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On the brink of collapse in Lakes Michigan and Huron, whitefish need a miracle. Now, some want to relocate fish en masse to inland waters to preserve dying bloodlines.

Cleveland hopes to thrive as a climate refuge, but some fear gentrification and extractive development will leave longtime residents behind.

The disputes raise questions about the region’s economy and environment, as well as national priorities over energy, water, climate and Indigenous rights.

Explore shipwreck sanctuaries and a forest that fueled a media empire.

As the nation’s top health official calls fluoride “industrial waste,” state and local governments are pulling back on the practice, upending a decades-long public health success story.

The agrivoltaics practice of raising sheep under solar panels is a win-win for Illinois farmers — but first the market for lamb meat needs to grow.

Chemistry, cold water and isolation make it hard for invasive mussels to get a foothold in the Big Lake. But a spate of recent outbreaks from Isle Royale to Canada’s Nipigon Bay have scientists unnerved.

The Ontario government is handing provincial parklands over to the town in hopes of boosting the local economy. Residents wonder whether the beach will still be welcoming to the endangered birds — and the public.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes report urges states to take steps to protect water resources.

More energy news as General Motors partially shuts down an EV factory and young people in Wisconsin sue over climate change.

The Grand Traverse Band is turning the waste into a compost and fertilizer, cutting down on landfill waste and helping with food sovereignty efforts.

Long a threat to southern Ontario lakes, climate change is allowing cyanobacteria — or blue-green algae — to thrive in even the coldest of the Great Lakes.

In 2014, a group of botanists discovered that a very rare plant native to the Kankakee River in Illinois, had vanished from its only known native habitat in the world. That set off a quest to bring back the missing Midwestern flower.

More PFAS news with millions of Americans drinking contaminated water, and concerns in Wisconsin over a drilling operation.

Cigarette butts are one of the most common kind of plastic pollution found on Great Lakes beaches.

Researchers eavesdrop on forests, fishing for lake trout and the rights of nature.

After working at the Grand Portage National Monument, Sofia Vanderlan built a birch bark canoe in honor of her ancestors’ Great Lakes tradition and heritage.

The Comprehensive Climate Action Plan proposes strategies like offshore wind and nuclear energy be implemented in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.

More energy news with Great Lakes states losing more than $1 billion for solar and an Illinois city quitting its power provider over coal.

A new University of Michigan model shows that extreme temperature swings are reshaping the Great Lakes with big implications for ecosystems, industries and climate resilience.

How do you stop a few specific species from entering a river while maintaining access for all the others? FishPass aims to do just that.

More PFAS news with the EPA to update its stance on “forever chemicals,” while Wisconsin residents call for an end to partisan debate over pollution and remediation.

Explore the quantum shift in Chicago’s economy as it transforms the former U.S. Steel South Works site into a sustainable future.

Great Lakes aquaculture pioneers fight imports and regulations to build a sustainable, local seafood industry by creating jobs and restoring consumer trust.

Thanks to decades of catch-and-release fishing and shifting ecological factors, Lake St. Clair has become a world-class destination for smallmouth bass, just in time for the 2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite tournament.

More energy news as natural gas bans face off against industry challenges and a major power line loses a $4.9 billion federal loan commitment.

“We have an opossum Congress: it rolls over and plays dead instead of facing its aggressor,” says Chicago’s Cameron Davis.

In 1937, Max Nohl braved a freezing Lake Michigan, media pressure and searing pain in a record-breaking, live-broadcast scuba dive gone awry.

“The Riverwalk has transformed a previously industrial area into a vibrant and attractive waterfront, significantly improving Detroit’s image and perception both locally and nationally.”

More PFAS news as more than 400,000 residents in Illinois grapple with elevated “forever chemicals” in their drinking water, and two investigations reveal the status of PFAS in Canada.

From the greenways of Detroit to recent court battles in Toronto, cities across North America are trying to become more bike-friendly. What will it take to catch up to Amsterdam?

The Grand Portage Band’s team of biologists are keeping Lake Superior’s waters clean — while sounding the alarm on harmful algal blooms and climate-driven water threats.

The massive oil spill in the Kalamazoo River 15 years ago polluted the water and shoreline and left oil-coated wildlife.

Lake Champlain is more than 16 times smaller than Lake Ontario, the smallest Great Lake. But in 1998, Congress designated Lake Champlain as the sixth Great Lake, teeing off a historical and cultural fight over which lakes can really call themselves Great.

Kits that help people grow their own golden oyster mushrooms at home may be one reason this nonnative species is now spreading in the wild.

More energy news as Ohio’s Perry Nuclear Power Plant gets 20-year extension, and Canadian provinces strengthen energy independence while potentially curbing U.S. exports amid trade tensions.

Overfishing is a global concern that is easy to believe is happening in some far-off distant land by a few bad characters. But we all play a role.

