All Syndicated

Manoomin was once widespread across Michigan and the entire Upper Great Lakes. But hundreds of years of European settlement removed it from much of the landscape as settlers trenched and drained natural waterways, destroying countless acres of natural habitat. Now Great Lakes tribes like Bay Mills are working to restore wild rice to the ecosystem not only to reclaim cultural heritage but also to build thriving beds of the native species for the future.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a plan Thursday to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing into the Maumee River and eventually into Lake Erie, where the farm nutrient is considered the main contributor to the creation of harmful algal blooms. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) levels are high in 13 areas around Erie County as of Sept. 27, according to the Erie County Beach Water Testing Results website. Read the full story by WJET-TV – Erie, PA.

A beloved Windsor landmark’s tenure in Reaume Park has come to an end after 45 years of shooting water jets in the air and covering visitors with refreshing mist from the Detroit River. The Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain — the biggest floating fountain in the world — was disconnected and barged to Lakeview Park Marina for the last time on Thursday. Read the full story by the Windsor Star.

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed state officials from a lawsuit related to past lead contamination in a small southwestern Michigan city’s drinking water but said the case could proceed against city officials, including the mayor. Read the full story by ABC News.

The $7 million project, part of the massive Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, first dredged tons of muck out of the lake that had settled there over decades. Then it deepened parts of the lake and restored aquatic habitat and fish spawning habitat. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune.

A new Michigan bill package is set to be introduced to the Senate next week regarding water affordability. The package includes creating a fund to help people statewide who are struggling to pay their water bills, but not everyone is on board. Read the full story by WDIV-TV – Detroit, MI.