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See what the mainstream media is saying about the Great Lakes issues.

Contents 1 Topics 1.1 Water 1.1.1 Water Quality 1.1.2 Water Levels 1.2 Economic Issues 1.3 Clean-up Efforts 1.4 Plants and Wildlife 1.4.1 Species Health 1.4.2 Invasive Species 1.5 Great Lakes Recreation 1.6 National Environmental News 1.6.1 ================================================

[edit] Topics

[edit] Water

• Kalamazoo Harbor in Ottawa County, Mich. gets a renewed water plan. City officials reached an agreement that would ensure suburban residents won't run out of drinking water in the future. Holland Sentinel 11/21

• Canadian residents test positive for uranium contamination. Port Hope, a town of roughly 16,000 on the north shore of Lake Ontario, contains residents contaminated with uranium from a suspected military and industrial origin. The Globe and Mail 11/13

• 'Clean Water Fight Stagnant in Michigan'. Passed in 1972, the landmark Clean Water Act sought to reduce the amount of pollution entering U.S. waters. Now, advocates say pollution levels have made little decline and legislators are working on the Clean Water Restoration Act. Detroit News 11/10

• Project to make electricity from Detroit River's flow Ann Arbor company to use underwater cylinders that don't affect flow of the river to power dock area. Detroit Free Press 11/9

• Congress overrides Bush's veto of high profile water projects in the Great Lakes Basin! The Senate and House have rejected Bush's opposition to cut funding for water projects. An estimated $23 billion is to be spent on water projects throughout the country, a price tag Bush deemed too much. CNN 11/8

• Miller, Ehlers warn panel to leave Great Lakes alone Two members of Michigan’s congressional delegation told supporters of a commission to study national water issues today that they will have a fierce battle on their hands if any proposal to divert water from the Great Lakes is put forward. Detroit Free Press 11/8

• Activists push for water agreement on Great Lakes Great Lakes legislators need to enact the Great Lakes Compact before the next census in 2010 in order to protect Great Lakes water from thirsty, drought-ridden southern and western states, says a coalition of environmental groups. Detroit Free Press 11/1

[edit] Water Quality

• EPA orders start to Fox River cleanup Paper companies forced to begin $400 million project to deal with PCBs. Green Bay Press-Gazette 11/14

• Bay County approves ban on phosphorus The Bay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday made clear its stance on phosphorus-based lawn fertilizers: No more. The Bay City Times 11/14

• United, we fight for our lakes Let us all in Michigan thank New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for bringing us together in defense of the Great Lakes. Detroit Free Press 11/11

• Last August, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels ordered a review of Great Lakes water quality laws after public outrage over a permit allowing BP to increase pollution levels into Lake Michigan. The review has taken twice as long as expected and is still not complete. Associated Press 11/6

• Rain barrels are making a splash in southeast Michigan. Residents from the Ann Arbor and Detroit region take action against rain water drainage at Huron High School. See what the deal is with rain barrels and rain runoff here. The Environment Report 11/5

[edit] Water Levels

• Coalition aims to save water from Great Lakes The Coalition to Protect the Great Lakes advocates strengthening the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact to prevent thirsty regions from diverting lake water. Green Bay Press-Gazette 9/10
• Early canal closure protects drinking water

Originally scheduled to close Nov. 15, the New York canal system will now close Nov. 1 for recreational users and Nov. 7 for commercial users because of low reservoirs. The Utica Observer-Dispatch 10/8

• Great Lakes disappearing? Global Warming is just one of many factors causing some of the Great Lakes to slowly evaporate. CNN's Miles O'Brien reports. CNN 9/30
• Lake Superior sets record for low water Drought and mild temperatures have pushed Lake Superior's water level to its lowest point on record for this time of year; 1.6 inches below the previous low in 1926. The Washington Post 10/1

• Senators seek Great Lakes hearing Six senators are calling for a hearing into why the upper Great Lakes' volumes are shrinking, more than 2 years after a study determined a human cause for the decrease. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 9/10

[edit] Economic Issues

• Bay County, Mich. officials are crying foul over federal allocations that give places such as the Virgin Islands, with 175 miles of shoreline, more money for beach monitoring than the entire state of Michigan, which has more than 3,200 miles of shoreline. Bay City Times 11/29

• Michigan DEQ going broke. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said by the end of next year it will have exhausted its entire budget. Kalamazoo Gazette 11/18

• Economy depends on health of the Great Lakes Keeping the lakes clean is vital to a healthy economy was the focus of an area workshop attended by government leaders, state officials and environmentalists. Muskegon Chronicle 11/10

• Gov. Granholm: The next Michigan will be clean and green Boosting alternative forms of energy is the way out of Michigan’s economic malaise, Gov. Jennifer Granholm told a group of metro Detroit business leaders today. Detroit Free Press 11/8

• A report from the Blue Green Alliance (United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club partnership) released Wednesday says renewable energy manufacturing could bring 35,000 jobs to Michigan's economy. Gongwer News Service 11/7

• Alternative Energy Summit targets Michigan Backers of Alternative Energy Summit hope to see Michigan at the forefront of technological achievements in alternative energy. Detroit Free Press 11/4

• Expert: Investment in lake a first step to growth A national investment to clean up the Great Lakes will pay for itself four-fold and help speed the transition of the nation’s Rust Belt into the Freshwater Coast, according to a recent report from the Brookings Institution. Duluth News Tribune 11/1

• Groups debate lakes compact Support in northwest Indiana for the pending Great Lakes Compact may hinge on whether state water conservation measures are voluntary or mandatory. Merrillville Post-Tribune 9/28

• Green Bay sees signs of harbor prosperity New signs identifying terminal operators in the Port of Green Bay started going up this week as part of an ongoing effort to raise the profile of port businesses and their impact on the community and region. Green Bay Press-Gazette 9/28

• Which businesses has Grist deemed the greenest? Find out which 15 companies made topped the list of eco-friendly commerce.

