Temps Cooling, Fall Cleanup Tips

As we approach the middle of autumn in Northeast Wisconsin, folks are starting to tackle outside projects to prepare for winter. You might be raking leaves, winterizing your spigots, and cleaning up your vegetable garden. Folks are also looking at their backyard ponds and starting to get things wrapped up for the year.

Want a few tips? Check out this short video with Melinda Myers. Melinda, a former Extension Master Gardener Educator herself, is wellknown throughout the state and nationally as a gardening expert and trusted voice to bring education, including invasive species education, to gardeners!

Photo Credit:

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Fall Water Garden Clean Up to Keep Our Lakes Healthy appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/10/17/fall-water-garden-clean-up-to-keep-our-lakes-healthy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fall-water-garden-clean-up-to-keep-our-lakes-healthy

Chris Acy

Energy News Roundup: Retirement is in sight for another huge coal plant

Retirement is in sight for one of the country’s largest coal plants. Ohio’s James M. Gavin plant, the third most gargantuan in the Midwest and sixth nationwide, will likely be closed or converted to run on gas by 2031, Inside Climate News reported. The two coal plants in the region with more generating capacity — the Gibson plant in Indiana and the Monroe plant in Michigan — are set to retire in 2038 and 2032, respectively, after electric utility Duke Energy proposed a couple of weeks ago to delay the Gibson plant’s closure or conversion by three years from its previous target of 2035.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/energy-news-roundup-retirement-is-in-sight-for-another-huge-coal-plant/

Nicole Pollack, Great Lakes Now

Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance in informing the local communities is appreciated. 

Original Article

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

https://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-alert-low-level-helicopter-flights-image-geology-over-parts-iowa?utm_source=comms&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=news

lrussell@usgs.gov

Members of the news media are invited to attend a media day at the Dubuque Regional Airport to see firsthand the aircraft and equipment that will be used to image geology during a U.S. Geological Survey Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) low-level airborne survey of the tristate region later this month. 

Original Article

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

https://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-advisory-media-invited-view-aircraft-equipment-slated-map-iowa?utm_source=comms&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=news

lrussell@usgs.gov

Two high school students want to keep trash out of the Great Lakes. They think rivers are the key

By Fatima Syed, The Narwhal

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/two-high-school-students-want-to-keep-trash-out-of-the-great-lakes-they-think-rivers-are-the-key/

The Narwhal

How northern Michiganders can help people affected by hurricanes

By Izzy Ross, Interlochen Public Radio

This coverage is made possible through a partnership with IPR and Grist, a nonprofit independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.

Hurricane Milton made landfall last week in Florida, even as communities across the southeast are still reeling from Hurricane Helene.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/how-northern-michiganders-can-help-people-affected-by-hurricanes/

Interlochen Public Radio

2024 Fox-Wolf Watershed Impact Awards Honor Local Environmental Heroes

On October 10th, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance hosted The Happiest Hour at The Hillside at Plamann Park in Appleton, where community members gathered to celebrate the 2024 Impact Award recipients. These awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made a meaningful impact on environmental conservation and sustainability in the Fox-Wolf Watershed region.

Read on to learn more about this year’s winners and their inspiring contributions to environmental stewardship!

Lifetime Achievement Award: Honoring Hallett “Bud” Harris for 50 Years of Conservation Leadership

Hallett “Bud” Harris was celebrated for his lifelong dedication to water conservation. A former professor of ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Bud played a key role in projects like the Fox River PCB cleanup and the Lower Fox River TMDL study, which have shaped the future of the Bay of Green Bay. Even in retirement, he has raised over $1 million for water monitoring programs and continues to serve on environmental advisory councils. His legacy will have a lasting impact on water conservation efforts for generations to come.