More PFAS news as an Illinois “forever chemicals” bill awaits Gov. Pritzker’s signature, and a promising replacement for toxic firefighter foam could hit the market soon.

Amid a population crash of Michigan’s staple lake whitefish, fisheries experts told regulators that more research needs to be done to discover how to stem the scourge of invasive mussels. Without that, they said, efforts to limit fishing are futile.

The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition is exploring the connection between health and climate change, and wants to hear from the public.

As U.S. butterfly populations face declines, the John Ball Zoo has launched a program to save these insects in a race against extinction.

A court case pitting farmer against farmer in Iowa could decide the fate of wetlands nationwide.

Alliance for the Great Lakes calls for use of enforceable regulations to prevent toxic algal blooms. Michigan agency says the state has limited regulatory authority and defends the state’s actions.

Eight months past a federal deadline, more than 90 percent of at-risk Chicagoans haven’t been told their drinking water could be unsafe.

The Great Lakes piping plover recovery effort has been ongoing since the mid-1980s when the population got as low as a dozen nesting pairs. This year, the number reached 85 nesting pairs for the first time.

Excessive infrastructure spending, climate change and a strained regulatory system add costs for ratepayers, advocates say.

No matter where you live, a disaster can hit and change your life. This comprehensive toolkit can help you stay ready, informed, and supported.

The latest science on the link between climate change and natural disasters— and how they may be playing out where you live.

The latest science on the link between climate change and natural disasters — and how they may be playing out where you live.

The latest science on the link between climate change and natural disasters — and how they may be playing out where you live.

The latest science on the link between climate change and natural disasters — and how they may be playing out where you live.

Blue moon ice cream, this quintessentially Midwestern, bright blue dessert, is a mystery. No one can agree on what it tastes like, and no one with the info will say. We try to find out.

More energy news as Wisconsin becomes the latest state to board the nuclear power train and Michigan pauses disputed new energy efficiency standards for homes.

Michigan’s farm animal sanctuaries offer a contrast to industrial agriculture. Learn how their sustainable practices contribute to a healthier Great Lakes ecosystem and cleaner water.

It’s been 50 years since a freighter sank in the Great Lakes. But in the summer of 2024, one freighter came dangerously close.

Toxic emissions from plants in Sarnia have harmed Aamjiwnaang First Nation for decades. Documents obtained by The Narwhal show how Ontario abandoned plans that could have helped.

Tens of thousands of turkey vultures glide over the Detroit River, offering citizen scientists a surprising highlight of hawk migration season.

People on private wells in five Oneida County Townships may be offered free PFAS testing.

Strawberries are known as heart berries or ode’iminan in Ojibwemowin and they play a special role in our regional ecosystems.

The city with the most lead service lines in the country doesn’t plan to finish replacing them until 2076.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Duluth found the previously-undiscovered microorganisms hiding in the tar-like goo oozing out of a research vessel’s rudder shaft.

In early June, Michigan said it would pay out stipends to MI Healthy Climate Corps members who wanted to complete their terms, which last through mid-October.

Skip the screens with these low-effort foraging adventures that feel rich, fun and memory-worthy.

The blooms have become an annual problem in the Great Lakes. DNA studies show what’s growing there and why it’s dangerous.

More PFAS news as the Wisconsin Supreme Court sides with environmental regulators and Michigan AG finalizes paper mill settlement.

Sharon Day is enrolled in the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe and lives in Minnesota, where she is the executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force and leads several water walks each year.

The motorized Action Trackchair and the manual GRIT Freedom Chair are part of a larger effort to expand adaptive programming at Cleveland Metroparks.

The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging residents to report bat roosts. These are the places where bats sleep and raise their babies like chimneys, trees and bridges.

Extreme erosion along the Great Lakes coasts inspired proposals to pull development back from the shoreline. Five years later, regulatory gaps leave some communities vulnerable.

As the market for floatovoltaics explodes, scientists are studying how to make the systems also work for waterbirds and other organisms.

A freighter takes on water in Lake Superior and a lawsuit over farming on wetlands.

The review is a major step toward a permitting decision on the controversial proposal to build a tunnel underneath the Straits of Mackinac.

Few fish are as synonymous with Michigan as whitefish. Pushed to the edge by invasive species, their struggle is the tip of a cataclysmic species collapse that could change our way of life.

Researchers say the findings will help lead to better monitoring of blooms.

Ron Reimink knew how uncomfortable and annoying swimmer’s itch could be. He spent much of his adult life trying to eradicate it in lakes across northern Michigan. Then one day, he realized he was completely wrong.

More energy news as Meta reaches power purchase deal with Illinois nuclear plant and Green Bay finally has a plan for removing its iconic coal piles.

In nature, a lot can change on a largely uninhabited Great Lakes island over the course of a century. That includes the disappearance and appearance of wildlife species.

