Midwest Lakes Policy Center

August 25, 2009

Great Lakes Headlines

A Canadian teacher has just finished swimming across all of the Great Lakes.

A upcoming vote in the Senate could help fund the restoration efforts of Lake Ontario and the other Great Lakes.

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August 7, 2009

Great Lakes Water Levels

The mean level of Lake Superior for July was 7 inches below average, while Lakes Michigan and Huron were 6 inches below average. Lakes Erie and Ontario were both 4 and 5 inches above average, respectively. The Great Lakes are on a slow rebound from near record low water levels across the basin.

Check out a report on water levels from the USACE, here.

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July 31, 2009

Great Lakes Water Compact

The Great Lakes Water Compact is just being implemented by the eight state involved, but there are already worries a loophole may open the door for private companies to bottle water from the basin. Rep. Bart Stupak from Michigan is...

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July 30, 2009

Great Lakes Observing System

Senators Levin and Stabenow of Michigan have announced nearly $260,000 of federal funding for the implementation of the Great Lakes Observing System. The system will keep track of how climate change is impacting the Great Lakes ecosystem. GLOS will also...

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July 28, 2009

Great Lakes Stimulus Funding

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is putting stimulus money to work on updating ports throughout the Great Lakes. They are also putting money into dredging projects that will allow ships to carry more tonnage. With the drastic fall in...

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June 29, 2009

Pandora's Locks

Environmental writer, Jeff Alexander, has written a new book about the destruction created by invasive species in the Great Lakes. "Pandora's Locks, The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway", follows the path of the creation of the seaway and...

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June 4, 2009

EPA Adviser on Great Lakes

Cameron Davis will move into a new role to protect the Great Lakes. President Obama has tapped Davis as a special adviser to the EPA on Great Lakes issues. High price tags and red tape have been a problem for...

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May 28, 2009

Michigan's Changing Water Usage

Michigan's DEQ will be having to make some tough decisions in the coming years about water withdrawals from the Great Lakes. Genessee County wants to tap into Lake Huron at a rate of about 8.5 gallons a day. The changes...

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May 27, 2009

New Berlin Water Request

The first successful implementation of the Great Lakes Compact has been completed. The request for water from Lake Michigan by New Berlin, Wisconsin has been approved. The city is allowed to pump a little over 2 million gallons of water...

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April 30, 2009

Great Lakes Icebreaker

H.R. 1747 just passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act approves funding for a new icebreaker in the basin. The plan will authorize between $135-153 million for the construction of the ship. The...

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April 28, 2009

Great Lakes Links

Follow the links below for news and views from around the Great Lakes basin. Great Lakes Sinkholes Lake Michigan 9 inches higher than last year Quagga mussel destroying lake ecosystems...

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April 23, 2009

Great Lakes Wind Farm

The New York Power Authority is jumping in to the race to harness wind power from the Great Lakes. The organization is looking at building a billion-dollar wind farm on the shores of either Lake Ontario or Lake Erie. The...

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April 22, 2009

Great Lakes Compact Video

What is the Great Lakes Compact? How does it protect our Great Lakes and water? Watch Dave White explain the compact, and the politics behind it in this video....

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April 7, 2009

Great Lakes Wind Council

Michigan is trying to take the lead in the wind energy initiative in the Midwest. Gov. Granholm has created the Great Lakes Wind Council to provide a public forum for people to provide their ideas on when and where energy...

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April 1, 2009

St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway is being scrutinized on the 50th anniversary of its opening. The seaway that has linked the Great Lakes to the world's oceans is being criticized as an economic and environmental disaster. Read the whole story, here....

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March 31, 2009

Great Lakes Water Levels

The water levels of the Great Lakes continue their climb back to normal levels after almost reaching record lows across parts of the basin. Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron are all above last years levels. Lake Ontario and Erie are...

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March 26, 2009

Soo Locks Open

The shipping season is off to a very slow start this year on the Great Lakes. The first day the Soo Locks opened only one ship passed through. In prior years ships have lined up to pass through the locks...

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March 5, 2009

The Great Lakes and Wind Power

Did you know, that wind energy could provide the U.S. with 20-30% of its electricity by 2030? As of now only 1% of our electricity comes from the wind. Jobs are being created in this industry at a rapid rate,...

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March 3, 2009

Great Lakes Water Levels

The Great Lakes water level continues to rise through February. Lake Superior is 3.5 inches above last years level, while Lake Michigan and Huron are 9 inches above last years level. The Great Lakes slowly are climbing up from record...

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February 27, 2009

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Obama has just announced a cash infusion of $475 million dollars to help restore the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be led by the EPA and will tackle problems such as, invasive species, point and non-point pollution,...

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February 4, 2009

Energy Issues in the Midwest

Energy issues in the Great Lakes basin are in the news this week. An energy lawyer in Michigan is pushing the state to move towards wind power with blades placed in Lake Michigan. Read the story, here. Also, shipments of...

