News

Officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are proposing to eliminate a $10 million program that monitors the health risks in recreational water at thousands of beaches around the country. More...

A team of explorers has begun a close examination of a site in northern Lake Michigan that may be the resting place of the Griffin, a 17th century ship. More...

Reducing the amount of fertilizers running off the land will take a concerted effort by rural -- and urban and suburban -- landowners to remedy this problem. More...

They found a 15-inch slab of blackened wood that might have been a human-fashioned "cultural artifact," although more analysis will be required to determine whether it was part of a vessel. More...

The Piping Plover is a small, stocky shorebird, similar in size to the American Robin that blends well with its beach habitat having a sandy colored body, white underside and distinct orange legs. More...

The US Army Corp of Engineers has granted final approval to the Lake St Clair Strategic Implementation Plan. The plan includes scores of specific recommendations. More...

Swimming at a public beach in Madison's great lakes can be plenty of fun, unless there's an ugly mass of blue-green algae nearby. Public Health Madison and Dane County issued its annual warning on Thursday, urging swimmers to stay away from blue-green algae blooms, some of which are capable of producing toxins. More...

Last weekend, governors and senior staff of the Great Lakes states and the premiers of Quèbec and Ontario met for the first time since 2005 to commit to strengthening the region's economy and protecting the Great Lakes. More...

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week with a new economic impact study showing millions of dollars in benefits for the city from the operation of the RiverWalk. More...

As the U.S. EPA Great Lakes Advisory Board continues to meet over the summer, they'll be weighing the science, ecology, economics and community impacts of a permanent separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi to prevent the movement of Asian carp and other potential solutions, which will better align the GLRI Action Plan with current, critical needs across the Great Lakes basin. More...

Boaters, anglers, swimmers, and others who enjoy Illinois' lakes and rivers are keeping their eyes peeled this summer for an aquatic "superweed." Through the Hydrilla Hunt! program, citizen volunteers are on the lookout for a highly invasive aquatic plant named Hydrilla verticillata. Hydrilla can grow an inch per day and form dense mats of vegetation at the water surface. More...

The International Joint Commission is scheduled to release its latest proposal today for managing the water level of Lake Ontario. More...

Before you head to the beach this summer, you might want to check on the conditions. There's a free beach app you can get for your Android phone. It's called myBeachCast. More...

An invasive species is posing a threat to Ontario area lakes by killing off the animals that eat algae. More...

Members of the U.S. EPA Great Lakes Advisory Board will provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. EPA Administrator, who oversees the federal Interagency Task Force. The Task Force is leading the development and implementation of a new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan. More...

The St. Lawrence Seaway is seeing a slow start to the shipping season, thanks in part to declines in shipments of iron ore and coal. More...

If you're a water garden hobbyist or interested in becoming one, this two-part webinar series on June 18 and 20 is for you. Aquatic plants in water gardens and along the edges of lakes, ponds, and streams are gaining popularity. Some plants have invasive tendencies that threaten the ecology of our natural areas. Learn the science, and find out how you can build a better water garden. More...

There is growing evidence that lake trout are making a comeback in Lake Michigan. The feds have been stocking the lake with trout for decades. Now, biologists say the fish are reproducing on their own. More...

Vacationers taking the SS Badger across Lake Michigan this summer will be accompanied by oversize trailers carrying massive pieces of steel. The ship is carrying wind towers produced in Wisconsin and headed to wind farms under construction in Michigan. More...

Want to catch a sunset in Lake Michigan with no land in sight? Or feel what it's like to bob in the waves during a storm? A weather buoy that got its start thanks to Holland area businesses and groups is now broadcasting video at regular intervals three miles offshore of Port Sheldon in about 85 feet of water. More...

In 2005, dozens of Wisconsin officials gathered at a new resort on Lake Michigan. Sheboygan's Blue Harbor Resort was a case study for revitalizing Wisconsin's waterfronts. Eight years later, Wisconsin hasn't come up with a blueprint for making that happen. More...

Despite recent water quality issues, Lake Erie's mayfly populations appear to be holding steady, a researcher said. Mayflies, the winged insect that rises from the lake's mud bottom and descend on the Lake Erie Islands and North Coast by the millions, are an indicator of a healthy lake. More...

The Chicago Architecture Foundation's latest exhibition,Take Me to the River: Building Chicago's New Waterfront, is now open! The exhibition includes fresh design ideas to create excitement around a renewed relationship between the Chicago River and the city. More...

New legislation introduced by Republicans Greg MacMaster and Ray Franz would stop any proposed research or production of offshore wind power in the Great Lakes that border Michigan. More...

The 65-foot W.G. Jackson is a specially designed outreach and education vessel of the Grand Valley State University Annis Water Resources Institute of Muskegon, Mich. More...