Water levels on Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake St. Clair broke records that were set in 1986 last month. These levels are expected to stay high and rise toward their peaks. The peaks are expected in late spring or summer. Read the full story by WDIV-TV-Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200408-water-levels

Ken Gibbons

Travel may not be an option for people right now, but there are many ways to still take in the sights – including through photos of hard-to-find views of the massive freighters that cross the Great Lakes. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200408-freighter-photo

Ken Gibbons

Great Lakes Learning: 5 ways to teach your child about groundwater

Here’s a collection of Great Lakes Now work – and other references – to help water become a fun, fascinating at-home lesson.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-learning-groundwater/

Gary Abud Jr.

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Visibility less than a quarter mile in dense fog. * WHERE...Portions of east-central and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 9 AM CDT this morning. * IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility.

Original Article

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F46268B8C.DenseFogAdvisory.125F4626C8E0WI.GRBNPWGRB.61a4f79b4f043938b2b38af6d01fe5d9

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

Freighter Photos: Check out some stunning images of the vessels traversing the lakes

Travel may not be an option for people right now with the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are many ways to still take in the sights – including through photos of hard-to-find views of the massive freighters that cross the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership is a nonprofit initiative that is a collaboration between U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/freighter-photos-great-lakes-seaway/

Natasha Blakely

...DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Visibility less than a quarter mile in dense fog. * WHERE...Portions of central, east central and northeast Wisconsin. * WHEN...Until 9 AM CDT this morning.

Original Article

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F4625918C.DenseFogAdvisory.125F4626C8E0WI.GRBNPWGRB.fb7040bd786cb6fbc0fb5346e8025b39

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

...LOCALLY DENSE FOG EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TONIGHT... Fog will continue to develop across much of northeast Wisconsin late this evening and then linger through much of the night. The fog will become locally dense at times, with visibilities of as low as a quarter mile at times. The dense fog is expected to

Original Article

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service

https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI125F46251DEC.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F46267AC0WI.GRBSPSGRB.3b77a733acfe35fc01f412b80021d336

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

April 3, 2020

This week: Water Service Restoration Update + COVID-19 has Great Lakes aquariums and museums offering online activities + Federal Judge Allows Flint Water Lawsuit Against Former Gov Snyder to Proceed + Flint mayor announces city-wide curfew effective April 2nd

Water Service Restoration Update

Michigan:

Whitmer orders that homes’ water service be restored amid COVID-19 pandemic

Governor Whitmer issued an executive order to restore water services to occupied homes.  Thank you to all the Freshwater Future supporters who helped send a message to Governor Whitmer urging a moratorium on water shutoffs and restoration of essential water services..  Access to water is imperative for residents to have the capacity to thoroughly wash their hands, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Now utility companies must get to work to identify and restore residential homes’ water. As part of the Executive Order, Governor Whitmer is requiring all public water suppliers that have used shutoffs as a consequence for nonpayment to file a report with the state on their efforts to restore service by April 12th.

Public Health Experts Urge Michigan Mayors To Turn Water On ASAP

Michigan residents and public health experts are calling on Governor Whitmer to work with her newly created Michigan Advisory Council for Environmental Justice (MAC EJ) to ensure that residential water services are restored quickly, transparently, and equitably.  Detroit and Michigan have become national epicenters for the Coronavirus in the U.S. and the Governor and her administration must work quickly to restore life-saving resources, such as clean water. This week, medical professionals and public health experts joined We The People, Freshwater Future, and Great Lakes Environmental Law Center to update the media via teleconference on the public health impact of water shut offs and how they are contributing to the high rate of coronavirus infection throughout the state.  The recorded teleconference is now available on YouTube. Click here to watch.

Ohio:

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency orders water restored and halts future shutoffs

Earlier this week, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director, Laurie Stevenson, sent an order to all public utilities in Ohio to restore residential water services as quickly as possible and halt any disconnection due to nonpayment or fees. This order also directed public water utilities to not charge a reconnection fee and provide residents with instructions on how to properly flush their pipes before using the water. This order is in place until December 1, 2020 or until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Illinois:

Some Chicagoans May Be Facing Coronavirus Without Water At Home

An investigation of City of Chicago records by WBEZ discovered the potential of thousands of residents without water service. Fortunately, Mayor Lori Lightfoot placed a moratorium on water shutoffs soon after taking office in May 2019. Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, BIG (Blacks in Green) and many other organizations are working to identify residences without water.

Wisconsin:

On March 22nd, Governor Evers and the Public Service Commission (PSC), which oversee approximately 575 public and private utilities throughout Wisconsin, halted water shutoffs and streamline the restoration of residential water services. In addition, PSC directed utilities to wave late fees. Are you a resident of Wisconsin and need support in getting your water turned on now? Click here.

Great Lakes Aquariums and Museums Offering Online Activities

Amid COVID-19, there are people who take lemons and make lemonade. Due to physical distancing, community facilities and entertainment centers are closed to the public. However, these resilient centers have gone on online for enjoyment and learning. Throughout the entire Great Lake region there are aquariums, museums and live animal feedings available to you in the comfort of your own home. Click here to pick your favorite place, there is still fun to be had!

