Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms have started sooner and had longer peak periods over the past decade compared to earlier years, newly released data shows. Warming temperatures linked to climate change are a cause, with interactions among species likely playing a role as well. Read the full story by Cleveland Scene.
After tens of millions of dollars in public funding and decades of work by many, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to remove from its list of Areas of Concern Lake Ontario’s Rochester embayment, which lies between Towns of Webster and Parma, New York. Read the full story by The Democrat and Chronicle.
Multicolored, foul-smelling algae in the Lake Ontario waterfront of Hamilton, Ontario, has spurred complaints from boaters and residents, with the city testing for toxic blue-green algae and installing warning signs. Rather than clean it up, city staff are focused on tracking toxic algae locations and alerting the public. Read the full story by The Hamilton Spectator.
Alpena, Michigan, gateway to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, offers a fascinating window into the maritime history of the Great Lakes. But beyond its well-known status as a shipwreck haven, Thunder Bay holds many lesser-known stories and facts that deepen its allure. Read the full story by The Sun Times News.
Inland Seas Education Association operates two tall ships, with the bulk of its cruises involving school groups, hosting as many as 200 classrooms a year. The Association has been designated as a Certified Autism Center, providing accessible and inclusive educational experiences for all visitors. Read the full story by WPBN-TV – Traverse City, MI.
The City Council in Yorkville, Illinois, approved applying for an Environmental Protection Agency loan to fund the Lake Michigan water project, joining the DuPage Water Commission, which sources water from Chicago. City officials say Lake Michigan water could be flowing to Yorkville by April of 2028. Read the full story by WSPY – Plano, IL.
The Great Lakes Microbial Water Quality Assessment, sponsored by the International Joint Commission, found that decades-old testing methods that measure microbial and chemical threats in Great Lakes waters are inadequate and advances in newer methods are critically needed. Read the full story by Circle of Blue.
Multiple officials in Macomb County, Michigan, are calling on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to hold off on renewing Oakland County’s groundwater discharge permit until the county commits to addressing sewage discharges into the Red Run Drain, which flows for 130 miles through both counties. Read the full story by the Michigan Advance.
A sizable fish kill of freshwater drum, also known as sheepshead, has happened on portions of Lake Erie near Erie, Pennsylvania. It appeared that some of the distressed fish were doing a side stroke and were unable to right themselves due to issues with their swim bladders which can be caused by changes in water pressure associated with recent weather pattern. Read the full story by Erie Times-News.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an agreement allowing the Thousand Islands Land Trust to acquire nearly 1,000 acres in Jefferson County through a mix of conservation easements and land purchases to filter potential pollutants from entering the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Read the full story by WWNY-TV – Carthage, NY.
The National Park Service is moving forward with a $32 million project to relocate the docks at both North and South Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan. The agency is seeking permits to relocate the structures after years of access problems caused by sediment shoaling, which has fueled conflict between the park and a ferry operator based in Leland, Michigan, which has canceled service to North Manitou this year. Read the full story by MLive.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports good fall fishing due to successful spring and summer fish stocking. The DNR stocked a total of 9,118,112 fish that weighed nearly 321 tons and consisted of 10 different species and one hybrid. Read the full story by the News Advocate.