Great Lakes News

Oct. 09, 2008 - Report warns of Great Lakes perfect storm: A researcher in Wisconsin warns that climate change may put Great Lakes' water quality at risk.

Oct. 09, 2008 - Alberta oilsands refineries could cause irreversible damage: Report - The development of a pipeline network and refineries around the Great Lakes to process Alberta bitumen "could cause irreversible" environmental damage to the region, says a new report that traces the tendrils of Alberta's oilsands developments across the continent.

Oct. 09, 2008 - Wrong Direction: How much should I sacrifice for some abstract ideal like the future of the planet? That's the sticking point in environmental conversations. What if I make sacrifices and nobody else does?

Oct. 08, 2008 - Invasive Species are Costing Ohio, Report Finds: Federal Action Needed to Prevent New Species Invasions.

Oct. 08, 2008 - Compact defines rules on tapping lake water Brookfield considers providing Lake Michigan water to east side: When President Bush put his signature on the Great Lakes compact Oct. 3, it ended a years-long struggle to reach an accord on standards for the use of Great Lakes water.

Oct. 8, 2008 - Invasive species law stalls as threats to Great Lakes grow: The latest unwanted guests to crash the Lake Michigan party don't look much like troublemakers. About a dozen of them can fit on the face of a dime.

Oct. 07, 2008 - Studies Lift Hopes for Great Lakes Wind Turbine Farms: CHICAGO -- Picture 100,000 wind turbines rising from the Great Lakes off Michigan's shores, casting spinning shadows on the water and producing electricity for the entire Upper Midwest.

Oct. 07, 2008 - HOW THE OIL SANDS GOT TO THE GREAT LAKES BASIN PIPELINES, REFINERIES AND EMISSIONS TO AIR AND WATER: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
9:00 am to 4:30 noon
Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility
Munk Centre for International Studies
1 Devonshire Place
Toronto, Ontario

Oct. 06, 2008 - Plan seeks to show students water industry City, schools, firms cooperate: A proposed partnership among the City of Milwaukee, area businesses and universities could train dozens of students in the public, private and academic sides of the water industry, community leaders said Monday.

Oct. 06, 2008 - Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: A vote to clean up our impaired waters: Good government is about fixing problems. And for the past three decades, the Legislature has not addressed a growing problem in Minnesota: the condition of our lakes, rivers and natural resources — the essence of what makes this state a great place to live.

Oct. 06, 2008 - Mercury emissions rule will go into effect: State regulation proposed by the Natural Resources Board to reduce mercury emissions will go into effect after a key legislative committee failed to block the rule.

Oct. 05, 2008 - Surge in Asian carp could lead to expanded range: The carp’s push toward the Great Lakes — the biggest home in the world they could ever hope to find — has mysteriously stalled for the past two years about 15 miles below the experimental electric barrier, but nobody’s relaxing

Oct. 05, 2008 - Chicago’s electric carp barrier hits a snag. Safety of electrified water for barge operators questioned: It’s supposed to be the last chance to keep the Great Lakes from turning into the Great Carp Ponds, but the federal government’s new electric fish barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is not doing the job.

Oct. 03, 2008 - President Bush signs Great Lakes water compact: TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - President Bush on Friday signed a long-debated compact designed to prevent Great Lakes water from being sent to thirsty areas while requiring the region's eight states to regulate their own water use.

Oct. 03, 2008 - Reality impedes Great Lakes wind power potential: LANSING--In the village of Elkton in the tip of the Thumb, the hum of 32 turbines in Michigan's first commercial wind farm fills the air.

Oct. 03, 2008 - Gov. Doyle: Statement on Great Lakes Compact being signed into law: MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact was signed into law this morning by President Bush.

Oct. 02, 2008 - State suing EPA over waterway loophole: Minnesota and eight other states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, accusing it of creating a loophole in the federal Clean Water Act that threatens waterways and drinking water.

Oct. 02, 2008 - Coast Guard rule step toward residue control: Environmental groups fell short of victory Tuesday in their call for prohibiting Great Lakes freight haulers from sweeping cargo residue off their decks and into the water.

