great lakes

As climate change exacerbates wildfires out west, it could mean longer-term change for Michigan. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the story.

Most of you have probably seen pictures of the vast amount of garbage and plastics found in the world’s oceans. There are also dangerous pollutants you can’t see, and they are found all through the Great Lakes' ecosystem. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak dive into the problem of microplastics with Haley Dalian, the Great Lakes Regional Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program.

It’s that time of year, but each year, it seems to come a little earlier. Toxic algae blooms are starting to cover Lake Erie earlier than usual this summer. This year’s blooms are also expected to be bigger than last summer. WEMU's David Fair takes a look at the impacts of climate change on the blooms in Lake Erie with Dr. Richard Stumpf from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Engineers aim to keep invasive species out of the Great Lakes. Colin Jackson has more on an agreement between Michigan, Illinois, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says restarting a nuclear plant in southwest Michigan is necessary to reaching her goal of generating all the state’s electricity without burning fossil fuels. We have more from Rick Pluta.

A federal appeals court heard arguments Thursday on whether the Michigan’s efforts to shut down Enbridge Line 5 belong in a state or federal court. We have more from Rick Pluta.

The U.S. Department of Defense is finally going to take meaningful action to protect Lake Huron from PFAS contamination emanating from the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda. This action in Michigan may serve as a template for clean-ups at nearly 400 other bases across the country. The progress can be attributed to the efforts of concerned Michigan residents. Tony Spaniola is an Oscoda resident and co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. He joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak to discuss the latest information and what comes next.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative fights for funding every budget cycle. A potential government shutdown this year could have adverse impacts on the health of the world's largest fresh water supply. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak discuss progress and challenges with Laura Rubin. She is the director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

You may have noticed that winters in Michigan are changing. That will continue. WEMU's David Fair spoke with University of Michigan professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, Dr. Richard Rood, about our climate future and the need for greater emphasis on adaptation.

In the coming decades, experts say the impacts of climate change could lead to more people moving to the Great Lakes region to escape extreme weather. WEMU's Josh Hakala has more.