On:
In: Authors, Brian Owens, Feature Homepage, Fish, Birds and Animals, Latest News, News, Recreation and Tourism, Recreational Hunting and Fishing, Science, Technology, Research
How safe are Great Lakes fish to eat? Depends on who you ask

Catching and eating fish is a way of life for many people around the Great Lakes and connecting St. Lawrence River, but decades of industrial pollution have made it unsafe to eat too many, too often. The advice about how many and how often can vary wildly depending on which jurisdiction, even though the fish don’t care about the lines humans draw on a map.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/how-safe-great-lakes-fish-to-eat-depends-on-who-you-ask/

Brian Owens, Great Lakes Now

On:
In: Citizen Advocacy, Wild & Scenic, Wild and Scenic Film Fest

Madison: join us for the 15th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

On March 21, River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Barrymore Theatre will host the 15th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. In partnership with the South Yuba River Citizens League, the festival aims to inspire people to paddle, explore, learn and take action to defend our priceless water.

 

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Thursday, March 21

Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Ave. Madison, WI 

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Program begins at 7 p.m.

Buy tickets now online through barrymorelive.com or at Barrymore Theatre outlets in Madison. The evening includes the chance to win door prizes from Fontana Sports and national sponsors and enter a raffle contest to win a beautiful wooden Langford Canoe courtesy Rutabaga Paddlesports.

This year’s films have strong themes of people who connect their love of paddling with art and advocacy. Films include stories of the transformative power of paddling in the lives of tribal teens and Chilean women. Other films focus on the importance of dam removal, building resilience to climate change, and representation of people of color in outdoor recreation. 

“We are excited to share these inspiring films that connect our rivers and art,” said River Alliance of Wisconsin Executive Director Allison Werner. “We particularly invite people to join us to view “INWARD,” a film by Chris Brown about artist and angler Michi Meko, and “Finding the Line” about artist Alexandra “Chachi” Riesco and her connection to nature.”

Featured films

Artist Michi Meko poses in front of his paintingsINWARD

Michi Meko is a postmodern cartographer and artist who lives within the parallels and meridians of two distinct worlds . . . the Urban world and the Rural world. Michi is highly influenced by his surrounding urbanization and the disposability of humanity, culture, injustice and waste. He’s influenced by nature and wilderness and its ability to heal and inspire. As a fly fisherman and outdoor enthusiast, Michi found his place and voice in nature. His journey inspires a new mindset and possibilities for everyone, especially African Americans. Dir. Chad Brown.

Artist Alexandra “Chachi” Riesco admires her artwork that is inspired by waterFinding the Line

From slicing through rapids in a whitewater kayak to carving into a plate while printmaking, Alexandra “Chachi” Riesco draws lines between geologic forces and her work and play — but following her own line isn’t always easy. As Chachi navigates challenges, her art highlights the importance of our connections to nature.

 

Thanks to sponsors: Rutabaga Paddlesports, Deer Creek Cheese, Fontana Sports, Delta Beer Lab, Sitka Seafood Market, Community Shares of Wisconsin, Econoprint, Numbers 4 Nonprofits, Lauer Realty Group, Park Bank, and Spencer Real Estate Group.

– Stacy Harbaugh, Communications Director

 

This message is made possible by generous donors who believe people have the power to protect and restore water. Support our work with your contribution today.

The post Madison: join us for the 15th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival appeared first on River Alliance of WI.

Original Article

Blog - River Alliance of WI

Blog - River Alliance of WI

https://wisconsinrivers.org/wild-and-scenic-2024/

Allison Werner

On:
In: aquatic invasive plants, Biological Invasions, Bret Shaw, Dominique Brossard, Eurasian watermilfoil, fear, herbicide treatments, negative emotions, Richard Heinrich, Theresa Vander Woude, Tim Campbell, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A volunteer looks through a plant rake for invasive species. Monitoring like this is one of the most underrated management actions when invasive species are found in lakes. Image credit: Paul Skawinski

A new study published by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers is the first to explore what drives lakeshore property owners’ preferences for herbicide treatments of aquatic invasive plants over other management options, even if those treatments may harm native plants and animals. The study found that negative emotions and believing that aquatic invasive species are present in the lake where a property owner lives were the strongest predictors for preferring herbicide treatments. Surprisingly, perceived impacts of aquatic invasive species did not affect preferences for herbicidal treatment of aquatic invasive species.

