On:
In: Daily News

A new funding agreement between the state governments of Michigan and Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will provide $388 million to start the $1.1 billion Brandon Road Interbasin Project, aimed at preventing invasive species from entering the Great Lakes through the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-brandon-road

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The Ports of Indiana landed U.S. Customs and Border Protection approval to establish an international sea cargo container terminal, the first in Chicagoland and the first on Lake Michigan. The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor will be able to unload containers, creating an all-water container route for ocean vessels to reach the Chicago market. Read the full story by The Times of Northwest Indiana.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-cargo-port

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The FishPass project in Traverse City, Michigan, replaces the city’s failing dam with a new barrier that allows passage of desirable fish while blocking harmful invaders. $1 million from Michigan’s 2025 state budget will support the final phases of construction of the FishPass, including most of its publicly accessible features. Read the full story by WWTV-TV – Cadillac, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-fishpass-funding

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The cleanup of an oily spill in the Flint River in Michigan continues a week after it was first detected, and officials said Tuesday they still don’t know the source. Flint city officials speculate that soil contamination or illegal dumping could be the source of the spill. Read the full story by Michigan Public.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-flint-spill

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The first week of August will mark ten years since the water crisis in Toledo, Ohio, when many were instructed not to drink, cook with, or bathe in the water for three days. Water quality advocates are disappointed major improvements haven’t been seen in the lake yet. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-erie-progress

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Eight years ago, Oscoda, Michigan, residents were informed that PFAS “forever chemicals” had made their way into the town’s drinking water. The discovery’s impact on tourism is difficult to measure, but both data from the time and sources from the region say it did affect the economy. Read the full story by The Alpena News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-pfas-oscoda

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

The 20-minute ferry ride across Lake Superior to Madeline Island, Wisconsin, offers not only summer fun but also a glimpse into Great Lakes history. A new exhibit at the Madeline Island Museum highlights the Ojibwe people’s journey and their connection to the island. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-ojibwe-exhibit

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Daily News

Cruise ship season in the Great Lakes is in full swing, and Alpena, Michigan, has seen its fair share of cruise ships anchoring in its waters. Each year since 2022, the number of stops in Alpena has increased because of positive feedback. Read the full story by the Huron Daily Tribune.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240703-cruise-benefits

Taaja Tucker-Silva

On:
In: Uncategorized
A large swath of moderate to heavy rainfall will impact the Fox Valley and Interstate 41 corridor this evening. A few embedded thunderstorms may produce locally high rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour, which could result in localized urban flooding, reduced visibilities and ponding on area roads and highways. Motorists driving through the Fox Valley this evening should be prepared for locally hazardous driving conditions due to torrential downpours and water on roads. Slow down to minimize the threat of hydroplaning, and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Original Article

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

Current watches, warnings, and advisories for Brown County (WIC009) WI

https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.22c1d3857bbcbcde061ee63596d2cd4f21cc5177.001.1.cap

NWS

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Boating, Butte des Morts, Fox River Navigational System Authority, invasive, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, little lake butte des morts, menasha lock, Outreach, round goby, watershed, WDNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Lakes, Winnebago Waterways

Cost for Electric Fish Barrier Significant, Board Votes to Stop Project

Original Story: Fox River Navigation System Authority

The Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) board voted in late June to halt work on the Menasha lock re-opening project, with no set date for resuming development of an electric barrier in the lock channel.

The Menasha lock (located between Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts) had been the most-used lock in the system between Lake Winnebago and Green Bay. After the discovery of a round goby below the Neenah dam in 2015, FRNSA voluntarily closed the lock in an effort to keep the invasive fish out of Lake Winnebago. Since then, the round goby has become abundant in the Fox River and Little Lake Butte des Morts.

The FRNSA has spent more than $750,000 on a proposed electronic barrier which would have allowed boats to pass through the lock, but emit a DC current to repulse fish from entering the lock channel.

