To assist in advocacy efforts driven by the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition, Freshwater Future has awarded $4,500 to Grassroots Citizen Advocacy. With three additional hydropower projects seeking re-licensing, one pursuing license surrender, the enforcement of a settlement agreement, and emerging hydropower issues related to water quality, license termination, and dam safety, this advocacy will help to ensure that citizen conservationists’ interests are given full consideration by resource agencies and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/freshwater-future-project-grant-recipients-spring-2021-cycle/
Gov. Tony Evers announced on Monday, June 28, $1.41 million in coastal grants to 40 local communities across Wisconsin. Read the full story by WDJT – Milwaukee, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-wisconsin-grants
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that more than $4 million in grant funding will be awarded to 23 communities throughout the state to boost recreational boating. Read the full story by WLUC – Lansing, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-dnr
Four more “smart” buoys have been installed on Lake Erie to create a warning system for Lake Erie drinking water. Read the full story by WKYC – Cleveland, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-erie
Wisconsin’s crumbling Lake Michigan shoreline will receive some needed TLC from local 12 and 13-year-olds through a pilot program that will bring coastal engineering and stewardship ideas into classrooms this school year, and also bring classrooms to the beach. Read the full story by The Journal Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-shoreline
Urban flooding continues to plague Chicago residents — particularly in its communities of color — and some experts say it is time for a fresh approach. Read the full story by Circle of Blue/Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-flooding
Urban flooding continues to plague Chicago residents — particularly in its communities of color — and some experts say it is time for a fresh approach. Read the full story by Circle of Blue/Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-flooding
The Ohio Department of Health said Tuesday it has removed the bacteria-driven swimming advisory that had been in place at Maumee Bay State Park’s Lake Erie beach since June 17, the longest stretch this year that such an advisory had been in effect. Read the full story by the Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-maumee
If Enbridge has its way, Line 3, which partly reroutes and replaces a decaying older pipeline, will bore under the Mississippi River twice as it flows north and then loops south from its source, Lake Itasca. Any leaks and spills could poison the Mississippi and more: Line 3 will cross 211 other rivers and streams, and threaten scores of lakes and wetlands in Minnesota’s choicest wild rice harvesting region, granted to Indian tribes by 19th century treaties. Read the full story by the Los Angeles Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-erosion
In the last year, erosion has pummeled Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline and the property edging it. It was, locals say, the worst erosion they’ve seen on the lake in decades. But it’s not unprecedented. In fact, it’s part of a natural cycle that has been happening on the lake for centuries. Read the full story by the Indianapolis Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-erosion
Despite searing heat and heavy showers at various times this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is sticking to its prediction that western Lake Erie’s Summer 2021 will be smaller than last year and relatively mild overall. . Read the full story by Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210630-bloom
NCEI News Feed
http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/June-2021-regional-climate-impacts-and-outlooks
Collecting data for scientific research across large geographic areas can be challenging, but researchers have found an easy solution – the public.
The Huron River watershed covers 900 square miles, and the Huron River Watershed Council has been collecting data from the watershed for years. Yet collection from such an expansive area would not have been possible without the help of an army of dedicated citizen, or community, scientists.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/great-lakes-everyday-people-science-public/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1261A76D6418.SpecialWeatherStatement.1261A76DB6E8WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
Sept. 1, 2019, was a deadly day for a 700-pound black bear illegally shot with a compound bow near a garbage dump on Minnesota’s Red Lake Indian Reservation.
The post Poached black bear lands Minnesota poacher behind bars first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/06/30/poached-black-bear-lands-minnesota-poacher-behind-bars/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1261A7602640.SpecialWeatherStatement.1261A7604F44WI.GRBSPSGRB.670272ffdeab82d92d5ab990673d0435
This summer on Bradford Beach in Milwaukee, swimmers might notice people in light blue T-shirts pushing an ice cream cart across the sand. Instead of frozen treats, the cart contains brochures and other information that beachgoers need to keep safe.
This cart, filled with water safety information, is a centerpiece of the new Beach Ambassador program on Bradford Beach in Milwaukee. Image credit: Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant
The cart is part of a new Beach Ambassador Pilot Project run by Wisconsin Sea Grant, Milwaukee Water Commons, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Coastline Services LLC and the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. These organizations created the project in response to four drownings that occurred on McKinley Beach in Milwaukee in 2020, and an increase in beachgoers because of the pandemic.
