In July 2020, province of Ontario released a Sustainable Bait Management Strategy, which describes the new approach to managing baitfish and leeches to reduce the ecological risks associated with the use and movement of bait. Read the full story by Orillia Matters.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-bait
Minnesota county crews are installing 28 new boat-cleaning stations on lakes infested with starry stonewort in an effort to prevent the spread of the invasive species. Read the full story by Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-starry-stonewort
Ohio’s Democratic congressional delegation is excited to watch billions of dollars in infrastructure funding come to the state, but where that funding goes now depends on local efforts. Read the full story by Ohio Capital Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-infrastructure
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was not able to carry out dredging for Sandusky’s harbor in 2021 as it was lacking a place that could legally accept dredged material. However, the Corps is on track to resume dredging this year by using dredged material to build a new wetland. Read the full story by Sandusky Register.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-sandusky
Among other things, deer are jeopardizing efforts to restore the Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannah, a globally rare ecosystem that supports 25% of the species at risk in the park. Read the full story in the Windsor Star.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-deer
For close to four decades, U.S. Coast Guard motor lifeboat 40300 was on duty in Lake Michigan and later, in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Now at 81, is among the most recent properties added to the National Register of Historic Places, based on its importance in maritime engineering and maritime history. Read the full story by Capital News Service.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-historic-ship
Built on the shores of Presque Isle, the original U.S. Brig Niagara played a major role in defeating the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220110-ship
NCEI News Feed
http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202112
For 20 years, the mystery behind what was killing coho salmon in Seattle’s urban creeks seemed unsolvable.
Every time it rained, fish would begin swimming in circles, floating belly up just a few hours later. Scientists looked at heavy metals, various chemical contaminants, water temperature and oxygen levels, but none of these things were the problem.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/great-lakes-fish-populations-tires/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC7ADB34.WindChillAdvisory.1263DC7C0EA0WI.GRBWSWGRB.bb653abd17f42852bba24838f8607ce1
You might deny being part of the Kingdom of Ice – Michigan is more about summer sunshine than it is about ice – but our language betrays us. So does the state's geology.
The post January: The Kingdom of Ice first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/10/january-the-kingdom-of-ice/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC79B448.WindChillAdvisory.1263DC7C0EA0WI.GRBWSWGRB.bb653abd17f42852bba24838f8607ce1
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC6D09B4.WindChillAdvisory.1263DC7C0EA0WI.GRBWSWGRB.bb653abd17f42852bba24838f8607ce1
Hannah is the Administrative Coordinator for the GLC. In this role, she assists with administrative duties, meeting planning, communications, and the Great Lakes Sediment Nutrient Reduction Program (GLSNRP).
Prior to coming to the Commission, Hannah worked for Eaton Conservation District as an Environmental Outreach Coordinator where she educated the public on water quality issues and urban forestry. She managed two statewide programs in this role, the Michigan Water Stewardship Program (MWSP) and the Michigan Arbor Day Alliance (MADA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife from Michigan State University. Go Green!
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/staff/hannah-reynolds
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC6ABB78.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC6B45C0WI.GRBSPSGRB.cdc1ff113f80474f83c6e7685b61e187
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC5E6094.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC6AD090WI.GRBSPSGRB.cdc1ff113f80474f83c6e7685b61e187
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC5D6BA8.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC5DE3F8WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
Green Bay, WI
https://www.weather.gov/grb/newsletter2021
By Drew Costley, Associated Press
The White House’s top official on environmental justice is stepping down a year after President Joe Biden took office with an ambitious plan to help disadvantaged communities and overhaul policies that have historically hurt them.
The departure Friday of Cecilia Martinez, senior director for environmental justice at the Council for Environmental Quality, puts a spotlight on both the administration’s successes and promises yet to be fulfilled.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/ap-environmental-justice-official/
THIS WEEK: Happy New Year and New Opportunities Coming + Do You Know a Freshwater Hero? Nominate Them Today! + Wondering Where the Ice Is?
First and foremost, Freshwater Future wants to wish you a Happy New Year and send you positive thoughts for 2022. It can seem overwhelming to meet the challenges of today’s world, but together, we can continue to meet those challenges. Because we are stronger together, we want to encourage collective work and solutions in the coming year, and we will be rolling out some new opportunities for you to connect with peers and experts to keep your work moving forward and keep you connected. Stay tuned as we will have descriptions and ways to register next week!
