Midwest Lakes Policy Center

Water Infrastructure

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:31:13 -0600

It is estimated that $206 million dollars will be spent on water infrastructure projects this year in Wisconsin. About half of the funds will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Projects include new water treatment plants, fire mains and storm water system updates.

Great Lakes Headlines

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:54 -0600

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.

Quetico: Into the Wild

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:05:28 -0600

A new book is out celebrating the beauty of the Quetico Provincial Park. Quetico: Into the Wild, is filled with photos and maps of the region. Gary and Joanie McGuffin spent three years exploring the trails and lakes of the park to help create the book. Learn more about this book, here.

How Do You Build A Rain Garden?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:26:18 -0600

Learn more about rain gardens in this video. You can learn how to build one, and why they are important to our rivers, lakes and streams.

A New Mine in the U.P.?

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:19:06 -0600

A state judge in Michigan has ruled in favor of Kennecott Minerals in their quest for a new mine in the Upper Peninsula. The mine could damage lakes and rivers in Marquette County. The Salmon Trout River may be at greatest risk. The two permits for the mine now must gain final approval from the Director of the DEQ, Steve Chester.

Minnesota's Moose Population

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:42:24 -0600

Populations of moose are declining at a rapid rate in Northern Minnesota and the Boundary Waters. In the last 20 years the moose population in Northwestern Minnesota declined from roughly 4,000 to fewer than 100. Rising temperatures and deer populations are the suspected causes of the declining numbers. Researchers are looking for help in their study, you can report moose sightings to the website below. Learn more about Minnesota's moose populations.

Silver or Asian Carp

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:14:31 -0600

Invasive carp are now only five miles from a barrier meant to keep the fish from entering Lake Michigan. The Asian carp can reach 100 pounds, and operators of the electric barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are worried. The voltage on the barrier has been doubled, and the finishing touches of a $30 million dollar section have been completed. Now it is a waiting game to see if the barrier will be a success.

Round Goby Invasion

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:06:28 -0600

New research out of Canada shows that the invasive round goby is infiltrating tributaries of the Great Lakes. It was thought that the goby would not survive in river environments. The round goby has been disrupting the food chain of the Great Lakes for over twenty years. Read the study, here.

Great Lakes Restoration

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:47:47 -0600

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.

Arizona's Dwindlng Water Supply

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:32:48 -0600

Arizona has some of the most progressive water conservation laws in the country, but the state's groundwater is being depleted at a rapid rate. Water rights battles in some areas of the state have been in stuck in court hearings for over thirty years. What is the next step to protect and conserve the state's dwindling supply of water? Find out in this report, from the Arizona Republic.

Build Your Own Rain Barrels

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:43:13 -0600

Watch how you can protect the environment, and save some money by installing a rain barrel. See how homeowners are installing and building their own rain barrels in the video above. Or, you can purchase a system through the company above.

Great Lakes Water Levels

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:34:56 -0600

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.

Great Lakes Beach Closings

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:45:18 -0600

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.

Invasive Smelt

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:24:33 -0600

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin are trying to rid some Wisconsin lakes of invasive smelt by manually raising the temperature of the lakes. Crystal Lake in northern Wisconsin will have warm water pushed into the cooler water of the smelt's habitat by a device called the GELI. The experiment should not harm native walleye and bass populations, as the water should warm by six degrees.

Great Lakes Water Compact

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:51:54 -0600

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 pushing H. Res. 551, which would close any avenues for privatization of Great Lakes water. Summary below: " (1) nothing in the interstate compact regarding water resources in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin approved by the Congress in Public Law 110-342 (in this resolution referred to as the `compact') should be construed-- (A) to allow water intended for an immediate or an intermediate or end use consumer in a container or package of any size or amount to be diverted, exported, or sold from the Great Lakes Basin unless the withdrawal is authorized and licensed in accordance with the constitution and laws of the State from which the water is withdrawn; and (B) to create or establish that waters of the Great Lakes Basin are produced as a product or have entered into commerce or constitute a good or commodity under the North American Free Trade Agreement or any other international trade agreement, law, or treaty;"