Great Lakes Echo

Flash Point: Shawn Malone on capturing northern Michigan’s night skies

Celeste Bott — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:36:15 +0000

Shawn Malone, owner of Lake Superior Photo, describes the process behind North Country Dreamland as a combination of “luck and persistence.” Malone is a veteran photographer, who focuses on shooting images of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Lake Superior Watershed. This is her first time-lapse compilation. It’s put together with more than 10,000 photo frames and 33 northern Michigan night sky events last year. These night skyscapes include multiple northern lights scenes, meteor showers, nebulae, planets, constellations, the Milky Way and comets. Many of them were taken over both Lake Superior and Lake ...

Distillers name gin for fish long gone from Michigan

Lindsay Dunbar — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:33:00 +0000

Greyling Modern Dry Gin is named for the Arctic grayling and features an image of the fish on the label. It is made with Michigan hard red winter wheat. It recently was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Fishery workshop surveys show more positive attitudes about Lake Huron

Celeste Bott — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:07:01 +0000

Surveys from a series of Michigan Sea Grant workshops show growing Lake Huron fish populations and improving attitudes about the Great Lake’s fishery. Researchers gave presentations on invasive species research and management, and experienced anglers in Lake Huron communities attended.

Green marina training moves to Web

Carlee Schepeler — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:05:01 +0000

Modules focus on topics such as sewage handling and petroleum control. Webinars are held every few months; past topics include boat-bottom washing, aquatic invasive species, storm water and grass runoff.

Film explores Great Lakes region’s relationship with ice

Emanuele Berry — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:00:30 +0000

The Great Lakes formed thousands of years ago when a glacier moved across the region and melted. The film “Project:Ice” depicts the important role ice continues to plays in the Great Lakes Basin. The documentary’s director and executive producer Bill Kleinert joined, WKAR’s Current State to discuss “Project: Ice.” To read more about the film, you can check out an article we published earlier this year about the documentary. Film explores Great Lakes region’s relationship with ice by EmanueleB

Michigan videographer tackles snow melt

James Dau — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:05:09 +0000

The Midland-based producer of the Climate Denial Crock of the Week is involved in examining the link between North American wildfires and Greenland's increasing snow melt. It is among the first scientific research projects looking to crowdfunding.

Re-leaf Duluth seeks to restore the environment

Lake Voice — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:01:57 +0000

By Daniel Badhwa The city of Duluth, Minn. has launched a new program to restore and plant more trees in urban neighborhoods. Trees have disappeared from Duluth due to higher energy costs, pollution and unhealthy growing environments. The city of Duluth established the Re-Leaf program three years ago after setting aside a $5,000 annual budget to re-leaf the city. Urban trees provide shade for houses and businesses and soak up rainwater to lessen polluted runoff into lakes and streams. To many people though, urban trees simply provide a more pleasant living environment. “One of the ...

Wisconsin replicates Michigan’s certified natural shoreline program

Great Lakes Echo — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:52:04 +0000

Many inland lakes are ringed with cement seawalls. But for wildlife looking for a place to live, a natural lakeshore is a better option. It also keeps waves from scouring the lake bottom.

Experts discuss health of Great Lakes beaches

Guest Contributor — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:10:50 +0000

This is the second of four Great Lakes Now broadcasts exploring the major environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes and produced by Detroit Public Television and The Nature Conservancy. It looks at the safety and health of the beaches, low lake levels and the threats of E. Coli, sewage and algae. The special features two panel discussions hosted by MiWeek‘s Christy McDonald. Panel 1: How Safe Are Our Beaches? Katherine Kahl, Ph. D., Conservation Policy and Practices Specialist, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan, Moderator Joan Rose, the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research & ...

Endocrine disrupters: What can I do?

Guest Contributor — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:00:26 +0000

By Kate Golden Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Advice from experts. To limit BPA exposure, be careful with plastics used with food. Heat food in glassware and carry stainless steel bottles. Discard scratched plastic, and don’t buy used plastic containers. Consider eating less canned food, since can liners may contain BPA. Link: the government’s advice on BPA. Check the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database, which notes when products contain chemicals associated with endocrine disruption, and its 2012 shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce. Apples top the “Dirty Dozen,” while sweet corn ranks ...