Jul 16: The current edition of Michigan Today, an online magazine for University of Michigan (U-M) alumni includes a magazine-length story and slide show about the diporeia project. According to researchers, the Great Lakes are in the midst of a "remarkable ecological transformation, driven largely by the blitzkrieg advance of two closely related species of non-native mussels." Though the zebra mussel is better known to the public, over the past decade it has largely been displaced in Lake Michigan by the quagga mussel, which can thrive far from shore in deep, mud-bottomed waters. David Jude, a research scientist at the U-M's School of Natural Resources and Environment said, "Fundamental, amazing change is happening in the Great Lakes right now, and it's being propagated throughout the food web, from the bottom up."
Recently, Jude and several colleagues cruised Lake Michigan aboard the 80-foot R/V Laurentian, investigating the links between the invasive mussels' spread and the recent sharp decline of a tiny, shrimplike creature called diporeia. The algae-feeder has for millennia been one of the pillars supporting the base of the Great Lakes food web. According to a release, "The study of diporeia's decline is no esoteric academic pursuit. Nearly every fish species in the Great Lakes feeds on diporeia at some point in its life cycle. The diporeia downturn is already impacting Great Lakes commercial fisheries and a sport-fishing enterprise valued at more than $4 billion per year."
Jude, a fishery biologist who has studied the Great Lakes for more than 30 years said, "A decade ago, there were no quagga mussels in Lake Michigan. Now you can find them across the entire lake, and this invasion has happened faster than anyone thought it would. We're really grappling with some of the changes that are going on in the Great Lakes as a result. We're going to lose a big chunk of that sport fishery. That will have a tremendous economic impact and will result in dramatic changes to the fisheries people have relied on in the past."
Access a release and link to the article, a video and pictures (click here).
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Groups Remind Of Great Lakes 2009 Meetings
Jul 14: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, consisting of more than 100 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes, issued a release reminding of the upcoming public comment meetings on the State of the Great Lakes 2009 report [See WIMS 6/19/09].
Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the HOW Coalition said, “This report clearly shows the need for Congress to act to restore the Great Lakes. Toxic pollution, invasive species and climate change threaten not only our health and quality of life, but the region’s economy. The U.S. House and Senate can advance Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery by fully funding the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.” President Obama this year introduced a $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative [See WIMS 6/29/09], which has been passed in Senate committee and the full House of Representatives.
Next week, the EPA will kick-off a series of public comment sessions in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to examine the initiative. The hearing schedule is: July 21, Milwaukee, WI; July 22, Chicago, IL; July 23, Merrilville, IN; July 27, Cleveland, OH; July 28, Erie, PA; July 29, Rochester, MI; August 3, Lansing, MI; and August 4, Duluth, MN.
Access an announcement from HOW and link to additional information and meeting specifics (click here). Access the Great Lakes Restoration website for more information (click here).
Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the HOW Coalition said, “This report clearly shows the need for Congress to act to restore the Great Lakes. Toxic pollution, invasive species and climate change threaten not only our health and quality of life, but the region’s economy. The U.S. House and Senate can advance Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery by fully funding the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.” President Obama this year introduced a $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative [See WIMS 6/29/09], which has been passed in Senate committee and the full House of Representatives.
Next week, the EPA will kick-off a series of public comment sessions in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to examine the initiative. The hearing schedule is: July 21, Milwaukee, WI; July 22, Chicago, IL; July 23, Merrilville, IN; July 27, Cleveland, OH; July 28, Erie, PA; July 29, Rochester, MI; August 3, Lansing, MI; and August 4, Duluth, MN.
Access an announcement from HOW and link to additional information and meeting specifics (click here). Access the Great Lakes Restoration website for more information (click here).
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
NWF Report On Great Lakes Wetlands
Jul 8: A new report by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) illustrates how gaps in state and Federal policy threaten Great Lakes wetlands. Marc Smith, state policy manager for NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center said, “Great Lakes wetlands remain threatened. States play a vital role in protecting our wetlands, water quality and economy -- and this report illustrates that they can be doing more. Successful restoration of our Great Lakes depends on the protection and restoration of the region’s wetlands.”
The report examines state wetland policies in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. It assesses how well each state is protecting wetlands, identifies the barriers to better protection, and offers recommendations for improvement. According to the report, state efforts to protect and restore wetlands are hampered by incomplete wetland inventories, inadequate staffing, insufficient public engagement, and a lack of priorities to protect and restore wetlands.
Gaps in state law also undermine protection efforts. Exemptions which allow for the destruction of wetlands are generally not tracked by state agencies. Further, the quality of wetland mitigation projects is not often tracked, allowing for the destruction of high quality wetlands that are replaced with wetlands of less value to people and wildlife. The report notes that one acre of wetlands provides $10,573 of ecosystem services, according to recent estimates. Great Lakes wetlands are threatened by development. The region has lost more than 50 percent of its historic wetlands. Some coastal areas have lost more than 95 percent of wetlands.
