Great Lakes Daily News

Using historical temperature records from weather stations around the region, researchers improved their understanding of where ice might have formed and for how long it lasted spanning the last 120 years. Researchers said this new data record could help with efforts like research on fish in the winter, regional climate and improving safety on the ice. Read the full story by Interlochen Public Radio.

A new study published last month in the Journal of Great Lakes Research shows that PFAS levels in Great Lakes fish are on the decline as manufacturers have phased out some chemicals in recent decades. Read the full story by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Ottawa County, Michigan, relies on two aquifers for groundwater: a shallow upper glacial aquifer and a much deeper one known as the Marshall Sandstone. When snow melts in the spring, it does help recharge the upper aquifer, but the deeper Marshall aquifer, the one many residents’ wells rely on, doesn’t get that same benefit. Read the full story by WZZM-TV – Grand Rapids, MI.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory show Lake Erie’s ice coverage surged from under 2% on January 14 to nearly 85% by January 21; coverage has increased since then, hovering near or above 95% since late January. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to delay the shutdown of Enbridge Line 5 as the fight over whether or not to reroute or shut down the pipeline altogether plays out in the courts. Read the full story by WTMJ – Milwaukee, WI.

The Soo Locks have closed to marine traffic for their annual maintenance period, but the critical Great Lakes shipping gateway remains a hub of activity as engineers and technicians work to prepare the massive structures for another shipping season. Read the full story by WBUP – Marquette, MI.

Due to such factors as its depth, climate, and orientation, Lake Ontario is not nearly as susceptible to freezing over as the other four Great Lakes. Read the full story by WROC-TV – Rochester, NY.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary recently shared a video of the 414-foot bulk freighter Etruria resting upside down at the bottom of Lake Huron. Read the full story by MLive.

The S.S. Badger car and passenger ferry’s 2026 season will run from May 15 to October 11, making four-hour trips to and from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan. The ferry will also host some special events, including an ’80s-themed murder mystery. Read the full story by the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter.

With nearly 95% ice coverage across Lake Erie, the food source destination for many animals is now inaccessible. The water is locked away from animals, including endangered species like the Little Gull. Read the full story by WEWS-TV – Cleveland, OH.