The U.S. Congress has approved a funding bill to protect the Great Lakes, fund construction on the Soo Locks, help prevent flooding, and mitigate PFAS contamination. Read the full story by WILX-TV – Onondaga, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-great-lakes-bill
Oil and gas company officials continue cleaning up a crude oil and brine spill in the Pigeon River Country State Forest in Gaylord, Michigan, that turned out to be more than four times larger than initially estimated. Those leaked materials totaled 221 barrels, amounting to more than 9,200 gallons. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-oil-spill
Ohio ranks fifth in the nation when it comes to the number of data centers being constructed to power the rise of artificial intelligence and other computer services. But with that growth comes environmental concerns regarding both power and water usage. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-data-center-impacts
The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes escorted the freighter American Spirit through Lake Erie Wednesday after it requested assistance. The Coast Guard said it dispatched the Neah Bay, an ice cutter, which assisted in breaking ice, enabling the American Spirit to safely transit the lake. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-ice-breaking
Employees with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission collected steelhead trout in the cold waters of Trout Run on Wednesday morning. One fish culturist said the trout species doesn’t reproduce enough to keep up with the demand of fishing, and their efforts keep the population steady. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-trout-collection
Construction is still underway at the environmental DNA (eDNA) lab expansion that is taking shape at the River Institute’s main site on the St. Lawrence College Cornwall, Ontario, campus. The concept for the eDNA lab evolved out of the River Institute’s Fish Identification Nearshore Survey (FINS) program, which used traditional methods, such as seine netting, to catch and identify fish and collect and analyze water samples. Read the full story by the Cornwall Standard Freeholder.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-environmental-lab
As of this Tuesday, 25.08% of the Great Lakes were ice-covered, with Lake Erie recording the most ice at 76.57%., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Read the full story by The Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-ice-coverage
This past fall, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources stocked almost 650,000 fish at seven locations across Michigan that will provide angling opportunities in seasons to come. Read the full story by the Iosco County News-Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-fish-stocking
A partnership between North Central Michigan College, the Little Traverse Conservancy, the State of Michigan and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will protect and preserve nearly 13 acres and 1,700 feet of Crooked Lake frontage in Emmet County, Michigan. Read the full story by the Petoskey News-Review.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260123-conservation-partnership
There is growing fear that Lake Superior’s window of avoiding a full takeover by invasive mussels may be closing. Efforts are underway to remove mussels where possible, and better understand how vulnerable the last of the Great Lakes to avoid a broader invasion has become. Read the full story by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-lake-superior-mussels
As the influx of data centers becomes Wisconsin’s leading energy issue, a new report warns that without stronger consumer protections and clean energy policies, carbon emissions and costs to ratepayers could rise. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-data-center-controls
Two Republican legislators from northern Ohio are urging Ohio EPA to decline to approve a new general discharge permit for all data centers going forward, arguing that it would exclude Lake Erie from protections being given to other bodies of water deemed to have exceptional ecological value. Read the full story by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-ohio-datacenter-permits
The Ontario government says it is committing an additional $700 million to help 127 municipalities and First Nations communities repair, upgrade, and expand aging water and wastewater infrastructure—work the province says will improve access to safe drinking water while also helping unlock new housing and support local jobs. Read the full story by Net News Ledger.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-ontario-water-infrastructure
Despite a presidential memorandum nine months ago that called for “maximum speed and efficiency” in moving to block invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, the Brandon Road project remains under administrative review by the Trump administration. Democratic senators from Michigan and Illinois wrote to the White House budget director and the U.S. Army Corps, urging them to release the federal funds that Congress already approved to allow the project to proceed. Read the full story by the Detroit News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-carp-barrier
With the Soo Locks closed until March, Great Lakes freighters are quickly heading to port for winter maintenance at harbors from Minnesota to New York. Read the full story by the Lansing State Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-lakers
