News

Slowly over the past 50 years or so the perception of the Great Lakes has changed--at least among most thoughtful people--from limitless, exploitable resource to finite, fragile ecosystem. Unfortunately, problems persist, threats proliferate, most of the safeguards are reactive, and, with climate change and environmentally careless legislatures, the lakes may be threatened as never before. More...

These dense populations of algae, which contain toxins and can harm fish and humans, have especially been growing in the western basin of Lake Erie, around bays in Ohio, prompting a Pennsylvania senator to ask the Environmental Protection Agency for help. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey sent a letter to the EPA in December, encouraging the agency to work to improve the water quality in Lake Erie. More...

Environmental advocates say a northwestern Michigan resort is harming wildlife in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore by spraying partially treated sewage. More...

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How do people's actions, including farming, affect the Maumee River watershed, the largest in all the Great Lakes? A new Ohio State University research project will try to find out. More...

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will provide $750,000 over the next three years to help pay for the costs of start-up businesses to locate in the new Water Technology Research and Business Accelerator Building in Milwaukee, Wis. More...

Ontario's largest farm organization has called for a moratorium on wind power development in the province, saying there are too many unanswered questions about its value, and that the debate over turbines is polarizing rural communities. More...

Cleveland, Oh., will showcase its plan for lakefront development in an upcoming public forum. The plan covers an area stretching from the Cuyahoga River to Burke Lakefront Airport and builds on existing attractions that include Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Science Center. More...

Now's your chance to hop on board one of three U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker ships that's welcoming visitors this weekend in downtown Detroit. The Coast Guard is offering free tours of the ships this Sat., Jan. 21, from 10 A.M. to noon, and again from 2 to 4 P.M. More...

Milder temperatures and below-average snowfall have kept Presque Isle Bay in Erie, Penn., devoid of ice formation, and adversely affected other businesses that depend on snow. More...

The company that owns the 410-foot vessel, the S.S. Badger, may be forced to shut down cross-lake operations between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis., beginning with the 2013 season. More...

The U.S. Coast Guard warns of the dangers of being in and near the waters and ice of Lake Ontario and the Oswego River this winter. More...

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will provide $750,000 over the next three years to help pay for the costs of start-up businesses to locate in the new Water Technology Research and Business Accelerator Building in Milwaukee. More...

An exhibit at the Erie Art Museum will make you look at snowflakes in a new light. More...

Even with the lingering questions about the future of offshore wind energy in the Great Lakes, researchers remain optimistic after reeling in a monitoring buoy last month that was deployed on Lake Michigan. More...

War of 1812 fighting vessel HMS General Hunter came to rest in Southampton, Ontario. Now the story of the General Hunter is taking pride of place as a centerpiece of the Bruce County Museum, where volunteers are busy building a slightly smaller replica of the ship's deck. More...

The shipping industry in Green Bay may be making a comeback. Numbers released Wednesday show more than two million metric tons of freight moved through the port last year, an increase of 25 per cent. The port manager says it's a sign, the economy is picking up. More...

Battered Detroit made a major jump up the rankings of economic performance by the largest cities in the world last year, thanks to an auto industry recovery that has also benefitted Windsor. More...

The province is in no rush to approve a massive wind energy project that holds the promise of hundreds of jobs for Hamilton companies. More...

Another study, another affirmation.The U.S. Geological Survey says -- as if we didn't know -- that we dare not allow the bighead and silver carp a fin-hold in shallow, plankton-rich western Lake Erie. More...

The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise is hosting a public town hall at the University of Michigan on Jan. 20. The town hall represents a unique opportunity to participate in a major gathering of the most innovative thinkers and leaders in the climate change debate. More...

The Clean Marina workshop webinar will provide marina and boatyard operators and Clean Marina program managers with the latest information on important environmental topics, including best practices employed by certified Clean Marinas. The webinar is free, but you must pre-register by Jan. 27. More...

A federal study released last week indicates a new point of concern in western Lake Erie. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey issued a paper saying that the Maumee River, which empties into Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio, is particularly well suited for Asian carp to lay their eggs. More...

Hamilton companies have landed the major contracts in a $1.5-billion offshore wind energy project. More...

lakes are changing, and in surprising ways. For example, algal blooms are occurring in some lakes despite declining phosphorus levels. More...