The Youngstown Yacht Club in Youngstown, NY is set to hold its 10th annual CanAm Challenge and Great Lakes PHRF Fest on July 28-30, for two days of hosting competitors from all over the U.S. and Canada. It is the largest sailing event on Lake Ontario. Read the full story by Niagara Frontier Publications.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230501-annualcanam-youngstown
The Mariners’ Service came back April 28 after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The service is created in collaboration between the Port Huron Yacht Club and Port Huron, Michigan’s Grace Episcopal Church. The service is a time to bless the nautical community prior to the boating season. Read the full story by the Port Huron Times Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230501-mariners-churchservice-porthuron
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126647D58D8C.SpecialWeatherStatement.126647D5FB50WI.GRBSPSGRB.6bf84a4531ca431ab1ef1d2b8385bb43
Birding is the topic of the final River Talk of this season. The series will resume in fall. Image credit: Marie Zhuikov, Wisconsin Sea Grant
The River Talks will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 10 with “How and Where to Find Birds in the St. Louis River Estuary,” an in-person presentation at the Lake Superior Estuarium Confluence Room (3 Marina Drive, Barker’s Island in Superior) given by Steve Kolbe with the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI).
Come learn about where good locations are to see birds in the estuary. Participants will have the chance to view birds on Barker’s Island. Binoculars will be available for those who don’t have some to bring.
This will be the final River Talks of the season until the series begins again in fall. For more information, visit the River Talks page: go.wisc.edu/4uz720.
The River Talks are sponsored by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Wisconsin Sea Grant Program.
The post How and where to find birds in the Estuary first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/how-and-where-to-find-birds-in-the-estuary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-and-where-to-find-birds-in-the-estuary
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126647D4F7F0.SpecialWeatherStatement.126647D570A4WI.GRBSPSGRB.6bf84a4531ca431ab1ef1d2b8385bb43
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126647D464AC.WinterWeatherAdvisory.126647D5AD30WI.GRBWSWGRB.40c2ac144eb4b46491628935ae273837
Current Watches, Warnings and Advisories for Brown (WIC009) Wisconsin Issued by the National Weather Service
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI126643994948.SpecialWeatherStatement.1266439A8614WI.GRBSPSGRB.6bf84a4531ca431ab1ef1d2b8385bb43
This lesson will explore the phenomenon of maple sap production in the Great Lakes, as it pertains to chemical energy storage and transfer, in contrast with mechanical energy storage and transfer in wind turbines. Students will model the production of maple syrup from sap by making simple syrup and perform a distillation experiment with cola.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/04/episode-2304-energy-lesson-plan/
Experts are concerned after a wet winter, with little relief in sight this rainy season, as the five Great Lakes continue to see an uptick in water levels. All the lakes remain above their April long-term average levels, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ weekly forecast. Read the full story by USA Today.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-flood-risk
As the trout season approaches on Saturday, April 29th, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, are asking anglers to prepare to decontaminate their supplies. According to the DNR, Michigan’s trout streams are under increasing threat from harmful species that affect habitat and food sources for trout and other fish and can be moved to new locations on waders, nets, and gear. Read the full story by WHMI – Howell, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-decontamination-preparation
Michigan’s spring temperatures are highly influenced by water temperatures on the Great Lakes. It’s a vicious cycle in which the colder than normal air has cooled the Great Lakes waters, which will continue to keep the air cooler as well. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-water-temperatures
According to the International Lake Ontario – St. Lawrence River Board (ILOSLRB), Lake Ontario’s water level was at about 75.15 meters as of April 19, which is 0.25 meters above average for this time of year. Residents and visitors to Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence River are being warned of the high water levels that are expected to continue to increase in the coming weeks. Read the full story by the Kingston Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-high-water-levels
Midland, Michigan, could receive $50 million for flood reduction infrastructure after Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) secured those funds in the proposed Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy budget. That budget was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, moving on to the full Senate and House for negotiations. Read the full story by the Midland Daily News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-flood-reduction-funding
The Pelee Islander II is staying out of service longer than expected this spring due to ‘an unforeseen technical issue’ found during a scheduled out-of-water inspection. Local officials are concerned the delay will hinder the region’s ability to prepare for the upcoming busy season on the Lake Erie Island. Read the full story by CTV – Windsor.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-ferry-delay
Six Michigan Senate Democrats introduced SB 294, which would ban the intentional release of balloons that end up in the Great Lakes, posing a threat to thousands of species. In 2019, the nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes found more than 18,000 balloons or balloon pieces along the shores over the previous two years. Read the full story by WOOD-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-balloon-bill
The ferry that transports people and vehicles between Charlevoix and Beaver Island – Lake Michigan’s largest island – has begun its 2023 season. Beaver Island Boat Company is running three trips a week right now and will begin increasing that number in May. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-beaver-island-ferry
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced a new Erie Access Improvement Program grant opportunity heading to Erie County. The program is funded through proceeds from the sale of Lake Erie permits for programs that benefit public fishing, including enhanced access and habitat projects on or at Lake Erie and the watersheds of Lake Erie. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-fishing-grant
According to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, the S.S. Keewatin, a passenger steamship older than the Titanic, began its journey down the St. Clair River on Wednesday. The Edwardian-era Keewatin was built in 1907 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Glasgow, Scotland, and is the last of its kind. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230428-steamship-transport
Natural resource management issues often boil down to people management issues. When it comes to lake management, people can be hard to predict. They may say one thing but do another. They may think they’re good environmental stewards even though some of their behaviors suggest otherwise. But to make meaningful progress in aquatic invasive species management issues, human behavior must be taken into account.
Intersections between natural and social science is the theme of a recent article written by Wisconsin Sea Grant’s Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Specialist Tim Campbell and University of Wisconsin-Madison Associate Professor and Division of Extension Environmental Communication Specialist Bret Shaw. “Natural and Social Science Work Better Together for Managing AIS” appeared in the spring 2023 issue of “Lakeline,” published by the North American Lake Management Society.
The article outlines effective social science methods, including understanding target audiences, crafting better messages and addressing barriers to behavior change.
The post Aquatic invasive species management through people management first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/aquatic-invasive-species-management-through-people-management/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aquatic-invasive-species-management-through-people-management
Because of the major impact of the Flint water crisis on Michigan, safe drinking water has become a public health, environmental and political priority.
The post Schools replace old-fashioned drinking fountains first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/28/schools-replace-old-fashioned-drinking-fountains/
Ice out on Lake Winnebago was officially called by the Army Corps of Engineers on April 6, 2023 as determined by MODIS satellite imagery. Ice out (aka ice off) is when ALL ice is gone from the lake surface as observed by satellite. This is important because ice out marks the date that the Army Corps transitions their management of Lake Winnebago from maintaining winter pool to focus on spring refill.
The Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago District manages water levels for Lake Winnebago by regulating outflow at the dams in Menasha and Neenah under the Federal Marshall Order of 1886. The Marshall Order is intended for flood risk management.
The Marshall Order defines the limits of regulation for Lake Winnebago:
While meeting their mission of flood risk management is the priority, the Army Corps also tries to meet the needs of various stakeholders within their operating limits. This requires finding a reasonable balance among multiple competing interests. Each year, with stakeholder input, the Army Corps sets their annual regulation strategy which guides their daily management decisions.
Their annual regulation strategy represents that balance and can be broken down by certain times of the year: fall drawdown, winter pool, spring refill, and summer pool. Water level targets are set along this strategy in a schedule. These targets are listed in the Army Corps 2022 – 2023 Lake Winnebago Regulation Strategy (shown in the image below). The green band in the annual strategy represents the “target band”. The Army Corps tries to hold water levels within this band. The dotted lines represents the average lake level across all years as noted in the key.
Average Water Level for Lake Winnebago
Lake level for Lake Winnebago is an average of readings from four gages located around the lake and is in reference to the Oshkosh Datum.
Fall Drawdown: As of the 2021/2022 regulation strategy, fall drawdown has been scheduled to begin between Sept 1 and Oct 1 each year at the discretion of the Army Corps through an adaptive decision making process.
Winter Pool: Each February, the Army Corps evaluates basin conditions and the forecast to determine their winter drawdown target.
The Army Corps draws down Lake Winnebago every winter to reduce the risk of damage caused by ice shoves, protect shoreline properties, and provide enough space within the lake to hold excess water that flows into Lake Winnebago each spring (snow melt and rain storm runoff from a 5,900 square mile watershed). The 2023 winter drawdown target operating band for Lake Winnebago this year was 1.25 ft to 1.3 ft.
