IN THIS EPISODE:
In this episode of Great Lakes Now, “Oil Spills and Buried Rivers,” learn about how researchers are preparing for an oil spill in the Great Lakes, and then a look at “ghost streams” — the invisible buried rivers that flow beneath our feet.
When to Watch?
Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.
What happens if there’s an oil spill in the Great Lakes?
SEGMENT 2 | CHEBOYGAN, MI; ST. IGNACE, MI; MUSKEGON, MI; ANN ARBOR, MI; DETROIT, MI; SAULT STE. MARIE, MI
In September, 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard was in the Straits of Mackinac along with partners from the US Navy and specialists in spill response, testing their oil spill preparedness in the event of a worst case scenario.
This exercise isn’t just about equipment. It’s about rethinking response strategies and exploring what’s at stake in a freshwater spill, where threats are unique and the stakes high.
Most spills happen in saltwater, so the skills and experience needed to respond in a freshwater environment are thin by comparison. And unlike the ocean, the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water for millions of people.
Lost Ships and Newsworthy Trees
Explore shipwreck sanctuaries and a forest that fueled a media empire.
Casting Lines and Listening In
Researchers eavesdrop on forests, fishing for lake trout and the rights of nature.
Rescuing Freighters and Busting Swamps
A freighter takes on water in Lake Superior and a lawsuit over farming on wetlands.
Sturgeon Streams and Plastic Pollution
Restoring a threatened fish species and a look at microplastics in the Great Lakes.
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.
Featured Articles
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Ontario is subsidizing an energy project in Georgian Bay despite expert advice
An internal memo from Ontario’s electricity system operator outlines concerns with TC Energy’s large pumped storage proposal in Meaford, including cost overruns and an inability to meet short-term energy needs.
Sludge is used as fertilizer across Wisconsin. How much is tainted by PFAS?
Sludge and septage are spread across around half a million acres statewide, but most of it has never been tested for PFAS.
Illinois one step closer to keeping invasive carp out of Great Lakes
For decades, officials have worried the fish could wreak disaster on the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem and the multibillion-dollar tourism, boating and fishing industries that rely on it. Now, the fight might be getting easier.