For Friday, June 28, 2024

1 – Be prepared for wildfire smoke this summer. 

That’s a message to people in the Great Lakes region from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency says everyone should stay informed about local air quality and put plans in place to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke and protect their health. 

Summer wildfires in the United States and Canada are becoming bigger and more frequent, the EPA says. Last summer, Canada experienced a record number of wildfires, causing unhealthy air quality and health advisories across the Great Lakes region, including in Michigan. 

Fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke is the greatest health concern because it can irritate the eyes and respiratory system.

Among the tips: High-efficiency filters on air conditioning systems can help keep smoke out of your house on bad days. There also are online resources to monitor air quality conditions and forecasts, including at Enviroflash.info. 

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2 – An Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz is on at boat launches in Michigan. 

The blitz will run through July 7. More than 70 events are planned across the state. 

Representatives from state departments and local partners such as lake associations and management areas will give boaters tips to prevent the spread of invasive species. And tips to comply with recently updated laws. 

The law is … 

• Remove all aquatic organisms, including plants, from watercraft and trailers before launching or transporting.
• Remove all drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells before transporting a watercraft.
• Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not the water.

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3 – The Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab in Ann Arbor is posting weekly field sampling data for Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. 

It’s for a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) monitoring program. 

There are five monitoring stations in the bay, where microcystis is the dominant toxin-producing algae. 

Work by the federal lab focuses on determining Microcystis growth and concentrations of the toxin it produces. 

The Saginaw Bay is monitored weekly to quantify Microcystis abundance and toxicity, which helps scientists further understand how these two factors correlate. 

Scientists also are measuring movements of nitrates and phosphorus in the water to help provide a more accurate prediction of harmful algal blooms in Saginaw Bay. 

The information is online at the Great Lakes Research Lab’s website at glerl.noaa.gov.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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