The first annual Keepers of the Water Festival will be held on June 21st at Algonac (AL-gun-ack) State Park near Lake St. Clair in Michigan. Its goal is to encourage better stewardship of the Great Lakes. It’s expected to draw participants from all over the region. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tracy Samilton reports:
Tag: ann arbor
Groups Gather to Discuss Alvar Protection
This week (week of June 8th), an international group of scientists, policy-makers, and conservationists will gather in Tobermory (TOE-burr-mor-ee), Ontario to discuss strategies for protecting one of world’s rarest and least publicized habitats—the alvar. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s David Hammond reports:
Id Cards Track Exotic Fish
As the Great Lakes fishing season gets into full swing, an"exotic" ID card is being distributed to sport anglers all over theRegion. Its part of an research effort to track the spread of twoexotic species—the Round Goby and the Eurasian Ruffe (rough). The GreatLakes Radio Consortium’s David Hammond reports:
Are Sperm Counts Declining?
Are sperm counts on the decline? Federal researchers hope they can find out. The government is about to launch the largest project ever to find out if something’s gone wrong with male reproductive health. The study will follow a recent report from the California Department of Health Services that startled the scientific community. The study found a significant drop in sperm count and raised questions about whether environmental chemicals are the culprit. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Julie Edelson Halpert has more:
Accordionist Spreads Deforestation Message
Since the 1960’s, folk music and environmentalism have often gone hand in hand. Usually what comes to mind is Birkenstocks and an acoustic guitar. But now an African musician is making inroads with his accordion and his songs about deforestation. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Dan Rosenberg has the story:
Environmental Theme Semester
"Environment" is the buzz word at The University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor this semester. Following a trend among universities nationwide, faculty and students from all different departments here joined together to pay a tribute to planet earth with an Environmental Theme Semester. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Julie Edelson Halpert attended one of the events and has this report:
Drinking Water Linked to Miscarriages
A new government-sponsored study of three California towns has turned up a potentially serious finding: that some tap water could be dangerous for pregnant women. The study is the first to find that high levels of chemicals used to disinfect water could increase the risk of miscarriage. That’s raised a red flag at the Environmental Protection Agency. And now the EPA’s moving quickly to see if the California findings hold true elsewhere. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Julie Edelson Halpert reports:
Recycling Faces a Set-Back
This year, the Environmental Protection Agency highlighted Ann Arbor, Michigan as one of the most progressive recycling communities in the country. The city was on the forefront of recycling PVC plastics, however, recently, Ann Arbor discontinued the program and some worry that sets a negative precedent nationwide. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mary Boyle has more.
Anti-Freeze Recycling
The recycling of anti-freeze has been around for eight years, but its not that common. However, some folks in Michigan hope to change some people’s minds. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mary Boyle has the story:
Federal Policy Spurs Clean-Up
A new batch of federal funding intended to get the lead out of homes is expected to bring big benefits to several Midwestern cities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a plan late last year to dole out fifty-million dollars nationally to better educate the public on lead’s dangers and provide cleanup funds for individual homes. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Julie Edelson Halpert has more: