Color and material design students at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI have come up with an ingenious way to repurpose zebra mussel shells. Read the full story by Fast Company.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-zebra-mussel-glass
The controversial proposed Back Forty open pit metallic sulfide mine on the Michigan-Wisconsin border has suffered major financial and permitting setbacks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and increasing public concerns over the safety of tailings dams to store mine waste. Read the full story by Urban Milwaukee.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-mine-pollution-concern
A group of Port of Montreal workers plans to walk off the job for four days next week as negotiations over a new labor contract drag on. The walkout will also affect operations at the port’s Contrecoeur terminal. The port serves Canada and several U.S. states. Read the full story by the Montreal Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-montreal-dock-walkout
This latest grant announcement includes $1.83 million for FishPass, a project in Traverse City, MI that allows native fish to pass through the waterways while blocking invasive species. FishPass is expected to be operational in 2023. Read and view the full story by WWTV-TV-Cadillac, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-funding-traverse-city
A warm winter followed by a hot spell in early summer for the Great Lakes region has left Lake Michigan nearly 10 degrees hotter than normal. Read and listen to the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-warming-lakes-michigan
The National Sea Grant office awarded the funds to the new Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative, a group aiming to bring together scientists and educators from all eight states in the Great Lakes basin. Read the full story by GreatLakesNow.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200728-aquaculture-great-lakes
On Thursday, Senior U.S. District Court Judge James Carr will continue hearing evidence in a landmark Lake Erie lawsuit, which has implications for how the algae-prone Western Lake Erie will be regulated. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-lake-erie-case
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is asking members of Congress to include water resource priorities in any economic stimulus plans stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story by The News-Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-fund-great-lakes-communities
Increasing the global network of scientists who are involved in harmful algal bloom research is important to solving the problems of these blooms in bodies of water such as Lake Erie. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-algal-bloom-research+
The management plan affecting water levels on Lake Ontario may now have a better chance of working more effectively after getting some feedback from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Read the full story by The Auburn Citizen.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-ontario-management-plan
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, has emphasized that her environmental priorities are focused on the social justice issues of access to drinking water and clean air. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-environmental-justice
A New York Times staff photographer shares a collection of images from Isle Royale, a remote Michigan island in Lake Superior. Read the full story by The New York Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-isle-royale
Michigan’s remaining commercial fishers have major concerns with new state legislation, specifically the provisions that permanently prevent commercial fishers from fishing for perch, walleye, and lake trout. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-commercial-fishing
The all-time highest recorded water level for Lakes Michigan and Huron happened in October of 1986, when the two lakes reached 582.35 feet. The current level is about 2 inches below that record, but that may be as high as they get this year. Read the full story by Michigan Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-water-levels
The National Museum of the Great Lakes has partnered with the Toledo Zoo to open a temporary exhibition titled “What’s in a Name.” The exhibit is part of a collection of nameboards from Great Lakes ships, each telling its ship’s story and the background on its name. Read the full story by WNWO-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-nameboard-exhibit
A 50-foot sailboat sunk on the South Side of Lake Macatawa in Michigan Saturday morning, releasing approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel into the water. Read the full story by WXMI-TV – Macataka, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200727-sailboat-spills-fuel
Recent damage that prompted the temporary shutdown of an Enbridge oil pipeline in a channel linking two of the Great Lakes may have been done by vessels working for the company, according to an in-house report provided Thursday to The Associated Press. Read the full story by the Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-enbridge
The 2000 Great Lakes Consent Decree is set to expire in August, and a court proceeding filed last week by one Michigan Upper Peninsula tribe could end sportfishing as we know it in much of the Great Lakes. Read the full story by the Cedar Springs Post.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-fishing
A member of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) calls the United States House panel backing an Asian carp barrier project as a major step forward to keep the invasive fish from entering the Great Lakes. Read the full story by the Manitoulin Expositor.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-GLFC-carp
For some, the idea of diving the frigid waters of the Great Lakes in winter on a single breath might not be very alluring. But for others, this ice-topped wonderland provides a sanctuary for meditation and exploration. Writer-photographer Geoff Coombs takes us on a dream-like journey beneath the frozen waters of Lake Huron. Read the full story by Oceanographic Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-huron-diving
A contract has been awarded for dredging of Holland (Outer) Harbor in Holland, Michigan that will continue through September, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District reports. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-holland-harbor
A pivotal court hearing for the future of western Lake Erie is being held Friday before Senior U.S. District Judge James Carr of Toledo, Ohio. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-lake-erie-cleanup
A new report by Environment Michigan Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group looks at some of the most polluted beaches in Michigan. In 2019, several dozen of Michigan’s beaches tested were unsafe at one point or another. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-beach-pathogens
Live fire weapons demonstrations will be part of a day’s worth of World War II reenactments, held aboard the USS LST 393 Veterans Museum, the historic warship docked at 560 Mart St. in downtown Muskegon, on Saturday, July 25. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-muskegon-reenactors
During Erie’s early waterfront years, Rufus and Charles Reed maintained a monopoly hold on the local docks and shipping. The current dock iteration began with the creation of the Bayfront Parkway which provides access to portions of Erie, Pennsylvania’s waterfront that had never been seen by residents and made it possible for commercial ventures to open on or near the water. Read the full story by the Erie Reader.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-erie-docks
The Government Accountability Office released a study Thursday saying that Plan 2014 needs to be fixed. The report says the IJC has taken steps to adjust if necessary. Read the full story by WROC – Rochester, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200724-ijc-plan
