Obama Administration Releases Plan to Promote Ocean Economy and Resilience
Today, the Obama Administration released its final plan for translating the National Ocean Policy into on-the-ground actions to benefit the American people. With significant public input from a wide spectrum of individuals and interests, the final Implementation Plan focuses on improving coordination to speed Federal permitting decisions; better manage the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources that drive so much of our economy; develop and disseminate sound scientific information that local communities, industries, and decision-makers can use; and collaborate more effectively with State, Tribal, and local partners, marine industries, and other stakeholders. Without creating any new regulations or authorities, the plan will ensure the many Federal agencies involved in ocean management work together to reduce duplication and red tape and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently.
Dredging can churn up historical contaminants
Dredging may be a solution to Great Lakes low water, but it can also lead to contaminated sediments re-merging into the water.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed a bill in March allowing an additional $20.9 million to be spent on dredging this year to help recreational and commercial boaters operate in low water levels.
The most common contaminant in the bottom of the Great Lakes is polychlorinated biphenyls, also known as PCBs, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Windsor boaters filling up city marina as Great Lakes lower
Low lake levels haven’t stopped boaters from snatching up spots at Lakeview Park Marina.
Although water levels in the Great Lakes are reportedly below average, the city marina is almost at capacity for the upcoming boating season. Trese MacNeil, community sports services co-ordinator for the city’s parks and recreation department, said water levels haven’t affected business at Lakeview.
“We’re almost at capacity with our boats, so as far as business being affected we don’t see any effects so far,” MacNeil said. “We’ve been on a steady increase with obtaining seasonal boaters in particular.”
Decline of Lake Erie water levels has boating-reliant Vermilion worried
VERMILION — George Phillips has been around Vermilion for more than 50 years, and he’s never seen water levels in Lake Erie this low.
“For us and the city, this is serious,” Phillips said.
As owner of Valley Harbor Marina, Phillips operates the city’s biggest marina, which holds about 400 boats.
Environmentalists urge Gov. Cuomo to support IJC’s Bv7 water management proposal
Conservationists urged Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday to join thousands of citizens who have shown their support for a new Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River management plan over the past several months.
Will Congress preserve Great Lakes restoration funding?
President Obama is asking for $300 million for the Great Lakes in his 2014 budget. That money would go to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
MBIA Board of Directors announces Nicki Polan as new Executive Director
Livonia, Mich., April 9, 2013 – At a special board meeting on April 8, the Board of Directors of the Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) announced the official selection of Nicki Polan to Executive Director. Polan served as the Association’s Interim Executive Director for the past 5 months and was Director of Communications for nearly 25 years.
Prepare for Warm Weather with Boating Safety Course
As we move closer to summer and warm temperatures, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources would like to remind anyone who plans on operating a watercraft this year to take a boating safety course.
Anyone born on or before Dec. 31, 1978 may operate a personal watercraft (PWC) without restrictions, but those born after that date must obtain a boater's safety certificate.
Get out the vote for Lake Superior Magazine's 2013 Best of the Lake awards
For more than two decades, readers of Lake Superior Magazine have shared their favorite spots, sights, restaurants, lodgings and recreation for the Best of the Lake awards.
This year, we’re at it again.
We encourage communities to stuff the ballot box with local favorites in categories like Best Shoreline, Best Locally Made Brew and more.
Coast Guard, other agencies sampling Lake Michigan water to improve polluter probes
GRAND HAVEN, MI – The U.S. Coast Guard, working with state and local officials, is taking water samples this week in Lake Michigan ports along much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, including Muskegon Lake and Grand Haven on Wednesday.
The purpose of “Operation Run Off 2013” is to establish a baseline of environmental factors affecting water quality, according to Commander Sean Brady of the Coast Guard’s Grand Haven office. Officials hope that will make it easier to decide when to take enforcement actions against polluters.
Great Lakes water levels: A major piece of low water levels explained
The Great Lakes water levels are like a puzzle with many pieces.
I've been writing about the weather part of the water level puzzle.
The amount of water going into the Great Lakes due to weather factors is a fairly straightforward formula.
The formula is rainfall on the lake and over the drainage basin minus the evaporation of the lake water.
Toxic chemicals turn up in Great Lakes plastic pollution
Toxic chemicals clinging to plastics could cause health problems for fish and other organisms in the Great Lakes.
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