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February 2, 2009

Great Lakes Cruise

Field Museum Tours is recreating a revival of the classic, luxurious Great Lakes cruise an ideal way to enjoy the pleasures of a grand voyage without having to venture far from home. In the company of Field Museum lecturer and...

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January 21, 2009

Obama's Great Lakes Plan

President Obama wants to create a $5 billion dollar trust fund to help clean up the Great Lakes; and states in the Midwest are formulating restoration projects that would help with pollution levels and invasive species. Lawmakers in Michigan are...

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January 15, 2009

The Water of the Great Lakes

The Canadian Studies Center at Bowling Green University is hosting an event called, "Charting Canada's Freshwater Governanace," the event addresses concerns over rights to water throughout the Great Lakes region. Learn more about the event, here....

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December 30, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

Record snowfall and rain have Lake Michigan and Huron's water levels a foot higher than a year ago. Lake Superior is 3 inches higher, Lake Erie is 2 inches higher and Lake Erie is 7 inches higher. The lakes are...

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December 9, 2008

Lake Erie Wind Farms

Could the city of Cleveland be the first to provide wind power to the city via the Great Lakes? If they get their way Cleveland could plant a wind farm three miles off the shores of Lake Erie, and beat...

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December 8, 2008

Great Lakes Compact Starts Today

The multistate water treaty to limit water use from the Great Lakes goes into effect today. The Great Lakes Compact bars long-distance withdrawals from the Great Lakes. States within the compact are also in the process of organizing new conservation...

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November 21, 2008

Bailout for the Great Lakes?

The Healing our Waters-Healthy Lakes Coalition is asking the Federal Government to earmark $6.5 billion dollars for Great Lakes infrastructure projects. The money could come from any future economic bailout or stimulus packages in the future. Up to 23 billion...

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November 19, 2008

Great Lakes Photos

If you would like to check out some great aerial photos of the Great Lakes, you should check out this website. It has various photos from the air, of popular spots throughout the Great Lakes watershed....

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November 11, 2008

Great Lakes Museum

The Detroit Historical Society held its annual remembrance for mariners who lost their lives on the Great Lakes. The ceremony fell on the 33rd anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. Visit the Dossin Great Lakes...

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November 3, 2008

Erie Canal Makes a Comeback

While oil shot to historic highs this year, people were looking for alternatives to the trucking industry. What old is new again, as the 338-mile Erie Canal has made a comeback over the last few years due to the increase...

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October 27, 2008

The Great Lakes and Energy

With an estimated 312 million barrels of oil contained in the bottom of the Great Lakes, is support growing to begin new drilling projects throughout the basin? Canadians have been using slant drilling to access natural gas and oil since...

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October 24, 2008

The Great Lakes and the Election

Even with the economy ailing, the restoration of the Great Lakes is a campaign issue that is not being overlooked. Read up on what both Barack Obama and John McCain have in store for the Great Lakes if they become...

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October 20, 2008

Michigan's Great Lakes Restoration

The State of Michigan has revised and released a new plan to protect and restore the Great Lakes. The plan, MI Great Lakes Plan: Our Path to Protect and Restore Michigan's Natural Treasures, can be seen here. The DEQ and...

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October 6, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

Lake Superior's water level fell one inch in the month of September, while Lake Huron and Michigan's water level fell one inch as well. The water flow to Lake Superior for the month of September was below its long term...

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October 1, 2008

Hurricane Ike Impacts Great Lakes

Hurricane Ike is gone, but its impact still remains throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Runoff from streams and rivers dumped sediment into Lake Michigan, compromising near-shore navigation and raising E coli bacteria levels. Read a report by the USGS, and...

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September 29, 2008

Great Lakes Links

More money is coming to help clean up the Great Lakes. The Earth Voyager ends the summer tour of the Great Lakes....

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September 25, 2008

Great Lakes Quiz

How much do you know about our Great Lakes? Take this Great Lakes Quiz from the Wisconsin State Journal to find out....

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September 23, 2008

House Passes Great Lakes Compact

The House passed the Great Lakes Water Compact today by a 390-25 vote. The measure now moves on to President Bush who has given every indication he will sign it into law....

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September 17, 2008

Barack Obama's Great Lakes Plan

A $5 billion dollar trust fund will be put into place for Great Lakes restoration and conservation if Barack Obama is elected president. The fund will be phased into a new program for the lakes over ten years. The plan...

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September 4, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

The Great Lakes water levels are down over the month of August. Lake Superior is down close to 2 inches, and Lakes Michigan and Huron are down 3 inches. The good news is that the lake levels are up over...

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September 3, 2008

Cargo Sweeping on the Great Lakes

According to a new study by the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard, 500 tons of debris is swept into the Great Lakes by ships each year. Iron ore, coal, limestone, cement, salt and grains are all dumped into the lakes...