However, with an installation cost of $7 million, plus an annual operating cost of $300,000-$400,000, the FRNSA board voted to stop work on the project. Since 2015, FRNSA has been working with experts in aquatic ecosystem management to design a plan using a system of an electric deterrent barrier and water flow regulation at the Menasha lock. Board members indicated further work on the proposal was not within the organization’s budget.

Prior to closing the Menasha lock, it had been the busiest lock on the system; now the DePere lock is the busiest. The locks are the only way the Fox River is navigable—from Menasha to the Bay of Green Bay the river drops in elevation 168 feet. From the Menasha lock to the Rapide Croche lock the river has 17 miles of navigable water. On the northern end of the river from Rapide Croche to the Bay of Green Bay the river is navigable for 20 miles.

“Our goal has always been to restore navigation of the Fox River through the lock system, but we also want to ensure we are protecting the waterways,” Ramlet said. He added FRNSA has maintained a testing program for invasive species for years.

Photo Credit: FRNSA

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Menasha Lock Re-Opening Plans Put On Hold Indefinitely appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/07/02/menasha-lock-re-opening-plans-put-on-hold-indefinitely/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=menasha-lock-re-opening-plans-put-on-hold-indefinitely

Chris Acy

On:
In: 2024, AIS, aquatic invasive species, Bay of Green Bay, Butte des Morts, Clean Boats Clean Waters, Fond du Lac, Fox-Wolf Basin, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, Great Lakes, Green Bay, invasive species, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Poygan, Lake Winnebago, Lake Winneconne, Lower Fox River, Outreach, Outreach and Education, Upper Fox River, watershed, WDNR, WI DNR, Winnebago Waterways

4th of July and Aquatic Invasive Species

Happy 4th of July!

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is joining the international effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species this July 4th weekend! The annual Landing Blitz campaign runs June 26th – July 6th, 2024. Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors and educators will meet boaters at lake and river launches to remind them that by taking simple prevention steps, we all play a vital role stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra mussels.

Joining with the Great Lakes Landing Blitz, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance joins all the Great Lakes states and provinces to educate boaters that simple clean up steps and draining water from the boat and live wells can help to prevent the spread of AIS. Many boaters will be greeted at landings and access points by volunteers and regional aquatic invasive species prevention partners sharing the simple but powerful message: YOU can protect lakes and rivers form aquatic invasive species impacts.

“It only takes a minute to remove plants, animals, mud or debris from boats, trailers and equipment and to drain all water from bilges, livewells and bait buckets,” said Erin McFarlane, the Statewide CBCW Educator with Extension Lakes. “These simple steps help keep invasive species from hitching a ride from one lake or river to another.”

No matter where you launch, always remember before you leave the launch to:

  • Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals.
  • Remove all attached plants or animals
  • Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment
  • Never move live fish away from a waterbody (out of water = dead)
  • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
  • Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer
  • Only use leftover minnows when either 1) fishing with them on the same body of water or 2) on other waters if no lake/river water or other fish have been added to the container.

Following these steps ensures boaters comply with Wisconsin state law, which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species.

Have a safe holiday weekend and thanks for helping protect our waterways!

Photo Credit: Sophia Koch

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Winnebago Waterways Program on our Winnebago Waterways Facebook page or @WinnWaterways on Twitter! You can also sign-up for email updates at WinnebagoWaterways.org.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance program. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.

Check out the Keepers of the Fox Program at https://fwwa.org/watershed-recovery/lower-fox-recovery/

Reporting invasive species is a first step in containing their spread. Maintaining and restoring our waters and landscapes can reduce the impacts even when we don’t have other management options to an invasive species.

The post Landing Blitz: Protecting our Waters appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2024/07/02/landing-blitz-protecting-our-waters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=landing-blitz-protecting-our-waters

Chris Acy

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Latest News, News
How much can wetland restoration reduce farm fertilizers getting into Lake Erie?

