For Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 🎄

1- Analysts are talking about “lost winter” days around the world. 

A U.S.-based nonprofit called Climate Central says that climate change—due primarily to the burning of fossil fuels—is causing a significant increase in winter days above freezing, aka lost winter days.

Michigan reportedly experienced about nine more days above freezing annually during the past decade due to human-induced warming. 

The count was the same for Bay County. The national average was six more above-freezing days per winter in the past decade.

Climate Central is described as an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report on the changing climate. 

The group’s report adds that losing winter’s chill affects snowfall, winter sports, water supplies, spring allergies, crops and more.

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2 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an updated action plan for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The initiative is a federally funded program to protect and restore the lakes to the current tune of around $370 million a year. 

The new Action Plan IV was informed by public comments. It outlines the next five years of work on Great Lakes environmental problems.

The plan points to projects that have reduced runoff to Saginaw Bay, western Lake Erie and Green Bay. That runoff contains phosphorus, a nutrient that fuels harmful algal blooms. 

Under focus areas, the plan includes commitments to monitor and assess nutrient conditions in Saginaw Bay and other areas. The plan notes that advanced technologies using satellites and buoys are being piloted in the bay to predict the intensity and movement of algal blooms. 

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3 – Michigan saw some “Clean Water Wins” in 2024. 

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition of close to 200 environmental and other organizations put together a list. 

It includes restoration funding for the state’s wetlands, with $10 million for green infrastructure, encouraging local cities to restore and conserve wetlands, and take on proactive strategies before flooding events occur. 

Fish Stocking, Wetland Conserving, Runoff Reducing

Regional wins include a Brandon Road partnership between Michigan, Illinois and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan through the Chicago Area Waterway System.

– 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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