WIMS Environmental News Blogs

 

WIMS Environmental News Blogs   NOW THAT WE ARE ON OUR HOLIDAY BREAK IT'S A GREAT TIME TO CHECK OUT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS BLOGS

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We'll be back on Monday, January 5, 2015.

EDITORIAL: U.S. Senate leaves Great Lakes high and dry

Subscribers Note: WIMS will not be publishing for the next two weeks of Christmas & New Years. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy & safe holiday season. We'll be back on Monday, January 5, 2015.

 

<> EDITORIAL: U.S. Senate leaves Great Lakes high and dry - Despite assurances that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014 was fast-tracked for passage before Congress shut down for the holidays, at least one unknown, unnamed senator torpedoed it

EPA Awards Additional GLRI Funding to Federal and State Agencies to Expand Efforts to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

<> EPA Awards Additional GLRI Funding to Federal and State Agencies to Expand Efforts to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie - U.S EPA announced the award of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds totaling over $3.1 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to target harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie

Great Lakes News for 12/17/14

<> Ohio EPA grant targets runoff feeding Lake Erie algae - Ohio's environmental regulators are handing out a grant that will be aimed at reducing farm runoff that contributes to algae in Lake Erie.

<> COMMENTARY: We need national program to access risks to Great Lakes - As the events of last summer showed, the threat to our Great Lakes -- and our water supply -- from algae blooms and cyanotoxins is real.

<> Ohio OKs funds to monitor toxic algae, Asian carp - In Ohio, the state Controlling Board OK'd funding for separate efforts to monitor streams for toxic algae and invasive Asian carp.

<> GVSU researchers find more of invasive snail species in Lake Michigan - The faucet snail is spreading in Lake Michigan, and that bodes ill for water birds native to Michigan, says Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute.

 

WIMS REPORTS EACH DAY ON MAJOR GREAT LAKES ISSUES AND NEWS, along with National/International news, all U.S. Appeals Courts' environmental decisions, important Federal Registers announcemsnts, details environmental happenings in Michigan and complete Michigan environmental legislative tracking. Your one-stop source for environmental, energy and climate change issues and news (click here).

Oil & Water Presents to Petroleum Task Force

<> Oil & Water Presents to Petroleum Task Force - Dec 15. In formal remarks to a state task force on oil pipelines, representatives of key environmental and Great Lakes groups – echoing the concerns of businesses, governments, and thousands of citizens – called on Governor Snyder to take swift and meaningful action to protect the Great Lakes from a catastrophic oil spill from a pair of 61-year-old Enbridge pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac.

Stabenow, Camp, Slaughter Introduce Guarding Our Great Lakes Act

<> Stabenow, Camp, Slaughter Introduce Guarding Our Great Lakes Act - Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced the Guarding Our Great Lakes Act, bipartisan legislation designed to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive Asian carp. S.3002 - Guarding Our Great Lakes Act H.R.5861 - Guarding Our Great Lakes Act Great Lakes Commission welcomes legislation aimed at protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp

Study casts doubt on leaking contaminates theory

<> Study casts doubt on leaking contaminates theory - In Ohio, two scientists cast serious doubt on claims that the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's Facility 3 man-made island is leaching phosphorus into the Western Basin of Lake Erie

Great Lakes on a record-breaking water-level rebound

<> Great Lakes on a record-breaking water-level rebound - Lakes Michigan and Huron have recovered 3.2 feet since January 2013; Lake Superior 2.3 feet, marking the fastest recovery over a 23-month period since the mid-1800s University of Michigan to explore strategies for dealing with Great Lakes water level changes - The University of Michigan's Graham Sustainability Institute is launching a two-tiered, two-year collaborative research initiative called the Great Lakes Water Levels Integrated Assessment. NOAA and partners document surge in Great Lakes water levels - Scientists at the Army Corps of Engineers, Environment Canada, and NOAA recently documented a record-setting surge in water levels on Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron that began in January 2013

House Passes H.R. 5764: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014

<> House Passes H.R. 5764: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014 - The bill passed by voice vote in the House on December 9, 2014 and goes to the Senate next for consideration.