By Lester Graham, Michigan Public

The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal 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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/07/how-much-can-wetland-restoration-reduce-farm-fertilizers-getting-into-lake-erie/

Michigan Public

On:
In: Feature Homepage, Latest News, News
Wild Berry Bonanza: Juicy Jewels of the Great Lakes Summer

Part of “A Year in the Wild Kitchen of the Great Lakes,” a series in partnership with expert forager, Lisa M. Rose with the mission of nurturing a deeper connection with the natural world through foraging. To get started with your foraging journey, begin here with our “Framework to Sustainable and Safe Practices.”

Summer in the Great Lakes region is a magical time, with long, warm days and the sweet taste of freshly picked berries.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/07/wild-berry-bonanza-juicy-jewels-of-the-great-lakes-summer/

Lisa M. Rose

On:
In: invasive carp
Joel Brammeier headshot.
Joel Brammeier, ​President & CEO

I write today with big news. For more than a decade, we’ve been working with scientists, advocates, federal agencies, and elected officials to prevent invasive carp in the Mississippi River from entering Lake Michigan. I’m thrilled to let you know that the Brandon Road project – a series of barriers on the Des Plaines River to stop silver and bighead carp from reaching the Great Lakes – is now set to begin construction. This couldn’t have happened without you.

As of today, the state of Illinois and the state of Michigan signed a final project agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get shovels in the ground as soon as January.

This project is a decade in the making and is a major priority for the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Invasive silver and bighead carp have already wreaked havoc on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, out-competing native fish for food and injuring people who recreate on the rivers. By using a series of measures designed to stop the carp, the Brandon Road project will act as the choke point to stop them from reaching Lake Michigan. The fish threaten the economic health of the Great Lakes’ $7 billion commercial and sport fishing industry, its $16 billion recreational boating industry, and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem.

This historic agreement wouldn’t have happened without you. Thank you for advocating for the lakes, contacting your elected officials, supporting us with your donations, and being a part of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Together, we’ve been leading efforts to stop invasive carp for more than a decade. We released a groundbreaking report, advocated before Congress, negotiated with industry and elected officials, informed feasibility studies, helped secure federal and state funding, and more. Through it all, we kept up the pressure.

I’d also like to thank Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as well as U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Debbie Stabenow and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their leadership to make this project happen and ensure the Great Lakes are protected.

I hope you’ll join me in taking a moment to celebrate this historic win for the lakes.

Tell Congress: Keep Up the Momentum to Stop Invasive Carp

Invasive carp pose a serious threat to our Great Lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is ready to start building a critical project to prevent them from reaching Lake Michigan.

Take Action

The post Historic Win for the Great Lakes: Invasive Carp Barrier Gets Final OK 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/2024/07/historic-win-for-the-great-lakes-invasive-carp-barrier-gets-final-ok/

Judy Freed

On:
In: News and Announcements

News

Great Lakes Commission applauds progress to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp

Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today applauded the states of Illinois and Michigan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for signing a project partnership agreement (PPA) for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This project, which was originally authorized in 2020, is a key component of the region’s longstanding efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp.

“Preventing invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes is a team effort, and the Great Lakes community is stepping up to meet the moment,” said Erika Jensen, executive director of the GLC. “Signing the Brandon Road PPA is a critical step in keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. Illinois, Michigan, and the Army Corps of Engineers all deserve enormous credit for the years-long effort to address this threat. The GLC is also especially grateful for our Great Lakes congressional delegation, who have worked tirelessly to secure federal funding and policy changes necessary to move forward with construction.”

The GLC has worked for over 30 years on efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species, including support for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Since 2019, the GLC has convened the Brandon Road States and Provinces Forum, which has served as an important venue for information-sharing and problem-solving.

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project is located at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. This project will include installation of technologies that will prevent invasive bighead, black, and silver carp from entering Lake Michigan through the Chicago Area Waterway System. Invasive carp present a significant threat to the Great Lakes, including their impacts on ecosystems, fisheries, and recreation, all of which help to drive the Great Lakes regional economy.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.

