Great Lakes News

June 17, 2009 - Water diversion draws fire: The growing demands for access to Great Lakes water can best be met through conservation, a Canadian environmentalist says.

June 16, 2009 - Tribes work with state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, along with the 11 other federally recognized Indian tribes in Michigan, are working with the state to combat global warming.

June 16, 2009 - Report: Drier South, warmer North, and more bugs: WASHINGTON (AP) — The new climate change science report by the federal government looks at effects of global warming on specific U.S. regions and forecasts what's to come

June 15, 2009 - EPA proposes cleanup plan for Ashland, Wis., Superfund Site; hearing June 29, 7 p.m: (Chicago - June 15, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has proposed a cleanup plan for polluted soil, ground water and sediment at the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund site in Ashland, Wis.

June 15, 2009 - USA, Canada to Modernize Great Lakes Water Quality Pact: (ENS) - The United States and Canada have agreed to update the 37-year-old Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement that commits both countries "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem."

June 14, 2009 - Lake Superior fish meet contamination risk: LANSING — The largest, deepest and coldest Great Lake holds another distinction — the highest levels of the contaminant toxaphene in the region and possibly anywhere in the world.

June 10, 2009 - Initiative focusing on Great Lakes moving forward: The U.S. House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee today approved full funding for the new $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which addresses threats to the Great Lakes, including invasive species, toxic pollution and habitat restoration.

June 10, 2009 - Wind turbines could be on Great Lakes in 3 years: The first wind turbine development on the Great Lakes could be built within three years or so, experts on offshore wind power said during a conference Wednesday in Milwaukee.

June 10, 2009 - Official vows to fight Lake Huron pipeline: The drain commissioner of a county with Lake Huron shoreline plans to sue if a plan to tap the lake for 85 million gallons of water a day is approved by the state.

June 9, 2009 - The Battle to Keep Asian Carp Out of the Great Lakes: After a long delay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced plans to power up a $9 million electrical barrier designed to keep Asian carp, an invasive species, out of Lake Michigan. The barrier had been scheduled for operation in late January, but plans were halted when defective cooling pipes were discovered. Now that they have been replaced, the barrier can be switched on.

June 9, 2009 - Archeological Evidence Of Human Activity Found: More than 100 feet deep in Lake Huron, on a wide stoney ridge that 9,000 years ago was a land bridge, University of Michigan researchers have found the first archeological evidence of human activity preserved beneath the Great Lakes.

June 8, 2009 - Bacteria lurk as swimmers hit Lake Erie beaches: With schools on summer vacation, families soon will flock to Lake Erie beaches to swim while trying to avoid gut-wrenching encounters with bacteria.

June 8, 2009 - Cheboygan County threatens lawsuit to stop Genesee County water pipeline: Cheboygan County, Michigan, is threatening to go to court to stop Genesee County's proposed water pipeline to Lake Huron.

June 7, 2009 - Many surprised by coal ash dumping: Recent revelations that the S.S. Badger dumps all of its coal ash waste -- hundreds of tons each sailing season -- into Lake Michigan have caught many people by surprise.

June 5, 2009 - New Lake Michigan “Czar” Has History of Blind Eye Toward Pollution: You remember Cameron Davis don’t you? He is the president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the “environmental” organization that was napping (for several years now) while the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) has poured billions of gallons of raw sewage into Lake Michigan.

June 5, 2009 - Waukesha asked not to apply for lake water until rules in place: Waukesha's pursuit of Lake Michigan water is likely headed for a logjam of delays because state rules are not in place to guide the thirsty community through a potentially thorny quest to gain permission by other Great Lakes states to turn on the tap, Milwaukee officials and environmental advocates say.

June 4, 2009 - Congressional leaders call for BP investigation: MERRILLVILLE - Nineteen members of Congress from Great Lakes states are calling for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate whether BP is complying with its air, water and land pollution permits.

June 4, 2009 - Obama appoints Cameron Davis as Great Lakes czar: TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - President Barack Obama has named Cameron Davis, president of a Chicago-based environmentalist group, to oversee the administration's initiative to clean up the Great Lakes.

June 3, 2009 - New York's Right to Strictly Regulate Ballast Water Validated: The New York State Supreme Court has upheld the state's authority to require large ships dumping ballast water in state waters to meet a stricter standard than that of the federal government.