• Fewer freighters are traversing the Saginaw River as the economy and water levels keep them at bay As of Monday, only 172 freighters have come up the Saginaw River this season, a drop from 244 in 2005 and 198 in 2006. The Bay City Times 9/18

• EPA rejects Waukegan plan The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rejected Waukegan's demand that dredging of the city's harbor be limited to prevent large industrial ships from continuing to use the waterway. Chicago Tribune 8/23

• Towns must make case to state for lake water Northern Illinois municipalities seeking access to Lake Michigan water must individually prove their community water needs and receive state approval. Lake County News-Sun 9/26

[edit] Clean-up Efforts

• Sky-high dioxin level taints Saginaw River. The discovery of the highest level of the feared chemical compound dioxin ever in the Great Lakes region has prompted the EPA to order an emergency cleanup in the Saginaw River in Saginaw and the state to issue new warnings about eating fish from the river. Detroit Free Press 11/15

• EPA reports violations at BP refinery. Federal regulators have alleged that petroleum giant BP PLC violated Clean Air Act provisions by making unapproved changes to its Lake Michigan oil refinery that significantly boosted the plant's pollution emissions. South Bend Tribune 12/1

• Oil giant BP struggles to find ways of cutting emissions. Amidst a planned $3.6 billion expansion of their Indiana refinery, the company may cancel the project if they can't figure out what they will do with their increased waste emissions. Indiana Star 11/23

• Creek cleanup yields WWII munitions A recent cleanup of Lake Michigan tributary Trail Creek resulted in the discovery of about 15.5 tons of metal debris, including artillery shells from WWII. South Bend Tribune 9/30

• Creek wildlife makes return 14 years later More than 1,500 acres of the watershed of Fish Creek, a Lake Erie tributary, have been cleaned up and restored as a healthy stream and habitat following a devastating fuel spill years ago. The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette 9/28

• Critics dismiss Ottawa, Ontario pledges for lakes Months of waiting for a blueprint for cleaning up the Great Lakes have ended in disappointment for environmentalists who say the latest pledges from Ottawa and the Ontario government promise to deliver very little. London Free Press 8/20/07

• What's dumped in the lake? A senator's inquiry has uncovered that no organization is keeping comprehensive statistics of pollution releases and water quality permits for Lake Michigan. Merrillville Post-Tribune 9/12

[edit] Plants and Wildlife

• More dead birds wash up on Grand Traverse Bay Testing shows they died from Botulism poisoning, often brought on by Zebra and Quagga mussels. Traverse City Record-Eagle 11/13

• More Ash Borer beetles found in U.P. Michigan’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) response team confirmed an infestation at Straits State Park in St. Ignace. The Daily Press 11/9

• Beekeepers still on edge After losing nearly 90 percent of his honeybees two years ago, commercial beekeeper Scott Barnes says he's back in business, bigger and better than ever. But, he cautions quickly, that's for now. Kalamazoo Gazette 11/5

• Birds' changing behavior is warning of global warming Increased numbers of warm climate birds in Ohio are providing local evidence to support expert opinions that changing bird behavior relates to climate change. The Plain Dealer 9/30

[edit] Species Health

• In a study by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, emissions from coal-burning power plants cause pollution among wild caught fish sold commercially. A separate study also showed that wild-caught fish sold to the public contained higher levels of mercury, arsenic and selenium than fish caught near former industrial areas of Lake Erie. Environmental News Service 11/8

• Virus killing Great Lakes giant Fall is when anglers flock to the Great Lakes in search of the muskellunge, or muskie, but this year's muskie season is clouded by bad news of a new fish disease and invasive species crowding muskie habitat. The Environment Report 10/8

• No simple solution for Great Lakes muck, scientists say Scientists continue to study the algae outbreaks that litter Great Lakes shorelines with stinky muck, and may be responsible for die-offs of water birds. Booth Newspapers 10/4

Climate change, VHS stress fishery As result of global warming and the threat of VHS, the $4 billion Great Lakes commercial and sport fisheries will see significant shifts in population and habitat. Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter 9/25

[edit] Invasive Species

• Bay water quality high, but diligence needed By improving water quality, preserving habitats, addressing aquatic invasive species, the economy of Little Traverse Bay could receive a boost. Petoskey News-Review 10/4

Fighting the phragmites A federally funded project in Saginaw Bay aims to show the proper way to attack phragmites, invasive plants that grow up to 15 feet tall and crowd out native plants. The Bay City Times 9/26'

[edit] Great Lakes Recreation

• DNR finds it doesn't own park The fate of Pigeon Creek Park in northern Olive Township is no longer in the hands of state government. Holland Sentinel 11/14

• Wonderful Walpole For thousands of years, indigenous, or native, peoples have lived on many of the world's islands. Native Great Lakes Indians inhabit a cluster of islands so close to Detroit that on clear days, they can see the Renaissance Center from their beaches. Detroit Free Press 11/6

