Voluntary agricultural conservation programs have failed to effectively reduce fertilizer run-off that fuels Lake Erie’s toxic algal blooms, leading many environmental groups to advocate for compulsory regulations to better protect the lakes. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210310-runoff
New computer simulation technology enables scientists to study how toxic chemicals harm walleye populations in Lake Erie. These simulations improve expert’s ability to clean up contaminants and to protect walleye. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210310-walleye
Scientists are studying the implications of decreased ice coverage and warmer water temperatures on Lake Superior. Once considered pristine, Lake Superior’s ecosystem is sensitive to small temperature changes that could increase the occurrence of harmful algal blooms on the lake and impact the regional economy. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210310-winter
Swimming from Toronto’s downtown waterfront — a health-risking feat a generation ago — could be part of a redeveloped “Parliament Slip” project that would also feature kayaking, a floating restaurant and more. Read the full story by the Toronto Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-waterfront-toronto
In 2018, Eat the Fish launched and began selling mostly locally harvested fish. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to the Eat the Fish business plan. Now the business is trying a community supported fishery. Read the full story by CBC.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-eat-fish
The city of Sandusky may have some lessons to help future redevelopment of Lorain, Ohio. The goal was to see examples that could guide planning efforts for Lorain’s waterfront and potentially moving City Hall. Read the full story by the Morning Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-lorain-development
Tourists have been flocking to the Straits of Mackinac, where tons of blue ice chunks have been stacking up along the shoreline. This is a phenomenon that doesn’t happen every year but isn’t completely new to the Straits. Read the full story by WOOD-TV- Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-blue-ice
A Kalamazoo River expert said his measurements show the total amount of sediment build up in the Kalamazoo River may be much worse than estimates reported by the owner of the Morrow Dam. Read the full story by WWMT-TV- Kalamazoo, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-sediment
For over two decades, the Thousand Islands Land Trust has been focused on land and water preservation in the Crooked Creek watershed between Alexandria Bay and Chippewa Bay. These areas are one of the Thousand Islands’ most ecologically important landscapes. Read the full story by NNY Living.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-land-trust
It was bound to happen: The snow is finally melting. But with that snow, the trash beneath is revealed. Now begins the effort to clean up the trash before it makes its way into local waterways. Read the full story by WTMJ-TV- Milwaukee, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-street-sweep
The Canadian government is making waves again about Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s attempt to shut down Line 5, but this time the saber rattling is coming from a cabinet member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration. Read the full story by The Detroit News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-line-5
Thanks to a spongy M&M-like technology, contaminated soil in the Detroit River downstream of the MacArthur Bridge has been contained. Read the full story by the Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-detroit-contaminants
The Village of Somers in Kenosha County, Wisconsin submitted an application for a water diversion to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last month as part of compliance with the Great Lakes Compact. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210309-water-draw
Dozens of bird watchers flocked to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to take advantage of the “bonus” Wildlife Drive opening this past weekend. The drive drew a steady stream of vehicles from the public throughout the daylight hours catching glimpses of migrating ducks and the lush natural wetlands off the western coast of Lake Erie. According to researchers, vehicle traffic has actually been found to be less intrusive to wildlife populations than people outside of their vehicles. Read the full story by Port Clinton News Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-bird-watching-refuge
The new campground is named as a nod to the many shipwrecks along that stretch of the Lake Superior shore. The campsite will have 46 sites with electric service, and a modern shower and bathroom facility, and includes a parking lot and access to numerous hiking and biking trails. Read the full story by MPR News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-campground
Michigan’s Indigenous people cite concerns over Canadian oil company Enbridge’s impending Line 5 pipeline tunnel project in the Mackinac Straits, due to potential uptick in rates of sexual violence and sex trafficking that has been documented following pipeline projects. Read the full story by Michigan Advance.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-line-5-tribes
The United States Coast Guard will begin ice-breaking operations on the lower St. Marys River on Tuesday ahead of the opening of the Soo Locks on March 24th. Read the full story by SooToday.com
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-ice-breaking-shipping-season
The public has the opportunity to give its ideas on the final design concept for improvements at Lake Superior’s Eagle Harbor State Harbor, a designated state harbor of refuge, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Keweenaw County. Read to the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-michigan-harbor-plan
Wolf hunting policies in some states are taking an aggressive turn, as Republican lawmakers and conservative hunting groups push to curb their numbers and propose tactics shunned by many wildlife managers. In Wisconsin, just weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration lifted protections for wolves in the Great Lakes region, hunters using hounds and trappers blew past the state’s harvest goal and killed almost twice as many as planned. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-wolf-hunt
A Michigan fisheries order restored previous fishing restrictions such as net fishing depths of 150 feet in lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior, harvest of whitefish in Lake Erie, and restoration of the previous fishing season. Read the full story by Manistee News Advocate.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-michigan-fish
A batch of aquarium products known as “moss balls” were contaminated with invasive zebra mussels before they were distributed to pet stores across the country. Read the full story by WPXI-TV – Pittsburgh, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-invasive-zebra-mussels-moss
Thirty years ago this week, the Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota ruptured, spilling 1.7 million gallons of crude oil onto a frozen river near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. If the river had not been frozen, the oil could have contaminated drinking water. Protests have been ongoing to stop construction rerouting a section of the Line 3 pipeline which could impact Indigenous communities and local waterways. View the full story by PBS NewsHour.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-minnesota-line-3
Research shows that in some lakes invasive zebra mussels appeared to have a serious negative effect on walleyes because of increased water clarity. In other lakes, they seem to have had little or no effect on walleye populations and size structure. Read the full story by Superior Telegram.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210308-invasive-mussels
In anticipation of large-scale community growth, the Village of Somers, Wisconsin, submitted a request to divert 1.2 million gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan. Because the village is partially located within the Great Lakes Basin, sign-off is only required from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and not the governors of all states bordering the Great Lakes. Read the full story by Urban Milwaukee.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-diversion