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August 6, 2008

Great Lakes Water Compact Stalled

As the MLPC first reported, it looks like there is a good chance that the complete vote for the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact will get pushed back into next year. After the U.S. House went into recess without voting...

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August 4, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

All the rain in the Great Lakes region has the lakes rising at a rapid clip. Lakes Michigan and Huron rose 8 inches in the last two months alone. It takes close to 400 billion gallons of water to raise...

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July 30, 2008

Great Lakes Water Compact on the Fast Track?

The House Judiciary Committee voted to send to the House floor a bill to ratify the Great Lakes Water Compact. The Compact is now on the fast track to be approved by Congress and signed by the President by the...

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July 29, 2008

Senate Hearing on the Great Lakes

President Bush has finally made his feelings clear on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Read what he has to say about the Compact below, before the Senate committee hearing tomorrow. - I congratulate the Governors and...

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July 25, 2008

Mysteries of the Great Lakes

The Mysteries of the Great Lakes is an IMAX film playing all over the Great Lakes region. The film explores the people and animals that rely on these freshwater inland seas for their livelihoods and survival. Check here to...

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July 18, 2008

The Great Lakes Economy

Invasive species are causing the destruction of the Great Lakes ecosystem, and now over $200 million dollars in damage to the local economies. The Center for Aquatic Conservation at the University of Notre Dame released this study. In 2006, the...

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July 16, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels Rising

With all the rain across the Midwest, lake levels are rising rapidly. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron rose six inches in June. The amount of water rushing into the lakes was 30% higher than average. The lakes are still 16...

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July 14, 2008

The Great Lakes and Oil

With oil hitting all time highs the call to drill in and around the Great Lakes for oil is heating up. Read a few stories of the problems that are created by searching for oil and natural gas around the...

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July 9, 2008

Michigan and the Great Lakes Compact

Gov. Jennifer Granholm will head to Oval Beach on Lake Michigan to sign the Great Lakes Compact into law today. The ceremony starts at 10:00 am, and follows a day after Gov. Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania signed the agreement....

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July 8, 2008

Great Lakes Compact On NPR

As Pennsylvania gets ready to approve the Great Lakes Compact, Congress will be next in the long process to sign the accord into law. See what NPR has to say about the Compact, and the political and environmental ramifications, here....

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June 30, 2008

Great Lakes Environmental Report

A must read comes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the report Great Lakes, Great Peril dives deep into the problems facing the Great Lakes. It covers the ecological and economical problems caused by cladophora and invasive species in the lakes....

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Earth Voyager Tour

Earth Voyager Video The fastest sailing boat on the Great Lakes is touring the watershed trying to drum up support for protecting and restoring the lakes. The Earth Voyager has been clocked at speeds close to 40 mph (33...

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June 24, 2008

Michigan to Pass Great Lakes Compact

House and Senate leaders have reached an agreement in Michigan which would pass the Great Lakes Compact as soon as this week. The agreement hinged on setting water usage standards and regulations within the state. Pennsylvania would be the only...

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June 17, 2008

Beach Closings

Close to 50 beaches are closed due to flooding across the Great Lakes watershed. The beach closings are mainly due to possible E. coli contaminations. Swollen rivers and taxed sewer systems have been dumping more debris and contaminants throughout the...

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June 12, 2008

The International Upper Great Lakes Study

The International Upper Great Lakes Study covers lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie and the St. Mary’s, St. Clair, Detroit and Niagara rivers and Lake St. Clair. The results will be ready by 2011 with recommendations to the International Joint...

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June 11, 2008

Ohio to Pass Great Lakes Compact

Ohio lawmakers have moved to make it the sixth state to approve the Great Lakes Compact, and Pennsylvania and Michigan will be the only states left to ratify the agreement. The major obstacle to some lawmakers was the disagreement over...

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May 27, 2008

Doyle Signs Great Lakes Compact

Governor Doyle of Wisconsin will sign the Great Lakes Compact today, after lawmakers have been fighting over the proposal since September 2006. Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio will be the only states remaining that need to ratify the agreement....

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May 23, 2008

Tim Grendell and the Great Lakes

It looks like Tim Grendell will help stall the ratifying of the Great Lakes Compact until the end of this year. The Senator is proposing a new resolution for the Great Lakes Compact. He wants private property rights in Ohio...

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May 15, 2008

Wisconsin Ratifys Great Lakes Compact

Wisconsin has finally ratified the Great Lakes Compact. The senate passed the measure 32-1 after Gov. Jim Doyle called the lawmakers into a special session last month to hammer out an agreement....

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May 12, 2008

Ohio Senators Stall Compact

Ohio is still holding up the Great Lakes Water Compact. The public can contact the two Senators that keep the Compact from moving forward in the state and nationally; and voice an opinion on the matter. Their email addresses and...

