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In: Daily News

For decades, scientists have been drawn like magnets to a cluster of remote islands thirty-some miles out into northern Lake Michigan, halfway between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. The islands in the Beaver Island archipelago are a hub for scientific research about Great Lakes water quality, microplastics pollution, wetlands monitoring, and more. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230814-wetlands-waterquality-beaverisland

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Uncategorized

Algae is part of our life and the life of our waters. In general, algae are not harmful and are an important link in the food web. However, not all algae is helpful. When blooms become very large (then die and take up oxygen, resulting in low oxygen concentrations) or when they produce toxins, they are considered harmful. Harmful algae can be problematic for aquatic life, pets, and even people.

Harmful Algal Blooms are the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria that can cause harm to people, animals, or the local ecology (source: CDC https://www.cdc.gov/habs/index.html)

In Wisconsin, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are usually rapidly reproducing populations of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that make people and pets ill.

Not all cyanobacteria produce toxins, and those that produce toxins do not produce them all the time. The term harmful algal bloom may also refer to blooms like red tides or large, non-toxic blooms that die and consume oxygen, resulting in “dead” zones.

WHEN IN DOUBT, BEST KEEP OUT. You can’t tell by sight alone. Toxins can persist in the water even after the bloom has visibly cleared up.

This document from WI Department of Health Services gives guidance for how to identify whether algae is harmful or not.

Cyanobacteria are naturally part of the ecosystems of our lakes, rivers, streams, and other water bodies. Though it is likely made worse by human pollution, blue-green algae is not initiated by human action. Cyanobacteria is native to our region, and is not considered an invasive species.

Cyanobacteria are true bacteria, but they function more like algae in aquatic ecosystems. Just like tomatoes are technically fruit, but you would never put it in a fruit salad, cyanobacteria are categorized will algae rather than bacteria. This is why we call it blue-green algae.

Contrary to popular belief, it is difficult to predict when and where blooms will emerge. Scientists are actively researching this field to improve forecasting.

We do know that certain factors increase the likelihood of a HAB developing. These include: warm temperatures, overabundance of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, and light availability. Calm weather tends to encourage HAB growth, but wind can then blow the bloom around from one location to another.

In Wisconsin, they occur primarily mid-June to mid-September, when the weather is warm. But HABs can happen throughout the year – even under the ice!

Cyanobacteria is complex. There are multiple sub-species, and not all of them produce toxin. The ones that can be toxic are not always toxic. Harmful algae looks similar to helpful algae, and cyanobacteria is naturally occurring in our region. These factors make it impossible to eliminate cyanobacteria from our waters.

 

Though we can’t remove all cyanobacteria from surface waters, there are steps we can take to address harmful algal blooms. This includes:

  • using only phosphorus free fertilizer
  • installing native plant rain gardens or shoreline plantings
  • using soil health practices
  • encouraging native aquatic plant growth

We are also working with a research team on the UW-Oshkosh Winnebago Pool Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms Project, which seeks to better understand HABs in the Pool lakes from many different angles.

Click here to learn about the projects Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and our partners are implementing to address phosphorus in our waterways.

There is not yet a way to accurately forecast for HABs nor a ‘current conditions’ website or application. Please note that bloom conditions can change very rapidly, so “When in doubt, best keep out!”

Scientists are actively collecting data so we can measure how frequently HABs occur. The number of blooms varies from year to year, based on environmental conditions.

We know that blooms in surface waters of northeast Wisconsin were recorded at least from the early 1900s. We also know that Wisconsin’s climate is becoming warmer and wetter. More precipitation can bring in excess nutrients, and the warmer weather has extended the growing season. These factors may contribute to more frequent and intense algal blooms, but research is ongoing.

Follow common sense measures for safe water recreation practices. If you can’t see your feet in knee-deep water, if water has an opaque, pea soup-like appearance, or if surface scums or foams are present:

  • Avoid swimming in these conditions, there is a high risk of illness from swallowing or inhaling blue-green algae.
  • Keep children and pets out of the water.
  • Avoid boating, water skiing, or jet skiing through waters impacted by blue-green algae to avoid inhalation of water droplets.
  • Shower after swimming in any body of water.
  • Wash pets off before they can lick off algae.
  • Talk with your neighbors to make sure they are aware of blue-green algae dangers.
  • Remember, when in doubt, best keep out!