Volunteers and conservation groups and agencies are in the jack pine forests this week, counting the Kirtland’s warbler which almost went extinct in the 1980s because of loss of habitat.

Chicago-area Sun Metalon removes gunk and grime from metal slivers normally thrown away, helping to reduce emissions from aluminum and steel production.

Computing facilities require lots of water to operate, putting the burden of allocating resources on municipalities.

A new book traces the environmental collapse of a crucial ecosystem and how its return could fight climate change.

Congressional Republicans have introduced bills to delist wolves and bar court review of the decision.

The largest lake sturgeon spawning site in the Great Lakes is difficult for even the most skilled of divers to reach, let alone film.

Outdoor activities such as boating, off-roading, and even hiking can spread invasive species if precautions are not taken.

In a new book, archeologists who study past societies of the Great Lakes agree “you are what you eat,” but they say there’s a lot more to it than that.

A new state law will require utilities and regulators to explore advanced transmission technologies before pursuing conventional grid expansion projects.

Wisconsin might lose federal funding that supports state staff working to keep air, water and lands clean under proposed EPA budget cuts.

More PFAS news as Michigan lawmakers introduce their “Polluter Pay Package” and New York considers banning cookware containing PFAS.

Budget runs counter to new EPA mission statement that calls for “clean air, land and water for every American.”

Anglers are warned not to eat their catch from 98 Michigan waterbodies, up from 33 last year, after state officials revised their health guidance in light of growing evidence that PFAS is more toxic than previously thought.

A very round white throated sparrow is the heavyweight champion of the 2025 Wisconsin Fat Bird Week contest.

A new documentary explores the impact of microplastics in the Great Lakes.

A legacy of mining means that toxic metals could be carried along plumes of smoke.

This is the latest in a series of intense wildfire seasons in Canada — and smoky springs and summers in the Midwest.

The creators of the CLEANR filtration system says it can remove 90% of microplastics from the wash cycle. Studies show washing machines are a primary source of microplastic pollution.

Each summer, Lake Erie is plagued by toxic cyanobacterial blooms fed by phosphorus runoff from farm fields. Michigan is struggling to reduce the pollution by 40%.

Residents want to know if the area’s industrial past is tied to Marion County health department study findings.

More energy news with a Michigan coal plant ordered to stay open and Ohio’s new energy law bringing big changes.

The Army Corps says Line 5 project would pose short-term effects to surface water, as well as permanent wetland loss.

House Bill 15 forbids settlements to close or curtail ​“base load” power plants, which exclude renewables. The law may pave the way for future fossil-fuel subsidies.

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has revolutionized how lake sturgeon are raised.

Tom Farnquist is in the business of preserving underwater artifacts and displaying them in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. The problem is, a lot of those artifacts were technically stolen from the State of Michigan. And one day, the state notices.

A new trail system aims to connect eight states, communities and ecosystems along the world’s largest freshwater system.

Michigan issues air quality advisory due to smoke from wildfires in Canada’s Manitoba province, where 17,000 people are under evacuation orders.

Although legislators highlighted the law’s potential to spur ​“dispatchable” power like gas and nuclear, its tech-neutral incentives can benefit solar, too.

More PFAS news: Michigan lawmakers propose free testing for kids, while Illinois advises private well owners to test for contamination.

The state plans to build a barrier to keep out the carp. But first it has to deal with the legacy of pollution at the construction site.

As May’s cooler temperatures give way to summertime warmth in Michigan, the Great Lakes are slightly cooler than usual but warming. But where are Michigan’s warmest waters?

Intense rains caused manure runoff into several waterways, including the Kickapoo River.

Michigan, Ohio and Ontario failed to reduce the total phosphorus entering Lake Erie in 10 years. State officials and environmentalists are butting heads on where to go from here.

A new study shows the Great Lakes are vulnerable to more extreme temperature highs and lows over the decades due to climate change.

A powerful account of Ojibwe leaders Chief Blackstone and his son Bakindeghiizhik. A family legacy of challenging narratives and defending Anishinaabe rights.

Microplastics are an urgent issue in the Great Lakes. Learn what’s causing them, how it affects health and what you can do.

Business leaders want to export solutions to the world’s water problems.

More energy news as nuclear power keeps making headlines and Indiana’s consumer advocate disputes coal unit closures.

Decades of industrial pollution on Lake Superior has seen stretches of its shore deemed areas of environmental concern for both Canada and the U.S. A massive investment of time and money is letting nature return.

New research says Chicago and Detroit are at risk of sinking from things like groundwater extraction. Researcher says officials need to be more proactive.

Restoring a threatened fish species and a look at microplastics in the Great Lakes.

One of the poorest cities in Michigan has a proposed $3 billion data center as a potential lifeline — but environmentalists and locals warn of high costs to water, climate and community.

Lake sturgeon restoration efforts on Michigan’s Big Manistee River near Tippy Dam are a success, but tensions rise with salmon anglers as larger numbers of sturgeon return to spawn.

