Michigan and parts of Wisconsin are in the midst of a historic flooding event in spring 2026. Days of heavy rainfall on top of snow have sent lakes and rivers over their banks and threatened several dams in both states. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-extreme-precipitation
The Viking Polaris, the biggest Great Lakes cruise ship, arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday. The Polaris is the first of 64 cruise ships that will visit Milwaukee between April and October, nearly the triple the 23 vessels from 2025. Read the full story by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-cruise-season
In the deepest part of Lake Superior, a quarter mile below the surface, researchers are discovering a growing number of extraordinarily thin lake trout that weigh about half their typical, healthy body weight. Scientists have dubbed them “zombie fish.” Read the full story by Minnesota Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-superior-zombie-fish
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held a public information hearing on four permit applications by Enbridge for streambank erosion control on the 41-mile reroute of Line 5, a light crude oil and natural gas pipeline. Read the full story by the Wisconsin Examiner.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-enbridge-permits-erosion
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, along with conservation partners Ducks Unlimited and the National Audubon Society, recently completed a project to improve 50 acres of Lake Ontario marsh habitat. Read the full story by Syracuse.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-ontario-marsh-restoration
In Wisconsin, the lake sturgeon detected in Ozaukee County — 20 river miles upstream of Lake Michigan — is part of a wider effort to restore sturgeon to the Milwaukee River through the Return the Sturgeon Project. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-sturgeon
Personnel with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be taking measures to reduce the sea lamprey population in the Great Lakes, applying pesticides to kill invasive sea lamprey in streams and tributaries. Read the full story by WLUC-TV – Marquette, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-lamprey
Almost 500 thousand Castalia Hatchery-raised steelhead trout smolts are being poured into the Lake Erie tributaries of northeastern Ohio this week. Anglers should help them to acclimate to swimming in open waters before the year-old trout head for the big lake to feed and grow all summer. Read the full story by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-erie-steelhead
The Lake Erie – Niagara River ice boom, spanning the eastern end of Lake Erie, is nearly removed after a few days of high winds caused delays. Read the full story by The Niagara Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260424-erie-ice-boom
Communities along Lake Ontario’s shoreline are being invited to help shape a new regional plan aimed at addressing the growing impacts of flooding, erosion and extreme weather. Read the full story by Niagara-on-the-Lake-Local.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-lake-ontario-shoreline-residents-coastal-resilience
In New York, a recent cliff collapse at Chimney Bluffs State Park highlights how the landscape is naturally shaped by ongoing erosion from waves and rainfall, but scientists say factors like heavier rain and fluctuating lake levels may be intensifying these changes. While erosion is normal, researchers note that climate change could make these events more frequent or severe, though no single collapse can be directly attributed to it. Read the full story by WXXI – Rochester, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-chimney-bluffs-shifting-landscape-climate-change
After billions have already been spent on Cleveland’s long-running “Project Clean Lake,” construction is set to begin on the final massive tunnel designed to capture and store stormwater and sewage, preventing it from overflowing into Lake Erie during heavy rains. The project aims to dramatically reduce pollution, though it highlights the enormous cost and decades-long effort required to modernize the region’s aging sewer system. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-billions-dollars-tunnel-sewage-lakeerie
The Great Lakes are quickly emerging as a major travel destination. New projections show cruise travel across the region is expected to hit record levels in 2026, bringing thousands of passengers through ports like Detroit. Read the full story by CBS News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-detroit-greatlakes-cruises
Dam safety officials say Michigan came far closer to a broad dam disaster during this month’s historic flooding than the public may fully realize. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-michigan-dams-close-to-disaster
Conservative rural residents and environmental leaders are finding common ground opposing data centers over water concerns, creating an unexpected opportunity to strengthen Michigan’s water protection policies. Read the full story by Planet Detroit.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-water-progress-data-center
A surplus of rain from March through the first half of April has significantly boosted Lake Michigan-Huron ahead of the summer season. Over the last month, most locations in west Michigan have received 200-300% of normal precipitation. Read the full story by WOOD-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-lake-michigan-wettest-april
Lake Erie serves as a crucial stopover for migrating birds each spring, providing food and shelter as they travel north from Central and South America to their summer habitats. While birdwatching is growing in popularity, migrating bird populations continue to face challenges from climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental pressures. Read the full story by WKSU- Kent, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-lake-erie-ideal-stop-spring-migration
