Great Lakes Blogger

Good news from Washington

That's not an oxymoron this time.  Public lands in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are protected as wilderness as soon as the President signs this bill.

soon in print

Don't forget to order in advance a copy of Pandora's Locks, a blockbuster book on the Saint Lawrence Seaway and its impact on the Great Lakes.

Saginaw County, Michigan's embarrassing public servants

...are headed by Jim Koski, who never met a watercourse he didn't want to drain, ditch or fill. In Monday night's Saginaw News he continued his verbal war on water protection laws. ''Is every water puddle supposed to be regulated?'' he asked. Is every public works commissioner this ignorant?

The same goes for the area's state legislators, Roger Kahn and James Stamas. These men, who normally tout local control and despise Washington, have suddenly found it convenient "to give the federal government the power" to deal with Michigan's wetlands, as the article put it.

According to one study, between 1979 and 1998 Saginaw County lost a whopping 22.1% of its vital emergent wetlands, critical for waterfowl and the hunting the birds generate. That's 1532.7 acres. Keep it up, and the County will make a fine and sterile parking lot, draining its oil, grease and dioxins directly into Saginaw Bay -- or 'Great Lakes Bay' as local promoters want to rename their region.

Thank goodness: citizens are fighting Koski and his ilk tooth and nail. The Lone Tree Council heroically persists.

communicating on environmental behaviors

An interesting newsletter out of Wisconsin created by professionals "in the social and natural sciences who share a common interest in promoting behaviors that will positively impact the environment." It's definitely worth reading.

Tom Fuhrman: Great Lakes hero

For leading the charge to create one of the newest state parks in the Great Lakes and for continuing to stick up for it.

Everyone knows Tom Fuhrman can find Erie Bluffs State Park.

He lives next to it, advocated its creation for years, and now directs the Lake Erie Region Conservancy.

Over the past several summers, he has fielded dozens of calls and questions from people who don't know how to get there.

"They come down to my cottage," he said. "I think there should be a sign. ... Does it have to be a neon sign, like, 'Welcome to Vegas?' No. "

water scarcity bigger than economic crisis

Humanity is facing "water bankruptcy" as a result of a crisis even greater than the financial meltdown now destabilising the global economy, two authoritative new reports show. They add that it is already beginning to take effect, and there will be no way of bailing the earth out of water scarcity.

in honor of World Water Day: Sunday

International water justice activists converged at the People’s Water Forum today to affirm the human right to water and present diverse visions of existing public and community-led water management practices that protect water for people and nature, and can ensure water access for all regardless of their ability to pay.

the natural beauty of Michigan

A break from politics...

Michigan: a native son's observations

By Gary Wilson of Chicago.

I’ve seen others look at Michigan’s plight and say, “oh well.” Implied but not spoken is that Michigan brought its situation on itself. I also sense that the rest of the country has written Michigan off.

I can’t do that, not yet. 

While I haven’t given up I am struggling to be optimistic. Michigan’s problems are broader than a tough economy. Its leaders seem to lack a certain vision and will to deal with the new economic and environmental realities.

time for a beverage deposit

...in Minnesota, not to mention Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Michigan is the leader with a 97% return rate.