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer criticized Enbridge Energy for refusing to take financial responsibility for any damages caused by a potential oil spill from its pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes. Read the full story by WTTV–TV – Indianapolis, IN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-enbridge
New standards limiting how much toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS can be in Michigan’s public drinking water will take effect August 3 after a legislative committee adjourned without taking action to block or change them. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-carp
A decade ago, the disastrous oil spill on the Kalamazoo River in Michigan raised awareness about the dangers of piping oil throughout the Great Lakes region. The spill’s impact continues to be felt in communities along the Kalamazoo River and around the Great Lakes. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-kzoo-spill
A new collective of community foundations called the Smart Citizen Science Initiative wants to combine big data and smartphones to grow community interest in protecting Lake Erie and its tributaries. The group hopes to deploy a small gadget that can be connected to a smartphone to measure algae in the lake and connecting waterways. Read the full story by WBFO – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-smartphones-in-lakes
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its grand opening, an event that connected Indiana to the world economy. Today, the Port of Burns Harbor supports over 30,000 jobs and contributes $4.6 billion in economic activity to the local economy each year. Read the full story by the Chicago Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-indiana-burns-harbor
A young man from Kettle & Stony Point First Nation and the Saugeen Ojibway Nationis on a 28-day canoe journey along the shore of Lake Huron to help others understand the importance of the lake and the complex and troubled relationship between the water, First Nations, and settler populations. Read the full story by Anishinabek News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-anishinaabe-journey
As the Great Lakes approach record high temperatures this summer, warmer waters in Lake Erie increase the likelihood of toxic algae growth that impacts drinking water and recreation on the lake. Read the full story The Buffalo News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-warm-lake-habs
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is presenting a series of virtual workshops this summer and fall on green stormwater infrastructure to promote stormwater management options in Cheboygan, Michigan, and is offering residents rain barrels to reduce stormwater runoff. Read the full story by the Cheboygan Daily Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-tip-of-the-mitt
A new report prepared for Environment and Climate Change Canada revealed the extent of garbage floating around the Great Lakes. Microfibers from clothing and cigarette butts are the most common types of trash found in the lakes. Read the full story by Soo Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-trash
Scientists predict that warmer temperatures in Lake Huron associated with climate change will harm ecosystems and biodiversity in the lake. Fish populations are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and warm waters harm reproduction in many fish species. Read the full story by Soo Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200722-huron-temps
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently passed legislation authorizing the construction of a multilayered system to prevent the spread of invasive species at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. Read the full story by The News-Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-carp
Since the beginning of the pandemic, shipboard workers have worried about the virus spreading on board. Four months later, no outbreaks have been reported on any Canadian freighters. But it’s been anything but smooth sailing for the industry. Read the full story by The London Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-freighters
Steel production has dropped by 19.7% for the year, while steel capacity utilization is down more than 21 percentage points as compared to the same time last year, largely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that greatly gutted demand for steel in the short term. Read the full story by the Northwest Indiana Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-steel-production
As citizens across the United States continue to debate the pros and cons of piping oil across the country, a decade-old disaster in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River serves as an example of what can happen when things go wrong. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-oil-spill
There are now algae blooms in the Sandusky and Maumee bays of Lake Erie. The National Ocean Service said toxin concentrations have increased, but beaches remain open. Read the full story by WJW-TV- Cleveland, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-algae-bloom
In Michigan, the oldest shanty in Leland’s historic waterfront Fishtown is slated to be lifted off its foundation this week so a higher, safer perch can be built for it this summer – part of a multi-million preservation project being undertaken at this picturesque spot that’s long been a favorite of Up North visitors. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-shanty-fishtown
Cargo moved on the 3,700-kilometre-long St. Lawrence Seaway in June was down 8.37 per cent compared to the same time last year. That’s a slight increase compared to this year’s April to May figures where cargo shipped was down 10 per cent compared to 2019. Read the full story by the Welland Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-shipping
Work is underway to restore nearly a mile of the Cuyahoga River, with floodplain excavation and in-stream habitat improvements for fish and aquatic wildlife. It’s supported by a $2.5 million award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Great Lakes Commission Regional Partnership. Read the full story by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-park
Almost 4,700 kilotonnes of plastics are introduced into the Canadian market annually. Only nine percent of plastic waste is recycled and 86 percent ends up as waste in our landfills. A lot of that plastic waste ends up in our lakes and on our shorelines. Read the full story by the Manitoulin Expositor.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-plastic-pollution
A million-dollar grant to study aquaculture aims to boost the number of fish farms in the Great Lakes region. The National Sea Grant office awarded the funds to a group that brings together scientists and educators from all eight states in the Great Lakes basin. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-aquaculture
A walking trail along the Milwaukee River is being extended thanks to easements donated by three adjacent commercial property owners, allowing additional public access along the west bank of the river. Read the full story by MIlwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-milwaukee-river-trail
A popular northern Michigan children’s museum will be postponing its reopening this spring as environmental testing mandated by the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy revealed contaminant soil gas vapors under the floor of the museum. Read the full story by UpNorthLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-museum-contamination
The Indiana Dunes National Park launched a coronavirus safety “Think Before You Beach” campaign urging visitors to the northwestern Indiana park to practice social distancing and other precautions when they hit the beach. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-indiana-dunes
Sewage spills that repeatedly fouled the Boardman River and kept swimmers out of the water at several Traverse City beaches have city leaders looking for solutions to Traverse City’s system of old sewage pipes that let groundwater seep in tandem with high lake levels and downpours. Read the full story by Record-Eagle.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200721-traverse-city-sewage
