Social, racial, and economic justice are inseparable from environmental justice. We cannot achieve our vision of a Great Lakes enjoyed by all when systemic racism, both blatant and covert, is allowed to permeate our society unchecked. We are outraged by the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. We are outraged at the threats made against Christian Cooper, who was birding in Central Park in New York City. We are outraged by these patterns of violence and racism, and we stand in solidarity with the movement for black lives.

No one should have to fear for their health and safety when enjoying everything the Great Lakes have to offer – from hanging out with friends on a Chicago beach to drawing a glass of water from the tap at home to hiking a remote trail along Lake Superior. All too often, black, brown, and indigenous people cannot take these things for granted.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes, as a white-led organization, has work to do to address racial equity in our work, internally and externally. We have started this work – as individuals, as an organization, and in our communities – but we know that we have a long way to go.

To all who are protesting and those who are hurting, we hear you, we see you, and we stand with you. We are committed to fighting for social, racial and environmental justice in the communities where we live, work, and play.

###

The post “Social, racial, and economic justice are inseparable from environmental justice.” 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/2020/06/social-racial-and-economic-justice-are-inseparable-from-environmental-justice/

Jennifer Caddick

Freshwater Future mourns the death of Mr. George Floyd and all who have died due to racism in our country. We stand in solidarity with all communities of color as the forces of systemic racism have made them most vulnerable to police brutality and disproportionate impacts and harmed families suffering in silence, who would like to believe the opportunities afforded to others would be unconditionally afforded to their families and communities alike throughout the country. The scourge of racism has been plaguing our country since prior to the formation of this nation. Recognizing that it is actions, and not simply words, that will move us toward a just and equitable society, we commit to new steps within our organization to make our work more just and equitable and to ensure that work pushes for justice and equity throughout our region and the country. While we do not have all the answers of how to move forward together at this moment, we commit to listening, learning and changing in the days and years to come.

Jill M. Ryan, Executive Director, and all of the Freshwater Future Staff

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/environmental-justice/we-stand-in-solidarity/

Leslie Burk

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... At 203 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms along a line extending from 5 miles west of Crandon to near Woodlawn to near Navarino Wildlife Area to 5 miles southeast of New London. Movement was southeast at 40 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with

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=WI125F51A88000.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F51A89004WI.GRBSPSGRB.cb9db59e78751a71c5ef80b03acb2789

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

Lake Erie Wind Farm: Siting board conditions might kill project

A $126 million, 20.7-megawatt wind turbine project on Lake Erie has the go-ahead from state regulators after years of halting progress.

If construction is completed, the six-turbine Icebreaker Wind farm in Lake Erie, 8 miles northwest of Cleveland, would be the first offshore freshwater site in the U.S.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/lake-erie-wind-farm-icebreaker-board-conditions/

James Proffitt

The Ohio Power Sitting Board approved the installations of windmills in Lake Erie, however the requirement for the windmills to shut down at night for more of the year may make the project unfeasible. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200601-wind-energy

Ken Gibbons

Two of Seneca Lake’s most intense harmful algal blooms of 2019 occurred in the Watkins Glen marina, only a few hundred feet away from the end of the intake pipe that supplies the town’s drinking water. Read the full story by Finger Lakes 1.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200601-algal-bloom

Ken Gibbons

Lake Huron Shoreline mayors in Ontario, one who reopened municipal beaches Friday and one who is reluctant to, both share health concerns should the province decide to relax COVID-19 restrictions in this region before others. Read the full story by The Sun Times.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200601-shoreline-mayors

Ken Gibbons

Canadian energy company Enbridge is advocating for a new tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for its Line 5 pipeline. Venture capitalist Ian Bund writes that the company’s safety-focused rhetoric is not what it seems and a spill would be catastrophic for Michigan. Read the full story by Bloomberg Law.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200601-Threat

Ken Gibbons

Great Lakes Moment: Investing in pollution prevention and restoration pays off

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 Public Television.

A new study on cleaning up Great Lakes pollution hotspots published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research finds that investing in pollution prevention and restoration pays off in the long run.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/06/pollution-prevention-restoration-study/

John Hartig

May 29, 2020

TThis week: Floodwaters Mix with Chemicals After Dam Failures + Some Residents of Chicago May Find Relief from Lack of Running Water + Funding for Lakewalk in Duluth Approved + Wind Turbines in Lake Erie Moves Forward with Limitations + Our Own Alicia Smith Receives “Urban Waters Learning Network Award”

Floodwaters Mix with Chemicals After Dam Failures

Two dams failed in mid-Michigan after 4.7 inches fell on mid-Michigan in 48 hours after several previous days of rain. The flooding surrounded Dow Chemical, headquartered in Midland. Levees designed to protect the plant from external forces were infiltrated causing floodwaters to comingle with dangerous chemicals within the plant creating potential environmental contamination.


Some Residents of Chicago May Find Relief from Lack of Running Water

Many cities in the Great Lakes region are scrambling to reconnect their water customers with service in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.  In Chicago, residents fear having to pay past bills before they can have their water restored.  Relief may be in sight for those who qualify, as the City has announced a Utility Billing Relief Program featuring reduced rates, no late penalties or debt collection, and debt forgiveness with on-time payments for 12 months.


Funding for Lakewalk in Duluth Approved

A popular seven-mile trail that follows the Lake Superior shoreline in Duluth received funding approval from City Council to rebuild the Canal Park section.  High waters and storms damaged the trail.  Federal and state funding will cover 75% of the improvements and City funds will be used for the remainder.


Wind Turbines in Lake Erie Moves Forward with Limitations

A pilot project for six-offshore wind turbines in Lake Erie, which would be the first of its kind in North America, took one step forward.  The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation received approval from the siting board with 33 conditions including no nighttime operations from March through October to reduce impacts to bats and birds.  The energy company stated that the conditions could kill the project. Opponents are concerned that the environmental assessment did not adequately address all the potential impacts.


Our Own Alicia Smith Receives “Urban Waters Learning Network Award”

A huge congratulations to our Community and Policy Director, Alicia Smith for receiving the Urban Waters Learning Network Award, presented at the Virtual River Rally for her work with the amazing Junction Coalition in Toledo, Ohio.

Original Article

Blog – Freshwater Future

Blog – Freshwater Future

https://freshwaterfuture.org/uncategorized/freshwater-weekly-may-29-2020/

Leslie Burk

Animal Quiz: What Great Lakes aquarium animal are you in quarantine?

The animals at various aquariums are dealing with their own COVID-19 lockdown struggles as they adjust to new routines, new procedures and a distinct lack of the public, and each animal handles it a little differently.

Thanks to Great Lakes aquariums like Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing in Brockville, Ontario, and Belle Isle Conservancy in Detroit, the public can get a peek at the various things staff are doing to keep the animals happy and entertained.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/05/animal-quiz-great-lakes-aquarium-animal-covid-19-quarantine/

Natasha Blakely

Michigan City, Indiana officials said multiple circumstances factored into the decision to make Washington Park Beach a “swim-at-your-own-risk” area, issuing a news release to clear up “misunderstandings” surrounding the lack of lifeguards on the city’s shores. Read the full story by The Northwest Indiana Times.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-lifeguards

Patrick Canniff

With record high Lake Michigan levels, in the Town of Clay Banks, in Door County, Wisconsin, some areas are seeing erosion among other damages and local leaders are asking the state to help with repair. Read the full story by WLUK-TV – Green Bay, WI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-erosion-michigan

Patrick Canniff

Victory, which typically sails two ships in the Great Lakes during a six-month season, was scheduled to resume its itineraries in early July. Instead, the company announced this week that it wouldn’t sail this summer at all. Read the full story by Cleveland.com.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-cruise-greatlakes

Patrick Canniff

Scientists at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory advanced autonomous sensing with the rollout of the Real-Time Coastal Observation Network (ReCON) in 2005, and in response to the 2014 Toledo, OH algal-bloom caused water crisis additional sensors have been deployed throughout the Great Lakes system provide real-time data about episodic events such as incursions of low-oxygen water into municipal water intakes. Read the full story by The Conversation.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-smart-lakes

Patrick Canniff

Scientists with the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan, used advanced techniques to map underwater environments that helped scientists identify the depressions as sinkholes; continuing studies are occurring to explore the diverse microbial communities and other unique properties of these formations. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-huron-sinkholes

Patrick Canniff

With record-breaking water levels for Lake Michigan and Huron being reported at 13.4 inches higher than last spring’s water level and nearly three inches higher than a record set in 1986, Escanaba and Gladstone, Michigan officials share how the situation has affected their communities. Read the full story by Daily Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-ontario-plastic

Patrick Canniff

Earlier this year, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Adaptive Management Committee received a combined $3 million from the Canadian and U.S. governments to conduct an expedited review of the water management policy enforced by the International Joint Commission. Read the full story by NNY360.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200529-IJC-review

Patrick Canniff

The H2Ohio initiative includes projects within the Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio EPA, as well as efforts by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources focusing on wetlands; these projects help expand the permanent natural water-quality infrastructure to address nutrient pollution issues. Read the full story by Farm Progress.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-h2oh-wetlands

Patrick Canniff

Great Lakes Learning: Which is the best of the 5 Great Lakes?

As the author of Great Lakes Now’s Collection of Lesson Plans, educational consultant Gary Abud Jr. is now providing more support for parents, teachers and caregivers who want to incorporate Great Lakes learning into their time with children and students. His series of writings can be found HERE along with the lesson plans and a Virtual Field Trip.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/05/great-lakes-learning-best-of-the-5/

Gary Abud Jr.

As participants in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program know, it’s never too soon to gain exposure to the kind of research that goes on at a large university.

The URS program is designed as a two-semester course aimed at first- and second-year students. Participants take a weekly seminar and are paired with a research mentor who guides them as they conduct an original research project. Near the conclusion of the academic year, students present their research at a symposium.

While the COVID-19 pandemic meant that students finished out this spring semester at their permanent homes rather than on campus—and that the typical in-person symposium was replaced by virtual presentations—it still proved to be a valuable experience for two students mentored by Wisconsin Sea Grant Assistant Director for Extension David Hart.

Rykia Amos of Washington, D.C., and Celeste Gunderson of Milwaukee each zeroed in on challenging topics. We checked in with both to hear about their experiences.

Rykia Amos

Topic: A process to prioritize where to plant trees to decrease future stream temperatures to protect brook trout in the Black Earth Creek watershed

Rykia Amos (Submitted photo)

A wildlife ecology major, Amos went into her trout project as someone more focused on mammals. Yet, she said, “I realized I was a lot more interested in looking at fish than I expected.”

Trout fishing is a popular activity that also carries significant economic value in Wisconsin. Yet climate change projections and warming streams are worrisome. Said Amos, “They’re (brook trout) a very vulnerable species because most of them currently live in cold-water conditions.”

If the climate continues to warm as current scientific projections say, what will that mean for fish like the brook trout and brown trout?

Amos focused on the role played by tree cover and whether that can help mitigate warming temperatures in certain stream segments, to the benefit of the fish. “Data shows that tree planting is a cost-efficient and effective way to help temperatures decrease,” said Amos.

She used data from a U.S. Geological Survey program called FishVis to populate a spreadsheet of stream segments in the Black Earth Creek watershed, located west of Madison. She looked at both present conditions and projected conditions for the period 2046-2065.

Important variables that she considered were where the stream was projected to change from a colder to warmer temperature regime and where brook trout populations were being replaced by brown trout, which can tolerate warmer temperatures. She concluded by assessing the existing tree canopy and developing a formula to prioritize the variables.

At semester’s end, Amos presented her research first to Hart and Sea Grant Fisheries Specialist Titus Seilheimer. She then gave a separate presentation to Matt Mitro, a research scientist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Mitro had given input earlier in the semester, suggesting to Amos that she compare brook and brown trout.

