For Friday, May 7, 2024

1 – A statewide walleye fishing challenge runs through June 30. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is partnering with Angler’s Atlas on the contest. 

Anglers are encouraged to use a MyCatch mobile app to anonymously report catch locations, and allow state biologists to better assess and manage walleye populations. 

A state official says Michigan manages hundreds of waters for walleye, but has limited ability to monitor the status of those fisheries.

The challenge will add to state survey data. In particular, the DNR hopes to learn whether its walleye stocking efforts are resulting in successful trips for anglers.

More info on how to participate in the challenge, which includes the chance for prizes, is online at AnglersAtlas.com. 

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2 – The Environmental Law & Policy Center has a “Power Plants to Parkland” project that aims to reimagine retired coal plant sites as green spaces. 

The center, headquartered in Chicago, is working with Michigan communities and looking at the Karn Power Plant in Bay County’s Hampton Township on Saginaw Bay. 

The center is urging Consumers Energy to re-naturalize the site and open access to as much of the property as is feasible and safe. 

Consumers has announced plans to develop 85 megawatts of solar at the site. Two coal units there have been retired and two remaining natural gas and fuel oil units will operate until 2031. 

The center is working with the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy on a draft conservation plan. 

You can expect to hear more about this in the future as communities around the plant are asked what they’d like to see in a redevelopment plan. 

– 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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