August 12, 2009
Great Lakes Restoration
Did you know? A new study from the Brookings Institution reports that the Great Lakes region will benefit tremendously from any funding geared toward restoring and preserving the lakes. The region should see $2 in economic benefit for every $1 spent on the efforts.
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July 24, 2009
Lake Superior's Toxic Barrels
Almost 1,500 barrels of toxic military waste were dumped into Lake Superior over a five year period. Some barrels may be within a mile of a supply intake for drinking water near Duluth, Minnesota. A call to test sediments near the barrels, and possibly remove them is ongoing.
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July 17, 2009
Great Lakes Cleanup
The EPA will host public meetings in each of the Great Lakes states to discuss the government's action plan for restoring the Great Lakes. The goal of this initiative is to address problems affecting the lakes. There are five principal...
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July 7, 2009
Boundary Waters Blowdown
Ten years after a devastating blowdown in the Boundary Waters that destroyed 35 million trees, the forest is showing signs of a comeback. Learn more about the devastating storm, and stories from canoeists through a report by Minnesota Public Radio....
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May 21, 2009
Chetek Chain Water Quality
Chetek Lakes Protection Association is hoping to receive a $200,000 grant to help fight the Chetek Chain of Lakes worsening water quality. Prairie, Ojaski, Pokegama, Chetek and Ten Mile lakes were placed on Wisconsin's "impaired" list do to their high...
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May 8, 2009
Great Lakes Cleanup Video
What is one of the largest environmental problems facing the Great Lakes? Contaminated bottom sediments. PCBs, mercury and other chemicals remain in the bottom of the Great Lakes from decades ago. How can we rectify this situation? Watch the...
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March 9, 2009
Lake Champlain and Pollution
A new book by Peter Greenberg is warning people to stay away from Lake Champlain. Tourists should pick other destinations to travel, due to the lake's problems with algae and other pollutants. Environmentalists see the book as a wake up...
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February 10, 2009
Lake Mead Full of Trash
Lake Mead receives over 7 million visitors a year. A large majority of these visitors have been leaving behind piles of trash and bottles. The Park Service and outside contractors who pick up the trash can't keep up with what...
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January 19, 2009
Mining and Lakes
Why are mining companies allowed to dump their waste into lakes and rivers? What good is the Clean Water Act if it cannot stop these companies from ruining our freshwater resources? Find out more, here and here....
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January 13, 2009
Wisconsin Trying To Ban Phosphorus
Wisconsin lawmakers are again trying to pass a bill to ban phosphorus in fertilizer sold for lawns in the state. Under the measure phosphorus could not be applied to lawns, golf courses and other grasses. It could be applied to...
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January 9, 2009
Toxic Coal Ash
1 billion gallons of toxic coal ash has contaminated 300 acres of land in Tennessee, after the pond ruptured. Now coal ash ponds in 32 other states are being watched for possible contamination to groundwater supplies, rivers and lakes....
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January 5, 2009
Hartwell Lake and Dam, Christmas Trees
Old Christmas trees end up in some strange places, but in South Carolina they are used as new habitat for fish in Hartwell Lake. The Army Corps of Engineers will accept trees through February 15th of 2009 for their habitat...
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December 1, 2008
Lake Delton To Be Refilled
Lake Delton in Wisconsin will be refilled sooner than anticipated, after a dam burst from massive rains in June of this year. The lake could start refilling next week, after months of shoreline and dam restoration. Roughly $5 million dollars...
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November 5, 2008
Barack Obama and the Environment
Now that Barack Obama has been elected President, he will soon get to work on plans to improve and restore our natural environment. Read through a PDF list of environmental restoration plans for the Great Lakes, climate change, clean energy...
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October 24, 2008
Vulcan Lakes
Vulcan Lakes development seems to be on track, even though the economy has soured. The former gravel pits near Crystal Lake, Il. are known for their clear waters. The plan is to have beach houses and other amenities available to...
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October 7, 2008
Switzerland To Begin Cleaning Lakes
Officials in Switzerland will begin to clean lakes in the country that were filled with thousands of tons of munitions from the World Wars. Everything from artillery to grenades were sunk into lakes across Switzerland....