These results provide an opportunity for natural resource managers to educate lakeshore property owners about alternative methods for managing aquatic invasive plants while still leaving options open for herbicide treatment, if needed.  Other management options include manual and mechanical removal as well as simply monitoring, since non-native plants can often co-exist with other native plants in a lake without taking over and becoming a nuisance.

“People can develop negative emotions about a subject either through lived experiences or through communications about the subject,” said Bret Shaw, lead author and a Division of Extension environmental communications specialist and Department of Life Science Communication professor. “Given that the perceived impact of invasive species is not driving preference for using herbicides, it is possible that fear-based aquatic invasive species prevention messages may influence higher risk perceptions that cause property owners to seek herbicidal treatment first. Considering other approaches and messaging strategies, too, may help lake organizations achieve better outcomes with their management efforts.”

Aquatic invasive plants in Wisconsin lakes can negatively impact recreation and property values. Many organizations offer education and outreach programs for boaters and anglers to prevent invasive species spread.  However, some lakes already have non-native species that can become invasive, and new introductions can occur despite widespread prevention efforts. While there are many ways to manage aquatic invasive plants, lakeshore property owners and lake associations often seek permits to use chemical herbicides even though herbicides themselves can carry a potential risk of ecological harm to the treated lake, which is why herbicides may not necessarily be an appropriate as a first course of action in some waterbodies.

A diver and kayaker remove Eurasian watermilfoil from Spring Lake in Wisconsin. Image credit: Paul Skawinski

Aquatic invasive species are a concern both globally and in Wisconsin, with the Great Lakes on Wisconsin’s borders and another 15,000 inland lakes within them.  While the most problematic invasive species aren’t present in most lakes, where they are located, they can reach high densities that can impede boating, negatively affect fishing and alter the ecological functions of a lake. More than $5 million is spent each year in Wisconsin on aquatic invasive species management. However, even with this annual investment and the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species, very little effort has been spent understanding how waterfront property owners feel and think about invasive species management.

“This research is among the first to understand the opinions and beliefs of waterfront property owners about aquatic invasive species management,” said Tim Campbell, the aquatic invasive species program manager for Wisconsin Sea Grant and co-author of the study. “The results of this research will help us create invasive species management education tools and programs that balance efforts to reduce the unwanted impacts of invasive species while protecting the ecological integrity of our lakes.”

Other co-authors include Dominique Brossard, Professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC) as well as recent LSC graduate students, Richard Heinrich (LSC Ph.D. ‘23) and Theresa Vander Woude (LSC and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, M.S. ‘21). The full study can be found in the journal Biological Invasions here (https://rdcu.be/dvWb9). Alternatively, email tim.campbell@wisc.edu for a copy.

The post Negative emotions drive preference for herbicide treatments for aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin lakes first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/negative-emotions-drive-preference-for-herbicide-treatments-for-aquatic-invasive-species-in-wisconsin-lakes/

Wisconsin Sea Grant

On:
In: AP, Energy, Clean Energy, Ethanol and Fracking, Feature Homepage, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News
Enbridge appeals to vacate an order that would shut down its pipeline

By Todd Richmond, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An attorney for the energy company Enbridge tried to persuade a federal appellate court Thursday to vacate an order that would shut down part of a pipeline running through a Wisconsin tribal reservation.

About 12 miles (19 km) of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline runs across the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s reservation.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/ap-enbridge-appeals-to-vacate-an-order-that-would-shut-down-pipeline/

The Associated Press

On:
In: Uncategorized
Light snow is expected to continue through the morning commute. Though snow amounts will be well under an inch, untreated roads could be slippery in spots. Motorists should use caution if traveling this morning as even if the road looks wet, it could be slippery, especially on bridges and overpasses. Allow extra time to reach your destination and increase following distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. The snow will gradually diminish over northeast Wisconsin after 9 am this morning.

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.c368a1afef675ade1b083dea4fd01483c8391b22.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: water

It takes two to three hours for Kevin Villalta to filter and distill a gallon of tap water, and he says the process is as expensive as it is time-consuming.

But it’s worth it, said the Lansing environmental engineer, who works for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. 

