[dailynews] November 29, 2012

Great Lakes Daily News: November 29, 2012
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/


Fight over ferry prompts questions on definition of earmarks
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To its critics, the S.S. Badger is a relic and a menace, a coal-fired car 
ferry that dumps tons of raw coal ash into Lake Michigan each year as it 
plies its route between Manitowoc, Wis., and Ludington, Mich. To its friends 
in the halls of Congress, the Badger is a national historic treasure. 
Source: The New York Times (11/29)


Pharmaceuticals difficult to treat in drinking water
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The emerging threat of pharmaceuticals, everyday chemicals and personal care 
products in drinking water may be the most difficult problem that water 
treatment plants in the Great Lakes region have faced. Source: Great Lakes 
Echo (11/29)


Coal washes up on shores of Lake Michigan
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Chunks of coal and a metallic, powdery substance that recently washed along 
the shores of Lake Michigan near Caledonia, Wis., are nothing to worry 
about, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Source: 
The Journal Times (11/29)


Shedd Aquarium studies invasive fish species impacting the Great Lakes 
ecosystem
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As Shedd Aquarium's campus literally sits right on the shore of Lake 
Michigan in Chicago, Ill., the aquarium has focused several initiatives on 
protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem. Source: National Geographic (11/29)


Tribal rights central to state's mining debate
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Wis. Gov. Scott Walker is  confident that Gogebic Taconite will return, if 
the state passes an acceptable mining bill. The company wanted to extract 
iron ore just south of Lake Superior.  A possible kink in the state's mining 
aspirations is the sovereign status of northern Wisconsin Chippewa tribes. 
Source: Milwaukee Public Radio (11/29)


New use for SS Spartan?
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For decades, the SS Spartan has been docked at its Ludington, Mich., slip on 
Pere Marquette Lake. Now an idea has been put forth to move the Spartan to 
Seattle, Wash., and run it between Seattle and Whittier, Alaska, carrying 
passengers and freight. Source: Ludington Daily News (11/29)


Water runs through us: Muskegon is(n't) a beach town and what that means
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Muskegon County, Mich., has 26 miles of beaches, but opinions are divided on 
whether Muskegon has what it takes to be a "beach town." A beach town image 
is not just a matter of geography. Source: MLive (11/29)


Sandy reduces Great Lakes cargo, but not in Duluth
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Superstorm Sandy took a bite out of laker traffic on the Great Lakes last 
month - it stopped ships for about three days. Despite Sandy, the Twin Ports 
handled more tons of cargo last month than in October 2011. Source: Duluth 
News Tribune (11/29)


Dropping water levels affect Lake Ontario, Irondequoit Bay
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New York's Irondequoit Bay, which flows into Lake Ontario, is a local 
manifestation of a larger problem. The Great Lakes, the world's biggest 
freshwater system, are shrinking because of drought and rising temperatures. 
Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (11/28)


Hundreds of hectares for sale on Lake Superior
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It's one of the most unusual - and one of the priciest - property sales in 
northwestern Ontario.  More than 1,800 hectares near Terrace Bay, Ont., are 
on the market - a parcel that envelops 30 kilometres of shoreline, including 
frontage on Lake Superior, Hays Lake and the Aguasabon River. Source: CBC 
News (11/28)

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