Great Lakes News

<> New Report Outlines Climate Change Effects in Great Lakes Region - A collaborative group from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University have released a new report on the predicted effects of climate change on the Great Lakes region.

<> Creeping Up on Unsuspecting Shores: The Great Lakes, in a Welcome Turnaround - Scientists attribute the resurgence of water levels to an unusually cold winter that limited evaporation as well as heavy precipitation in the winter and spring. . .

<> Warning of 'disaster,' two Cayuga County state reps seek rejection of Lake Ontario plan - Two of Cayuga County's state representatives want Congress to reject a plan developed by the International Joint Commission that recommends allowing water levels to vary naturally in order to restore Lake Ontario's wetlands. . .

Great Lakes News

<> Levin introduces bill to assess Great Lakes marine sanctuary sites

• S.2556 - Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act Legislative Details

<> Study: Low Great Lakes water levels will be costly - A study finds that if water levels remain low on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River they will have a negative economic impact on the region that could reach $18 billion by 2050.

• Council of the Great Lakes Region website

<> Great Lakes communities struggle against proposed nuclear waste facility - As the approval process for the Deep Geologic Repository, or DGR, nears an end, some concerned citizens have started a petition asking lawmakers in Canada, as well as the United States, to block the approval of the proposed. . .

<> Algae blooms act as bodyguards for bacteria in Great Lakes - University at Buffalo researchers have found that green algae in the Great Lakes not only protect bacteria from destruction by the sun's ultraviolet rays, but can feed these organisms, allowing bacteria populations to grow. . .

<> Great Lakes conference talks climate concerns in region - The University's Graham Sustainability Institute, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation and Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities, held a conference at the University Tuesday through Thursday on issues of climate. . .

Great Lakes News

<> Senator Stabenow Appointed Vice Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was appointed as a Vice Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, which is a bipartisan organization that works to protect the Great Lakes' ecosystem and develop the region's economy. Sens. Stabenow and Rob Portman (R-OH) were appointed to the newly created positions and will serve with Co-Chairs Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

<> Farmers board schooner to learn of effects of runoff pollution - Monroe, Mich., farmers and their families braved a swarm of mayflies, rough weather and the choppy waters of Lake Erie to learn more about Great Lakes pollution that could stem from their fields.

<> PCB levels in Lake Michigan salmon continue to decline - A study by researchers from the Wis. Dept. of Natural Resources shows that concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been falling in Lake Michigan salmon since the industrial chemicals were prohibited in the 1970s

<> Toxic algae, now in East Fork Lake, will be part of Ohio's future, expert says - Lake Erie is going to continue to see huge, harmful algae blooms over the next century, experts say.

<> New USGS videos on Asian carp control tools - See how scientists from the USGS, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Southern Illinois University combined multiple Asian carp control technologies during field tests in a backwater of the Illinois River. Two video podcasts. . .

Great Lakes News

<> ACRCC Releases 2014 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework - Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced a coordinated strategy to protect the Great Lakes from silver and bighead carp. . .

<> Doubling nuclear waste site won't boost risk, says safety regulator - Hearings are already under way before a federal review panel on a proposal by Ontario Power Generation to excavate a disposal site for 200,000 cubic meters of low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste near Kincardine [article includes links to details].

<> Climate change to profoundly alter Great Lakes region, summary report says - Intense rainstorms, floods and heat waves will become more common in the Great Lakes region due to climate change in the coming decades, and ice-cover ...

<> 10th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference - September 9-11. Hosted by the Healing Our Waters®- Great Lakes Coalition. Early Bird Registration Ends July 31, 2014.

<> COMMENTARY: Ontario Government Premier Kathleen Wynne must act to protect the Great Lakes - When the Ontario government returns following the election, Premier Kathleen Wynne needs to address the challenges facing the Great Lakes, particularly declining water levels and invasive species.

<> Not as bad as the '70s, but alewives are piling up on the beaches again - If the water temperature changes quickly, alewives die off. Some years are worse than others. And this year -- at least anecdotally -- appears to be one of them.

<> Reminder: Great Lakes Fishery Commission RFP - The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is now soliciting full proposals for its Science Transfer Program. Deadline July 15, 2014.

<> FY2014 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative RFA - In late June or early July, EPA expects to announce a Request For Applications (RFA) requesting the submission of grant applications for over $20 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding in support of the GLRI Action Plan. Full applications are expected to be due approximately 30 days after the RFA is published.

Great Lakes News

<> Watershed year? Lake Michigan charter fishery braces for uncertain future amid ecological changes, industry challenges - This summer could be a telling season for the salmon fishery in Lake Michigan and the lakeshore economy that relies on the industry for tourism.

<> Lake Huron floor study - An expert from the University of Western Ontario says studies of the floor of Lake Huron have revealed a number of surprises, including the potential for tsunamis.

<> EPA and New York State Announce Ban on Dumping Sewage from Boats into Lake Erie - (New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation declared the New York side of the Lake Erie shore line a no discharge zone, which means that boats. . .