  • Accidentally drinking water with a HAB present (children especially may accidentally swallow water while swimming)
  • Drinking untreated water
  • Being in the water with a harmful algal blooms
  • Inhaling spray from water-related activities such as jet skiing or boating
  • Inhaling spray when watering lawns with pond or lake water
  • Some cyanobacteria toxins can accumulate in fish tissues. The World Health Organizations advises that fish taken from water with a HAB should be eaten only in moderation. Avoid eating the guts of these fish, and take care to not cut into organs when filleting the fish.

Please report blue-green algae blooms to DNRHABS@wisconsin.gov. Please include the location of the bloom, the name of the water body, nearest town, county, the size and duration of the bloom, and overall and close-up photographs for verification. The DNR is unable to test all reported blooms.

Please report illness related to HABs to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services by calling 608-266-1120 or filling out this online survey: Click here for survey.

You can also let Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance know by emailing pictures and location information to info@fwwa.org. We appreciate the information and may include it in our outreach efforts and we can pass it along to our research partners. All information helps!

Symptoms may include:

  • Headache
  • Ear, nose, and/or throat irritation
  • Skin irritation or rash
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Cardiac or respiratory failure (rare)
  • Liver enlargement or failure (rare)

Info from Wisconsin Department of Health Services

If you suspect you’re experiencing symptoms from exposure to HABs, contact your doctor or the Poison Information Hotline at 800-222-1222 right away. Be sure to rinse off immediately after coming in contact with suspected HABs.

Animals should be rinsed immediately, monitored for signs of illness, and seek medical attention with your veterinarian if you think your pet is sick due to HAB exposure.

No, boiling water does not remove blue-green algal toxins.

The post Harmful Algae Blooms, FAQ appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/14/harmful-algae-blooms-faq/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=harmful-algae-blooms-faq

Sharon Cook

On:
In: Daily News

Swimmers and some boaters are being warned to stay out of parts of Lake Erie on Monday. A Beach Hazard Statement has been issued for swimmers in Erie, Lucas, and Ottawa Counties beginning in the afternoon on Monday, August 14. The warning then goes into effect for Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Lorain Counties later in the evening. According to the alert, wind and wave action could make for a high risk of rip currents. Read the full story by WJW-TV – Cleveland, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230814-lakeerie-weatheralert

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

An opportunity to learn about shipwrecks and underwater photography is coming up on Thursday at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. As part of the Sanctuary Lecture Series, renowned underwater photographer and author Chris Roxburgh will host a free presentation, Exploring Shipwrecks of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Read the full story by The Alpena News.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230814-shipwrecks-thunderbay-explore

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Daily News

Did you hear about the Michigan man who crossed Lake Michigan in a bathtub (sitting backwards, no less) because of a $5 bet? Well, the 54-year anniversary of his voyage was this week. Read the full story by WDIV-TV – Detroit, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230814-lakemi-crossedlake-bathtub

Hannah Reynolds

On:
In: Alex Faber, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Birchline Planning, city of Ashland, Juli Beth Hinds, Linda Reid, Natalie Chin, Philomena Kebec, Sara Hudson, Superior Rivers Watershed Association, Water 365, what does housing have to do with green infrastructure webinar

A report published recently by Wisconsin Sea Grant cites a lack of housing as a major barrier to development of nature-based jobs in Wisconsin’s northern tier. This includes Douglas, Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties.

Lind Reid, owner and principal consultant with Water 365 LLC. Submitted photo.

“I like to think of this as our Forest Gump project because, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’ll get,’” said Linda Reid, owner and principal consultant with Water 365 LLC, which prepared the report along with Birchline Planning LLC. “Housing supply, housing availability, housing quality and housing costs all rose to the top as key issues for nature-based solutions and green infrastructure implementation challenges. That wasn’t something that was planned.”

The report, titled, “Workforce Needs for Nature-Based Solutions in Wisconsin’s Northern Tier,” is available for free download. The report’s findings were discussed last month during a webinar, “What Does Housing Have to do With Green Infrastructure? Workforce Needs in Northern Wisconsin.”