Contact

For media inquiries, please contact Beth Wanamaker, beth@glc.org.

Recent GLC News

Upcoming GLC Events

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Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/news/brandon-road-070124

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: invasive carp

Chicago, IL (July 1, 2024) – Today, a coalition of environmental, conservation, and advocacy groups celebrated the announcement that Illinois Governor Pritzker, Michigan Governor Whitmer and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) signed a historic Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) to begin construction on the Brandon Road Project to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

The thousands of businesses that rely on the Great Lakes for their livelihoods owe Governor Pritzker and Governor Whitmer, and their staff, a debt of gratitude for this historic agreement. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) also tirelessly worked to ensure the Brandon Road project moved forward and that the Great Lakes are protected. Appreciation for the agreement should also be shared with the Army Corp for shepherding the project through the planning and design stage, and the Biden Administration for providing significant funding for the first phase of construction through the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act.

Advocates, some of whom have been pushing for the project since the early 2000s, hailed the milestone agreement to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.

“By signing the agreement, Governor Pritzker and Governor Witmer cemented their legacies as strong defenders of the Great Lakes. Invasive carp are poised to wreak havoc on Lake Michigan, and because of their actions, we now have the chance to stop them at Brandon Road,” said Molly Flanagan, Alliance for the Great Lakes Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Programs.

“The signing of the Brandon Road Project Agreement is historic and will help protect our fishery, our economy and quality of life.” said Marc Smith, policy director with National Wildlife Federation. “Keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes is a national priority. We applaud Illinois Governor Pritzker for his leadership in working with Michigan Governor Whitmer, all the Great Lakes states, the U.S. Congress and the Biden Administration in finalizing this project.”

“The signing of this agreement to advance the Brandon Road Project marks a proud and historic day for Great Lakes communities,” said Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr., Mayor of the City of North Chicago, IL and member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. “I commend Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for leading the charge against the threat of invasive carp, securing the best possible financial arrangement for the State of Illinois, and protecting the blue economy on which our shoreline communities depend.”

“We commend Governors Pritzker and Whitmer for working together and with federal partners to advance the Brandon Road project to help keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes and thereby avoid a potential ecological and economic disaster,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.

“We applaud Governor Pritzker and the State of Illinois for reaching this critical agreement with the State of Michigan to protect our priceless shared asset, Lake Michigan,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “This agreement starts work on a major defense for Lake Michigan against invasive species, and we urge all parties to move as quickly as possible to protect our precious Great Lakes.”

“We are grateful to Governor Pritzker for continuing to exercise environmental leadership in prioritizing the long-term health and vitality of our most critical ecosystems and economic drivers like Lake Michigan,” said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “Together, we can protect the future of our Great Lakes for generations to come.”

###

Contact: Don Carr, Media Director, Alliance for the Great Lakes, dcarr@greatlakes.org

More about Invasive Carp

Read more about the invasive carp approaching Lake Michigan and the Brandon Road project designed to stop them.

Read More

The post Historic Agreement Signed to Keep Invasive Carp Out of the Great Lakes 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/2024/07/historic-agreement-signed-to-keep-invasive-carp-out-of-the-great-lakes/

Judy Freed

On:
In: Daily News

Chemicals like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were likely spilled after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. A low-pressure storm system moved these chemicals across the Great Lakes region affecting all of the Great Lakes except Lake Superior. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-regional-pfas

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Pennsylvania Sea Grant announced a new online platform to help citizens learn more about commonly found aquatic invasive species (AIS) in waters near them and offers tools to help accurately identify them. Read the full story by WJET – Erie, PA.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-new-ais-app

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Since 2006, the number of new invasive species entering the Great Lakes has declined by 85%, but with climate change warming the lakes, the number of freshwater species that can ultimately survive in the interconnected body of water is only increasing. Read the full story by the Daily Herald.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-michigan-invaders

