The Environment Report - Delta College Public Radio

Small oil spills happen often on the Great Lakes, and their ecological effects are largely unstudied. Are you thinking of snow yet? Think microplastics. And Michigan’s water infrastructure needs fixing. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

New research tied to the Great Lakes suggests microplastics may be ending up in the parts of fish that people eat, Michigan is investing in what some see as the next generation of carbon-free electricity, and forecasters say this winter will be strongly influenced by El Niño. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Lake sturgeon may live much longer than believed, Bay City is better equipped to adapt to changing conditions and recover from disasters, and disposable e-cigarette devices are creating a serious solid‑waste problem. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Which Great Lake has the most beaches? "Leaf" space for wildlife this fall. And where are fall colors peaking right now? For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Bay City’s sister is using goats to fight invasive species. Welcome to fall, which officially began this week. More than 100 coastal resilience projects are in place across the Great Lakes basin. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Teachers who have questions about our changing climate may want to check out an online resource at Climate.us. Michigan’s only native grasshopper is rare. But one was found in a nature sanctuary in Roscommon County. What was Lake Huron like 2.5 billion years ago? Researchers and online viewers got a peek this week. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

In the future, there may be air quality alerts for harmful algal blooms, just like the warnings issued for wildfire smoke. The State of the Bay conference is Oct. 7 at the Doubletree in downtown Bay City. And Bay City recycling has hit a milestone. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Boaters and others who use water level tools to measure the Great Lakes rely on an official reference point called the Great Lakes Datum. Fish, maps and other topics are on tap for the Fall Lecture Series at the Bay City State Park in Bangor Township. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Data centers are on the minds of the Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers, Sept. 19 is the biggest day for Adopt-a-Beach action, plastics are one of the top finds during beach cleanups. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

July 2026 was the warmest month on record for the contiguous United States, four local foundations are supporting a new Lake Huron Environmental Research Center near Saginaw Bay, and Michigan is home to a rare rattlesnake called the eastern massasauga. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

A Michigan study funded by NASA aims to help people better protect themselves from wildfire smoke, changes are coming to managed hunting operations at state wildlife game areas, and there are ten times more orchids of a rare variety than previously known. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The Green Energy Neighbors program connects homeowners considering efficiency and energy improvements with people who have already made them. Nearly 100 parcels are going to auction in August, including river and lake frontage, and forested land. Former members of climate.gov have started climate.us. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/ More information: https://mrgreatlakes.com/

The Surfrider Foundation has dubbed July 5 as the Dirtiest Beach Day of the Year, a recent Huffington Post story rounds up "The Rudest Things You Can Do At The Beach," and Audubon Great Lakes is cheering about money for wetlands in Michigan’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget. For more information: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

See how the Great Lakes influence local weather and regional climate. At last check, Bay County hasn't had any reported summer bat roosts this year. And solar is seeing a summer surge. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/ More from Mr. Great Lakes: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Great Lakes Observing System: http://glos.org/ Michigan Bat Roost Monitoring Program: https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/programs/michigan-bat-roost-monitoring-program

Walleye is now the most-harvested species in the Great Lakes and some beach safety tips as we head into summer. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The Callery pear tree is among six species added to Michigan’s official list of invasive plants and World Otter Day was celebrated this week. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The U.S. Coast Guard is using autonomous Saildrones on the Great Lakes. As gas prices rise, so do electric vehicle sales. Beach wellness is a couple of weeks away. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Michigan United Conservation Clubs is being dissolved after nearly 90 years of advocacy. AI may be a crystal ball for weather forecasting. Pink salmon may be on the dinner menu but they’re also considered invasive in the Great Lakes. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Michigan needs a lot more dam investment. Macroinvertebrates like dragonfly and mayfly larvae are key indicators of stream health. More information: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Sustainability in the Great Lakes region just received a $45 million boost and fishery workshops are scheduled for April. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

New agreements between Michigan utilities and advocates will lower energy bills and invest in home improvements. A Battery Circularity Program aims to improve how batteries are collected, recycled and reprocessed across the state. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis says in a recent bulletin that “blistering pace of the buildout of solar and battery storage” appears set to continue for at least the next two years in the United States. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

What are the top five priorities for the Great Lakes? The Michigan Clean Water Corps is looking for volunteers. Midland Township and eight other communities will host solar power and battery storage projects to advance clean energy. For more information: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

A binational report card is out for Lake Huron. Nine Michigan airports are receiving money from the state to deal with PFAS contamination. You and three of your friends can be lighthouse keepers. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

If current demand continues, data centers will drive up emissions and electricity costs. Michigan drafted a 10-year-plan to grow Michigan’s maritime industry. An online tool built by the Great Lakes Commission tracks major Great Lakes and clean water-related projects. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

