IN THIS EPISODE:
In this episode of Great Lakes Now, fighting wildfires with centuries-old practices, why rainfall is getting more intense, and the story of snow mobiles, then and now.
When to Watch?
Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.
Wildfires are getting worse. Can an old technique help control them?
SEGMENT 1 | TWIN CITIES, MN; PESHTIGO, WI; CHICAGO, IL
Although wildfires are commonly associated with the West, the Great Lakes region has seen its share of destructive blazes. Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology, warns that we will likely see more wildfires due to heat waves and droughts caused by climate change.
Vern Northrup is a former fireman and is a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe. He says that the Ojibwe have long recognized the importance of fire in forest management. Could their practices and land management strategies help curb the risk of future wildfires?
Intense rainfall means more floods. What can we do?
SEGMENT 2 | GREAT LAKES WATERSHED
Who Invented Snowmobiles? And Why Aren’t They Selling?
SEGMENT 3 | GREAT LAKES WATERSHED
A century ago, Carl Eliason from Sayner, Wisconsin, combined a motor, engine, and snow skis to create the first modern snowmobile. Originally called the Eliason Motor Toboggan, his invention gave rise to an entire powersports market. His granddaughter, Jona Eliason, shares his story and the impact of his creation.
While many in the Great Lakes region look forward to riding every winter, recent years have seen a decline in demand for snowmobiles. Two manufacturers, Arctic Cat and Yamaha, have gotten out of the business entirely. Michigan Public’s Tyler Scott explores the recent struggles of the snowmobile industry and hobby.
On April 24, 2025, it was announced that former Arctic Cat executive Brad Darling, along with an investment group, purchased Arctic Cat with the intention of continuing snowmobile manufacturing. Lakeland PBS covered the story here: https://lptv.org/textron-sells-trf-based-arctic-cat-to-former-executive-investment-group/
Battling Invaders and Exploring Hidden Habitats
Fighting phragmites, lakebed mapping and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Killer Trees and Sacred Waters
How trees are fighting back against the emerald ash borer and restoring a sacred lake.
Too Many Geese and Not Enough Mussels
Managing Canada geese, saving freshwater mussels, and an Ojibwe lens on the fur trade.
Oil Spills and Buried Rivers
Preparing for a Great Lakes oil spill and a look at buried rivers beneath our feet.
Freighters on the Move
Freighter food, mail delivery, and the life of a Great Lakes freighter pilot.
Deep Dives and Rising Waters
The future of rising lake levels, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and the secret lives of fish.
Old Boats and New Adventures
Heritage sailing on Lake Huron and a historic passenger ship returns to its former glory.
Protecting the Lakes from Pollution
Updates on Lake Erie algal blooms, Flint’s water, and coal ash regulation.
Reef Rescue and Wild Edibles
Cleaning up toxins caused by copper mining, and foraging for Great Lakes wild foods.
Saving Whitefish and Navigating Niagara
Teaching Lake Whitefish to thrive and getting up close at Niagara Falls.
Warming Waters and Mutant Crayfish
Sounding the alarm on an invasive crustacean and rising temperatures in Lake Superior.
Ski Slopes and Saunas
A skier’s paradise on Lake Superior shores, Great Lakes sauna culture and more.
Big Fish and Gray Skies
Great Lakes muskellunge, optimizing solar panels for snow, and another short winter.
Featured Articles
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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.
Will Congress and the President approve money to finish the Soo Lock expansion?
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.
EPA Outlines New PFAS Strategy Amid Expert Concerns
More PFAS news as a bipartisan PFAS task force forms and Illinois expands PFAS water system warnings.
An $80M cleanup made Muskegon Lake trendy. Will ‘eco-gentrification’ follow?
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.’
Buses vs. Trains: The Future of Public Transit in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Keeping the $5.5 billion Great Lakes fishery afloat as Trump administration considers cuts
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.
Intense rainfall means more floods. What can we do?
Since 1970, U.S. cities have experienced increased hourly rainfall intensity, with the Great Lakes region being among the most affected areas.
Water determines Great Lakes region’s economic future
Climate change, geopolitics, and business opportunities power a blue economy.
Why smallmouth bass are getting bigger in Michigan waterways
“It’s been a real boom, and a lot of people will say that the good ole days in bass fishing are now.”
One man’s quest to bring more of North America’s largest native fruit, the pawpaw, to Wisconsin
Adam D’Angelo’s work includes planting an orchard in Spring Green this year to research and develop new varieties of the pawpaw fruit.