For Friday, May 21, 2021

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1 – A Lake Huron tributary will be treated to control sea lamprey.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel plan to apply lampricides to the Shiawassee River system in Shiawassee and Saginaw counties to kill lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom.  

The applications will take place for a few days between May 25 and June 3, in accordance with state permits. Officials say the dates are tentative and may change based on local weather or stream conditions. 

Sea lamprey larvae live in certain Great Lakes tributaries and transform to parasitic adults that migrate to the Great Lakes and kill fish. 

Officials say failure to kill the larvae in streams would result in significant damage to the Great Lakes fishery.  

They say infested tributaries must be treated every three to five years to control sea lamprey populations. 

2 – A recent “Fresh from the Field” podcast by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development looks at strategies to prevent or reduce the threat of mosquitoes when enjoying the outdoors.

Experts say one of the biggest things Michigan residents can do is get rid of standing water in their yards or around their property. 

Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in everything from  kiddie pools, old tires and flowerpots to eaves and gutters. 

Of course, a repellant is one tool that can be used to prevent mosquito-borne diseases and bites. 

There’s a ‘Find the Repellent that is Right for You’ webpage at epa.gov; long sleeves and pants also are recommended, especially between dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

You can find the Fresh from the Field podcast on anchor.fm and other podcast sites and apps. 

3 – A new alliance will advocate for community solar in Michigan. 

Members say the Michigan Community Solar Alliance aims to expand the accessibility and availability of solar energy to all state residents. 

The alliance is encouraging passage of House Bills 4715 and 4716 to allow subscription-based community solar projects in the state. 

The groups says direct participation in these programs is currently prohibited under state law, which limits who can access solar energy.

Community solar is a solar array located in a community, where multiple customers can subscribe and receive a credit on their utility bills for a share of the power that’s produced. 

The alliance is led by 13 founding organizations advocating together for increased solar opportunities in Michigan. 

Those organizations include the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, Michigan Environmental Council and Michigan League of Conservation Voters. 

For more information about the Alliance, see MICommunitySolarAlliance.com. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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