August 6, 2009
Great Lakes Beach Closings
The NRDC has released a report on the most polluted beaches in the United States. Four out of the ten most polluted beaches in the country reside in the Great Lakes basin. There were over 20,000 beach closings and advisories in 2008 due to pollutants from stormwater and failing infrastructure.
Read the whole report, here.
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July 6, 2009
Swimmer's Itch
Cases of Swimmer's Itch (Schistosome cercarial dermatitis) are starting to appear across lakes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and other U.S. states. Swimmer's itch is a reaction of the skin to water-borne parasites, found in many lakes across the nation. The parasites are found in vertebrates and snails.
The red, itchy welts caused by the parasite can be treated with calamine lotion. Swimmer's can reduce risks by toweling off when leaving the water, and avoiding shallow parts of lakes.
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February 6, 2009
Beach Closings-Great Lakes
Did you know? That some beaches in the Great Lakes basin are closed to swimmers on average of 35% of the time in any given summer. The beach closings are due to E. coli and other bacteria from antiquated sewers,...
Continue reading "Beach Closings-Great Lakes"
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September 29, 2008
Great Lakes Beaches
Did you know, that Park Point Beach in Duluth, Minnesota was rated the cleanest beach on the Great Lakes by the NRDC? See how beaches are rated across the Great Lakes and the U.S., here.... Continue reading "Great Lakes Beaches"
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July 31, 2008
Beaches of the Great Lakes
American beaches are in bad shape, and Great Lakes beaches are even worse. 2007 had the second highest levels of beach closings and advisories ever, well over 20,000 nationwide. Nationally, 7% of all water samples from beaches violated health standards.... Continue reading "Beaches of the Great Lakes"
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July 18, 2008
Garbage On Beaches
Hundreds of pounds of garbage has been washing up on Lake Michigan beaches in Michigan. The source of the garbage is unknown, but the Coast Guard is using helicopters to investigate the source. In Manistee a beach was closed do... Continue reading "Garbage On Beaches"
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June 4, 2008
Attacks At Minneapolis Lakes
Summer like weather has people flocking to the chain of lakes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Unfortunately, armed robbers have been attacking couples out for walks along the shoreline.... Continue reading "Attacks At Minneapolis Lakes"
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June 3, 2008
Protect Great Lakes Beaches
New protection methods are underway at Great Lakes beaches this summer. The EPA has launched Beach Sanitary Survey Tools for managers of local beaches. A sanitary survey is a method of investigating the sources of contamination to a water body.... Continue reading "Protect Great Lakes Beaches"
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April 11, 2008
Great Lakes Beaches
Did you know there are roughly 2,800 closings and advisories of Great Lakes beaches each year? The closings come from heavy rains that wash billions of gallons of raw sewage overflow into the lakes from cities and towns in the... Continue reading "Great Lakes Beaches"
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March 4, 2008
Door County Vs. Manitowoc County
Did you know that although Door County, Wisconsin has more shoreline at 300 miles (the most in the country); Manitowoc County actually has more miles of beach? Manitowoc County has 7.65 miles of beach, while Door County has 6.41... Continue reading "Door County Vs. Manitowoc County"
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February 20, 2008
Impaired Waters in Wisconsin
Wisconsin and all other states submit a list of waterbodies determined to be impaired to the U.S. EPA every two years. The lists help identify bodies of water that are a priority for restoration around the country. See what bodies... Continue reading "Impaired Waters in Wisconsin"
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August 10, 2007
Beach Closures on the Rise
The number of U.S. beach closures and no-swim advisories reached a record high last year, and three Midwestern states were part of the worst offenders. The study by the NRDC revealed that pollution and better monitoring of its effects caused... Continue reading "Beach Closures on the Rise"
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April 27, 2007
Best Lake Michigan Beaches
What is the best Lake Michigan beach? Can't decide? Well, Alan Soloman from the Chicago Tribune has put out his favorites as follows...... 1. OVAL BEACH, Saugatuck, Mich. 2. LUDINGTON STATE PARK, Ludington, Mich. 3. ESCH ROAD BEACH, Near Empire,... Continue reading "Best Lake Michigan Beaches"
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April 13, 2007
Lake Michigan Video
Winter holds on along a Lake Michigan beach.... Continue reading "Lake Michigan Video"
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March 12, 2007
Lake Michigan Video
Experience a day on a Lake Michigan beach in under three minutes, watching this time-lapse video.... Continue reading "Lake Michigan Video"
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January 10, 2007
Methods of Erosion Control
Two general methods are available to prevent lakeshore from eroding: hard armoring and soft armoring. The most common technique is riprap, which consists of placing large rocks in the water and up the slope of the eroding shoreline. Riprap is... Continue reading "Methods of Erosion Control"
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October 9, 2006
Lake Superior
Lake Superior Beach.... Continue reading "Lake Superior"
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September 25, 2006
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain in Vermont remains at risk despite the state's pledge to speed cleanup on land to meet pollution reduction goals for the lake by 2009. There is a growing belief among experts that Vermont's $103 million cleanup plan won't... Continue reading "Lake Champlain"
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August 8, 2006
Michigan Beaches
Heading to a beach or boating in Michigan, check this link before you head to your destination.... Continue reading "Michigan Beaches"
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June 28, 2006
Lake Michigan
Another summer of beach closings has led two Illinois congressmen to unveil the bipartisan Great Lakes Water Protection Act establishing a federal deadline to end sewage dumping in the Great Lakes. The act is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mark Kirk,... Continue reading "Lake Michigan"
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May 30, 2006
Michigan Beaches
In Michigan, there are 472 public beaches on inland lakes and 411 public beaches on the Great Lakes, In 2005, local officials tested 294, or 60 percent, of inland lake beaches and 204, or 50 percent, of Great Lakes beaches.... Continue reading "Michigan Beaches"
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February 22, 2006
Great Lakes Beaches
The US Supreme Court has decided not to consider whether people have a right to walk along private property on the Great Lakes shoreline. Which means the beaches will remain open to the public. Michigan's highest court ruled last year... Continue reading "Great Lakes Beaches"
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January 4, 2006
Rocky Beach
A rocky beach and shoreline a few days before the winter freeze.... Continue reading "Rocky Beach"
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September 30, 2005
Beach Conference
The State of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes Beach conferences will be held concurrently on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and Thursday, Nov 3, at the KI Convention Center, 333 Main St., in Green Bay, Wis. This is the first time... Continue reading "Beach Conference"
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September 15, 2005
Chicago Beaches
Should Chicago extend their water quality tests into the early fall? Ninety degree temperatures and stiff winds have driven hundreds to Chicago beaches where there are no more lifeguards or daily water pollution tests. Park District spokesman Michelle Jones says... Continue reading "Chicago Beaches"
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August 19, 2005
E. Coli
Are gulls responsible for high E. Coli levels at some beaches throughout the Midwest? If so how can we handle this problem?...Link to this article | Comments (0)
August 4, 2005
Lake Calhoun
The north beach at Lake Calhoun reopened today, a day after a pollution alert forced its temporary closure, according to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. The beach was closed after routine tests on Monday found elevated levels of E.... Continue reading "Lake Calhoun"
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August 1, 2005
Public Beaches
People can stroll along Michigan's 3,200 miles of Great Lakes beaches whether owners of adjacent private property like it or not, the state Supreme Court has ruled.... Continue reading "Public Beaches"
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