Access a release with comments from the states (click here). Access links to the complete 114-page report and a summary (click here).
The report examines state wetland policies in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. It assesses how well each state is protecting wetlands, identifies the barriers to better protection, and offers recommendations for improvement. According to the report, state efforts to protect and restore wetlands are hampered by incomplete wetland inventories, inadequate staffing, insufficient public engagement, and a lack of priorities to protect and restore wetlands.
Gaps in state law also undermine protection efforts. Exemptions which allow for the destruction of wetlands are generally not tracked by state agencies. Further, the quality of wetland mitigation projects is not often tracked, allowing for the destruction of high quality wetlands that are replaced with wetlands of less value to people and wildlife. The report notes that one acre of wetlands provides $10,573 of ecosystem services, according to recent estimates. Great Lakes wetlands are threatened by development. The region has lost more than 50 percent of its historic wetlands. Some coastal areas have lost more than 95 percent of wetlands.
Access a release with comments from the states (click here). Access links to the complete 114-page report and a summary (click here).
5th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference
Jul 7: The Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes Coalition 5th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference will take place September 10-12, in Duluth, MN at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Downtown Waterfront. The Coalition will reunite with friends, celebrate successes, and develop strategies to achieve the Great Lakes restoration goals for 2010 and beyond. The conference agenda will address critical issues such as linking Great Lakes restoration to economic recovery, working with the Obama administration to fulfill the $5 billion Great Lakes commitment, and securing Congressional funding for on the ground restoration work.
Access details and online registration (click here).
Access details and online registration (click here).
Rep. Stupak's Great Lakes Compact Resolution
Jun 23: U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) introduced a resolution, H. Res. 551, in the U.S. House of Representatives which he says is designed to clarify that in ratifying the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Compact last fall, Congress expressly prohibited Great Lakes water from being sold, diverted or exported outside of the Great Lakes basin. When the Great Lakes Compact was considered in the U.S. House in September 2008, Stupak raised concerns that the wording of the compact was not strong enough to protect against water diversions through privatization, commercialization and exportation. Because his concerns were not addressed, Stupak opposed ratification of the compact [See WIMS 11/19/08].
Representative Stupak said, "I continue to have concerns that the Great Lakes Compact is not strong enough to protect the Great Lakes against diversions through privatization, commercialization and exportation. There is no question that Congress intended for the compact to protect Great Lakes water but the wording of the compact leaves some question. That is why I have introduced this resolution to put Congress on record in opposition to the exploitation of Great Lakes waters. While the potential removal of millions of gallons of Great Lakes water in the form of bottled water is alarming, of much greater concern is a potential trade dispute between the United States and any multi-national corporation or foreign government interested in diverting our water. The Great Lakes make up the largest body of freshwater in the world. We owe it to the people of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Basin to ensure that Great Lakes Compact preserves and protects the quality and quantity of Great Lakes water.”
In a release, Stupak said the intent of the Great Lakes Compact, when Michigan and the seven other Great Lakes states began crafting the agreement more than seven years ago, was to protect Great Lakes water from large-scale diversions. He said he has continually raised concerns over the compact’s so-called "bottled water loophole." He said he is troubled by the prospect of passing legislation that would treat Great Lakes water as a "product" that could then be subject to international trade laws [See WIMS 9/26/08 & 9/23/08]. Stupak represents Michigan’s First Congressional District, which has more shoreline -- 1,613 miles -- than any other congressional district in the continental United States and is the only congressional district in the nation to border three of the five Great Lakes -- Superior, Michigan and Huron.
Access a release from Rep. Stupak (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 551 (click here).
Representative Stupak said, "I continue to have concerns that the Great Lakes Compact is not strong enough to protect the Great Lakes against diversions through privatization, commercialization and exportation. There is no question that Congress intended for the compact to protect Great Lakes water but the wording of the compact leaves some question. That is why I have introduced this resolution to put Congress on record in opposition to the exploitation of Great Lakes waters. While the potential removal of millions of gallons of Great Lakes water in the form of bottled water is alarming, of much greater concern is a potential trade dispute between the United States and any multi-national corporation or foreign government interested in diverting our water. The Great Lakes make up the largest body of freshwater in the world. We owe it to the people of Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Basin to ensure that Great Lakes Compact preserves and protects the quality and quantity of Great Lakes water.”
In a release, Stupak said the intent of the Great Lakes Compact, when Michigan and the seven other Great Lakes states began crafting the agreement more than seven years ago, was to protect Great Lakes water from large-scale diversions. He said he has continually raised concerns over the compact’s so-called "bottled water loophole." He said he is troubled by the prospect of passing legislation that would treat Great Lakes water as a "product" that could then be subject to international trade laws [See WIMS 9/26/08 & 9/23/08]. Stupak represents Michigan’s First Congressional District, which has more shoreline -- 1,613 miles -- than any other congressional district in the continental United States and is the only congressional district in the nation to border three of the five Great Lakes -- Superior, Michigan and Huron.