Plummeting temperatures over the past several days have caused Lake Erie to start freezing again, with ice coverage expected to continue rising through the week. Read the full story by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260121-erie-freezing
Critics of data center development say the tech facilities threaten Michigan’s arguably most abundant natural resource — fresh water. Read the full story by The Detroit News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-data-centers
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced the closing of the waterway between Mackinac Island and the mainland of St. Ignace, Michigan. This closure allows an ice bridge to form between the island and the mainland. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-ice-bridge
Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) spoke on the Senate floor on Thursday about the struggle of the Flint, Michigan, community in the wake of their water crisis. Slotkin said the community’s still in pain, and in the process of seeking accountability and justice for a water crisis they didn’t cause. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-flint-water-crisis
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development could prohibit or restrict several invasive plant species, including banning aquatic water hyacinth and water lettuce. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-invasive-plants
About 20% of all the data centers in the U.S. are located in eight states around the Great Lakes. Ohio is slated to get another 77 by 2030, which will propel Columbus to become the second-largest data center hub in the region, after Chicago. Read the full story by WOSU – Columbus, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-ohio-data-centers
By way of a promise made by companies across the Great Lakes region, the practice of dumping commercial fish waste into landfills has effectively been ended, according to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers. Read the full story by WXMI-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-fish-waste
The Atlantic Huron, an iron lady of the St. Lawrence Seaway and a familiar site along the waterway, has completed her final voyage to close out more than 40 years of service. The ship now rests at Sheet Harbor, Nova Scotia, where work has commenced to dismantle and recycle the bulk carrier. Read the full story by the Watertown Daily Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-atlantic-huron
Although most lakes across lake trout range freeze early and reliably each winter, not so for Lake Superior. For those who brave Lake Superior’s ice-capped waters, the awards are amazing. Read the full story by Sports Illustrated.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-superior-fishing
Among the nine parks highlighted by National Geographic is the sprawling Muskegon State Park on the eastern edge of Lake Michigan in Michigan. The park is known for its snow-covered dunes and forested trails, which offer cross-country skiing and fat-tire biking. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-park-rankings
Lexington State Harbor on Lake Huron in Lexington, Michigan, is undergoing major improvements in hopes of attracting even more boaters and visitors. The improvements will focus on the marina, slips, fuel dock, pump-out station and boating access site. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260119-marina-improvements
Michigan’s latest State of the Great Lakes report highlights significant progress in cleanup and conservation, stressing the importance of treating groundwater as part of the lakes’ ecosystem while supporting the region’s “blue economy.” Read the full story by The Sun Times News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-michigan-latest-report-health-greatlakes
A new study shows that PFAS levels in Great Lakes fish such as lake trout and walleye have significantly declined since peaking in the late 2000s, likely because manufacturers phased out some harmful compounds. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-pfas-levels-declining-greatlakes-fish
Two British TikTokers are captivating their two million followers with videos from Michigan’s Great Lakes winter, expressing awe at huge lake swells, brutal cold, giant potholes and quirky local experiences while exploring beach towns and regional culture. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-british-tiktokers-greatlakes-swells
A multi-year report on data centers in the Great Lakes region outlines the economic and energy impacts of data centers, which support purposes such as cloud-based computing and artificial intelligence. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-report-data-centers-greatlakes
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host its free fishing this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, allowing anglers to fish without needing a license. Read the full story by WSAW-TV – Wausau, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-wisconsin-dnr-winter-fishing
In Minnesota, Duluth’s Twin Ports are facing economic challenges after a tough shipping season marked by sharply lower iron ore shipments and the announced closures of major grain and coal terminals, putting pressure on the region’s trade-dependent economy. Read the full story by MPR News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-tough-shipping-season-duluth-twin-ports
The Donny S tugboat has been stuck floating in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, for nearly five years. Local residents are now pushing for a study to see if it’s contaminating the water while officials debate next steps and jurisdiction. Read the full story by WGBA-TV – Green Bay, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-neighbors-renew-efforts-tugboat-contaminated-water
