March 2013
Illustrating the Aesthetic Impacts of Offshore Wind Turbines in Lake Erie
Issue
In recent years, the Great Lakes community has intensified efforts to investigate and develop alternative energy solutions in coastal regions. In Ohio, many residents are hotly debating whether wind energy facilities should be located off the Lake Erie shore, where winds are strong and steady enough to generate energy. Advocates note that the industry would boost the local economy, but some area residents are concerned that the turbines would impact shoreline vistas.
Last day of winter? Surfers ride the frigid waves on Lake Michigan at Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon
MUSKEGON, MI -- The last day of meteorological winter on March 19 brought strong winds to the Muskegon area, creating great waves for surfing.
Tuesday was the first time in months Lake Michigan was surfable due of an ideal mix of little ice and large waves. But it was still cold, with a high temperature of only 30 degrees.
Observatory prepares for spring radar study of migration
With one eye on the federal government’s budget situation, Mark Shieldcastle, research director at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, is hopeful there will be another radar study this spring of the flight patterns of migratory birds along the Lake Erie shoreline.
Data from a study conducted in the fall is still being analyzed.
Presque Isle Bay advisory group discusses its future
Sequestration has put a hitch in proposed plans for future monitoring of fish, water and sediment in Presque Isle Bay.
The bay on Feb. 13 was removed from the Area of Concern list under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee on Monday held its first meeting since the delisting and talked about what happens next with the bay and the group.
MOVING FORWARD 2013: Binational refuge creates waterfront porches for wildlife and people
Bringing wildlife and people together to enjoy the Detroit River and Lake Erie is a key focus of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge’s project to restore urban shorelines.
Over the past 12 years, 51 soft shoreline engineering projects have been completed or are under way in the watershed.
“We were looking at things we could do that were achievable to improve the river and that would resonate with the people,” said John Hartig, refuge manager.
North shore conservation groups worried about stormwater pollution
Members of conservation groups are worried about the effect of stormwater runoff on Lake Superior.
About two dozen people attended a meeting at Prince Arthur's Landing in Thunder Bay on Monday night, hosted by the North Shore Remedial Action Plan.
They were concerned about what's in the water running off the streets and ending up in the lake, especially after a rainfall.
Center seeks information on Great Lakes waterspouts
The residents of Belgium Wis. were surprised to see what they thought to be a winter waterspout recently in Lake Michigan, but it turns out what they really saw was a steam devil.
The confusion is understandable. Steam devils and waterspouts are both created by sea smoke, very cold air moving across warmer waters evaporating so fast they produce vapor. But steam devils are formed in open air while waterspouts attach to the clouds, said Wade Szilagyi director of the International Centre for Waterspout Research in Ontario.
Lake Erie walleye run about to begin
CLEVELAND - Springtime on Lake Erie, and the walleyes are on the run. It is an annual rite along the North Coast, especially in the areas around the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers.
Right now, walleyes are staging just off the mouths of those two rivers. Once the water temperature rises above 42 degrees F, those fish will move into the streams to spawn. And when they do, the walleye angler pilgrimage will begin.
Spring Rain, Then Foul Algae in Ailing Lake Erie
TOLEDO, Ohio — For those who live and play on the shores of Lake Erie, the spring rains that will begin falling here soon are less a blessing than a portent. They could threaten the very future of the lake itself.
Fight against Asian carp still targeting the Chicago River
The Chicago River -- plagued by drought, polluted by floods and covered in construction projects - faces its biggest threat 50 miles downstream. Asian carp have sent environmental groups and government agencies into overdrive as they work to prevent the invasive fish species from entering the Great Lakes via the river.
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