“Obviously, there were not that many things to do during the pandemic, so a lot more people were getting outside and utilizing the beach,” said Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s social science outreach specialist. “People were coming from all different backgrounds and different levels of swimming knowledge and competency, so it was just really risky.”
Peroff said there was a lifeguard shortage last year and that this year, in 2021, there are no lifeguards on Milwaukee beaches. This makes the Beach Ambassador project even more relevant. She explained the project is not designed to replace lifeguards, “But just to provide education and information for people so that they can protect themselves, and then, hopefully, share that information with others. There’s also a social justice element to it because all four people who drowned at McKinley Beach last year were African American.”
This project supports Peroff’s ongoing work to address racial disparities around swimming in Milwaukee and providing access to more opportunities for people to have meaningful experiences with water.
With funding from a National Sea Grant Covid 19 Pandemic Relief Social Justice grant that was matched by Milwaukee Water Commons, three beach ambassadors were hired as well as an intern. The ambassadors are walking Bradford Beach in teams with their cart each Thursday through Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2021. (McKinley Beach is closed.) They inform people about topics related to water safety such as water quality conditions, rip currents, dehydration and hypothermia. The ambassadors encourage them to check the Milwaukee County Parks Weather and Beach Conditions website for more information and also let them know where safety equipment is located on the beach, should it be needed.
Jumana Tanner and Deidre Peroff. Image credit: Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant
Jumana Tanner is the intern Peroff hired for the Beach Ambassador project. A sophomore enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying marine biology, Tanner is excited about spending time on the beach several days each week.
“I’m definitely getting a lot of hands-on experience with people. There’s a lot of networking and interactions with the public and strategizing how to effectively communicate about science. I have realized it doesn’t matter how much knowledge I might have – being able to effectively communicate that with people makes a greater difference,” Tanner said.
Tanner was thankful for the extensive training she received leading up to her posting as a beach ambassador. She said the ambassadors learned about dangerous currents, E. coli testing and drowning statistics. They also practiced various educational scenarios for interacting with the public.
With her colorful headscarf and heart-shaped sunglasses, Tanner cuts an unusual and enthusiastic figure on the beach. Besides providing beach information, she sees her internship as an opportunity to show people her character and Muslim culture, as well as furthering her career goals.
“I try to match my scarf with something else on me like jewelry or my shoes. When I come up to people with my bubbly personality, they get that color coordination to match with it. I use it to show people what my personality’s like and that I’m not intimidating. They shouldn’t be scared of me.
“My ultimate career goal is to effectively communicate with people about discoveries in our water. Our water is our greatest resource and it’s not being taken care of the way it takes care of us. That’s an issue for the future,” Tanner said.
Besides walking the beach, Tanner is helping to evaluate the project to shape it for possible future use at additional beaches. After each engagement with the public, the ambassadors write down what kind of information they provided and how people reacted.
Peroff said she’s not sure what the next steps will be for this unique program. “We’ll see how it goes and see if people are finding it valuable and go from there.”
The Beach Ambassadors and their mentors. From left to right, back row: Jumana Tanner, Deidre Peroff, Dylan Tripler, Jacob Donovan, Stephanie Alvarez, Teresa Coronado. Front: Lloyd Seawright, Cesar Castillo. Image credit: Deidre Peroff, Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/beach-ambassadors-fill-vital-role-on-milwaukee-beach/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beach-ambassadors-fill-vital-role-on-milwaukee-beach
By Laura Gersony, Circle of Blue
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/chicago-flooding-infrastructure-communities-color/
This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.
By McKoy Scribner, Great Lakes Echo
Although Great Lakes water levels are down, the risk of coastal erosion remains high, Michigan State University researchers say. Now, the researchers are enlisting “citizen scientists” to assist in helping better understand coastal change.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/researchers-volunteers-document-coastal-erosion-michigan/
CHICAGO (AP) — While most of Chicago’s cultural institutions have reopened their doors, the Adler Planetarium won’t do so fully until next year.
The planetarium along Lake Michigan closed in March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Planetarium officials said in a letter posted on the website earlier this month that they’ll start offering some events in July including weekend screenings of sky shows, but due to financial difficulties the full reopening will be in March 2022.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/ap-chicago-adler-planetarium-reopen-2022/
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Hundreds of homes that use well water near the Grand Rapids-area airport could be connected to a public water source by 2023 after the state set aside $5 million for the project, officials said.
