For Friday, July 26, 2024

1 – You’re invited to a birthday party for Averill Preserve.

The preserve was opened to the public 20 years ago, along the Tittabawassee River and Pere-Marquette Rail Trail near Sanford. 

Little Forks Conservancy of Midland owns and manages the 72-acre natural area. The conservancy is putting on a birthday party from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.

It’s at Averill Preserve, near a parking area at the intersection of Saginaw and East Wackerly roads.

Attendees will get to learn more about the preserve’s history, including efforts to protect ecological habitat and recreational improvements like a universally accessible path, river overlook and nature play area. 

There also will be yard games, guided hikes … and ice cream. 

For more information about the preserve and conservancy, see littleforks.org. 

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2 – Great Lakes ReNEW is a six-state coalition that includes Michigan.

The effort is backed by the National Science Foundation and focused on resource recovery and extracting valuable minerals and toxic chemicals from wastewater. 

ReNEW is led by Currrent, a Chicago-based water innovation hub that recently announced opportunities for nine postdoctoral fellowships. 

Those hired will work on selective separation of nutrients, critical minerals and energy from wastewater, along with new sensor and sensor network technology. 

For more information or to apply, see CurrentWater.org.

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3 – Michigan’s budget Fiscal Year 2025 includes $1 billion for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. 

Agency officials say the money includes federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The EGLE budget is slated for projects including replacing lead water service lines, deploying electric vehicle chargers and making communities more resilient to climate change impacts. 

More than half of the money will pass through Michigan cities, towns, villages and other local governments. 

The agency says it’s committed to meeting or exceeding a federal initiative that at least 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities.

– 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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