The post Some in Michigan hoping to change minds about drinking water and fluoridation first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/13/some-in-michigan-hoping-to-change-minds-about-drinking-water-and-fluoridation/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Detroit, Feature Detroit, Feature Homepage, Latest News, Michigan, News, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
The future of water management, with Curt Wolf

In order to do meaningful things at scale, everyone has to be at the table. This is what Curt Wolf, Managing Director of the University of Michigan’s Urban Collaboratory, said about the Michigan Center for Freshwater Innovation in an interview with Great Lakes Now. Last month, he explained the benefits of pulling together stakeholders, the Great Lakes Water Authority, and major universities like the University of Michigan, Wayne State, and Michigan State to all work alongside each other to collaborate on grand challenges, like catastrophic flooding in the region.  

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/the-future-of-water-management-with-curt-wolf/

Lisa John Rogers

On:
In: AP, Feature Homepage, Lake Superior, Latest News, Michigan, News, Recreation and Tourism, shipwrecks
Wreck of ship that sank in 1940 found in Lake Superior

WHITEFISH POINT, Mich. (AP) — Shipwreck hunters have discovered a merchant ship that sank in Lake Superior in 1940, taking its captain with it, during a storm off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain announced Monday the discovery of the 244-foot (74-meter) bulk carrier Arlington in about 650 feet (200 meters) of water some 35 miles (60 kilometers) north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/ap-wreck-of-ship-sank-in-1940-found-in-lake-superior/

The Associated Press

On:
In: Daily News

A WWII-era shipwreck known for its captain’s strange behavior on its final day above the waves has been found deep in Lake Superior – about 35 miles off the tip of Michigan’s northernmost Keweenaw Peninsula. Read the full story by MLive.  

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-worldwar2-lakesuperior-shipwreck

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Minnesota is seeing a glaring lack of snow and lake ice this winter, and a new report underscores how climate trends are leading to diminished ice seasons on the Great Lakes. Findings issued by the nonprofit Climate Central note that all five lakes have experienced a decades-long decrease in ice cover. Read the full story by Public News Service.  

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-greatlakes-low-ice

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Michigan’s historic S.S. Badger car ferry is taking reservations for the 2024 season Lake Michigan crossings. This year marks the 71st anniversary of the ferry, the last coal-fired passenger steamer in the United States. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-ssbadger-summer-lakemichigan

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

The Gordie Howe bridge is the first international border crossing to join the Trans Canada Trail. The bridge will connect Windsor’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to the Iron Belle Trail and Great Lakes Way in Detroit, Michigan. Trail users will be able to walk or bike overtop of the Detroit River via the multi-use path network. Read the full story by CBC News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-transcanadatrail

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Officials are still cleaning up, and investigating, a chemical spill into the Bear Creek Drain in Macomb County, Michigan. The chemicals, at present unknown, turned the creek bright blue-green. The drain eventually flows into Lake St. Clair. Read the full story by Michigan Public.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-macombcounty-drain-blue

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Two harbor projects were among the $10 million in grants awarded through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Harbor Assistance Program. Superior, Wisconsin, will receive $813,800 to stabilize the existing shoreline and remove a failing dock wall on General Mills property located on the St. Louis River, and $3 million to rebuild the dock wall on property owned by Elkhorn Industries. Read the full story by The Superior Telegram.  

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-wisconsin-superior-portfacilities

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Four U.S. representatives, including two from Michigan, and the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2024 Tuesday in Washington. Right now, the GLRI is set to expire at the end of the 2026 fiscal year, but this legislation would reauthorize it for another five years through FY 2031. Read the full story by WXMI-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-boost-greatlakes-funding

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Unless a protracted cold wave sets in, Lake Superior will likely set a new record this winter for lowest average amount of ice cover, according to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Read the full story by BayToday.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-lakesuperior-lowicecover

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

The National Museum of the Great Lakes opened a new micro exhibit that examines the Great Lakes connection to the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an elite group of African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-museumofgreatlakes-tuskegeeairmen

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

The oil company Enbridge wants to move its Line 5 oil pipeline from the Straits of Mackinac into a tunnel beneath the lake, and the Michigan Public Service Commission recently signed off on this plan, issuing Enbridge a site permit. That decision could make things worse. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240212-relocate-line5-tunnel

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Recreation

As the winter progresses, food banks and other nonprofit organizations continue to tackle the increasing demand to alleviate hunger in Michigan.

