Environmental science, climate research, and ecological news from the Great Lakes region and beyond.
Community & Culture
The Great Lakes basin is home to dozens of Indigenous nations whose connections to these waters predate European contact by thousands of
Environment
Lake Erie’s western basin experiences harmful algal blooms (HABs) each summer, driven primarily by phosphorus-laden agricultural runoff entering the lake through the
Environment
Microplastic contamination in the Great Lakes has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental research priorities in freshwater science. Since the
Environment
Cross-border trade between Ontario and the Great Lakes states of Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania represents one of the most significant
Environment
The Great Lakes basin is governed by a complex web of overlapping jurisdictions that includes two federal governments, eight U.S. states, two
Environment
The Great Lakes region hosts one of North America’s most significant and growing wind energy sectors, driven by strong and consistent wind
Environment
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, the class of synthetic chemicals commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” have been detected in drinking water
Climate & Weather
The Great Lakes basin’s climate is changing measurably, with consequences that affect everything from water levels and ice coverage to agricultural productivity
Environment
Zebra mussels and quagga mussels, two closely related invasive species native to the Black Sea region of Eastern Europe, have fundamentally altered
Environment
The residential real estate market in Hamilton, Ontario, one of the largest cities in the Great Lakes region, entered 2026 with moderate
Environment
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system handled approximately 144 million metric tonnes of cargo in the 2024-2025 shipping season, according to data
Environment
The Great Lakes hold approximately 21 percent of the world’s surface freshwater, making water quality monitoring across Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie,
One email a week. The freshwater research, health findings, and environmental data that matter across the basin, written so you can actually use them.