For Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

1 – This month, the Lake Guardian began its annual summer water quality survey of the Great Lakes. 

The Lake Guardian is a research vessel of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

The 180-foot ship will spend a month on the lakes. Scientists aboard will collect samples of water and small aquatic organisms like plankton, which are critical species in the lower food web. 

Officials say data gathered on these summer surveys helps the EPA and partner agencies assess how invasive species and algal blooms affect fisheries and water quality. 

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2 – A $35 million Septic Replacement Loan Program helps Michigan homeowners with the high costs of repairing or replacing failing septic systems.

By some estimates, more than 20 percent of Michigan’s 1.3 million septic systems are failing, according to Michigan’s environmental agency. 

This exposes people and animals to harmful bacteria and viruses.

Replacing an old septic system can cost up to $30,000. 

Through the program, homeowners can receive low-interest loans to replace failing or near-failing systems. 

The state has partnered with nonprofit Michigan Saves on the effort. Close to 200 septic systems have been installed since the launch, treating an estimated 25 million gallons of sewage.

To learn more, see MichiganSaves.org/Septic. 

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3 – Hundreds of baby sturgeon are coming to the Saginaw Bay watershed. 

The public is invited to help release young lake sturgeon into Saginaw River tributaries on Friday, August 22, 2025. 

Attendees at these free riverside release events will reintroduce more than 100 native sturgeon into each tributary of the system. That includes the Tittabawassee River in Midland and Cass River in Frankenmuth. 

Lake sturgeon can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. The slow-maturing fish were once abundant in local and other Michigan lakes and rivers, but nearly eradicated due to overfishing and habitat loss. 

Many partners have been working since 2017 to bring sturgeon back to the Saginaw River system. So far, close to 7,000 of the fish have been released. The babies for Aug. 22 were reared at a facility in Cheboygan County. 

More info is online at saginawbaysturgeon.org.

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