Chesterfield Township, Michigan is in the midst of making its own little portion of the planet a better place for fish, waterfowl and families, via shoreline restoration at Brandenburg Park. Read the full story by The Voice.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-brandenburg-park
Seiche events and early spring weather events have affected the year class strength of northern pike in Lake Erie. Read the full story by GreatLakesNow.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-pike
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is restricting international cargo at one Michigan port. Other Great Lakes ports don’t face the same restrictions. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-port-monroe
Allen County, Ohio is getting ready to embark on a new drainage project to improve the water quality in the Lake Erie and Maumee River watershed. Read the full story by WLOK-TV- Lima, Ohio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-allen-county
With the Earth on track to finish out another year among the warmest on record and the impact of climate change mounting around the globe, advocates around the Great Lakes are looking ahead to what a new administration could mean for the Midwest, the region containing one of the world’s largest freshwater sources. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-climate-change
The Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council (MISAC) bestowed Carol Mortensen Invasive Species Management Awards at their virtual Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference in November. Read the full story by the Herald Review.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-ais
The Michigan state government has expanded its PFAS guidelines to set groundwater cleanup criteria for another five chemicals. Read the full story by WLNS – TV – Lansing, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-pfas
Help could be on the way for shoreline property owners after a bipartisan bill this month passed the Senate. Read the full story by the Huron County View.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-shoreline-grants
The City of Port Huron, Michigan is offering space along the Black River to the Naval Sea Cadet Ship Grayfox this winter. The ship has docked there in the past for events in the city and is still seeking a more permanent home. Read the full story by the Times Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-black-river
Facts matter, and they help people reach informed conclusions about issues that impact their lives. In this light, we want to correct the misinformation included in a recent opinion piece from State Rep. Rachel Hood. Read the full story by the Traverse City Record Eagle.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-line5
Nine harbor maintenance and improvement projects are receiving grants from the state, including four in Northeast Wisconsin. Gov, Tony Evers announced that more than $6 million is being invested in waterfronts around the state to boost statewide economic development. Read the full story by WLUK-TV Green Bay.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201224-wisconsin-harbor
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F76C99018.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F76C9D988WI.GRBSPSGRB.e00b354d9f3ab8b5ee91dd5d3d965141
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F76C93A28.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F76C98B68WI.GRBSPSGRB.e00b354d9f3ab8b5ee91dd5d3d965141
Federal funding helped Michigan transit agencies stay in good shape throughout the pandemic. It’s the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, 2021, that transportation authorities worry about.
The post Michigan transit agencies look to uncertain future as COVID-19 related expenses rise first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/12/24/michigan-transit-agencies-look-to-uncertain-future-as-covid-19-related-expenses-rise/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F76BBF4E4.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F76C804C8WI.GRBSPSGRB.670272ffdeab82d92d5ab990673d0435
When the canal flowing between two Upper Peninsula college towns froze last week, it wasn’t unusual. But that ice is also typically covered by a deep snow in this northernmost section of Michigan’s mainland. However, there was no snow on the canal’s surface when it froze last week, creating a glassy surface just begging for skates. People in both towns were surprised – and delighted to oblige. Read the full story by CBC Canada.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-canal
Conservation authorities are warning of possible flooding along Lake Erie due to strong winds in the forecast. Flood watches were declared by two conservation authorities in Southwestern Ontario on Wednesday. Read the full story by CBC Canada.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-flood
Climate change is having a widespread effect on lakes across the Northern Hemisphere, a new study has found. The lakes most at risk are those that are deep, as it’s more difficult for them to form ice, particularly the Great Lakes. Read the full story by CBC Canada.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-climate
Saving our Great Lakes means tackling multiple threats and problems from multiple angles. Partnerships form the basis of the solutions advocates seek. Read the full story by WLS-TV – Chicago, IL.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-partnerships
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she’s confident the state will be able to provide rural residents in the Upper Peninsula with energy if Enbridge’s Line 5 operations are stopped in the spring. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-nessel
Our rollercoaster weather pattern for the next few days has sparked Gale Warnings over Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, with some of these warnings lasting into Thursday. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-gale
Great Lakes Divers and Great Lakes, Great Responsibility hosted an inaugural holiday cleanup dive on Tuesday, called the Santa Splash to Pick Up Trash. Divers and beach walkers met at Rockport State Recreation Area north of Alpena, Michigan for an afternoon of diving in and cleaning up. Read the full story by The Alpena News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-garbage
Operation Taconite is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice-breaking operation. It encompasses Lake Superior, the St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac, Georgian Bay and all of Lake Michigan. Read the full story by WNMU-Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201223-taconite
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A program that has pumped $2.7 billion into healing long-term injuries to the Great Lakes environment has received authorization from Congress to continue another five years.
