Great Lakes Echo

VIDEO: Scientists examine the world’s freshwater lakes

Great Lakes Echo — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:58:19 +0000

The Large Lakes Observatory is observing the Great Lakes to better understand threats to the world’s freshwater resources. Research teams are studying everything from climate change impacts on the lakes to nitrate build-ups. And it’s not just the Great Lakes. With support from the National Science Foundation, the observatory’s scientists are studying the biology, chemistry, physics and geology of large lakes around the world. The video below highlights some of their research in the Great Lakes. Video courtesy of Science Nation of the National Science Foundation Featured photo: Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Chemical levels in Saginaw Bay fish depend on where they hang out

Brian Bienkowski — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:56:48 +0000

Male walleye and prey fish in the Saginaw River have almost three times more chemicals in them than their bay dwelling counterparts. The chemicals, PBDE's, aren't discharged, but the non point source pollutants are sticking in the river sediment.

Environmental portraits at the birth of the EPA

David Poulson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:15:45 +0000

I was pretty excited when a few years back Jeremy Herliczek, a photographer and a graduate student at Michigan State University, offered to create a portal to a little known gem of the Environmental Protection Agency. Called Documerica, the EPA project attempted to document the state of the environment at the birth of that agency. The trouble is that accessing those old environmental images is difficult. So, too, is simply sorting through them. Jeremy’s project for his masters thesis was to create galleries of some of the best images, explain the history ...

Beach managers test for E. coli while another germ goes undetected

Carol Thompson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:14:03 +0000

While health agencies look for faster ways to detect harmful E. coli bacteria on public beaches, they overlook another germ that may cause even greater problems.

Keeping climate change on regional agendas despite public apathy

Brian Bienkowski — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:05:35 +0000

The climate is changing. Great Lakes organizations and officials are trying to make sure restoration work is done with this in mind. But climate change remains a low national priority.

Planting with printers: Chicago man recycles paper with electronic forestry

Kam Moore — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:03:25 +0000

In his spare time Chicago resident Joe Miller runs what may be the coolest eco-friendly company with the coolest name ever. Print-A-Forest makes a free computer software that turns your routine printing projects into a plant-a-tree fundraiser. By getting a small message from plant-a-tree sponsors across the bottom of your printed pages, you pay for planting trees. An example: “Powered by State Farm” could appear on the bottom of the page if the insurance company sponsored the planting. Pretty simple. The Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree for every 100 sponsored pages ...

Great Lakes separation study: Partisan posturing trumps constructive dialogue

Gary Wilson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:16:33 +0000

A study released this week called for permanent physical barriers in the Chicago Area Waterways System. Instead of spurring a conversation, groups stuck to preexisting positions.

Photo Friday: Gluttonous Squirrel

Carolyn Sundquist — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:08:19 +0000

My family has watched this bird feeder in the small tree outside our Farmington Hills, Mich., home for about ten years. I’ve never seen as many squirrels as this winter gathered under it or on the tree above it. There is an average of about ten squirrels a day. Maybe it’s the warm winter. Maybe they’ve finally learned the tricks of the trade. If you ask me, we have ninja squirrels. They have figured out how to slide down the plastic cover and latch their back feet to the metal bottom where ...

Deterioration of lake health inspires “For Love of Lakes”

Carol Thompson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:07:38 +0000

Echo catches up with author, Darby Nelson, about his first book, "For Love of Lakes," which explores the worsening health of lakes around the country.

A small, slightly overweight animal predicts the rest of winter

Alethia Kasben — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:07:03 +0000

One of the most famous wild animals in a Great Lakes state gets the environmental spotlight today. Phil, a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pa., has predicted winter’s future for more than 125 years. Since 1886 the town has celebrated Phil’s waking. Groundhog’s Day events there this year include Oreo stacking and a walking tour of sculptures of the little guy. Thousands of people nationwide participate, according to the event’s official website. The events only break when Phil comes out of his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob. If he sees his shadow, there will be ...