• Event showcases changing culture in sailing A few years ago, it was an unusual sight to see a woman skippering a sailboat on the Detroit River or Lake St. Clair. Detroit Free Press 9/5

[edit] National Environmental News

• House OKs 35 mpg rule The U.S. House approved a landmark energy bill Thursday that increases fuel economy standards by 40 percent by 2020 but the measure faces substantial hurdles in the Senate and a likely veto by the White House. Detroit News 12/7

• Exploring the costs of bottled water. CBS in Chicago explores the environmental and social phenomenon of purchasing bottled water. WBBM Chicago 11/19

• Power plant may turn to wood As Escanaba studies how to meet future energy needs, officials are considering the possibility of using biomass, such as wood, to create power. The Daily Press 11/8

• Heed global warnings Don't let political ideology blind nation to growing threats of climate change. Detroit Free Press editorial 11/8

• Green changes in store for Chicago The nation's largest commercial building and its tallest skyscraper - both in downtown Chicago - will be retrofitted with energy-saving features to help reduce global warming. The State Journal-Register 11/8

• Ethanol under fire; Environmental group scrutinizes emissions Touted as a "green" fuel supported by both the federal and provincial governments, ethanol and the facilities that produce it have received little criticism in Ontario. But that may soon change. The Kingston Whig-Standard 11/6

• States try new approach to preserving oceans, Great Lakes An environmental organization is advocating "ecosystem-based management" to help coordinate environmental regulations and avoid opposing goals. WSTM-TV 9/19

• Benefits of cleaning Great Lakes cited A road map to restore the Great Lakes has been circulating in Congress for nearly two years, but so far lawmakers have largely balked at the route. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 9/5

[edit] ================================================

• 'Foreign fish species could eat up local economy' says one report out of Chicago. The Asian Carp is moving up the Mississippi River into Lake Michigan, systematically taking a dent out of the regional economy. Read about how. Medill Reports 10/31

• Droughts in southeast U.S. could bring jobs to Michigan one report suggests. The devastating water problem down south could force Georgia jobs up north. Muskegon Chronicle 11/1

• Earth Voyager seeks local home With Earth Voyager's first season as the flagship of the Friends of the St. Clair River Watershed over, the nonprofit group still is looking for help to make its plans for the 60-foot trimaran a reality next year. The Port Huron Times-Herald 10/31

• Ohio EPA reinstates permit changes for FDS coke plant on Maumee Bay The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency yesterday reinstated several of the major 2005 permit modifications that a state panel stripped away from FDS Coke Plant LLC in June, including one that attempts to cap the proposed coking facility's mercury emissions at 51 pounds a year.The Toledo Blade 10/31

• Bill could prohibit public pier jumping on Great Lakes A recently passed Senate bill in Michigan could prohibit jumps from public piers and structures along the Great Lakes and connecting waters.Grand Haven Tribune 10/31

• Scientists in Duluth, Minnesota are calling Lake Superior an "early victim of climate change." Its average winter ice cover is 50% less than it was 100 years ago, and lake temperature averages are increasing twice as fast as air temperature averages. Minnesota Star Tribune 10/30

• It's been 35 years since the Clean Water Act passed, and about 40 percent of rivers and lakes are still too polluted for fishing or swimming. See why that legislation has fallen short in a Q&A with Christy Leavitt, a clean water expert at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Indiana Star 10/28

• Republicans unveil Green Michigan Initiative, which they say would protect the Great Lakes, expand recycling, reduce waste imports and encourage energy alternatives. Capital News Service 10/28

• States eye lakes water management Great Lakes water levels are near historic lows. And with droughts in the Southeast and Southwest, the pressure to turn to the Great Lakes as a source of fresh water is growing.Merrillville Post-Tribune 10/26

• Lake areas labeled critical habitats Ten areas of Lake Wissota have been designated critical habitat area by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, triggering some more intense review of activities there and perhaps new restrictions for property owners. The Chippewa Herald 10/26

• Massive bird die-off tied to invasive snail More than 25,000 birds — mostly coots and scaup — have died on the upper Mississippi River since 2002 as a result of eating faucet snails that carry an intestinal parasite, according to federal wildlife officials.Winona Daily News 10/26

• Wisconsin gains 28th shipwreck on historic registry The wooden schooner Daniel Lyons, which has rested at the bottom of Lake Michigan for nearly 130 years, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Chicago Tribune 10/26

• Officials discuss Niagara River cleanup A host of officials from U.S. and Canadian environmental agencies recently met to discuss 20 years of successes in cleaning up the Niagara River and the challenges that still lay ahead. Niagara Gazette 10/25

• Earth hurtling towards dangerous environmental "tipping point", UN report warns The planet is in danger of crossing a "tipping point" of irreversible damage to its atmosphere, climate, water and ecosystems unless governments can develop comprehensive strategies to promote growth and sustainability, warns a new report. The Windsor Star 10/25

• What's going on in the time between water going down your drain and coming back out your faucet? In London, Ontario, the city is adding a chemical to water treatment facilities that will reduce harmful levels of lead in the drinking water. Read more about. London Free Press 10/20
• Great Lakes Bioneers Conference was held in Traverse City, Michigan Oct. 20 on the campus of Northwestern Michigan University. Hundreds of visitors were informed on being proactive in the fields of sustainability, local organic foods, water quality and wind energy, to name a few. Traverse City Record-Eagle 10/21
• New Mexico Gov. and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson proposes sharing Great Lakes water, Michigan not amused.
• Great Lakes water levels on the decline. Rainfall is not bringing them up. See what this means for residents near Superior and Ontario and freight deliveries down the St. Lawrence Seaway.