Even though she’d prefer to focus on hands-on fieldwork in the future, Amos said, the computer modeling she undertook for her research gave her a window into a real-life challenge posed by climate change in our region. This work has relevance for the protection of ecosystems as well as the recreational fishing that many Wisconsinites love.

Said Hart, “I think there’s a lot of promise for this prioritization of the areas where you could plant tree cover and it would make a difference to decrease stream temperatures. As far as methods went, it was a great proof of concept.”

Going forward, this work could be expanded upon by adding more variables to the modeling, such as land ownership (which could impact the feasibility of tree planting). Hart has begun to look into a tool for constructing 3D tree canopy models from LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data and thinking about how that could come into play. “I wouldn’t have thought of this if I hadn’t worked with Rykia on this project,” he said.

Celeste Gunderson

Topic: Geodesign to guide green infrastructure practices for stormwater management in a changing climate

Celeste Gunderson (Submitted photo)

Gunderson, a resident of Milwaukee’s east side, examined an issue that is literally close to home for her: the impacts of climate change on residents of Great Lakes communities, and how increased precipitation events and severe weather affect lives and property.

It’s an issue her family faced in 2008, when Milwaukee endured widespread flooding caused by heavy precipitation. “It had a lot of effects on the foundation of our house,” said Gunderson, “and we had to get construction done… We’ve already felt the effects of increased precipitation and severe weather events.”

Gunderson is double majoring in environmental studies and people-environment geography. She explored mitigation strategies using a tool called GeoPlanner for ArcGIS, a geographic information systems product that allows users to create and analyze various planning scenarios.

With guidance from Hart and graduate project assistant Kayla Wandsnider, said Gunderson, “We looked at how geodesign—which is a process using GIS technology to look at different planning scenarios—could be used to then guide green infrastructure practices for stormwater management” in the part of the UW-Madison campus that drains to Willow Creek, specifically with an increase in precipitation.

She gave her stakeholder presentation to UW-Madison’s Rhonda James, a senior landscape architect, and Aaron Williams, an assistant planner and zoning coordinator. Both are with the campus Division of Facilities Planning and Management.

Gunderson will continue working on this topic over the summer as a Wisconsin Sea Grant intern.

Said Hart, “Celeste will be a real help. She made a great connection with Kayla, and together they will be able to bounce ideas off of each other and it will also magnify Kayla’s work” as a graduate student with a double focus on urban and regional planning and water resources management. “I think that the methods developed out of this [project] will be really useful for coastal communities.”

Continuing to focus on this area will also be gratifying for the Milwaukeean. Concluded Gunderson, “Sometimes you learn the science behind climate change, and this project explores the direct impacts and ways we’re going to have to adapt in the future… It felt very relevant and important, and that made it a very fulfilling experience.”

Original Article

News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases – Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/undergraduate-research-scholars-tackle-issues-relevant-to-great-lakes-communities/

Jennifer Smith

Rescuing History: Museum experts across Michigan race to save the Midland archive

For three long days, Terri Trotter – president and CEO of the Midland Center for the Arts – waited anxiously for floodwaters to recede far enough that a team of experts could assess the damages at Heritage Park and the Doan Center in downtown Midland, Michigan.

The Midland County Historical Society Doan Center located in Heritage Park houses a research library and archive comprised of thousands of historical documents and photographs, Trotter said.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/05/rescuing-history-museum-michigan-midland-flooding/

Kathy Johnson

Great Lakes Energy News Roundup: Ohio wind power in Lake Erie, solar projects stall in Illinois, major Wisconsin coal plant to close

Keep up with energy-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.

In this edition: Wind farm project in Lake Erie approved by regulators with potentially major handicap, Minnesota legislature approves first-of-its-kind renewable energy project for Prairie Island Indian Community, COVID-19 choking solar power projects in Illinois, and Wisconsin’s Alliant Energy to close 400MW coal plant.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/05/great-lakes-energy-news-ohio-wisconsin-minnesota-illinois/

Ian Wendrow

The National Weather Service in Green Bay has extended the * Flood Advisory for... Calumet County in east central Wisconsin... Winnebago County in east central Wisconsin... Brown County in northeastern Wisconsin... Outagamie County in northeastern Wisconsin...

