The village of shanties along the Leland River on Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula has endured for over 100 years. But surging Great Lakes water levels have increased flooding of the Leland River, prompting a $3.4 million effort to raise the foundations of the dozen shanties in Fishtown, Michigan. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-fishtown
The Great Lakes hold about one-fifth of the Earth’s fresh water, but a new report by Hilary Dugan, an assistant professor in the Center for Limnology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, indicates they’re getting saltier – and says that’s reason for concern. Read they full story by WXPR – Rhinelander, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-salt
The Great Lakes Water Authority in Detroit, using its Water and Field Services teams in partnership with LimnoTech and the University of Windsor, has deployed the first buoy to the Detroit River in an effort to enhance water quality monitoring of its source water. Read the full story by DBusiness.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-buoy
Great Lakes ports are reporting a rebound in cargo shipments this year after the region’s largest port witnessed historic lows during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-shipping
As climate change shows signs of altering the lakes’ ice cover, water temperatures, water levels and shorelines, experts are pushing plans to deploy more so-called smart technologies to monitor these changes. Read the full story by WBEZ-TV – Chicago, IL.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-smart-technology
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2FB104.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC303890WI.GRBSPSGRB.fc8c6076cccd3f028608ae46eaa49482
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2F8BE8.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f2515a6c90b725063985b3d4910f1df1
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2F60F0.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC2FCF18WI.GRBSPSGRB.54e5ef070b45e49081402cfe9ce09122
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2EC898.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC2F32D8WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2EC1F4.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.d3375083be088e045ae431e2054ef5cb
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2E6D30.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f6c36e7651b4c67cd22def122d04d71d
From insect-based dog food to fusion energy, solutions to climate change vary wildly, but there’s one mundane solution that affects nearly everyone—building codes.
The post Enlist building codes for climate fight first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/05/enlist-building-codes-for-climate-fight/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC2D5E7C.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f6c36e7651b4c67cd22def122d04d71d
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC21265C.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f6c36e7651b4c67cd22def122d04d71d
The Erie County Ag Research Corporation facility started as a small building in northeast Pennsylvania near the Lake Erie shore in 1948. Pennsylvania State University bought it just four years later.
Now, Penn State’s grape research center boasts 43 acres and has a joint program with Cornell University’s Grape Research Lab in New York.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/great-lakes-vineyards-changing/
By Eva Ryan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I recently interviewed Natalie Chin, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s climate and tourism outreach specialist. In light of Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary, Chin gave me insight into some of the ways her specialty has changed in the past 50 years, and how she hopes to see it progress in the next 50.
Natalie Chin enjoys a winter sport in the Superior Municipal Forest, Superior, Wis. Image credit: Marie Zhuikov, Wisconsin Sea Grant
Chin connects science regarding climate and tourism with key audiences not only in Wisconsin, but also nationally. “With my work, I hope to improve lives while also protecting the environment,” said Chin. Some of her focuses include community outreach, research and other administrative duties.
When asked about changes in the fields of climate and tourism, data was one specific detail that stuck out to Chin. “I feel like the amount of data we have is growing exponentially,” she said, “and also our understanding of the environment and how processes work, how things fit together and general advancements of science.”
Chin works to navigate the most pertinent and accurate climate information to pass along to the tourism industry. This process isn’t always straightforward because of long-term and short-term uncertainties in climate data. Nevertheless, it is important to sort through misinformation and dated information so she can provide the most accurate facts.
Chin also touched on the intersection of scientific discovery coupled with people and policymaking. While scientific fact is objective, the way in which we implement that information into society can be influenced by our values. There is a continuous need for balance between making good scientific decisions and thinking about the impacts those decisions have on people. In addition to changing societal values, “this desire to keep advancing and gaining knowledge is something that’s driving science and discovery,” Chin said.
Looking into the next 50 years of her specialty, Chin focused on social and environmental justice. “I hope that we continue to value the voices of the most vulnerable or marginalized, especially when it comes to climate change. Those are the people who are going to be impacted the most,” Chin said. Bringing her own values to the table, Chin expressed the wish that no one should feel disposable, forgotten or unseen.
Chin noted a project focused on climate migration that she had been working on, thinking about people who live on coasts. These are people who will be disproportionally affected by sea-level rise but perhaps have neither the ability nor the desire to move because of a deep connection to place. This is just one example of how climate change and environmental justice intersect. Environmental racism in America and across the world is one perspective on the issue, which has economic and health implications.
