Boaters recreating in Windsor waters are now required to stay at least 61 metres (200 feet) from the shore, according to the Windsor Port Authority. Read the full story by the Windsor Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200605-windsor-boating
Port of Thunder Bay experienced another strong month for grain shipments in May. More than 1.1 million metric tonnes (MT) of Canadian grain traversed the harbour, feeding strong demand for the commodity overseas. Read the full story by Lake Superior News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200605-thunder-bay
Starting June 19, the Good Fortune pirate ship will set sail for passengers to receive daily and nightly tours to Mackinac Island. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200605-pirate-ship
This is the first in a three-part series that will explore the history of Lake Superior and the Boundary waters, the communities affected by two proposed copper mines, the arguments in favor and against the mines, and what the mines might mean for the future of the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/copper-mining-history-lake-superior-minnesota/
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/06/05/bigheaded-carp-pose-big-threat/
For decades, toxic mining waste known as stamp sands was dumped into Lake Superior along the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. Now, these sands are drifting along the shoreline, smothering critical habitat for fish and aquatic wildlife and threatening historical fishing waters for Lake Superior’s Ojibwe tribes. Read the full story by WXPR – Rhinelander, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-stamp-sands
In Door County, Wisconsin, beaches are open, but people are asked to practice social distancing amid COVID-19 safety measures. However, with less space on land due to high lake levels and beach erosion, and people crowding as a possible result, some people may avoid beaches altogether. Read the full story by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-door-co
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is stepping in to help the city of St. Joseph, Michigan, save their beaches. The Corps is spreading sediments dredged from St. Joseph Harbor along the beaches to offset losses from erosion. Read the full story by WSBT-TV – South Bend, IN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-st-joseph-harbor
Scientists at NOAA are predicting less severe harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie this year, unless there is excessive rainfall in the coming months. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-habs-forecast
Scientists in Michigan are investigating how the recent flooding in Midland impacted dioxin levels from the Superfund site along the Tittabawassee River, and whether areas downstream of the site may have been contaminated. Read the full story by The Detroit News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-dow
A research at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio received $700,000 for projects that develop new methods for removing contaminants from livestock manure and attempt to remove excess nutrients from agricultural runoff. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-case-western
The Ohio Power Siting Board recently approved a proposal for a six-turbine wind farm in Lake Erie that could become the first offshore freshwater wind power site in the U.S. However, the board placed several conditions on the installations that could kill the project. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-erie-wind
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will hold a hearing on a key water permit for Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 oil pipeline later this summer. Environmental groups and Minnesota tribes requested a hearing over concerns the pipeline could harm wetlands and streams. The move will further delay construction of the $2.8 billion oil pipeline. Read the full story by the Brainerd Dispatch.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-line3
A U.S. House of Representatives committee is investigating the state and federal government’s oversight of a Midland-area dam that failed last month, and demanding answers to detailed questions about their oversight of the Edenville Dam. Read the full story by Bridge Magazine.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-midland
The draining of lakes in Michigan following the Edenville Dam collapse raises questions regarding ownership of the newly exposed land. The answer depends on the type of lake and the lakefront property in question. Read the full story by the Midland Daily News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200604-bottomlands
Olivia Dachel, a Merrill High School teacher who attended Sea Grant’s R/V Denis Sullivan educators’ cruise in 2019, has used knowledge she gained through Sea Grant to help her students go on to greater things. Her team of students took home the grand prize in the 2020 Aquaculture Challenge competition cosponsored by Lake Superior State University in Sault St. Marie, Michigan, and Michigan Sea Grant.
The students actually won two awards, one for Best Overall Integrated Design and another for Technical Savvy. Teams were challenged to research and create an automated system for fish and plant growth that could be marketed and sold to homes or businesses. Students submitted a business plan and video pitch, engineered a fully functional aquaponics system, and created and programmed automated monitoring systems to maintain system health and productivity using a circuit board, temperature, light and ammonia sensors.
Merrill High School aquaculture team captain Drew Polak stands next to the team’s winning project. Image credit: Drew Polak.
Team Captain Drew Polak said, “Our goal as a team was simple: to provide a functional and stylish aquaponics system to encourage a happy and healthy lifestyle.”
The Merrill team competed against 23 others from Michigan and Wisconsin, totaling over 300 students in grades 9-12. The contest is designed to engage high school students in an interdisciplinary learning competition of science, business and computer science. The competition centers on the concept of providing sustainable, local food to meet the demand for fresh produce and seafood in local markets. Aquaponics is now deemed critical to help the food supply chain in the current crippled global trade and economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture, which is growing fish and other aquatic animals, and hydroponics, which is growing plants without soil. To be successful, an aquaponics unit must carefully balance nutrients, fish, bacteria and plants. Anything out of balance will cause the system to collapse.
Judges applauded the students for their creativity, intelligence and grit as they overcame immense challenges presented by the pandemic to complete the project.