Spring refill: When the Army Corps determines ice out has occurred on Lake Winnebago based on satellite imagery, spring refill is triggered. For many boaters, people interested in habitat protection, and stakeholders working to restore the lakes, refill is of particular interest. According to the most recent annual strategy, refill targets are as follows:
Summer Pool: The Army Corps tries to maintain the lake within a target band for summer recreation navigation.
The total seasonal water elevation change is typically about 1.8 ft in a given year.
Despite having all available gates open at the dams since March 6, 2023, the average level of Lake Winnebago has been well above the target band since the beginning of April. This is likely due to the lake not being drawn down far enough or early enough to accommodate spring runoff from snow melt and precipitation. When inflows to Lake Winnebago exceed outflow capacity of the gates, the lake begins to rise uncontrolled. Overshooting the target band increases risk of flooding, significantly damages habitat and limits water quality restoration gains (among other impacts).
A graph from April 21, 2023 shows the recent average lake level (dashed line). Hopefully, precipitation will ease up and the Army Corps will be able to regain control before too much damage is done to the wetlands and aquatic habitat.
1.) Water Level Management for the Winnebago Waterways: This report describes water level management including the process of developing an annual strategy, the considerations for the strategy, and the reason the strategy (schedule) is in its current form. CLICK HERE for the report.
This report is part of a larger planning effort for the Winnebago Lakes. The rest of the lake plan can be found here: https://fwwa.org/lake-management-planning-2/
2.) Winnebago Water Level Assessment Team (WWLAT): This is a stakeholder group that holds discussions about water levels independent of the Army Corps public input process. The website for the Team provides information about the background, past recommendations, and more. Interested stakeholders are welcome to participate. Link: https://fwwa.org/winnebago-waterways/wwlat/
3.) The Army Corps provides access to a lot of data and information through their Lake Winnebago webpage: CLICK HERE
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org
The post Ice-Out officially called for Lake Winnebago – April 6, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/27/ice-out-officially-called-for-lake-winnebago-april-6-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ice-out-officially-called-for-lake-winnebago-april-6-2023
By John Flesher, Associated Press
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A company that tears down closed nuclear power plants wants to do in Michigan what has never been done in the U.S.: restore a dead one to life.
Holtec Decommissioning International bought the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station last June for the stated purpose of dismantling it, weeks after previous owner Entergy shut it down.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/04/ap-company-seeks-first-time-restart-shuttered-nuclear-plant/
Thank you to the Wisconsin Herd, Oshkosh Arena, and Winnebago County and the Winnebago Solid Waste Department for having the Winnebago Waterways Program as the non-profit of the night at the Wisconsin Herd Game on March 17, 2023. It was an exciting game and thanks to all who bid on the Go Green jerseys following the game, we raised $1650.57! These funds will be used to further our water quality restoration and protection efforts. Thank you for all your support!
The post Total raised as a result of Go Green night at the Wisconsin Herd Game March 17, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/27/wisconsin-herd-march-17-result/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wisconsin-herd-march-17-result
Walleye and pike surveys start in early spring, followed by muskie surveys. In May, the DNR starts surveying general fish communities like panfish and bass, and from July to September it surveys streams.
The post Shocking news for Michigan fish first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/27/shocking-news-for-michigan-fish/
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance has partnered with Oshkosh North Communities students for several years. Our previous projects included a kayak cleanup of Miller’s Bay, shoreline restoration plant maintenance, and a cleanup of Asylum Point Park. When we were contacted earlier this year to 
continue this partnership, we jumped at the chance to work with students on a litter prevention effort. The plan was to have Communities students build and install fishing line receptacles at public fishing locations in the greater Oshkosh area.
Fishing line left as litter in our watershed has devastating effects on wildlife and can become entangled and difficult to remove. Fishing line receptacles offer anglers the opportunity to properly dispose of their used fishing line before it becomes a problem in the environment. These containers also bring awareness to a major litter issue in our lakes and rivers.
Seven students chose the Eco Pod consisting of three earth-friendly projects, including the pollution prevention project with Trash Free Waters. 
Kelly Reyer who runs the Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf, met with the students several times throughout the semester, setting a project schedule and helping to coordinate with the Winnebago County Parks Department.
