For Friday, Sept. 29, 2023

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1 – The state has an updated plan for dealing with climate change and its impacts on stormwater and wastewater infrastructure. 

Public comments are open through the close of business on Oct. 9. 

The Climate Change Implementation Plan would require that the latest federal precipitation data be used when designing systems for handling stormwater and wastewater. 

A resiliency factor in the plan also would require systems to be able to manage more than the permitted volume. 

Officials say Michigan is 3 degrees warmer and gets about 5 more inches of rain a year than it did in 1900. Since 1951, annual precipitation is up 14 percent in the Great Lakes region.

Meanwhile, much of Michigan’s stormwater and wastewater infrastructure is based on pre-1992 rainfall data. Many structures are said to be decades past their intended lifespans. 

For more information and to comment, search for the Climate Change Implementation Plan at Michigan.gov/egle. 

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2 – Fall is here and the state’s Pure Michigan program is issuing weekly fall color reports.

In the so-called Great Lakes Bay region that includes Bay City, Saginaw and Midland, things to do include guided fall boat tours in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the state. 

Peak fall conditions here are estimated to be a couple or more weeks away, according to Pure Michigan. 

The color has already started to pop in the Western Upper Peninsula. 

Other suggestions for fall color viewing include hiking the Pigeon River Country State Forest in the Gaylord area and driving along the Lake Huron shoreline. 

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3 – Speaking of leaves, fall is a perfect time for planting trees. 

A Department of Natural Resources coordinator says planting in cooler weather allows trees to establish roots even after the leaves fall. And newly planted trees will continue growing until the ground freezes. 

Fall planting also gives new trees time to get established before the heat and drought stresses of summer. 

Some exceptions include oak trees; it’s better to wait for spring. 

But some broadleaf trees that have good success when planted in the fall include black tupelo, Ohio buckeye and crabapple varieties. 

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

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