[dailynews] October 22, 2012

Great Lakes Daily News: October 22, 2012
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/


Charting the lakes' future
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The Transborder Research University Network for Water Stewardship launched 
the Great Lakes Futures Project with the support of 21 research 
organizations in the United States and Canada. This Project will examine the 
factors affecting the Great Lakes Basin during the past 50 years - and make 
predictions about the next 50. Source: The Times Herald (10/22)


EDITORIAL: Better spill response
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The oil company BP recently settled a seven-year dispute over the extent to 
which a terminal in Maryland was prepared for major spills. The U.S. EPA and 
Justice Department fined BP $210,000 for woefully inadequate response times 
during oil spill response exercises. Source: The Toledo Blade (10/22)


At long last: Indiana Harbor, Ship Canal work expected to begin
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Long-delayed dredging of a polluted industrial waterway which runs through 
the heart of East Chicago is scheduled to begin this week. More than a 
century old, the man-made channel has accumulated so many toxic and 
cancer-causing substances as to be considered the most polluted in the Great 
Lakes by the EPA. Source: The Northwest Indiana Times (10/22)


COMMENTARY: Let's take care of Presqu'ile Bay
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Unfortunately Presqu'ile Bay, Ont., is succumbing to nutrient enrichment and 
has not been properly cared for or even routinely assessed for environmental 
health. Yearly assessments of and remediation of the underlying problems are 
required. Source: Northumberland News (10/21)


Below normal precipitation impacts Great Lakes
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Great Lakes water levels are predicted to reach record lows in a few months 
unless there is an increase in precipitation. Source: Escanaba Daily Press 
(10/20)


EDITORIAL: Lake level problem demands urgency
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The water level in Lake Michigan (and by extension Lake Huron) is nearly 2 
feet lower today than it was a decade ago. Two major factors are said to 
account for that - weather and dredging operations in the St. Clair River, 
the primary outflow of the two great lakes. Source: The Herald Times 
Reporter (10/19)


EDITORIAL: Simple explanation to low water levels
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We have suffered through some rather dry spells, especially this summer, 
where much of Ontario and nearby U.S. states experienced drought-like 
conditions. We need some years of above-average precipitation to replenish 
our lakes. It will happen, just as the above-average dry spell struck, but 
we must be patient. Source: The Chatham Daily News (10/19)


Fall weather means spawning time and egg collection at a weir near you
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Fall is the spawning season for many of Michigan's native and introduced 
salmonids. Spawning season means that the Michigan Department of Natural 
Resources Fisheries Division is hard at work gathering the eggs necessary 
for production of hatchery fish used to support Michigan's world-class 
fisheries. Source: Examiner.com (10/19)


Ontario court rules against wind farm suit over moratorium
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An Ontario court has struck down a $2.25 billion damage claim brought by 
Trillium Wind Power Corp. unhappy with the Ontario government's decision to 
halt off-shore wind farms. The company says it will appeal the ruling. 
Source: The Toronto Star (10/17)


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