IN THIS EPISODE:
In this episode of Great Lakes Now, looking at a homegrown method of restoring a threatened Great Lakes fish species, and a new documentary highlights the problem of microplastics in the Great Lakes.
When to Watch?
Check your local station for when Great Lakes Now is on in your area.
How are science and tradition saving sturgeon?
SEGMENT 1 | MANISTEE, MICHIGAN; SHAWANO, WISCONSIN
When the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee, MI, decided to start a lake sturgeon restoration program, they started by hiring two recently graduated fisheries research biologists to help them set it up.
“I remember getting there and realizing that the scientific knowledge that I had was only a piece,” fisheries biologist Marty Holtgren said.
Because many of the standard scientific practices of the time conflicted with the Tribe’s cultural beliefs, the Tribe challenged the restoration team to come up with alternative ways of helping the Big Manistee River Nmé (lake sturgeon.) Their inventive solution has revolutionizing how lake sturgeon are raised in the Great Lakes.
Streamside hatcheries are now the lead method for lake sturgeon restoration in the Great Lakes, with 14 facilities operating across the basin.
How much plastic is in the Great Lakes?
SEGMENT 2 | TORONTO, ONTARIO; ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
Microplastics are turning up everywhere, including our water, our food, and even our bodies. And the Great Lakes are no exception.
Ripples of Plastic is a documentary from Ohio filmmakers Chris Langer and Josh Heese that investigates how plastic pollution is making its way into the largest freshwater system in the world.
The film follows researchers, scientists, and community advocates as they work to understand the scope of the plastic problem in the lakes. Along the way, they uncover how these particles affect fish, birds, ecosystems, and the people who depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water, recreation, and livelihoods.
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.
Featured Articles
Research pinpoints type of blue-green algae that may produce toxins in Lake Superior estuary
Researchers say the findings will help lead to better monitoring of blooms.
Points North: Scratching the right itch
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.
Consumers Energy in negotiations to sell its aging Michigan dams
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.
Wildlife changes found on Lake Huron island
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.