Bruce Beach Canada

Congressional lawmakers are coming to Wisconsin later this week to talk about an important resource that keeps the Great Lakes region’s economy afloat: icebreaking. Senator Tammy Baldwin is set to host a hearing with U.S. Coast Guard officials and business leaders to testify on the need to expand icebreaking capacity on the Great Lakes. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative was launched in 2007 by the Great Lakes Fishery Trust with a goal of letting students explore the Great Lakes’ ecosystems through projects. Last year’s projects included a rain garden and a beach cleanup. Read the full story by The Alpena News.

A bill that would enable private waterfront development on public lands that were once submerged in Wisconsin’s Great Lakes waters has passed both state houses and now heads to the desk of Governor Tony Evers. Read the full story by the Wisconsin Watch.

The long, fast, toothy muskellunge (also known as muskie or musky) is nicknamed the “Fish of 10,000 Casts” due to its notoriously elusive nature. It is the apex predator in all waters where it’s found, known to hide in underwater cover, aggressively ambushing prey. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now.

In Ontario, an icebreaker may be an unlikely sight in the Port of Thunder Bay this year, as ice coverage across the Great Lakes remains low. The lack of ice could mean an extended shipping season. Read the full story by CBC News.

Grey Bruce Public Health is asking the province whether merging with another health unit is merely a suggestion or a requirement. Read More

Grey Bruce Public Health is asking the province whether merging with another health unit is merely a suggestion or a requirement. Read More

Piping plovers have returned to the same shoreline breeding locations for decades, but new and less desirable nest sites are appearing because many old sites no longer exist. Climate change impacts water levels in the Great Lakes; when water rises, old sites are flooded out and beaches are reduced. Read the full story by Bridge Michigan.

While the Great Lakes shoreline is usually armored in the winter by ice cover, this year’s record low level of ice cover means coastal areas face a risk of more erosion. As climate forecasts anticipate continued dwindling of ice coverage each winter, ongoing maintenance along the shoreline to prevent erosion may be needed moving forward. Read the full story by WSJM-FM – Benton Harbor, MI.

United States and Canadian Coast Guard representatives came together to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier this month. The MOU is a new agreement to coordinate ice breaking efforts throughout the main waterways of the Great Lakes, as well as connecting waters like the Georgian Bay and St. Lawrence River. Read the full story by The Sault News.

A group of water safety experts and other advocates headed to the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis Wednesday to argue in favor of the Lake Michigan Rescue Equipment Act. The bill would require life ring stations on piers and public access points along Lake Michigan in Indiana. Read the full story by WBBM-TV – Chicago, IL.

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers recently signed the 20th company to the 100% fish pledge, committing to fully use the region’s whitefish, lake trout, yellow perch, walleye and white sucker. The effort aims to improve the sustainability and value of commercially caught fish, which are used primarily for their fillets, as about 60% of the remaining fish becomes low-value animal feed or is discarded. Read the full story by The Mining Journal.