Organizations across Minnesota argue that expanding mining in Minnesota—especially near sensitive areas like the Boundary Waters—puts the state’s water resources at significant risk, with potential pollution from toxic runoff threatening lakes, rivers, and ecosystems. While mining may bring economic benefits, it creates a major conflict between resource development and protecting clean water and natural environments. Read the full story by MinnPost.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-earth-day-minnesota-water
A seasonal Lake Huron ferry operating out of Cheboygan, Michigan, could get a late start due to high water on the Cheboygan River watershed that’s straining local dams. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260422-cheboygan-ferry-season-dnr
A $1.15 billion project is designed to keep invasive carp species out of the Great Lakes. Federal officials want to move management of the project to Michigan. Read the full story by Michigan Advance.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-brandon-road
A flood watch remains in effect through Sunday for almost all of Michigan and residents remain advised to prepare for evacuation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Cheboygan, Michigan Thursday, stating, “We are in crisis mode.” Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-michigan-floods
Records show that local, state, and federal officials were aware of the dangers posed by the dam in Cheboygan, Michigan, for years before floodwaters pushed it to the brink of collapse. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-cheboygan-dam
Rain forecasts for parts of Ontario and Quebec are heightening the sense of urgency for residents with flood-prone properties, as communities deal with washouts and closed bridges and help people prepare by opening sandbag-filling stations. Read the full story by the Canadian Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-canada-floods
A U.S. Senate resolution would allow mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, prompting the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to condemn the move as a threat to tribal rights and water quality. Read the full story by WTIP – Grand Marais, MN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-mining-ban
An emergency training facility in Duluth, Minnesota, used by local fire departments, Lake Superior College students, and agencies from out of state is facing an expensive environmental challenge: millions of dollars could be needed to clean up contamination from PFAS. Read the full story by Northern News Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-duluth-pfas
Shipping on the Great Lakes got underway in earnest at the end of March. Green Bay, Wisconsin, handled about 1.6 million tons of cargo last year, down about 6% from the previous season. Read the full story by Spectrum News 1.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-wisconsin-shipping
The Great Lakes are often described as a climate haven, making the region appealing to people seeking stability. But are climate migrants already arriving? And how protected are the Great Lakes, really? Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-climate-migrants
Massive cargo ships move through the Great Lakes every day, carrying the goods that help keep Michigan’s economy running. When crews need vital supplies or packages from home, a small team on the Detroit River is often the one that answers the call. Read the full story by WSMH-TV – Flint, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-floating-post
The 665-foot Viking Polaris will launch the season, which will continue through October, when it docks on Monday, April 20 in Detroit. Polaris ties for the largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes with its twin, the Viking Octantis. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-cruise-ships
Heavy rain combined with the warm air this month has melted nearly all of the ice on the Great Lakes, but a few spots remain icy. Great Lakes ice cover stood at just 4.07% on Friday, April 17. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260420-remaining-ice
Fast-melting snowpack across Northern Michigan and days of excessive rain across the state have caused flooding issues and a 17-inch rise in lakes Michigan and Huron. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-lake-levels
Ohio officials have urged Congress to reauthorize the soon-to-expire Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, describing it as a crucial tool for protecting drinking water, fighting invasive species and supporting a regional economy worth trillions. Read the full story by the Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-great-lakes-funding
The 33-pound, 30(ish)-year-old snapper who is now known as Doug the Tank was lethargic and nearly unresponsive when a rescuer pulled him from a Lake Michigan beach. He is now recovering from his misadventure at the Michigan Amphibian & Reptile Sanctuary in Kalamazoo. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-turtle-rescue
In the state of Michigan, a $1.2 million decline in grant funding to combat invasive species is challenging conservation organizations to rethink how they protect forests, waterways and communities. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-funding-cuts
The National Museum of the Great Lakes is debuting a temporary exhibit focused on the environmental stories of the Great Lakes region, all in time for Earth Day. The exhibit, “Currents of Change: The Living History of the Great Lakes,” will be on display April-October of this year. Read the full story by the WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-museum-exhibit