Recognizing Seven Oaks Dairy: Leading Sustainable Farming in Wisconsin

Seven Oaks Dairy received an award for their leadership in sustainable farming, with a focus on improving soil health and water quality. Their involvement in the Climate Smart Dairy Study and dedication to sharing best practices through field days and tours are setting a new standard for environmentally responsible agriculture. Seven Oaks Dairy is helping farmers throughout the region adopt sustainable practices that will benefit the environment and future generations.

Jeff Manzanec: Championing Stormwater Management and Community Engagement

Jeff Manzanec was recognized for his contributions to stormwater management and water quality initiatives. As a Senior Consultant at raSmith and a long-time board member of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, Jeff has developed innovative tools like PermiTracker and led paddling events that encourage community involvement in protecting waterways. His work has helped connect technical solutions with public engagement, making a lasting impact on local water conservation.

Community First Credit Union: Building Eco-Friendly Infrastructure in Wisconsin

Community First Credit Union received an Impact Award for their commitment to sustainable infrastructure. By using native plantings and permeable pavers at their facilities, they have reduced stormwater runoff while improving water quality. Community First is leading the way in demonstrating how businesses can adopt eco-friendly practices that positively impact both the community and the environment.

Ryan Kudish: Inspiring Environmental Action Through Media

Meteorologist Ryan Kudish was honored for his work on Sustainably Speaking, a weekly news segment on WFRV-TV Local 5 that focuses on environmental issues. Through his reporting, Ryan has made complex topics like climate change and water conservation accessible to viewers, inspiring the community to take action. His efforts are helping to build awareness of critical environmental issues across the region.

Celebrating Local Impact at The Happiest Hour

The evening at The Happiest Hour was filled with food, drinks, live music, and inspiring stories of environmental leadership. Guests left the event motivated to continue making a positive impact in their communities.

Get Involved

Inspired by these stories? Join us by volunteering or donating to support the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s conservation efforts!

The post 2024 Fox-Wolf Watershed Impact Awards Honor Local Environmental Heroes in Wisconsin appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/10/16/2024-award-winners/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2024-award-winners

Dan Beckwith

Western Lake Erie’s 2024 algal bloom set a record for arrival time when it established itself on June 24 this year. Now, even with cooler temperatures this week, it could become the second one in modern history to linger into November. Read the full story by The Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-extended-bloom

Taaja Tucker-Silva

Ten years ago, Toledo warned about half a million residents not to drink the water for nearly three days due to algal toxins. Thus far, some studying Erie say we haven’t flexed enough muscle to live up to commitments made in the wake of the crisis. Read the full story by Crain’s Cleveland Business.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-erie-bloom

Taaja Tucker-Silva

Through a collaboration between water operators and scientists, yellow smart buoys bobbing on the surface of Lake Erie are serving as an early warning system for algae blooms. Read the full story by CBC News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-smart-buoys

Taaja Tucker-Silva

In June 2025, an underwater remotely operated vehicle contest will be hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan. More than 1,000 guests from 15 countries are expected to attend. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-robot-championship

Taaja Tucker-Silva

Foam from Muskegon Lake in Muskegon, Michigan, contained over 4,000 parts per trillion of PFOS. The source has not been identified because a number of former industries along the shoreline could have used the foam for fire protection or in their industrial processes. Read the full story by the Midland Daily News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-muskegon-pfos

Taaja Tucker-Silva

Chequamegon Bay near Ashland, Wisconsin, hasn’t seen algae blooms unlike other areas of the Great Lakes struggling with high phosphorus levels. A recent study found that the area doesn’t have the same kind of dissolved phosphorus that is associated with intense agricultural production. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-superior-phosphorus

Taaja Tucker-Silva

The closed Palisades nuclear plant, located on Lake Michigan, is in the first steps of reopening: on-the-ground efforts are already underway at the site to co-locate a pair of small-modular reactors there by 2030. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20241016-palisades-reopening

Taaja Tucker-Silva

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s are expected. Temperatures may remain just above 32 degrees along the Lake Michigan shoreline. * WHERE...Calumet, Manitowoc, Winnebago, Brown, Kewaunee, and Outagamie Counties. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.2d3593ced72118da6172815fc20d2a0e5794190c.001.1.cap

NWS

The lonely Lake Superior caribou and a lesson in limits

By Emma McIntosh, The Narwhal

Emma and photographer Christopher Katsarov Luna spent four days in northwestern Ontario, reporting from the shore of Lake Superior.