One in nine people in the state faced hunger as of 2021, requiring $696 million more per year to meet their food needs

The post Food banks face crunch as demand rises first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/12/food-banks-face-crunch-as-demand-rises/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Daily News

Record warm winter weather is having severe ramifications on the ice cover that typically engulfs the Great Lakes at this time of year. Just 5.9% of the Great Lakes are currently covered with ice compared to an average of about 40% for this time of year. Read the full story by ABC News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-great-lakes-ice

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Researchers in Minnesota are creating a national map to identify peatlands – soggy areas of slowly decaying organic matter – and guides for how to restore them. The idea is to save a landscape that occupies just 3 percent of the earth’s land area but stores over 30 percent of the planet’s carbon. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-bogs

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

A successful halt on shoreline development through a recently crafted bylaw in Tiny Township, Ontario has been submitted for a Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative award. Even if the township does not win the award, the deputy mayor hopes the story can ‘help other municipalities that are facing similar issues’. Read the full story by Midland Today.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-best-practice-award

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Due to recent warm temperatures, the Duluth Fire Department in Minnesota is asking the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging in ice fishing activities in Superior Bay. Read the full story by KBJR-TV – Superior, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-superior-bay-ice-conditions

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

The gridlocked battle between a Wisconsin tribe and a Canadian oil giant has entered its next legal round. On Thursday, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments about whether Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 oil pipeline can continue to transport oil on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s reservation. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-line-5

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Researchers are on a mission to get more wintertime data to understand how Michigan’s disappearing winters affect the broader Great Lakes ecosystem, endangering some species, and changing nutrient cycles, among a growing list of concerns. Read the full story by Michigan Public.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-snow-clues

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

This past summer, a “moderately” severe algae bloom grew in Lake Erie. There is a long way to go to address the summer plague of Lake Erie algae blooms and the actions required to do so are a year-round job. Read the full story by the Environmental Defence.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-algae-blooms

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Many volunteers showed interest in living in a Lake Superior lighthouse for the summer. The National Park Service opened and closed an application to be a caretaker for the Sand Island Light off the coast of northern Wisconsin in less than a day due to an abundance of applicants. Read the full story by WJBK-TV – Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-lake-superior-lighthouse

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Daily News

Wisconsin lawmakers are introducing legislature modeled from the success of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect the Mississippi River waters and watershed. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240209-mississippi-river-model

Theresa Gruninger

On:
In: Climate change, Feature Homepage, Latest News, Michigan, News, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research
As Michigan winters vanish, researchers study snow for clues about what’s next

By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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/2024/02/as-michigan-winters-vanish-researchers-study-snow-for-clues-about-whats-next/

Bridge Michigan

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, History and Culture, indigenous communities, Latest News, Michigan, News
Reimagined St. Ignace memorial to be a showcase of Native American history

By Janelle D. James, Bridge Michigan

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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/2024/02/reimagined-st-ignace-memorial-to-be-a-showcase-of-native-american-history/

Bridge Michigan

On:
In: solutions

Chicago is joining a nationwide trend of large cities incorporating equity or justice goals into preparing for climate change’s impact on public health.

The idea is to better protect Black, Hispanic, Indigenous and other socially vulnerable and marginalized communities. That hasn’t always been the case. 

The post Faced with COVID-era civil rights complaints, Chicago commits to environmental justice first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/09/faced-with-covid-era-civil-rights-complaints-chicago-commits-to-environmental-justice/

Wajeeha Kamal

On:
In: AP, Climate change, Feature Homepage, Latest News, Minnesota, News, Science, Technology, Research
Globe breaks heat record for 8th straight month. Golfers get to play in Minnesota’s ‘lost winter’

By Seth Borenstein and Steve Karnowski, Associated Press

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — For the eighth straight month in January, Earth was record hot, according to the European climate agency. That was obvious in the northern United States, where about 1,000 people were golfing last month in a snow-starved Minneapolis during what the state is calling “the Lost Winter of 2023-24.”

For the first time, the global temperature pushed past the internationally agreed upon warming threshold for an entire 12-month period, with February 2023 to January 2024 running 2.74 degrees Fahrenheit (1.52 degrees Celsius) hotter than pre-industrial levels, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Space Agency.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/ap-globe-breaks-heat-record-for-8th-straight-month-golfers-get-to-play-in-minnesotas-lost-winter/

The Associated Press

On:
In: AIS, El Lower, Invasive species language workshop, Michigan Sea Grant, National Invasive Species Awareness Week, National Sea Grant Office, North American Invasive Species Management Association, Tim Campbell

Communicating effectively about invasive species, whether the plants and animals are on land or in water, can be challenging. Is it better to “wage a war” on invasives, or should communicators take an alternative approach?