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May 8, 2008

John McCain and the Great Lakes

Presidential hopeful John McCain stated he would never agree to divert water from the Great Lakes to any other state or country. The statement came at a town hall meeting at Oakland University in Michigan. McCain said, "People who live...

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May 1, 2008

Public Health Implications of the Great Lakes Areas of Concern

A revised report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has stated that no definitive link can be made between industrial pollution in the Great Lakes region and human health concerns. The new version of the study contradicts a draft...

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April 30, 2008

Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge

People in the Great Lakes basin have come out in droves to support the EPA's Great Lakes Earth Day Challenge. The EPA wanted to collect 1 million pounds of electronics for recycling and 1 million pills for safe disposal to...

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April 29, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

In Lake St. Clair, the lake level for April 20 was 574.1 feet above sea level, .3 inches below its long-term average. Lakes Michigan and Huron are about 577.03 feet, close to 18 inches below normal for the month of...

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April 22, 2008

The Great Lakes Song

Many people may not know that the famed poet, Shel Silverstein, had a soft spot in his heart for the Great Lakes, after spending many summers on the shores of Lake Erie. He even co-wrote a song about the lakes,...

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April 18, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

A hearing will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin on the Great Lakes water level drop. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hear testimony on low water levels in the Great Lakes....

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April 17, 2008

Brookings Report-Great Lakes

A $20 billion stalled clean up plan by the Federal Government to clean toxic hotspots, restore fish and wildlife habitat, end exotic species introductions and sewage overflows would go to great lengths to bolster cities along the Great Lakes according...

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April 16, 2008

Great Lakes Compact Plods Along

The special legislative session called in Wisconsin starts Thursday to ratify the Great Lakes Compact, but the bill could be signed into law on or before Earth Day. The hold-up is related to wrapping up details in the bill's language...

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April 15, 2008

Great Lakes Cutters

The Coast Guard has its hands full with ice on the Great Lakes this year. Officials believe they have not seen a year like this in the basin in over a decade. Cutters are still breaking ice on the lakes,...

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April 10, 2008

Tim Grendell Holds Up Compact

Senator Tim Grendell of Ohio wants voters to amend their constitution to address what he sees as a fundamental problem with the Great Lakes Compact. He believes the agreement will transfer all privately owned groundwater into public hands, if that...

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April 9, 2008

Wisconsin To Pass Great Lakes Compact

Wisconsin may announce that they have finally agreed with other states over the Great Lakes Compact. Lawmakers from across the state, as well as Jim Doyle are scheduled to speak in New Berlin later today....

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April 8, 2008

New Rules For Great Lakes Fishermen

New anti-terrorism rules from the Department of Homeland Security are in place for the Great Lakes, and have many Charter Captains in the watershed quite angry. Those planning to use a Charter service to fish have to bring with them...

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April 1, 2008

Lee Fisher and the Great Lakes

Would Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher of Ohio be open to selling water from the Great Lakes to other states or countries? The Great Lakes region may have to decide soon whether to sell this valuable commodity. Fisher believes his first...

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March 27, 2008

Ohio Threatens Compact

The Ohio Senate may put an agreement to keep Great Lakes water from being diverted in jeopardy. Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and New York have approved the Great Lakes Basin Compact. The Ohio House approved it in February, and it is...

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March 19, 2008

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Compact

New York State will join other Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces to protect and improve the watershed of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin. Legislation authorizing New York's participation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact...

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March 12, 2008

Map of Great Lakes

A rare map of the Great Lakes created by the Jesuit priest Francesco Bressani in 1657 and recreated around 1900, sold for $5,040 at auction. Only two examples of the original map exist. The original map was printed on two...

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March 11, 2008

Wisconsin Fails to Pass Compact

It looks like the Great Lakes Compact will not pass in Wisconsin this session, but legislators believe that negotiations for the Compact are not dead---just delayed....

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National Great Lakes Maritime Museum

The Great Lakes Historical Society plans to create a National Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Lorain, Ohio in the near future and is currently securing funds for the project....

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March 10, 2008

Great Lakes Water Levels

Water levels in the Great Lakes this summer may be helped by the above average snowfall in much of the Midwest. The snow will be a great help after Lake Superior hit record lows in August and September, and Lakes...

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March 7, 2008

Great Lakes Update

The Wisconsin Senate finally passed the Great Lakes Compact designed to protect the watershed of the Great Lakes. The 26-6 vote in the Democratic-controlled chamber sent the Compact to the state Assembly, where Republican leaders have already raised objections to...

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March 3, 2008

Great Lakes Water Supply

The water supply into Lake Michigan was above the long-term average for February while supply into Lake Superior was below the long-term average. Lake Michigan and Huron, whose levels fall one centimeter in February on average, instead rose by four...