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/the-lonely-lake-superior-caribou-and-a-lesson-in-limits/

Mila Murray

By Donté Smith Capital News Service Detroit’s streets are becoming a testing ground for future transportation, with automated shuttles like Accessibili-D and Connect AV offering mobility solutions. These shuttles, which started operating this year, help residents, particularly those with limited transportation, access essential destinations such as doctors’ offices and grocery stores. The Connect AV shuttle provides fully […]

The post Automated shuttles provide new mobility options, but coverage concerns remain first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/10/15/automated-shuttles-provide-new-mobility-options-but-coverage-concerns-remain/

Donte Smith

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s are expected. Temperatures may remain just above 32 degrees along the Lake Michigan shoreline. * WHERE...Calumet, Manitowoc, Winnebago, Brown, Kewaunee, and Outagamie Counties. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.1d2db113e7b22f8dc1de2417e0881a72431f3af7.001.1.cap

NWS

 

Pierce measures a fish. Image credit: Olivia Kress

By Thomas Pierce, Freshwater Collaborative summer research student

This summer, 35 undergraduate students from across the country conducted research with Freshwater@UW, the University of Wisconsin’s cross-site, cross-discipline research opportunities program. Freshwater@UW is supported by the Freshwater Collaborative, Wisconsin Sea Grant, Water@UW–Madison, the Water Resources Institute and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Graduate School. In the final weeks of the program, students reflected on what they learned. Here’s the final post in this series. It’s by Thomas Pierce, an undergraduate sophomore in environmental studies at Macalester College in Minnesota. He worked with Olaf Jensen, University of WisconsinMadison.

This summer I worked closely with Lonnie Parry, a doctoral student in Olaf Jensen’s lab, on a project aimed at measuring urban shore angling effort, catch and harvest, and comparing the attitudes and values about fisheries management among boat and shore anglers. Our goal was to collect information on anglers in the Milwaukee area that have historically not been represented in Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources survey work. Traditional surveys often underestimate the prevalence of shore anglers. Additionally, the Milwaukee River system is not sampled in traditional creel surveys. The research efforts of Jensen’s lab can expand understanding of fisheries management along the Milwaukee shoreline of Lake Michigan. 

As a member of the creel survey team, I spent a few months commuting to Milwaukee to conduct in-person interviews with anglers. A typical morning shift could start as early as 5:30 a.m. Some afternoon shifts could end well past 9 p.m. The shifts were structured so that we could maximize interactions with anglers during peak fishing season.

I gained a valuable research skill in conducting semi-structured interviews. The semi-structured interviews entailed building rapport in an informal setting with anglers while at the same time sticking to a consistent set of questions for replicability. This blended approach helped build trust as well as replicability for the research survey. The survey topics/questions focused on the importance of fishing to the anglers’ lifestyles, plus various sociodemographic information.

Pierce interviews an angler about the importance of fishing to their lifestyle. Image credit: Olivia Kress

We found that boat anglers were typically fishing for salmon and sometimes trout, while shore anglers were fishing for smaller species such as bass, bluegill and perch. One of the most interesting skill sets I gained this summer was identifying different fish species in the Milwaukee River system and properly measuring and recording catch data. While I cannot quite call myself an expert fisherman, I can accurately identify most fishes in the Milwaukee River/Great Lakes area. 