• Dow Chemical to negotiate Tittabawassee river cleanup. Check out the Tittabawassee River Watch for a background on the river and its health.
• The "Envision Michigan" writing competition is a chance for students and also citizens to win some cash prizes and scholarship money. Entries may include essays, photos, videos or podcasts describing what they love most about Michigan and how they envision the state's future. Other prizes include vacations to popular Michigan destinations. This competition is sponsored The Center for Michigan
• Politics and the Great Lakes Thanks to the successful bipartisan push to give Michigan more clout in the presidential nomination process, the Great Lakes are getting more early — and hopefully sustained — attention on the campaign trail than in the past. Escanaba Daily Press 10/24

• Water resource officials protest Minnesota economic disclosure law

A new state law requires members of watershed management organizations, watershed districts and soil and water conservation boards to disclose economic interests. St. Paul Pioneer Press 10/24

• EPA finds problems with mill permit The Environmental Protection Agency has found more problems with Indiana's proposed permit for a U.S. Steel mill on Lake Michigan in Gary. The Indianapolis Star 10/19

• Drain hole theory explored The International Joint Commission, which oversees boundary waters issues between the two countries, said it will expedite its study of the "drain hole" theory on the St. Clair River to find out whether ongoing erosion since a 1960s Army Corps of Engineers dredging project has caused lake levels to plummet. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 10/19

• Tories vow lakes cleanup The Conservative government will kick in money to clean up the Great Lakes, and resuscitate elements of the old Clean Air Act dealing with standards for renewable fuel sources and improved air quality, Environment Minister John Baird says. The Toronto Star 10/18

• Parkland swap hits U.S. snag The National Park Service nixed a controversial plan to use part of Benton Harbor's Lake Michigan beach for a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. The proposal was the centerpiece of a 530-acre, $500-million resort and luxury home development. Detroit Free Press 10/18

• Al Gore and the UN Panel on Climate Change win Nobel Peace Prize

NM Governor wants water Gov. Bill Richardson, Democratic Presidential candidate, says states in the northern tier, particularly Wisconsin and Michigan, should share fresh water supplies to those in the southwest.Detroit Free Press 10/11

Fueling future hopes When the 45-million-gallon-a-year Lake Erie Biofuels plant reaches full production -- which is expected sometime in December or January -- this plant will be among the nation's five largest. Erie Times-News 10/10

Sturgeon die during DNR tagging Eight sturgeon died during a Michigan Department of Natural Resources gill net population estimate survey that was conducted in July.Cheboygan Daily Tribune 10/10

National parks in Great Lakes region need help, report says The National Parks Conservation Association says the Great Lakes parks are suffering from region-wide environmental problems such as air and water pollution. But some also have unique challenges, including decay of archaeological resources.Lansing State Journal 10/9

• Aging docks need Minnesota's help Many of the Twin Ports' docks are showing their age, and need to be repaired or even replaced. Duluth News Tribune 8/20/07

• Dike breaks at disposal site, heightens fears of contamination of Maumee Bay The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said yesterday that an earthen dike around a disposal facility it operates on Maumee Bay’s Grassy Island failed last weekend. The Toledo Blade 8/17

• Boat building school ready to set sail On the outskirts of this northern Lake Huron town, located in a region known for its perch fishing, island cottages and classic boat culture, Dave Lesh and handful of dedicated others are hard at work on an idea they hope will float. Grand Rapids Press 8/17

• Groups challenge WDNR on wells Wisconsin's top environmental protection agency is violating the state constitution by not assessing potential damage to waterways from high-volume shallow aquifer wells taking the same water that replenishes lakes, streams and wetlands, according to a document circulated Thursday. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 8/16

• Steel mill proposes sludge landfill near Lake Michigan Mittal Steel is seeking permission to build a nearly 75-acre landfill for sludge from its mill on company property less than a mile from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Booth Newspapers 8/15

• EPA will ask BP to offset pollution Insisting that they cannot stop BP from dumping more toxic waste into Lake Michigan, federal officials will instead try to persuade the oil company on Wednesday.

• Ohio bill seeks controls on ballast discharge Ohio would be empowered to regulate the discharge of ballast water from oceangoing ships into portions of Lake Erie under state control under a bill to be introduced today in the Ohio House. Toledo Blade 8/15

• Dredged river draining 2.5 billion gallons a day from Michigan, Huron, study says This summer's distressingly low water levels on the upper Great Lakes have a lot of people scratching their heads, but a group of Canadian property owners is pointing the finger straight at the Army Corps of Engineers - an agency it says is largely responsible for a 3-foot drop in the long-term average levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 8/15

• Michigan officials tout nuclear power A new wave of nuclear power plants may be coming to address the country's growing energy needs, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Tuesday. South Bend Tribune 8/9

• Erie beaches top U.S. list of risky spots Ohio's Lake Erie beaches last year posed the greatest health threat to swimmers of all the beaches in the country, according to a report released Tuesday. Akron Beacon Journal 8/9

• DEQ targets septic fields Township officials said they intend to fight a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality lawsuit that would require construction of a sewer system to keep homes from spilling sewage into Lake Huron’s tributaries. Times Herald 8/9

• Neighbors cry foul as megafarms increase Floyd and Mary Lou McVay enjoyed country living for more than three decades until a livestock factory was built next door. The Detroit News 7/29

