For Friday, May 27, 2024

1 – Spongy moth populations are continuing their downward trend in many areas of Michigan this year. 

The caterpillars can defoliate oaks and other deciduous trees. But state officials say an outbreak that started in 2019 and peaked in 2021 has been steadily declining. 

There is still some defoliation likely in southwest Michigan along with isolated areas in the central and western Upper Peninsula. A state forester says the decline is due in part to “viral and fungal agents in the environment that spread quickly when caterpillar numbers are high, ultimately causing a population crash.”

Bay County has a Forest Sustainability Program to control the spongy moth, formerly known as the gypsy moth. Treatments using a soil bacterium called Btk take place in the spring using low-flying, yellow fixed-wing aircraft.

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2 – There’s big bass news out of Bay City. 

The ATS Printing 2024 Bay City Bass Fishing Series will include four nationally sanctioned tournaments launching from Bay City this summer. 

Organizers say the events are among the top bass fishing circuits in the country, awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars to top teams. 

Anglers from the National Professional Fishing League, the Bassmaster College Series, the Bassmaster High School Series, and the Hobie Kayak Bass Series will fish the Saginaw River system and Saginaw Bay in search of prize-winning fish. 

More than 600 anglers are expected to travel to Bay City to participate in the events, in June and August. 

More information is online at baycitybass.org.

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3 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking for feedback on the latest Action Plan for the federally funded Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

The Alliance for the Great Lakes, an advocacy group, says people in federally designated pollution hot spots, which include the Saginaw river and bay, should pay special attention to the part of the plan called “Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern.” 

The group urges the EPA to keep moving forward and clean up these legacy areas of pollution. 

This is Action Plan no. 4. 

The deadline for feedback is May 24. You can go to GLRI.us to add your input. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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