To improve water supply predictions, researchers have developed the Great Lakes NBS Predictor. The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association says it’s continuing a Solarize program this year. Michigan has a goal of reaching a 30% recycling rate for residents by 2029. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Saginaw Bay is mentioned in a recent State of the Great Lakes Report and the Global Challenges Foundation has a list of the five biggest risks facing humanity. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Listeners of this segment helped it win Science Podcast of the Year for 2025 at the Lakies. There’s no winter or holiday break in the fight against invasive species. The Alliance for the Great Lakes offers training in environmental advocacy. Learn more: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Some tips on cardboard recycling, a citizen science project, and efforts to remove invasive lampreys. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Some Christmas tree factoids and way to count this winter's snowfall. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

New research offers a simple solution to a widespread pollution problem, the AuSable River Scenic Preserve is in the hands of Oscoda Charter Township, and the federal government is back open and newly updated Michigan energy facts are out. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Environmental groups are celebrating a state decision regarding fertilizers used by large-scale farms, climate change is causing fish to shrink, and Lake Huron shipwrecks are helping advance AI. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Michigan State University is studying the benefits of solar panels on farmland, a new documentary follows baby sturgeon released into the Saginaw River system, and a newly constructed reef in the Saginaw Bay is poised to increase fish habitat. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Climate change could be driving people to move to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Fall colors are peaking in some areas of Michigan and growing in others. And Bay City has been added to an international Initiative for Resilient Great Lakes Coasts. For more visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast and others like it: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

A grant is aimed at ensuring "that fact-based science is shaping decisions that protect the Great Lakes." Wetlands will see some protections in the new state budget. And renewable energy and distributed generation continues to grow in Michigan. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Help support this podcast and others like it: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Bay City is a featured port on a Great Lakes cruise marketing program and Michigan is planning a Lake Huron flooding resilience study. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Fall colors are showing up across Michigan. A rare bird is among the first examples of a climate change species. Beach season is over, but E. coli bacteria is still a concern. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Happy anniversary to the Pollution Emergency Alerting System, aka PEAS. Hampton Township is among eight communities sharing almost $2 million in awards to support renewable energy projects. It turns out muskrats are pretty good at battling invasive species. For more, visit: https://mrgreatlakes.com/ Support Delta College Public Radio: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Exotic mushrooms are invading Michigan and pushing out native fungi, more baby lake sturgeon will soon be swimming in the Saginaw River system, and the clock is ticking on federal clean energy tax credits. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Volunteers are needed for a stream sampling event that uses tiny animals to assess water quality in the Cedar River. Wednesday, Aug. 27, was officially the first-ever World Lake Day, as declared by the United Nations. And range anxiety is a real concern for folks considering an electric vehicle. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

At least 30 beach cleanups are planned in Michigan next month. A 57-pound invasive carp was found in Lake Huron. This summer is shaping up to rival 2023 for air quality alerts in Michigan. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Big batteries are going in at Consumers Energy sites in Hampton and Oscoda townships. Close to 19 million fish have been stocked to rivers and lakes in Michigan this year. Federal scientists are testing a new method for keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

This month, the Lake Guardian began its annual summer water quality survey of the Great Lakes. A $35 million Septic Replacement Loan Program helps Michigan homeowners with the high costs of repairing or replacing failing septic systems. Hundreds of baby sturgeon are coming to the Saginaw Bay watershed. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Bay City celebrates the 30th annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl & Outdoor Festival, the once-endangered Kirtland’s warbler isn’t doing so well these days, and lawmakers advocating for the Great Lakes have a new statistics hub. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Harmful algal blooms pose a serious danger to dogs at the beach, Lake whitefish are crashing in Lakes Michigan and Huron, and more than a dozen leading scientists released a report highlighting climate change impacts on the Great Lakes region. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Lake Huron is expected to rise by an inch over the next month. The Michigan Clean Water Corps is hosting its first-ever statewide aquatic invasive species BioBlitz from June 28-July 6. The Saginaw Bay Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is offering free kits to build spotted lanternfly traps. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Local conservation and education efforts are getting a boost from the state. The Great Lakes Stormwater Collaborative is putting on a summer webinar series about stormwater management. The first is June 24. A great day at the beach can be spoiled by pollution. The state has launched an enhanced version of BeachGuard online notification system for closures and advisories. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Sea lamprey control is planned for a Lake Huron tributary. Pinconning-based Serafin Fish Co. has been issued a commercial fishing license for lake whitefish in southern Lake Huron from the port of Harbor Beach. It’s that time of year. University researchers want to know how you feel about ice. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet is pushing for federal funding to expand access to safe, clean drinking water in mid-Michigan. Little Forks Conservancy recently hosted another Cedar River Stream Sampling event, engaging volunteers in collecting valuable data to monitor the health of the watershed. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Climate change is making Michigan summers more dangerous for pregnant women, more than 27 million trees were planted across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region last year, and the nonprofit Conservation Fund is supporting projects that bring green space into Michigan neighborhoods. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/

Michigan’s recycling rate reached a new high for the fourth year in a row. Permeable pavement can reduce stormwater runoff by up to 19%, a recent study says. Low-carbon energy sources provided nearly 41% of the world’s electricity in 2024. For more, visit https://mrgreatlakes.com/