Hopefully, in the next 50 years we will see major improvements in America’s climate action and policy. And with people like Natalie Chin working toward this goal, I think the future is looking bright.
The post How climate action can change lives first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/how-climate-action-can-change-lives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-climate-action-can-change-lives
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC204750.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f6c36e7651b4c67cd22def122d04d71d
NCEI News Feed
http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/December-2021-regional-climate-impacts-and-outlooks
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC1F2FA0.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.f6c36e7651b4c67cd22def122d04d71d
Low-income households consume three times the energy used by middle class families, according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The post Climate challenge: Let the sun power low-income families first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/04/climate-challenge-let-the-sun-power-low-income-families/
By Kelly House, Bridge Michigan
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/road-salt-michigan-lakes/
By Michael Allen, Hakai Magazine
This story originally appeared in Hakai Magazine and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
As the climate warms, the price of adapting homes and infrastructure to cope with increasing temperatures, heavier rainfalls, stronger storms, and rising seas will be staggering.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/adapting-climate-change-expensive/
Road salt is threatening the Great Lakes’ fresh waters and creating even bigger problems for the inland rivers, lakes, and aquifers. But decades of experiments have yet to yield an alternative anywhere near as effective and affordable. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-salt
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-mercury-fish
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-reef-fish
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-ports-lake-erie
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-buffalo-river
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-port
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-glri
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-algae
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-mining
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220103-shipping
Once living on the brink of extinction, the Kirtland’s warbler is now thriving thanks to collaborative conservation efforts.
The Kirtland’s warbler is one of the largest and rarest songbirds in North America. This handsome yellow-and-gray warbler is named for Dr. Jared Kirtland, on whose farm near Cleveland, Ohio, the first specimen was collected in 1851.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/great-lakes-moment-warblers/
Case History: In September 2021, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reported a mortality event involving two eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and three eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) in a residential neighborhood in Wisconsin, U.S.
Wisconsin
http://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/news/pathology-case-month-eastern-gray-squirrel
In the western Upper Peninsula, climate change is hurting local food sources.
The post Community gardens help Michigan adapt to climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/03/community-gardens-help-michigan-adapt-to-climate-change/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC0EB864.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC102D70WI.GRBSPSGRB.fc8c6076cccd3f028608ae46eaa49482
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC025D80.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC0F6A20WI.GRBSPSGRB.fc8c6076cccd3f028608ae46eaa49482
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DBFF7944.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC00EB30WI.GRBSPSGRB.fc8c6076cccd3f028608ae46eaa49482
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DBF318E8.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC003974WI.GRBSPSGRB.fc8c6076cccd3f028608ae46eaa49482
Walking my 90-pound shepherd a few days after Christmas in our suburban neighborhood, the jangling bell on his collar seemed a festive touch, one of the neighbors told us.
But it was more of a reminder of our August trip to Drummond Island than some holiday décor.
My 11-day summer vacation this year involved throwing my dog, some swimsuits and a lot of sunscreen in my car and heading up to visit generous friends with houses along Grand Lake (north of Alpena) and Lake Huron.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/year-in-review-2021-canine-adventures/
THIS WEEK: Say YES to a better Great Lakes Future by donating today! + Freshwater Voices Newsletter: Latest Issue Now Available Online
It’s not too late to make an impact with your Year-End Gift today! Together, we can stand stronger than ever to uplift our Great Lakes communities, help get water resources to those in need, while protecting Great Lakes waters and public health. Please say YES to a better Great Lakes Future by donating HERE. Thank you!
Freshwater Voices Newsletter – Latest Issue Now Available OnlineThe most recent issue of our Freshwater Voices Newsletter is now available online. Click HERE to access a full pdf version of Voices highlighting people and projects making an impact around the Great Lakes Region. If you would like a print version of the newsletter mailed to you, just send a request to leslie@freshwaterfuture.org.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-future-weekly-december-30-2021/
A year ago, I wrote a year-end summary of our 2020 TV coverage that highlighted the obvious theme for that terrible year: poop.