Use and safety of Roundup questioned in Michigan and Midwest.

Another day of high fire risk is expected across northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula today. Red Flag Warnings are issued when there are hot temperatures, very low humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels.

After Traci Lynn Martin’s mom died, she knew she couldn’t keep putting off her dream: Becoming the first person to kayak around the Great Lakes in one year.

Scent-tracking dogs Bronco, Juno, Argent and Rio, alongside their owners, spent the last four months searching for and removing spotted lanternfly egg masses before they hatch in May.

The new lock at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie is in the third phase of construction. The megaproject is over budget and funds to finish the lock are uncertain.

More PFAS news as a bipartisan PFAS task force forms and Illinois expands PFAS water system warnings.

Once ringed by polluting factories, Muskegon Lake has attracted a wealthier clientele to blue-collar Muskegon thanks to a taxpayer-funded cleanup. Cheers about the economic gains are mixed with fear that the lakeshore will become ‘a gated community.’

As cities invest in greener, more accessible transit, a key debate emerges: sleek light rail or cost-effective bus rapid transit? The answer may depend more on perception than performance.

Federal budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration could cause significant disruption in the efforts to restore and sustain fish populations in the Great Lakes.

Since 1970, U.S. cities have experienced increased hourly rainfall intensity, with the Great Lakes region being among the most affected areas.

Climate change, geopolitics, and business opportunities power a blue economy.

“It’s been a real boom, and a lot of people will say that the good ole days in bass fishing are now.”

Adam D’Angelo’s work includes planting an orchard in Spring Green this year to research and develop new varieties of the pawpaw fruit.

Access MI Solar offers discounts for projects — if enough people sign up.

The Great Lakes will likely see more wildfires, but Ojibwe land practices could reduce future risks.

More energy news as states sue over Trump’s wind energy freeze and a Bezos-backed startup picks Indiana for its first EV plant.

The Trump administration’s slashing of budgets and staff have Great Lakes scientists concerned that they have lost the ability to protect the public from toxic algal blooms, which can kill animals and sicken people.

Thousands of birders will flock to northwest Ohio for beloved warblers and many other winged-creatures big and small.

Examining some of the recent federal environmental cuts in metro Detroit, which serves as a microcosm for the Great Lakes region.

Minnesota and Wisconsin are rivals at just about everything. So when Wisconsin’s secretary of tourism claimed Wisconsin had more lakes than Minnesota, the embers of an age-old debate were stoked.

A new exhibit at the Cleveland Botanical Garden uses art to explore the healing power of nature and pathways it can provide to overcome grief and trauma.

The same debris that knocked out the power a few weeks ago could be used to make electricity.

Because prairies are vital habitat to pollinators and other wildlife, plus are beautiful in their own right, prairies are being restored. Occasionally, they need to be burned to survive.

Lake sturgeon have long been culturally significant and nutritionally important to First Nations in Ontario, but dams and commercial fishing have put them at risk.

Fishing licenses for the year are available, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has changed a few requirements.

As Trump’s policies threaten to raise utility bills, a new poll finds broad concern over costs — and little knowledge of the regulators that control rates.

It took 174 years to clean up the mess made by extractive industries at Chequamegon Bay, a place of cultural importance for the Ojibwe-Anishinaabeg.

Great Lakes Now host Anna Sysling moderated a panel discussion of avian researchers and regional experts about conservation efforts to protect a variety of bird species across the Great Lakes.

Some researchers are proposing a naturally sourced solution to the issue of coastal erosion.

Indigenous people have regained control of a sacred burial mound at Historic Fort Wayne dating back more than 1,000 years.

For International Dark Sky Week, learn about the health benefits of a night sky unobstructed by artificial light.

More PFAS news as a chemical disaster tracking tool goes dark and updated fish advisories are announced in Michigan and Minnesota.

For National Park week, Ian Solomon recounts his time visiting Isle Royale for a much-loved episode of Great Lakes Now.

Prescribed burns, intense rainfall and a look at the snow mobile industry.

A senator from Wisconsin was so inspired by his love of the Great Lakes region, that he became an advocate for the environment.

Invasive phragmites are taking over Ontario’s wetlands, choking out native plants and wildlife.‪ But a team of dedicated experts and community members are fighting back.

Filming freshwater fish takes a unique skill set and a lot of patience but offers photographers the rare opportunity of being the first in a world where seemingly everything has already been done.

Halima Afi Cassells is an award-winning interdisciplinary community-engaged artist, mom of three and avid gardener with deep roots in Waawiiyaataanong also known as Detroit, Michigan.

“We’ve never had this many fires in January and February ever in the state of Wisconsin.”

The federal review of the Line 5 tunnel project will be sped up through new emergency procedures under an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Jeffrey McNaught, owner of Edgewater Surf, hopes to reduce the amount of expanded polystyrene foam that ends up in landfills each year by converting it into surfboards.

