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Michigan TU News:
Great Lakes Echo


  • Great Lakes separation study: Partisan posturing trumps constructive dialogue
    A study released this week called for permanent physical barriers in the Chicago Area Waterways System. Instead of spurring a conversation, groups stuck to whatever position they had before the study.

  • Photo Friday: Gluttonous Squirrel
    My family has watched this bird feeder in the small tree outside our Farmington Hills, Mich., home for about ten years. I’ve never seen as many squirrels as this winter gathered under it or on the tree above it. There is an average of about ten squirrels a day. Maybe it’s the warm winter. Maybe they’ve finally learned the tricks of the trade. If you ask me, we have ninja squirrels. They have figured out how to slide down the plastic cover and latch their back feet to the metal bottom where ...

  • Deterioration of lake health inspires “For Love of Lakes”
    Echo catches up with author, Darby Nelson, about his first book, "For Love of Lakes," which explores the worsening health of lakes around the country.

  • A small, slightly overweight animal predicts the rest of winter
    One of the most famous wild animals in a Great Lakes state gets the environmental spotlight today.  Phil, a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pa., has predicted winter’s future for more than 125 years. Since 1886 the town has celebrated Phil’s waking. Groundhog’s Day events there this year include Oreo stacking and a walking tour of sculptures of the little guy. Thousands of people nationwide participate, according to the event’s official website. The events only break when Phil comes out of his burrow at Gobbler’s Knob. If he sees his shadow, there will be ...

  • The “Best” of the Great Lakes
    Is there a Great Lake that is best? Maybe. ­­ That’s certainly fodder for partisan bickering. But perhaps each lake should be recognized for the best of something. So tell us. What is the single best thing to do on each of the Great Lakes? A few of my ideas: Best Surfing Lake Michigan Why: Any Great Lake can be surfed but Lake Michigan is considered most consistent, a great characteristic for surfing, according to Ryan Gerard, owner of Third Coast Surf Shop in St. Joseph, Michigan. “In terms of consistency and quality, I would say Lake ...

  • Pending Michigan bill seeks to curb septic waste seeping into land, water
    Michigan municipal waste facilities would be required to accept all septic waste produced within 25 miles under a bill awaiting action in the Senate. But not everyone thinks it's a good thing.

  • Researchers discover what makes the best environmental citizens
    Researchers have found what they believe to be the traits that make the very best environmental citizens. Patient, confident, and persistent people make some of the best environmental citizens, according to Kyle Whyte and Matt Ferkany, researchers at Michigan State University. Friendliness, wit, self-confidence, humility, fairness, patience and dependability are other traits they discovered associated with environmental interest. Ferkany is an assistant professor of teacher education; Whyte is a visiting professor of philosophy. “(When one) has a lot of confidence and not inclusive they think they are always right,” Ferkany noted. “When someone ...

  • Feds propose a fuel exemption for steamships that switch to diesel engines
    There are thirteen ships on the Great Lakes that use steam engines that belch sulfur into the air. The EPA wants to exempt them from an upcoming fuel standard if they switch to cleaner engines.

  • How Asian carp ruined a relationship
    Apparently threatening to completely upend entire ecosystems isn’t enough for Asian carp. Nope. Now they’re ruining my personal relationships. It started as most of my days do … coffee and reading up on the basin. But there was a new lady friend with me this morning. She asked me about my job, which, of course, I loved. “Well, we write about the Great Lakes, but we try to be quirky … you know, stay away from writing about Asian carp every day,” I said, just starting to step up on my Great Lakes/journalistic soapbox. “What ...

  • Canadian, US scientists trying to revive Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario
    Atlantic salmon once thrived in Lake Ontario but went extinct when their habitat and spawning grounds were ruined. U.S. and Canadian scientists are now trying to bring the species back.

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