For Friday, Nov. 15, 2024
1 – Central Michigan University researchers are teaming up with communities to help prepare for flooding driven by climate change.
The university has received a $1 million federal grant to work on new weather models that can predict how much rain to expect in a range of scenarios—and where that water would go.
They’ll pilot the effort in three watersheds including the Chippewa River, which takes in Mount Pleasant and is part of the Saginaw River drainage basin.
CMU’s team will use advanced tools from the U.S. Department of Energy to create county-level models. These can help local leaders identify critical places at risk, like roads and farmland, and plan for future flooding.
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2 – If you care about the air, check out a new monitoring dashboard from Michigan’s environmental agency.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy maintains a network of air monitoring stations and an online dashboard with real-time data.
The dashboard has been rebuilt, and features a map with air quality readings, forecasts and historical data. You can sign up to receive notifications when the air quality is low in your area and also find links to further resources.
The updated dashboard is online at Michigan.gov/MiAir. Earlier this week, a monitor in Bay City’s South End categorized the air quality as “good.”
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3- Donald Trump’s return to the White House signals a likely shift away from climate-focused policies of the Biden administration, according to environmental policy experts cited by Bridge Michigan.
Trump’s agenda is expected to emphasize fossil fuel production, ease environmental regulations and potentially halt climate-related initiatives.
In Michigan, this could affect emissions standards for automakers, water pollution limits, and projects like the Line 5 petroleum pipeline.
However, both Trump and Biden have shown support for nuclear energy, making it likely that the Palisades nuclear plant near South Haven will continue to receive funding. Some also suggest Trump’s approach to electric vehicles might reduce incentives but not abandon industry support.
– 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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Mr Great Lakes 