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February 29, 2008

Changes to the Great Lakes Compact?

Add Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas to a growing list of politicians in Wisconsin that want to amend the Great Lakes Basin Water Resource Compact, so one governor of a Great Lakes state can't veto a community's request to use...

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February 25, 2008

Wisconsin and the Great Lakes

A bill that would make Wisconsin part of an eight-state compact to protect the Great Lakes in the State Assembly has hit a major snag, and may derail the agreement. Wisconsin may end up being the lone party refusing to...

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February 21, 2008

Indiana Senate Bill 45

Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana has signed into law Senate Bill 45, which brings the state into agreement with the Great Lakes Compact....

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February 20, 2008

Ghost Ships Festival

Join divers, explorers, authors and historians at the 9th annual Ghost Ships Festival. The event takes place on March 7th & 8th, 2008 at The Wyndham Airport and Convention Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Ghost Ships Festival is a conference...

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Governors Urge Action

The eight Great Lakes Governors urged state legislators to take the steps needed to protect the region’s water. They call for swift enactment of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and rejected calls for renegotiations. They hope...

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February 18, 2008

Top Polluted Spots in the Great Lakes

The United States and Canada have teamed up to clean up and remediate some of the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes Watershed. Forty-three areas of concern have been identified: 26 located entirely within the United States; 12 located...

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February 15, 2008

Ohio and Wisconsin May Derail Compact

Ohio and Wisconsin may propose changes in the Great Lakes water compact that could force renegotiation of the deal. Minnesota and Illinois have ratified the compact. Lawmakers in Indiana and New York have approved ratification bills that await signatures from...

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February 13, 2008

New York Passes Compact

The New York Legislature passed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact this week. Minnesota has already adopted the compact. The Illinois Legislature also passed the compact and is awaiting final approval from that state's governor. Indiana, Pennsylvania...

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February 7, 2008

President Bush and the Great Lakes

President Bush's proposed budget would hurt efforts to clean up the Great Lakes and prevent problems such as sewage overflows and exotic species invasions. Federal spending for Great Lakes water quality programs would be slashed 16 percent from this year's...

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February 5, 2008

Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Compact

The Great Lakes Compact is expected to be introduced in the Wisconsin state legislature this week. Illinois and Minnesota have already approved the Great Lakes Compact, joining an effort started two years ago when Great Lakes governors signed on to...

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February 4, 2008

Ohio and the Great Lakes Compact

The Ohio House expects to ratify the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact this week. Soon, the Ohio Senate will begin deliberating on the issue, see what Senator Sue Morano has to say about the issue here....

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January 31, 2008

GAO-Great Lakes Report

The U.S. is not doing enough to measure highly toxic chemicals in the Great Lakes that accumulate in fish, creating health risks for people and wildlife that may eat them according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. The...

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January 25, 2008

The Evolution of the Great Lakes (Video)

What is happening to our Great Lakes? From nuclear plants to invasive species this ecosystem is being destroyed. What is the future of this once pristine watershed? PCB's, estrogen, and pesticides are reeking havoc on native species in the...

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January 24, 2008

How Do Seiches Happen?

A seiche is a continuous oscillation that can shift the water level by multiple feet in any of the Great Lakes in minutes. Listen to what researchers have to say about this phenomenon in this radio interview....

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January 23, 2008

Great Lakes Facts

Did you know that over 23 billion gallons of raw sewage were dumped into the Great Lakes in 2006? Or, that 80% of all Great Lakes fishes use coastal wetlands for spawning or nursery habitat? Want to learn more? Follow...

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January 16, 2008

Wind Energy and the Great Lakes

Proposals for harnessing wind energy are popping up again across the Great Lakes Basin. Liovas Construction has made a proposal to build wind turbines in Lake Erie. Liovas is proposing a 30-megawatt project with 15 turbines in the lake. There...

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January 15, 2008

Presidential Candidates and the Environment

Are you wondering what the various presidential candidates from both parties think about global warming, water shortages, and the state of our lakes, oceans and rivers? Well, check out this handy guide compiled by the League of Conservation Voters to...

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Great Lakes Water Links

Here are a few links to what people are saying about the water here in the Midwest, and Great Lakes Basin. Is the water compact a good idea? Bills seeking to restrict the diversion of Great Lakes water to other...

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January 8, 2008

Indiana and the Great Lakes Compact

A ban on drawing large amounts of water from the Great Lakes is expected to pass the Indiana General Assembly. The Great Lakes Compact will prohibit new and increased diversions unless the eight governors approve the diversion. A bill to...

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December 20, 2007

Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

Senator Beverly Gard wants Indiana to sign onto the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, and is supported both by businesses and environmental groups throughout the state. Only Minnesota and Illinois have so far ratified the agreement, but legislation is being...