The students researched the best receptacle design, created a budget, submitted their budget request, and bought the needed supplies, and then worked together to built three receptacles. The three receptacles were installed at:
The Trash Free Waters program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is proud to work with Oshkosh North High School Communities students on this litter prevention project. Thank you to the students, Sawyer, Blake, Shawn, Hammza, Katie, Keira, and Emily.
A quote from Katie Wetterau, Oshkosh North High School Communities Student:
“Fishing line is not biodegradable. When the monofilament is left in our waterways it stays there for hundreds of years harming the environment and its wildlife. For the future that I and many other children will grow up in, I am glad to have made an impact to help our earth with our partner Kelly Reyer from Trash Free Waters.”
A celebration of the project took place at Asylum Point Park on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 in the afternoon. In attendance were school officials, family
members, other Communities students, project partners, and local TV media. The students shared their experience working on this project and were interviewed about their experience by both WLUK Fox-11 and WBAY TV-2.
Here are links to both TV news stories:
Trash Free Waters is a program of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance that works to prevent and reduce trash and litter on our lands and in our 
waters through targeted campaigns, cleanup events, and outreach and education.
The mission of the Oshkosh North High School communities program is to create a better community through content, communication, collaboration, commitment, creative thinking, and critical thinking.
To learn more about our Fox-Wolf’s Trash Free Waters program, visit: www.trashfreewaters.org or contact Kelly Reyer – 920-915-1502 or kelly@fwwa.org.
The post Trash Free Waters & Oshkosh North Communities Students Partner for Litter Prevention appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/fishing-line-receptacle-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fishing-line-receptacle-project
The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) used to be a rare sight in Wisconsin, now these birds, with wingspans up to 9 feet, are frequently spotted in large numbers in the Winnebago System! The American White Pelican has an orange, long, pouched bill (beak) that can grow a protrusions during the breeding season. The tips of their bills have a small hook at the tip. Their necks are long, and their bodies are usually snowy white with black flight feathers. Their legs and feet are orange though younger birds’ can appear more gray-pink and darken with age, and their feet are webbed. Adult pelicans can weigh about 16 pounds, making them one of the heaviest flying bird species.
American White Pelicans are piscivorous, meaning they primarily eat fish. The American White Pelican forages for food mostly in shallow waters in open areas of marshes, lakes, rivers, and ponds but can forage in deeper water. American White Pelicans do not submerge or dive for food. Instead, they dip their bill into the water and scoop up prey into their pouch, then tip their bill above their head to swallow. A typical pelican can reach down to about 3 feet below the surface of the water, and can eat about 3 pounds of fish a day! In Wisconsin, pelicans have been recorded eating common carp, as well as other fish species. They can also eat amphibians like frogs and invertebrates like crayfish. Pelicans sometimes work together to forage for food. A group of pelicans can corral fish into shallow areas or to the center of a U formation or circle to more easily catch prey.
Adult American White Pelicans on Water (National Park Service)
Pelicans at a nesting colony (Winnebago Waterways User Submitted Photo)
Young Pelicans (USDA)
Pelicans start to breed when they reach about 3-6 years old and travel to their breeding colonies in March – May. These colonies are typically on islands. Nests are built on the ground in colonies with other pelicans, as well as other bird species like cormorants and gulls. Usually pelicans lay 2 eggs. The eggs and hatched young are vulnerable to predators like eagles, foxes, and raccoons. Studies show that pelicans can live up to 30 years.
Historically, American White Pelicans were found in Wisconsin but their population sharply declined in the late 1800s – 1900s due to hunting and habitat loss. In the last 20-25 years, their populations have grown tremendously in Wisconsin, prompted likely by loss of breeding grounds in the West but also due to habitat restoration projects and pollution cleanup. In the lower Green Bay area, the number of white pelicans grew from about 250 in 2005 to more than 3,000 in 2021. Protecting their habitat and water quality is important to their continued success in the Winnebago System.
Article written by Katie Reed, Winnebago Waterways Coordinator: katherine@fwwa.org
Featured Image Credit: Russ CC BY 2.0
Sources:
The Cornell Lab: All About Birds – American White Pelican
American White Pelican – EEK Wisconsin – Environmental Education for Kids
USDA – Tommy King – Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service – American White Pelicans
SeaGrant – University of Wisconsin – Researchers investigate the impact of water birds on Green Bay
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org
The post Species Spotlight: American White Pelican appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/species-spotlight-american-white-pelican/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=species-spotlight-american-white-pelican
By Jenna Mertz
When first-year UW–Madison student Lily Meisel imagined herself doing research, she pictured white coats and microscopes.
