Invasive mussels that blanket the depths of lakes Huron and Michigan have pushed whitefish to the brink of extinction. What to know about possible solutions and why Lake Superior so far is spared.
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.
Water’s True Cost
As the nation prepares to pour hundreds of billions of federal dollars into rescuing water systems, the Great Lakes News Collaborative investigates the true cost of water in Michigan. Read the series.
Ready or Not
The Great Lakes region is frequently touted as one of the most climate-resilient places in the U.S., in part because of its enviable water resources. But climate change also threatens our water. The Great Lakes News Collaborative explores what it will take to prepare. Read the series.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Whitefish crash has Michigan fishers on the brink: ‘It makes you want to cry’
Only a few dozen commercial fishing operations remain on the Great Lakes, as invasive species have decimated the industry. It’s a collapse unlike any in the world, and solutions are few.
Posted inOutdoors Life
‘The Gales of November’ excerpt: Edmund Fitzgerald built for luxury, not safety
In this excerpt of “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” author John U. Bacon explains that the mighty freighter was constructed to hold as much cargo as possible and impress captains of industry.
Posted inOutdoors Life
Swimming drone explores underwater mountain in Lake Superior
The Superior Shoal is a mass of underwater volcanic rock that rises out of the floor of Lake Superior. Researchers and filmmakers think it could be a magnet for life beneath the surface.
Posted inMichigan Government
In win for Michigan cities, court clears South Haven in beach drowning suit
The state Court of Appeals has cleared the city of South Haven of liability in the 2020 drowning of an 18-year-old swimmer at a public beach on the Lake Michigan coast.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Climate change puts Great Lakes at risk, but solutions are in sight
A new report shows the lakes are warming fast, creating profound changes to Michigan’s way of life. The time for commonsense solutions is now.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Report: 19% of Lake Michigan shore now armored, limiting public access
A new study from MSU researchers used aerial photography to show just how much Michigan’s western shoreline has changed since the high water crisis of 2020. The expansion of hard armoring brings consequences for people and the environment.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan Supreme Court to consider Line 5 permit challenges
The state’s highest court will hear two challenges to the Michigan Public Service Commission’s approval of a permit for Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Line 5 tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan fish farmers chart sustainable future for Great Lakes
As global aquaculture has grown to meet increasing demand for protein, a small but determined group of inland fish farmers in the Great Lakes region are building a more sustainable, local supply.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
New tool in fight against Great Lakes invasive species: muskrats
In the battle against invasive species, the common muskrat may be an unsung hero. A new study done in the UP by scientists from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Loyola University and the University of Connecticut finds that muskrats are an effective way to control invasive cattails in wetlands.