Reid described the topics they focused on during their interviews with people across the northern region. “We were looking at wetland restoration, urban and rural stream restoration, floodplain restoration, coastal restoration, landscape area restoration, and maintenance and culvert replacement as some of the key topics,” she said.

Three of the people interviewed for the report participated in the webinar. These included Alex Faber, executive director, Superior Rivers Watershed Association; Sara Hudson, director, city of Ashland Parks and Recreation; and Philomena Kebec, economic development coordinator, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Hudson concurred with the report’s findings about housing. “We definitely have a housing shortage here in Ashland. The houses that are on the market need a lot of work and so most people can’t afford to buy a house in order to fix it up to where you’d want to live there,” she said.

Juli Beth Hinds, principal at Birchline Planning LLC. Submitted photo

Juli Beth Hinds, another report author and principal at Birchline Planning, added, “It’s not economical to renovate properties that are in pretty poor condition because the market for resale just isn’t high enough yet. In other words, one of the flipping shows from HGTV is not coming soon to Washburn or Ashland. Those economics aren’t working and they’re working against the region.”

Hinds also said short-term summer rentals take many homes off the market due to the area’s tourism economy.

In addition to the housing issue, the report found strong capacity, interest and strengths in the region that support use of nature-based solutions.

“Overall, the region’s public, private, educational and nonprofit leaders have an exceptional understanding of nature-based solutions and green infrastructure practices,” said Natalie Chin, Wisconsin Sea Grant’s climate and tourism outreach specialist who commissioned the report. “However, the region is held back by the sheer lack of people available to carry out this work. Also, communities need more capacity when it comes to project management. Writing grants and executing them is a full-time job just by itself for these types of projects.”

Providing employment programs for people emerging from incarceration and addiction was cited as one possible solution to green infrastructure project employment needs during the webinar.

The nature-based jobs webinar panelists. Image credit: Wisconsin Sea Grant

“There is a lack of medication-assisted treatment here. There’s a lack of support services for reintegration. That could also be a big piece in building up capacity to do nature-based solutions and build more community resilience,” Hinds said.

Kebec said the Bad River Tribe is also focused on supportive employment opportunities for people battling addiction.

Hinds concluded, “We need the environmental community’s voice in the dialogue around housing supply, around the problems of Wisconsin municipal levy limits, around addiction and incarceration and around community vitality. Often, these aren’t seen as environmental resilience issues, but they absolutely are.”

As next steps, this report recommends that Wisconsin Sea Grant and its regional partners consider options to build grant and project management capacity, address the regional housing shortage, work toward legislative reform and facilitate training that will support specific needs in the northern tier around nature-based solutions. Case studies of efforts in other rural regions are provided to illustrate successful strategies from other areas.

For more information, watch a video of the webinar on YouTube.

The post Lack of housing looms large as barrier to nature-based jobs in northern Wisconsin first appeared on Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/lack-of-housing-looms-large-as-barrier-to-nature-based-jobs-in-northern-wisconsin/

Marie Zhuikov

On:
In: Uncategorized
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 630 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 1 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN WISCONSIN THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL WISCONSIN CALUMET MANITOWOC IN NORTHEAST 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=WI12665A5D3ACC.SevereThunderstormWatch.12665A5DC960WI.GRBWCNGRB.62f24bbfaaa98f0b6b0a415d992c3a6f

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

On:
In: Uncategorized
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 630 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS WI . WISCONSIN COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BROWN CALUMET COLUMBIA DANE DODGE FOND DU LAC

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=WI12665A5CE090.SevereThunderstormWatch.12665A5DC960WI.WNSWOU0.5eed48b9e51e124d9dc8df40b1f7bfb3

w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov

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In: Daily News

Toledo-Lucas County, Ohio, Health Department officials announced Wednesday that the public should avoid all contact with water at Maumee Bay State Park due to cyanotoxin levels caused by the Lake Erie Algal Bloom. The public is not permitted to swim at Lake Erie Beach at the park and pets should be kept away from the water. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-algal-bloom

