On:
In: bald eagle nestlings, emerging contaminants, Gavin Dehnert, National Sea Grant Law Center, new project, PFAS, Wisconsin Sea Grant

Caption: Gavin Dehnert, an emerging contaminants scientist at Wisconsin Sea Grant, investigates the impact of emerging contaminants on aquatic ecosystems. Photo Credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Coastal and estuarine waters are important for human and ecosystem health. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are regularly detected in these waters; however, little is known about how they are transported, where they accumulate and their final destinations. There is also a lack of research on the health risks they pose to humans and aquatic life. It is critical to continue to support ongoing monitoring efforts and to address knowledge gaps around CEC exposures, which Sea Grant has established with previous funding.

For the last four years, Congress has directed Sea Grant to collaborate with state agencies and universities to expand emerging contaminant research and monitoring. Sea Grant is pleased to announce two projects receiving approximately $984,000 in federal funding in 2024. These projects were competitively selected through an opportunity focused on CECs. The projects, detailed below, will lead regional research competitions in the Southeast and Great Lakes regions focused on addressing CEC information needs. 

2024 project descriptions:

Wisconsin Sea Grant

Quantifying the health impacts of emerging and legacy contaminants on an apex bird predator in the Great Lakes region

Federal funding: $484,400

Project lead: Christina Remucal and Gavin Dehnert

Wisconsin Sea Grant plans to sample bald eagle nestlings, game fish and water from areas in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan known to have per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Researchers anticipate elevated PFAS levels near historical contamination sites and expect varying levels in game fish, which could lead to updating fish consumption guidelines. This study will inform long-term monitoring and bioremediation efforts and provide insights into the potential health impacts on both humans and wildlife. The findings will benefit local communities, including tribal nations, by offering updated fish consumption recommendations and contributing to future PFAS research.

The National Sea Grant Law Center

Strengthening and expanding regional CEC initiatives to promote research-to-application partnerships

Federal funding: $500,000

Project lead: Stephanie Otts

The National Sea Grant Law Center will assess and address the risks posed by contaminants of emerging concern to local communities through an interdisciplinary approach that involves both science and outreach. They will provide funding to the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium for research projects through their contaminants grant program and will support partnership development in the Great Lakes and Southeast regions through a competitive grant process. The expected outcomes include a better understanding of the types, prevalence and movement of contaminants in the Southeast, stronger collaboration between researchers and policymakers in both regions, the creation of research-to-application partnerships that can serve as future models, and improved integration of research into policy decisions.

 

The post Sea Grant announces new projects to address community needs regarding contaminants of emerging concern first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/sea-grant-announces-new-projects-to-address-community-needs-regarding-contaminants-of-emerging-concern/

Wisconsin Sea Grant

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CST this morning. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

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.da95821ec70706b3cd6f72c599bfce34552ae607.004.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 10 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

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.f512bf1487be9a1ff765a17deab86bbebeb9dd44.002.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
At 450 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking snow showers along a line from 10 miles south of Oconto to near Denmark, or along a line from 11 miles northwest of Bay Shore Park to 11 miles southeast of Green Bay, moving east at 25 mph. The snow showers will be near... Luxemburg and Bellevue Town around 450 PM CST. Kewaunee around 515 PM CST. Other locations impacted by these snow showers include Dyckesville, Poland, Glenmore, Humboldt, Champion, Bellevue, Shirley, New Franken, Lark and Red Banks. Visibilities will drop quickly to less than a quarter of a mile in these snow showers. This includes Interstate 43 between mile markers 163 and 183.

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.cd11d975eca89424503707c4c91299e70248ffcb.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Agriculture, Feature Homepage, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News
Agricultural runoff damages our water and kills wildlife. Could a simple drainage stopper be the solution?

The sight of the first snow on the horizon of Bill Wiley’s 500-acre farm in Shelby County, Ohio, is a welcome relief. The 2024 growing season has been incredibly dry.

“We are about eight inches behind regular precipitation for the year,” he said.

But Wiley, who farms corn, soybeans, wheat, pumpkins and gords, has installed two inline water control structures that control the flow of drainage water from two of his fields.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/12/agricultural-runoff-damages-our-water-and-kills-wildlife-could-a-simple-drainage-stopper-be-the-solution/

Stephen Starr

On:
In: Uncategorized
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero expected. * WHERE...Calumet, Manitowoc, Winnebago, Brown, Kewaunee, Northern Oconto County, Outagamie, and Southern Oconto County Counties. * WHEN...From 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 to 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

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.c8c1320940f864d7e6e305f03cf840904ff4b867.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Uncategorized
At 229 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking snow showers along a line from near Embarrass to near St Anna, or along a line from 9 miles south of Shawano to 19 miles east of Oshkosh, moving east at 20 mph. The snow showers will be near... Appleton, Little Chute, Kimberly, Northern Lake Winnebago, High Cliff State Park, Menasha, Embarrass, Central Lake Winnebago and Clintonville around 230 PM CST. Black Creek and Darboy around 235 PM CST. Kaukauna, Chilton and St Anna around 240 PM CST. Navarino Wildlife Area around 245 PM CST. Other locations impacted by these snow showers include Harrison, Twelve Corners, Binghamton, Leeman, Kloten, Mackville, Stockbridge, Jericho, Deer Creek Wildlife Area and Wolf River Bottoms Wildlife Area. Visibilities will drop quickly to less than a half mile in these snow showers. This includes the following highways... Wisconsin Highway 441 between mile markers 4 and 10. U.S. Highway 10 between mile markers 289 and 291. Wisconsin Highway 29 between mile markers 233 and 256. U.S. Highway 41 between mile markers 137 and 173. Interstate 43 between mile markers 190 and 192.

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.d3dfe9a193c8324957f44e74043ce2815a489e99.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

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

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

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

James Polidori