GLIN

The Great Lakes have crossed the halfway point in ice cover. Combined, they are 54.36% covered in ice as of Thursday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press. View the full article

According to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, despite freezing cold temperatures, thick ice has not formed near the caves on Lake Superior. Read the full story by WCCO-TV – Minneapolis, MN. View the full article

The Ohio Controlling Board set aside funding for continued improvements to the Mentor Headlands State Park, following completion of the boardwalk last year. Read the full story by the Plain Dealer. View the full article

A group of determined Upper Peninsula Michiganders are being commended for their efforts to save an injured bald eagle on Lake Superior, which appeared to have a broken wing. Read the full story by MLive. View the full article

More than a year into the new administration, the White House has yet to announce its nominees for the International Joint Commission, the bi-national organization that manages water levels in the Great Lakes. Read the full story by the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. View the full article

Eleven shutoff valves and new piping are being installed this week in Greece, New York, which officials hope will prevent the overflowing of ponds along Lake Ontario, should the floodwater rise again. Read the full story by Democrat & Chronicle. View the full article

According to the preliminary results of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Open Lake Fishing Boat Survey for 2017, the Chinook salmon catch rate per angler hour off a charter boat was the highest in the 32-year history of the census. Read the full story by the Buffalo News. View the full article

The drop in Flint, Michigan reading proficiency can may be partially attributable to higher standards and a new, more difficult exam, but Michigan Superintendent of Education says that doesn’t explain it all, and that some of the drop could be due to lead poisoning and stress from the ongoing water crisis. Read the full story by the Detroit Free Press. View the full article

One of the good things that could emerge from a regional water compact involving Toledo and its surrounding suburbs would be the untangling of a spaghetti of water contracts that are different in every community. Read the full story in the Toledo Blade. View the full article

A new study shows that lake trout eat whatever is available, meaning they don’t always compete for food with species like the Chinook salmon. Read the full story by Great Lakes Echo. View the full article

Supporters say the PolyMet project, which will mine 32,000 tons of rock daily and employ about 300 people, will help diversify a regional economy that has been tied the cyclical iron mining industry for a century. Read the full story by the Duluth News Tribune. View the full article

An advisory board with the International Joint Commission says the U.S. and Canada should do more to keep nutrient pollution out of Lake Erie. Read the full story by Michigan Public Radio. View the full article

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan, has joined 17 colleagues in requesting sufficient funding for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study to address such issues as high water levels and erosion that threaten communities and commerce. Read the full story by the Herald-Palladium. View the full article

There will be more boots on the ground and at the water’s edge in an ongoing fight to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes following a recent Canadian federal government commitment of $20 million over the next five years. Read the full story by the Windsor Star. View the full article

Michigan is playing a big role in developing the technology for autonomous vehicles. But what about autonomous vessels on the lakes? Read the full story by Michigan Radio. View the full article

The Nature Conservancy of Canada announced the purchase of a 25-hectare wetland in the St. Lawrence River just west of Trois-Rivières, Québec, a team effort by the provincial and federal governments, conservation groups and the United States. Read the full story by CBC News. View the full article

2017 saw the departures of several Great Lakes leaders in non-profit and government positions. New experts and lawmakers will take the reins in 2018 to help protect the five lakes in the coming years, and, by all accounts, they have a tough job ahead of them. Read the full story by Great Lakes Now. View the full article

In Sarnia, Ontario, residents are worried about safety at Bright’s Grove Beach with the increase of motorboat congestion, and are asking for actions to be taken by the city to reduce the risk for swimmers. Read the full story by the Sarnia Observer. View the full article

One little-considered but significant impact of stamp sands, coarse sands left over from the processing of ore in a stamp mill, is the change the migrating sands can cause to shoreline wave action. Read the full story by The Daily Mining Gazette. View the full article

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a study to coordinate a strategy across the Great Lakes states to efficiently and effectively manage and protect the Great Lakes coastline. Read the full story by the Clarence Bee. View the full article