Access a release from Rep. Stupak (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 551 (click here).
Monday, June 29, 2009
More Details On $475 Million Great Lakes Restoration
Jun 25: The President's 2010 Budget provides $475 million in EPA's budget for a new U.S. EPA-led, interagency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), is now making it way through Congress. The Initiative will target the most significant problems in the region, including invasive aquatic species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment. Detailed EPA FY10 Budget documents, released in May, provided significant information on the plans for the FY 2010 $475 million in the proposed Administration budget [See WIMS 5/11/09]; however, the Initiative recently posted an additional 28-page document entitled, 2010 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Summary of Proposed Programs and Projects Sorted by Focus Area.
According to the document, to provide additional transparency regarding the Initiative, the Interagency Task Force has developed the document to provide a greater level of detail regarding the programs and projects proposed to be funded through the GLRI. The report provides summaries of each of the programs and projects proposed to be funded through the Initiative, if it is funded at the proposed level of $475 million. The summaries are organized by Focus Area and the Department or Agency that will lead the effort described.
Access the new document (click here). Access the GLRI website for links to all documents and related information (click here).
According to the document, to provide additional transparency regarding the Initiative, the Interagency Task Force has developed the document to provide a greater level of detail regarding the programs and projects proposed to be funded through the GLRI. The report provides summaries of each of the programs and projects proposed to be funded through the Initiative, if it is funded at the proposed level of $475 million. The summaries are organized by Focus Area and the Department or Agency that will lead the effort described.
Access the new document (click here). Access the GLRI website for links to all documents and related information (click here).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Groups Outline Principles For A Sustainable St. Lawrence Seaway
Jun 25: To mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway (June 26, 1959), over 50 public interest groups from across the region have issued a report and are outlining seven principles to guide an environmentally sustainable future for shipping on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Jennifer Nalbone, director of Navigation and Invasive Species at Great Lakes United and lead author of the report said, “The opening of the Seaway took a devastating toll on the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. If the shipping industry wants to be truly sustainable it needs to rethink how it operates on the Great Lakes. These seven principles provide the goal posts by which to measure that future.”
The report, A Better Seaway: Seven Principles to Guide Sustainable Shipping on The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River, outlines the principles to address a broad range of environmental impacts, from invasive species to ice-breaking, to air emissions. While international vessels have been a focal point for many of the environmental impacts associated with shipping on the Great Lakes, particularly invasive species, the principles also address domestic operations.
The seven principles to guide a better Seaway are: Ships must not introduce or spread aquatic invasive species; Climate change is a real threat, and proactive steps must be taken to meet this challenge head on; Unnecessary and costly system expansion proposals must be abandoned; Air emissions should be cleaned up for shipping to truly be the cleanest mode of transportation in regards to air pollution; Work towards the elimination of all pollutants into the Great Lakes; Minimize ice-breaking, especially in sensitive areas; and Citizen engagement and industry transparency should become the norm in Seaway governance.
The report indicates that the University of Notre Dame estimates that the species that gained access to the region through the Seaway cost citizens, businesses, and cities in the eight Great Lakes states alone at least $200 million per year in damage to the commercial and recreational fishery, wildlife watching and water infrastructure. While exact economic data does not exist for the Great Lakes region in Canada, similar damages can be expected.
Access a release from the groups (click here). Access the Better Seaway website for links to the report, additional resources and information (click here). Access a list of the groups (click here).
The report, A Better Seaway: Seven Principles to Guide Sustainable Shipping on The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River, outlines the principles to address a broad range of environmental impacts, from invasive species to ice-breaking, to air emissions. While international vessels have been a focal point for many of the environmental impacts associated with shipping on the Great Lakes, particularly invasive species, the principles also address domestic operations.
The seven principles to guide a better Seaway are: Ships must not introduce or spread aquatic invasive species; Climate change is a real threat, and proactive steps must be taken to meet this challenge head on; Unnecessary and costly system expansion proposals must be abandoned; Air emissions should be cleaned up for shipping to truly be the cleanest mode of transportation in regards to air pollution; Work towards the elimination of all pollutants into the Great Lakes; Minimize ice-breaking, especially in sensitive areas; and Citizen engagement and industry transparency should become the norm in Seaway governance.
The report indicates that the University of Notre Dame estimates that the species that gained access to the region through the Seaway cost citizens, businesses, and cities in the eight Great Lakes states alone at least $200 million per year in damage to the commercial and recreational fishery, wildlife watching and water infrastructure. While exact economic data does not exist for the Great Lakes region in Canada, similar damages can be expected.
Access a release from the groups (click here). Access the Better Seaway website for links to the report, additional resources and information (click here). Access a list of the groups (click here).
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