Expert discusses phosphorus at Great Lakes Symposium

<> Expert discusses phosphorus at Great Lakes Symposium - In Ohio, a panel of experts talked at the Toledo Zoo's first Great Lakes Symposium on research related to Lake Erie's growing issue of harmful algal blooms.

Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Great Lakes Funding, Modernize Research Capabilities

<> Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Great Lakes Funding, Modernize Research Capabilities - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI), Gary Peters (MI) and Reps. Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-1) and Mike Quigley (IL-5) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to spur Great Lakes funding and research efforts and help support effective fishery management decisions -- The Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization (GLFRA) Act gives the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the clear legislative authority it needs to support the $7 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fishery industry. S.2569 : Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2016; sponsored by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) Bill would devote $17.5M to Great Lakes fishery research fleet

Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting

<> Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting - The 2016 Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day events are underway this week in Washington, D.C.

NWF to Sue Pipeline Safety Administration To Protect Great Lakes

<> NWF to Sue Pipeline Safety Administration To Protect Great Lakes - The National Wildlife Federation officially sent a notice of intent to sue the federal agency largely responsible for overseeing oil pipeline safety -- asserting that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) had no authority to authorize the transport of oil through pipelines that run through the Straits of Mackinac and navigable waters in Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. NWF's Notice of Intent to Sue

Great Lakes: The Next 25 Years- Challenges and Opportunities

<> Great Lakes: The Next 25 Years- Challenges and Opportunities - In late 2015, the Great Lakes Protection Fund commissioned Tracy Mehan to survey basin leaders and other experts about the challenges facing the Great Lakes, what strategies might be used to meet them, and how the Fund can play a role -- the report is now available.

Canadian official delays nuclear waste facility near Lake Huron

<> Canadian official delays nuclear waste facility near Lake Huron - Plans for a controversial nuclear waste storage facility near the Canadian shore of Lake Huron took a serious hit Thursday, when a Canadian environmental official put the project in limbo.

Examining Microbeads in the Great Lakes

<> Examining Microbeads in the Great Lakes - Issue 2, Vol. 4, of the IJC Newsletter kicks off a four-part series on microbeads in the Great Lakes along with other recent items fassessing Great Lakes water quality

Waukesha's water request gets look from Great Lakes states, provinces

<> Waukesha's water request gets look from Great Lakes states, provinces - Waukesha is the first community in the United States located entirely outside the Great Lakes basin to ask for a diversion of water under a 2008 federal law known as the Great Lakes protection compact. The city is about 1.5 miles west of the subcontinental divide marking the basin boundary.

Amid Obama Budget Cuts, Coalition Urges Congress to Again Stand up for Great Lakes

<> Amid Obama Budget Cuts, Coalition Urges Congress to Again Stand up for Great Lakes - The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is calling on Congress to restore funding to core Great Lakes restoration programs that protect drinking water, keep beaches open, and support the outdoor recreation economy, following the release of President Barack Obama's budget on Tuesday.

Michigan leaders oppose Wisconsin town's Great Lakes diversion request

<> Michigan leaders oppose Wisconsin town's Great Lakes diversion request - Jennifer McKay, policy specialist for the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council said, "We are actually recommending that Gov. Rick Snyder deny approval to the [Waukesha, WI] application. It does not meet the standards put forth in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact."

Obama Budget Cuts Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

<> Obama Budget Cuts Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Today President Obama released his proposed budget, which includes cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from the current $300 million federal investment to $250 million.

Mackinac Straits, Line 5 focus of Coast Guard bill

<> Mackinac Straits, Line 5 focus of Coast Guard bill - Great Lakes transportation and oil pipeline safety are key factors in legislation expected to be signed by President Barack Obama in the near future -- In addition to calling for the new icebreaker, the bill also includes a provision Peters authored requiring the U.S. Coast Guard and other relevant federal agencies to coordinate an assessment of fresh water oil spill response activities, including during times of heavy ice cover. H.R. 4188: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015

New EPA Report: $80 Billion Needed for Wastewater Infrastructure in Great Lakes States

<> New EPA Report: $80 Billion Needed for Wastewater Infrastructure in Great Lakes States - Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition says the Federal investment fails to keep pace with need -- at current funding levels, it will take 160 years to meet wastewater infrastructure needs of region. Report: Clean Watersheds Needs Survey 2012 Report to Congress Website: Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) – 2012 Report and Data

Comments Wanted: 'Testing a Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Programs and Other Measures under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement'

<> Comments Wanted: 'Testing a Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Programs and Other Measures under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement' - The International Joint Commission (IJC) commissioned a study to test a methodology for the assessment of progress in the achievement of GLWQA objectives -- comments are appreciated by March 4, 2016.

MI Rep. Miller: 'No' to nuclear waste near Lake Huron

<> MI Rep. Miller: 'No' to nuclear waste near Lake Huron - Its backers contend the waste can be more safely stored there (in a limestone formation 2,200 feet below the surface) than it is today, on-site at nuclear power generating stations -- "In my view, that contention defies common sense."

IJC Diversion Report disappointing, says Restore Our Water Intl. rep

<> IJC Diversion Report disappointing, says Restore Our Water Intl. rep - An official with Restore Our Water International (ROWI) expressed her disappointment with comments made by the International Joint Commission (IJC) on a report released on Great Lakes water diversion. IJC Hails Progress by Governments in Protecting Great Lakes from Diversions - [Previously from WIMS] Group Says IJC Diversion Report "Game-Changing"- [Previously from WIMS]