Purple loosestrife, a pretty but invasive plant. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

In conjunction with National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the Sea Grant programs in Michigan, Oregon and Wisconsin are hosting a workshop with the North American Invasive Species Management Association on the topic of using messaging and metaphors in communicating about invasion biology. The “Invasive Species Language Workshop,” will be held online and in-person on Feb. 27-28. A virtual half-day of webinar presentations will be followed by a full-day workshop in Washington, D.C., where attendees will draft guidelines and research priorities for inclusive communication and naming conventions. Researchers, science communicators and invasive species managers are encouraged to attend.

“Our goal is to learn what everybody’s doing in their respective fields, and then get everyone together to talk it out and describe any successes they’ve had in advocating for better and more inclusive language about invasive species,” said El Lower, Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System communications specialist with Michigan Sea Grant. “It’s about how we can work together to promote a set of best practices and present a unified front across invasion biology.

“We can come up with different metaphors that are not just ‘good versus evil, us versus them,’ and actually get into some of the nuance involved in managing invasive species. Sometimes that gets lost in the wash if you’re simply focusing on military metaphors,” Lower added.

Another issue with invasive species are their names. Some species names may contain racial slurs or reinforce xenophobic concepts. Efforts to develop more inclusive guidelines for naming invasive species have been limited, and this will be an additional focus of the webinar and workshop.

“Scientists and natural resource managers often believe that the language and points they make are neutral; that they’re just the facts. However, even when communicating facts, we all use value-laden language or language that may be received differently than intended,” said Tim Campbell, Wisconsin Sea Grant AIS program coordinator. “By embracing this inclusive language and naming conventions, we can reduce unintended consequences of our communication products, and we be more effective in our aquatic invasive species management efforts.” 

Registration is now open for the sessions. Visit the website here.

Funding for the workshop was provided by the National Sea Grant Office.

The post Invasive Species Language Workshop designed to get people talking first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/invasive-species-language-workshop-designed-to-get-people-talking/

Marie Zhuikov

On:
In: Land

Researchers in Minnesota are creating a national map to identify peatlands - soggy areas of slowly decaying organic matter - and guides for how to restore them. 

The PeatRestore project is set to span several years. Restoration will begin by summer 2025.

The post Preserving Minnesota’s bogs could fight climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Echo

Great Lakes Echo

http://greatlakesecho.org/2024/02/08/preserving-minnesotas-bogs-could-fight-climate-change/

Guest Contributor

On:
In: Books, Authors, Art and Music, Feature Homepage, History and Culture, Latest News, Lighthouses, Museums and Cultural Institutions, Michigan, News
Photobook illuminates the beauty of Michigan lighthouses

This article was republished here with permission from Great Lakes Echo.

By Clara Lincolnhol, Great Lakes Echo

Michigan photographer Danielle Jorae wrote, designed and published Lighthouses of Michigan-Lower Peninsula to fulfill a wish of her childhood self.

“I ran across a document from when I was in kindergarten that outlined how I wanted to become an artist and a writer one day,” Jorae said.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/02/photobook-illuminates-the-beauty-of-michigan-lighthouses/

Great Lakes Echo

On:
In: Agriculture, Wisconsin Agriculture Agenda

Marie Raboin on what Wisconsin farmers need to protect water

If you’ve ever dreamt of quitting your job and moving to the country to make apple cider and raise goats, Marie Raboin’s life may look pretty ideal. 

Marie owns Brix Cider with her husband, Matt, makes hard cider, serves local food through their restaurant, and she advocates for sustainable agriculture through her day job as a conservation specialist for the Dane County Land and Water Division.

She will be the first to admit her limitations. With a degree in soils and agroecology, she can’t grow a garden. In spite of cider sales, she isn’t an expert in orchard cultivation. Though she feels the sadness of losing a pregnant ewe or the difficult decision to harvest a mean goat, it all evens out when she experiences the peace and joy of her farm.Marie in the barn surrounded by sheep

“Being around animals is the ultimate in calming,” Marie said. “It’s restorative to stand in my barn and have my cows come up for a nuzzle or to have goats nibble on my gloves. I can stand in my barn after an awful day and feel better.”

