Amid fears of dam collapses, roads wash away, tornadoes touch down and emergency crews try to protect life and property throughout Michigan.
Michigan Environment Watch
Michigan Environment Watch examines how public policy, industry, and other factors interact with the state’s trove of natural resources.
Great Lakes News Collaborative
Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television, The Narwhal and Michigan Public work together to report on the most pressing threats to the Great Lakes region’s water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. You can find all of the collaborative’s stories here.
Shockwave
The Great Lakes region is in the midst of a seismic energy shakeup, from skyrocketing data center demand and a nuclear energy boom, to expanding renewables and electrification. In 2026, the Great Lakes News Collaborative will explore how shifting supply and demand affect the region and its waters. Read the series here.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Almost all of Michigan under flood watch after storms, suspected tornadoes
Officials are predicting more extreme weather in Michigan this week after storms battered the lower part of the state, prompting new warnings as flooding continued in the north.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
As floodwaters rise, Michigan infrastructure on brink: Dams need $1B in repairs
Climate change and delayed improvements to the state’s infrastructure could come to roost, as rivers threaten to overtop century-old dams.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Ownership disputes, aging design add to Cheboygan dam’s failure threat
Federal officials have repeatedly told the owner of a nonfunctioning hydro plant connected to the dam to bring it back online, but the company has not done so. Now, state officials are scrambling to restart the plant in hopes of staving off dam failure.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Listen: Scientists work to reintroduce whitefish to Michigan’s rivers
Interlochen Public Radio joined scientists as they worked to reintroduce whitefish to the Jordan River.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
In US first, Ann Arbor makes its own green power company
With utilities’ transition to green energy moving too slowly for them, Ann Arbor officials decided to launch a power company of their own.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Consumers Energy’s sale plan would turn unprofitable dams into $270M payday
The utility’s plan to sell 13 unprofitable dams and buy back the power would boost its profits by $270 million while ratepayer costs skyrocket. Critics of the sale are crying foul, but Consumers maintains its sale plan is the cheapest option for ratepayers.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Trump administration plans closure of 4 Michigan forestry research centers
The closures are part of a broader consolidation and reorganization that will move the US Forest Service headquarters from the nation’s capital to Salt Lake City.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
EPA move on microplastics, pharmaceuticals draws mixed response in Michigan
Trump administration officials said Thursday they’ll add the two pollutants to a federal priority list — but stopped short of enacting monitoring requirements that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan neighbors rally for rooftop solar as federal support shrinks
Grassroots “Solarize” programs are helping Michigan neighbors buy rooftop solar together, even as federal support shrinks.