More energy news as Trump orders galvanize coal supporters and Michigan reels from historic ice storm.

This spring break, transform your usual holiday into an educational excursion that connects your family with the natural world.

Researchers at ‪Michigan Technological University’s Great Lakes Research Center are mapping the lakebeds using cutting-edge technology.

When not writing for Planet Detroit, Ethan Bakuli is probably getting his hands dirty. Not long ago, that was the furthest thing from his mind.

With more ice storms expected in the decades ahead as the climate changes, utilities are trying to figure out how to be ready for the next ice storm.

Establishing the Robinson Treaties, covering land around Lake Huron and Lake Superior, created a mess of jurisdiction and rights for First Nations — both signed and unsigned.

Multimedia artist and fly fishing guide combines multiple areas of life to tackle multi-faceted environmental crises.

A notable proportion of the U.S. population relies on public forests for food and medicine, but the forest products industry is “not well served by institutions that set forest management policies.”

More PFAS news with bills in Illinois and Michigan that aim to protect residents from “forever chemicals.”

Cultural connection to the region allows EPA staff to bring value to the Great Lakes, former EPA executive Dave Ullrich says.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded thousands of projects to combat pollution and invasive species, receiving bipartisan support since its creation. But the future of the GLRI is uncertain.

Fifty-five years ago, autoworkers played a major role in the first Earth Day. Today, they remain committed to protecting the environment and supporting a just transition to clean, electric vehicles.

Inside cabins and yurts at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park there are log books. For more than 70 years, visitors have written in them. We went into this time capsule to see if people’s experiences had changed over the decades.

New York State Rep. Burke recently introduced the Great Lakes and State Waters Bill of Rights.

To aid in restoration across the state, the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative, comprising tribes indigenous to the Great Lakes region, state officials, and academic experts, created a stewardship plan.

Test your knowledge of aquatic species by taking this lighthearted quiz and tell us how you did in the comments!

More energy news with tribal nations quitting Line 5 talks and an oil spill near Lake Huron reportedly under control.

Great Lakes farms have become a hot spot for bird flu, killing millions of birds and raising fears of a human pandemic.

Ellie Hagen is a scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency. She worries proposed cuts at EPA will put people’s health at risk.

Political tensions are threatening the future of the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth.

The 1854 Treaty Authority is asking tribal sap harvesters to share the details of their 2025 season in an effort to examine climate impacts on sugar maples.

Last month’s federal staffing cuts and hiring freezes threatened the sea lamprey control program. Now, it has permission to rehire the staff it originally planned to.

Vivek Ramaswamy jokingly suggested renaming Lake Erie to Lake Ohio, sparking discussions on the history and impact of renaming places.

The tribes already had concerns about the process, but news that the Army Corps will likely fast-track the federal permit for the pipeline tunnel was “the final straw.”

More PFAS news on New York’s Plastic Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, and how septic systems might be responsible for “forever chemicals” in private wells.

Exploring how high speed rail could transform the Great Lakes region.

Michigan will retain more water quality protections than many states but could still be impacted by pollution from other states or changes to state law.

Fighting phragmites, lakebed mapping and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Penn State scientists found microplastics dating back to the 1950s buried in the sediments of a river, two creeks and a lake.

Rural residents are left holding the bills for everything from solar panels to grain dryers.

Two Minnesota nature enthusiasts have spent years chasing the state’s most elusive wildflowers. Their journey is now captured in their upcoming book.

How Africa’s Lake Victoria offers a glimpse of Lake Erie’s future.

Stone Temple Baptist Church was counting on the funds to plant trees in its community garden, which provides healthy options for the majority-Black community it serves.

A new program developed by The Ohio State University is working to put farmers first in agricultural research and practices.

More energy news with solar projects moving ahead in Illinois and Michigan, as Cleveland airport takes aim at emissions.

Nonprofit group that hunts for Great Lakes shipwrecks discovers the find of a lifetime.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians began an appeal of the decree in the fall of 2023.

All steelhead start life as rainbow trout, but not all rainbow trout will become steelhead. Confused? You’re not alone.

The Michigan DNR verified the existence of two cougar cubs on private land in Ontonagon County.

When a black bear in Minnesota woke up from hibernation in the middle of winter and attacked three people and a dog, researchers were left with one question: Why?

The airport wants to achieve a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning with standards set by Cleveland’s Climate Action Plan

More PFAS news with Illinois looking to pass more legislation protecting firefighters from astronomical cancer rates, and conflict continues in Wisconsin over cleanup.

The Great Lakes Compact, along with other binational agreements that protect the lakes, are at risk as Trump expands pressure on Canada beyond tariffs.

With the Trump administration prioritizing fossil fuels, cities and states will have to lead the way on clean energy.