The American Spirit, a 1,004-foot ship that has been a Great Lakes workhorse for nearly a half a century, was the last freighter to make it through the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, before the huge system closed Thursday night for its annual winter maintenance. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-thousand-foot-freighter-soo-locks
American Cruise Lines announced a nine-day Great Lakes and Thousand Islands cruise starting at $8,675 per person, traveling from Syracuse to Buffalo, New York. Read the full story by WRGZ-TV – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260116-greatlakes-cruise
A bipartisan group of U.S Senators from the Great Lakes states sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his administration to establish Maritime Prosperity Zones in the Great Lakes and to support the creation of a Great Lakes Shipbuilding Consortium. Read the full story by WLPR – Lowell, IN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-shipbuilding-letter
The Soo Locks will close to all marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15 and reopen March 25. During the closure, seasonal critical maintenance will be performed. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-locks-closing
Ohio Sea Grant has released the 2025 research findings update for the statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI). Created in the aftermath of the 2014 Toledo water crisis, HABRI is a statewide research program that provides near-term solutions for the full suite of issues surrounding harmful algal blooms. Read the full story by Outdoor News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-algal-research
The U.S. National Ice Center begins tracking and forecasting ice coverage across the Great Lakes, usually in mid-November. The Center provides that information to the coast guards to inform their ice breaking plan to facilitate the flow of commerce across the lakes and to ensure safety. Read the full story by WTVG-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-ice-forecasts
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant announced $200,000 in funding to support work that follows New York’s Great Lakes Action Agenda, with a focus on ecosystem-based solutions to local challenges. Read the full story by FingerLakes1.com, Inc.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-ecosystem-grants
A new study documents a fivefold increase in shoreline armoring along Lake Michigan’s eastern coast from 2014 to 2021. Rising water levels and increased wave activity prompted many coastal communities to install seawalls, rock revetments and other protective structures, the study said. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-shoreline-armoring
Western New York’s tourism industry is set to receive a significant boost as American Cruise Lines announced a new 14-day cruise route from Buffalo, New York, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, launching this May. The cruise will travel through the Great Lakes with stops in several cities and remote islands along the Canadian border. Read the full story by WKBW-TV – Buffalo, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-buffalo-cruise
According to officials with the Lake Carriers Association, the year-end total for the iron ore trade decreased by 12.8 percent to 43.4 million tons. Read the full story by KQDS-TV – Duluth, MN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-iron-ore
The St. Lawrence Seaway has closed for the season at the latest date in its history since opening in 1959. The seaway is set to reopen around March 22. Read the full story by WWNY-TV – Carthage, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-seaway-closing
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released the 2026 sturgeon spearing regulations, outlining season dates, harvest caps, and licensing requirements. The sturgeon spearing season will open February 14 and run for up to 16 days, or until any harvest cap is met. Read the full story by WFRV-TV – Green Bay, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-sturgeon-regulations
Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jon Husted’s (R-Ohio) bipartisan bill to restore funding to the USGS Great Lakes Science Center and support the facility for another five years has been signed into law. Read the full story by the Keweenaw Report.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260114-fisheries-legislation
The seasonal decline in the Great Lakes’ water levels is in full force. Here’s how your favorite Great Lake is reacting to the colder, less moisture time of year. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260112-water-level-declines
Maintenance season for Niagara’s canal bridges will soon be upon us as the Welland Canal closes to ship traffic as of midnight on January 10. Read the full story by Niagara on the Lake.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260112-welland-canal-closed
A tinned fish business launched in 2024 in Michigan has expanded to over 150 stores in its first year and sources exclusively from the Great Lakes. Read the full story by Grand Rapids Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260112-tinned-fish-business
Reports have surfaced in recent months of a not-so-jolly buccaneer working Lake Michigan’s Caribbean-clear waters just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is after the sole right to use the Lake Michigan beach behind his home and yard. Read the full story by the Wausau Pilot & Review.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260112-shoreline-access
