For Friday, Sept. 4, 2026

1 – In the future, there may be air quality alerts for harmful algal blooms, just like the warnings issued for wildfire smoke. 

Researchers at the University of Michigan are studying what some people near Lake Erie call the “August Cough.”

Respiratory symptoms such as that cough may be linked to blooms of cyanobacteria that become airborne during the summer. 

U of M says the blooms are fueled by excess runoff from farms. Wind and waves can spray aerosols containing cyanobacterial toxins into the atmosphere.

Researchers are looking for answers to how lake aerosols travel and the health effects of inhaling them. The focus is on Lake Erie, but harmful algal blooms are a concern throughout the Great Lakes, including Saginaw Bay. 

…

2 – The State of the Bay conference is Oct. 7 at the Doubletree in downtown Bay City. 

The conference will shine a light on educational, restoration, community development and conservation projects. 

The event is held every two years to focus on Saginaw Bay and its watershed. The conference is put on by the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network, a group funded by area foundations. 

The agenda for Wednesday, Oct. 7, includes keynote speaker Dr. Lynne Heasley, an environmental historian and author from Western Michigan University. 

More information is online at StateOfTheBay2026.org. 

(Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-bay-2026-registration-1989236040546)

…

3 – Bay City recycling has hit a milestone. 

Michigan EGLE, the state’s environmental agency, reports that Bay City residents recycled 50% more materials in 2025 than they did in 2022. 

Households recycled almost 1,400 tons in 2025, according to EGLE and the city’s Department of Public Works. 

Officials say investments to expand access to recycling in Bay City include a curbside cart program launched in 2022 and a recycling drop-off center. 

That drop-off center, by the way, has reportedly seen a 301% increase in visits since opening in 2020. 

– 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 or even Bluesky #MrGreatLakes

-30-