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December 19, 2007

Lighthouses of the Great Lakes (Video)

Travel from Seul Choix to Cana Island, and visit the various lighthouses throughout the Great Lakes watershed in this video....

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December 18, 2007

NOAA Great Lakes Lab

A larger NOAA Great Lakes research laboratory in Pittsfield Township, Michigan will replace the current Ann Arbor laboratory sometime in 2008. The building will provide twice as much space as the current location as well as updated wet and dry...

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December 5, 2007

Record Lows on Great Lakes Nearing

Lake water levels in Michigan and Huron briefly dipped below the record low last week according to federal monitoring data. The reading from a testing gauge on Lake Huron was not a record because the level must be sustained over...

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November 30, 2007

Commercialization of Great Lakes Water

The Nestle Company has been allowed to pump 218,000 gallons per minute of groundwater headed for Lake Michigan. This commercialization of fresh Great Lakes water by Nestle allows them to ship more than 114 billion gallons per year. In addition...

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November 9, 2007

Surfing the Great Lakes

With Fall in full gear, Great Lakes surf becomes more consistent and somewhat more predictable. Sheyboygan, Wisconsin and Lake Michigan are the location of the swells in this video....

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November 2, 2007

Erosion and the Great Lakes

Video images from the St. Clair River show that erosion is not causing water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron to drop. Members of the research team believe it is still too early to judge if erosion on the...

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October 29, 2007

Michigan Bill 629

Senate Bill 629 in Michigan will "prohibit a person from jumping, diving, or swimming from a pier, jetty, breakwater or other similar structure, or a buoy or other navigational device, that was located in the Great Lakes or their connecting...

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Water Wars Heat Up

Are the future water wars already here? Well, after reading these stories they may very well be. The Great Lakes and Midwest are at the center of a debate that will become increasingly important in the years to come. Read...

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October 23, 2007

Erosion, Dredging and the Great Lakes

The International Joint Commission will study whether erosion from dredging on the St. Clair River is causing water levels to drop in Lakes Huron and Michigan. It will submit a series of updates on its progress and draft a report...

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October 12, 2007

Bill Richardson and the Great Lakes

Comments made by Bill Richardson continue to stir controversy among government and conservation officials around the Midwest. Richardson said he would bring northern states into the discussion of how to help the water deprived Southwest solve their shortage problems. "I...

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October 9, 2007

Great Lakes Parks Under Pressure

A long list of threats to national parks and beaches in the Great Lakes watershed has many concerned. Trout and clam populations have been decimated, and sand dunes are shrinking throughout the region. The National Parks Conservation Association believes the...

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October 5, 2007

Great Lakes Video

Watch this report on the problems the Great Lakes are facing from CNN, in this video. From low water levels to global warming, people around the basin have varying opinions on what is happening to their treasured lakes....

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October 2, 2007

The Great Lakes Are In Trouble

Drought has pushed Lake Superior's water level to its lowest point on record for this time of year. Data shows Superior's average water level in September dipped 1.6 inches beneath the previous low for that month reached in 1926. The...

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September 27, 2007

Water Resources Development Act

President Bush will get a chance to reject legislation authorizing some $21 billion in national water projects, including an Asian carp barrier to the Great Lakes and many others that would impact the Midwest. The Senate approved the Water Resources...

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September 11, 2007

Study Comes Up Empty in Wisconsin

A legislative study committee formed in Wisconsin to consider approval of a regional compact to manage the use of Great Lakes water has disbanded. Wisconsin remains the only state in which a bill to approve the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River...

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September 8, 2007

Investing In The Great Lakes

Can restoring the Great Lakes be good for the economy? Some say, yes. A $26 billion investment over the next five years could create $50 billion in economic benefit for the Midwest. Short-term economic activity from clean up of the...

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August 29, 2007

Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem

The official signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem is now in place. The Canada-Ontario Agreement focuses on cleaning up 15 degraded ecosystems around the Great Lakes, reducing harmful pollutants, conserving fish and wildlife species and...

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August 27, 2007

Great Lakes Cruise Ships

Efforts to revive the cruise industry on the Great Lakes have stalled, due to low water levels and a short sailing season. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, a German company, has pulled its popular ship, the MS Columbus, from the Great Lakes for...

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August 20, 2007

Illinois Approves Great Lakes Pact

Illinois is the second state to sign the agreement designed to protect the Great Lakes. Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed House Bill 375. The interstate compact that will restrict how much water can be withdrawn from the Great Lakes. Each...

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August 8, 2007

Lake Huron Water Levels

Lake Huron levels are expected to drop throughout August as Lake Superior is at its lowest level in more than 80 years. Superior is about 21 inches below its long-term average level for the beginning of August. Water supplies to...

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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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July 16, 2007

Water Consumption

29 cities in Canada and the United States around the Great Lakes have adopted a goal of reducing water consumption 15% by 2015. Among the largest participants are Grand Rapids; Toledo; Chicago; Buffalo, N.Y.; Rochester, N.Y.; Hamilton, Ontario; Montreal, and...