Update: Federal Judge Allows Flint Water Lawsuit Against Former Gov Snyder to Proceed

Flint family’s lawsuit against state officials was allowed to proceed by a Federal Judge.  Judge Levy dismissed charges against the former Mayor and other state officials but is allowing the case against former Gov Rick Snyder and Emergency Manager, Darnell Earley to proceed.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/freshwater-future-weekly-april-7-2020/

Alexis Smith

Sporting Uncertainty: COVID-19 casts shadow over Great Lakes sports events

Events around the lakes are being canceled, postponed or put on hold until more information comes out.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/covid-19-coronavirus-sports-recreation-events-canceled/

Gary Wilson

Wisconsin environmental regulators say they’re still moving forward on work to address so-called forever chemicals, known as PFAS, during the coronavirus pandemic. Yet, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources acknowledges some work is being postponed.  Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200407-wisconsin-pfas

Samantha Stanton

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the U.S. and globally, threatening the health and economic prospects of many, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has suspended enforcement of broad swathes of its own regulatory policies. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200407-epa-lightens-regulations

Samantha Stanton

For untold generations, Indigenous people traversed North America’s interlocking waterways by canoe which often required portaging when moving between watersheds. One of the most important portage routes in Minnesota, known today as the Northwest Trail, connected the Mississippi River to Lake Superior. Read the full story by Minneapolis Post.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200407-lake-superior-portaging

Samantha Stanton

Regulation During COVID-19: Canadian, U.S. agencies lighten monitoring priorities

Oil companies successfully request lighter oversight amid coronavirus pandemic. Farmers support the move.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/epa-suspends-enforement-covid-19-coronavirus/

George Elkind

Great Lakes Learning: Plan a destination dinner on a Great Lakes island

How about dinner “on” Mackinac, Washington or Drummond islands? All while helping your family learn more about the Great Lakes.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-learning-island-destination-dinner/

Gary Abud Jr.

Six-month forecasts predict the Great Lakes to break current water level records in July and August, giving Lake Michigan and Lake Huron 4 trillion gallons more water than when the highest water level was in the fall of 1986. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200406-high-water

Ned Willig

Door County, Wisconsin, has joined the growing ranks of tourist destinations that are closing resorts and turning away visitors, hoping that shutting their doors now will help them open sooner in the coming months. Read the full story by the Wausau Pilot & Review.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200406-closed-door

Ned Willig

Great Lakes Moment: Earth Day turns 50

Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig shares his own memories of the first Earth Day and the changes he’s noticed in the nature around him since then.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-moment-earth-day-turns-50/

John Hartig

As the poet, farmer, and environmental activist Wendell Berry once said, “If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know who you are.”

Our first H.O.M.E.School activity asks students to make a list of the special places in their lives and draw their own “sense of place” maps. These maps do not need to be geographically accurate, but they do tell the story of a place from your kid’s point of view.

This lesson will help develop their spatial reasoning abilities, their mapping skills, and a greater “sense of place” – or connection to the Great Lakes.

Time/Materials

This activity will take between 30 minutes and an hour.

You’ll need:

  • Writing and/or drawing utensils
  • Paper
  • Online or paper maps

Ready? Head to the Classroom!

Watch the video below to learn about maps and get today’s activity.

Share the Learning

Ask your kids to show you the maps they’ve made. What places have they drawn? Why are these things important to them?

Extra Credit

Kids: Practice your mapmaking skills. Try to draw or trace an outline of the Great Lakes! 

Parents: Share your kid’s Great Lakes map on social media! And if you tag the Alliance for the Great Lakes, we might share it, too.

Deep Dive

Want to learn more? Check out these resources!

  • Great Lakes Fast Facts from Michigan Sea Grant. Click on your favorite lake to see fun facts and a map.
  • Great Lakes Basin Map from the Center for Great Lakes Literacy. A “basin” (or “watershed”) is all the land that drains into a body of water. This map shows the land that drains into the Great Lakes. 
  • Surface Currents Map of the Great Lakes from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This map-in-motion shows how streams of water are moving through the Great Lakes right now. 
  • How to Read a Map:

 

 

The post H.O.M.E.School Week 1: Maps appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Original Article

News – Alliance for the Great Lakes

News – Alliance for the Great Lakes

https://greatlakes.org/2020/04/h-o-m-e-school-week-1-maps/

Kirsten Ballard

Michigan’s efforts to root out and deal with PFAS contamination

In this web exclusive, Great Lakes Now looks at Michigan’s PFAS Action Response Team.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/episode-1012-web-extra-pfas-mpart/

Ric Mixter

Coping with PFAS: How have families been dealing with PFAS contamination in their communities

In this web exclusive, two residents from Kent County, Michigan, share about their struggles with PFAS.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/episode-1012-web-extra-pfas-families/

Ric Mixter

Great Lakes Learning: How to get your students chatting – productively – in online lessons

Education Consultant Gary Abud Jr. has four helpful tips to make the most of online discussions with your students and children as lessons and activities move to the home.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/04/great-lakes-learning-tips-student-conversation/

Gary Abud Jr.

Theodore J. Karamanski’s sweeping maritime history, Mastering the Inland Seas: How Lighthouses, Navigational Aids, and Harbors Transformed the Great Lakes and America, demonstrates the far-ranging impact that the tools and infrastructure developed for navigating the Great Lakes had on the national economies, politics and environment of continental North America. Read the full story by the Door County Pulse.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200403-navigation

Jill Estrada

The United States Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District announced in early March that Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie all set new monthly records for their levels, beating records set in 1986 for Superior, Michigan, and Huron and 1987 for Lake Erie. Read the full story by the Huron Daily Tribune.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200403-lake-levels

Jill Estrada

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, announced that an agreement has been signed that will help them directly assist Detroit neighborhoods in fighting against flooding events expected during this upcoming spring and summer seasons.  Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200403-detroit-flooding

Jill Estrada