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=WI125F4D4EABC4.FloodAdvisory.125F4D4F0F60WI.GRBFLSGRB.0d55bf2071e410b4abc885766639b5d6

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

...FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR CALUMET, WINNEBAGO, BROWN AND OUTAGAMIE COUNTIES... At 108 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated the heavy rain tapering off across the area, however light to moderate rain will continue through the early afternoon hours. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area, including street

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=WI125F4D4E7640.FloodAdvisory.125F4D4EC140WI.GRBFLSGRB.0d55bf2071e410b4abc885766639b5d6

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

The National Weather Service in Green Bay has issued a * Flood Advisory for... Calumet County in east central Wisconsin... Winnebago County in east central Wisconsin... Brown County in northeastern Wisconsin... Outagamie County in northeastern Wisconsin...

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=WI125F4D4E2D98.FloodAdvisory.125F4D4EA00CWI.GRBFLSGRB.0d55bf2071e410b4abc885766639b5d6

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

We’re excited to share our new Adopt-a-Beach website with you! Visit www.greatlakesadopt.org to check it out.

The new website will make hosting Adopt-a-Beach events much easier. It also makes it super easy for volunteers to find and sign up to attend your cleanups. To help you get acquainted with the new site, we’ve created a list of Frequently Asked Questions and several short video tutorials.

Hosting an Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup in this Unusual Time

The Adopt-a-Beach website is currently open to host cleanups in your area. Team Leaders and volunteers must follow federal, state, and local coronavirus-related guidelines and should use their best judgment when planning and attending cleanup events. For now, we encourage Team Leaders to limit group size or hold a solo cleanup on your own or with your immediate household members.

Please take a few minutes to review our list of safety-related best practices for Adopt-a-Beach Team Leaders. The list includes general Adopt-a-Beach safety information along with specific information on COVID-19 safety and high water levels. We are closely monitoring developments around the Great Lakes region and will share any updates or changes with you.

Time to Start Thinking About September Adopt-a-Beach

We are hopeful that we will be able to hold the annual September Adopt-a-Beach event, scheduled for Saturday, September 26th. (It’s being held a bit later this year due to the Rosh Hashanah holiday.) We encourage you to test out the new website by creating your September Adopt-a-Beach event. The new site makes it easy to send updates to volunteers if anything changes over the coming months.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by emailing adoptabeach@greatlakes.org if you have any questions in the coming weeks. We’re so grateful for your commitment to the Great Lakes – thank you!

The post New Adopt-a-Beach Website Is Live! 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/2020/05/new-adopt-a-beach-website-is-live/

Judy Freed

...HEAVY RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE FOX VALLEY... At 1025 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a large area of heavy rain, with embedded isolated thunderstorms, moving east across the Fox Valley. Very heavy rain, with rainfall rates of over an inch, is expected at times through the noon hour. An inch or two of rain is expected,

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=WI125F4D4E0AD4.SpecialWeatherStatement.125F4D4E4C10WI.GRBSPSGRB.5b80d3ef83982edbe00df1c0579118db

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

Anne Moser, senior special librarian and education coordinator at Wisconsin Sea Grant, recently penned this story for the spring 2020 issue of the International Association of Great Lakes Research’s newsletter, “Lakes Letter.” Here’s a reprint for your enjoyment.

While the idea of scientists and art­ists collaborating may sound like a 21st century concept, the history of these disparate disciplines working in tandem dates back thousands of years. Scientists have long used art to document and illustrate, while artists have sought out science as inspiration. We see it in the prehistoric art in the caves of southern France, the hu­man anatomy drawings of the master Leonardo da Vinci, and the exquisite masterpieces by John Audubon. The link continues today, as scientists and artists connect deeply to mutually inform their work. Artists are studying scientific findings to accurately com­municate their concerns and inspira­tions, while scientists are searching for ways to better translate their research through art to engage a broader public in their findings.

