Great Lakes News

<> Lake Michigan oil spill estimate doubles in size, possibly up to 1,600 gallons, BP reports - Company representatives now estimate between 630 and 1,638 gallons of oil were recovered since the spill at BP's Whiting Refinery on Monday.

<> UM plans study on adapting to changing water levels - Associated Press - The University of Michigan is planning a wide-ranging study of how people and businesses in the Great Lakes region can adapt to changing water levels.

<> Effort to restore Lake Michigan's yellow perch population needs fresh ideas - The Lake Michigan Perch Summit was held Saturday in Chicago, Ill. outlining changes to Lake Michigan's ecosystem which have affected Yellow Perch as well as different state's programs to protect the fish.

<> Freighter ships out, ushering in Great Lakes maritime season - The Great Lakes shipping season began on Tuesday with the opening of the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Wednesday afternoon, Erie's first freighter of the season, departed the Erie shipyard, where it had been dry-docked. . .

<> Expert: Runoff spurs Lake Erie algal blooms - Dr. Jeffery Reuter of the Stone Laboratory called for a 40 percent reduction in phosphorus loading at Tuesday's Lake Erie farm forum saying 2013 and 2011 have been the only algal blooms known to last through October. . .

<> Kasich's Great Lakes pledge $10M - Ohio Gov. Kasich administration's plan to spend $10 million over two years on possible alternatives to continued open-lake dumping of channel dredging was lauded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's top Great Lakes. . .