Polak said, “This project really put our skills to the test. It was an amazing experience for me and my teammates. It was challenging to coordinate pickups for components the other team members were working on as well as having to undergo the turn-in process virtually. It was a difficult road, but we endured, and it paid off.”
Dachel said, “It was a dream project to integrate disciplines of science, computer science and business to solve a read-world problem. I am so proud of the resilience, creativity, intelligence and problem-solving abilities of my students to not only complete, but win this competition during such a difficult time. I am truly inspired by my students and feel fortunate to work with them.”
Blog – Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/merrill-high-school-team-overcomes-barriers-to-claim-aquaculture-championship-during-pandemic/
Fish and Wildlife Service News
Fish and Wildlife Service News
http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=u.s.-fish-and-wildlife-service-seeks-public-comment-on-conservation-plan-&_ID=36582
News | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
News | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
https://toolkit.climate.gov/news/webinar-increasing-capacity-cities-effectively-plan-climate-change
Social, racial, and economic justice are inseparable from environmental justice. We cannot achieve our vision of a Great Lakes enjoyed by all when systemic racism is allowed to permeate our society unchecked. We are outraged by the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. We are outraged at the threats made against Christian Cooper, who was birding in Central Park in New York City. We condemn these as part of a pattern of violence and racism, and we stand with the movement for black lives.
No one should have to fear for their health and safety when enjoying everything the Great Lakes have to offer – from hanging out with friends on a Chicago beach to drawing a glass of water from the tap at home to jogging along a lakefront trail in the city or the remote shores of Lake Superior. All too often, black, brown, and indigenous people cannot take these things for granted.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes has work to do to address racial equity in our work, internally and externally. We have started this – as individuals, as an organization, and in our communities – but we know that we have a long way to go.
To all who are fighting systemic injustice right now and those who are hurting, we and the Alliance hear you, see you, and stand with you. We are committed to fighting for justice in the communities where we live, work, and play.
There is no perfect starting point. It is important to just start. Here are three steps we are taking and we encourage you to join in:
The post “Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Are Inseparable from Environmental Justice” appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
https://greatlakes.org/2020/06/social-racial-and-economic-justice/
Green Bay, WI
https://www.weather.gov/grb/SevereStormsHitCentralandEast-CentralWisconsinonJune2nd
Three Michigan state senators have introduced legislation aimed at protecting major waterways and public health in Michigan by requiring state-wide risk assessments of contaminated properties along major waterways. Read the full story by WILX-TV – Lansing, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-waterways-public-health-bill
High water levels in the Great Lakes can not only flood low-lying areas, but can also endanger critical infrastructure, like wells and drinking water systems. Read the full story Capital News Service.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-high-water-threatens-wells
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will expand their environmental impact investigations to include high-capacity wells used in large farms, municipalities, and industry. Read the full story by the Wisconsin Examiner.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-high-capacity-wells
More details of a planned Lake Michigan park have been released by Muskegon County, Michigan, which has applied for a $10 million state grant for the project that would convert a former sand mine into a public recreation area. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-lake-michigan-park
U.S. Congressman Fred Upton joined E.P.A. Administrator Andrew Wheeler in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to discuss issues facing the Great Lakes. Read the full story by WDNU – St. Joseph, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-water-quality-meeting
Residents of Midland County, Michigan, that were impacted by the catastrophic flooding in mid-May are now left to decide if they should stay and rebuild or start over somewhere else if they can. The only sure thing is that nothing will return to exactly as it was before. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-flood-restoration
Two class-action lawsuits were filed against Edenville and Sanford dam owners and the state of Michigan on behalf of 19 mid-Michigan residents that sustained catastrophic damage from the dam failures. Read the full story by WEYI-TV – Midland, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-dam-lawsuits
The Crystal Lake and Watershed Association in Benzie County, Michigan, is still planning to treat invasive Eurasian milfoil in Crystal Lake. The herbicide treatment will be applied by boat and applicators will use a drone to help locate treatment areas. Read the full story The Laredo Morning Times.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-watermilfoil-treatment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking the public’s input on its plan to clean up groundwater contamination at a Superfund site in Indianapolis that’s tainted with chemicals used by a dry cleaning company. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-superfund
The National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Economic Analysis found the nation’s ocean and Great Lakes-dependent activities contributed about $373 billion to the overall U.S. economy in 2018. Read the full story by the Treasure Coast Palm.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200603-great-lakes-economy
Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2020/06/03/mastering-inland-seas/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F51C44D30.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F51C47698WI.GRBSPSGRB.d71e68a5193e67d5635a12b852098e68
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F51B84774.SevereThunderstormWatch.125F51C4E010WI.WNSWOU0.5db0bf65da1fbe15399081b58755572b
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The federal government is seeking the public’s input on its plan to clean up groundwater contamination at a Superfund site in Indianapolis that’s tainted with chemicals used by a dry cleaning company.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would accept public comments from June 1 to June 30 on the agency’s proposed cleanup of the Keystone Corridor Ground Water Contamination site.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/ap-epa-public-comment-indianapolis-superfund-site/