“I’m going to be sitting in a lab,” she said, “working with my Petri dishes, dropping bacteria in them.”
Lily Meisel is a 2022-23 Undergraduate Research Scholar who pivoted away from Petri dishes to take on a different kind of research–coastal resilience. Submitted photo.
Meisel, a prospective biochemistry and environmental studies major, was curious whether she would like that type of work. To find out, she joined the Undergraduate Research Scholars program, which pairs first- and second-year students with researchers across campus. Meisel was drawn to a Wisconsin Sea Grant project about planning for and preventing Great Lakes bluff erosion, a topic unfamiliar to her.
“I think the thing that attracted me to this project the most was that I didn’t know much about it,” she said.
The project, led by Wisconsin Sea Grant coastal GIS specialist David Hart, explores how “adaptation pathways”—a planning tool used to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change—could address bluff erosion and other coastal hazards in the Great Lakes. Unlike traditional planning approaches, adaptation pathways are flexible and built around uncertainty. They allow decision makers to map multiple solutions to a problem and pivot to alternatives when those solutions no longer work or become too expensive.
Hart first learned about adaptation pathways from a Sea Grant colleague using the tool to address sea level rise at Dauphin Island, Alabama. “I hadn’t seen this approach applied in the Great Lakes and thought Lily could explore how it had been used to address coastal hazards in a changing climate around the world,” said Hart.
Meisel’s goal was to identify where and how adaptation pathways have been used, if they were successful, and how they could be applied locally. So she got to work—not by culturing bacteria, but by scouring published research for mention of the topic.
“It’s kind of like a treasure hunt,” she said.
Meisel noted it was difficult to find examples of communities that have used adaptation pathways for long-term climate change planning because the approach is relatively new. She focused her analysis on four communities—Lakes Entrance, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Dauphin Island, Alabama; and Santa Cruz, California—and plans to showcase her findings via a multimedia, interactive platform known as a StoryMap.
While Meisel thinks more research is still needed to demonstrate their success in helping communities adapt to climate change in the long term, adaptation pathways have proven an effective method for gauging public opinion, which could be useful for weighing different solutions to bluff erosion.
Under a changing climate, many changes will come to Great Lakes landscapes, such as eroding bluffs like this one near Lake Superior. Photo: Marie Zhuikov, Wisconsin Sea Grant
Meisel also felt a personal connection to her research. Growing up in Neenah, Wisconsin, a town on the shores of Lake Winnebago, she knows what it is like to live in a community where life revolves around the lake. The practical applications of the research excite her. “I would love to help a community that’s so similar to mine,” she said.
Meisel will present her findings at the Undergraduate Symposium on Friday, April 28, at Union South.
The post Undergraduate researcher evaluates adaptation tool to combat Great Lakes coastal hazards first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/undergraduate-researcher-evaluates-adaptation-tool-to-combat-great-lakes-coastal-hazards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=undergraduate-researcher-evaluates-adaptation-tool-to-combat-great-lakes-coastal-hazards
Application deadline: May 15, 2023 | Download PDF
The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) has an immediate opening for a self-starting, highly motivated team player to join our staff. This position will work under the direction of GLC project managers, assisting with implementation of various projects and providing support to several issue-specific regional collaboratives coordinated by the GLC. This position will primarily support the GLC’s portfolio of invasive species projects that collect, collate and interpret different datasets to inform invasive species policy and management decisions. A smaller proportion of time will also be dedicated to support projects focused on other Great Lakes issues, such as water use, maritime transportation and others, depending on agency needs.
The data analyst will work with internal and external teams responsible for implementing projects managed by the GLC. The position will be responsible for a variety of activities, including but not limited to management of large, complex datasets; data analyses, summaries, and visualizations; communication with partner agencies; preparation of presentations and written documents; and meeting support.
Specific responsibilities include:
A master’s degree with two years or more of relevant full-time experience; or bachelor’s degree with four years or more of relevant full-time experience is required, along with the following qualifications:
The ideal candidate will also bring one or more of the following skills and experience to the position:
Position Classification
The position is classified as regular – full-time as defined by the GLC’s personnel policies.