H.R.5764 - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014

<> H.R.5764 - Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014 - House debate may begin on the GLRI Act of 2014 which would formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for five years at up to $300 million annually. Regional groups support congressional action authorizing Great Lakes restoration - Download  HR 5764 – GLRI Group Letter – December 2014 Seven regional Great Lakes groups weighed in today with the Great Lakes congressional delegation in support of legislation being considered this week

Great Lakes ice season -- confusion?

<> Lake Erie temperature at end of November was the coldest in decades - Lake Erie's water temperature at the end of November fell to 40 degrees. Great Lakes ice season to be 'near normal' - It's going to be a near-normal ice season for the Great Lakes, according to the Canadian Ice Service. Great Lakes ice breaking all the rules - Ice is forming on the Great Lakes faster this year than any other.

IJC Provides Great Lakes Human Health Indicators for Governments' Consideration

<> IJC Provides Great Lakes Human Health Indicators for Governments' Consideration - A report proposing five indicators to assess the potential risk to human health from use of Great Lakes waters has been submitted to the Canadian and United States governments by the International Joint Commission (IJC) -- Recommended Human Health Indicators for Assessment of Progress on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was prepared by the IJC's Health Professionals Advisory Board (HPAB).

Proposed rule for farms aims to improve Lake Erie

<> Proposed rule for farms aims to improve Lake Erie - Ohio's lawmakers are taking their first step toward slowing the spread of algae in Lake Erie since a toxin contaminated the drinking water for more than 400,000 people.

"Paddle to D.C." team to reach Washington

<> "Paddle to D.C." team to reach Washington this week with petition to protect Boundary Waters, Lake Superior from proposed sulfide mining - Dave and Amy Freeman of Ely, Minnesota, and members of their team  plan to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2, 2014, with their canoe full of signatures for a petition to protect Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Lake Superior from plans for sulfide mining in northern Minnesota.

An Invitation to Enjoy the 2014 Edition of Restoring the Great Lakes

<> An Invitation to Enjoy the 2014 Edition of Restoring the Great Lakes - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released this year's edition of Restoring the Great Lakes to learn more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative work it does and the people who make it happen.

Climate Change Could Affect Future of Lake Michigan Basin

<> Climate Change Could Affect Future of Lake Michigan Basin – USGS Summary: Climate change could lengthen the growing season, make soil drier and decrease winter snowpack in the Lake Michigan Basin by the turn of the century, among other hydrological effects.

Feds probe Great Lakes commercial fishing

<> Feds probe Great Lakes commercial fishing - two-year federal undercover operation into illegal fishing on Lake Superior has resulted in a series of recent raids, involving three northern Michigan fish markets and their fishing operations. Agents investigate elaborate Great Lakes fish trafficking operation

Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day

<> Save the date: the Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day - In Washington, D.C., Feb 24-26, 2015 - Events will feature dialogue on Great Lakes priorities by regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies.

House Hearing On Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water

<> House Hearing On Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water - The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy: Drinking water contamination by algal blooms in the source water of public water systems gained national attention this summer when blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) laced with a toxin called microcystin (a cyanotoxin) were found in Lake Erie and Toledo's Collins Water Treatment Plant.

The GLMRIS - Brandon Road control point effort

<> The GLMRIS - Brandon Road control point effort - The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) will assess the viability of establishing a single point to control the one-way, upstream transfer of aquatic nuisance species from the Mississippi River basin into the Great Lakes basin near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam located in Joliet, Illinois. Scoping & comment period will run through January 16, 2015 Army Corps considers new front in Asian carp war - A new line of defense against invasive Asian carp may be opened on a river near Chicago in hopes of providing further short-term protection for the Great Lakes

Detroit River a suspect in Lake Erie algal growth

<> Detroit River a suspect in Lake Erie algal growth - Though still focused on the farm-enriched Maumee River watershed, Great Lakes scientists are increasingly curious how much phosphorus generated north of Toledo flows down the Detroit River and contributes to western Lake Erie's algal growth.

Chicago to Host First Ever Great Lakes Economic Forum

<> Chicago to Host First Ever Great Lakes Economic Forum - CHICAGO - Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Council of the Great Lakes Region are pleased to announce that Chicago will play host to the first Great Lakes Economic Forum, April 26-28, 2015.

