Great Lakes Daily News

Illinois is requiring polluters to begin reporting spills of industrial plastic pellets known as nurdles, a growing source of contamination in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. Companies that manufacture, use or transport nurdles also must develop plans to limit them in storm runoff, making the state the first in either watershed to officially designate bits of wasted plastic as pollution. Read the full story by the Chicago Tribune.

Sightings of double-crested cormorants, a voracious fish-scarfing seabird, have lately been on the rise in New York’s Great Lakes region, causing concern among anglers and residents of lakeshore communities. Read the full story by New York Upstate.

Scientists found that fish in Lake Erie often congregate along the edges of low-oxygen “dead zones” rather than simply avoiding them. The discovery could help researchers better predict how climate change will alter fish habitat and fisheries across the Great Lakes. Read the full story by The Times of India.

The R/V Steelhead II, a new fisheries research vessel being built to replace the aging S/V Steelhead, will enhance the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ ability to conduct fish population surveys and fisheries management research in Lake Huron and other northern Michigan waters, helping guide future conservation and management decisions. Read the full story by The Alpena News.

Michigan lake sturgeon were already known as “living dinosaurs” – but they may be a lot older than you might think, according to a new study from Michigan and Wisconsin officials and universities. Some of the spiny, whiskered females may live for as long as 427 years the groups found, following an analysis of populations in the Great Lakes. Read the full story by The Independent.

Water-safety advocates are reminding beachgoers about the dangers of rip currents, high waves, and sudden weather changes on Lake Michigan. The warning comes during one of the busiest periods of the recreational season. Read the full story by the Manistee News Advocate.

The 208-foot Thomas Jefferson, operated by NOAA Corps officers, has been surveying and mapping the Lake Ontario lakebed since late June. Officials said the area has not been comprehensively surveyed in more than 80 years. Read the full story by WROC-TV – Rochester, NY.

With hot summer weather creating stressful conditions for fish in lakes, rivers and streams across the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is sharing what people can do if they see a fish mortality event — and how they can help prevent them. Read the full story by the Morrison County Record.

A major reconstruction of the harbor channel wall at Holland State Park will begin this fall, causing significant disruptions to parking, beach access, and boating facilities over the next two years. Officials say the project is necessary to stabilize the aging structure, protect navigation into Lake Macatawa, and ensure the long-term safety and functionality of one of Michigan’s most heavily visited state parks. Read the full story by MLive.

Conservation groups in western Michigan announced educational events focused on combating the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect threatening forests along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Organizers are also promoting strategies to improve long-term forest resilience. Read the full story by the Manistee News Advocate.