The homes in Cascade Township have wells in an area of polluted groundwater.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/ap-homes-pfas-wells-michigan-airport-water/
Detroit mayor Mike Duggan is requesting federal assistance to assist the city with heavy damage from severe storms. In the past week, these severe storms hit Metro Detroit leaving home flooded and vehicles stranded on roadways. Read the full story by WDIV – TV – Detroit, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-flooding-detroit
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said this week it will be conducting a full analysis on the potential environmental impacts of Canadian oil company Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 pipeline tunnel before deciding whether to issue permits for its construction. Read the full story by Michigan Advance.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-line-5
Sometime in the next week, four eggs belonging to piping plovers Nellie and Nish are expected to hatch at Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio. Nellie and Nish are the first pair to be seen nesting on Lake Erie in Ohio since the 1930s. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-piping-plovers-birds
Using stock from the Rainy River on the Minnesota-Ontario border, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources began stocking juvenile lake sturgeon in the Otter Tail River and other Red River tributaries in 1997 in an effort to reintroduce the species to the Red River Basin. Twelve years later, the first reproductively mature female sturgeon was discovered in the Red River Basin in 2019. Read the full story by The Bemidji Pioneer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-sturgeon-fish
National, state, and provincial parks around the Great Lakes are expecting a spike in visitation this summer as the United States and Canada continue to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-parks
The International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board has indicated that unless the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River basin receives “significant” rainfall, it appears that water levels have reached maximum for the season. Lake Ontario’s level is presently at 245.14 feet, more than a foot below its long-term average for this point in the year of 246.29 feet. Read the full story by Watertown Daily Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-water-levels
Record-high water levels in Lake Ontario in 2017 and 2019 caused significant flooding and erosion along New York state’s Crescent Beach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed repairs to a breakwater that was damaged during the high waters, and further efforts to mitigate future impacts from flooding include the development of a barrier bar beach to reduce wave energy that reaches the shoreline. Read the full story by Finger Lake Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-ontario-water-level
PFAS has been detected in the groundwater below the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford Township, Michigan. Thirteen of the 24 homes on well water north of the airport opted for their water to be tested by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and results for 11 homes showed detectable concentrations of one or more PFAS compounds. Read the full story by The Oakland Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210628-pfas
The brains behind the SeaCavesWatch.org website have developed a new website that offers real-time wave condition information for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Lake Superior. Before venturing onto the lake, paddlers and boaters should check WISC-Watch (https://go.wisc.edu/7y2x4o), which stands for Water Information for a Safe Coast Watch. The WISC-Watch site provides information from seven spotter buoys recently deployed throughout the islands, plus Chequamegon Bay near Ashland and Siskiwit Bay near Cornucopia. The buoys monitor wave height, water temperature and wind information.
Lynne Dominy. Image credit: National Park Service
“Apostle Islands National Lakeshore offers world-class sea kayaking and sailing in a remote environment,” said Lynne Dominy, park superintendent. “But treacherous waves and frigid water temperatures can imperil boaters. We hope boaters will use this system to assess current conditions and to make good decisions before venturing out on Lake Superior.”
The site was developed as part of a yearlong project by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Sea Grant with advice from the National Park Service and the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.
Chin Wu, project leader and a professor in the UW-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said spotter buoys were deployed in mid-June at the mainland sea caves, Sand Island, Devil’s Island, Stockton Island and southeast of Madeline Island, in addition to Chequamegon Bay and Siskiwit Bay.
“Besides the mainland sea caves, real-time measurements of wave heights and water temperatures have never been provided at these locations before,” Wu said. “The data we collect will also help us make nearshore wave and current forecast models operational.”
Next summer, a team led by Natalie Chin, Wisconsin Sea Grant climate and tourism outreach specialist, and Todd Breiby with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, will conduct a public survey to assess and evaluate the best ways to communicate real-time wave information. This could lead to refinements to the website and buoy locations.
Sarah Peterson, a Ph.D. student at UW-Madison, holds one of the spotter sensors deployed in the Apostle Islands for the WISC-Watch Project. Image credit: Chin Wu
Water conditions around the 22 Apostle Islands vary dramatically due to sheltering effects from the archipelago and rapidly changing winds and fast-moving storms. Recent boating accidents are an unpleasant reminder of the dangers. Under certain conditions, freak waves, which can tower more than 10-feet tall, or unexpected dangerous currents can also occur.
The WISC-Watch Project was funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Sea Grant and the UW-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Other project partners include the National Park Service, the National Weather Service in Duluth, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the cities of Bayfield and Ashland, Northland College, the Lake Superior Nearshore Working Group, the Friends of the Apostle Islands and local outfitters.
