For Friday, April 11, 2025

1 – Climate change is supercharging the water cycle, bringing heavier rain extremes and related flood risks across the U.S.

That’s according to analysis of federal data by the nonprofit group Climate Central. 

For instance, hourly rainfall intensity increased by 14 percent for Flint between 1970 and 2024. 

For Alpena, the increase was 17 percent since 1970. The intensity is defined as total annual rainfall divided by total hours of rainfall each year. 

The Bay City-Saginaw-Midland area isn’t included in the analysis. 

But Climate Central says 88 percent of 144 cities that were analyzed experienced an increase in hourly rain intensity during the period. 

The largest average increases included cities in the Upper Midwest. 

The group explains that for every 1 degree of warming, the air can hold 4 percent more moisture, increasing the chances of heavier downpours. 

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2 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s largest research vessel, the Lake Guardian, has begun its annual spring water quality survey across the Great Lakes.

The month-long mission will take scientists to each of the five lakes to collect water samples and study aquatic life such as zooplankton. Their findings help track algal blooms, invasive species and other factors that affect drinking water, fisheries and recreation.

Since 1983, the EPA has conducted spring and summer sampling surveys to assess the lakes’ health. The Lake Guardian’s operations are overseen by EPA’s Chicago office. 

The spring survey is timed for when lake waters are cold from top to bottom, providing valuable data on nutrient concentrations. 

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3 – Part of the “Free-Flowing Success” of environmental efforts last year in the Saginaw Bay region included the Three Ponds Nature Preserve. 

The work, led by Little Forks Conservancy out of Midland, is transforming a 42-acre stretch of land in Bay County.

The site includes three ponds created from leftover construction borrow pits left behind from a U.S. 10 highway project. These have attracted native species like beavers, egrets and turtles. The conservancy is working to turn the space into a publicly accessible nature preserve. 

The project is highlighted in the latest annual report from the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, which supported the work with a grant. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM WUCX (30,000 watts!) in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes