Great Lakes Archives

A clear organism with long body and a forked tail under a microscope.

The search for a solution to an irritating plague: swimmer’s itch

Points North·July 3, 2025

Ron Reimink knew how uncomfortable and annoying swimmer’s itch could be. He spent much of his career trying to eradicate it in lakes. Then one day, he realized he was completely wrong.

Conservation Health Water

Looking from behind, as a person in a green kayak paddles on a large expansive lake toward a large bridge.

The Longest Paddle: Circumnavigating the Great Lakes

Points North·June 6, 2025

The story of Traci Lynn Martin's quest to become the first person to circumnavigate all of the Great Lakes by kayak in one year.

Recreation

A dark colored community recycling bin, next to a white sign with the letter IRG in green

Plans for Erie recycling plant scrapped. Company blames Trump tariffs and cutbacks

Julie Grant·April 8, 2025

The International Recycling Group cites Trump tariffs and the hold-up of a federal loan guarantee from the Inflation Reduction Act as reasons for canceling its plans.

Climate Change Economy Pollution Trump on Earth

Tiny rainbow microplastic pieces on three fingers

Scientists want to monitor microplastics in the Great Lakes. Here’s why it matters

The Ohio Newsroom·March 7, 2025

A board of scientists has proposed a system to monitor microplastics in the Great Lakes. Currently, there’s no coordinated, regional effort to do so.

Conservation Plastic Pollution Water Wildlife

A man in a yellow florescent vest, seen from the back, standing by large piles of snow

That huge snowstorm? Welcome to a warming future

Julie Grant·December 4, 2024

A snowstorm dumped five feet or more in areas of Erie, Pennsylvania. Some experts say this is climate change in action.

Climate Change

A woman in a red hard hat and orange vest smiles through a large frame decorated with multi-colored pieces of plastic.

A Pittsburgh-area teacher finds plastic and inspiration on a Lake Erie research expedition

Kara Holsopple·August 9, 2024

After a week-long expedition, 5th-grade Franklin Regional teacher Brienne May says she's better equipped to teach real-world science: "To see how questions are asked, how data is analyzed...and how obstacles are overcome."

Pollution Water Your Environment Update

A black carp fish swims near a mossy rock with its mouth open.

A project aims to stop the spread of invasive carp to the Great Lakes

Lauren Myers·July 30, 2024

A new agreement has unlocked the federal funding needed to begin construction on a lock and dam designed to keep Asian carp out of all the Great Lakes.

Conservation

Three researchers bending over in knee-deep water

Hunting for invasive snails in Lake Erie

Julie Grant·May 23, 2024

A research team from Penn State Berhend is searching for mysterysnails in Lake Erie as part of an effort to document invasive species in Pennsylvania.

Conservation Wild Pennsylvania Wildlife

New film takes on aquatic invasives in Pennsylvania’s natural areas

Julie Grant·May 15, 2024

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy travels to three watersheds to feature invasive plants and fish and what people can do to prevent their spread.

Conservation Water Wild Pennsylvania Your Environment Update

Two men using poles with grabbers on the ends pick up trash in the brush near the beach

Tiny plastic pieces top the list of trash on Great Lakes beaches

Julie Grant·April 17, 2024

The nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes analyzed 20 years of data from volunteer beach cleanups.

Pollution Water Your Environment Update

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Trump on Earth

Why Trump’s budget bill could mean ‘America’s electric vehicle surrender’

Atlantic Shores seeks to cancel offshore wind contract with N.J., but says it hasn’t abandoned the project

Despite court order, black lung screening program still not fully functional

Great Lakes