One particular conversation stands out. I spoke with a shore angler who had been fishing along the Milwaukee shoreline for over 20 years. He spoke passionately about the changes he had seen in the fish populations and the challenges faced by local anglers. He specifically talked about fishing alone in Cupertino Park many times as a kid decades ago and being able to catch abundant yellow perch. He said that is no longer the case; he felt that the decline was due to the drastic increase in PCBs in the water as well as the destructive effects of invasive species such as the alewife, which are native to the ocean. When alewives appeared in the Great Lakes, their population ballooned and they competed for plankton and other aquatic organisms, which negatively affected local Great Lakes species like yellow perch. Furthermore, alewives are known to eat young yellow perch and lake trout.

The biggest challenge during this project was analyzing and synthesizing the data to create understandable graphs that the public could look at for our findings. This research experience provided valuable data that informed more equitable fisheries management policies. Personally, it helped me develop essential skills in data collection, analysis and community engagement. I have learned to step out of my comfort zone and interact with complete strangers. This skill will help me learn to communicate science and the importance of conservation down the road in graduate school and my future career.

The post Milwaukee anglers share “fish tales” with summer student first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/milwaukee-anglers-share-fish-tales-with-summer-student/

Wisconsin Sea Grant

* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures in the upper 20s to lower 30s are expected. Temperatures may remain just above 32 degrees along the Lake Michigan shoreline. * WHERE...Calumet, Manitowoc, Winnebago, Brown, Kewaunee, and Outagamie Counties. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill unharvested crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.ca337abaacc96faa156eb6a729876b86575a2cc1.001.1.cap

NWS

Environmental groups and industry at odds over plan to conserve old-growth forests

By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio

This article was republished here with permission from Wisconsin Public Radio.

Some Wisconsin groups are urging the Biden administration to do more to protect mature and old-growth forests under its proposal to conserve those trees as logging interests are pushing back against changes.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/environmental-groups-and-industry-at-odds-over-plan-to-conserve-old-growth-forests/

Wisconsin Public Radio

News

Great Lakes Commission calls for reauthorization of Great Lakes legislation and stronger protections against invasive species

Rochester, New York – At its Annual Meeting, held last week on the shores of Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) passed resolutions calling for reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and stronger protections against the introduction of invasive species.

“The Great Lakes Commission urges both federal governments to better protect the Great Lakes by taking action to restrict the import of high-risk species,” said GLC Chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. “Once established in the lakes, these species are extremely difficult to eradicate and costly to control. Additionally, we call on the U.S. Congress to pass the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which would reauthorize this incredibly successful program through FY 2031. Since 2010, the GLRI has provided more than $4 billion to fund more than 8,100 projects across the Great Lakes region which protect our freshwater resources.”

The Annual Meeting featured remarks from representatives of U.S. EPA Regions 2 and 5, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans. Great Lakes Commissioners also heard from expert panels on critical issues facing the lakes, including community watershed restoration, coastal resilience, and engaging youth in environmental stewardship.

At the meeting, the GLC re-elected its leadership: Chair Mertz, and Vice Chair Timothy Bruno, Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Interstate Water Resources Management, at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In advance of the meeting, GLC leadership planted two red maple trees at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. As a founding member of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Trees and Green Events initiatives, the GLC has committed to using sustainable practices at its meetings and supporting the initiative’s goal of planting 250 million trees in the Great Lakes basin by 2033.

The GLC will next convene in Washington, D.C. for its Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day on March 4-6, 2025. More information will be available on www.glc.org in advance of the meeting.


The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Beth Wanamaker, beth@glc.org.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/news/am-101424

Beth Wanamaker

What a Trump vs. Harris presidency might mean for the Great Lakes

The 2024 presidential election campaign is in the homestretch and results in the Great Lakes states of Michigan and Wisconsin could determine the winner. Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump covet the electors in both states and polling indicates they could go either way.

Great Lakes Now selected three key topics — Great Lakes restoration, Line 5 and groundwater — and asked veteran policy experts Rob Sisson and Lana Pollack for their views on how a Harris or Trump presidency may deal with them.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/10/what-a-trump-vs-harris-presidency-might-mean-for-the-great-lakes/

Gary Wilson, Great Lakes Now