Scientists once believed little important happened during winters. But as they vanish, the study of snowpack is increasing. ‘It brings home a reality that has been predicted for a long time,’ one U-M scientist says.
Michigan Environment Watch
Michigan Environment Watch examines how public policy, industry, and other factors interact with the state’s trove of natural resources.
Great Lakes News Collaborative
Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television, The Narwhal and Michigan Public work together to report on the most pressing threats to the Great Lakes region’s water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. You can find all of the collaborative’s stories here.
Shockwave
The Great Lakes region is in the midst of a seismic energy shakeup, from skyrocketing data center demand and a nuclear energy boom, to expanding renewables and electrification. In 2026, the Great Lakes News Collaborative will explore how shifting supply and demand affect the region and its waters. Read the series here.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Unseasonably warm weather in Michigan a challenge for fruit farmers
Unseasonably sunny skies and warm temperatures could be a problem for fruit farmers and their fruit trees, which require cold temperatures to stay dormant.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Reimagined St. Ignace memorial to be a showcase of Native American history
The DNR is rebuilding the Father Marquette National Memorial in St. Ignace. The exhibits, art work and signage will focus on the area’s rich Native American culture and history.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan’s lost winter cancels sturgeon season, ski, dog sled races
Cancellations mount as Michigan experiences one of the warmest winters in memory. Experts blame El Niño and climate change.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Flint residents reach $25M settlement with engineers in water crisis case
Engineering company Veolia North America settles class-action lawsuit before a trial was set to begin on Feb. 13. The company consulted the city of Flint after its disastrous 2014 water switch.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Report: Feds will give $1.5 billion to restart Palisades nuclear plant
Lawmakers cheer a report that President Joe Biden’s administration is set to help relaunch a decommissioned plant on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan plans big spending to insulate homes. But can it find contractors?
Making homes more energy-efficient saves money and helps combat climate change. But while Michigan is flush with cash to weatherize low-income homes, it struggles to find workers who install insulation and seal air leaks.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan Dems renew push to kill panels that give industry say in regulations
Derided as ‘polluter panels,’ oversight boards were created by Republicans in 2018 to review state environmental regulations. Democrats who control the Legislature heard testimony Thursday to nix two panels.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan deer: Hunters share thoughts on managing a changing herd
Deer harvests have significantly declined in Michigan, and officials attribute the downward trend to the lack of licensed hunters. The Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to join a focus group to address the challenges of a changing deer population.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Detroit’s ‘ghost’ streams can be a threat in the present
Research shows Detroit’s buried streams disproportionately impact redlined neighborhoods.