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July 6, 2007

Don't Eat the Fish?

Fish found in the Great Lakes remain so heavily contaminated by industrial chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, and methyl mercury that they may be unfit for human consumption. A report by Environmental Defence, Canada says that while there have been...

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June 8, 2007

State of the Great Lakes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada released the 2007 State of the Great Lakes Highlights Report. Overall, the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem is mixed, with some conditions improving while others are getting...

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May 31, 2007

Oil Drilling in the Great Lakes

A Republican Michigan lawmaker is touting something that his Democratic counterparts hail as a threat to the Great Lakes. Representative Tim Walberg recently proposed the idea of tapping oil resources in the Great Lakes much to the dismay of others....

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May 29, 2007

Where is the Water?

The drought affecting the Upper Midwest has taken its toll on the lakes, and scientists say low levels are part of a long-term weather cycle that probably won't end soon. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey comparing monthly water...

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April 23, 2007

Ban Ocean Freighters?

A conservation group wants to ban ocean freighters from the Great Lakes, to help put a stop to the onslaught of invasive species. Great Lakes United says shutting the St. Lawrence Seaway to seafaring ships would be similar to closing...

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April 19, 2007

Great Lakes Region

Global warming is likely to dramatically alter the Great Lakes region in the coming decades, making the world's largest body of fresh water shallower and dirtier while hurting the region's ability to capitalize on its greatest natural resource. That's the...

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April 11, 2007

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation a provider of dredging services in the United States and a provider of commercial and industrial demolition services, announced that it has signed definitive agreements to purchase dredging equipment from affiliates of C.F. Bean...

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April 9, 2007

Bait Rule

Wisconsin anglers can no longer use imported bait, unless it meets strict testing requirements, and they can't move live fish from the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River. It's all designed to contain an exotic virus that causes fish to...

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March 29, 2007

Great Lakes Maps

Are you interested in mapping or charting of the Great Lakes? If so check out the new exhibit, 300 Years of Original Maps- Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region, at the University Of Wisconsin....

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March 23, 2007

St Lawrence River and Seaway

One of the many ships to use the St. Lawrence. The Saint Lawrence River originates at the outflow of Lake Ontario. From there, it passes Cornwall, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, and Quebec City before draining into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence,...

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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 15, 2007

Great Lakes Water Levels

Water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron dropped six times faster than average in February. The lakes' water level dropped 3 inches in February, according to the latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On average, the...

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March 12, 2007

Great Lakes Discharge

The House approved a proposal that would require study of wastewater treatment plants that discharge into the Great Lakes. The measure, introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak, Democrat of Michigan, was included in a larger bill on paying for wastewater and...

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February 28, 2007

Great Lakes Safety (Video)

The U.S. Coast Guard wants to remind people that icy waterways aren't always safe. Great Lakes ice is unpredictable, dangerous, and that all ice is dangerous this time of year. The Coast Guard recommends you always check the weather...

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February 14, 2007

Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

Minnesota could become the first state to commit to a common set of standards protecting Great Lakes water under a measure backed in the state Senate. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact would establish tighter standards for...

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February 8, 2007

Great Lakes and Global Warming

Global warming could lower water levels in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron by 5 feet over the next century, according to new data generated for a United Nations study of climate change. Such a change would disrupt the Great Lakes...

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January 5, 2007

Lake St. Clair

Mild temperatures around the U.S. keep lakes from freezing, here Lake St. Clair is free of any form of ice in early January. The smallest lake in the Great Lakes system, Lake St. Clair is not considered to be...

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December 27, 2006

Lake Trout and Invasive Species

A half-century after lake trout were eliminated from Lake Michigan, there are subtle signs the fish are trying to make a comeback in the Great Lakes. Scientists recently discovered evidence that lake trout are reproducing on their own on a...

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December 26, 2006

Great Lakes IMAX Film

The Indiana Port Commission has agreed to co-sponsor a new IMAX film on the Great Lakes. Members of the commission, the governing board for the Ports of Indiana, agreed to participate in the project and will have the right to...

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December 21, 2006

Iron Ore

Steel production is slowing, and demand for iron ore on the Great Lakes reacted accordingly in September. Shipments totaled 6 million net tons, a decrease of 4.8 percent compared to a year ago. Lack of adequate dredging affected the efficiency...

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December 20, 2006

Great Lakes, Ancient Shores

Scientists hope to learn more about what the Great Lakes' shorelines looked like about 10,000 years ago. They explored a limestone land bridge that spanned 125 miles near Ontario, and an underwater forest of petrified trees in Lake Huron. The...

