For Friday, July 28, 2023

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1 – Saginaw Township is one of more than 20 communities to receive state grant funding for projects that address flooding, coastline erosion, urban heat and stormwater management.

More than $14 million in grants were awarded statewide.

Saginaw Township will receive $1.2 million to design and implement flood protection and emergency management measures at its wastewater treatment plant.  

The state says past flood events from the Tittabawassee River have threatened plant operations by inhibiting access for staff, emergency vehicles and deliveries. The township will construct an elevated access road and install flood gate replacements, modifications and a natural gas generator. 

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2 – Harmful algal blooms in Michigan are the subject of the latest story map produced by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The director of the department’s Water Resources Division says harmful algal blooms have been on the rise in recent years.

The director says the development of new outreach tools like the story map is an important part of making sure the public is informed on what the blooms look like and associated hazards.

See Michigan.gov/HABS for more information. 

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3 – The Little Forks Conservancy in Midland needs volunteer leaders and collectors for a stream sampling event this fall in Gladwin and Clare counties. 

Twice a year, volunteers collect bugs from the Cedar River to determine the river’s water quality.

Leaders oversee the stream sampling events at one or two locations. Collectors use a net to collect bugs from the river. 

Little Forks has been working in the Cedar River watershed for almost two decades.

Stream sampling is one of the ways the conservancy involves the community in conservation efforts.  

Go online to littleforks.org for more information. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Fridays at 9:30 a.m. in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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