<> 45 years later: Cuyahoga River pollution much lower than 'the day the river burned' - On June 22, 1969, Ohio's Cuyahoga River caught fire (again), sparking a national debate about environmental standards. . .

<> Despite funding setback, Lake Erie wind project pushes ahead - Developers of an Ohio offshore wind energy project say it will proceed despite losing out last month on one of three $47-million 4-year grants from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Great Lakes News

<> Fishery advisors call for replacing oil pipes in the Straits of Mackinac, MI - A group of U.S. and Canadian citizens that advises the Great Lakes Fishery Commission says an aging pipeline under the Mackinac Bridge should be replaced. They say there's too much danger of a "catastrophic" oil spill in an "especially sensitive area" with fast-moving currents and frequent ice cover.

<> Exhibition looks at Detroit River, Great Lakes - A new exhibition explores the ways that people have interacted with and affected the ecosystem of the Detroit River and the Great Lakes.

<> Proposed floating Lake Michigan island exceeds funding goal - The pitch for a floating entertainment center about a half-mile off Chicago's shore is gaining the public's support -- and dollars

<> Great Lakes mayors want tougher oil shipment rules - An organization representing mayors of cities in the Great Lakes region says the U.S. and Canada should do more to protect the environment from oil spills.

<> Developers face obstacles to offshore wind farms in Great Lakes - As recently as a couple of months ago, construction of a wind farm in Lake Erie, off the Ohio shoreline near Cleveland, looked promising. But now some are sounding the death knell for any wind development in the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes News

<> Portman bill aims to overhaul fight against toxic algae - A bill aimed at targeting federal resources in the fight against toxic algae is headed to President Barack Obama's desk.

• S.1254 - Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014

<> U-M will host Great Lakes climate-change adaptation conference - EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: June 24-26, 2014 EVENT: Following the Obama administration's recent release of the National Climate Assessment, which predicts exacerbated climate impacts throughout the century, the ..

<> Water Council's new stewardship role expected to attract talent - The decision by a global water quality standards group -- Alliance for Water Stewardship -- to name Milwaukee as its North American headquarters will advance the metro region's efforts to attract water engineers and entrepreneurs, according to the Milwaukee-based Water Council.

• Water Council website
• Alliance for Water Stewardship

<> Sealing Manitoba harbors has killed off zebra mussels - Manitoba has declared victory in its first battle with invading zebra mussels but says the unique treatment it used to kill the shellfish doesn't mean the province is free of them yet. . .

Great Lakes News

<> Great Lakes & St Lawrence Cities Initiative Conference Begins - More than 100 representatives of municipalities from around the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River Basin are in Thunder Bay this week for the 11th annual Great Lakes & St Lawrence Cities Initiative (Cities Initiative) general meeting and conference.

• The Conference Website

<> Great Lakes mayors flex muscle on oil, climate change - Other Great Lakes pols could learn something from the leaders of the region's cities.

<> Shoreline residents: Lake plan ignores concerns - Plan 2014, the new report issued by the International Joint Commission, stirred up significant opposition from the lake's south shore residents and property owners [Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River], who say its allowance for higher high water levels and lower low water levels will. . . 

<> How bad will toxic algae be this year? - The way scientists forecast how bad the toxic algae on Lake Erie's Western Basin could be in a given year is changing, and scientists hope it will be more accurate and understandable.

<> The future of sustainable fishing in the U.P. - The future of commercial fishing in the Upper Peninsula depends on lake ecology and the willingness of a new generation to learn the skills and way of life of those who fish the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes News

<> Great Lakes Commons charter targets shared waters concept - On June 19, the Great Lakes Commons will meet virtually with 100 people to discuss its new charter -- the Milwaukee Water Commons is a leader of the Great Lakes Commons effort. . .

• Access the Great Lakes Commons Website

<> IJC reaffirms Plan 2014 for Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River - The International Joint Commission (IJC) today announced that Plan 2014 is the preferred option for regulating water levels and flows of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.  Plan 2014 provides more natural water level fluctuations while reducing the damage from extreme high and low water-level events to nearly the same extent as the current plan.

<> COMMENTARY: Historic Badger needs your help - A quarter century after the Lake Michigan Carferry began daily cruises between Manitowoc, Wis., and Ludington, Mich., the mayors of these cities implore citizens to help preserve this significant vessel.

Great Lakes News

<> Researchers finding plastic in water samples from Great Lakes - Researchers have been finding plastic microbeads in samples taken from all the Great Lakes since 2012 and are now investigating whether they are affecting the Great Lakes food chain. . .

<> Ohio takes first big step to slow Lake Erie algae - Ohio is taking its biggest step yet toward tackling the algae fouling Lake Erie with a law that will require most farmers to undergo training before they use commercial fertilizers. . .

<> Animated satellite data shows record-setting Great Lakes ice - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] recently released a year's worth of Great Lakes surface temperatures showing ice cover and temperature for one day each month of the year

<> Two New GLOS Funding Opportunities - The development and enhancement of data management programs across the Great Lakes region; and, the purchase and deployment of observing assets along the Great Lakes nearshore

Great Lakes News

<> Satellite technology used to study lake trout in Lake Superior - Scientists are using high-tech trackers on lean and siscowet lake trout to observe depth selection. But how will this effect the fish that's on your dinner table?