Compensation and Benefits
The starting salary range for this position is $64,000 – $66,500 per year depending on education, skills, and experience. The GLC offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including generous leave time, flexible schedules, medical, dental and vision insurance, and a retirement match program.
Work Environment
The GLC is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is expected that the majority of work will be performed in the GLC’s office; however, telework may be considered. This position requires occasional travel.
Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume stating their interest in and qualifications for the position in a single email to vacancy@glc.org. All required items must be provided for an application to receive consideration. No phone calls, please.
The Great Lakes Commission 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.
The Great Lakes Commission strives to create an inclusive, diverse and non-discriminatory workplace. The Great Lakes Commission is an equal opportunity employer; the Great Lakes Commission complies with applicable federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination. It is Great Lakes Commission policy that no person shall be discriminated against, as an employee or applicant for employment, because of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/news/position-available-sr-data-analyst-2023
By Lester Graham, Michigan Radio
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/2023/04/forest-to-mi-faucet-using-trees-to-keep-water-sources-pristine/
It’s been over a decade since researchers began looking into microplastics in the Great Lakes. Now, the issue is getting renewed attention amid broader concerns about the potential effects of microplastics on the human body and a possible future link to the hydro-fracking boom currently happening in the region. Read the full story by ABC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/202304-microplastics-lakeerie-growingconcern
Muskegon, Michigan, city leaders failed to pass an amendment on the proposed development of a boat storage facility on Muskegon Lake. Read the full story by WZZM-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/202304-development-muskegonlake
In Michigan, the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly’s plans to remove the Nartron Dam, located on the Hersey River in Osceola County, are moving forward after property owners agreed to its removal. Read the full story by The Herald Review.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/202304-nartrondamremoval-hershey
MLive and the nonprofit Council of the Great Lakes Region will co-host an upcoming free webinar about how in coming decades it’s expected millions of people will flee the worst effects of climate change and come to settle in the binational area around the Great Lakes. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/202304-greatlakes-climatehaven-webinarpanel
After two decades, the continent’s only international wildlife refuge has a bus stop to make it more accessible. Read the full story by Bridge Detroit.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2023042623-northamerica-internationalwildliferefuge-detroitriver
Spring’s rollercoaster of temperatures from the cold, to record warmth and back to cold affects the fish in our Great Lakes. While spring is a time Michiganders flock outdoors, it’s also a time when you might see more dead fish washing ashore. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2023042623-deadfish-springthaw-dnr
It’s springtime at the Erie Maritime Museum, which means it’s rigging time on the U.S. Brig Niagara. After being put away for the winter and maintenance, it’s time for the U.S. Brig Niagara to be put back together for the sailing season. This past week, the Niagara had its winter cover removed along with other projects like putting the bowsprit and mast into place. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2023042623-usbrigniagara-2023sailingseason
Ship buffs looking to glimpse a piece of history will get their chance when the SS Keewatin passes by the Blue Water Area in Port Huron, Michigan, early Wednesday. Read the full story by the Port Huron Times Herald.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2023042623-sskeewatin-porthuron-steamer
A historic freighter operating on the Great Lakes, the Kaye E. Barker, briefly grounded on Monday, April 25. The ship survived the latest incident in her long career with no injuries, pollution, or damage. Read the full story by MLive.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/2023042623-historic-laker-lakemichigan
Kudzo is on the list of plants and animals that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan’s economy, environment or human health.
The post Watch out! Creepy kudzu coming? first appeared on Great Lakes Echo.Great Lakes Echo
http://greatlakesecho.org/2023/04/26/watch-out-creepy-kudzu-coming/
Lifetime Business Member of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
A huge thank you to Rob and his team at Motto Inc. (pictured above), a locally owned and operated business, for their continued support of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s water quality initiatives in the Winnebago Waterways Recovery Area. Last year, Motto Inc. donated $18,262 to Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. This year they beat their own record by donating $25,000! Their donation will have an even bigger impact because a percentage was matched by the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation’s Give Big Green Bay program.
In addition to their generous donation, Motto Inc. has volunteered with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Last winter, the Motto Inc. team volunteered to sow native plants and take care of them over the winter. These plants will be used in our shoreline restoration projects!
Motto Inc. is also a business member of 1% for the Planet, which connects businesses and individuals who pledge to give 1% of their sales back to the planet each year with approved environmental nonprofits around the world. This partnership will help Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance connect with more businesses who share the same values of promoting water quality and environmental stewardship.