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The latest twice-a-year check of Flint’s water pipes by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) shows lead levels in its water dropped slightly during the first six months of this year, which follows a steady pattern of improvement. Flint is close to reaching a goal of replacing all lead service lines, as 95% of Flint residences have had their lead lines replaced. Read the full story by WKAR – East Lansing, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-lead-levels

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Thursday that original estimates of the amount of diesel fuel that spilled into Lake Michigan from the damaged Manitowoc were too high. The cause of the hull breach that led to the spill and the exact amount of spillage continues to be investigated. Read the full story by the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-spill-investigation

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The Great Lakes region is getting about $2.8 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal management. The money can be used to assess a community’s vulnerabilities, buy land to be a coastal buffer, and preserve or restore wetlands. Read the full story by WUOM – Ann Arbor, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-resiliency-funding

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

All of the Great Lakes’ water levels are higher than their long-term average, but the forecast shows the lakes are getting ready to start lowering as we head into fall, fitting into the annual cycle of rising and falling water levels. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-water-levels

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

In Saginaw Bay, Michigan, the Saginaw Bay Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is conducting an ongoing project to restore habitats that have been degraded by phragmites, an invasive species from Europe. It grows along shores and in places where water gathers or the ground is wet and can cause problems for native animals, other plants, and people. Read the full story by the Huron Daily Tribune.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-phragmites-project

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Lake Superior is historically home to some of the largest shipping enterprises North America has ever seen. Michael Schumacher’s new book, “Too Much Sea For Their Decks,” is full of short sea-stories and shipwrecks along Minnesota’s North Shore and Island Royale. Read and listen to the full story by Minnesota Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-shipwreck-book

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

Scientists with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa have, for 20 years, been traveling to the uninhabited High Island in northern Lake Michigan to monitor endangered piping plovers as they nest and fledge their chicks. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230811-plover-monitoring

James Polidori

On:
In: addiction, Feature Homepage, History and Culture, Latest News, Michigan, News, Petoskey Stone, points north, Science, Technology, Research
Points North: Rock Rehab

Points North is a biweekly podcast hosted by Daniel Wanschura and Morgan Springer about the land, water and inhabitants of the Upper Great Lakes.

This episode was shared here with permission from Interlochen Public Radio. 

Joyce Fetrow has hobbies to enjoy year-round.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/points-north-rock-rehab/

Interlochen Public Radio

On:
In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Chicago, Collaboration, Illinois, Latest News, Michigan, News, Ontario, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, watersheds, Wisconsin
FRESH: As Chicago Broils, Citizens and Scientists Study ‘Heat Island’ Effect

August 8, 2023

Fresh is a biweekly newsletter from Circle of Blue that unpacks the biggest international, state, and local policy news stories facing the Great Lakes region today. Sign up for Fresh: A Great Lakes Policy Briefing, straight to your inbox, every other Tuesday.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/fresh-chicago-broils-citizens-scientists-study-heat-island-effect/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: Butte des Morts, columbia park, cost share, county, demo site, diversions, fish sticks, Fond du Lac County, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, FWWA, grant, habitat, Healthy Lakes, katie reed, korin doering, Lake Management, lakes, lakeshore, lwcd, native plantings, Poygan, rain gardens, restoration, shoreland, shoreline, Watershed Project, WI DNR, Winnebago, Winnebago Waterways, Winneconne, Wisconsin, Wolf River

Visitors to Marble Park in Winneconne, Winnebago County can soon stop by three native plant beds to enjoy beautiful native plants! Installation is scheduled to start on August 22, 2023. We anticipate needing volunteers to help the remainder of the week (Aug 22-23). If you are interested in volunteering to help install and plant these beds, please fill out the following form and select “Shoreline Planting/Work Crew”. We look forward to seeing you at the park!

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance partnered with the Village of Winneconne to install the native plant beds. The goal of this project is to increase the adoption and installation of native shoreline plantings around the Winnebago System. We are excited to see the project come together and watch the plants grow!

Shoreline property owners are eligible to receive reimbursement of up to $1000 to install this type of best management practice through a Wisconsin DNR Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant by partnering with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Come check out what this shoreline best management practice looks like, what the requirements are for the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Grant, and what shoreline property owners can expect from the process of planning, installing, and maintaining the native plant beds.