Do You Know a Freshwater Hero? Nominate Them Today!Every year, Freshwater Future recognizes champions across the Great Lakes region who work tirelessly to protect the waters in their Great Lakes community. Do you know of an individual or organization that is deserving to be recognized as a Freshwater Hero? If so, send in your nomination by including, 1) name of the individual or organization; 2) community they work in; and 3) what makes them a water champion. Please submit nominations by January 21, 2022 to ann@freshwaterfuture.org. You can check out our past award recipients here.
Ice cover is almost nonexistent on the Great Lakes so far this winter, and this can have impacts on flooding, evaporation from the lakes, and more. To track where the ice is, check out this resource from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory where you can see current ice coverage maps and even compare with historical maps. As climate change is altering the weather patterns in the region, impacts such as changes in normal ice cover can result.
Blog – Freshwater Future
https://freshwaterfuture.org/freshwater-weekly/freshwater-future-weekly-january-7-2021/
As part of the H2Ohio Initiative, the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge has partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ottawa County Soil and Water Conservation District on a project aiming to allow around 580 acres of wetlands in the western Lake Erie basin. Read the full story by the Port Clinton News Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-wetlands
A tiny bug, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, is sucking the life out of the evergreens up and down Michigan’s west coast. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-hemlock-pest
The Michigan state House is expected to take up a $3.3 billion water infrastructure bill which passed the Senate in December. The money would help upgrade drinking water and wastewater utility systems, replace lead pipes, remediate toxic sites, protect private well owners from contaminants, replace failing septic system, and install filtration in schools. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-water-woes
Michigan regulators have fined an Ohio-based paper company nearly $250,000 following a wastewater mishap that caused an Escanaba River fish kill. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-paper-mill
An oil and gas expert warned Michigan utility regulators not only would a tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline not be a failsafe replacement for the underwater section of the line, but possible accidents could cause a catastrophic underground explosion. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-pipeline-risk
The Army Corps of Engineers analysis of the lake level data suggest there’s a 13% chance of water levels on Lake Ontario reaching 247.70 feet, also known as the threshold for still water flooding along the south shore. Read the full story by WKRG-TV.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-spring-flooding
More than $5 million in funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has helped restore and protect the 13.5-acre marsh habitat in western New York and now the purple martin bird has returned. Read the full story by WGRZ-TV – Grand Island, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-purple-martins
The new ordinance calls for a civil infraction and fine to be issued to people who enter closed areas of the beach or pier. Based on feedback from the city council at the Dec. 20 meeting, the fine for violating the ordinance has been set at $1,000 per occurrence. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-pier-rules
For the second time this week the earth moved under Lake Erie in Lake County, Ohio causing a small earthquake. Read the full story by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-earthquake
Surfers from around Minnesota were braving the cold to take advantage of the best surfing conditions in years. Read the full story by MPR News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220107-surfers
ESCANABA, Mich. (AP) — A paper mill in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has agreed to pay nearly $250,000 to settle an investigation of a fish kill in the Escanaba River, state regulators said.
A “catastrophic pipe failure” at the Verso Corp. site in Escanaba resulted in a discharge of partially treated wastewater in August 2020, regulators said.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/ap-ohio-company-pay-250k/
The calendar has flipped to 2022. Our staff members are ready to tackle new projects in the coming 12 months, which also happens to mark Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary. Before they move more deeply into this anniversary, however, some staff members took a moment to retain the glow of their favorite 2021 project.
Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist Tim Campbell. (Photo: Wisconsin Sea Grant)
No matter the day or time, Tim Campbell is frequently thinking about aquatic invasive species (AIS) and outreach. Our specialist on this topic shared:
I’ve been working on this project for a while, but the AIS metaphor work I completed with University of Wisconsin-Madison Life Sciences Communication Professor Bret Shaw finally wrapped up in 2021. We started this effort in 2018 and worked with graduate student biological illustrator Brooke Alexander to create drawings that captured the essences of our chosen metaphors to describe preventing the spread of nonnative species.
We then pilot tested the drawings at a fishing expo with our AIS student assistant Sara Fox to make sure that our target audience was seeing what we hoped they would.
In the summer of 2018, we used Facebook ads to test the metaphors and collect data. Analysis (Barry Radler helped with this) and manuscript preparation and revision took up 2019 and 2020, and the paper was finally published in August 2021 in the journal Environmental Management.
Check out an archived talk about the project. We’ve also presented this work to regional, national and international audiences since the paper was published. It’s received a good amount of interest and it’s been fun to talk to these different audiences about the nuances. Hopefully, it leads to new approaches to AIS communication!