In 2019, ODNR staff rediscovered four species thought to be extirpated from the state. Read the full story by Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-high-water-impact
Communities along the Georgian Bay find themselves uneasy as they brace for the high Lake Huron water levels. Read the full story by Barrietoday.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-high-water-impact
To help detect and guide efforts to prevent Lanternfly damages, a citizen science project called Operation Spot the Spot has been launched. Read the full story by Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-invasive-species
The only high-speed ferry on the Great Lakes celebrates its anniversary today. Read the full story by OnMilwaukee.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-lake-express
Lake Ontario water levels have gone down around 6 inches since cresting on May 5 and are expected to continue dropping through the summer, according to the International Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Board. Read the full story by NYup.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-ontario-water-levels
Any resident, private company or public entity can operate a dam in the state of Michigan, but does that mean that the rules for dams with varied ownership follow different regulation and inspections? Read the full story by Midland Daily Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-dam-regulation
Removal of the Brecksville Dam, known as the Station Road Dam, the Route 82 Dam and the Canal Diversion Dam – began May 21st, much to the benefit of the public and the Cuyahoga River itself. Read the full story by Cleveland.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-cuyahoga-dam-removal
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, is exploring the possibility of a new federal entity to revitalize the region — a project that could mirror the scale of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the eight states that border the Great Lakes. Read the full story by Wisconsin Examiner.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-great-lakes-agency
A new study on cleaning up Great Lakes pollution hotspots published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research finds that investing in pollution prevention and restoration pays off in the long run. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200602-great-lakes-pollution
Out of the tragedy that is COVID-19 can come opportunities to improve our lives, our workspace and our environment.
That includes softening the impact we have on natural habitat.
That’s the view of veteran Great Lakes executive Cameron Davis who says, like businesses in big cities that are assessing their space needs, we should pause and assess our impact on the environment.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/green-reset-covid-19-offers-opportunity-for-lighter-environmental-impact/
Social, racial, and economic justice are inseparable from environmental justice. We cannot achieve our vision of a Great Lakes enjoyed by all when systemic racism, both blatant and covert, is allowed to permeate our society unchecked. We are outraged by the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. We are outraged at the threats made against Christian Cooper, who was birding in Central Park in New York City. We are outraged by these patterns of violence and racism, and we stand in solidarity with the movement for black lives.
No one should have to fear for their health and safety when enjoying everything the Great Lakes have to offer – from hanging out with friends on a Chicago beach to drawing a glass of water from the tap at home to hiking a remote trail along Lake Superior. All too often, black, brown, and indigenous people cannot take these things for granted.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes, as a white-led organization, has work to do to address racial equity in our work, internally and externally. We have started this work – as individuals, as an organization, and in our communities – but we know that we have a long way to go.
To all who are protesting and those who are hurting, we hear you, we see you, and we stand with you. We are committed to fighting for social, racial and environmental justice in the communities where we live, work, and play.
###
The post “Social, racial, and economic justice are inseparable from environmental justice.” appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
https://greatlakes.org/2020/06/social-racial-and-economic-justice-are-inseparable-from-environmental-justice/
Green Bay, WI
https://www.weather.gov/grb/severethreat_060220
Freshwater Future mourns the death of Mr. George Floyd and all who have died due to racism in our country. We stand in solidarity with all communities of color as the forces of systemic racism have made them most vulnerable to police brutality and disproportionate impacts and harmed families suffering in silence, who would like to believe the opportunities afforded to others would be unconditionally afforded to their families and communities alike throughout the country. The scourge of racism has been plaguing our country since prior to the formation of this nation. Recognizing that it is actions, and not simply words, that will move us toward a just and equitable society, we commit to new steps within our organization to make our work more just and equitable and to ensure that work pushes for justice and equity throughout our region and the country. While we do not have all the answers of how to move forward together at this moment, we commit to listening, learning and changing in the days and years to come.
– Jill M. Ryan, Executive Director, and all of the Freshwater Future Staff
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/environmental-justice/we-stand-in-solidarity/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F51A88000.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F51A89004WI.GRBSPSGRB.cb9db59e78751a71c5ef80b03acb2789
A $126 million, 20.7-megawatt wind turbine project on Lake Erie has the go-ahead from state regulators after years of halting progress.
If construction is completed, the six-turbine Icebreaker Wind farm in Lake Erie, 8 miles northwest of Cleveland, would be the first offshore freshwater site in the U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/lake-erie-wind-farm-icebreaker-board-conditions/
The Ohio Power Sitting Board approved the installations of windmills in Lake Erie, however the requirement for the windmills to shut down at night for more of the year may make the project unfeasible. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200601-wind-energy