Motto Inc. lives up to their commitment through quality branded products and their ongoing support of various causes that improve the community and environment. We invite you to learn more about this local business by visiting their website: www.mottoinc.com
Thank you to Rob and his Motto Inc. team for their continued support!
The Winnebago Waterways Program facilitates regional coordination and implementation of recovery efforts for the Winnebago Lakes and surrounding watersheds. Priority implementation projects are outlined in the Winnebago Waterways Lake Management Plan. Winnebago Waterways is a program of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent non-profit organization that works to protect and restore the water resources of the Fox-Wolf River Basin. We are focused on finding cost effective, science-based solutions. To meet our goals, we work with partners to maximize efficiencies, bringing resources to those who are already doing great work while utilizing our strengths to fill gaps when needed.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global organization that connects dollars and doers to accelerate smart environmental giving. Through business and individual memberships, 1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. The organization advises on giving strategies, certifies donations and amplifies the impact of the network. 
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, their members have given more than $250 million to environmental nonprofits to date. Today, 1% for the Planet is a network of more than 3,000 business members, an expanding core of individual members and thousands of nonprofit partners in more than 90 countries.
If you are interested in learning more about 1% for the Plant and how to become a business partner, please contact Korin at korin@fwwa.org.
Questions? Comments? Send us an email at wwinfo@fwwa.org.
Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on social media: Winnebago Waterways on Facebook and @WinnWaterways on Twitter!
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.
The post Local Business Continues Support of Water Quality Initiatives appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/26/local-business-continues-support-of-water-quality-initiatives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=local-business-continues-support-of-water-quality-initiatives
By Kelly House and Lauren Gibbons, 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/2023/04/michigan-brine-brouhaha-proposed-limits-for-unpaved-roads-prompt-dustup/
Information from the Butte des Morts Conservation Club – original post here: Butte des Morts Conservation Club Facebook
Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org
The post Terrells Island Trails to Open on May 8, 2023 appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
https://fwwa.org/2023/04/25/terrells-island-trails-2023/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=terrells-island-trails-2023
Julia Noordyk’s rain garden in Green Bay, which is planted with cup plant, Canada anenome and black-eyed Susans. Image credit: Julia Noordyk, Wisconsin Sea Grant
When my family first moved to Green Bay, we were alarmed to find water streaming down the driveway to our front door during an intense rainstorm. Rather than engineering a pipe system to divert the water around the house, we transformed a traditional flower bed into a rain garden to intercept the runoff. By digging a trench and planting native flowers like astilbe, bee balm and butterfly weed, which thrive in wet and dry soil conditions, we were able to soak up 30% more water than a regular lawn.
Although Earth Day was last week, its goal of caring for the Earth still applies and many of us are turning our attention to summer gardening. Gardening has been shown to be good for our physical and mental wellbeing. This year, why not plant a garden that will also improve your community’s health? Rain gardens, bioswales and native plants are types of green infrastructure that help soak up spring snowmelt and rain before it enters our storm drains. But green infrastructure is not just for stormwater. These practices can also alleviate flooding, provide food for birds and butterflies, improve public safety and add beauty to our urban neighborhoods.
Julia Noordyk, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s water quality and coastal communities outreach specialist. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant
Currently, 70% of Wisconsinites live in urban areas, with the majority in coastal counties along lakes Michigan or Superior. Over 1.6 million Wisconsin residents depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water, industry, commercial uses and recreation. For the majority of coastal municipalities, like Green Bay, the stormwater and sanitary sewer systems are not connected. This means the stormwater from our roofs, roads, lawns, etc., is channeled directly into our rivers and lakes untreated.
Stormwater contains a slew of pollutants including heavy metals, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, oils and other toxic materials. It is the primary source of trash to the world’s rivers, lakes and oceans. Once in our waterways, these substances are taken up by fish and birds, causing reproductive problems and death. These pollutants are ending up inside us, too, through the air, our food, water and recreational activities. Children living near parking lots coated with coal tar-based sealants have a 38% increase in lifetime risk of cancer. By choosing green infrastructure, we can protect our water resources and reduce our exposure to these harmful pollutants.