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September 19, 2008
Great Lakes Legacy Act
The House passed the Great Lakes Legacy Act that will pledge $150 million annually to clean up polluted sections of the lakes. The goal is to have toxic sites cleaned up within ten years. The bill now awaits action by...
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August 7, 2008
Finger Lakes Pollution
A team of scientists from the Finger Lakes Institute is going to start researching the native and invasive weed problem in the Finger Lakes. The study will pinpoint the areas of greatest concern in Cayuga Lake, and try to remedy...
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August 5, 2008
Lake Monona's Gold
We all know that Lake Monona contains quite a bit of Madison, Wisconsin's history. But, did you know that according to historians there is a chest of gold at the bottom of Lake Monona? According to the legend, paymasters for...
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July 22, 2008
Lake Delton Repairs Begin
It looks like Lake Delton in Wisconsin is on track to be filled with water next summer, after being emptied and destroyed earlier this year by flooding. Work has begun on the damaged dam, and $1.5 million dollars is earmarked...
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July 15, 2008
Muskegon Lake Cleanup
Muskegon Lake in Michigan has long been eyed for an extensive cleanup plan. Now it looks like the plan is coming into focus. The lake is being targeted for a three-year, $3.4 million dollar restoration project. Areas being targeted were...
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July 1, 2008
Chain O' Lakes Cleanup
Water levels have crested on the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River in Illinois, but it will take weeks to round up bog grass and other parts of wetlands that are hampering navigation and water flow on the lakes....
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June 26, 2008
Iowa's Lakes
Meetings and restoration projects are underway in Iowa for 128 lakes. Money was set aside by the Iowa Legislature to begin work on the projects. It will cost upwards of 200 million dollars to restore 35 of the most highly...
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June 25, 2008
Canadian Lakes Being Destroyed
Lakes in Canada are being used as a dumping site for mining companies, these same companies are requesting the approval for dumping at 16 other lakes in the country. The lakes are being subjected to chemicals from tailings....
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June 9, 2008
Blue Waters Barge
Dane County, Wisconsin and the City of Madison are getting ready for a new plan to clean up Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The new program will help eliminate aquatic vegetation and debris that cause major problems throughout the Madison...
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June 6, 2008
China Attempts to Drain Lake
Thousands of people have been moved to higher ground as water continues to rise in a lake formed by landslides from China's massive earthquake and strong aftershocks. Workers are in Mianyang downstream from Tangjiashan Lake to attempt to drain the...
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May 30, 2008
Lawns and Lakes
Did you know, that the average acre of lawn can receive 10 times the amount of fertilizer and pesticides that farmland does? 75 million tons of fertilizer and pesticides are applied to lawns each year; which ends up in our...
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Money For Iowa's Lakes
5.4 million dollars in grants have been awarded in Iowa to improve water quality in the following counties: Tama, Fayette, Poweshiek, Clinton, Shelby, Appanoose and Audubon. The money will be earmarked to improve the streams and lakes in the counties....
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May 21, 2008
Environmental Bond For Michigan
The Michigan DEQ may propose a $1.3 billion environmental bond that would help remediate and preserve land, and restore Great Lakes water quality. The proposal may go to vote in November, and the DEQ is making its case to interest...
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May 6, 2008
Muskegon Lake Improving
Phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations in Muskegon Lake, Michigan have been cut in half since 1972. Phosphorus concentrations in the lake dropped by 65 percent between 1972 and 2006; chlorophyll concentrations were down 75 percent; and average water clarity rose from...
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March 27, 2008
Manure and Lakes
The DNR in Iowa is investigating a manure runoff from a feedlot in the Great Lakes region of Iowa. The runoff reached the West Branch of the Little Sioux River when snowmelt overflowed the basin; and liquid manure made it...
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February 26, 2008
Beeds Lake
Beeds Lake is back in the spotlight in Iowa. The 100-acre body of water within Beeds Lake State Park has been plagued with quality issues for years. In the 1990s the lake was placed on the state's impaired list for...Link to this article | Comments (0)
February 18, 2008
Phosphorus in the News
Phosphorus a nutrient found in fertilizers, detergents, manure and faulty septic systems often finds its way into lakes and watersheds around the country. Now municipalities are fighting back. See how some Michigan municipalities have taken action to combat phosphorus problems...
