Great Lakes

Too much waste spread on too little land causes worst of Michigan’s water pollution.

Run-off promotes toxic algae blooms, but farmers and other phosphorus producers are reluctant to alter practices.

Water sampling finds no reduction in bloom-producing nutrients.

The company that owns the Palisades facility, Holtec International, applied for a federal grant to keep the plant operational on July 5. Whitmer submitted a letter in support of the plan Friday.

Billions spent on strategies to limit nutrient pollution that don’t work.

The blooms are a threat to drinking water, beaches and our way of life. Join a Zoom discussion Sept. 14 to learn what is being done.

As Michigan winters warm, more geese are becoming full-time residents, rather than migrating further south. That’s convenient for the geese, but a plague on the park, golf course and beach visitors trying to evade their droppings. Solutions are limited.

Information used to map the Great Lakes lakebottom is so sparse in some areas, you could hide entire cities in the space between data points. By methodically “mowing the lawn” with sonar-equipped boats, researchers are filling in the gaps.

Recreational and charter fishing groups filed a request Wednesday seeking a seat at the table as Michigan regulators negotiate with five tribes over fishing rights.

Bridge Michigan reporter Kelly House moderated a Zoom discussion with three experts about the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes region.

There are plenty of northern pike in 10 popular lakes. Problem is, they don’t grow big enough reach the state’s catch limit and plague other species.

The Michigan Public Service Commission voted to collect more evidence on safety and explosion risks before deciding whether to grant the Canadian energy company a key permit to begin the tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac.

It’s been five years since Sleeping Bear launched its Preventative Search and Rescue Program. In that time they’ve seen dramatic results.

Don’t forget to pack a life jacket and update yourself on water safety precautions before the holiday weekend. Drownings are up across the Great Lakes and state officials are urging beachgoers to prioritize safety.

The seabird, which feasts on alewifes in the Great Lakes, is thought to be particularly susceptible to spreading disease because they nest closely together.

By treating them more like the oceans, researchers are trying to better predict future Great Lakes water levels.

Piping plovers are nesting in more places, and in slightly greater numbers.

On July 13, Bridge Michigan environment reporter Kelly House will moderate a Zoom discussion about the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes.

The food web in lakes Michigan and Huron has changed in ways that jeopardize age-old fishing traditions and raise questions about how we’ve managed them. Now negotiators are updating a legal settlement that spells out where and how much lake whitefish and lake trout can be harvested.