Leveraging Behavioral Insights to Improve Outreach and Protect Water Quality About the presentation: Achieving conservation aims in the Great Lakes region, including protecting water quality, enhancing wildlife habitat, and building community resilience, often relies on voluntary actions by farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners. Numerous agencies, organizations, and policies support farmer adoption of soil health practices, improved […]

How can we ensure large water users such as data centers use our water resources sustainably and prevent pollution in our communities? As data centers proliferate across the Great Lakes region, federal, state and local governments are proposing new frameworks and policy solutions to manage their impact, including the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) in Illinois. At […]

Title: Exploring the role of nitrogen substrate availability in the ecology of Microcystis-dominated CyanoHABs  “Nitrogen availability” refers to the amounts of biologically usable nitrogen forms relative to demand by the biological community. In cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) dominated by the non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa, nitrogen availability is critical for the production of the nitrogen-rich […]

Join us for a closer look at how septic system regulations influence environmental outcomes and public health. This session will cover how policy decisions affect what happens on the ground, and how community members can help strengthen septic protections. About the Speaker: Abbie Hawley joined the Watershed Council in 2025 as the Community and Government Relations […]

Water use from data centers is increasing across the Great Lakes region. To help make sense of the impacts, we released a new guide for residents, grassroots organizations, and local leaders seeking clear, accessible information. Join our experts to learn about the guide, the latest on data center development in the Great Lakes, the questions […]

In previous “HABs 101” webinars, we learned about the basics of harmful algal blooms, the value of algae in aquatic ecosystems, and heard from Michiganders who are tackling HABs in their inland lakes. In March, we will look at The Power of Plants and discuss how to use plants to reduce nutrients and help prevent algal blooms. Topics […]

Michigan is the only state in the nation without uniform standards for septic systems — and it's harming our waters. Failing septic systems release billions of gallons of untreated sewage each year, contaminating the groundwater, lakes, and streams that supply drinking water across the state. On March 6, 2026, join Flow Water Advocates and a […]

Marine debris is not just a problem for the oceans. It's a problem closer to home. An estimated 22 million pounds of plastic are placed in the Great Lakes each year. The Council for the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) has led the efforts to mitigate marine debris, and primarily plastic debris in the Great Lakes […]

Class Dates: Five Thursdays, February 26, March 5, 12, 19, and 26 Class Time: 10 am – Noon (with optional 9-9:45 am office hours) VIRTUAL classroom with in-person tours throughout southeast Michigan First Tour: Sunday, March 1, 1-2 pm (Huron River, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor) More to be announced! Design your own rain garden step-by-step during […]

This year’s Beyond the Basics Stormwater Conference will delve into innovative strategies for managing stormwater in a variable climate. As communities face the multifaceted impacts of climate variability, urbanization, more frequent and intense storms, and prolonged drought, this conference will equip professionals with the knowledge to design resilient, forward-thinking stormwater infrastructure. Targeted at stormwater professionals […]