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December 10, 2007
Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality says money earmarked to cleanup sites around the state is nearly gone and there are still thousands of sites where toxic chemicals threaten drinking water, streams and lakes. The state needs nearly $100 million a...
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November 20, 2007
Human Waste and Lakes
Human waste becomes a problem anywhere people gather in remote areas. Here in the Midwest the Boundary Waters or Sylvania Wilderness come to mind as where this situation can occur. Human waste is heavily contaminated with bacteria and poses numerous...
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November 14, 2007
Lake of the Ozarks Spill
The Missouri DNR issued a notice of violation for a sewage spill into the Lake of the Ozarks that occurred in September at a lift station. The notice was issued following a problem with a lift station that may have...
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November 13, 2007
Explosion Closes Lake Springfield
Lake Springfield in Illinois is closed to boaters while an assessment of damage is done following an explosion at Springfield’s power plant. The closure is meant to keep boats from disturbing oil flushed into the lake during the firefighting effort,...
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November 12, 2007
Lake Winnipeg and Lake Simcoe
Canada wants additional money to clean up pollution in one of the largest lakes in the country. Wastewater and chemicals have been flowing into Lake Winnipeg for years causing algal blooms. The government wants to invest $18 million over five...
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November 8, 2007
Senate Set to Override Bush
The Senate will override a veto by President Bush for the first time with the authorization of $23 billion dollars in new water projects. The projects are part of the Water Resources Development Act. The act will help rebuild the...
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October 24, 2007
Poyang Lake Research Center
A center for academic research on Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake is coming soon. The center will be completed in three years. The research center will house observation outposts, a laboratory, a museum, an emergency response workshop, and host...
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September 24, 2007
Shawnee Mission Lake
For the first time in the Shawnee Mission Lake’s 50-year history, people were given a rare opportunity to clean the accumulated trash while the 120-lake has been drawn down eight feet so improvements can be made along the shoreline. Johnson...
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September 7, 2007
New Water Quality Standards
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's proposed rules relating to chapter 7050 contain water quality standards. The existing rule is being divided into two chapters (7050 and 7053) to improve clarity. Two other chapters (Minnesota Rules, Chapters 7056 and 7065) will...
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August 13, 2007
Algae in the Spotlight
At a time when blue-green algae is choking lakes throughout North America, 1,500 experts from 61 countries are meeting in Montreal to discuss the problems confronting the world's fresh water. The blue-green algae found in lakes and rivers are microscopic...
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August 6, 2007
BP and the Great Lakes
Congress has passed a resolution reprehending an Indiana permit allowing oil giant BP to dump more pollutants into Lake Michigan. The permit decision touched off nearly 45,000 signatures opposing BP's increased pollution to Lake Michigan resulting from its planned refinery...
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June 26, 2007
Lake Tahoe Fire
A wildfire near Lake Tahoe forced hundreds of residents to flee flames that destroyed more than 200 buildings, and fouled the lake's clear waters with falling ash. Many hotels offered free rooms to families, as no injuries were reported. The...
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June 18, 2007
Algae in Nebraska
Nebraska has issued a new health alert for one lake and continued alerts for two other lakes because of toxic blue-green algae blooms. The new alert is for Harlan County Lake in south-central Nebraska. Health alerts remain in effect for...
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June 15, 2007
Devils Lake and Lake Winnipeg
Manitoba held an emergency debate over a move by North Dakota to drain into Canada what authorities say is polluted water that could harm fisheries. Canadians charge that North Dakota violated a 2005 binational accord when it began pumping water...
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June 5, 2007
Fecal Bacteria in Iowa Lakes
The DNR has found high levels of fecal bacteria in Clear Lake, Iowa. The water has a history of bacterial problems. A project is in place with area farmers to reduce run-off from their fields, as well as a large...
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June 4, 2007
Lake Champlain and Algae
Vermont Natural Resources Secretary George Crombie appointed the state's first "lake czar," who will oversee the cleanup of Lake Champlain. Julia Moore, who had been working as a regulatory analyst at ANR, will lead the cleanup. Crombie and Gov. Jim...