Residents of Berrien County, Michigan, are seeking beach replenishment and the installation of underwater seawalls in Lake Michigan to protect their homes from erosion, at an estimated cost of $22 million. Read the full story by The Herald-Palladium. View the full article

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore quarter will be the 41st release in the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program and will feature one of the lakeshore’s most iconic views. Read the full story by The Daily Telegram. View the full article

News Ann Arbor, Mich. – A coalition of Great Lakes states, agriculture, water utility and conservation leaders today released a joint statement to Congress highlighting program priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill to protect the region’s soil, drinking water and wildlife while promoting a strong farm economy. The statement calls on Congress to increase funding and implement policy reforms to improve working lands, easement, habitat restoration, and invasive species control programs; expand conservation technical assistance to promote the adoption of successful practices to protect water quality, increase productivity and conserve valuable wildlife habitat; and strengthen methods for demonstrating conservation success, improve research, and support state certification programs. “Everyone agrees that protecting and restoring the Great Lakes and safeguarding our drinking water are critically important. To do so, agriculture and conservation groups must continue to work together,” said John Linc Stine, chair of the Great Lakes Commission and commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “We’re excited to present these joint Farm Bill program priorities to Congress and urge them to protect the environment, economy and drinking water in the Great Lakes region.” “AWWA believes the Farm Bill reauthorization provides a perfect opportunity to better protect sources of drinking water by encouraging partnerships between water utilities and agricultural producers,” said Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director of government affairs. “Farmers in the Great Lakes region care deeply about being good stewards of their farms and water quality,” said Laura A. Campbell, agriculture ecology department manager at the Michigan Farm Bureau. “Conservation programs under the Farm Bill help them achieve those goals, so we support Farm Bill funding for the technical and financial assistance farmers need for success. We appreciate the partnership the Great Lakes Commission provides on this effort, bringing people together under the common goal of supporting both healthy farm communities and healthy environments.” “The Farm Bill is one of the most important federal policies affecting agricultural conservation here in the Great Lakes region and across the country.” said Marc Smith, director of conservation partnerships with National Wildlife Federation. “We look forward to working together on a new Farm Bill that includes strong provisions for wildlife, clean water and soil health.” “The 2018 Farm Bill provides us with an incredible opportunity to strengthen agricultural conservation practices in Ohio and in the Great Lakes region,” said Peter Bucher, water resources director of the Ohio Environmental Council. “To reach our 40 percent phosphorus reduction agreement for Lake Erie by 2025 we have to see the bar set higher every year.” “Site-specific 4R nutrient stewardship practices are a critical part of environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity,” said Chris Jahn, president of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). “The Great Lakes are a national treasure, and we urge Congress to use this Farm Bill to ensure that farmers have the tools to produce an abundant food supply while protecting soil, water and air resources.” The statement is endorsed by the Great Lakes Commission, American Water Works Association, Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Farm Bureau, National Wildlife Federation, Ohio Environmental Council, and The Fertilizer Institute. The full text of the statement is available here. ← Previous news release The Great Lakes Commission, led by chairman John Linc Stine, commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors’ appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Learn more at www.glc.org. Contact For questions or media inquiries, please contact Beth Wanamaker, [email protected]. Recent GLC News Coalition of states, agriculture, water utility, and conservation groups urge Congress to include Great Lakes priorities in new Farm Bill Blue Accounting launches major effort to protect sources of drinking water in the Great Lakes region HABs Collaboratory kicks off 2018 by highlighting the science behind keeping Great Lakes water clean Grants available for volunteer efforts to clean Michigan’s waters Upcoming GLC Events 2018 Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting and Great Lakes Day March 6 - March 8 2018 Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting October 2 - October 3 View GLC Calendar > View the full article

The fish population in Lake Ontario got a big boost on Wednesday when 100,000 walleye fingerlings were released into the water in Toronto, Ontario. View the full article

The Wisconsin DNR is working to update its management plan for fisheries on Lake Superior, which hasn't been updated since 1988. View the full article