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously Sunday to extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, as the House did earlier this year.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/ap-congress-5-year-extension-great-lakes-cleanup-program/
In Lake Erie, the northern pike occupies, on the grand fish scale of things, a not-so-special place.
The elongated, fast, toothy eating machine is in general neither widely loved nor widely hated. In fact, as far as a sportfish goes, which it most definitely is, it is rather neglected.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/pike-huron-michigan-ontario-superior-erie-seiche/
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/library/2020-12-seasons-greetings
From lead pipes to PFAS, drinking water contamination is a major issue plaguing cities and towns all around the Great Lakes. Cleaning up contaminants and providing safe water to everyone is an ongoing public health struggle.
Keep up with drinking water-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Illinois:
The aquifer that supplies Chicago suburb Joliet’s drinking water is expected to dry up by 2030.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/water-withdrawal-contaminated-farmers-water-quality/
As 2020 winds down, we asked staff members at Wisconsin Sea Grant what their favorite project was this year. Although work was a bit more challenging than usual due to our altered work circumstances, everyone managed to stay productive, and even find fulfillment.
David Hart. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant
David Hart, assistant director for extension, said that updating the Wisconsin Coastal Guide was his favorite activity this year. The guide is an interactive story map that lets users explore the coastal and natural heritage of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes. The project, funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, let Hart combine two of his favorite things — making interactive maps and exploring the Great Lakes.
“The guide has so many exciting attractions to discover,” Hart said. “They are organized by tabs at the top of the website. The photo tab leads to scenic photos of all 15 coastal counties taken by nature photographer Bob Hundt. The learn tab features place-based learning activities like clue-driven Great Lakes Quests and maritime history geocaches. The maritime heritage tab lets you explore lighthouses, shipwrecks, fish markets and harbor towns. In the stories tab, you can listen to Voices of the Coast and catch up on Wisconsin Water News podcasts. The recreation tab guides you to 196 beaches and 228 coastal parks, ranging from busy state parks to rustic township parks. The nature tab features state natural areas, wildlife areas and the 37 nature centers near our coasts. The history tab lets you uncover historic sites in the Around the Shores of Lake Superior and Around the Shores of Lake Michigan books by Margaret Beattie Bogue. It also lets you read the 122 historic markers and find 100 museums near our coast. The boating tab locates the 33 certified and pledged clean marinas that are working protect water quality. It also features 112 public boat access sites. With the public access and routes tabs, you can navigate Circle Tour routes, Rustic Roads and Scenic Byways and find the 400+ public access sites along our coasts,” he said.
Be sure to block some time for a deep dive into the guide to get ideas of what to visit on your next trip to the Great Lakes.
The post Sea Grant staff project faves, David Hart first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Blog – Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/sea-grant-staff-project-faves-david-hart/
Stargazing, the outdoor activity practiced by curious humans throughout history, is getting a new appreciation during the era of COVID-19.
The post Stargazing offers welcome reprieve from pandemic first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/12/23/stargazing-offers-welcome-reprieve-from-pandemic/
(Chicago, IL) Dec 22, 2020 – Molly Flanagan, Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Chief Operating Officer & Vice President for Programs, released the following statement in response to the passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Authorization Act of 2019 on Monday and the omnibus bill in Congress last night, which includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and other key initiatives:
“The Great Lakes received some important gifts to end 2020 with the passage of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Authorization Act on Monday and the inclusion of critical project authorizations and funding in the omnibus spending bill passed late last night.
The GLRI Authorization Act passed unanimously in the Senate on Monday. The House of Representatives passed the bill earlier this year by a vote of 373 to 45. It allows Congress to keep funding this critical program and increases its authorized funding for the next 5 years beginning at $375 million in FY 2022 and increasing by $25 million per year until it culminates at $475 million in FY 2026. These funds provide direct support for on-the-ground restoration projects across the region. It’s great news for Great Lakers who depend on the lakes for their drinking water, jobs and recreational opportunities. We’re also pleased that Congress has set the GLRI up for success in FY21 with a $330 million appropriation in the omnibus bill — a $10 million increase over last year’s funding. The Alliance for the Great Lakes thanks Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and David Joyce (R-OH) for their leadership in this successful effort to continue prioritizing the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) passed as part of the omnibus bill also includes key initiatives that will help protect the health and vitality of the Great Lakes and the communities that rely on them. The bill authorizes the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency study with a focus on natural infrastructure as a way to help communities deal with fluctuating lake levels. Notably, it also authorizes construction of a project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fortify the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, IL to help stop invasive Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan. If they break through, these harmful fish would damage our regional economy and devastate the Great Lakes ecosystem and we’re encouraged to see Congress is serious about addressing the problem.
WRDA also adjusts the cost sharing for the project to put more of the onus on the federal government than impacted Great Lakes states (80% federal/20% non-federal) which will decrease the financial burden on states that are already seeing budget shortfalls as the economy continues to struggle. This is also important because the new technologies being developed to stop Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species will ultimately benefit many other states across the country as they deal with their own threats.
Safe and clean water for the Great Lakes has taken on even greater importance in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. In this turbulent political climate, it’s heartening to see that champions from both sides of the aisle came together to help ensure the long-term health of the Great Lakes for next year and beyond.
As we look to the future, we are eager to work with the new Congress to continue to advance these priorities and others — in particular addressing our rapidly crumbling water infrastructure and clean water and water affordability crises — and we call on the incoming Biden administration to include funding for these projects in his proposed budget next year.”
###
For media inquiries, contact Jennifer Caddick at jcaddick@greatlakes.org
The post Statement: Key Great Lakes Initiatives included in Year-End Congressional Legislative Action appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
https://greatlakes.org/2020/12/statement-key-great-lakes-initiatives-included-in-year-end-congressional-legislative-action/
When you turn on the faucet to get a drink of water, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the water is safe to drink. Because lead and other toxic chemicals like PFAS can’t be detected by appearance or taste, testing water is the only way to know if it is safe. Regulations require periodic testing of public water supplies for lead.
Since the primary source of lead in the drinking water is lead pipes that bring the water to the house, (lead service lines) from the bigger water main, an improved way of testing is revealing that many public water supplies have elevated lead levels.
Currently in Michigan, at least 20 public water systems have elevated lead levels that violate state regulations (above 15 parts per billion or ppb). There is no safe amount of lead in drinking water. Lead was detected above 1 ppb in over 900 public water systems. Clearly, we have a lead problem.
Exposure to lead in drinking water, as well as other sources such as lead paint, or dust from demolition is never safe. Lead is extremely toxic and harmful to people of all ages. In children it affects brain development and can reduce IQ and contribute to behavioral problems. In adults it increases cardiac disease, harms kidneys, and causes reproductive problems. A recent study estimated that for each lead service line replaced it would save $22,000 by reducing cardiac health problems. Considering the average cost to replace a lead line is $5,000 that is a sizable return on investment.