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May 16, 2007
Lake Monona
A University of Wisconsin power plant is allowing coal dust into the environment, polluting Lake Monona in Madison. The DNR has warned the plant is violating the Clean Water Act by allowing dust from its coal pile to spill into...
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May 15, 2007
Blue-Green Algae
Nebraska has issued health alerts for two lakes because of toxic blue-green algae blooms. Fremont Lake No. 20 and Carter Lake near Omaha were the only lakes among 37 that were sampled to test out above the state threshold. People...
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April 25, 2007
Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed
An ordinance that would help control the spread of invasive species near Glen Arbor, Michigan is being proposed. The Glen Arbor Township Board has supported the proposal that would make it illegal to transport any non-native invasive species of aquatic...
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April 24, 2007
Sewer Overflows
It would cost taxpayers in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area another $6 billion to triple the size of the deep tunnel system and stop all sewer overflows to metro-area rivers and the Lake Michigan harbor, but there is debate how much...
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April 17, 2007
Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will try to reclaim popular Lake 20 at the Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area as the first step to improving water quality in the 51-acre lake. Lake 20 has experienced blue-green algal blooms, which...
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April 2, 2007
Clear Lake
Iowa State University will conduct a four-year study of common carp and zebra mussels in Clear Lake, Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Natural Resource Commission approved the contract with ISU earlier this month. The study will cost $369,771,...Link to this article | Comments (0)
March 30, 2007
Lake of the Woods
Excess phosphorous, diminished water clarity and numerous algae blooms, has the Lake of the Woods on a draft list of impaired waters prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The MPCA assesses the quality of all surface water in Minnesota,...
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March 20, 2007
Great Lakes, Canada
The Canadian government says they hope to clean up four of the 15 most polluted sites on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes by 2010. Under a proposed agreement, Ontario and Ottawa say they intend to remediate Jackfish Bay...
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March 16, 2007
Switzerland's Lakes
Several thousand tons of ammunition and explosives that were dumped at the bottom of Switzerland's lakes during the last century will remain in place. Nearly 10,000 tons of surplus or disused artillery shells, grenades and bullets were stocked underwater in...
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February 6, 2007
Wisconsin Lake Survey
29 Wisconsin lakes will be included in a nationwide survey this summer to study the ecological health, water quality and recreational value of the nation's lakes. Two of the lakes, Blueberry Lake in Sawyer County and Haskell Lake in Vilas...
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January 26, 2007
Siemens Water Technologies
Siemens Water Technologies has acquired four US companies in a move to strengthen its disinfection and ultra-pure water solutions product portfolio. The companies include Envirotrol Inc. of Darlington, PA; Clean Environmental Concepts of Vancouver, WA; Pure Water Solutions of Hubbard,...
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January 23, 2007
Midwest and Mercury
Wisconsin has fallen behind other states in the effort to clean the air of mercury, and it's putting the health of the state's tourism industry and residents at risk. More than two dozen organizations presented a petition to the state...
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January 12, 2007
Adirondack Lakes
212 Adirondack lakes show clear water with little algae, but higher nitrogen levels in the west, some from air pollution. The preliminary analysis suggests a new threat to the once pristine waterways of northern New York from nitrogen overwhelming the...
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December 29, 2006
Kentucky Lakes and Rivers
Many of Kentucky's streams, lakes and rivers remain so polluted or changed that they fail to meet their designated uses, according to a new state study. Problems can be found in the urban waters of the Louisville area and in...
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December 5, 2006
Lake of the Ozarks
A snow and ice storm has caused millions of dollars in damage to docks, marinas, and boats at the Lake of the Ozarks and at several other lakes in Missouri. The state water patrol has issued an advisory urging boaters...
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December 1, 2006
Lake Margaret
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) put Lake Margaret on the impaired lake list and said it would put the lake on its 2014 lake schedule list. The top three concerns identified for the lake are water quality, aquatic vegetation,...
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November 16, 2006
Crystal Lake
Winter weather has suspended the Crystal Lake dredging project in Iowa until spring, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. L.W. Matteson Inc., removed 70,000 cubic yards before stopping work. A total of 1.2 million cubic yards will...