Additional team members include Mike Friis with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Jim Hurley and Marie Zhuikov with Wisconsin Sea Grant, Julie Van Stappen and Karl Carlson with the National Park Service, Josh Anderson with UW-Madison, and Mary Monroe Brown and Julieann Fox with Travel Wisconsin.
The post Real-time wave information expands for paddlers and boaters in the Apostle Islands first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/real-time-wave-information-expands-for-paddlers-and-boaters-in-the-apostle-islands/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=real-time-wave-information-expands-for-paddlers-and-boaters-in-the-apostle-islands
Green Bay, WI
https://www.weather.gov/grb/HeavyRainfallAcrosstheAreaSinceJune20th
The Advisor e-newsletter offers Great Lakes Commission news and information to keep our partners up to date on our work on behalf of our member states and provinces, and the 48 million people in the Great Lakes region. Subscribe today!
Published June 2021 | View E-Newsletter
Click here to view an archive of recent e-newsletters, or to subscribe!
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/library/2021-06-advisor-newsletter
The Advisor e-newsletter offers Great Lakes Commission news and information to keep our partners up to date on our work on behalf of our member states and provinces, and the 48 million people in the Great Lakes region. Subscribe today!
Published June 2021 | View E-Newsletter
Click here to view an archive of recent e-newsletters, or to subscribe!
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/library/2021-06-advisor-newsletter
NCEI News Feed
http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/humans-ncei-arthur-annis-iii
Michigan farmers, especially soybean farmers, could benefit from higher sales to Cuba, state agricultural organizations say.
The post Michigan farmers could benefit from easing trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba, experts say first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/06/28/michigan-farmers-could-benefit-from-easing-trade-relations-between-the-u-s-and-cuba-experts-say/
Parks around the Great Lakes are expecting a spike in visitation this season as the United States and Canada continue to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
At Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the park campgrounds and backpacking sites are booked for the summer after a record 1.2 million visitors last year.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/great-lakes-parks-increased-visitation-summer/
Two powerful community advocacy groups in Toledo, the Junction Coalition and the Toledo Water Council, have managed to make great headway to press for policies in the best interest of their residents. Together, these groups have moved the City to pass a water debt forgiveness ordinance, water protections for tenants ordinance, a contract with a premier consultant for a water affordability study, and so much more. Click HERE to learn more about the slew of accomplishments these local groups have accomplished.
Freshwater Future’s Executive Director, Jill Ryan, will be a special guest speaker for Bay View Association ‘Scarrow Friday Forum’ on July 9th. The discussion will talk about the special qualities of the Great Lakes that make them so important, as well as highlighting issues of concern in the region and the solutions Freshwater Future brings to those concerns. Topics will include: rebuilding trust in water in Flint and beyond; pushing for faster notification of residents when water contamination is found; ensuring protections are enforced to protect our rivers, lakes and wetlands from acid mine drainage; and more. If you are in northern Michigan, please join us!
Tens of thousands have weighed in on the proposal to develop a new utility tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron. The tunnel would house, among other utilities, a replacement of the existing controversial 63-year old oil transportation pipelines currently running in the same area. Tighter scrutiny is needed because the Canadian company that operates the pipelines and wishes to build the tunnel has not provided sufficient information in permit applications about the project, including risks to water and people, design gaps and consideration of tribal cultural resources. Freshwater Future applauds the efforts of countless residents, organizations and tribes who have pushed for this tighter scrutiny.
A Sheboygan County Judge dismissed Kohler Co.’s lawsuit regarding a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) permit that allowed for the filling of wetlands near the Lake Michigan coast. This decision affirmed a previous judge’s decision that the “WDNR should not rely on vague promises” from development projects when it comes to the protection of groundwater and wetlands. Freshwater Future has awarded multiple grants to Friends of Black River Forest to assist in their legal battle to help preserve coastal wetlands in Wisconsin.
The Michigan cities came together during a call with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and highlighted key points that are affecting their communities as well as communities across the country. The lead pipes within our infrastructure are beyond their useful lifespans and protecting residents from harm is paramount. Freshwater Future staff member Brandon Tyus was able to support residents’ voices on the call, Follow us on Facebook to see more.