June 2, 2009 - EPA: Ludington carferry must stop dumping slurry: LUDINGTON, Mich. - One of the nation's last operating coal-fired passenger ships could be left high and dry unless operators comply with new federal regulations banning its discharge of coal slurry into Lake Michigan.

June 1, 2009 - A river ... runs through it:
Neglected for nearly a century, the Lower Don Lands is set for a major -- and green -- restoration. From an industrial wasteland to a well-planned environmentally friendly masterpiece -- in 25 years.

May 31, 2009 - We put in lakes what we take out: The first Europeans to visit Lake Huron described it as La Mer Douce, the Sweetwater Sea, an expanse of translucent water nearly as large as Greece.

May 31, 2009 - Judging zebras' stripes: Our view: Tiny mussels in the Chesapeake a threat of unknown proportions

May 31, 2009 - River report clogs scrutiny
Lack of time, data an issue, groups say: You have just about a month to comment on the draft report of a study looking at water flows in the St. Clair River.

May 31, 2009 - Waukesha prepares reply to queries on Lake Michigan water plan: Waukesha - After nearly five months, environmental groups monitoring the Water Utility's bid for Lake Michigan water should get further details this week on the proposal to annually pipe billions of gallons to this city.

May 30, 2009 - Stopping foreign invaders at sea: ALBANY -- A state Supreme Court justice has upheld rules designed to stop the spread of foreign invasive species into the Hudson River and Great Lakes from ballast water dumped by international freighters.

May 28, 2009 - EPA announces almost $279 million in Recovery Act funds for water infrastructure projects in Ohio to boost economy, create jobs and protect public health: CHICAGO - In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, improve aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and protect human health and the environment for people in the State of Ohio, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded almost $279 million to Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

May 28, 2009 - Genesee County wants to tap into Lake Huron: Lansing -- A request from Genesee County to tap into Lake Huron for future water needs could provide a litmus test for the Great Lakes Compact and its protections for the region's greatest natural resource.

May 27, 2009 - Oilsands companies must report contents of waste ponds: EDMONTON — Albertans can soon find out just how toxic the oilsands’ tailings ponds really are, thanks to a Federal Court decision.

May 26, 2009 - Great Lakes research, laws are shifting focus: Though the Great Lakes have been the driving force behind many environmental laws since the early 1970s, they soon may undergo a moderate shift in how they're researched and regulated for future generations.

May 25, 2009 - NY stewards try to stop spread of invasive species: ALBANY, N.Y. - When boaters show up this summer to Great Sacandaga Lake in the lower Adirondacks they are likely to be met at public launch sites by stewards asking to check for alien plants or animals.

May 25, 2009 - Fish on drugs: Discarded pharmaceuticals are threatening health of the Great Lakes. Water, water, everywhere. But is it fit to drink?

May 25, 2009 - New wastewater technology could help clean up lakes: It’s the most exciting news since you first learned to use the big toilet by yourself — SJE-Rhombus has a new treatment system that could be the next great thing for the health of Minnesota lakes.

May 24, 2009 - Erb Family Foundation nurtures culture, safe water: THE CAUSE: The foundation's mission is to nurture environmentally healthy and culturally vibrant communities in metro Detroit and support initiatives to restore the Great Lakes basin.

May 24, 2009 - Can water privatization keep Milwaukee's budget afloat?: Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's "state of the city" speech this year outlined an audacious plan for Milwaukee to stake its claim as the freshwater capital of the world.

May 23, 2009 - Troubled Water: Thirty years ago, newspaper headlines declared Lake Erie "dead." It was the kind of news that shocked us into action.

May 20, 2009 - Great Lakes Day helps students appreciate nature: Elizabeth Sawicki's kindergarten class Tuesday stood at the edge of the lake, judging sand castles. Seagulls dotted the sky and a few feet away waves crashed ashore. It was almost like they really were having a day at the beach.

May 20, 2009 - Great Lakes water-level study to be presented: Communities Review lake water-level study: A team of international scientists who studied decreasing water levels in the upper Great Lakes from the 1960s through 2006 will listen to public comment and present their findings.

May 19, 2009 - Compact fees worry public utilities: A municipal water utilities lobbying group is raising concerns about new fees the governor is proposing to fund staff to oversee the implementation of the Great Lakes water compact.

May 18, 2009 - Meeting on lakes spotlights UT's gains: To the layman, a conference being held at the University of Toledo this week may appear to be just the latest in a confusing collection of Great Lakes events.