Freshwater Future is here to support residents and communities with reducing lead in drinking water. We hosted two webinars to help community members understand the regulations and provide guidance on how to push for solutions for communities with elevated lead levels, based on The Lead and Copper Rule Handbook developed by our partners at the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center. The webinars can be viewed online (No fee to view, but registration is required).
The Flint Water Crisis and the 2020 election reminded us that democracy is not a spectator sport. Our government functions best when residents are engaged, asking questions, and participating in forming solutions. If your community has elevated lead, we are here to support you.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/is-lead-in-your-drinking-water/
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
USGS News: Region 3: Great Lakes Region
https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-science-programs
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 22, 2020)—End-of-year legislation to fund the government will boost investments to protect and restore the Great Lakes, increasing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from $320 million to $330 million. The initiative is a top priority for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.
Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:
“This budget will keep Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts moving forward, even in the midst of a pandemic. These investments are encouraging to see.
“We’re happy to see Congress continue to support efforts to protect our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and quality of life. Federal investments in the lakes are producing results, but serious threats still remain. We look forward to final passage of this bill so that we can continue to move forward to help better our environment, economy, and public health.”
The massive $2.4 trillion package not only includes the consolidated federal budget bill, but also contains clean water investment priorities in the Water Resources Development Act to stop invasive Asian carp, support nature-based solutions to prevent flooding and storm damage, and assist vulnerable communities in addressing pollution. Congress, in its coronavirus relief package attached to the omnibus bill, also includes $638 million for vulnerable communities and utilities in drinking water and wastewater assistance.
Despite this progress, the U.S. Congress declined to enact a nationwide moratorium on water shutoffs leaving thousands – if not millions – without water at a time when clean water is essential to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Congress also failed to boost funding for drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure at a level commensurate to the need. More than $188 billion is needed in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to fix and update inadequate water infrastructure that has led to ongoing sewage contamination as well as skyrocketing water bills for people.
“Congress left important work on the table,” said Rubin. “Our job is not done until we’ve put an end to people having their drinking water shut off to their homes and to sewage contamination that threatens our health. We must upgrade our outdated drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure now, before these problems get worse and more expensive. Congress needs to act with purpose and urgency to ensure that every person in this country has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. The health of our communities depends on it.”
The post Final U.S. Budget Gives Great Lakes Funding Bump appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.
Healing Our Waters Coalition
https://healthylakes.org/final-u-s-budget-gives-great-lakes-funding-bump/
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, and its contractor, Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc., are scheduled to resume repairs of the Rochester (NY) harbor in the spring of 2021, repairing about 600 feet of the roughly 1,000-foot degraded section. Read the full story by Dvids.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-usace-harbor-repair
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reimplement a lake trout bag limit and season for Lake Michigan beginning Jan. 1, 2021. The new bag limit and season will mirror previous lake trout regulations. The open season will now run from Mar. 1 to Oct. 31 with a new daily bag limit of two lake trout. Read the full story by Antigo Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-trout-wisconsin-fish
A Franklin County judge on Monday blocked the collection and distribution of the House Bill 6 nuclear bailout fee, which Ohio ratepayers were scheduled to start paying next month. Read the full story by Cleveland.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-ohio-nuclear-fee
A federal judge promised Monday she will hear from all Flint residents with something to say about a proposed $600-million-plus payment to partially settle claims arising from the 2014 lead poisoning of the city’s drinking water supply — even if it requires a court hearing that stretches over several days. Read the full story by Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-flint-water-settlement
The Michigan Clean Marina Program is pleased to announce eight Michigan marinas have been named as Certified Clean Marinas. Each has been certified for three-year terms through 2023. Additionally, seven marinas have been Recertified as Michigan Clean Marinas. Read the full story by The Daily Mining Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-clean-marina-michigan
