Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/07/14/going-to-the-beach-check-the-water-quality/
By Samantha Ku
A rare ravine ecosystem on Lake Michigan's western shore is vulnerable to human encroachment. A recent federal grant is supporting restoration efforts in the region.
The post Preservation project launches effort to restore rare ravine ecosystem first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/03/14/preservation-project-launches-effort-to-restore-rare-ravine-ecosystem/
By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva
A new study documents a fivefold increase in shoreline armoring along Lake Michigan’s Eastern coast.
The post Growth in shoreline armoring is reshaping Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2026/01/13/growth-in-shoreline-armoring-is-reshaping-michigans-lake-michigan-coast/
By Kyrmyzy Turebayeva
More than 30 years ago, a group of scientists planted just 4,200 seeds of the rare Pitcher’s thistle in the sandy dunes of the Great Lakes. At the time, no one knew if the new populations would survive. Today, three decades later, the restored populations are thriving and spreading.
The post How seeds from the past are saving a unique flower of the Great Lakes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/12/31/how-seeds-from-the-past-are-saving-a-unique-flower-of-the-great-lakes/
By Joshua Kim
Following the completion of segments 1 and 2 of the Portage Canal, local residents and visitors can use the historic site and its amenities following years of disrepair.
The post Restoration of historical site improves quality of life for Portage, Wisconsin residents first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/30/restoration-of-historical-site-improves-quality-of-life-for-portage-wisconsin-residents/
By Victoria Witke
Christina Petalas, a doctoral student McGill University, studies herring gulls to learn about plastic pollution near the St. Lawrence River. Across two studies, she found plastic additives in every bird sampled, which could have human health consequences.
The post What herring gulls tell us about plastic pollution first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/11/28/what-herring-gulls-tell-us-about-plastic-pollution/
By Lauren Coin
Park trails along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Wisconsin and Michigan are eroding because of more frequent extreme precipitation events and increased foot traffic from visitors in undesignated recreation areas.
The post Increased precipitation, foot traffic pose trail erosion problems at Lake Michigan parks first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/15/increased-precipitation-foot-traffic-pose-trail-erosion-problems-at-lake-michigan-parks/
By Camila Bello Castro
A Chicago man biked around Lake Michigan in eight days, battling self-doubts and a major thunderstorm and raising $25,000 for the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, which advocates and promotes the credit union movement by providing educational opportunities and consumer awareness.
Great Lakes Echo
https://greatlakesecho.org/2025/10/01/mans-around-the-lake-in-8-days-bike-ride-raises-25k-for-charity/
By Anna Barnes After seven years of planning, a new marine sanctuary now protects a portion of Lake Ontario rich with history and shipwrecks. The community-driven designation aims to benefit the area through preservation, economic development and conservation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designates marine sanctuaries to preserve sites with national significance, such as […]
The post New marine sanctuary spotlights a ‘submerged museum’ on Lake Ontario first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/11/16/new-marine-sanctuary-spotlights-a-submerged-museum-on-lake-ontario/
By Donté Smith Capital News Service Michigan’s oil industry may not be front and center, but it remains active with over 9,300 wells across the state. The U.S. Energy Information Administration ranks Michigan 18th in the nation in crude oil production. In June 2024, Michigan wells produced 211,000 barrels of crude oil — around 8.8 […]
The post Michigan pushes to plug orphan oil wells first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/10/01/michigan-pushes-to-plug-orphan-oil-wells/
By Amalia Medina A green flag flying on a Great Lakes beach does not necessarily mean it’s safe to swim. Checking beach monitoring websites like BeachGuard is not a surefire solution either. These two findings are central to a public health research project, the Great Lakes Microbial Water Quality Assessment, that set out to measure […]
The post Great Lakes beach closings are no protection from harmful pollutants first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/08/21/great-lakes-beach-closings-are-no-protection-from-harmful-pollutants/
By Eric Freedman A Rochester, N.Y., man who deliberately abandoned and sunk his 25-foot Bayliner in Lake Ontario must pay $15,442 restitution to cover the cost of unnecessary search-and-rescue operations. Vyacheslav Migitskiy admitted lying to federal investigators about his ownership of the boat, according to court documents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Migitskiy “intentionally sunk […]
The post Deliberate sinking on Lake Ontario nets conviction first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/07/26/deliberate-sinking-on-lake-ontario-nets-conviction/
The smell of cigar smoke lingers as visitors walk through the dark living quarters of Gulliver’s Seul Choix Point Lighthouse.
“There are so many public ghost towns,” Tedsen said. “But to me, paranormal is very important — it begs the question ‘is there life after death?’”
The post The tale of a haunted lighthouse first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/11/haunted-lighthouse/
Now three of Michigan's four Great Lakes are back to historically normal levels, and the sandbags must go.
The post State environment officials request removal of sandbags along Great Lakes shorelines first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/07/11/state-environment-officials-request-removal-of-sandbags-along-great-lakes-shorelines/
State park beaches across Michigan remain devoid of lifeguards to correct the flag system.
The post Great Lakes drownings bring updated flag system from DNR, concerns from others first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/07/06/great-lakes-drownings-bring-updated-flag-system-from-dnr-concerns-from-others/
Walleye and pike surveys start in early spring, followed by muskie surveys. In May, the DNR starts surveying general fish communities like panfish and bass, and from July to September it surveys streams.
