In the News

U.S. Senate Prepares to Take up Great Lakes and National Restoration Bills

A year ago, a group of organizations and individuals who work on restoration projects around the nation met in New Orleans, La. Why? To discuss forming a coalition to fight for federal dollars to restore our nation’s most important aquatic ecosystems. Now, the U.S. Senate is preparing to take up a host of bills that would jump-start restoration efforts across the country.

That’s great news—and reflects the subsequent efforts of the Great Waters Coalition and its members—including the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

The Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee was scheduled to hold a mark up on a package Read More » »

The Politics of Fishing: Blue or Red?

Fishing doesn’t belong to the red states or the blue sates, it is a true purple state issue and it is unconscionable that some are attempting to turn fishing into a partisan issue. An ESPN columnist and a couple conservative talk show hosts have been repeating a false rumor that President Obama wants to ban fishing in the United States.

Hitler’s propaganda genius Joseph Geobbels once said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” And this is one big fish tale that people are starting to believe because of a Read More » »

Halloween Land Carp Attack

Des Plaines, Illinois – A Des Plaines resident was dragged from her house and brutally chomped upon by a large Asian Carp on Halloween night.

“It was the scariest thing that ever happened to me,” said the frightened and wet resident. “I had heard the Jaws Theme playing in the back ground, but thought it was part of a child’s Halloween costume.”

Apparently, the unidentified young woman opened the door to the words trick-or-treat and then was pounced upon by the hefty Asian Carp. Experts speculate that the land carp escaped from the Des Plaines River during recent flooding. Read More » »

Clean Water Act Revamp?

After what is likely to become an award winning series on the failure of the Clean Water Act to meet its goals, the New York Times produced an editorial calling for some significant changes to the nearly 40-year-old act.

The editorial calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to better police the states. The states have the primary role to issue permits and enforce the law, but many appear to fail to take their job seriously. For instance, as one commenter writes, cities and towns are rarely held accountable for dumping tons of sewage into the Great Lakes and their tributaries. Read More » »

Great Lakes Play Big Role in Second City’s Revival

“Preservation of the Great Lakes is vital not only to the environment but also to the health of the cities that benefit from the waterfront,” Malone said.

Over 1,000 Tweeters follow Great Lakes restoration on Twitter

Are you into this “Twitter” business the kids (and John McCain) are all on about these days?

Yeah? Then follow us! You’ll join over 1,000 people getting updates from this blog, useful and interesting Great Lakes news items, and Congressional action alerts.

Not hip yet? It’s easy to get started – sign up and join the great conversation going on among us Great Lakes wonks.

Restoration is Zeitgeist

If there was ever a right time to build a national coalition comprised of America’s great water restoration efforts, it is now. Not only are our ecosystems in great peril, but also the political zeitgeist appears to be with us.

“I believe a national ecosystem coalition is an idea that’s time has come,” explained the former CEQ’s Associate Director for Natural Resources Bill Leary. Leary worked for the White House’s CEQ during the Clinton Administration and the first GW Bush Administration as well. It could be argued he has some insider knowledge and that is why it was so significant when Read More » »

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 18 – June 1, 2009

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 18 – June 1, 2009

Here is a selection of news items and blog regarding the Great Lakes in the last few weeks.

Great Lakes bats threatened by mysterious disease, Great Lakes Echo
Great Lakes Compact Diversion Proposal #2, Great Lakes Blogger
Great Lakes carriers voice doubts over emissions zone, Lloyd’s List
Public meeting about Great Lakes water levels, SooToday.com
Another invasive species enters Great Lakes,
Mich. group targets invasive garlic mustard, The Detroit News
Pipeline for Genesee County appears to have little initial opposition, mlive.com
Read More » »

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 11 – May 17, 2009

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 11 – May 17, 2009

Here is a selection of news items and blog regarding the Great Lakes in the last week.

Did we miss something? Let us know via the comments.

Great Lakes groups urge passage of Obama cleanup plan; cite jobs,environment benefits,The Great Lakes Echo
Congress pushed to OK Great Lakes aid Plan has $475M for restoration,Toledo Blade
Obama Following Through On Great Lakes Restoration,The Political Environment
Obama Wants $475 Million For Great Lakes Cleanup,The Huffington Post
And also on: Read More » »

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 4 – May 10, 2009

Great Lakes Around the Web – May 4 – May 10, 2009

Here is a selection of news items and blog regarding the Great Lakes in the last week.

Did we miss something? Let us know via the comments.

Healing Our Water-Great Lakes Coalition, Great Lakes Boating
Groups Applaud FY10 Budget Of $475 Million For Great Lakes, Great Lakes Environment
Coal shipments show Great Lakes’ impact outside region, Business North
Great Lakes draft study released early, UPI
EPA plans to cap cement plant mercury emissions; Industry says limit will push production, pollution abroad, Great Lakes Echo
Read More » »