BeBot the Beach Cleaning Robot Tackles Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes is a growing environmental and public health concern, with most shoreline litter made up of plastic. While volunteers play a major role in cleaning […]
Restoring the Lake: Thunder Bay’s Environmental Turnaround
Thunder Bay, a city on the northwestern shore of Lake Superior, has undergone a dramatic transformation from one of the most polluted industrial zones on the Great Lakes to a […]
Orphan Wells Pose a Contamination Risk to Aquifers
A recent USGS study published in Science of the Total Environment has mapped groundwater vulnerability to contamination from orphan wells across the U.S., highlighting the Pennsylvanian aquifer system as one […]
Underwater Program Brings Lake Michigan to Life for Students
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has launched an exciting new educational program called “Sleeping Bear from Below,” designed especially for 3rd–5th grade students. Using a 12-foot inflatable planetarium and immersive […]
Microfibers in Great Lakes Spark Pollution and Health Concerns
Researchers, including Eddie Kostelnik from Valparaiso University, have discovered that microfibers—tiny plastic strands mostly released from washing clothes—are widespread in the Great Lakes and are being absorbed by algae in […]
Michigan’s Infrastructure: A Stormwater Crisis
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released its infrastructure report card, assigning the United States an overall grade of “C” and rating Michigan slightly lower with a “C-.” […]
Artificial Reefs Offer New Hope for Lake Michigan’s Eroding Shoreline
Illinois has 63 miles of Lake Michigan coastline, much of which is lined with traditional erosion control structures like breakwaters and seawalls. While these are meant to protect the shore, […]
Vernal Pools – Biodiversity Hotspots Worth Protecting
Vernal pools are temporary wetlands that form in forests each spring and serve as vital habitats for amphibians, insects, and other wildlife. These small, seasonal ecosystems are crucial breeding grounds […]
Impact of Septic Systems on Michigan’s Water
Michigan is the only U.S. state without a statewide septic code. With nearly 1.5 million homes relying on septic systems, poor maintenance and outdated regulations pose serious environmental and public […]
MiCorps Volunteer Lake Monitor Training
Michigan residents can sign up for volunteer lake monitor training through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps). MiCorps, a statewide network focused on water quality, has been running its Cooperative […]