Chicago Wilderness

A coalition in the Chicago area is putting together a unique plan to
make the most of the remnants of the forests, prairies, sand dune
beaches, and other natural areas. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s
Lester Graham reports that other large cities are watching to see if
Chicago is successful in bringing back native plants and animals to a
largely urban area:

Great Lakes Fishing Industry Remembered

Like many Great Lakes harbor towns, the days of busy fishing villages
on the waters of Lake Superior are gone. Now these towns are mere
shadows of their heyday, and only a handful of commercial fishing boats
still cast their nets. Pressures from sport anglers and exotic species
have dramatically changed the industry over the past four decades. The
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike Simonson examines how these towns
are trying to rediscover that history:

New Invasive Species Found

A new exotic species is invading the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports that this new invader has been causing problems for anglers:

The Prairie Pioneer

For almost forty years, Dr. Robert Betz searched the railroad tracks and
back roads of the Midwest for remnants of the nearly extinct tall-grass
prairie. Along the way, he helped define and popularize a new
environmental movement on the rise throughout the Great Lakes and the
country—a movement called ecological restoration. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Alex Blumberg has this report:

Screening Out Exotics

Efforts to find new technology to stop the spread of exotic speciesentering the Great Lakes continue, even as some worry that a virus-basedthreat could make its way here. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s MikeSimonson has more:

Global Warming in the Peatlands

President Clinton has said this summer’s record breaking heat is evidence of global warming, and he blasted congress for ignoring the problem. Most scientists are firmly convinced that global warming is already underway, but there is still some scientific uncertainty about what effects it might have. Around the world, scientists are looking for answers. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie Hemphill reports on one research project now underway:

Beetle Infestation Spreads

A recent discovery of the Asian long horned beetle has caused entomologistsin the Chicago area to declare an outbreak. That worries officials that thetree killing bug could make it’s way into other parts of the Great LakesRegion. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tom Scheck reports:

Policing Ballast Water

Controlling exotic species in the Great Lakes hasn’t been easy. Scientists have been unable to slow the spread of things like the zebra mussel. But they still have a chance to prevent other non-native species from infesting Great Lake waters. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel reports on a potential breakthrough: