On:
In: Daily News

Tribal leaders in Michigan rejected proposals for “peacemaking” talks with Enbridge over the Line 5 pipeline, and dismissed recent efforts by Enbridge to engage in Anishinaabek reconciliation traditions as a public relations ploy that amounts to cultural appropriation. Read the full story by Petoskey News-Review.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-enbridge

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: Daily News

Scientists on the EPA’s Lake Guardian research vessel are studying how climate change is impacting the base of the food web in the lakes, as changing lake chemistry could impact the abundance of microorganisms that larger animals like fish rely on for food. Read the full story by Michigan Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-food-web

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: Daily News

Every year, the EPA’s 180-foot research vessel known as the Lake Guardian sets out to sample water quality in all five of the Great Lakes. The data collected from these expeditions helps scientists understand the health and environmental trends of the Great Lakes. Read the full story by WBFO- Buffalo, NY.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-lake-guardian

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: Daily News

Throughout the past week, the Chippewa County Health Department in northern Michigan has worked with the Lake Carriers Association and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to crew members on the Great Lakes ships passing through the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-vaccines

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: Daily News

A new study of insect data and bird surveys found that poor water quality harms the growth and development of insect population, depriving many birds species of a critical source of food, and is linked to declines in bird populations in the Great Lakes region. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-buggies

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: Daily News

US Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI) and Fred Upton (MI) introduced a new bill to accelerate the cleanup of sites contaminated with PFAS. The bill would establish a national drinking water standard for select PFAS chemicals and would give the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency direction to act on cleaning up contaminated sites in Michigan and across the country. Read the full story by WKAR – East Lansing, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210414-pfas

Ceci Weibert

On:
In: AP, Beaches, Boating, Paddle Sports and Sailing, Lake Michigan, Michigan, News, Recreation, Recreation and Tourism, Tourism, Waterfront Development
Lake Michigan town installing lights to improve beach safety

FRANKFORT, Mich. (AP) — A popular summer town along Lake Michigan is trying to improve beach safety through technology.

Frankfort will use cellular phone networks and weather data to regularly update lights installed at the beach entrance and at the pier, 9 & 10 News reported.

Signs will explain the different lights and beach conditions.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/ap-lake-michigan-town-lights-beach-safety/

The Associated Press

On:
In: Agriculture, Collaboration, Drinking Water, Feature Homepage, Latest News, News, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Supreme Court weighs state power to protect water from farm pollutants

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

By Royce Podeszwa and Jim Malewitz, Wisconsin Watch

The state Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments in a case that could determine whether the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failed to adequately protect water from manure pollution when awarding a permit to a giant dairy farm in northeastern Wisconsin — or whether the agency lacks the authority to issue such restrictions.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-protect-water-farm-pollutants/

Wisconsin Watch

On:
In: birds, Wildlife

Two new projects will use over $500,000 to help the declining pheasant population in Illinois by improving habitat, experts say. 

The post Over $500,000 dedicated to pheasant habitat conservation in Illinois first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/13/over-500000-dedicated-to-pheasant-habitat-conservation-in-illinois/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Daily News

Lake Ontario is eight inches lower than average for this time of year. That’s the lowest it’s been in early April since 2015. The chance of flooding on the lake and the St. Lawrence River this summer is relatively low. Read the full story by North Country Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-flooding

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

The city of Euclid and 12 Lake County communities recently incorporated Ohio’s first lakefront special improvement district to help property owners finance expensive and urgently needed erosion control projects along the Lake Erie shoreline. Ultimately, however, the district could become a vehicle to open new public trails along vast stretches of private lakefront land that limit access to one of Ohio’s greatest natural resources. Read the full story by Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-lakefront

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

A 2020 study shows muskrats enhance plant diversity on the St. Lawrence River, and a greater understanding of their impact could help guide understanding of their dependence on Great Lakes water levels and their related ecosystem roles. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-muskrats

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

In Illinois, dozens of volunteers searched the sands on Montrose Beach for pollution in an effort to get the stretch of Lake Michigan’s shoreline ready for the homecoming of Monty and Rose — the piping plovers. Read the full story by WLS-TV – Chicago, IL.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-montrose

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

Due to a crash in perch population, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission has this year slashed commercial harvest in Lake Erie’s Central basin by 70% and by 20% in the Eastern basin. The state of Ohio also cut sport angler limits by two-thirds from 30 fish to 10 between the Huron River and Fairport Harbor, leaving a lot of people angry. Read the full story by WKYC-TV – Cleveland, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-perch

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

Sturgeon were native to the Milwaukee River but were wiped out in the 1800s by pollution, habitat destruction and the building of dams that prohibited their movements upstream. The large, ancient fish have only recently started to show up in the Milwaukee River due to sturgeon reintroduction efforts in the watershed. Read the full story by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-sturgeon

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

The voluntary way has been tried and found wanting. The health of Lake Erie requires a firm regulatory regime to deliver the necessary reduction in phosphorous loading — now rather than later. Read the full story by the Akron Beacon Journal.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-voluntery

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

Green Bay is the largest freshwater estuary in the world, and now the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is leading the search for a site between Marinette and Door County to become a National Estuarine Research Reserve. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210412-reserve

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Catch of the Day, Wildlife

A tribal aviary located north of Harbor Springs will be the first of its kind east of the Mississippi River. 

The post New eagle aviary and rehabilitation center will be built out of a collaboration between Wings of Wonder and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of the Odawa Indians first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/12/new-eagle-aviary-and-rehabilitation-center-will-be-built-out-of-a-collaboration-between-wings-of-wonder-and-the-little-traverse-bay-bands-of-the-odawa-indians/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: muskrats, Wildlife

A greater understanding of muskrats' impact could help guide understanding of their dependence on Great Lakes water levels and their related ecosystem roles.

The post Muskrats love fluctuating water levels. Property owners, not so much. first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/12/muskrats-love-fluctuating-water-levels-property-owners-not-so-much/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Uncategorized

Chicago, IL (April 9, 2021) – Earlier today, President Biden released his proposed FY 2022 discretionary budget. In response, Alliance for the Great Lakes Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Programs Molly Flanagan released the following statement.

“The Alliance for the Great Lakes is pleased that the Biden Administration’s proposed FY 2022 President’s Budget continues the Administration’s strong commitment to reinvesting in America. The proposed budget includes much needed increases to domestic agencies and their work in the Great Lakes. U.S. EPA’s base budget is proposed to increase by $2 billion, or 21 percent, over last year’s funding level. This puts the agency in a position to protect and restore one of our country’s most precious resources, the Great Lakes. Furthermore, the additional funding expands the agency’s enforcement capability to hold polluters accountable.

We also thank the Biden Administration for their commitment to righting environmental injustice with their Justice40 initiative, which promises to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities. We look forward to seeing this plan in action throughout many historically under-served Great Lakes towns and cities.”

###

Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Statement on President Biden’s Budget Proposal appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News – Alliance for the Great Lakes

News – Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2021/04/statement-on-president-bidens-budget-proposal/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Freshwater Weekly

April 9, 2021

This week: Celebrate Freshwater Heroes, April 22nd Virtual Event + Keep Water On–Restore the Prohibition on Water Shutoffs! + Illinois Has the Most Lead Water Infrastructure + Michigan Governor Uses Defense Law on PFAS Clean-up at Air Force Base + Stop U.S. EPA’s Rule to Loosen Criminal Enforcement Standards for State Clean Water Act Programs 

Celebrate Freshwater Heroes, April 22nd Virtual Event

You are invited to the 2020 Freshwater Heroes Celebration! Please join us on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd at Noon (ET) as we honor several people, organizations, and communities throughout the Great Lakes Region who are committed to protecting our earth’s precious freshwater resources. This live virtual celebration is open to the public! This is a free event, but pre-registration is required. 

Keep Water On–Restore the Prohibition on Water Shutoffs!

New York’s and Michigan’s moratoria on water shutoffs have expired. As COVID-19 cases surge again, water shutoffs will set our progress back dramatically. Will you help us urge state decision-makers to reinstate the moratoria during a pandemic where handwashing and wearing masks are essential? If you live in New York or Michigan please use our easy system to ask your state decision-makers to reinstate the moratoria today! 

Illinois Has the Most Lead Water Infrastructure

Until 1986, the State of Illinois required lead material be used for water service piping also called service lines. As a result, Illinois has more lead service lines than any other U.S. state. Lead is a toxic metal that builds-up in bodies causing severe health impacts. Illinois Senators are urging the U.S. EPA to update the Lead and Copper Rule to reduce the amount of lead in drinking water. Note: although the article references the federal standard of 15 ppb of lead as a safety threshold, it is not.  The federal lead standard for drinking water is only an indicator of whether anticorrosive treatments are working. There is no safe level of lead.

Michigan Governor Uses Defense Law on PFAS Clean-up at Air Force Base

After the U.S. Department of Defense stated it would not clean up the PFAS contaminated groundwater to Michigan standards, the Governor of Michigan sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense in an effort to force the federal agency to comply with Michigan’s health-focused cleanup laws. 

Stop U.S. EPA’s Rule to Loosen Criminal Enforcement Standards for State Clean Water Act Programs 

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. EPA proposed a rule to weaken protections for wetlands, water quality, and wildlife. There is still a chance to prevent finalization of this harmful rule. Freshwater Future is joining our partners in calling on the Biden administration to uphold its commitments to clean water and to set the standard for robust environmental protection and enforcement. If you would like to urge the U.S. EPA to withdraw this unlawful rule, please consider signing on to this letter. The deadline to add your organization’s name to the letter is next Tuesday, April 13th. Please contact Kristy Meyer, at kristy@freshwaterfuture.org.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-weekly-april-9-2021/

Freshwater Future

On:
In: Collaboration, COVID-19, Drinking Water, Equity and Environmental Justice, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, PFAS
Federal Agencies Plan to Investigate Links between PFAS Exposure and Viral Illness

By Brett Walton, 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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/federal-agencies-plan-to-investigate-links-between-pfas-exposure-and-viral-illness/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: Fish, Birds and Animals, Forests and Plants, indigenous communities
Lawsuit: Michigan wolf advisory group stacked with hunting advocates

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan, through the Institute for Nonprofit News network.

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/lawsuit-michigan-wolf-advisory-group-stacked-with-hunting-advocates/

Bridge Michigan

On:
In: Uncategorized

Researchers studied harvested and intact forested catchments in the Pacific Northwest to determine if there is a difference between surface-air mercury fluxes in vegetated versus non-vegetated areas. Results showed that the forested ecosystem largely acted as a repository for deposited elemental mercury throughout most of the year, whereas the harvested catchments emitted mercury to the atmosphere. Differences in solar radiation reaching the soil was the primary driver resulting in a shift from net deposition to emission in harvested catchments. Fluxes of mercury to the atmosphere, which accounted for 97 percent of the differences in mercury sequestered in forested versus harvested catchments, were much larger than runoff fluxes in streams. Providing a better understanding of mercury flux in intact and disturbed soils can aid global-scale model development ahead of the anticipated outcomes of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. 

Eckley, C.S., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Tate, M.T., Krabbenhoft, D.P., 2021, Surface-air mercury fluxes and a watershed mass balance in forested and harvested catchments: Environmental Pollution, v. 277, p. 116869, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116869.

Original Article

USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center

USGS News: Upper Midwest Water Science Center

https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/surface-air-mercury-fluxes-and-a-watershed-mass-balance-forested-and-harvested

sbeldin@usgs.gov

On:
In: Uncategorized

Forest soils can act as repositories for atmospherically deposited mercury, yet forestry practices can influence mercury mobility and fluxes, food web dynamics, and bioaccumulation processes.

Original Article

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

Upper Midwest Water Science Center

http://www.usgs.gov/news/surface-air-mercury-fluxes-and-watershed-mass-balance-forested-and-harvested-catchments

sbeldin@usgs.gov

On:
In: Daily News

A new study by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shows that high-capacity wells have been reducing the level of three lakes in the Central Sands region, affecting ecosystems and recreation in the area. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210409-centralsands

Laura Andrews

On:
In: Daily News

In Michigan, a spill of firefighting foam at the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport caused a spike of PFAS pollution at the Kalamazoo wastewater treatment plant, sending some into the Kalamazoo River. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210409-kalamazoo

Laura Andrews

On:
In: Article, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, infrastructure, Natasha Blakely, News, Recreation and Tourism, Science, Technology, Research, Shipping and Ports
Regional Thoughts: Some reactions from various Great Lakes leaders on President Biden’s infrastructure plan

President Joe Biden last week announced a massive $2 trillion infrastructure proposal, including how the money will be spent and plans to pay for it.

He spoke Wednesday at the training facility for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he began his presidential campaign two years ago.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/regional-thoughts-some-reactions-from-various-great-lakes-leaders-on-president-bidens-infrastructure-plan/

Natasha Blakely

On:
In: Climate, water levels

The Great Lakes region should expect shorter winters, according to a long-term deep water temperature study of Lake Michigan by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

The post Rising deep Lake Michigan temperatures may portend shorter winters first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/04/09/rising-deep-lake-michigan-temperatures-may-portend-shorter-winters/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Drinking Water, Feature Homepage, Indiana, indigenous communities, infrastructure, Latest News, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts, Wisconsin
Drinking Water News Roundup: Ontario Indigenous lawsuit over water dispute, 50,000 sign up for Flint settlement, Ohio infrastructure loans

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:

Indiana:

  • Indiana Lawmakers Amend Environment Bills as Deadlines Near – Chicago Tribune

Dozens of amendments to bills affecting Indiana environmental policy have sparked debate among lawmakers as the Legislature enters its final stretch of the session.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/04/drinking-water-ontario-dispute-flint-settlement-ohio-infrastructure/

Grace Dempsey