Marie attributes a lot of her success to her strong network of fellow farmers and small business owners who nimbly navigate growing and selling in the upper Midwest.

“I’m lucky to get to live out my personal mission daily at home and at work with the Dane County Land and Water Division. That’s where I get to help farmers do the best they can do with the resources they have. At the end of the day, I get to own this business that promotes good work and pays people for their good work when I buy products from farmers and food manufacturers that share my same personal mission for Wisconsin agriculture. We can support our neighbors.”

In the many years she has dedicated to understanding agricultural systems, Marie is acutely aware of what small businesses owners and farmers have in common. They have to take risks. They depend on the people who buy their products. And they have to work within constraints to make decisions for the survival of their families and their businesses. 

“I’ve never met a farmer who wants to do harm or is intentionally degrading resources. It’s just a matter of being under different constraints that make us make different decisions. We all face health, time, and financial constraints. We all make decisions to survive. I would never look down on anyone for making a decision. Now if I can help in those decisions, and help them have better choices, I’m all for that. We’re all working within constraints.”

Her understanding of these constraints and of the farmers who choose a path towards conservation practices in agriculture is why Mike Tiboris, River Alliance of Wisconsin’s Agriculture and Policy Director, asked her to be a part of discussions to form our Wisconsin Agricultural Agenda last year. When she’s invited to share what she has learned from farmers, Marie tends to take a role she describes as “farmer defender.”

“I know we aren’t moving the needle on soil and water conservation fast enough, but I tend to, at least in those meetings, defend what I think farmers are doing that is good, where I think they are going, and how we can continue to support the innovators.”

She has seen firsthand how change in agriculture is slow, but when given the opportunity to be creative, farmers can be incredibly innovative. She calls producer-led watershed groups supported by Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection a shining beacon of agricultural innovation in soil and water conservation in large part due to the social connections they forge. 

“I am a firm believer that conservation is more of a social issue than anything. We are a social science working in a hard science field. The relationships farmers have with each other go farther than research papers on cover crops or agronomics. It’s about people making social decisions for their business, family and community. Marie on the farm with a goat

“Unfortunately, farmers have been given a recipe from agribusiness to grow corn, soy, and milk without a lot of room for creativity. Yet they thrive and have fun when given the space to be more creative in the way they manage their crops and animals. Producer-led groups bring that out in fellow farmers. It’s a space where they can do things that are different and not feel self conscious about being different.”

All of the conversations Marie has about conservation in farming tend to come to the same conclusions: the playing field is not equal.

She says that the way our agricultural system is structured – through subsidy programs, extreme debt loads, and how farmers are paid – farms that are using practices like managed grazing that benefit our water resources aren’t being compensated for their costs, time, and continuing education despite going above and beyond for our environment. 

The producer-led groups are a salve for the stress of working for innovative water and soil protection practices within a broken system.  

“The more we relieve stress from farmers, the more time and space they have to make better decisions. No one wants soil to move from their field. They know soil is money. Research and understanding of economics are important but at the end of the day, if we don’t have a good social structure or if they can’t share with each other, science alone can’t get nitrates out of groundwater. Farmers need support in making conservation management decisions on their farms.”

 

– Stacy Harbaugh, Communications Director

 

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The post Marie Raboin on what Wisconsin farmers need to protect water appeared first on River Alliance of WI.

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Blog - River Alliance of WI

Blog - River Alliance of WI

https://wisconsinrivers.org/marie-raboin-dane-county/

Allison Werner

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In: Daily News

Construction is underway on a wetland enhancement project at the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area in the town of Ellisburg, New York. The project is a collaboration between New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Great Lakes Commission, Audubon New York, Audubon Great Lakes, and Ducks Unlimited. Read the full story by WWNY-TV – Watertown, NY.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-ny-wetland-enhancement

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

Legislators and bipartisan members of the Great Lakes Task Force introduced new legislation Tuesday that would extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a public-private program that has used federal and nonfederal aid to protect and maintain the Great Lakes since 2010. Read the full story by WWMT-TV – Kalamazoo, MI.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-glri

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced $10 million to improve eight harbors along the Mississippi River and Great Lakes. WisDOT’s Harbor Assistance Program will issue grants to Wisconsin cities such as Superior, La Crosse and Milwaukee to maintain and improve waterborne commerce. Read the full story by The Daily Reporter.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-wisconsin-harbors