Your typical morning jog alongside the lake or Saturday fun day at the lake can possibly make you ill. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are currently studying the impacts of toxins that are released from algae blooms when algae is disturbed. To avoid exposure, reduce contact with algae blooms when enjoying the lake and consider another outdoor location when waves are rough.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-future-june-25-2021/
From lead pipes to PFAS, drinking water contamination is a major issue plaguing cities and towns all around the Great Lakes. Cleaning up contaminants and providing safe water to everyone is an ongoing public health struggle.
Keep up with drinking water-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Illinois:
MOLINE, Ill.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/06/lead-pipes-illinois-minnesota-grand-jury-flint-water-line-3/
By Alexis Smith, Community Database and Tech Coordinator
In 2018, the City of Toledo pushed through a plan to regionalize governance of the Toledo water utility that sells water to suburbs at wholesale prices and substantially increases water rates for residents living in the City. Toledo rates are expected to increase by about 60% over the next five years. Even prior to this regionalization, Junction Coalition, a community-based organization in a low-income neighborhood, had been tackling environmental and social justice issues for years. This community organization partnered with a number of local and national environmental organizations to focus on green infrastructure projects which led to the installations of bioswales and rain gardens, urban gardening to combat food deserts, and the transformation of vacant lots in their community to green, usable spaces.
In response to the decision to regionalize water and the rising rates in Toledo, Junction Coalition partnered with Freshwater Future to form the Toledo Community Water Council. While the Junction community stands to be among the hardest hit communities impacted by the rising water rates, the Toledo Community Water Council serves as a platform where concerned citizens all over Toledo can voice their concerns and create opportunities to influence the decisions made around drinking water.
As a result of this collaborative partnership, amazing progress has been made, such that, the advocacy of these residents has now moved the City to accomplish the following:
Freshwater Future partnered with the City of Toledo and Blue Conduit to submit a grant to use an innovative tool to inventory the city’s water distribution lines for lead and educate residents on how to protect themselves from lead-in water. By utilizing these cutting edge tools, the project should help reduce costs of removing lead pipes, thereby reducing further price increases. (See adjacent box.)
In addition to ensuring residents have access to safe and affordable drinking water, members of the Water Council are also focusing on educating their neighbors on other environmental justice issues that impact the quality of and access to water such as harmful algal blooms and the public health risks of lead in water.
This collaborative work to help bring the wisdom and strength of residents’ voices to the decision-making processes around drinking water has shown that community involvement improves the results by ensuring the needs of residents are at the forefront.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/drinking-water/toledo-water-council-makes-progress-on-water-affordability/
On May 28th, 2021, a Wisconsin judge denied the Kohler Co.’s request to reinstate a development permit for a golf course, previously granted to them from Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in 2017.
The Friends of Black River Forest challenged the permit decision claiming that the environmental impact statement was incomplete and had some factual inconsistencies when it came to assessing secondary impacts of the golf course. An administrative law judge threw out the original permit, after finding that the WDNR lacked sufficient information to grant the permit. The company sought to have the permit reinstated in court and another administrative law judge threw out the permit request again.
According to Mary Faydash, a spokesperson of Friends of Black River Forest, “this decision affirms the ALJ’s conclusion that the DNR should not rely on vague promises to protect groundwater and wetlands from golf course development and operation”. Freshwater Future assisted Friends of Black River Forest by providing them a grant in 2018 to help the organization provide the expert testimony and legal review for the preservation of these unique wetlands. They were also recently awarded another grant from Freshwater Future to help continue their legal efforts in preserving wetlands and holding water regulatory agencies accountable.
The proposed golf course planned to fill in nearly 4 acres of wetlands and eliminate nearly 250 acres of habitats that are rare and unique to the region and the world. The property contains interdunal wetlands that provide habitat, resting areas, and nesting places for many uncommon plant species and migratory birds. Wetlands help filter water before entering underground water reservoirs, which are used for drinking water. By filling in these wetlands, the groundwater becomes more susceptible to contamination from the additional pollution and chemicals that the golf course would be producing as runoff. Wetlands also help to reduce stormwater runoff and control flooding. The increase of extreme rain events, due to climate change, are making the need for wetlands even more essential.These were some of the factors that failed to be considered when the permit was granted, which were also presented during the court hearing.
Faydash states that the next step for the Friends of Black River Forest is to take an educational path to help inform the community about why these habitats need to be preserved. Knowledge is power, and the best way to help preserve the environment is to stay informed.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/grassroots-work/judge-blocks-golf-course-permit-preserving-rare-ecosystems-in-wisconsin/