The post Shocking news for Michigan fish first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/27/shocking-news-for-michigan-fish/
The bay is eroding quickly, leaving the inland vulnerable.
The post A cost-effective solution to beach erosion first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/01/23/a-cost-effective-solution-to-beach-erosion/
The BeBots and Pixedrones will be deployed to Olander Park near Toledo, and then Hinckley Reservation, North Coast Harbor, Fairport Harbor Beach of the Cleveland area.
The post Beach cleaning robots are coming to Lake Erie first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/26/beach-cleaning-robots-are-coming-to-lake-erie/
On Christmas Eve, up to 20-foot waves are expected on all five of the Great Lakes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns of high winds, big waves and freezing spray across all coastlines.
The post Joyous Noel: Great Lakes’ great waves give surfers a gift first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/12/23/joyous-noel-great-lakes-great-waves-give-surfers-a-gift/
Coastal restoration efforts are underway across the state as recipients of the Michigan Coastal Management Program grants begin work locally. Seventeen awards totaling more than $1.1 million will fund projects and initiatives to protect, preserve and enhance the state’s coastal resources.
The post More beach, boat access planned from coastal grants first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/19/more-beach-boat-access-planned-from-coastal-grants/
In our newest TikTok, Echo reporter Brooklyn Peppo explores the potential negative health effects of breathing in lake breeze.
The post Lake breeze can be harmful to health: TikTok edition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/17/lake-breeze-can-be-harmful-to-health-tiktok-edition/
In our newest TikTok, Echo reporter Brooklyn Peppo explores the potential negative health effects of breathing in lake breeze.
The post Lake breeze can be harmful to health: TikTok edition first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/17/lake-breeze-can-be-harmful-to-health-tiktok-edition/
Regions 30 miles off the Lake Michigan coast are subject to a polluted lake breeze that contaminates air quality. Their toxic reach varies depending on the weather.
The post Lake breeze can be harmful to health first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/05/16/lake-breeze-can-be-harmful-to-health/
Man-made rock armoring installed to prevent beach erosion may actually make the problem worse, according to research conducted by the Michigan Geological Survey.
The post Commentary: Rocky beaches are not fun first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/29/commentary-rocky-beaches-are-not-fun/
Algal blooms cause lower housing prices in Lake Erie communities, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
The post Algae contamination effects Lake Erie housing prices first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/21/algae-contamination-effects-lake-erie-housing-prices/
Global warming will produce more frequent high rainfall events in the Upper Great Lakes, which could impact sandy beaches used for recreation.
The post Global warming may impact Great Lakes beaches first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/04/07/global-warming-may-impact-great-lakes-beaches/
The National Park Service recently placed Fishtown on the National Register of Historic Places, an official list of over 96,000 historic properties nationwide considered worthy of preservation.
The post Fishing heritage in Leland gets preservation boost first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/25/fishing-heritage-in-leland-gets-preservation-boost/
Park staff say the structures disrupt the natural beach habitat and can even be damaging to some animal species, like the piping plover.
The post Sleeping Bear park officials ask visitors to stop building structures on lakeshore first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/08/sleeping-bear-park-officials-ask-visitors-to-stop-building-structures-on-lakeshore/
Two pieces of legislation are churning Michigan’s political waters with different approaches to beach safety in state parks.
The post Beach safety enforcement: too much or too little? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/10/04/beach-safety-enforcement-too-much-or-too-little/
In Thousand Islands, New York, near Lake Ontario, between the United States and Canada, you can find four different origin stories for Thousand Island dressing, three of which involve a woman named May Irwin.
The post Thousand Island Dressing Mystery: Great Lakes origins of one of America’s favorite sauces first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/08/04/thousand-island-dressing-mystery-great-lakes-origins-of-one-of-americas-favorite-sauces/
Although Great Lakes water levels are down, the risk of coastal erosion remains high, Michigan State University researchers say. Now, the researchers are enlisting “citizen scientists” to assist in helping better understand coastal change.
The post Researchers seek volunteers to document coastal erosion in Michigan first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/06/23/researchers-seek-volunteers-to-document-coastal-erosion-in-michigan/
Thanks to a spongy M&M-like technology, contaminated soil in the Detroit River downstream of the MacArthur Bridge has been contained.
The post Massive filter keeps Detroit River contaminants in place first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/03/09/massive-filter-keeps-detroit-river-contaminants-in-place/
The former luxury mansion of a Detroit automaker is the site of an attempt to recreate the scarce natural shoreline along Lake St. Clair.
The post Ford House collaborates to restore Lake St. Clair shoreline first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/03/08/ford-house-collaborates-to-restore-lake-st-clair-shoreline/
The seed grant could lead to large scale application across the Great Lakes
The post Scientists identify genetics of native beach grass to help protect dunes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/02/22/scientists-identify-genetics-of-native-beach-grass-to-help-protect-dunes/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/10/30/detroit-river-cleanup-brings-new-look-to-motor-city/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/10/30/detroit-river-cleanup-brings-new-look-to-motor-city/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/10/26/is-lake-michigan-the-most-dangerous-great-lake/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/10/23/a-22-year-mission-to-restore-a-pennsylvania-bay/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/05/18/commercial-fishing-in-michigan-is-critical-infrastructure-will-it-survive-covid-19/