The EPA voluntarily requested to review if discharges from the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota “may affect” the downstream Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. If the EPA finds PolyMet discharges would affect the Fond du Lac Band’s water, the band could object to PolyMet’s water permit and require the Army Corps to hold a hearing on the band’s objection. Read the full story by Pine Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-polymet-review
Canada’s natural resources minister vowed to fight Michigan’s efforts to close the Line 5 oil pipeline using every available diplomatic and legal tool, calling the continued operation of Line 5 “non-negotiable”. Read the full story by CBC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-line5
A new study highlights investment opportunities for green infrastructure within Great Lakes cities that can support climate adaption and boost economic and employment opportunities. Read the full story by DBusiness.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-gi-investments
President Joe Biden may be the key to settling the dispute over a Canadian-owned pipeline in Michigan, according to experts who study Canada-U.S. relations. Canada is actively exploring all options to stop the closure of Line 5, including invoking a 1977 treaty regarding oil transport between the U.S. and Canada. Read the full story by CBC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-line5-diplomacy
When the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency approved the final permit for the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline project, environmental activists chained themselves to trees near the construction site, hoping to delay or even halt the project. It was the latest altercation in a more than century-long struggle that has come to define Minnesota’s very nature. Read the full story by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-mn-activism
Satellites detected volcanic plumes and sulfur dioxide clouds drifting over Lake Michigan this week from a recent eruption of Mt. Aetna in Italy. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-volcanic-plume
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers to visit wetlands around the state this spring to help the agency survey frog and toad populations. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-frog-study
A new understanding of how genes affect which fish can see deep in Lake Superior could help scientists seeking to support fish habitat restoration projects in the lake. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-fish-vision
Those in West Michigan affected by PFAS contamination in their drinking water are encouraged to participate in a state study that seeks to learn more about the impact the PFAS contamination on residents’ health. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210305-pfas-study
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announced the reintroduction of the Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act Wednesday, which would expand Coast Guard icebreaking efforts across the Great Lakes. Read the full story by WKOW- TV – Madison, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-icebreaking
Lake Ontario’s water levels are nearly 2 feet lower than they were this time last year. It has Great Lakes officials optimistic shoreline communities will avoid any major flood damage this year. Read and listen to the full story by WBFO – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-ontario
As one of the few Great Lakes wetlands remaining in the state, the Arcadia Marsh Preserve in Arcadia, Michigan provides visitors with a glimpse into the region’s rich ecological history. Read the full story by Manistee News Advocate.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-arcadia-marsh
Satellite observations show that more than half of seasonal freshwater level changes on Earth happen in human-managed reservoirs, underscoring the profound impact humanity has on the global water cycle. Read the full story by the Science Daily.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-human-control
Environmental experts in the Georgian Bay area say the warming of Lake Huron can have significant effects on the weather, environment and wildlife. Read the full story by Collingwood Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-georgian-bay
A report from the Pennenvironment Research and Policy Center looked at 53 Pennsylvania Waterways, including Lake Erie, Edinboro Lake, Elk Creek and Millcreek. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-pennsylvania-plastics
We can use human ingenuity to solve the climate crisis. But doing so will force us to redefine what we think of as nature. Read the full story by Wired Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-climate-lessons
The first flood outlook issued by the Northeast River Forecast Center highlights Western New York as having above normal river flood risk through mid-March.. Read the full story by WGRZ – TV – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-new-york-flooding
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council is asking Gov. Tim Walz to temporarily stop the ongoing construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. Read the full story by The Circle.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-line-3
After receiving over $20 million in grant funding, the city is working to bring it back better than ever. The city recently revealed the first renditions of the repairs and upgrades they plan to make, including adding streams, ponds, trees, and environmentally friendly walkways. Read the full story by WWTV/WWUP-TV Cadillac-Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210304-carbide-dock
The Huron River is a life force for the Michigan communities in its watershed. Throughout the years, it is women who have been a driving force in improving its quality. Read the full story by WEMU – Ypsilanti, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-woman
The International Joint Commission says it’s very unlikely Lake Ontario will severely flood this year. Lake Ontario water levels are now below average for the first time in years, despite high outflows from Lake Erie. Read the full story by WSYR-TV – Syracuse, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-ijc
The Waterfront Walkway on the east bank of the Portage River in downtown Port Clinton, Ohio, is finally going to begin this year. Bids on the $1.9 million project are expected to be put out in the coming weeks and the work could start in late summer. Read the full story by The Beacon.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-walkway
More than a month after the southern end of St. Clair County experienced widespread severe flooding, the city of Port Huron, Michigan, is preparing for potential spring flooding on the Black River. Read the full story by the Port Huron Times Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-flooding
In January 2019, a Polar Vortex arrived across much of the northern United States and Canada, causing Lake Superior to begin icing over between Isle Royale and the Canadian shore. A rare ice bridge formed and a recently re-located gray wolf made her escape off Isle Royale. Read the full story by CBC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-wolf
Milwaukee’s rivers have slowly been revitalized through a variety of cleanup projects in recent years. But, the estuary — the area in which the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers meet Lake Michigan — is still one of the most environmentally degraded sites on the Great Lakes due to contamination caused by decades of industrial waste. Read the full story by WUWM – Milwaukee, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-estuary
NOAA meteorologists have found a 5% decline in ice cover due to atmospheric warming. Our winter this year allowed for less ice coverage at the beginning of the season, with January seeing the second lowest coverage on record. Read the full story by WBNS-TV – Columbus, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210303-ice
