On:
In: Daily News

Joel Brammeier, CEO of Alliance for the Great Lakes, has two words for those feeling anxiety about what’s in store for the Great Lakes during the incoming Trump administration: Don’t panic.  Despite expected rollbacks on key environmental initiatives, the Great Lakes region has been here before. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-new-administration-advice

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

A proposed Michigan copper mine on the shores of Lake Superior is sparking fierce debate over environmental and economic priorities, as the state’s House Appropriations Committee approved $50 million in taxpayer subsidies for the controversial project. Read the full story by Newsweek.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-copper-mine

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Michigan is designed to keep invasive carps out of the Great Lakes. It’s a half mile long underwater obstacle course containing a bubble curtain, noise emitting speakers, electrified water and a navigation lock designed to flush fish downstream. Read the full story by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-carp-barrier

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan Democrats are considering legislation to increase fees for hunting, fishing and boating by 30% or more to raise funding for the state Department of Natural Resources whose fish and wildlife programs have endured budget cuts amid funding shortages. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-fee-increase

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Getting rid of the legacy coal ash deposits from the NRG Generating State power plant along Lake Michigan in Waukegan got a little more likely with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision keeping the green light illuminated for enforcement of a federal regulation mandating such a cleanup. Read the full story by the Chicago Tribune

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-coal-ash-ruling

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Lake Michigan surface temperatures peaked at over 6 degrees above normal last month, the warmest they have been in November since 1995 when record keeping began at the National Oceanic and Atmospherec Administration. Read the full story by the Chicago Tribune.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241216-lake-warming

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

A northern Wisconsin tribe along with a coalition of groups moved Dec. 12 to block plans to reroute an aging pipeline around the tribe’s reservation, arguing state regulators have underestimated the environmental damage that construction would cause. Read the full story by the Associated Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-line5-reroute

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

A bipartisan duo is pushing the House to pass a Great Lakes conservation bill that has already cleared the Senate. The bill would reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a program that spans the lakes and is set to expire in fiscal 2026. Read the full story by Politico.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-glri

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Researchers, companies and farmers are developing and deploying systems that can control agricultural runoff, benefiting landowners, water consumers and the environment alike. These controlled drainage structures have resulted in a 20 to 50% reduction in nitrate loads coming out of drainage outlets. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-drainage

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Earlier this year the Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $50 million grant for a controversial copper mine in the Upper Peninsula. Now, the state House Appropriations Committee has given its support, too. A major point of concern is the potential for mine waste to escape into Lake Superior, less than two miles away from the mine site. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-up-copper-mine

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

The St. Clair River is a 40-mile watery conduit that connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. It is a vital part of the Great Lakes and provides not only transportation for commerce, but habitat for wildlife, a recreational shoreline for human use, a supply of drinking water, and a place to boat and fish. One of the people trying to protect the river is the executive director of the Friends of the St. Clair River. Read the full story by Second Wave Media.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-st.clair-river

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Cleaner water could have negative impacts on certain types of fish in Lake Erie, a study by researchers at Ohio State and other universities found. This is due to reduced nutrients impacting food creation for species like yellow perch. Read the full story by WOSU – Columbus, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-lake-erie-fish

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

The landmark Lake Erie case in federal court could be expanded again. The latest parties trying to become part of it are Lake Erie Waterkeeper and two national environmental groups, the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, and the Washington-based Food & Water Watch. Read the full story by The Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-lake-erie-case

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Crews have started work on a new attempt to refloat a cargo ship that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ontario, nearly three weeks ago. The U.S. Coast Guard says the operation to remove cargo from the vessel could take several days. Read the full story by CTV News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-stuck-cargo-ship

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has announced plans to no longer stock splake in Lake Superior. The fish is popular among anglers, and the move received considerable attention during their Lake Superior Fisheries Management meeting. Read the full story by Northern News Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241213-splake-stocking

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

By delivering 1,200 Christmas trees from Northern Michigan to Chicago families, the crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw was carrying on the tradition of the Rouse Simmons. The worn-out schooner helmed by a man nicknamed “Captain Santa” and heavily weighed down by a load of Christmas trees bound for Chicago sank while running that route in 1912. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-christmas-ship

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is investigating contamination near BASF’s Wyandotte site, not far from the city’s water intake facility. The site has a history of pollution stretching back decades, with hazardous chemicals like mercury, PFAS, and DDT reportedly seeping into the surrounding environment. Read the full story by WDIV-TV – Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-groundwater-contamination-prevention

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Canada-based McKeil Marine converted one of its ships to water-lubricated propeller shaft and grease-free rudder bearings to ensure the vessel does not discharge oil or grease into the Great Lakes. Following this conversion, many other Great Lakes operating vessels converted to Thordon Bearings, helping to raise the profile of the Burlington, Ontario-headquartered company across the global shipping industry. Read the full story by the Burlington Gazette.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-shipping-conversion

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

A Huron Pines community educator recently appealed to the city council of East Tawas, Michigan, to consider the Lake Huron Forever Pledge to prioritize water quality protection and preservation with a long-term view of sustainability of Lake Huron for future generations. So far, three Michigan communities have taken the Pledge – Bay City, Au Gres, and Alpena. Read the full story by the Iosco County News-Herald.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-protection-pledge

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Since the start of the shipping season, total cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway came to more than 32 million metric tons. The totals are proportional to last year’s numbers, showing consistency in the waterway system. Read the full story by KBJR-TV – Superior, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-cargo-tonnage

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Over the summer, Force Blue, a nonprofit organization made up of veterans transitioning to civilian life, worked with the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to install and remove mooring buoys at eight different shipwrecks in Lake Huron. They also assisted with the fresh water acidification project to study how the water is changing in Lake Huron which could affect fish feeding behaviors and reproductive abilities. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-nonprofit-research