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

In a study released in December, researchers documented the informal shift in priorities by restoration project managers to include human well-being.  An environmental social scientist says EPA should consider an increased focus on human well-being in their Great Lakes Restoration Initiative program. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-well-being-in-glri

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

Today, the Detroit River is much cleaner, and sentinel wildlife species have returned. The river has come a long way since the 1960s, however, there is still much work to do, including developing a stewardship ethic. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-detroit-river

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

In 2016, an Erie boater took to court against a fine for a lack of lifejackets. The result of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court’s decision sets precedent for state law to perform checks of fishing licenses and safety equipment. Read the full story by Erie Times-News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-safety-inspection-boater-law

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

Ohio House lawmakers announced Tuesday that the long-awaited pedestrian land bridge to connect downtown Cleveland to Lake Erie would get $20 million in the proposed capital budget’s one-time fund. Read the full story by WEWS-TV – Cleveland, OH.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-cleveland-land-bridge

Theresa Gruninger

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On Tuesday, the full Indiana Senate unanimously approved a bill that requires life rings be placed at public piers and Lake Michigan access points to help to assist in rescue efforts. Read the full story by WNDU-TV – Indianapolis, IN.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-rescue-equipment

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Daily News

The state of Michigan has identified thousands of sites potentially contaminated with the man-made chemical and many Michiganders would like to presidential leadership address the “forever chemicals.” Read the full story by Michigan Public.

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Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240207-pfas-michigan

Theresa Gruninger

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In: Blake Thomas, Deanna Erickson, field trips, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mary Fox, poster and art session, St. Louis River Summit 2024

Image courtesy of the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and Kate Murray

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (Lake Superior Reserve) is holding its 14th annual St. Louis River Summit March 6-7 with in-person sessions at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket Union and field trip options on March 8.

The theme for the summit is, “Braiding Visions for an Enduring Future,” which celebrates long-term stewardship of the St. Louis River through various ways. The goal of the summit is to bring together people who care about and work on the St. Louis River and to encourage coordination of activities, programs, and projects.

“We wanted to honor what it takes to care for land and water in a multigenerational sense,” said Deanna Erickson, Lake Superior Reserve director. “To steward the St. Louis River from past degradation into a thriving future takes many visions from scientists, community members, Ojibwe elders and stewards, to engineers, state agencies, and elected officials. The summit braids those perspectives together.”

The keynote session, “Visions: Stories for an Enduring Future,” will be hosted by Mary Fox and Blake Thomas of the live Duluth radio broadcast “Take it With You,” and Zeitgeist Arts. The St. Louis River has seen some wild tales–historic, ecological, adventurous, and personal. In this session, storytellers are invited from the community to share short personal stories connected to the river on the theme of visions in the format of a noncompetitive story slam (think a local version of The Moth podcast).

In-person events include informational presentations, networking sessions, a poster and art session, and field trips. The poster and art session takes place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in the University of Wisconsin-Superior Swenson Hall atrium. It will feature light refreshments.

During the morning of March 8, field trips will be held. Options include touring the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, snowshoeing in the Superior Municipal Forest, visiting the Grassy Point Restoration Site, and viewing art history murals inside West Duluth’s Kom-on-Inn with interpretation by an art historian and arts enthusiast.

Students from local schools and institutions are invited to attend the summit to learn about land and participate in water stewardship efforts, the research community and river restoration projects. Students attend for free but need to register.

The cost to attend the entire summit (virtual and in-person sessions) is $60 and includes lunches and appetizers at the poster and art session. Online registration closes Feb. 28. The cost for same-day walk-in registration is $90. Visit this link to register and view the agenda.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Initial sponsors include Barr Engineering; city of Superior; Duluth Pottery; Duluth Seaway Port Authority; Duluth Eco Rotary; EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc.; Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve; Lake Superior Captain’s Academy; Lake Superior Research Institute; Large Lakes Observatory; LimnoTech; Marine Tech; Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Minnesota Land Trust; Minnesota Sea Grant; Roen Salvage Co.; University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute; U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division; Western Lake Superior Sanitary District; W.J. McCabe (Duluth) Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America; Wisconsin Coastal Management Program; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Wisconsin Sea Grant and Wren Works, LLC.

The post St. Louis River Summit Celebrates an Enduring Future first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

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News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/st-louis-river-summit-celebrates-an-enduring-future/

Marie Zhuikov