The adult dragonflies that we often see flitting about near any lake or stream, are quite the common sight. But did you know that just below the water’s surface, hunting in the shallows, there are also dragonflies? Well, baby dragonflies. The larval stage of this insect—which is about the size of your thumb—is a very…
The Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program has awarded the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation $59,667 to implement Phase 2 of their research investigating the potential sources of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to Chequamegon Bay. The Burke Center researchers started their investigation a year ago (also with Wisconsin Coastal Management funding) to learn…
The Great Lakes keep rising. Last year the five lakes that together hold 20 percent of the fresh surface water on the planet broke 10 high-water records, and more are expected to fall this year. The inundation follows a 15-year span from 1999 to 2014 when the so-called upper lakes of Superior, Michigan and Huron…
A recent report by Northland College shows increased vulnerability in Lake Superior’s water quality. More severe storms are contributing to erosion, infrastructure damage and algae blooms. WPR Host Larry Meiller talks with Matt Hudson, water scientist at the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation, about the report, and ways citizens can alleviate the impacts…
Minnesota has shoreline on only one Great Lake, but it happens to be the greatest: largest, clearest, coldest and, until recently, seemingly least vulnerable to various environmental afflictions elsewhere in the five-lake basin. The world’s biggest lake by surface area, Superior happens to hold one-tenth of the fresh water on the face of the Earth.…
We love to talk about weather in the Midwest. At work or the grocery store, small talk almost always begins with, “How much snow did you get?” or “What did you think of the wind howling last night?” or, my favorite, “Cold enough for you?” This banter, however, has taken on a more serious tone…
ASHLAND, WI– Larger than normal storms over the last several years are causing issues for Lake Superior, according to a group of researchers at Northland College in Ashland. Researchers there released a study on Tuesday breaking down the impact climate change has on the lake and what issues it’s causing. “Since 2012 we have experienced…
Increasingly larger storms, more frequent heavy rains and higher water levels — likely spurred by global climate change — are not only roiling the waters of Lake Superior but also damaging the big lake’s water quality. That’s the analysis of a “white paper’’ report released Tuesday by researchers at Northland College’s Mary Griggs Burke Center…
A new report from Northland College in Ashland recommends that the United States and Canada rewrite its principal agreement that provides a framework for improving water quality on the Great Lakes. The white paper released Tuesday by the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation at Northland College highlights water quality concerns on Lake Superior…
Climate change, algal blooms and pollution from a variety of sources were highlighted as chief concerns among roughly 200 community members who shared their views on issues impacting water quality on the Great Lakes at a public meeting held by the International Joint Commission. The event Wednesday hosted at Northland College in Ashland was among…
