Drivers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and other wintry parts of the world have for decades used their cold-weather street smarts to put a frozen twist on NASCAR. When the temperatures drop enough, ice racing leagues pop up on frozen lakes in communities across the Midwest and beyond. Read to the full story by Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210301-lake-superior-ice-racing
New research finds the annual dead zone in Lake Erie is being amplified by naturally occurring nutrients at the bottom of the lake, which speed up the process of oxygen depletion. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210301-lake-erie-nutrient-pollution
The Wisconsin Sea Grant recently released its biennial report addressing the organization’s progress on its four pillars: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; resilient communities and economies; and environmental literacy and workforce development. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210301-wisconsin-sea-grant
Eagle Creek Renewable Energy which operates Morrow Dam near Kalamazoo, MI has stated it’s almost ready to dredge a small amount of sediment from the Kalamazoo River. But the company’s overall timetable for cleaning up the silt that poured out of the dam’s reservoir last year has not satisfied state regulators. Read the full story by WMUK – FM – Kalamazoo, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-michigan-dam-dredge
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will lower the dam’s Tobacco River spillway Feb. 24 by more than 20 feet, which will drop water levels about 12 feet upstream of the dam by mid-March. The decreased water levels will make ice formations hazardous in those areas as the water recedes, according to a department statement. Read the full story by The Detroit News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-michigan-dam
Construction of the $20 million FishPass project is on hold. FishPass construction was supposed to start in January, however a judge has ruled that there’s enough evidence to argue it might need to go to a public vote. Read to the full story by WWTV – TV – Cadillac, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-fishpass-michigan
Multiple studies dating back to the 1970s have shown that road deicing salt has a negative impact on soil, vegetation, wildlife, surface water, groundwater and human health. In December 2020, Michigan passed Public Act No. 310 which states in part that, “the department must implement a pilot program on the use of agricultural additives to control ice on public roads [and] … review the potential efficacy and environmental impacts of agricultural additives, while maintaining the safety and mobility of the motoring public.” Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-road-salt-alternatives
A New York private equity firm, has purchased the bottled water brand as part of a $4.3 billion acquisition, which includes all of Nestle’s assets in Michigan, including a massive bottling factory in Mecosta County and several high-capacity groundwater extraction wells that have been the focus of intense criticism in recent years. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-michigan-nestle-water
A researcher from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has a plan to use Asian carp to address worldwide food insecurity. Read the full story by KPLR – TV – St. Louis, MO.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-invasive-asian-carp
A collection of environmental experts is scheduled to dissect the effects of and plans to address the New Zealand mud snail under Michigan Trout Unlimited’s webinar series which will begin Feb. 24 and include monthly sessions through June. Read the full story by Record-Eagle.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-invasive-snails-webinar
The Farmory raises the Green Bay strain of yellow perch in captivity because they need help to thrive as young fish. In the wild Green Bay yellow perch take two years to reach maturity but in these ideal conditions, the Farmory can grow them in a single year. Read the full story by WeAreGreenBay.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-wisconsin-fish-perch
Premier Doug Ford says he can’t get through to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over concerns about an estimated 3,000 Ontario refinery jobs that are at stake because of the state’s decision to close an underwater Enbridge pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac by May. Read and view the full story by Toronto Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-line-5-pipeline
The Ontario government is planning to expand the Greenbelt to encompass more urban river valleys and the Paris-Galt Moraine, a rock formation that stretches across the northwestern Greater Toronto Area with what could be the largest addition since it was originally protected in 2005. Read the full story by Canada’s National Observer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210218-ontario-conservation-greenbelt
The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, considered the entire Great Lakes 42% ice covered Tuesday which is about average. This represents an increase from last year at this time when only 14.2% of the lakes was iced over and is a little shy of 51.5% at this time in 2019. Read the full story by Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2021021-ice-cover
A project at Lake Superior State University received $250,000 from the United States Forest Service to install landscaping reducing the pollution flowing into the St. Marys River, as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Read and view the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-green-landscaping-water-quality
A mild December and January left the waters of Lake Michigan, near South Haven, mainly open and free of ice. But, over the last two weeks, temperatures fell and ice finally began to take shape along Southwest Michigan’s shoreline. Read the full story by MLive.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-shoreline-ice
Hamilton’s cold-water swimmers cavort among lake ice cubes in regular bathing suits — and to be fair, usually gloves and hats — and swim into the wintery swells for five to 15 minutes at a time. Fans of a prolonged winter dip argue the health benefits outweigh the extremity-numbing pain. Read the full story by the Hamilton Spectator.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-cold-water
A project at Lake Superior State University received $250,000 from the United States Forest Service to install landscaping reducing the pollution flowing into the St. Marys River, as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Read and view the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-green-landscaping-water-quality
At issue is Fisheries Order 243.21. Michigan Fish Producers Association sued the Michigan DNR in federal court this month alleging that the order will make commercial fishing unprofitable and asking for a preliminary injunction that would allow Michigan’s 13 commercial fishing operations back on the water under the rules that governed 2020. Read the full story by GreatLakesNow.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-commercial-fishing-michigan
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency have signed a $16 million agreement to remediate contaminated sediment in two backwater ponds surrounded by shallow marsh wetlands in Duluth. The project will improve access to the Duluth-Superior Harbor, a vital site for Minnesota’s economy. Read the full story by BusinessNorth.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-area-of-concern-pollution
A federal appellate court judge has denied a motion to stop construction of Enbridge’s controversial Line 3 replacement, the second court ruling against pipeline opponents in the past week. Read the full story by Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-enbridge-line-3
Michigan is a microcosm of the country in terms of our partisan split and difficulty interacting with those who have different viewpoints. But, there is a great exception to this divisiveness, and that’s our unity around support for the Great Lakes and clean water. Can and should President Biden utilize his interest in rebuilding civility, democracy and bipartisanship to advance clean water, equity and Great Lakes protection? Read the full story by Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-rebuilding-water-great-lakes
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently released a report documenting efforts and investments along the Great Lakes. The two-year report highlighted partnerships and achievements, including resiliency improvements, source water protection and accelerating restoration initiatives in communities that have been historically and disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution. Read the full story by WWTI – TV – Watertown, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210209-restoration-plan
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ice cover on the Great Lakes is at its second lowest point since NOAA started keeping records in 1973, standing at 13%. Lake Huron in particular is at its third lowest point since that time. Read the full story by Huron Daily Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-ice-cover
Grain silos may not be the first place that comes to mind as a spot to create artwork, but that’s exactly what is about to happen in Toledo. 28 ADM silos along the Maumee River are about to become host to a mural. It’s called the Glass City River Wall. Read and view the full story by WTVG-TV Toledo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-toledo-river-art
A preliminary feasibility study is set to begin along the water’s edge of the historic Ford estate along Lake St. Clair. The goal is to restore a mile of coastline to benefit the Great Lakes aquatic ecosystem. Read the full story by WDET – FM – Detroit, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-ford-shoreline-restoration
Wolverine Worldwide is in the final stages of a feasibility study for the future of the House Street area, contaminated by PFAS, proposing either a nature preserve with remediation, or a 30-acre cap which would make the land mostly unusable. Read the full story by WZZM – TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-wolverine-pfas-pollution
It will be a few more days before a task force set up to study Michigan’s dam safety regulations will finish its final report due to task force member requests to soften the tone of the report. Read the full story by Michigan Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-michigan-dam-regulation
The Great Lakes Research Consortium announced the call for proposals for 2021 Great Lakes Research Consortium small grants funding. Grants are available as seed funding for new, cooperative projects that contribute to the protection and restoration of the health of New York’s Great Lakes and for ecosystem-based management. Read and view the full story by NNY 360.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-restoration-grants
Officials in Hamilton, ON have been working toward removal of the fish, last year the team implanted tags in some larger goldfish to track their movements. In 2021, the team plans to further assess tagged fish to obtain an idea of the overall number in the harbour. Read the full story by Maclean’s.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-ontario-invasive
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her appointments to the state’s new Council on Climate Solutions this week. Appointees are tasked with formulating the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which will serve as the action plan for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward economywide carbon neutrality by 2050. Read the full story by WXMI – TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-michigan-climate-change
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ice cover on the Great Lakes is at its second lowest point since NOAA started keeping records in 1973, standing at 13%. Lake Huron in particular is at its third lowest point since that time. Read the full story by Huron Daily Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-ice-cover
A national hunting group filed a lawsuit this week to force an immediate start to Wisconsin’s wolf season before potential federal protections for the animals are implemented. Read the full story by WIBW – TV – Topeka, KS.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210204-wisconsin-wolf-hunt
A new tugboat, 32.2-metre-long Amy Lynn D tug, is plying Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario waters after making an epic journey across the Atlantic Ocean to her new home at Picton Terminals in Prince Edward County. Read the full story by Whig Standard.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-shipping-tug
Beginning this month, through state of Michigan funding, a project for removing mine trailing sands located in stamp sand will truck the dredged sands 4 miles north of the Grand Traverse harbor and placed in a temporary disposal area. This area is located on an existing stamp sand deposit, away from the immediate reach of Lake Superior. Read the full story by The Mining Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-mining-dredge-michigan
Beech leaf disease has been added to Michigan’s invasive species watch list and state officials are asking residents to be on the lookout for trees infested with the damaging disease. Read the full story by Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-invasive-michigan
President Joe Biden is set to sign an Executive Order, titled “Strengthening ‘Buy American’ Provisions, Ensuring Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers”, which includes strong support of the Jones Act and references the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act, which the American Maritime Partnership recently described as the most consequential maritime legislation enacted in years. Read the full story by gCaptain.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-shipping-maritime
Microplastic particles, typically studied as aquatic pollutants, are also common in coastal dunes on Great Lakes’ shorelines, according to a new study which has found that microplastic pollution is frequently transported from shore to coastal land. Read the full story by The Mining Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-microplastic-pollution
The Great Lakes are threatened by toxic, greenhouse-gas-emitting algae that thrive on phosphorus pollution. A new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, helps explain why the blooms persist: Hordes of invasive quagga mussels have effectively reengineered the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth. Read the full story by Grist.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-invasive-pollution-algae
Since its inception, the GLRI has invested more than $2.7 billion in more than 5,400 projects across all eight Great Lakes states. GLRI projects address five main areas and is helping to prevent non-native species from invading, support clean up, restore habitat and more. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-glri-funding-restoration
Wisconsin ‘s Climate Change Report was published last month by the governor’s Task Force on Climate Change and included for the first time in a government report, an Indigenous land acknowledgement that notes this land was stolen from Indigenous people. The task force sought input from the 12 Native tribes in the state for the Climate Change Report. Read the full story by Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210126-climate-change-wisconsin-tribes
The Army Corps included $3.8 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam gauntlet project in its fiscal year 2021 work plan. The project would reconfigure the Brandon Road lock in Illinois with an electric barrier, bubble barrier, acoustic deterrents and flushing lock, to prevent invasive silver and bighead carp from moving upstream. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-asian-carp-invasive
Plans to restore Lake Michigan’s Waugoshance lighthouse have now been abandoned due to the extensive damage. Read the full story by Harbor Light News,
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-lighthouse-restoration
Does Flint finally have clean water? Almost. Nearly four years after a court order required the replacement of lead pipes in the water system of Flint, Michigan, the work is only just now approaching completion. Read the full story by New York Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-michigan-flint-water-quality
In Ohio, Cuyahoga County’s Lakefront Public Access Plan aims to provide access to Lake Erie and improve transportation along the shoreline while enhancing erosion control and shoreline stability. Read the full story by Spectrum News Ohio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-shoreline-access-ohio
The effort to keep the invasive grass carp from running rampant in Lake Erie has been culminated in “The Lake Erie Grass Carp Response Strategy: 2019–2023,” which outlines Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ strategy for preventing grass carp from expanding beyond western Lake Erie and the Maumee and Sandusky rivers. Read the full story by Port Clinton News Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-grass-carp-invasive
About half a century after local leaders first proposed building a breakwall in Lake Ontario to prevent flooding in New York’s Olcott Harbor, the project finally has reached the brink of state and federal approval, with state agency and Army Corps of Engineers permits remaining. Read the full story by The Buffalo News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-new-york-harbor
In Michigan, Lake Superior State University was awarded a grant from the U.S. Forest Service’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to help create green infrastructure through the St. Marys River Green Stormwater Demonstration Project at a former industrial brownfield site later this year. Read the full story by WLUC – TV – Negaunee, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-green-infrastructure-restoration
After a year of overwhelmed sewer systems, compromised roadways, lost beachfront property, and rampant erosion along the shoreline, Traverse City, Michigan is finally getting some relief: Water levels in the Great Lakes are dropping. Read the full story by The Ticker.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-water-levels-erosion-michigan
As part of the Pike River Restoration Plan completed in 2013, the Petrifying Springs Park section of the Pike River in Wisconsin was identified for rehabilitation. Now with more than 525 tons of sediment and 368 pounds of phosphorous removed, short-term data is showing 55% reduction in phosphorus and 44% reduction in nitrogen. Read the full story by The Journal Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210120-wisconsin-river-restoration