Under a Healthy Lakes and Rivers grant, native plantings must:

  • Total 350 contiguous square feet,
  • Be at least 10 feet wide in any direction,
  • Be adjacent to the shore,
  • Follow the Healthy Lakes requirement for number of native plants and species.

A Healthy Lakes native planting project can augment an existing area of shoreline vegetation under certain circumstances.

The demonstration site at Marble Park will meet all of these requirements, and is intended to give shoreline property owners a good idea of what to expect from their native plantings, while also educating visitors about how native plantings can improve wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and decrease runoff into the Wolf River.

The Demonstration Site will showcase three different plant lists: a low-growing bed showcasing species that grow <5 ft tall, a shoreline edge bed with species that thrive close to the water and a pollinator bed which will showcase species specifically intended to attract pollinators.

If you have any questions or are interested in installing a Healthy Lakes native plant bed on your shoreline property, please contact Katie Reed at katherine@fwwa.org or 920-851-6472.

Funding for this project was provided by the Winnebago Waterways Program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the WI Department of Natural Resources. Project partners include the Winnebago Waterways Program at Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and the Village of Winneconne.

Winnebago Waterways is a Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance recovery initiative. Contact us at wwinfo@fwwa.org

The post Volunteers Needed! Shoreline Buffer Demonstration Site Set To Be Installed at Marble Park, Winneconne appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/09/marble-park-demo-site/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marble-park-demo-site

Katie Reed

On:
In: Authors, Books, Authors, Art and Music, Detroit, detroit river, documentary film, environment, Feature Homepage, Gary Wilson, History and Culture, Latest News, Michigan, News
Filmmaker looks at Detroit through the lens of water, life events and justice

Making a film about water came naturally for award-winning documentary filmmaker dream hampton, though water and the environment has not traditionally been her emphasis.

hampton made Freshwater after coming off a hectic schedule in 2018 and 2019 during which she made three films. It was, she decided, a time to shift her focus, a time to be still and reflect.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/filmmaker-looks-detroit-through-lens-water-life-events-justice/

Gary Wilson

On:
In: Daily News

In June, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers promoted what the agency hopes will be a new strategy to control European frog-bit, an invasive aquatic plant. The agency offered researchers a $200,000 grant to develop a biological control for European frog-bit and its relative, water soldier. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230809-frogbit

Jill Estrada

On:
In: biological control, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, invasive species, Latest News, Michigan, News, Research, Research, Data and Technology, Science, Technology, Research
Control for Frog-bit and Water Soldiers

By Vladislava Sukhanovskaya, Circle of Blue

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.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/control-frog-bit-water-soldiers/

Circle of Blue

On:
In: Uncategorized

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is excited to host a Field Day event with Outagamie County at the Soil Health Education & Demo (SHED) Facility in the Town of Oneida. Farmers are invited to come learn about the equipment they can use to improve the soil health of their farms. Please direct any questions to Katie Woodrow, Lower Fox River Program Director: katie@fwwa.org, 920-915-5767.

The post Field Day at the SHED Facility appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/09/field-day-at-the-shed-facility/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=field-day-at-the-shed-facility

Sharon Cook

On:
In: Daily News

Saginaw Bay Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), in partnership with Arenac Conservation District, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan Technological University, and US Fish and Wildlife Service are conducting an ongoing project along the Saginaw Bay shoreline. Read the full story by WEYI -TV – Saginaw, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230809-saginaw-bay

Jill Estrada

On:
In: Daily News

The just-released results of a joint United States and Canadian research study shows that the Port of Oswego Authority in Oswego, New York, made a $513 million impact on the local and regional economy and supported 2,229 jobs by its maritime activity. Read the full story by Oswego County Today.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230809-port-economics

Jill Estrada

On:
In: Donation Story, Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Imagine having to bring your own water to the beach.

Kevin Fermanich doesn’t have to imagine this, because he’s already seen it. He was at a state park one day when there was algae blooming along the beach. He didn’t know if it was toxic or not, but it was certainly a nuisance. He didn’t want to have his kids swimming in the water.

Then he noticed another family show up. A woman went back and forth several times from her car to the beach, carrying jugs of water.

“She carried several gallons of water from her car to the beach for her kids to play with,” Kevin said. “Along a Great Lakes beach. She had to bring her own water to the beach, just to build sand castles.”

Kevin Fermanich, retired environmental scientist

For some people, that would be the story that motivated them to engage with conservation for the first time. But for Kevin, this was not his first brush with polluted water.

“We live ¼ mile from the East River [in Green Bay],” he said, “but that’s not a place we’d go paddling. It’s chocolate-colored at times and has significant algae. It impacts our choices about where to be.”

Before he retired and became a kayaker, Kevin worked for UW-Green Bay researching soil and water quality. He discovered that Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance had connections to funding sources and centralized much of the conservation work across a variety of other companies and organizations.

“I’ve stayed with Fox-Wolf for so long because I am impressed with Fox-Wolf and what you have been doing. Working with Katie and the integrated water plan was important. Yours is as good of a partnership as any in the Great Lakes region.”

Kevin may have been an environmental scientist, connecting academics with water quality, but he also understands the importance of water from a personal perspective. He owns the farmland where he grew up. When he saw erosion damaging the land and carrying away valuable topsoil, he worked with his tenant farmer to put in contour strips.

That’s where Kevin sees the full complexity of our watershed. “What’s happening on my farm in the upper watershed is connected to what’s happening between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. I work at the scale of what’s happening in the soil… it impacts the rivers, all the way out to the Bay, to Lake Michigan, to the Atlantic Ocean. There’s a microscopic connection from my soil to the Great Lakes.”

Kevin takes his stewardship of the land seriously. He hopes to start additional conservation practices on his farm. But these things don’t happen overnight. “We need to change momentum and habits, and bring farmers along with us,” said Kevin. “It’s challenging but rewarding to come up with ways that are more sustainable.”

Why work so hard on the challenging tasks? “Some of it’s a hope; some is an imperative,” said Kevin. “Things will get worse if we don’t become more resilient and make our landscape more adaptable to our changing environment.”

What is Kevin’s hope? That we can have our landscape in balance with producing food, fiber, and resources while minimizing the impact on water resources.

And having drinkable, swimmable water. “That’s a good goal,” he said. “Everywhere, as many places as possible. That should be the goal. That’s my hope for the future.”

Watershed Moments is a new publication of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, sharing the stories of how your donations have impacted lives in our community. Read our latest project updates, make a secure online donation, or become a member at www.fwwa.org

The post Watershed Moments: Water for Sand Castles appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/08/watershed-moments-sand-castles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=watershed-moments-sand-castles

Sharon Cook

On:
In: News
Episode 2307 Lesson Plans: Surveying shipwrecks

This lesson will explore the phenomenon of corrosion as students learn about sunken ships in the Great Lakes and the glass-bottomed tour boats that take people to explore them. In doing so, they’ll delve into such science topics related to exploring shipwrecks as gas laws and more.

  • Know what corrosion is and why it happens
  • Understand how gas pressure changes with depth underwater affecting scuba divers
  • Be able to model the chemical change process of corrosion

View the entire lesson plan including teacher background information, worksheets and more below or download for free here.

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Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/episode-2307-shipwrecks-lesson-plan/

Gary Abud Jr.

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In: Authors, conservation, Feature Homepage, John Hartig, Latest News, Michigan, News, Southgate
Great Lakes Moment: Nature right outside your school door

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.

While watching civilization expand into the countryside in the 1800s, the great American author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau recommended every town have a forest of 500 to 1,000 acres for conservation instruction and outdoor recreation.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/great-lakes-moment-nature-right-outside-school-door/

John Hartig

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In: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Collaboration, Detroit, detroit river, fishing, Latest News, Michigan, News, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Recreational Hunting and Fishing, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Michigan ‘river walker’ program warns anglers on eating contaminated fish

By Ashley Zhou, 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.