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December 15, 2006

Great Lakes-St Lawrence Compact

A pact restricting the sale of water from Lake Erie and the four other Great Lakes passed the Ohio House 82-5. The measure, called the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, deals with protecting Great Lakes water against...

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December 12, 2006

Great Lakes Facts

• The five lakes cover an area nearly the size of the state of Oregon • The lakes' water could cover the contiguous states to a depth of 9 feet • The lakes provide roughly 67,000 jobs and $5 billion...

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November 30, 2006

Great Lakes Sewage

Urban sewage and toxic effluents that flow into the Great Lakes each year are threatening a critical ecosystem that supplies drinking water to millions of people. Even though municipalities in the Great Lakes region have spent vast sums of money...

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November 21, 2006

Great Lakes, VHS

The federal government has modified restrictions on shipments of some live Great Lakes fish aimed at preventing the spread of a deadly aquatic virus. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service revised an emergency order it...

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November 9, 2006

Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are not showing the same trends of overfishing that some claim could help lead to the demise of ocean seafood by as early as 2048. The major concerns in the Great Lakes are more ecological, the total...

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November 8, 2006

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

Testing has confirmed a deadly disease among fish in Lake Erie following an outbreak of a the virus in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Relatively common in continental Europe and Japan, viral hemorrhagic septicemia causes internal bleeding in...

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November 1, 2006

Shipwreck Dive Video

Have you ever wanted to dive to a shipwreck in the Great Lakes? Watch the video and see what it is like....

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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 23, 2006

Great Lakes Sunrise

Sunrise over Lake Huron...

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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 4, 2006

Sand Dunes

A Lake Michigan dune towered 30 stories high on the south side of Muskegon, Michigan. Formed over thousands of years, it disappeared in three decades as its sand was mined for industrial use in the mid-20th century. Michigan has regulated...

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October 2, 2006

Spencer F. Baird

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently put into service the M/V Spencer F. Baird, a new vessel that will stock millions of native lake trout in the Great Lakes. The boat was christened and commissioned during a ceremony at...

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September 22, 2006

Coast Guard "safety zones"

Earlier this summer, the Coast Guard announced plans to create 34 permanent “safety zones” in the Great Lakes, where live fire shooting exercises will be conducted. In an effort to inform the public about what will happen at these zones,...

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September 21, 2006

Great Lakes Data

Researching the Great Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron) check out this informative site where you can find wave, weather, hydrology, chemical, biological, ice and snow data. Loads of information for all of your educational...

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EPA, Ballast Water

A federal court in California has ordered the U.S. EPA to regulate ballast water discharges from freighters, a ruling that has major implications for the Great Lakes shipping industry. Environmental groups sued the EPA in 1999 after the federal agency...

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September 18, 2006

Great Lakes

Canada and the United States are launching a $17.5 million study to determine why water levels in the upper Great Lakes have declined over the past several years. The study by the International Joint Commission will consider a number of...

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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 11, 2006

Sturgeon

Sturgeon are slowly starting to make a comeback in areas where water quality has improved around the Midwest. The fish, which are protected in just about every state where they're found, were overfished and nearly disappeared in the early 1900s...

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September 10, 2006

Great Lakes Water Wars

A new book on the Great Lakes and the future of water in America, and around the world. The Great Lakes are the largest collection of fresh surface water on earth, and more than 40 million Americans and Canadians live...

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August 28, 2006

Great Lakes

Changing water levels in the Great Lakes this summer is causing problems for boaters, beachgoers and the shipping industry. Fewer boat docks are available in some places, and a few people are keeping their boats out of the water. Lake...

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August 1, 2006

Great Lakes

A group conducting a three-year project aimed at trying to preserve the islands in the Great Lakes, are making stops around the Midwest to gain support. Members of the group are compiling information on the over 30,000 islands in the...

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July 14, 2006

Great Lakes

A sustainability plan for the Great Lakes is moving through Congress, this after passage of a Senate bill to support fish and wildlife habitats in the region. The Senate has approved legislation that represents a portion of a larger restoration...

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July 5, 2006

Great Lakes

Several ships have run aground on Michigan's Saginaw River this season, caught in shallow waters a few miles from Lake Huron. The river port is 13 feet deep in a passage that is supposed to be as high as 22...

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June 30, 2006

Lake Huron

Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of eastern North America and separates Michigan from Ontario. Georgian Bay, the easternmost part of Lake Huron, is entirely within Canada. Lake Huron's name comes from early French explorers who named...

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June 27, 2006

Great Lakes

Lake Superior's ecosystems are running along fairly smoothly, while Lake Erie is having some problems. This may seem like nothing new, but a study of ecological indicators led by UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute has determined the best ways to...

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April 7, 2006

Great Lakes

Great Lakes area lawmakers introduced legislation in Washington this week to restore the region's environment despite warnings that there's little money to pay for the effort. The bills address many of the issues in the Great Lakes restoration plan, unveiled...

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