Great Lakes

Rainfall Means Higher Lake Levels

Above average precipitation this year has resulted in higher lake levels in the Great Lakes region.  But just two years ago the Great Lakes were just three inches short of an all time low set in 1964.  Learn more about this by watching our interview on Fox TV.

When talking about lake levels it's important to recognize that the lakes are not a limitless resource.  We have 20 percent of the world's freshwater in our region but need to protect it in order to sustain the resource well into our future.  Water conservation is still very important no matter if the lakes are at an all time high or an all time low. 

--Posted by Kurt, fishes

Lake Levels Rising

In the past couple months water levels in Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes have been rising.  The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration website charts lake levels and records that information daily.

It is great for our ecosystem that water levels are rising but we must put this information in context.  Lake levels fluctuate two or three feet naturally over the course of 20 years.  Weather patterns and natural cycles of the earth contribute to this change.  Though the lake levels are rising right now we still need to be aware of the stresses that climate change may play on our water supply in the future.  We still need to make smart water choices in our homes even though it looks like we are awash in water right now.

--Posted by Kurt, fishes

Native Gardening Tips

Planting season has begun! If you are planning your garden this year here are four good water conservation tips to keep in mind:

• Conserve water – a healthy lawn only needs one to two inches of water per week.

• Minimize evaporation by watering your lawn or garden during the early morning hours, when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.

• Disconnect your downspout and direct it toward landscaped areas.  Or try catching rain in a rain barrel or cistern for later use.

• Consider a porous design for your garden path.  This allows water to reach the underlying soil and replenish groundwater.

Christine, horticulture 

Great Lakes on the big screen

"If you could take everyone on this continent on an expedition from one end of the Great Lakes to the other, you would change the way that they look at these natural treasures."

That was the thought behind Canadian film producer David Lickley's movie Mysteries of the Great Lakes playing now at Imax and Omnimax theaters around the basin.  I recently saw this movie at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and absolutely loved it.  It was incredible to see footage of ship wrecks, caribou in the wild and the beautiful bluffs of Lake Superior.  Watching this movie made me proud to live in the Great Lakes region.  I give the film two thumbs up!

For teachers, the film has an educator's guide to use after your students see the movie.  Check it out!

--Posted by Elizabeth, conservation

CLIMATE CHANGE MEANS CHANGE FOR GREAT LAKES

I recently attended and presented at the Tribal Climate Change Symposium in Milwaukee organized by EPA Region 5.  This meeting specifically addressed climate change in the Great Lakes region, how Native American tribes are being affected now, future ramifications for these tribes and what they can do to help mitigate the effects.

I learned a lot about climate change, and in particular, the results of some studies going on in the Great Lakes region.  One presentation that I found particularly interesting was about moose in northern Minnesota.  Northern Minnesota is moose’s southernmost range and unfortunately, the moose population is dwindling.  A wildlife biologist from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation in Northeastern Minnesota presented his findings that moose there are dying at higher rates in northern Minnesota than elsewhere in North America.  He believes that this is happening directly and indirectly from climate change.  Heat stress and winter survival of parasitic diseases are the primary reasons for mortality in the population of moose he is studying.  Milder winters are allowing parasites to survive and spread when previously harsh Minnesota winters used to kill them. 

The affects of climate change have been showing up in lots of different ways.  This specific example serves an another reminder that the Great Lakes ecosystem is  more than the water – it is the land, the wildlife and the people who live near them.  Everything is connected.  We depend on the Great Lakes just as much as they depend on us.

Posted by Melanie Napoleon, conservation

Listening to Your Lakes on the radio

Today's blog was written by Elizabeth, Great Lakes conservation coordinator

Just to clear things up, Lake Michigan did not conduct any interviews over the radio waves as the title of this blog suggests.  But a representative spoke on behalf of these magnificent bodies of water that desperately need our help.

Earlier this year, Melanie Napoleon, Director of Great Lakes conservation, spoke with Karen Williams of Clear Channel radio WNUA.  The two ladies chatted about the Great Lakes and why it is important to protect this wonderful natural resource. 

At one point Melanie mentioned the four threats facing the Great Lakes, "pollution, invasive species, water over-use and loss of habitat for wildlife." Learn more about these threats facing the Great Lakes and what you can do to help: Download Melanie Napoleon talks about the Great Lakes-Shedd

Where does our water go?

Today's blog is written by Sandy, Great Lakes Field Coordinator

None of the water that we use each day from the lake in the city of Chicago or the surrounding suburbs is returned to Lake Michigan.  Surprised?  In fact, it gets flushed down toward the Mississippi water basin due to an engineering feat that took place over a hundred years ago: the reversal of the Chicago River.  It was reversed to keep sewage from spilling closer and closer to the water intake cribs that feed Chicago with fresh clean water.  Some of you history buffs may know that… but did you also know that there is a Supreme Court ruling that says that our water intake cannot increase?  Even with more than 2.2 million people expected to populate the Northeastern Chicago region by 2013, we cannot take more than our allotted limited out of the lake. Learn more here.  This means that we, the consumers of it, need to be better about how we use fresh water, and how much of it we use.

Conserving water is as easy as limiting our shower use to 5 minutes, running full loads of dishes in the dishwasher, and not buying bottled water.  Send us the ways that you and your family save water everyday and will send you a 5 minute shower time that you can place in your shower.

8 States Unite!

All eyes turn to Congress now that Michigan and Pennsylvania recently enacted the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin Resources Compact into law.  All eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces are in support of the agreement that will establish effective and sustainable rules for water use in the region.  Many are hoping the Congress swiftly enacts this visionary agreement into law.

Want to know more about the Compact? Click here.

Way to go Wisconsin!

Governor Doyle signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact into law today!  This makes Wisconsin the fifth state to formally enact the compact and show how important Great Lakes water is to our region.  The momentum is really building in the region as all the Great Lakes states have made progress on addressing this critical water management agreement.  Way to go Wisconsin!

As one reporter wrote, when it comes to protecting Great Lakes water, signing the compact is like building a wall around the lakes.  To read more click here.

Movement on The Compact

Wisconsin and Michigan are on course to enact the regional compact that will bring stronger protections to Great Lakes water.  On Wednesday both the Wisconsin and Michigan Legislature voted in favor of the Compact and now the governors of each state must sign it into law.

We are crossing our fingers that the Compact gets formally enacted so that we can be two steps closer to finalizing the regional agreement.  This action will ensure safe management of our clean drinking water source for future generations and take away any plans to divert water to other regions.