• Long green seen in algae in city lake When Jennifer Jackowski thinks about Madison's lakes, she sees both a problem and an opportunity. The problem -- algae -- is not new. Wisconsin State Journal 7/30

• Mighty Mac kicks off party for its 50th Birthday Fifty years ago this fall, the Mackinac Bridge opened for traffic, making the trip between the state's two peninsulas as easy as a 10-minute car ride and creating a functional sculpture. Kalamazoo Gazette 7/26

• Water technology seen as way to replenish region's economy Some 1.1 billion people worldwide don't have safe drinking water. Nearly 4,000 children die each day from water-borne illnesses, according to the World Water Council. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7/26

• Group says Great Lakes need more protection A national water conservation group leader fears Michigan could lose its Great Lakes water resources, unless the state Legislature adopts measures introduced Wednesday in the state House. The Oakland Press 7/26

• Lake Erie is getting warmer and smaller Lake Erie is hot. OK, just slowly warming -- and drawing increasingly heated interest among beaker-bearing scientists, criss-crossing our lake this summer looking for answers to questions about temperature and related matters. The Cleveland Plain Dealer 7/26

• Lakes issues highlights federal, state differences In his first term, President George W. Bush formed a multi-agency Great Lakes Task Force and vowed to give the lakes increased attention and resources. The Traverse City Record Eagle 7/26

• Refinery will try to soften protests The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to send a strong message opposing plans by international energy company BP to dump more pollutants into Lake Michigan when the company expands its oil refinery there. The Detroit Free Press 7/26

• MI Supreme Court votes 4-3 to narrow environmental law used in water fight By a 4-3 vote, the Michigan Supreme Court today narrowed a landmark environmental protection law that allowed state residents to sue to block development projects they think would harm the environment. AP 7/25

• Wind, solar to help fuel two National Guard bases Two National Guard bases in northwest Ohio could begin to be powered by wind or solar energy by next year, thanks to $7.1 million in federal funding. Toledo Blade 7/24

• Mayor says chemicals too close to drinking water Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. says he's concerned that the BP Whiting Refinery wants to put more chemicals into Lake Michigan near the intake pipe for city drinking water. Northwest Indiana Times 7/24

• Voinovich, Brown target invasive species in Lake Erie Several state and federal lawmakers from Ohio vowed on Monday to step up legislative efforts to stop invasive aquatic species from reaching Lake Erie waters through ship ballast water. Cleveland Plain-Dealer 7/24

• Toxin kills endangered birds Type E botulism enters the Great Lakes food chain through fish like the round goby, and has killed thousands of birds this summer, including endangered species. The Environment Report 7/23

• Muddied waters Residents and scientists are aware of the negative effects to Lake Michigan created by runoff from farms fertilized with manure, yet regulators say their hands are tied on testing. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7/22

• llinois puts pressure on BP Officials hope to shame energy giant BP into backing out of an Indiana exemption plan allowing them to dump more ammonia and sludge into Lake Michigan. Chicago Tribune 7/22

• Detroit delayed water warning Mailed notices received in recent weeks by Macomb County residents warn that an equipment malfunction experienced in January and February could have affected the quality of their drinking water. Macomb Daily 7/17

• Wood-boring insect known as Sirex Woodwasp detected in Michigan A wood-boring insect that kills pine trees and also has turned up in New York, Pennsylvania and Ontario has been detected in Michigan, state and federal officials said Monday.AP 7/16

• Stuck in the beach muck 'Beach muck.' Go ahead and Google it. The first page that pops up is Bay County's Web site and a public health advisory to avoid the mucky shoreline along Saginaw Bay, where the beaches have seen better days. The Bay City Times 7/15

• Swish and spit for ships New research shows the effectiveness of ships rinsing their ballast tanks before entering the Great Lakes in reducing the transfer of invasive species. Listen to this story and others produced as part of The Environment Report.

• State: help stop deadly fish virusDavid Herrington is the kind of responsible fisherman the state Department of Natural Resources wants on the front lines in its war against a virulent new fish disease. Detroit News 7/16

• BP gets break on dumping in lake The massive BP oil refinery in Whiting, Ind., is planning to dump significantly more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan, running counter to years of efforts to clean up the Great Lakes. Chicago Tribune 7/15

• Water talks can proceed In a significant decision for urban vs. suburban water usage, New Berlin in Waukesha County received state authorization Friday to launch negotiations with the Milwaukee Water Works for the purchase of Lake Michigan water for use outside the Great Lakes basin. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7/14

• Researchers urge Great Lakes help U.S. and Canadian researchers yesterday urged tougher rules for ships plying the Great Lakes in an effort to reduce the invasion of damaging foreign species. London Free Press 7/13

• Forbidden shore could go public The nearly two miles of off-limits waterfront property at Selfridge Air National Guard Base along Lake St. Clair's Anchor Bay could be opened to fishing, biking and other recreational uses under a proposal announced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. Detroit Free Press 7/13

• Birds blamed for bad beaches Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health has posted three beaches as unsafe for swimming in the past month. And the reason our water is so foul is, well, waterfowl. Kingston This Week 7/13

• Report says Great Lakes says boats float $16 billion yearly Eight years after Congress ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to figure out just how valuable Great Lakes recreational boating is to the regional economy, the agency has yet to formally release the figure that many believe could significantly influence how federal dollars are allocated for Great Lakes navigation projects. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 7/13

