The first (second, third etc.) part of a 5-part series on trans-border U.S. and Canadian environmental research projects.
The post U.S., Canadian researchers conduct binational birds conservation research first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/01/20/u-s-canadian-researchers-conduct-binational-birds-conservation-research/
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of widespread man-made chemicals that don’t break down in the environment or the human body and have been flagged as a major contaminant in sources of water across the country.
Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/pfas-news-lake-superior-smelt-wisconsin-settlement-mcdonalds-epa/
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — One of the world’s longest-running wildlife field studies has fallen prey to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since 1959, a research team has spent most of the winter observing the interplay between wolves and moose at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/ap-pandemic-interrupts-longtime-isle-royale-wolf-moose-study/
The U.S. Coast Guard says the submerged tugboat near Marquette’s Lower Harbor was removed and successfully salvaged Monday, with no fuel spilled between Friday’s submersion and Monday’s removal. Read the full story by WLUC – TV – Marquette, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-ship-tug-recovery
In Traverse City, MI the FishPass project was designed to replace the Union Street Dam and protect native fish, while keeping out any invasive species. The project was put on hold by a judge citing concern over misrepresentations about the project effort. Read the full story by 9&10 News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-fish-michigan
A water reservoir in Scanlon, MN was recently deemed an area of concern as a result of sediment contamination and has been selected for a collaborative environmental cleanup project beginning this fall by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes National Program Office. Read the full story by Pine Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-pollution-minnesota
Work on the new stretch of Lakewalk in Duluth, MN will be completed this spring, but more construction is planned over the next several years to build a more climate-resilient Lakewalk all along Lake Superior. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-duluth-lakewalk-climate
Protesters set up camp Monday next to the Line 3 replacement pipeline construction project in Cloquet, MN. About two dozen protesters said they hope to slow down the project by trespassing during construction where the line runs through the Fond du Lac Reservation. Read the full story by KBJR – TV – Cloquet, MN.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-minnesota-protests-line-3
Nearly 38 million tons of cargo were shipped last year along the route stretching from the lower St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes, with record shipments of grain offsetting a decline in liquid bulk, dry bulk and iron ore, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. said. View the full story by Canadian Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-st-lawrence-shipping-grain
Members of the Kawartha Nishnawbe are holding their ground at Lock 28 in Burleigh Falls, ON, located about 200 km northeast of Toronto. Six days ago they put a halt to repair work at a dam, owned by Parks Canada, because there was no consultation. Read the full story by APTN News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-indigenous-dam-protest-ontario
Wildlife researchers and scientists use aquatic birds as environmental change indicators in freshwater and marine environments. For about 50 years, herring gulls have been used to get a better idea of how the Great Lakes are changing through time, and have found in that time period a decline in volume and density. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-ecological-monitoring-gull
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority based in Exeter, ON will be joining a group that includes the University of Michigan, the National Atmospheric Oceanic Administration, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to study water quality in the lower Great Lakes starting this summer. Read the full story by BlackburnNews.com.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-sediment-water-quality
Canadian and U.S. officials are at odds over the fate of a pipeline underneath the Great Lakes, exacerbating disagreements over energy policy between the two nations as the Biden administration prepares to take office. Read the full story by The Wall Street Journal.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-line-5-energy
The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, OH went virtual this year for its Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, putting the spotlight on diversity in the science, engineering, technology and mathematics fields. Read the full story by Spectrum News Ohio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210119-mlk-day-ohio
Water in a fluid state does not take a fixed shape. Water in a fluid state can, however, shape what is around it. A case in point is the academic path and eventual career trajectory of Celeste Gunderson.
Celeste Gunderson, submitted photo.
In 2008 when she was an elementary-school student, Gunderson’s family home near the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan suffered damage during a large rainstorm that overwhelmed the city’s stormwater management system. She recalled the day: “My sisters and I put on our rain boots and raincoats to observe large, raging streams of stormwater flow past our house in the direction of the Milwaukee River. Instead of drawing the water down in, we watched as the sewers in our neighborhood bubbled up with sewage and contributed to the mess.”
The immediate aftermath was scattered, mucky debris and a buckled neighborhood bike path. Not long after the event, the toll the storm took on the house became evident—extensive cracks in the walls and ceiling were appearing because the structure was sinking. The floodwater had eroded the foundational fill.