Growing demand at parks comes as Trump administration looks to cut staff to manage them.

Research unveils a new theory about the origin of the Great Lakes, challenging what we know about their age and formation.

In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled to limit the EPA’s authority to issue broad water pollution permits under the Clean Water Act.

Bipartisan lawmakers want to incentivize nuclear energy research and development, arguing investments would make the state “ground zero” for the industry’s growth.

Ian Solomon travels to the north woods and experiences the charm of community events that embrace the winter season.

Northern states are depending on imported Canadian hydropower to clean up their grids. What happens now?

More energy news with Amazon requesting diesel generators for its Minnesota data center and updates on Michigan’s Palisades nuclear power plant.

As winter lingers with its blanket of snow, a subtle shift signals the coming of spring — maple syrup season has arrived.

Scientists in an Ann Arbor research office were among hundreds fired nationally as the Trump administration slashes staff within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Known for their aerial acrobatics, common terns are designated as a threatened species in Michigan.

This year’s winter has been a breath of fresh air for ice fishing enthusiasts and businesses around Lake Erie.

Learn about how the creation of the U.S.-Canada border divided Ojibwe communities, creating issues around citizenship and land rights.

When a sacred site is damaged after decades of pollution, who bears the responsibility for cleaning it up? And how do we know when the process is complete?

“We are losing an entire generation of talent and passion.”

Enbridge’s Line 5 and a Superior power plant are among projects deemed eligible for expedited review.

An update on the latest PFAS news, along with bills to watch in the Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania state legislatures.

The emerald ash borer has devastated North America’s ash trees, but some are fighting back.

Learn more about control efforts for sea lampreys, crucial to lake trout recovery, which face setbacks as federal cuts threaten progress, despite GLFC’s announcement of lake trout’s full rebound.

Many winter sports need heavy, wet snow to help build trails.That kind of snowfall has been largely missing from the Rhinelander area this winter.

The Department of Natural Resources is funding Nature Awaits, a program dedicated to hosting outdoor learning sessions for fourth grade classes at state parks.

Carl Gawboy, a Minnesota artist and Ojibwe scholar, explores the rich history of the fur trade in his book “Fur Trade Nation: An Ojibwe’s Graphic History.”

Fish and wildlife officials tasked with holding back a species that would otherwise decimate the Great Lakes fishery were among those caught up in a mass purge of federal workers.

The vice president once pushed for restoration funding. Advocates hope he hasn’t forgotten.

An assessment found that reopening the plant would have “no significant impact” on the local environment, but locals want a more thorough review.

A 54-inch water main rupture flooded streets and several hundred homes in Southwest Detroit, displacing families and causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure.

More energy news as federal funding for climate science faces cuts under Trump, while Ohio wrestles with “a supply and demand imbalance” on the electric grid.

Residents of Detroit’s Southwest neighborhood are facing flooded streets, basements and possibly lengthy stays in temporary shelters after a 54-inch water transmission main broke.

How trees are fighting back against the emerald ash borer and restoring a sacred lake.

Michigan advocate Laura Rubin reacts to the EPA’s five “pillars” plan that includes making the United States the “Artificial Intelligence Capital of the World.”

Erik Grams has been taking trips to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota for over 30 years. It’s his favorite place in the world. But last year, during a fishing trip, there was a fatal accident that left Erik wrestling with his feelings about the place he loved.

Hornyhead chubs have an interesting reproductive strategy which includes constructing stone nests with the precision of seasoned bricklayers.

We spent a day underwater to see how biological collection specialists are saving freshwater mussels one dive at a time.

How Trump’s trade policies might impact the automotive, energy and agricultural industries in the region.

After facing decades of pollution from industry in Sarnia, Ontario, Aamjiwnaang First Nation and the federal government are moving ahead with a plan to address the toxic legacy.

“Telling this story through something visual that beautifies a community is a great way to educate Toledo residents and reconnect them to nature in the place they call home.”

The DNR said daily high temperatures during 2024’s early hunt were consistently above 70 degrees, which hampered hunting.

More PFAS news with an update on Wisconsin’s frozen funding, and how federal freezes are impacting pollution grants.

Abdullatif Ahmed recalls his journey from Yemen to working on the icy waters of the Great Lakes, where Yemeni sailors shaped the region’s maritime history.

Michigan has spent $2.2 million out of $110 million it was promised for EV chargers under a program the Trump administration is now attempting to prevent more spending through.

Ice fishing anglers could help fill in a data gap on how thick the ice is.

Gov. Tony Evers is proposing more funding to clean up the persistent chemicals, while offering farmers more protections.

New grants to Great Lakes states to measure harmful chemicals in marginalized communities are facing uncertainty.

We took a look at efforts to manage the overpopulation of Canada geese.

From electric vehicles to renewable energy, Illinois is lagging — and it faces even more challenges.

Meta’s decision could open the floodgates to more climate misinformation on its apps, including misleading or out-of-context claims during disasters.