I ended that story with these words: “There will probably be more poop in the news in 2021, and if there is, we’ll bring it to you.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/year-in-review-2021-creaturesl/
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — State regulators who three years ago issued an air quality permit for a proposed copper-nickel mine in northwestern Minnesota stood by their decision in a report released Monday that said the mine did not provide misleading information on its plans.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report is a blow to several environmental groups and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, although it does not clear the way for construction.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-minnesota-regulators-mine/
By Lester Graham, Michigan Radio
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; and Michigan Radio, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; 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.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/environmental-groups-algal-blooms/
By Eva Ryan, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The next blog entry for the Wisconsin Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary celebration focuses on Titus Seilheimer, fisheries specialist. Seilheimer and I chatted about the ways in which his specialty has changed over the years and how he hopes to see it progress.
Titus Seilheimer holds an example of his work. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant
Though Seilheimer is based in Manitowoc, his work extends from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan, covering about 1,000 miles of coastline. “I look at fisheries in terms of the whole Great Lakes ecosystem,” Seilheimer said. His position requires interacting with many different people and understanding the changing ecology of the lakes. These practices are necessary because his work sometimes covers much more than commercial and recreational fishing.
The field of fishing has certainly not been stagnant for the past 50 years. “Being in Wisconsin, we have two really interesting lakes and stories to look at,” said Seilheimer. “Of all the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior is by far the most natural in terms of food webs and water quality. In contrast, Lake Michigan 50 years ago is a totally different lake than the lake we have now.”
Fifty years ago, the Clean Water Act (1972) had yet to be passed, meaning there were far fewer policies in place to maintain healthy water quality and monitor pollution. There were large amounts of nutrient loading and unbalanced food webs. For example, midtwentieth century Lake Michigan contained no lake trout, few planktivores and high numbers of non-native alewives.
However, as time went by, improvements were made to the lakes. “We see the successful control of various invasive species, benefiting the fish in Lake Michigan,” said Seilheimer.
Today, we observe Lake Michigan with clear water due to the decline of nutrient loading as well as changes in zebra and quagga mussel populations that have “totally changed the ecology of the lake.”
Conversely, in Lake Superior we see more success in restoring native species and fewer issues surrounding invasive species (alewives, zebra and quagga mussels, etc.) compared to Lake Michigan. Because of this, the two lakes show contrast in how they have changed: a more natural food web (Lake Superior) versus a more altered food web (Lake Michigan).
“People have gotten a lot better at addressing invasive species pathways,” said Seilheimer. He noted that education about ways to prevent the spread of non-native species and policy changes are paying off.
Seilheimer continued to touch on all the good that has been achieved, like the management of nutrients and the cleanup of PCBs, but also stated there will always be something new to address, like the rise of PFAS/PFOS in our water sources. As we further invest in prevention, we are constantly gathering new scientific data to learn more about the changing lakes.
“I think where we’re at with all the Great Lakes is that it’s not necessarily about what we want out of the lakes, it’s what the lakes can support.”
Looking into the next 50 years, Seilheimer speculates that changing climate combined with invasive species and management are going to further change the lakes. In response to this prediction and in the spirit of looking forward to a brighter future, Seilheimer said, “One of the things we advocate for is science-based decision making and ecosystem-based management, and I believe that that’s going to be increasingly important to better manage our resources.”
The post The Ever-Changing Ecosystems of the Great Lakes first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/the-ever-changing-ecosystems-of-the-great-lakes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-ever-changing-ecosystems-of-the-great-lakes
Sunday morning strolls to the farmers market could include a few stumbles home if distillers are given permits to sell at them.
The post Michigan farmers markets look to add local distillery samplings first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/12/30/michigan-farmers-markets-look-to-add-local-distillery-samplings/
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will review a ruling by the Minnesota Court of Appeals that provided environmental protections for Renville County’s last free-flowing stream.
The October appeals court decision called for an environmental review to determine whether a proposed drainage ditch improvement could harm the stream in the heavily agricultural western county.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-minnesota-supreme-court-drainage-projects/
Not to overshare and get too personal, but I don’t deal well with change.
Unfortunately, as evidenced by the past two years, unexpected change is unavoidable.
What a lot of people – including me for a while – don’t seem to realize about change is that it isn’t temporary.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/year-in-review-2021-change/
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The lengthy effort to clean up the Buffalo River could pay off in the next few years.
The Buffalo News reported Sunday that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has told a local U.S. representative that the winding waterway could lose its status as an environmental danger zone, or “area of concern,” by 2025.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/12/ap-buffalo-river-cleanup-efforts/