In Cheboygan, Michigan, federal officials ordered repairs to the dam last year that would have helped the 104-year-old Cheboygan Lock and Dam complex pass more water, but granted repeated extensions that have left the undersized structure with less capacity to endure what may be record-breaking floods this spring. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-dam-repairs
A ship moving through the Welland Canal in Port Colborne, Ontario, made contact with the bridge this week. As a precaution, the bridge has been closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic making for a long, re-routed drive home for some. Read the full story by CKTB – St. Catherines, ON.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-welland-canal-closed
Pure Michigan advertising influenced 1.5 million vacations in Michigan from national, regional, and in-state markets targeted by the iconic campaign last year. In its 20th year, Pure Michigan is expanding the guest list to many more cities across the nation. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-michigan-advertising
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning nearly $2 million in upgrades along Michigan’s Manistee River channel this month. The agency will harden structures with major stonework to lowers erosion risk and provide protection against unpredictable Great Lakes weather events. Read the full story by the Lansing State Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-erosion-control
Lake Erie earned the lowest assessment of the five Great Lakes in a report looking at the Great Lakes’ progress and challenges. While progress has been made, legacy phosphorus, invasive mussels, climate-driven warming and shifting agricultural practices make improving water quality in Lake Erie a persistent challenge. Read the full story by the Evening Sun.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-erie-assessment
Suckers are among the most abundant and least appreciated species in the Great Lakes region. Sometimes described as the “wildebeests of the Great Lakes,” they make large spring migrations from the lakes into streams to spawn, creating one of the region’s more visible seasonal movements of fish. Read the full story by Door County Pulse.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260417-sucker-heros
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Little Manistee River Weir in Stronach, Michigan—the sole source of winter-run steelhead eggs for fish hatcheries in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio—suffered storm damage Monday night resulting in a power failure that rendered the systems that sustained the fish inoperable and many fish died. The effect this loss will have on the steelhead egg collection for this season is still unknown, the DNR said. Read the full story by WZZM-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-hatchery-damage
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it won’t be long before lake sturgeon start to make their run up the Wolf River to spawn. While sturgeon have already been seen moving into their pre-spawning locations on the Wolf River, significant rainfall on the Wolf River drainage area Monday night could impact pre-spawning and spawning activity. Read the full story by WLUK-TV – Green Bay, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-sturgeon-spawning
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians recently received a federal grant to continue whitefish restoration work in the Bear River near Petoskey, Michigan. The goal is to catch newly-hatched whitefish as they drift down the river in order to estimate how many fish have survived. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-whitefish-reintroduction
New York Sea Grant announced a two-part Coastal Community Development webinar series designed to help local officials—such as supervisors, mayors, code enforcement officers, and planners—better understand shoreline dynamics and implement effective land use strategies in waterfront communities. Read the full story by FingerLakes1.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-coastal-community-webinars
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has introduced new observation technology to track the movement of muskellunge—known as muskie—with acoustic telemetry in Lake Macatawa in Ottawa County, Michigan. As of November 2025, there were over 69,000 detections of the 20 tagged muskie by the acoustic receivers. Read the full story by the Manistee News Advocate.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-muskie-tracking
City officials in Duluth, Minnesota, delayed action Monday on a resolution that would have authorized the expenditure of up to $500,000 to better establish Duluth as a port of call for Great Lakes cruise ships in the face of dwindling traffic. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-cruise-resolution
Lesser celandine, a small but destructive plant quietly spreading across Michigan’s forests and riverbanks, is a “watch list” species in Michigan, meaning its distribution in the state is still limited. However, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the plant is already widely established along the Grand River corridor and is actively spreading in lower Michigan and southeastern Wisconsin. Read the full story by WZZM-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-invasive-species-tracking
The latest round of assistance offered by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority includes more than $72 million for work in northern Minnesota to tackle expensive water infrastructure upgrades. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-infrastructure-funding
A $450,000 capital campaign is fully funded to restore the keeper’s dwelling at Big Sable Point Lighthouse on the Lake Michigan shoreline at Ludington State Park near Ludington, Michigan. Work is scheduled for 2027, the lighthouse’s 160th anniversary. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20260415-lighthouse-restoration