<> Above average number of wildfires predicted in Great Lakes region by summer's end - A federal report from the National Predictive Services Program anticipates the potential for a higher than average number of wildfires for the Great Lakes region by the end of summer. . .

<> Cleveland's Great Lakes' ore trade still coping with the lingering effects of winter - The lingering effects of this year's icy winter have been restricting Cleveland's transportation of iron ore across the lakes.

Great Lakes News

<> An international trail around the Great Lakes is in the making - Lake Michigan Water Trail Association is in the process of making an international trail around the Great Lakes, 7,000 miles, stretching through eight states and the provinces of Ontario and Quèbec.

<> Summer Surprise! Icebergs Spotted in Lake Superior - Though it's starting to feel like summer in the Great Lakes region, with temperatures soaring into the 80s (Fahrenheit), icebergs are still loitering in Lake Superior -- a reminder of an especially harsh winter [Didn't we just say it was officially ice free?]

<> President Obama Signs Bill to Help Great Lakes Communities Access More Federal Funds - A release from Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) focuses on the provisions of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA, H.R.3080 now Public Law No: 113-121) that establish the Great Lakes Navigation System (GLNS).

·       Access complete legislative details H.R.3080

<> Portman Applauds House Passage of Algae Bill - Passage Comes Days After Ohio EPA Issued Toxic Algae Warnings in Parts of State

·       Access complete legislative details S.1254

Great Lakes News

<> Winter is over! Forecasters reveal Great Lakes are FINALLY ice free after record breaking seven months frozen - June 7th became the official ice out date of the lake which also makes in the latest in the year ice has coated the water. Nice article with graphics and images of this historic event.

<> Illinois bans the microbeads in soap that are ruining the Great Lakes

<> USDA Announces New Grant Opporunity - USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area has announced a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant funding opportunity for tree planting projects in the Great Lakes Basin

Great Lakes News

<> Lake Superior toxic sludge should be removed, engineer says - An engineering firm says a part of Thunder Bay's harbor should be dredged to clean up a large toxic mess in Lake Superior. . .

<> COMMENTARY: How one little mussel changed the Great Lakes forever - Zebra mussels and other invasive species have had wide-ranging impacts on native species in the Great Lakes. . .

Great Lakes News

<> A decade of work - and millions of dollars - later, Asian carp still threaten the Great Lakes - Have plankton-devouring Asian carp finally reached the Great Lakes? After years of trying to block the invasion, the answer is: Nobody knows. Now, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it needs another $18 billion to cut the. . .

<> The Bridge.com Articles On Asian Carp Issue - The fish that got away; Asian carp, from mouth to tail; & Hunting for Asian carp by what they left behind

<> Senate asks IJC to study proposed nuclear waste dump near Lake Huron - The Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes on Thursday called on the International Joint Commission to intervene in plans to put a Canadian nuclear waste storage facility near the shores of the Great Lakes

• Senate committee unanimously passes legislation to halt proposed Canadian nuclear waste facility

Great Lakes News

<> Asian Carp 2014 Monitoring and Response Plan - The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) today announced the release of an updated Monitoring and Response Plan (MRP) intended to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp, and to prevent the invasive fish species from developing self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes. For the first time the MRP is being released concurrently with a summary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes eDNA Monitoring Program

<> Controlling the Sea Lamprey population - In a collaborative effort between many groups across the Great Lakes States and even Canada, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service attempts to stop the sea lampreys increase their numbers.

Great Lakes News

<> IJC Report: Sixteen key physical, chemical, biological indicators recommended for assessing Great Lakes - Sixteen indicators of Great Lakes health, composed of 41 separate measures, are recommended as tools to assess progress toward cleaning up and protecting the lakes under The Great Lakes Ecosystem Indicator Project Report released by the International Joint Commission (IJC).

<> Algae blooms are bad news for Lake Erie anglers - Lake Erie will likely see another summer of miles-wide toxic algae blooms as heavy rainfall continues to pump phosphorus from farms and other sources into the lake.

Great Lakes News

<> Lake Superior's frigid summer forecast: Coldest surface water since 1979? - Surface-water temperatures above the deepest parts of Lake Superior are expected to be at least 6 degrees Fahrenheit colder than normal by August, delaying the ...

<> Lake water levels on the rise - For the past few years water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron have been at record lows but lake-lovers may have a little bit more to love this year as water levels rise from the record-setting lows seen in 2013.

Great Lakes News

<> Draft Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan Available for Public Input - (May 30, 2014) The federal Great Lakes Interagency Task Force released a draft Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan for public input -- EPA notes that the most helpful input should be submitted by June 30; howeverr input may be submitted throughout the summer.

<> Notification of a Public Meeting of the Great Lakes Advisory Board - EPA announces a teleconference of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (Board). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss plans for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) covering FY15-19 and other relevant matters.