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Great Lakes Daily News is a collection of news articles of interest to the Great Lakes community, curated by Great Lakes Commission staff. This valuable service provides a selection of recent coverage of Great Lakes issues from professional media outlets in the United States and Canada. Subscribers receive a email digest, making it easy and convenient to keep up with important regional news. Sign up now to get Great Lakes Daily News in your inbox!
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Latest Daily News
Natural Resources Commission expands Great Lakes spearfishing opportunities
A new order from the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will open more of the Great Lakes to recreational spearfishing in 2026. Proponents of spearfishing say that the expanded reach will allow more people to try the sport and could spark more interest in the outdoors. Read the full story by WWTV-TV – Cadillac, MI.
EGLE announces grants to improve water quality by reducing nonpoint source pollutants
Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said Thursday that it’s awarding $2.9 million in grants for projects to prevent, reduce, or eliminate polluted runoff and other nonpoint sources of pollution. Read the full story by Michigan Public.
Lake Erie’s dramatic retreat: Water levels drop after period of record highs
People walking, running or launching boats along Lake Erie’s shorelines may have noticed more exposed beach and rock than in recent years — a subtle sign the lake has dipped below its long-term water level average after a period of record highs. Read the full story by The Plain Dealer.
Christmas Tree Ship: Historically-inspired holiday tradition returns to National Museum of the Great Lakes
The National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio, is holding its annual Christmas Tree Ship event, where the public can watch Santa Claus arrive on a tugboat filled with Christmas trees for families. Read the full story by WTOL-TV – Toledo, OH.
City on Lake Michigan takes step toward starting lifeguard program for 2026
After years of debates, the city of South Haven, Michigan, took a significant step toward bringing lifeguards back to its Lake Michigan beaches. Supporters of a new lifeguard program include beach safety advocates and families of drowning victims. Read the full story by MLive.
New book shows how Mackinac Island became tourism gem
A new book by a Michigan historian explores how Mackinac Island and the surrounding Straits region became a hub for travelers from across the country. Read the full story by Midland Daily News.
Lake Superior parks face critical headwinds. This nonprofit keeps land ‘wild, resilient, and open to all’
The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation works to preserve the visitor experience of the five national parks on Lake Superior. The nonprofit is making a major fundraising push to go up against critical headwinds the National Park Service faces. Read the full story by MLive.
BGSU research finds Lake Erie dredged material correlated to better crop yields
New research by a scientist at Ohio’s Bowling Green State University has found that using dredged material from Lake Erie in place of fertilizer for agricultural practices appears to be correlated to higher crop growth and yields. Read the full story by The Toledo Blade.
The fate of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline reroute hangs on a judge’s decision. Here’s what to know.
The fate of Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute project around tribal land in northern Wisconsin remains uncertain as parties submit post-trial briefs following the weeks-long contested case hearing over permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Enbridge faces a court-ordered deadline to get the pipeline off the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s land by June 2026 — although that decision is under appeal as well. Read the full story by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Lawsuit seeks to block restart of nuclear plant on Lake Michigan over safety concerns
Last week, nuclear accountability organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the owner of the Palisades nuclear power plant on Lake Michigan in Covert, Michigan. The lawsuit argues an exemption granted by the NRC to allow the plant to reopen was improper and asks the court to prohibit approval of the exemption. Read the full story by MLive.