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Audubon Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and several local partners began planning to restore coastal wetland in Allouez Bay in Superior, Wisconsin, three years ago. This week, the first phase of construction was completed as part of the Marsh Bird Restoration Project which aims to transform dense stands of invasive cattails into a more diverse and dynamic marsh environment for marsh birds, waterfowl, fish and people. Read the full story by the Superior Telegram.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-restoration-project

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Soo Locks Children’s Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is intended to be an educational resource to help kids get acquainted with one of the most significant pieces of infrastructure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the science behind how the locks work. Museum officials said they hope to open to the public sometime in 2025. Read the full story by The Sault Ste. Marie Evening News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241211-soo-museum

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Under a portion of the state’s environmental protection laws, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has been banned from updating rules to deal with certain kinds of water pollution. Bills to restore the agency’s authority are before the lame duck session of the legislature. Read the full story by Michigan Public.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-michigan-environmental-laws

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan has debated for decades but never passed a uniform statewide septic code and remains the only state without one. Whether the latest push can get over the finish line seems unlikely after a state Senate panel adjourned without voting on legislation this week. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-michigan-septic-legislation

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The clock is ticking in a legal battle over a Minnesota mining project that some warn could inflict catastrophic damage on Lake Superior and nearby communities. Environmental advocates argue that the risks posed by the project’s tailings dams could have dire consequences for the Great Lakes ecosystem and residents living downhill. Read the full story by Newsweek.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-minnesota-tailings-dam

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Last Friday, a large part of the Detroit River’s waterbed was exposed as strong winds pushed the water to the northeastern banks of the Great Lakes in a seiche event. The Windsor Harbor Master said mariners have to take extra caution navigating the river due to the lower water level and strong winds. Read the full story by the CBC.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-detroit-river-seiche

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Water bottler BlueTriton announced it will cease operations in Puslinch, Ontario, in January 2025. Activists said their exit could be due to issues with the well from where water is drawn, and the company was getting pressure to exit from the Indigenous Six Nations who claim the land. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-ontario-bottled-water

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan looks to get $700 million to clean up contaminated sediment in the Detroit River, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, decades of unchecked pollution from BASF’s Wyandotte facility could stand in the way. Read the full story by Planet Detroit.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-detroit-river-pollution

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The U.S. Senate has approved the reauthorization through 2031 of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Now the measure moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. Read the full story by WTTW-TV – Chicago, IL.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-glri-house-vote

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The historic tugboat Robinson Bay was officially handed off to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan, in a ceremony last month. The Robinson Bay will allow maritime cadets to learn towing, ship handling, and engineering processes onboard the historic vessel, built in 1958. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241209-maritime-academy-tugboat

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow delivered her farewell speech to the U.S. Senate Wednesday before the end of her last term, capping off a career spanning nearly 50 years. Stabenow highlighted her accomplishments that were made in that time, including preserving the Great Lakes. Read the full story by WXMI-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-stabenow-farewell

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

A new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists argues that farmers can play a key role in protecting and restoring wetlands in the Upper Midwest. A key solution lies in the farm bill, specifically in strengthening policies that encourage farmers to take part in conservation, restoration, and sustainability efforts. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-farmer-wetland-protection

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $15.5 million contract to Miami Marine Services to prepare the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois, for the installation of defenses to keep invasive carp from getting into the Great Lakes. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-invasive-carp-prevention

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is among seven communities along Lake Michigan to receive portions of nearly $3 million in funding to develop plans for strengthening shorelines against flooding, erosion, loss of natural landscapes and climate change impacts. Read the full story by the Sheboygan Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-resilience-funding

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

For 25 years, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw has been buoying spirits by making a voyage from northern Michigan to Chicago, hauling a load of Christmas cheer. On Saturday morning at Chicago’s Navy Pier, 1,200 Christmas trees will be ceremonially unloaded, placed on trucks, and ultimately delivered to Chicago families in need. Read the full story by The Detroit News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-christmas-ship

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Grounded for over a week, the Algoma Central ship – Tim S. Dool – remained lodged on a shoal near Crysler Marina, east of Morrisburg, Ontario, on Thursday. Recovery efforts have so far failed to budge the ship. Read the full story by the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-ship-grounded

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Alexander Cook holiday cards have been a big seller at the National Museum of the Great Lakes shop in Toledo, Ohio, for more than 50 years. After Cook’s death at the age of 99 in January, museum staff found a painting he’d done in 1985; it will be used as this year’s card to honor Cook’s decades of devotion to helping preserve the lakes he loved. Read the full story by WTVG-TV – Toledo, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241206-art-legacy

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

According to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, wetlands save Wisconsin and the upper Midwest almost $23 billion per year that would otherwise be spent combating flooding. This finding comes as the loss of wetlands has accelerated, and critical protections have eased. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241204-wetland-value

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been surveying boat anglers, revealing that anglers on Lake Erie have had one of the best years in recent memory for catching walleyes. Fishing has improved due to the amount of forage fish that walleye have been eating and the nice summer weather that allowed more days for fishing. Read the full story by the Erie Times-News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241204-walleye-fishing

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Climate and Parks charged the City of Hamilton, Ontario, with two counts of discharging sanitary sewage in water. The two sewage spills that began decades ago and were discovered in 2022 and 2023. Read the full story by CBC News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241204-sewage-discharges

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Kinnickinnic River is the most urbanized and developed river in Wisconsin, ranking last out of Milwaukee’s three rivers in terms of ecological health. Several project partners are working to remove seven miles of concrete liner to restore the Kinnickinnic River corridor, making it less of a flood-risk and safety issue as well as a community amenity. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241204-river-restoration

James Polidori