That was a defining time for Gunderson and, years later, as she considered where to attend college and what studies to pursue, the flooding driven by a changing climate came to mind—providing a shape to her intentions. She enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a double major in geography and environmental studies.
Gunderson is now in her junior year and is the recipient of the 2020 Carl J. Weston Scholarship from Wisconsin Sea Grant.
“I am really enjoying my experience with Wisconsin Sea Grant. I’ve been progressing through a lot of opportunities,” Gunderson said. “It’s been amazing to be a part of a community that I didn’t even realize existed before this. The scholarship was a great thing on top of all of that.”
Her mentor, Sea Grant’s Associate Director for Extension David Hart, called out Gunderson’s “outstanding scholarship and work ethic.” He directed her projects when she was an Undergraduate Research Scholar and as a Sea Grant Community Engaged Intern last summer. Now, Hart is overseeing her efforts to complete resilience story maps as part of a Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Resilience project, refining the previous internship project that used the GeoPlanner tool to look at the components and costs of a theoretical green infrastructure project in Madison and enhancements to the green infrastructure section of the Sea Grant website.
Like that fluid water, Gunderson’s future following her 2022 graduation is not fully defined but she is confident it will include a continued dedication to climate change and Great Lakes issues through graduate studies. After that, she said, “I’m not sure at this point. However, working through these internships and now the student hourly position has let me see jobs that everyone else has. That’s been really helpful, to see the different career paths.”
The post Water Shapes Weston Scholarship Winner’s Choices first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/water-shapes-weston-scholarship-winners-choices/
Along the shores of Lake Erie live a wide range of people whose lives might seem very familiar to or wildly distinctive from your own.
In the documentary photo series North of Long Tail, photographer Colin Boyd Shafer tells the stories of more than 20 residents of Lake Erie’s north shore.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/lifeblood-photographer-lake-erie-shoreline-residents/
The second part of a 5-part series on trans-border U.S. and Canadian environmental research projects.
The post Herring gull eggs help monitor Great Lakes ecosystems first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/01/19/herring-gull-eggs-help-monitor-great-lakes-ecosystems/
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/2021/01/qa-how-to-protect-against-lead-as-michigan-waits-for-new-water-pipes/
Environmental challenges in the Great Lakes region pay no mind to international borders, making binational research critical to investigating and tackling those challenges. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-binational-research
At a lock and dam site in the suburbs of Chicago, there’s a plan to build a set of traps to keep invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes that would involve a barrier of bubbles, an electric field, underwater speakers, and a price tag of over $800 million dollars. Read the full story by WIAA – Interlochen, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-invasive-carp
The Port of Duluth-Superior reported a record-setting year when it comes to wind turbine cargo. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-wind-cargo
A new Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative Regional Dredging project has begun at Little Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario to help build resiliency in waterside communities in New York. Read the full story by WWTI-TV – Albany, NY.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-dredging
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued its first fish consumption advisory related to PFAS in Lake Superior fish, recommending people not consume more than one meal of smelt per month. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-limit-smelt
A wolf and moose study on Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, one of the world’s longest-running wildlife field studies that began in 1959, has fallen prey to the coronavirus pandemic and no winter observations will be allowed to take place. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-isle-royale-study
A federal judge has penalized a Western Pennsylvania copper-processing company with a $550,000 fine for its years-long criminal violations of the Clean Water Act, including illegal discharging of oil into the Ohio River. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-illegal-discharge
Minnesota lawmakers are ramping up efforts to prevent mining companies from gaining a foothold in Minnesota with legislation that aims to slow or ban copper-nickel mining on the Iron Range. Read the full story by The Associated Press.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-anti-copper-mining
Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts that Lakes Michigan-Huron will stay below record water levels but will remain well above average for the next six months and could approach record levels in early 2021 if wet conditions prevail. Higher lake levels are thought to be a direct result of climate change. Read the full story by Elliot Lake Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-climate-change-high-water
In the first month of a 20-year effort to replace every lead service line connecting a Michigan home to a public water supply, Michigan communities are asking who is going to pay for it. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210118-lead-pipes
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126188E96050.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188E9EE80WI.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=WI126188E8EE40.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188E97950WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
The first part of a 5-part series on trans-border U.S. and Canadian environmental research projects.
