For Friday, June 4, 2021
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1 – A project to reduce runoff to Saginaw Bay is among those funded by a series of state grants.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy awarded 11 grants this week totaling more than $4.7 million for watershed management projects that benefit wetlands, lakes and streams.
The Huron Conservation District is receiving about $767,000 for an incentive program targeting agricultural producers. It includes best management practices to reduce sediment, nutrient and pathogen loads to the Pigeon River and Saginaw Bay.
The grants are funded under the federal Clean Water Act and Clean Michigan Initiative.
2 – If you catch a muskie, please tell the state about it.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking those who fish for muskellunge to help with ongoing efforts through an online muskie angler survey.
Since 2014, the survey has gathered information about muskie angler demographics and catch data.
Anglers may fill out one survey per person, per trip and are encouraged to complete a survey for each muskie fishing trip they make.
Go to Michigan.gov/Muskie.
3 – Wildlife crossings such as green bridges that allow animals to cross roadways safely have been shown to reduce collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
Michigan reportedly ranked second in the nation last year for vehicle collisions with animals. Most of those involved deer.
The Public News Service reports that federal lawmakers have allocated $350 million toward a pilot wildlife-crossings program as part of an infrastructure bill (the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act).
The National Wildlife Federation says most of the funding would be used to support projects in rural areas.
The bill currently sits with a Senate subcommittee.
It includes funding for research on how to reduce vehicle-animal collisions and training for workers on how to build projects that reduce those collisions.
– 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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The Canadiens beat us again when it comes to wildlife crossings. If you travel the Icefields Parkway from Calgary to Jasper, you will not only enjoy the mountainous region and clear turquoise
Lakes. I believe the road out of Banff is the Bow Valley Highway. The wildlife crossings over the Highway are a spectacular site to see. Covered with evergreens and brush. The crossings have cameras for rangers to monitor what wildlife uses the bridges.