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its seasonal outlook for Lake Erie’s algal levels this summer. The annual bloom, commonly known as blue-green algae, is expected to become visible by early July and last into September. Read the full story by KDFW – Dallas, TX.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-summer-algae-bloom

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

Volunteers and invasive species partners will be at boat launches all over the state of Wisconsin this weekend, working to educate boaters on how to follow clean, drain, dry protocols to prevent the spread of invasive species. Read the full story by WCLO – Janesville, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-landing-blitz

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Daily News

The Superior Watershed Program’s Lake Superior Volunteer Corps teamed up with the Great Lakes Climate Corps and community volunteers to clean up the new city pier in Marquette, Michigan. Volunteers pulled weeds and invasive plants from the area while planting native flowers and seeds. Read the full story by the WLUC – Marquette, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240701-native-planting

Nichole Angell

On:
In: Dominick Ciruzzi, Evan Larson, groundwater research, impact of changing Great Lakes water levels on groundwater, Jennifer Hauxwell, Matt Ginder-Vogel, potential for release and transport of iron and manganese from rock within an aquifer underlying Cottage Grove, Steve Loheide, University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, UW-Platteville, William and Mary
Image by David Nevala

July 1, 2024
By Moira Harrington

Wisconsin has about 1.2 million billion gallons of water underground. If it were above ground, it would submerge the state in 100 feet of water. Simply because there is a lot of groundwater, however, does not mean that volume keeps it immune for challenges related to quantity and quality.

After a rigorous review, the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute selected two projects out of 15 that were submitted in a competition held last year. Those new projects got underway on July 1.

“We are so grateful to all of the researchers who submitted proposals to address Wisconsin groundwater challenges. Understanding problems is the first step in finding solutions, and we wish that we could have funded all of the submissions,” said Jennifer Hauxwell, WRI’s director of research. “The projects that we selected for funding this year will go a long way in understanding how surface waters and groundwater are connected as well as how geology interacts with groundwater and contaminants.”

Hauxwell shared these details:

  • Steve Loheide is the lead researcher on a project that will quantify the impact of changing Great Lakes water levels on groundwater storage and flow patterns, lake-groundwater interactions, evapotranspiration and forest productivity to better understand how certain areas can vary in their sensitivity to Lake Michigan’s dynamic water levels. The work will focus in Door County, where ridge and swale topographical features create an ecosystem supporting a diverse plant community. Loheide is in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UW-Madison. His co-investigators are geology professor Evan Larson from UW-Platteville and UW-Madison graduate Dominick Ciruzzi, now in the geology department at William and Mary.
  • In the second project, Matt Ginder-Vogel will explore the potential for release and transport of iron and manganese from rock within an aquifer underlying Cottage Grove, a village in Dane County. The site has been contaminated by a hydrocarbon spill. The spill could have triggered a release of the naturally occurring chemicals that compromise groundwater quality. Ginder-Vogel, a UW-Madison professor in environmental biogeochemistry water at UW-Madison.
The post 1.2 million billion gallons of groundwater will meet WRI science through new projects first appeared on WRI.

Original Article

News Release | WRI

News Release | WRI

https://www.wri.wisc.edu/news/1-2-million-billion-gallons-of-groundwater-will-meet-wri-science-through-new-projects/

Marie Zhuikov

On:
In: Latest News, News
Great Lakes Moment: An ecosystem approach

Great Lakes Moment is a monthly column written by Great Lakes Now Contributor John Hartig. Publishing the author’s views and assertions does not represent endorsement by Great Lakes Now or Detroit PBS.

Traditional natural resource management used to focus on individual issues, like controlling pollution from industries and municipal wastewater treatment plants or managing a single species.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/07/great-lakes-moment-ecosystem-approach/

John Hartig

On:
In: Latest News, News, Waves of Change
Waves of Change: Meet Little Village Environmental Justice Organization executive director Kim Wasserman

Waves of Change is an online interview series highlighting the diverse faces and perspectives shaping the environmental justice movement throughout the Great Lakes region.