The post A look at binational scientific research on the Great Lakes first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2021/01/18/binational-research/
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126188E85390.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188E90FD8WI.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=WI126188E7D050.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188E867E0WI.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=WI126188CABA38.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188CB42F0WI.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=WI126188CA217C.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188CAA6B0WI.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=WI126188C94CFC.SpecialWeatherStatement.126188CA3180WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336
For years, thousands of Great Lakers have written letters, made calls, and attended public meetings to urge our state and federal leaders to act to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.
There’s been a major step forward in the fight to stop invasive Asian carp.
Late last week, Illinois and Michigan took two big steps that bring us closer to installing new protections to stop invasive Asian carp, which are only about 50 miles downstream from Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Illinois Governor Pritzker signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the initial phases of an invasive Asian Carp prevention project at Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. This location is a critical chokepoint to stop these fish before they reach Lake Michigan.
Additionally, Michigan has agreed to pitch in $8 million to help Illinois pay for the non-federal cost of the project. This action, led by Michigan Governor Whitmer, is a model of partnership that we hope to see more of in the future as we work to protect our region’s greatest natural resource.
The post Illinois & Michigan Take Action to Protect the Great Lakes from Invasive Asian Carp appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
News – Alliance for the Great Lakes
https://greatlakes.org/2021/01/illinois-michigan-take-action-to-protect-the-great-lakes-from-invasive-asian-carp/
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/2021/01/michigan-cities-lead-pipes-funding/
LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Dozens of La Crosse-area wells are contaminated with forever chemicals known as PFAS, tests revealed.
At least 40 wells that provide private drinking water on French Island are contaminated with PFAS levels above recommended standards, the La Crosse Tribune reported Wednesday.
The findings come after La Crosse tested more than 100 private wells downstream from the La Crosse Regional Airport, which is situated on the northern half of the island along the Black River.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/ap-tests-pfas-contamination-40-la-crosse-wells/
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are ramping up efforts to prevent mining companies from gaining a foothold in Minnesota with legislation that aims to slow or ban copper-nickel mining on the Iron Range.
Companion bills set to be proposed by state lawmakers and U.S.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/01/ap-minnesota-lawmakers-anti-copper-mining-legislation/
The Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational announced today that applications are now open for the 2021 #TeamUp for the Great Lakes Bay Region charitable program. Since its inception in 2019, this charitable giving effort has awarded over $200,000 to local charities throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. Read the full story by the Midland Daily News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-teamup-applications
Close to 5,700 lakes in the Northern Hemisphere may permanently lose ice cover this century, 179 of them in the next decade, at current greenhouse gas emissions despite a possible polar vortex this year, researchers at York University have found. Read the full story by WLUC – TV- Marquette, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-ice-cover
After a year without travel, international cruise line Viking is catering to built-up wanderlust and taking reservations for its new expedition ships, which are scheduled to sail to Minnesota in summer 2022 as the company makes its Great Lakes debut. Read the full story by the Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-viking-cruises
Environmental groups have filed a flurry of lawsuits against the Trump administration over its removal of Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf. Read the full story by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-grey-wolf
Environmental groups have filed a flurry of lawsuits against the Trump administration over its removal of Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf. Read the full story by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-grey-wolf
Four vessels will winter in the Twin Ports as the 2020-21 shipping campaign draws to completion Friday with the end-of-day closure of the Soo Locks connecting lakes Superior and Michigan. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-duluth-superior-port
Four vessels will winter in the Twin Ports as the 2020-21 shipping campaign draws to completion Friday with the end-of-day closure of the Soo Locks connecting lakes Superior and Michigan. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-duluth-superior-port
The latest estimates of Lake Michigan’s ice coverage are below average for the winter season so far, running at only 1.7%. The average ice coverage around this time is about 15%, 13.3% more than it is right now. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-lake-michigan
The latest estimates of Lake Michigan’s ice coverage are below average for the winter season so far, running at only 1.7%. The average ice coverage around this time is about 15%, 13.3% more than it is right now. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-lake-michigan
The National Museum of the Great Lakes is offering free admission Saturday through Monday as a gesture of gratitude to the Toledo, Ohio, community for its ongoing support, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full story by the Toledo Blade.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20210115-maritime-museum