More energy news with updates on the Palisades nuclear plant, and a letter penned by executives at several Great Lakes power companies asks the EPA to loosen regulations on coal ash.

A proposed development in Indianapolis threatens to upend life for residents and the wildlife that call those thickets home by cutting down about 13 acres of trees in order to build 43 upscale houses.

Northwestern Michigan College officials say the challenge is essentially a pitch competition for those working on environmental and infrastructure issues facing the region.

Learn about Ojibwe culture’s deep connection to the bizhiw, or lynx, an important animal relative in the clan system, while exploring efforts by wildlife biologists to monitor and protect these animals.

Nearly extinct in the mid-20th century due to over-hunting, a whopping 280,000 Canada geese now live in Michigan.

The oxbow’s natural shoreline along the Rouge River, once eliminated for flood control, has been restored and transformed into a vital ecological and educational resource at The Henry Ford.

JustAir is a Detroit-based organization whose mission is to use data, technology and analysis to protect the 20,000 breaths each person takes every day.

Microplastics are everywhere. But after accidentally combining materials in a lab, scientists at the University of Michigan are on the cusp of discovering a new method to capture and remove microplastics from water.

After years of preparation, state officials have identified three river systems where they’ll reintroduce Arctic grayling to Michigan.

More PFAS news as Trump withdraws proposed limits on effluent pollution and remediation is underway in North Bay, Ontario.

Since 1937, Ducks Unlimited has led North America’s wetland conservation, driving one of history’s most impactful environmental conservation movements.

Mayor Joe Hogsett once targeted 2025 for universal curbside recycling.

The outgoing Democrat’s climate agenda was a surprising success — and a cautionary tale.

Discover how the button industry contributed to their decline, leaving these vital species critically endangered today.

As government sensors fall short, people are buying their own to protect against particulate pollution linked to heart and lung disease, cancer and a higher overall risk of premature death.

Beaver-inspired structures could limit flooding and benefit wildlife habitat, but state permitting is arduous.

The Great Lakes have lost an average of 14 days each decade between 1995-2023.

Recreational fishing is worth billions of dollars, but fewer billions than the amount cited for years.

The Trump administration promises to roll back clean energy incentives while the nuclear sector hangs on to its tenuous bipartisan support.

Love them or hate them, mudpuppies are critical to the survival of an unlikely federally endangered species.

Managing Canada geese, saving freshwater mussels, and an Ojibwe lens on the fur trade.

Are the Great Lakes truly saltwater and shark-free? Is Abe Lincoln responsible for Asian Carp?

The Doug Ford government is pushing for a prospecting rush across northern Ontario, leaving a blanket of mineral claims on land where First Nations are still fighting for title.

One calm September day, Big Abe LeBlanc set his fishing net in Lake Superior. Then he called law enforcement and turned himself in. What happened next changed fishing in the Great Lakes forever.

Following power plant closures and EPA intervention, Detroit and Downriver are seeing lower levels of SO2 pollution.

More PFAS news as study detects PFAS in wristbands, another correlates prescription drugs with “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

Wastewater industry rattled by toxic chemical contaminants in biosolids.

Political uncertainty in Canada and an unpredictable U.S. president could challenge Canada’s water sovereignty, says policy expert.

Twisters and other severe weather events are becoming more common in the Midwest due to climate change, and seniors are more at risk.

DNR pans to clear a little over half a square mile of forest for solar panels in Otsego County sparked a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers.

Spurred by industrial development, nations collaborating on testing, data collection and stewardship.

The amount of cargo moving through ports on the Great Lakes is trailing behind shipments at the same time last year as the shipping season nears its end.

Chicago to use 100% renewable energy for city-owned buildings, while the Pentagon blacklists a Chinese company working with Ford on EV batteries.

Ten years ago, scientists discovered ancient hunting camps beneath the lake. Now, DNA samples could produce more revelations about the prehistoric Great Lakes.

The report includes a number of accomplishments and jobs still ahead for improving the well-being of the people who drink, fish, and swim in the waters.

Creating a necklace of greenways and water trails throughout southeast Michigan.

In the middle of the total solar eclipse over Lake Ontario, something else kept grabbing Meghan Hetfield and her partner’s attention: the mystery of the squeaky sand all around them.

How a forager plans for sickness during the viral season — and her secret sauces for health.

Researchers detected increased radioactivity in mussels downstream of oil and gas wastewater discharge points, raising concerns about effects up the food chain.

To achieve its climate goals, the city helped finance the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi.

Michigan’s environment and energy future faced significant challenges in 2024, including Project 2025, potential data center expansion, DTE rate hikes, wildfires and campaign finance violations.

Northeast Ohio’s national park turned 50, but festivities will continue through the end of next year.

Kenny Pheasant first became a teacher of Anishinaabemowin at 14 years old. Now, it’s his life mission to get more people speaking the Great Lakes’ original and endangered language.

