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Strategic plan targets invasive species
The Superior Daily Telegram (11/17)
Douglas County’s Land Conservation Committee is forwarding a plan to the county board that takes aim at invasive species.
Mich. Clean Marina Program: Public-private partners work together to improve water quality
Grand Rapids Environmental News Examiner (11/9)
Partners from the public and private sector in Michigan are working together in a voluntary program to improve the quality of the Great Lakes.
Researchers seek funding for wind test site in Lake Michigan
Grand Rapids Environmental News Examiner (11/7)
In a recent article in The Muskegon Chronicle, it was reported that researchers at Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) cited a lack of year-around data (on wind platform testing) needed by prospective development companies.
COMMENTARY: Senate needs to pass clean energy act to help Michigan
The Grand Rapids Press (10/26)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was absolutely correct with his recent proclamation about the current condition of the Great Lakes State: "The State of Michigan," Reid declared from the Senate Floor, with a copy Time Magazine in his hand, "is in trouble."
First Nation women 'walk the environmental talk'
WeNews (10/23)
Tomorrow's global day of climate activism aims for media and political attention. First Nation women have another way. Since 2003, they've walked the shoreline of a Great Lake or major river, meditating on the needs of an unborn generation.
City making big push for water school
The Business Journal (10/23)
The push is on to convince the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee that the best location for its new School of Freshwater Sciences is near the university’s existing Great Lakes Water Institute on East Greenfield Avenue.
What's going on in your neighborhood this month? Meet other people and learn together at recreational and educational events! Our new dynamic calendar is updated daily with current educational events.
5 | All about the lakes!
What are the top three issues that are facing the Great Lakes today?
The top two issues that I think most people would agree on are water levels, which I've already discussed, and non-native invasive species.
The third issue involves how we are going to use the water in the Great Lakes. As many places in the country, particularly the southwest and parts of Colorado and Nebraska, expand at a rate faster than their available water supply, those people will be looking toward the Great Lakes to satisfy their own water shortages. How much water can other people take and still maintain the integrity of the Great Lakes? People can identify with the Great Lakes, even if they live in the middle of Michigan and don't see the lakes everyday. It's part of their psyche. The threats to the Great Lakes are very important to people. The idea that Great Lakes water could be sold by-passes politics, and all types of people are working together to preserve the Great Lakes.
I have a lot of favorite places!
The Copper Country, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is beautiful. It's a great place to witness the beauty of Lake Superior and to see the Canadian Shield, which are some of the oldest rocks found in North America.
Charlevoix and Petoskey along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan have beautiful beaches. Then there's the dunes on the western side of Michigan and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary along the western shore of Lake Huron.
In Canada there's Sable Beach along the eastern shore of Lake Huron, which is now one of the best beaches on the Great Lakes due to the low lake levels.
And, of course, Niagara Falls -- no matter how many times you see the falls, they're impressive. And the St. Lawrence River and the 1000 Islands are fascinating regions that are full of history.
One of the interesting things in this region is that people who come from the Great Lakes region are always trying to come back!
Graphic: Great blue heron on the Great Lakes (Don Breneman)