This month, we spoke with Kim Wasserman, executive director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

Listen to the full interview

Wasserman played a major role in a years long campaign to close two Chicago coal plants that were negatively impacting residents’ health.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/06/waves-of-change-meet-little-village-environmental-justice-organization-executive-director-kim-wasserman/

Great Lakes Now

On:
In: Feature Homepage, Latest News, News
Inside is Not the Answer: Air quality in the Great Lakes

In the Detroit area, people experience unsafe levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone in the air they breathe. These pollutants are attributed with adverse health effects such as heart disease, respiratory issues, and cancer. 

The University of Michigan is part of an ongoing Detroit research partnership, Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments (CAPHE).

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/06/inside-is-not-the-answer-air-quality-in-the-great-lakes/

Mia Litzenberg

On:
In: Daily News

This year’s Lake Erie algal bloom — which NOAA announced yesterday is expected to be a moderate one — broke from tradition and started growing near the Monroe, Michigan, shoreline days ago. Most of the past outbreaks began in the Maumee Bay near Toledo. Read the full story by the Blade.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-hab

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

Volunteers and invasive species prevention partners will be greeting Wisconsin boaters at boat landings from June 26 through July 6. This effort is to educate people about simple clean-up steps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species through the Great Lakes Landing Blitz. Read the full story by WJFW-TV – Rhinelander, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-blitz

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

Sandy Bihn with Lake Erie Waterkeeper talks with WTOL-TV about efforts that have been made to keep Lake Erie healthy following the water crisis 10 years ago. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-sandysandy-bihn-with-lake-erie-waterkeeper-talks-with-dan-cummins-about-efforts-that-have-been-made-to-keep-lake-erie-healthy-following-the-water-crisis-10-years-ago.

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Latest News, News
PFAS News Roundup: Ohio train derailment likely spilled PFAS and other chemicals across 16 states, including most Great Lakes

Chemicals like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were likely spilled after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. A new study analyzing rain and snow samples from northern Wisconsin to North Carolina and Maine found the highest levels of pH and certain compounds recorded over the last 10 years. This study proves that the various chemicals spilled did not just negatively impact local residents but spread across 540,000 square miles through 16 other states — which includes a third of the U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2024/06/pfas-news-roundup-ohio-train-derailment-likely-spilled-pfas-and-other-chemicals-across-16-states-including-most-great-lakes/

Lisa John Rogers, Great Lakes Now

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In: Daily News

The shore near Holland, Michigan, was recently hit by a meteotsunami, a series of large waves caused by storms moving faster than 35 miles per hour, causing rapid changes in atmospheric pressure. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-tsunami

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

The Great Lakes water levels are on their normal seasonal rise and are not forecasted to have any major rises or dips. With the Great Lakes stable, there are no foreseeable problems in store for boating conditions, the ecosystem, or aquatic life. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-levels

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

In 2019, Ohio created H2Ohio to teach farmers water quality practices and reduce the runoff of phosphorus into Lake Erie. But advocates say the lake’s problems are larger than just phosphorus run-off; they also include factory farms. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-farms

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

During a meeting earlier this month in New York state, an Oswego County official provided a detailed overview of what the designation of the eastern portion of Lake Ontario as a marine sanctuary would actually mean for the area. The official described national marine sanctuaries as America’s underwater version of national parks. Read the full story by Oswego County News Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-oswego

Beth Wanamaker

On:
In: Daily News

The Conneaut Port Authority has been awarded $10,850 to manage Phragmites, an invasive grass species that can quickly become the dominant species in a variety of wet habitats. The grant is from the Great Lakes Commission, as part of the Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework. Read the full story by the Star Beacon.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20240628-phrag

Beth Wanamaker