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November 2, 2006
China's Lakes
75 percent of China's 20,000 natural lakes are suffering pollution from algae, while the nation has lost nearly 1,000 lakes in the last 50 years due to human activity. Losses are due to industrial farming, overuse of water and pollution,...
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November 1, 2006
Deer Lake
Michigan and Cleveland-Cliffs agreed on water quality improvements for Deer Lake and increased public access to other Marquette County waterways for recreation. In exchange, the state promised to take no further legal or administrative actions against the company for the...Link to this article | Comments (0)
October 25, 2006
Great Lakes Pact
A U.S.-Canadian pact to clean up the Great Lakes is over 30 years old and should be changed in favor of a more modern strategy, which officials from both nations agreed on. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972...
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October 11, 2006
Great Lakes Chemical Spills
The International Joint Commission released findings from a two-year study of accidental or intentional discharges into the lakes and the waterways connecting them. The study focused on the channel linking Lake Huron with Lake Erie, which includes the St. Clair...
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October 10, 2006
Lake Michigan Shoreline
A plan to return Indiana's Lake Michigan shoreline back to its natural state from scoria piles is progressing slowly-it could take decades to complete. A few congressmen are spearheading a plan to recapture as much as 75 percent of the...
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October 3, 2006
Lake Champlain
A new study shows new pollutants ranging from caffeine to insect repellent mixing in Lake Champlain or its tributaries. The pollutants are well below toxic levels, though. Researchers meeting at the Lake Champlain Research Consortium also reported that less oxygen...
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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...
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September 15, 2006
Great Lakes Cleanup
Officials from across the country sought support for an extensive Great Lakes cleanup plan pending in Congress, warning that the ecosystem could be facing a dangerous “tipping point” that could hinder future restoration. A House panel heard from government and...
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September 5, 2006
Clean Water Act
The Environmental Protection Agency is on the verge of allowing states to dump water filled with bacteria, toxic chemicals and invasive species into clean water without having to show the federal government that it won't hurt the environment or people....
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August 25, 2006
Water Filtration
A water filtration technique that normally cleans up agricultural chemicals is also effective at removing a toxin secreted by algae found in lakes and rivers, an Ohio State University study has found. Engineers determined that the technique greatly outperformed...
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August 24, 2006
Adirondack Lakes
Scientists are testing water from hundreds of Adirondack lakes to see whether they're threatened by nitrogen pollution. The Institute of Ecosystem Studies believes the concern is that nitrogen from smokestacks and tailpipes may be changing the lake chemistry, much as...
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July 27, 2006
Pollution, Great Lakes
Throughout the Great Lakes, 43 tributaries and bays have been identified as having serious pollution problems. Cleanup efforts have been ongoing for decades, yet just three sites — two Canadian sites on Lake Huron and the Oswego River in New...
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July 6, 2006
Population Growth
As developers and growth turn open fields into sprawling shopping centers and new neighborhoods, more lake communities downstream are finding their water clogged with silt and debris. It’s a problem for lake residents, developers, and governments wherever big projects are...
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June 26, 2006
Devils Lake
The Manitoba government is geared up for another battle with North Dakota this week over a lake drainage project that the province says could pollute Canadian waters. The provincial government plans to speak at a public hearing which is to...
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June 10, 2006
How to build a Rain Garden.
Rainwater from a downspout or driveway or runoff source is directed to the garden. There, the water soaks into the ground, instead of running into the street and straight into the nearest lake or river. A rain garden isn’t a...
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June 6, 2006
Brooktrout Lake
A crystalline Adirondack lake once held up as an example of a lake devastated by acid rain has now become a symbol of nature’s ability to heal itself once pollutants are curbed. Brooktrout Lake teemed with trout before air pollution...
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June 1, 2006
Impaired Waters
Wisconsin is adding 45 lakes, streams and beaches to its impaired waters list for the federal government, while taking seven off the list. Added to the list are Maslowski Beach in Ashland, Barker’s Island Inner Beach in Superior and Brule...
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May 26, 2006
Ohio River
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission has proposed reducing some of its pollution standards for the 981-mile river. The current bacteria standards are based on dry conditions, when sewer systems are not pressed beyond their capacities, and that it...Link to this article | Comments (0)
May 17, 2006
Kalamazoo Lake
The city of Grand Rapids in Michigan wants to dredge Kalamazoo Lake near the Union Street boat launch. The City Council voted to apply to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for a permit to dredge. Some boaters using the...
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May 10, 2006
Lake Mashu
Japan's government plans to ban cars from getting as close as 12 miles to one of the world's clearest lakes to protect its transparency. As an alternative, the local government along with the Land, Transport and Infrastructure Ministry plan to...Link to this article | Comments (0)
May 9, 2006
Round Goby
A new study shows one of the most sought after fish in Lake Erie is being threatened by a invasive species that hitchhiked on ships from the Black Sea. The round goby has gotten a reputation for wiping out populations...Link to this article | Comments (0)
May 8, 2006
Algae
Algae, a photosynthetic organism, forms along the shore of Yellowstone Lake State Park....Link to this article | Comments (0)
May 5, 2006
Herrington Lake
Environmental crews descended on a Kentucky Lake, trying to find out just how much damage a gasoline spill caused. With cleanup work on Herrington Lake complete, crews worked to get a handle on as much as one thousand gallons of...
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May 2, 2006
Alcohol and Lakes
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is prohibiting alcohol at an increasing number of the state’s fishing lakes in an attempt to control partying and litter. In Kansas and Missouri, it is illegal for anyone to operate watercraft under...
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April 17, 2006
Iowa DNR
In an effort to inspire Iowa residents to clean up their waterways, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will unveil an eight-foot high statue made of trash pulled from the state's rivers. The artwork is shaped like a giant water...Link to this article | Comments (0)
April 3, 2006
New Zealand's Lakes
The top scenic lakes in New Zealand's central North Island will take decades to recover from environmental damage. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has warned that the worst effects of pollution have yet to be seen. The Institute of...
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March 22, 2006
Midwest Politics
Congressional support for the effort to clean up the Great Lakes appears to be ending, only four months after federal, state and local leaders announced a new $20 billion strategy for restoration of the world's largest fresh surface water ecosystem....
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March 6, 2006
Iowa's Water
Iowa's poor water quality hampers the state's once thriving fishing industry. Silt, farm chemicals, manure and treated sewage in Iowa's rivers and streams hold back fish populations by making it difficult for some game fish to reproduce. The state spends...
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March 3, 2006
Lead Fishing Tackle
Anglers are leaving tons of lead on the bottoms of the state's lakes, a few jig heads and sinkers at a time, according to a new study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This could be the start to...
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February 6, 2006
Great Lakes Growth
The Great Lakes, America's freshwater coast, continue to struggle with the legacy of pollution, invasive species and other ills inflicted by more than a century of population growth, industrialization, shipping, waste and storm water runoff. Population growth The Great Lakes...
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January 25, 2006
Solarbee
Many communities that sit on or are surrounded by lakes are turning to Solarbees to help clean up algae, weeds and aerate the still water. The debate is if they work well enough to help large lakes or bodies of...Link to this article | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Lakes of Minnesota
Federal law requires states to update it's list of impaired waterways every two years. This year the impaired waters list grew to more than 2,200 in the state of Minnesota. Only 14 percent of lakes and 8 percent of rivers...
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November 28, 2005
Lake Superior Conservation
A major step forward in efforts to establish a National Marine Conservation Area on Lake Superior looks headed in a positive direction. It comes with the signing of an agreement in principal for the future transfer of the lake bed...
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October 22, 2005
Zebra Mussels
Zebra mussels, which already had infested the Mississippi River up to Minneapolis, have now moved upriver as far north as Brainerd, Minn. The small invasive creatures were found this week in Rice Lake, a backwater area of the Mississippi on...
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October 15, 2005
Dolphins
Dolphins have returned to Lake Pontchartrain. That suggests the lake is in far better shape than expected after an infusion of polluted flood water from New Orleans, Carlton Dufrechou, director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, said....Link to this article | Comments (0)
October 13, 2005
Clean Water Act
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether to curb federal regulators' power to protect wetlands whose waters flow into distant rivers or lakes, an issue that has served as a flash point in battles over the environment and...
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