Great Lakes Towing christened two of its new ice-breaking tugboats at its own shipyard in Cleveland, Ohio on December 16th, signaling its newbuilding campaign had passed the halfway mark. Pennsylvania is the fourth of a series of 10 tugboats Great Lakes is building to replace its ageing fleet. Wisconsin, fifth in this series, was also christened during a virtual ceremony hosted from the shipyard. Read the full story by Riviera.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-shipping-tugboat
Arctic grayling have been absent from Michigan since the 1930s, but in 2016 the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative started the process to bring them back and hit a crucial milestone this fall when they were transferred to Marquette State Fish Hatchery. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-arctic-grayling-fish
The Trump administration’s delisting of the gray wolf is being met with criticism by wildlife conservation groups, some of which plan to challenge the decision through lawsuits against the Interior Department to prevent the removal of Endangered Species Act protections. Read the full story by Capital News Service.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-wolves-wildlife
After a series of intense storms over the past few years, Duluth’s Lakewalk is being rebuilt to protect the shoreline and the real estate behind it against rising lake waters, and against the more intense and frequent storms fueled by climate change. View and listen to the full story by MPR News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-duluth-harbor-erosion
The 2020 Water Resources Development Act will be enacted as part of the omnibus appropriations legislation, and authorizes projects and programs led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study, design, and construct water transportation and infrastructure projects including the restoration and maintenance of wetlands and watersheds critically important to birds and the flood resilience of communities. Read the full story by Audubon.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201222-water-restoration-wetland
Anne Moser. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant
As 2020 winds down, we asked staff members at Wisconsin Sea Grant what their favorite project was this year. Although work was a bit more challenging than usual due to our altered work circumstances, everyone managed to stay productive, and even find fulfillment.
Anne Moser, senior special librarian and education coordinator, said the “Explore Lake Sturgeon” project was her favorite for 2020.
“Having the opportunity to experience a fish dissection was an experience I’ll never forget. Over my years working at Wisconsin Sea Grant, I have participated in several projects that help tell the conservation story of this iconic fish species and this was the best! It gave me deeper understanding of the power of ‘hands-on’ learning and will hopefully be a useful tool for our cohort of talented Great Lakes educators during these months of distance learning,” Moser said.
If you’re not squeamish, you’ve got to check out the video of Anne helping to dissect a young sturgeon.
The post Sea Grant staff project faves, Anne Moser first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Blog – Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/sea-grant-staff-project-faves-anne-moser/
FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The Flint City Council on Tuesday signed off on its portion of a $641 million settlement with residents of the poor, majority-Black city who were exposed to lead-tainted water.
The city’s insurer would kick in $20 million as part of a sweeping deal to settle lawsuits against Flint, the state of Michigan and other parties.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/ap-flint-joins-641m-deal/
DETROIT (AP) — A judge said Monday that she’ll wait until January before deciding whether to give preliminary approval to a $641 million settlement in a lawsuit by Flint residents who were exposed to water contaminated with lead and bacteria.
Residents in the city of 100,000 still will get a chance to give their opinion if preliminary approval is granted, U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/12/ap-judge-residents-641m-flint-water-deal/
The Trump administration recently announced that it will remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list in the lower 48 states.
The post Protection for wolves still stirs controversy first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/12/22/protection-for-wolves-still-stirs-controversy/
Ten months after being approved in U.S. House with heavy bipartisan support, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act has passed the Senate and is headed for President Donald Trump’s desk. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201221-glri
Scientists recently reported pronounced reductions in both cladophora algae and quagga mussel density in Lake Michigan’s offshore waters near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore after an underwater project by the Invasive Mussel Collaborative. Read the full story by the Traverse City Record Eagle.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201221-invasive-mussels-removed
Shorelines across Lake Michigan are eroding, costing Great Lakes states millions of dollars in temporary solutions to protect shorelines and near-shore areas. Read the full story by the Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20201221-beach-erosion