Oct. 02, 2008 - States sue EPA over water releases from ships: ALBANY, N.Y. -- Nine states, including Washington, sued the Bush administration Thursday over what New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says is an illegal administrative ruling that could hurt fisheries and contaminate drinking water.

Oct 02, 2008 - Flushing ballast tanks should protect Great Lakes: CHICAGO (Reuters) - Environmentalists warn that invasive species disgorged from ships' ballast tanks have put the Great Lakes near an ecological tipping point.

Oct. 02, 2008 - Cuomo: EPA Ruling Harms NY Fishing, Water: NEW YORK—The state Attorney General’s office says its fighting an illegal ruling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that could hurt New York’s fishing industry and contaminate drinking water.

Oct. 01, 2008 - Great Lakes show great promise for wind energy, researchers find: Michigan has far greater potential for wind energy than anyone previously thought — offshore in the Great Lakes that surround it, according to a new report.

Oct. 01, 2008 - Are McCain and Obama Sincere in Protecting Our Greatest Source of Drinking Water?: Past politicians have sough to protect our most important source of water. So far, their words have been empty promises.

Sept. 30, 2008 - Canada faces water challenges: Our borders may contain 21 per cent of the world's freshwater but surging demand is the warning sign for guarding against complacency, writes Jeff Buckstein.

Sept. 30, 2008 - Speaker says Lake Superior could be Duluth’s business savior: John Austin motioned with his right arm toward Lake Superior during a luncheon Monday and talked about the lake as an untapped vista of economic promise.

Sept. 30, 2008 - Stupak fears should give us pause: The Great Lakes has no better friend in Congress than Bart Stupak. That is why his opposition to the Great Lakes Compact is so worrisome.

Sept. 30, 2008 - Documentary Film 'Flow' Sounds Alarm on Worldwide Water Shortage: Oil shortages, global warming, air pollution. These are front-page issues these days. But there is another shortage we rarely hear about: water. In her documentary, "Flow - For the Love of Water," filmmaker Irena Salina delivers a wake-up call on the world's diminished water supply. VOA's Penelope Poulou has more.

Sept. 29, 2008 - Green With Envy: Accountability costs less than a bailout for earth: With a $700 billion bailout plan in the works to keep the U.S. economy afloat, the issue of accountability is a hot topic. When people don’t take responsibility for their own actions and no one holds them accountable, the cost eventually catches up with them.

Sept. 29, 2008 - Quagga mussel invasion discovered in four lakes - Colorado Thompson Project lakes test positive for invasive mussel larvae: In addition to Lake Granby reservoir, invasive mussel larvae has been detected in natural Grand Lake, in Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Willow Creek Reservoirs in Grand County.

Sept. 29, 2008 - State Authorizes $25 Million for Great Lakes Research Lab at Michigan Tech: Michigan Technological University has long been a leader in research related to the Great Lakes. Now that research is going to have a new home, on the campus waterfront.

Sept. 29, 2008 - Hurricane Ike’s Effects Linger in the Great Lakes: Although Hurricane Ike is long gone, its impact lingers more than a thousand miles from where it made landfall. Runoff from tributaries dumped massive amounts of sediment into Lake Michigan, contaminating the water, compromising near-shore navigation and raising E coli bacteria to levels unsafe for swimming.

Sept. 29, 2008 - New policy continues allowing freighters to wash residues into Great Lakes: Freighters may continue to wash unlimited quantities of coal, limestone and other dry cargo residues into the Great Lakes under a new federal policy.

Sept. 26, 2008 - Channel not cause of low lakes
VIDEOGRAPHY COMPLETE: Early indications are that the so-called "bathtub" effect under the Blue Water Bridge is not responsible for low water levels in the upper Great Lakes.

Sept. 24, 2008 - Twin Ports Could Hurt From Ballast Water Restrictions: Yesterday the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Board unanimously passed the most restrictive ballast water control regulation in the Great Lakes.

Sept. 24, 2008 - Letter: Clean water, land and legacy question to be on Nov. 4 election ballot: As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and voting members of our State of Minnesota, what is the collective responsibility to our future generations in terms of clean water and the natural environment?