The post Sea Grant project faves, Tim Campbell first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/sea-grant-project-faves-tim-campbell/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sea-grant-project-faves-tim-campbell
Michigan State University and the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians are fighting climate change while preserving Anishinaabeg cultural practices.
The post Center combines Indigenous and Western knowledge to fight climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/07/center-combines-indigenous-and-western-knowledge-to-fight-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=WI1263DC4B9090.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC4C7320WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (AP) — A southwestern Michigan town that swells with summer visitors is taking steps to keep people out of Lake Michigan during hazardous conditions.
The city council in South Haven agreed to install gates to close popular piers at certain times. Swimmers also could be fined if they’re in the lake, though surfers or kite boarders who embrace big wind and waves would be exempt.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/ap-south-haven-restrictions/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC3F18C4.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC4B9478WI.GRBSPSGRB.500914288c5c7e8b57bd8c278957f1f8
Moira Harrington
The calendar has flipped to 2022. Our staff members are ready to tackle new projects in the coming 12 months, which also happen to mark Wisconsin Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary. Before they move more deeply into this anniversary, however, some staff members took a moment to retain the glow of their favorite 2021 project. Here’s a contribution from Moira Harrington, assistant director for communications.
My favorite project for the year 2021 is about something that happened 50 years ago. In 1972, Wisconsin Sea Grant was designated as a College Program. That kind of a designation is a big deal in the world of this national network of 34 programs doing research, education and outreach in service of the nation’s coasts and coastal communities.
I enjoyed working with everyone in the communications department to come up with a big list of fun ways to celebrate our anniversary in 2022. It’s a way to honor the past, look to the future and —warming our communicators’ hearts — extend the brand. I especially liked creating a visual timeline of Wisconsin Sea Grant. It was the first time I ever used ArcGIS software and I was pleased with how this visual and content-rich piece turned out.
The post Sea Grant project faves, Moira Harrington first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/sea-grant-project-faves-moira-harrington/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sea-grant-project-faves-moira-harrington
The day was like any other in summer on the Lake Michigan coast: hot. But Charles Stanier remembers the breeze.
It was the summer of 2017, and he’d been working up a sweat in a trailer in Illinois Beach State Park. A professor of chemical and biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa, Stanier spent the morning checking instruments, climbing up and down ladders, and wondering if anything would come of all his team’s work.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/01/lake-michigan-ozone-levels/
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition believes that clean water for all depends on a strong democracy. Last year, after the January 6 siege on the Capitol, the Coalition issued the following statement (below) that underscores our commitment to a strong democracy and opposition to efforts to disenfranchise people and communities in the electoral process. One principle of our democracy is that the people affected by a problem should have a say in its solution. This is especially important in cases where communities have been harmed by pollution. The Coalition supports efforts to increase participation in our democracy and the decision-making process, including efforts to bring people and communities to the table that have historically been excluded.
HOW Statement on DemocracyThe post Clean Water for All Depends on a Strong Democracy appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.
Healing Our Waters Coalition
https://healthylakes.org/clean-water-for-all-depends-on-a-strong-democracy/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC3E770C.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC3F05A0WI.GRBSPSGRB.4b030d95fcc8fa239ef4876c0cd951e7
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC3E2568.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC3E7518WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
Growing crops, trees and livestock on the same land could help farmers battle climate change.
The post Trees, crops, livestock mix fights climate change first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2022/01/06/trees-crops-livestock-mix-fights-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=WI1263DC3CA954.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC3DDEB4WI.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=WI1263DC3024A4.SpecialWeatherStatement.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBSPSGRB.b56b4ab2be6ad5ac57f5b108f220e45f
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI1263DC30224C.WinterWeatherAdvisory.1263DC3C4680WI.GRBWSWGRB.d3375083be088e045ae431e2054ef5cb
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-technologies
The state of Michigan has released an adaptive management plan to improve the water quality in Lake Erie in an effort to reduce the number of harmful algal blooms, but environmental groups worry the plan is flawed. Read the full story by the Daily Telegram.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-lake-erie
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for feedback on the environmental impact of the soon-to-be re-routed Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline through the northernmost part of the state. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-enbridge
Bob Ragotzkie served as Wisconsin Sea Grant’s first director and was instrumental in bringing the program to life in the Great Lakes. Bob’s legacy is now being celebrated as Wisconsin Sea Grant celebrates its 50th anniversary. Read the full story by WUWM-TV – Milwaukee, WI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-sea-grant-
For the second time this week the earth moved under Lake Erie near Timberlake in Lake County, Ohio. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, both quakes took place about three miles below the surface of Lake Erie. Read the full story by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20220105-quake