• Great Lakes cities vow to cut water use by 2015 A coalition of U.S. and Canadian cities along the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River, including Toronto and Chicago, vowed on Thursday to cut water consumption 15 percent by 2015. Reuters 7/12

• Ugly lamprey teach important lessons With a gloved hand, I reached into the tank of water and pulled out a Sea Lamprey. I managed to hang on to it for all of about two seconds before it started writhing ... flexing ... turning ... reaching ... Detroit Free Press 7/9

• Who gets Great Lakes water? For the first time, state legislatures in the Great Lakes region have a set of laws in front of them that could comprehensively define how and where they can use Great Lakes water. The Environment Report 7/9

• An underwater fence to stop invasive species] A century ago, engineers blasted the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal out of limestone to reverse the Chicago River, an unprecedented engineering feat that linked Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River. Washington Post 7/9

• New rules won't keep sewage out of lakes Toxic raw sewage could be dumped into the Great Lakes for five more years due to a loophole in new federal regulations, environmental groups complain. The Toronto Star 7/9

• Legislation seeks restrictions on sewage dumping into lakes Suggesting that it's time to stop dumping sewage into our drinking water, legislators on Thursday announced a bipartisan bill to protect the Great Lakes from such pollution.Lake County News-Sun 7/6

• Butting out on Ontario beaches unlikely Some Michigan officials are moving to rid beaches of their most common litter -- cigarette butts -- by pushing to ban smoking on the beach. London Free Press 7/6

• Cool Globes promotes action against warming Think global warming and then think fun. It's not such an odd juxtaposition. At least that's the thinking behind the latest public art project in Chicago called "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet." NPR 7/2

• Taking notes form a dragonfly larva: Great Lakes Environmental Journalists soak in their subject Understanding environmental science and politics in the Great Lakes is like trying to hang on to a writhing sea lamprey. When you finally get a grip, it’s a strangely satisfying but temporary sensation. Lansing City Pulse 7/5

• Will there be enough water and will it be clean? You don't have to travel around the world to find challenging issues of water quantity and quality. They're right in your own back yard, whether you live in Mundelein or Wilmette. The Great Lakes are being depleted at a faster rate than they are naturally replenished, said Max Muller of Environment Illinois. Pioneer Press 7/5

• Lawmakers consider $500 fine for pier-jumping Standing on South Haven's south pier, still dripping from a plunge into Lake Michigan, 44-year-old Ed Carter is ready to go again. Grand Rapids Press 7/5

• Study says Great Lakes fish getting worse Toxins that once only surfaced in big fish are making their way down the food chain, a sign that the Great Lakes are getting even more polluted, a new report says. The Toronto Star 7/5

• High speed rail may link Midwest Kelly Allen is a senior regional manager for Duke Realty who drives to Cincinnati 15 to 20 times a year on business and would love to make the trip by train. Allen, 29, an East Coast native, grew up riding trains to New York City and Washington. Indianapolis Star 7/5

• Canada reviews waste storage The Canadian Minister of the Environment announced Friday that a proposal for a deep underground storage of nuclear waste not far from Lake Huron's shore should be studied by a review panel. Times Herald 7/5

• Proposed laws to protect state water resources New laws proposed by state House Democrats would protect the Great Lakes' water supply from the groundwater up to make it harder to divert beyond its own drainage basin. Detroit Free Press 7/3

• From Beaches to Boardrooms, Adopt-a-Beach Makes Waves Frustrated by the multitude of cigarette butts littering Great Lakes beaches, Adopt-a-Beach volunteers are prompting policy changes that reverberate far beyond the beach – most recently triggering a smoking ban at six beaches in Ottawa County, Mich. Alliance for the Great Lakes 7/3

• Rough sailing for state's boating industry The undertow of Michigan's lagging economy and high gasoline prices are tugging at the state's boating industry. Boat sales and registrations in Michigan are down over the last couple of years, and boating experts say that's largely due to the state's economic woes. Booth Newspapers 7/1

• Ballast bill will miss boat Environmental groups said Friday that a measure approved by a congressional committee to force ocean-going ships to sanitize their ballast water before entering the Great Lakes is the right policy, but would come too late. Detroit Free Press 6/30

• Invasive decorative plants targeted Bamboo-like plants that grow taller than adults have choked out native plants in a marsh that once teemed with life at Maumee Bay State Park along Lake Erie. Washington Post 6/29

• Fox River cleanup to require less dredging The cleanup of the Fox River in northeastern Wisconsin, the largest removal of toxins in the United States, will include more capping and less dredging than an earlier plan, federal and state pollution agencies said Thursday. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/28

• Common laundry chemical can mess up the sex of fish, maybe do more damage Getting rid of that nasty stain on your shirt can do some nasty things to Great Lakes fish. The Bay City Times 6/28

• Farmers cleaning up to protect Lake Erie Farmers are getting help from a government program that pays farmers to keep dirt, fertilizer and pesticides in their fields.