On the 134th Anniversary of Wounded Knee, columnist Staci Lola Drouillard reflects on all that’s happened and all that’s been lost, as it’s being recaptured through the vision of Anishinaabe painter, Rabbett Before Horses Strickland.

In partnership with Grist, a look at how northern Michigan’s famous industry is coping with a changing climate.

Numbers for walleye are down but up for perch with steelhead fishing soon in Cleveland — according to Ohio Division of Wildlife 2024 trawl survey.

As someone who has been working in environmental justice for almost 10 years, Cosme said it all began with trying to stop the water shutoffs in Detroit. 

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news.

Gray wolves could thrive in the eastern United States well beyond their current range in the Great Lakes region, but they might have a hard time reaching other suitable habitats.

An excerpt from the newly published book Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands.

If federal streamgages were bolstered by networks of cheaper monitors run by communities, the results could save lives.

Enbridge Energy says it is working with state DNR on remediation of contaminated soil.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I Speak for the Fish columnist Kathy Johnson creates a whimsical remix of the classic holiday jingle.

Landmark law encounters new problems, enduring challenges.

Democrats want to raise some fees by 50% or more and switch to an “opt-out” model for recreation passports.

Great Lakes Now Host Anna Sysling moderated a panel of clean energy researchers, journalists and industry experts.

Catch the latest Great Lakes PFAS news.

Researchers, companies and farmers are developing systems to control the flow of fertilizer chemicals in groundwater.

New book explores how the Great Lake’s ecosystem has shifted over the years, and how anthropogenic climate change is shattering its defenses.

Army Corps announces first construction contract for $1.15B project in Joliet, Illinois.

This is a tale of two cyclists, one legendary race, and an unlikely rivalry.

Great Lakes Now spoke with activists and experts on the legal and environmental justice concerns related to bottled water.

Industrial agriculture in the Upper Midwest has been a driving force behind wetland loss. The farm bill might hold a solution.

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, plans for a solar array on a closed mine were approved without much controversy

Oak trees in Michigan are being killed by oak wilt, a fungal infection that’s spread by a beetle in the spring and summer. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources advises pruning or trimming oaks in the fall and winter.

The search for a site to store toxic waste has ended just north of Lake Superior near Ignace, Ontario. With the town and local First Nation’s support, it now moves ahead to various stages of review.

As climate change increasingly shapes the region’s ecology, scientists plan to use underwater robots to gather previously inaccessible data they say will help communities adapt.

How a port that receives about 2.5 million tons of cargo is also a haven for birds at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways.

As a source of drinking water for millions of people, responding to freshwater spills requires confronting consequences beyond those in marine environments.

In Marquette County, a $145 million project promises to turn dangerous mining waste into valuable metals. Proponents hope it signals a new era of cleaner mining, but some are skeptical.

A look at “ghost streams” — the invisible buried rivers that flow beneath our feet.

Supporters say the billion-dollar federal investment will create green jobs and slash emissions, but opponents see a fossil fuel shell game.

The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide whether a mining company is required to examine how their proposed expansion will impact Lake Superior.

Detroit’s Poletown East residents turned a vacant lot into Circle Forest, a tree park offering a peaceful city retreat and encouraging nature enjoyment.

One minute David Holtfreter was kayaking on Lake Michigan, the next he was fighting for his life. A fisherman swam out to rescue him, but David wasn’t able to thank him in the commotion that followed.

Building a frog pond offers a variety of benefits and is a great way to connect with your local environment.

Michigan and other battleground states might have swung for Trump, but they elected environmentalists to U.S. Senate seats, too.

Assessments show as many or more fish as there were prior to an invasion of sea lamprey.

Catch the latest in Great Lakes energy news.

A lawsuit is challenging how the State of Michigan plans to approve big renewable energy projects.

We spoke with Tom Grotewohl, a resident of Wakefield Township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and founder of the Protect the Porkies campaign.

As winter sets in, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your year of foraging, plan for the coming seasons, and ensure your pantry is stocked and your health fortified.

Preparing for a Great Lakes oil spill and a look at buried rivers beneath our feet.

Canada and the U.S. are working together to stop a massive fish from gobbling up Great Lakes greenery.

Both states are working toward a 40% reduction goal set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So far, the efforts are not meeting the goals.

Tribal communities have played a critical role in lake sturgeon restoration efforts in the Great Lakes, yet their efforts are often overlooked and undervalued.

Residents can view proposed trails connecting county parks and leave thoughts and concerns.

The Energy Permitting Reform Act would make it easier to construct fossil fuel plants and electric transmission lines. Here’s what to know about the contentious energy bill.

As part of a waste diversion effort, more than 3 tons of pumpkin waste are being composted in Traverse City.

Wisconsin ski areas say they’re investing more in snowmaking to remain viable.