Great Lakes Blogger

Warmer, windier Lake Superior?

New paper out of the U-W and University of Minnesota-Duluth.

A wide temperature differential between water and air makes for a more stable atmosphere with calmer winds over the relatively cold water. However, as warming water closes the gap, as in Lake Superior's case, the atmosphere gets more turbulent.

"You get more powerful winds," Desai says. "We've seen a 5 percent increase per decade in average wind speed since 1985."

Getting Lake Erie Healthy

That's the headline on this Toledo TV story.

How? By curbing agricultural runoff and other nutrients that now feed the algae, and controlling ballast water from ships that could carry invasive species like zebra mussels. In all, Ohio has a "wish list" of 57 projects just waiting to be funded. Chris Korleski, Ohio EPA director, says, "Everything from habitat restoration to invasive species protection to, here in the Toledo area, Toledo harbor dredging and sediment issues. If you add all those up, it comes to about 135 million dollars. That's just what Ohio came up with."

The money will help, but it won't curb runoff much or in any way control ballast water. If successful as planned, it will make small dents in a lot of these major problems. The media are off on the all-too-frequent superficial treatment of complicated problems. Health is something you do all the time, not a one-time expenditure to buy a treadmill.

Focus That Great Lakes Money A Little Next Time Around

A good idea.

In addition, we also expect that funds in fiscal year 2011 will be further targeted on fewer  programs and in the most critical ecological areas.  This year the Environmental Protection  Agency (EPA) was able to use the strategy from the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration to help in a short timeframe identify the most pressing needs for Great Lakes restoration.

However, we need to learn lessons from this year’s effort, which suggest that we can be even more targeted in how we address the Great Lakes top restoration priorities.  

Download HOW_Co-chair_OMB_FY11_budget_letter_(111109)

Today's Trip Down Memory Lane: Dawn of the Zebra Mussel

Time magazine, 1991. Eighteen  years later, it's quagga mussels we're most worried about in the Great Lakes.  But hey, let's give the GL shipping industry and oceangoing vessels more time to figure out a solution.

Northern Michigan Great Lakes Research Center Moves Ahead

The GLRC will include aquatic laboratories, a hydraulics lab, coastal research instrumentation, boathouse facilities, offices and conference rooms, providing a home at Michigan Tech for interdisciplinary research and education related to the Great Lakes .  It will also house a research and educational partnership between Michigan Tech and the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Research and Development Center Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg, Miss.  The Vicksburg lab is the Corps of Engineers’ water resources research facility.

Everyone's Water or Their Water?

That's what is at stake in Michigan State Rep. Dan Scripps' bill to assure Great Lakes and tributary water is protected as a public trust and not subject to commercialization and export. But it appears some are concerned the measure will somehow take away private use of groundwater by property owners. It won't, but it's time to make that clearn.

GL Dollars To Ohio?

Governors and communities are starting to raise hopes.  Ohio, at least, has a public wish list through the Lake Erie Commission.

Grass to Gas

Michigan landfill operators suddenly care about fighting climate change.

A more tangible impact in Michigan’s climate — of job hunger — might be the harm done to the composting industry. About 150 facilities in the state, many small businesses that could lose business, or shut down altogether. Meanwhile, landfills would get more revenue from the increased waste AND more revenue by selling the recaptured gas.

Why We Need to Plug GL Compact Loopholes

A video of a presentation made by attorney Jim Olson to Friends of the Jordan River recently.

Paying Companies Not to Pollute

Here's an outdated Michigan tax credit. If its logic makes sense, every motorist in the state deserves payment for the opportunity cost of not speeding.