May 18, 2009 - THE WIND AT THEIR BACKS: Four generations and 80 years ago, Myron Kaplan’s grandmother founded Pearl Road Auto Parts in a grimy little box-trailer in the middle of a small pile of dead cars. It was likely the first good example of a recycling business in town.

May 18, 2009 - Conservation rising: One of the few people applauding the rise in Saginaw's water rates is Phillippa Cannon. Cannon, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said as rates increase, citizens will look to conserve water to save money and, unwittingly, do the planet a favor.

May 18, 2009 - Beach clean-up events highly successful: The Park Department is expanding its beach management program to include techniques which have proved to be successful in other Great Lakes communities, to improve the health of our water and coastline.

May 15, 2009 - Great Lakes boosters praise Obama budget: President Obama’s proposed $475 million infusion into Great Lakes cleanup and restoration received broad support Thursday from a coalition of business, environmental and government groups.

May 14, 2009 - Minnesota group to challenge Lake Superior ballast water rules: ST. PAUL, Minn. — An environmental group challenging Minnesota's regulations on ship ballast water on Lake Superior will make its case before the Minnesota Court of Appeals today.

May 12, 2009 - A dramatic journey through the Great Lakes: The Great Lakes are being seen as they never have before courtesy of a new film celebrating Earth's greatest freshwater ecosystem.

May 12, 2009 - Michigan’s crucial wetlands oversight: When it comes to talking green, Gov. Jennifer Granholm can hang with any politician. Hardly a day goes by that she fails to remind us that Michigan’s future depends on developing a sustainable economy based on renewable energy, energy efficiency and stewardship over Michigan’s unique natural resources, particularly the Great Lakes.

May 12, 2009 - Group extends remarks period for lake study: Responding to public pressure, authors of a controversial study exploring the causes of mysteriously low water on Lakes Michigan and Huron will postpone their July 1 deadline for public comments.

May 11, 2009 - Michigan wetlands at risk in budget crisis; Granholm seeks to shift oversight to feds, saving $2M: Lansing -- Environmentalists fear that as many as a million acres of wetlands will fall victim to a confusing patchwork of local rules that will leave them vulnerable to destruction if money for Michigan's protection program dries up.

May 11, 2009 - Upgraded status sought in Ohio for once-dead river: CLEVELAND — A regional clean water group and Ohio environmental officials say Cleveland's Cuyahoga (keye-uh-HOH'-guh) River is not nearly as polluted as it once was.

May 10, 2009 - Ill winds blow no good to Great Lakes, experts say: LANSING — As contaminated sediment is cleaned up in the Great Lakes, persistent pollutants continue to blow in, threatening again to poison soil and harm human health, experts say.

May 7, 2009 - Obama's new budget documents reveal few details on his Great Lakes plans: WASHINGTON — It's like reading a major-city phone book. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for the next volume -- or for the author to reveal coming secrets -- to learn more about President Barack Obama's plans for the Great Lakes.

May 7, 2009 - EPA Pumps Budget $$ into Water Infrastructure, Great Lakes: For the first time in eight years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency budget has not been cut, it has been increased. Today, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson released the agency's $10.5 billion budget blueprint for fiscal year 2010, which she said, "takes significant strides to ensure that our air, land, and water are safe and clean."

May 5, 2009 - New Partners to Engage Public on Lawn Care near Great Lakes: The Alliance for the Great Lakes and The Scotts Miracle-Gro announced on April 30 a multi-year, regional partnership focused on public education about simple lawn care tips to enhance water quality.

May 4, 2009 - Utility sees support for shift to lake water; Waukesha official cites tests on aquifer: Waukesha — Water levels beneath closed deep wells are rising, while deep wells still in use continue to drain the already crippled aquifer, according to a new Waukesha Water Utility report.

May 1, 2009 - Tribe to begin removing barrels from Lake Superior near Duluth: The Red Cliff Band of Chippewa will begin removing rusty, half-century- old Department of Defense barrels from Lake Superior near Duluth this summer.

May 1, 2009 - Study: Upper Great Lakes not losing extra water. DETROIT - Lakes Huron and Michigan are not losing an unnaturally high volume of water to Lake Erie, and there is no need to place barriers in the St. Clair River to stem the outflow as a Canadian group is demanding, says an engineering study released Friday.

April 30, 2009 - Port of Green Bay going ahead with dredging projects
Lack of federal funds won't delay work, Haen says: The Port of Green Bay is forging ahead with a trio of projects, despite not being in line for funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the port director said.

MORE Great Lakes articles