Sept. 24, 2008 - Minn. pollution agency OKs rules for ballast water: The state pollution control agency approved strict standards for ships that discharge ballast water into Lake Superior, hoping they will cut down on the spread of harmful invasive species.

Sept. 23, 2008 - House Bans Diverting Water From Great Lakes: The House approved a measure on Tuesday morning that would enhance protection of the vast body of freshwater in the Great Lakes region by prohibiting almost any new diversion of the water to other places, and requiring states that border the lakes to adhere to new conservation standards.

Sept. 23, 2008 - Minn. considers rules for ballast water discharge: MINNEAPOLIS -Ships that dock in Duluth's port dump several billion gallons of water into Lake Superior each year as they prepare to take on loads of taconite, timber and grain.

Sept. 23, 2008 - House approves Great Lakes compact banning water diversions outside region: EVART -- While the Great Lakes Compact is widely applauded by governors, congressional leaders and many environmentalists, Rhonda Huff complained it doesn't go far enough.

Sept. 23, 2008 - Reaction to House passage of Great Lakes compact: Reaction to the House's passage Tuesday of the Great Lakes compact, which was designed to prevent the diversion of water from the Great Lakes.

Sept. 23, 2008 - Steps to save the Great Lakes: Both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama have expressed support for legislation to protect the Great Lakes as Congress considers three other key pieces of legislation about the Lakes.

Sept. 22, 2008 - Mussel power slams divers, lake's ecosystem-Hunt fails to make a dent in critters' ranks:In most places, the hunt for invasive species is a figurative term. But not in Kankakee's Haigh Quarry, where a small group of scuba-diving volunteers armed themselves over the weekend with air tanks, dive fins and a steely resolve to remove as many of one non-native species as they could find.

Sept. 21, 2008 - Ballast water background info: What is ballast water?

Sept. 19, 2008 - Discover the Great Lakes: Most of us dismissed the Great Lakes as soon as the fifth-grade social studies quiz was over.

Sept. 19, 2008 - Extra: Protecting Great Lakes water may soon be easier: On a calm, early August afternoon, if you gauged the size of the lake lapping at your feet by the baby waves washing against the shore, you would sadly be misjudging Lake Superior.

Sept. 19, 2008 - Great Lakes Dealing with 'cargo sweeping': It will probably come as a surprise to most people that about 2,300 tons of cargo residue are dumped into the Great Lakes each year by U.S. and Canadian bulk carriers.

Sept. 18, 2008 - House passes bill to help clean up Great Lakes: WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday passed the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which would expand a program to reduce contaminated sediments in the lakes.

Sept. 18, 2008 - Gillnets set in Goulais Bay to trace unfriendly fish: Invasive species, if left unchecked, could harm Great Lakes ecosystem, MNR says.

Sept. 18, 2008 - Beach cleanup a great way to improve environment: Help wanted -- All ages and abilities are needed to spend a little time that adds up to make a big difference in Saturday's Adopt-A-Beach cleanup.

Sept. 18, 2008 - Higher water on Great Lakes helped freighters carry more ore: Higher water levels allowed Great Lakes freighters to carry more iron ore in August, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association.

Sept. 18, 2008 - Great Lakes measure to be voted on Monday: Much-debated legislation that will block Lake Erie water diversion to other states is expected to pass Monday, U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Bainbridge, said.

Sept. 17, 2008 - Obama Bolsters Hope For Great Lakes Cleanup: Barack Obama made headlines today with a proposal to dump $5 billion worth of oil and gas company profits into Great Lakes conservation and restoration efforts over the next decade.

Sept, 17, 2008 - Study: Dams help spread lake invaders: Artificial lakes formed by dams are magnets for invasive species, providing fertile waters that hasten the spread of foreign organisms across the landscape, according to a new study.

Sept. 17, 2008 - Land trusts help protect Great Lakes, expert says: The growth of nonprofit and volunteer land trusts provide one of the best opportunities to restore the health of the Great Lakes, an environmental consultant told conservation, environmental and business leaders Tuesday.

Sept. 16, 2008 - Obama Campaign: Announces Obama-Biden plan for the Great Lakes
Obama-Biden Plan Provides Long-Term Funding and Better Government Coordination to Protect the Great Lakes

Sept. 16, 2008 - Obama proposes $5-billion trust fund for Great Lakes cleanup:TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Senator Barack Obama will propose a $5-billion trust fund for Great Lakes cleanup and restoration if elected president, his campaign said Tuesday.

Sept. 15, 2008 - Let the faucet slowly drip
Bottled-water loophole shouldn’t stop passage of needed Great Lakes pact: Many is the great idea that came to ruin at the bottom of a bottle. The Great Lakes Compact is not destined to be one of them.

Sept. 12, 2008 - Beach Sand Often More Contaminated than Water: Experts to Gather in Porter, Ind. Recent research has revealed that beach sand contains high concentrations of E. coli and other fecal indicator bacteria, often greatly exceeding the concentration in beach water.

Sept. 12, 2008 - Shippers, activists clash over cargo sweeping: TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Day after day, ships longer than three football fields depart Great Lakes ports after picking up or delivering loads of iron ore, coal and other cargo. Reaching open water, crews wash the decks with high-powered hoses.

Sept. 12, 2008 - Lack of tourists could mean auction block instead of dock for Duluth's Sundew: If you’re in the market for a retired Coast Guard buoytender, this could be your lucky hour.

Sept. 11, 2008 - Doyle: Great Lakes should be national priority: Pollution and invasive species are such a threat to the Great Lakes that the next president must make it a national priority to preserve the vast waterways, Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday.

Sept. 11, 2008 - Feds set fish shipment rules for Great Lakes: TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Federal regulators trying to contain a fish-killing virus in the Great Lakes region have issued rules for shipping live fish across state lines that some wholesalers say will be financially devastating.

Sept. 10, 2008 - Stupak sees devil in the details of pending Great Lakes Compact: U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak says the Great Lakes Compact is on a fast track to approval, and folks can "kiss the Great Lakes goodbye" if that happens.

Sept. 08, 2008 - Researchers find cold-loving, arsenic-eating bacteria in Yellowknife gold mine: A previously unknown arsenic-loving bacteria may provide a way to keep one of Canada's most toxic sites from poisoning one of the country's largest lakes and river systems, say a pair of British scientists.

Sept. 08, 2008 - Residents learn about water quality at Port of Rochester: The sailboat "Earth Voyager" bobbled along Lake Ontario with a large banner across it that read "Our Water, Our Future, Ours to Protect."

Sept. 04, 2008 - Tiny Invasive Snail Impacts Great Lakes, Alters Ecology: MILWAUKEE, WI — Long a problem in the western United States, the New Zealand mud snail currently inhabits four of the five Great Lakes and is spreading into rivers and tributaries, according to a Penn State team of researchers. These tiny creatures out-compete native snails and insects, but are not good fish food replacements for the native species.

Sept. 04, 2008 - St. Mary's River bit lower this month: The St. Mary's River won't run quite as high this month, as the International Lake Superior Board of Control responds to August's Lake Superior water level decline.

Sept. 04, 2008 - Biological Invasions Increasing Due To Freshwater Impoundments, Says CU-Boulder Study: The growing number of dams and other impoundments is increasing the number of invasive species and the speed at which they spread, putting natural lakes at risk, says a study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Sept. 03, 2008 - Going green brews profit at Great Lakes Brewing Co.: Businesses do not have to sacrifice profitability in order to have a social and environmental conscience.

Sept 02, 2008 - Forum: Keep invasives species on agenda: Slated to return to work soon, the U.S. Senate has some serious lifting to accomplish when it comes to protecting our Great Lakes -- and we need to loudly sound the alarm to get them moving. While thousands of issues remain idle in Washington, there is one that Michigan simply cannot let run out of gas: keeping our Great Lakes and inland waterways free and clear of incoming aquatic invasive species.

Sept. 01, 2008 - If Great Lakes drop, hydro power likely affected: Could climate change endanger New York's power supply? A number of studies predict Great Lakes water levels will drop over the century as average temperatures creep higher. If that happens, it would affect the amount of water flowing through the Niagara Power Project and the St. Lawrence-FDR Project, two state-run hydro facilities that account for about 12 percent of all the electricity generated in New York.

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