Green infrastructure is not as uncommon as you might think. HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay has implemented a number of environmental initiatives that provide economic and health benefits as part of their commitment to have “reverence for the earth.” The hospital has a 22,000 square foot living roof planted with sedums (also known as stonecrops) that thrive in our region. In addition to absorbing rainwater, the vegetation insulates the building, significantly reducing heating and cooling costs. The green roof will also last two and half times longer (50-plus years) than a traditional one. The roof is treasured as a green space for patients and staff. In addition to the colorful sedums that blanket the rooftop, benches, tables and flowerpots provide an inviting space to relax and heal. The hospital is demonstrating that investments in the environment are an important healthcare strategy.
A large bioretention basin filters stormwater pollution from facilities and a parking lot at the Sisters of St. Francis Holy Cross, Green Bay. Image credit: Julia Noordyk, Wisconsin Sea Grant
Some might argue that traditional gray infrastructure–gutters, sewer pipes and storm drains–are cheaper than green infrastructure. However, most cost analyses do not account for the full life cycle costs or the co-benefits of green infrastructure. Cheaper does not always equal better, and by only using simple cost comparisons we miss out on the additional physical and mental health benefits that green infrastructure offers. Numerous studies have shown that greener communities promote more walking, playing and socializing. Others have demonstrated that neighborhood investments in green space and aesthetics lead to higher property values and lower crime rates. The addition of urban trees reduce the scorching summer heat given off from our buildings, pavement and roads, helping prevent heat-related illnesses and premature deaths. These are lost opportunity costs and we must start incorporating all benefits in our stormwater infrastructure cost-benefit analyses.
Green infrastructure is much more than stormwater management, it is an approach to improve our quality of life. My family’s rain garden not only stopped the flooding, it is a mecca for wildlife including butterflies and hummingbirds. To our amazement, the rain garden even provides food in the depths of winter for juncos and other seed-eating birds.
So, as you look ahead to summer, please consider how you can add green infrastructure to your garden to improve the health and beauty of our community.
A similar version to this story appeared in the Green Bay Press Gazette.
The post Green Infrastructure for Community Health first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Blog | Wisconsin Sea Grant
https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/green-infrastructure-for-community-health/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=green-infrastructure-for-community-health
The U.S. Geological Survey is pleased to announce the selection of Jennifer Lacey as regional director (RD) for the Midcontinent Region, effective April 23rd.
Midcontinent Region
https://www.usgs.gov/news/employee-in-the-news/jennifer-lacey-selected-regional-director-usgs-midcontinent-region?utm_source=comms&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=news
Love staring at a map and discovering something interesting? Then “Mapping the Great Lakes” is for you. It’s a monthly Great Lakes Now feature created by Alex B. Hill, a self-described “data nerd and anthropologist” who combines cartography, data, and analytics with storytelling and human experience.
Great Lakes Now
https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/04/mapping-the-great-lakes-flood-risk/
Later this summer, Waukesha, Wisconsin, will make the switch from groundwater to Lake Michigan water. Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak reports that the pipeline connecting Waukesha to the lake is 95 percent complete. Read the full story by The Freeman.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230424-waukesha-water
Nine years after the water contamination in Flint, Michigan, devastated communities, some residents say they are still grappling with long-term health issues. ABC News has spoken with multiple mothers who claim that their children are still suffering from the effects of the water crisis nine years ago. Read the full story by ABC News.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230424-flint-aftermath
Efforts to combat erosion and storm damage in Chicago continue through the Shoreline Protection Project (SPP). A collaboration between the City of Chicago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Parks Department, the $500 million dollar plan targets 24 segments along nine miles of shoreline to replace existing infrastructure built in the early 1900s. Read the full story by WMAQ-TV – Chicago, IL.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230424-shoreline-protection
Last week’s major snowmelt in the Duluth area led to sewage overflow for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD). Typically, the plant deals with about 38 million gallons of sewage per day, but last week, water flowing in for treatment ranged from 90 million to 125 million gallons daily for several days. Read the full story by the Star Tribune.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230424-duluth-sewage-overflow
Mike Smalligan, the Forest Stewardship Coordinator for the Forest Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is putting together the Forest to MI Faucet program to use trees to help keep sources of drinking water cleaner. It builds on a federal program that educates landowners and others about the connections between forests and water. Read the full story by Michigan Radio.
Great Lakes Commission
https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230424-forest-water-connection
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