Grants Support Farmers in Protecting Lake Erie Water Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.7 million in grants to four organizations in Michigan and Ohio to support farmers in reducing nutrient runoff in the Western Lake Erie […]
Farming and Climate Change Fuel Harmful Algal Blooms
Federal scientists have forecasted a mild to moderate harmful algal bloom (HAB) season for Lake Erie in 2025. However, experts caution that even moderate blooms, like the one that contaminated […]
Groundwater Extraction Causes US Cities to Sink
A new study published in Nature Cities reveals that all 28 of the most populous U.S. cities are experiencing land subsidence, with many undergoing uneven vertical land movements that may […]
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, […]