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Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/michigan-river-walker-program-warns-anglers-eating-contaminated-fish/

Bridge Michigan

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In: clean water act, Drinking Water, Feature Homepage, Groundwater Contamination, History and Culture, Industry, Energy, Economic Development, Latest News, News, PFAS, Policy, Politics, Policy, Environmental Justice, pollution, Protect, Recreation and Tourism, Refresh, The Provinces, The States, U.S. and Canadian Federal Governments, Water quality, Water Quality and Restoration Efforts
Amendment to Clean Water Act improves Great Lakes through critical observation, collaboration

From fishing to enjoying a summer day at the beach, the Great Lakes provide enjoyment, comfort and a sense of home to the region. But these bodies of water were not always secure, as the lakes and connecting rivers were considered dangerous due to high pollution spots. 

The Great Lakes region has seen some of the most historic river fires.

Read Now at Great Lakes Now.

Original Article

Great Lakes Now

Great Lakes Now

https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2023/08/amendment-to-clean-water-act-improves-great-lakes-through-critical-observation-collaboration/

Jada Vasser

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In: 2023, bingo, concert, Event - Non-FWWA, festival, fox river, Fox-Wolf Basin, Green Bay, Keepers of the Fox, music, Outreach, TFW, trash, trash free waters, trashfreewaters, volunteer, volunteers, youth

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance set up an educational booth at the August 6th Levitt AMP concert series along the Fox River in Green Bay. On this Sunday evening, Fox-Wolf’s Trash Free Waters program was on site providing program information to concert attendees and engaging local residents with “Cleanup Bingo”, where volunteers were given a reusable cleanup bingo card, trash grabbers, gloves, and a trash bag, and they set off to clean up litter in the park–hoping to get a “bingo” on their cards. Once they found a trash item from any horizontal, diagonal, or vertical line on the card, the volunteers returned to the Fox-Wolf booth to collect a prize item for their efforts. We had volunteers of all ages cleaning up at Leicht Memorial Park who removed over 12 pounds of trash from this public site.

Throughout Sunday evening, Fox-Wolf staff talked with many local residents about our basin, volunteer opportunities, and current projects we’re working on to improve water quality–we also got to listen to some fantastic music!  We love being able to work with local residents who volunteer to help keep our water trash free!

For more information, please contact:
Kelly Reyer
Trash Free Waters Program Coordinator
Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
✉ kelly@fwwa.org
📞 920-915-1502

Support Trash Free Waters
Join the Trash Free Waters Email List

The post Volunteers Clean Up During Levitt AMP Music Series appeared first on Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Original Article

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance

https://fwwa.org/2023/08/07/volunteers-play-cleanup-bingo-at-23-walleye-weekend-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=volunteers-play-cleanup-bingo-at-23-walleye-weekend-3

Kelly Reyer

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In: Daily News

A sheen of diesel fuel spilled from the freighter Manitowoc has dissipated north of Manistee, Michigan after a storm. The Manitowoc is headed to Muskegon for repairs while the cause of the spill remains under investigation. Read the full story by MLive.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230807-spill-cleanup

James Polidori

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In: Daily News

Waukesha, Wisconsin, will begin using Lake Michigan water for public supply once construction crews finish building a pumping station and two reservoirs. To tap into Lake Michigan for water, Waukesha had to reach a special agreement with Milwaukee and get the okay from the Great Lakes States and Provinces under the Great Lakes Compact. Read the full story by Spectrum News 1.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230807-waukesha-water-supply

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The North Shores of Saugatuck, Michigan, wants to build 50 homes and a marina basin along the Kalamazoo River, but the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance argues the development would remove 250,000 tons of sand from one of the state’s critical dune areas. The coming weeks could mark a crucial point in the 17-year long battle over this proposed development. Read the full story by WVGR – Grand Rapids, MI.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230807-development-issue

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has raised $15 million of its $20 million goal to build the most technologically advanced freshwater research vessel in the United States. When built, the Maggi Sue, named by an anonymous donor, will further advance scientists’ understanding of the Great Lakes. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230807-research-vessel

James Polidori

On:
In: Daily News

According to a new study, Lake St. Clair and its coastal zones in Macomb County, Michigan, brings a $1.6 billion economic impact and more than 18,000 jobs to the county and region. In the next few months, the Macomb County Chamber is forming a task force to support the study and further boost the economy around the lake. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press.

Original Article

Great Lakes Commission

Great Lakes Commission

https://www.glc.org/dailynews/20230807-economic-study

James Polidori