For Friday, April 1 (no joke), 2022

…audio…

1 -Michigan water quality and parks are getting a boost under a new Building Michigan Together Plan. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the plan this week, which invests nearly $5 billion in Michigan’s infrastructure. 

It’s said to be the largest infrastructure investment in state history. 

The plan includes more than $1 billion for drinking water improvements, including $55 million to help communities tackle toxic contaminants like PFAS and $210 million to repair dams in Midland and Gladwin counties.

Investments in parks across Michigan include projects in Grand Rapids, Detroit, and $20 million to fund development of rural outdoor recreational projects in the Upper Peninsula.

A total of $65 million in grants also will go to local community parks for infrastructure needs, supporting more than 4,000 parks and trails across the state. 

…

2 – State officials will be talking fish in Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. 

If you’re interested in local and statewide fisheries management activities, there’s an online event about Lake Huron on Thursday, April 7, from 6-7 p.m. It will include information about local and statewide regulation changes for anglers that start April 1. There also will be time for questions. 

There’s also a Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) Fisheries workshop coming up online, on Thursday, April 12, from 6-8 p.m. 

The workshop will include information and updates on topics such as lake sturgeon restoration, water quality, Saginaw Bay yellow perch and walleye as well as fisheries management.

…

3 – Tracking polluters in your community is as easy as checking the email. 

ECHO Notify is a new web tool that can notify you when an environmental violation or enforcement action takes place at a facility in your area. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is behind it. The notices also include information from state and local governments. 

Officials say the tool helps people to play an active role in protecting their neighborhoods from pollution. They say increased transparency can help deter environmental violations. 

You can find ECHO Notify on EPA’s website at echo.epa.gov.

…

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

-30-