Farmer Kurt Heyman has several thousand acres of Huron County farmland cultivated in corn. WKYC News 6/28

• A tradition for Toledo's future The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority approved June 28 the construction of an ethanol plant on the Maumee River. If built, the plant would be the first ethanol plant with direct access to the Great Lakes. Toledo Free Press 6/28

• Bill funds a barrier to stop high-flying carp Funding for an electric barrier considered crucial to keep high-flying Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes passed the U.S. House late Wednesday. Chicago Tribune 6/29

• Visclosky secures $2 million for Northwest Indiana Lakeshore U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky on Wednesday said he had secured $2.6 million for lakeshore and other local projects.The Northwest Indiana Times 6/28

• Hydro will flow from Welland Canal A local construction company is betting $20 million on a plan to turn water from the Welland Canal into electricity.The Hamilton Spectator 6/28

• Wisconsin to add 10,000 acres to far flung natural areas Gov. Jim Doyle will announce major land acquisitions across Wisconsin today, totaling more than $15 million and spreading over more than 10,000 acres. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel 6/28

• Tough standards for ballast water make it into House bill All ships entering the Great Lakes would be required to treat their ballast water to kill invasive species starting in 2009 under a bill that passed a U.S. House Subcommittee on Tuesday. Duluth News Tribune 6/27

• Evidence points to more barrels dumped into Lake Superior during the Cold WarAn investigation into the Department of Defense barrels dumped into Lake Superior during the Cold War is turning up new information.91.3 KUWS on BusinessNorth.com 6/26

• University of Wisconsin gets new bioenergy center New research centers in Wisconsin, Tennessee and California will try to develop new ways of turning switchgrass, poplar trees and other plants into fuel under a $375 million plan. Piping plovers, the most endangered bird in the Great Lakes region, have returned to Lake Michigan for their breeding season. Appleton Post Crescent 6/27
• Efforts continue to help protect piping plovers Kalamazoo Gazette 6/26
• Scientists have formula for river cleanup Environmental scientists are finalizing plans for the first cleanup of the Grand Calumet River in the heart of the city. Northwest Indiana Times 6/26
• Farm's new juice At the Crave Brothers Dairy Farm, they grow corn and soybeans on 1,600 rolling acres of prime Wisconsin farmland, raise a herd of 750 dairy cows and make cheese. But this year, the four Crave brothers added a new line to their family-run agribusiness. They're turning manure into enough electricity to power 200 homes. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/26
• Federal grant intended to support Lake Michigan research he National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded a $756,547 grant to the University of Illinois to help pay for Great Lakes research, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Monday. Chicago Tribune 6/25
• 15 Green Politicians and 15 Green Musicians and Bands From mayors to heads of state, politicians the world over are going green. In the world of music, who's tour bus runs on biodiesel and who gives away autographed compost bins. Canadian politician Stéphane Dion and singer Sarah Harmer made the list. How'd the Americans do? Grist.org 6/26
• Great Lakes' past may offer clues on climate From one view of history, the Great Lakes are near record lows, approaching the bottom-scraping frustration of the mid-1960s. From another, longer view, though, the lakes are nearly as high as they've ever been, just a few feet below the high-water mark reached at the end of the Little Ice Age in the 1850s. Chicago Tribune 6/21

• Preparing for the worst As the county slept Monday night an F4 tornado ripped through the Naval Station Great Lakes, destroying the base's fuel storage facility and causing a spill of two million gallons of heating oil, some of it heading to Lake Michigan. Lake County News-Sun 6/21

• Groups to Sue Shipping Companies to Stop Invasive Species Conservation groups led by the National Wildlife Federation today announced their intent to file a citizen suit against several shipping companies that operate in the Great Lakes, demanding compliance with the Clean Water Act. The lawsuit aims to shut the door on aquatic invasive species. National Wildlife Federation 6/21

• Province isn't doing enough to protect water: NDP leader Water is a finite resource that must be carefully conserved, says provincial NDP Leader Howard Hampton. Guelph Mercury 6/20

• Holy Carp! Flying Fish Threaten to Encroach Upon Lake Michigan These fish may seem thrilled as they leap into the air, but local scientists are not exactly jumping for joy at the presence of Asian Carp in the Illinois River. ABC News 6/19

• Water quality being monitored at beaches The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay will monitor water quality at nine area beaches this summer, including three municipal beaches in Leelanau County. Leelanau Enterprise 6/29

• Floating algae mess takes the bloom off nice beach weekend] A beautiful summer weekend at Lake Michigan beaches was slimed by an unusual Cladophora algae bloom that had some people staying out of the unseasonably warm water. But lake experts say the algae was a harmless -- if distasteful -- variety that will disappear with a good breeze or a rainstorm. Muskegon Chronicle 6/18

• City could save green by going green] A long-range renewable energy plan in the works since March could save Battle Creek some green. Tuesday, administrators will present city commissioners with a $3.9 million package for several projects in City Hall and the Police Department that guarantees a return on the investment through energy savings. Battle Creek Enquirer 6/19

• Ontario Premier: Growing public concern hasn't helped Great Lakes] Growing public awareness about the environment has done little to ease the plight of the Great Lakes, where an absence of federal leadership threatens to leave one of Canada’s most treasured resources irreparably damaged, said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. Battle Creek Enquirer 6/19

• Goodbye, Black Lagoon Millions of dollars in cleanups and restoration to the once-contaminated and stigmatized Black Lagoon have helped earn the bay a new name. Detroit News 6/18

• Canada crucial to ailing birdlife A groundbreaking U.S. study that shows "dramatic declines" in the populations of some of North America's "most familiar and beloved birds" cites Canada as co-victim and co-culprit in the losses, but also says this country's vast wilderness will be key to most of the species' recoveries. The Gazette 6/18

• Fish planting continues in Lake Huron] Once the horn sounds it only takes about 30 minutes to empty 120,000 lake trout into Lake Huron. The Alpena News 6/15