HOW Coalition Supports Clean Water Rule

<> HOW Coalition Supports Clean Water Rule - The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and 51 of its members, representing hundreds of thousands of people across the Great Lakes, submitted comments to the U.S. EPA in support of an Obama Administration rule clarifying Clean Water Act protections to streams and wetlands [WOTUS Proposed Rule]. EPA Waters of the United States website

Webinar: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference

<> Webinar: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference - The 14th Annual Great Lakes Beach Association Conference is taking place Nov. 12-14 in Toronto, Ont., and will be broadcast live via free webinar and teleconference!

Harmful Algal Blooms forums in Ontario and Ohio

<> Harmful Algal Blooms forums in Ontario and Ohio - Sponsored by the International Joint Commission (IJC) Nov. 12 at the Leamington Municipal Complex in Leamington, Ontario, and Nov. 13 at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo.

No definitive link between wind turbines and poor health, says Health Canada study

<> No definitive link between wind turbines and poor health, says Health Canada study - There is no connection between exposure to the wind turbine noise and health effects, says a new comprehensive Health Canada study, but some in the Great Lakes region are still concerned. Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study: Summary of Results Health Canada Publishes Findings From Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study

Research suggests drier winter than normal could impact lake water levels

<> Research suggests drier winter than normal could impact lake water levels - The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a drier-than-average winter for the duration of December, January and February, though there is nothing to suggest yet whether or not temperatures will be higher or lower than normal.

Space station to give CATS scan to Great Lakes

<> Space station to give CATS scan to Great Lakes - NASA is set to launch an instrument aboard the International Space Station that can track air pollution across the Great Lakes and measure how much clouds are contributing to climate change

RFP for FY2015 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

RFP for FY2015 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting project proposals to protect, restore and enhance Great Lakes fish and wildlife habitat under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

Industrial Water Stewardship - Creating a Positive Impact in the Great Lakes Region

Industrial Water Stewardship – Creating a Positive Impact in the Great Lakes Region – [from the Great Lakes Protection Fund] How does an industrial facility know it is being responsible in its use of water?  It is a straightforward question that needs to be addressed differently across the country and in our many varied ecosystems.

S.S. Badger's $2 million coal ash retention system to be ready for 2015 season

S.S. Badger's $2 million coal ash retention system to be ready for 2015 season - According to Terri Brown, director of media relations for LMC, the Ludington-based company has placed a purchase order for an onboard conveyor system which will allow the vessel to transport ash from the boiler room to ash retention containers.

Red Cliff Band: Lake Superior barrel retrieval project update

Red Cliff Band: Lake Superior barrel retrieval project update - Since the mid-1990s, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been looking into the nearly 1,500 barrels that were dumped into Lake Superior by the U.S. military between 1959 and 1962

America's last coal-fired ship finally stops dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan

America's last coal-fired ship finally stops dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan - The 2014 season for Lake Michigan's only coal-powered passenger and car ferry came to a close Sunday, signaling the end of the controversial practice of dumping coal ash into the Great Lake. . .

Lake Erie's algal bloom fading

Lake Erie's algal bloom fading - With Lake Erie's 2014 harmful algal bloom fading away in the lake's cold water, a scientist who studies the blooms is looking back on his forecast for this year. It turned out to be accurate said an algal bloom forecasting expert

Great Lakes States' Representatives Support $300 million Funding For GLRI

Great Lakes States' Representatives Support $300 million Funding For GLRI - The Healing Our Waters - HOW Great Lakes Coalition has identified House members and is urging support for $300 million through FY 2016 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

Webinar: Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative

Webinar: Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative - The Great Lakes Phragmites Collaborative webinar series focuses on invasive Phragmites in the Great Lakes region, and encourages dialogue and technology transfer. Register now for the next free webinar. . .

Why are the Great Lakes on the rise?

Why are the Great Lakes on the rise? - During the late summer and early fall, the water level on the Great Lakes usually drops several inches. This year, three of those lakes, Superior, Michigan and Huron, have seen the opposite happen - rising water levels.

EPA Awards Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie

EPA Awards Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to Target Harmful Algal Blooms in Lake Erie (IN, MI, OH) - (Oct. 20, 2014) -- U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator/Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman announced the award of four Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants totaling over $8.6 million to Ohio, Michigan and Indiana state agencies

Spiny water fleas in Great Lakes indicate a larger problem

Spiny water fleas in Great Lakes indicate a larger problem - The self-sustaining populations of the spiny water flea, an invasive species, suggest a greater problem in the Great Lakes, according to researchers.