Recent education and outreach projects at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute (WSG) have taken this interdisciplinary approach by combining art and science to com­municate Great Lakes research. We have taken inspiration from our work with children, who dive into scientific learning with an open mind, interdis­ciplinary nature and artistic flair.

Anne Moser. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

The three projects featured here highlight opportunities where unique partner­ships were forged and surprising com­mon ground found between artists and scientists. Each exemplifies the cross­ing of disciplinary boundaries, with the goal of a more science-informed society, regardless of age, socioeco­nomic status or education.

We welcome collaborations from across the Great Lakes water­shed. Please contact the author at akmoser@aqua.wisc.edu.

The Poly Pledge

In 2016, J. Leigh Garcia, at the time a student in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master of Fine Arts program, approached the Wisconsin Water Library looking for information about plastic pollution and fish consumption. Although she was originally concerned about the impact plastic might have on her health, her library reference question eventually led to a public art installation on the UW-Madison campus.

Leigh and a collaborator, Pete Bouchard, created a human-powered vending machine that dispensed reusable screen-printed shopping bags in exchange for pledges not to use plastic bags for one month.

About 130 people took the pledge. WSG then held a symposium that featured Garcia and Bouchard talking about their artistic approach and the goals of their public performance. This artists’ talk was paired with a science presentation by Loyola University Chicago Associate Professor Timothy Hoellein, who gave an overview of his research on the sources and impacts of anthropogenic litter (trash) around Chicago.

Ancient Survivors

Inspired to generate dialogue and dis­cussion between art and science, two professors at the University of Minnesota Duluth curated almost 50 black and white images of lake sturgeon to help tell the story of the Great Lakes.

These artistic interpretations formed the basis of several outreach programs, including a collaboration with the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac, Wis­consin. During early 2019, the THELMA mounted an exhibition in conjunction with the winter sturgeon-spearing season on Lake Winnebago.

The exhibition included the artwork as well as artifacts and historical objects never previously collected in one place. Over 10,000 people learned the conser­vation story of an ancient fish brought back from the brink of extinction through newspapers, decoys and spears, audio recordings, scientific papers, sculpture, and drawings.

Under the Surface

At Northwest Passage in northwest Wisconsin, youth in mental health treatment have the op­portunity to go under the surface as part of an innovative curriculum that blends art, science and therapeutic healing using underwater pho­tography.

This WSG-funded project has resulted in a photography exhibition that has traveled to libraries, visitor centers and other public spaces around Wisconsin, showing the power of water to heal and restore. As one visitor to a show noted, “This exhibit took my breath away. I am blown away by how these kids have overcome pain and hardship and channeled emotions and experiences into creating great art.”

An image from the “Under the Surface” project, courtesy of Northwest Passage.

Original Article

Blog – Wisconsin Sea Grant

Blog – Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/blog/crossing-borders-art-science-and-the-great-lakes/

Anne Moser

Michigan will test soil sediments along the Tittabawassee River on Thursday following Midland County’s 500-year flood that some fear could have destroyed the work to remove toxic dioxins at a Superfund site there. Read the full story by The Detroit News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-superfund

Margo Davis

Michigan officials last year — too quietly, some contend — expanded hunting and fishing restrictions near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda after scientific studies showed excessive levels of PFAS in virtually every living creature tested from the area. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-pfas

Margo Davis

The historic St. Helena Island Light Station in Northern Michigan, just west of the Mackinac Bridge, will receive repairs and restoration from the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association with the help of a $60,000 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-lighthouse

Margo Davis

A coalition of government entities and advocates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is launching an ambitious project to remove contaminated sediment and then restore habitat, improve public access, and spur commercial and residential development. Read the full story by Milwaukee Magazine.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-swimmable

Margo Davis

Hopes for the future of renewable energy in Ohio have taken yet another hit, thanks to a decision by the Ohio Power Siting Board, which granted approval for a demonstration wind project in Lake Erie but imposed a condition that renders the project all but impossible. Read the full story by The Columbus Dispatch.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20200528-energy

Margo Davis