• Awash with sun, new state park is urban island oasis The word park conjures up leafy canopies and velvety greenswards. Don't expect either at the new Lakeshore State Park, which has its grand opening at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and a community kick-off at noon Saturday. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 6/18

• Attack of the fishflies The invasion has begun. The army of bugs known as mayflies, fishflies, upwings or spinners began appearing along lakeshore communities several days ago, clinging to walls and dropping into the drinks of bar patrons who sit outside to enjoy the summer weather. Detroit News 6/18

• Foes of UP mine push for protection of trout species With the future of a proposed Upper Peninsula nickel and copper mine under review, a federal agency says it should decide by the end of September whether to spend a year studying a possible threat to a rare trout species. AP 6/18

• Manistee below Tippy Dam lives up to its reputation Anyone who has lived in Michigan for any length of time -- and knows which end of a fishing rod to hold -- knows about the Manistee River below Tippy Dam. Outdoors 6/16

• Study to track Little Black Creek, Mona Lake Toxins Grand Valley State University has received a $346,800 federal grant to study how stormwater runoff affects the movement of contaminated sediments in Little Black Creek. Muskegon Chronicle 6/16

• How Green Chicago? Mayor Richard Daley vowed six years ago to make Chicago a leader in emerging efforts to fight global warming, but city government is churning out more heat-trapping pollution every year. Chicago Tribune 6/18

• Divided Michigan Senate panel passes animal farm bills Most of Michigan's largest livestock and poultry farms could participate in a voluntary program instead of having to apply for environmental permits under legislation before the state Senate. AP 6/14

• America's most polluted beaches You've got your high-tech sunscreen, umbrella and ultra-violet protective bathing suit. You're avoiding the sun during peak exposure hours. You're ready for a health-conscious trip to the shore. MSNBC 6/14

• Exhibit explores lake legends and lore The Grand Traverse Heritage Center launched a new exhibit Saturday celebrating the Maritime Heritage of the Great Lakes State. Grand Traverse Herald 6/14

• The case of the disappearing Great Lake
  Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, has dropped to its lowest level in 81 years, with serious environmental and economic consequences. USA Today 6/14

• Mystery corrosion threatens Duluth Harbor
  

Duluth, the biggest of the Great Lakes ports, has a very big problem. The steel walls that separate the harbor's water from the land are corroding fast and may fail in the near future. KARE-11 Minneapolis 6/14

• Amateur sailors to race under the stars
  

About 40 boats will compete in this weekend's Scotch Bonnet Lighthouse Sailboat Race across Lake Ontario, a nighttime event named for a crumbling ruin at the far end of the course. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 6/14

• Boaters push bill to eliminate permit process
  

As if gas prices topping $3 a gallon aren't enough, Michigan's nearly 1 million registered boaters could face new permit requirements and fees unless legislation pending in the U.S. House is adopted. The Grand Rapids Press 6/14

• Fish disease regulations for New York finalized
  

Restrictions on bait fish, designed to prevent the spread of the VHS virus in New York waters, have been in effect for months, but underwent several modifications before being finalized this week. The Ithaca Journal 6/14

• Harbor project worries workers
  

Employees of a gypsum plant on Waukegan Harbor are concerned about a dredging project that, while designed to clean up pollution, could also close the harbor to the commercial vessels their jobs depend on. Chicago Tribune 6/14

• Michigan official complete rules on bait fish movement

• Feds narrow law's reach over wetlands
  The Bush administration has made it harder for non-permanent streams and nearby wetlands to gain protection under the federal Clean Water Act. New guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers requires that for such waters to receive protection, they must have a "significant nexus" with the intermittent stream or wetland and a traditional waterway. AP 6/13

• State's turtles need careful assistance Biologists hope people can give Michigan's turtles a hand this summer -- without losing fingers. The problem? Predators, loss of habitat and cars are taking their toll on the state's population of snapping, soft-shell and other turtles, now in their breeding seasons. Kalamazoo Gazette 6/13

• Beach warnings may be overdone

• No rush for Lake Erie pipeline

• Chicago Park District floats plan for 3 harbors

• Dredging of St Marys River/Tannery Bay to resume

• Study: Radioactive tritium in Great Lakes putting children, pregnant women at risk

• Beach gets no smoking section

• Ohio's north shore home to natural and man-made adventure

• Taking the wind out of energy sales

• Luna Pier residents plagued with thousands of fish, foul odors

• First answers in the offing about state park beach muck

• Disease hits Lake Michigan - Deadly fish virus confirmed in Wisconsin trout

• Torch Lake subject of search by Michigan DEQ

• Alga growth concerns Michigan water experts - Mussels can help the plant thrive

• Lake levels sink, state fears rise - Superior's record low likely to hit shipping, recreation

• Midland developer, EPA disagree on water rules

• State of the Great Lakes Report highlights progress and set backs

• Lake Michigan beaches closed due to bacteria

• Researchers use red dye to trace the path of water from Grand River into Lake Michigan
• Rep mulls Great Lakes drilling
• Fish virus monitored in Great Lakes

• Superior Warming

• Underwater Fence to be built between US and Canada

• Great Lakes Water Compact Tests Regional Unity

• Miller Park waste found flowing into Lake Michigan

• Waukegan Harbor cleanup in jeopardy

• Sewers may be polluting rec areas

• Editorial: Lakeshore has stake in cleaning up and protecting Great Lakes

• Poaching threatens yellow perch in Lake Erie, state says