Category Archives: Great Lakes

Mapping pathways for roaming cougars

3-bottom, Environment, Great Lakes, , ,

By Eric Freeman
Capital News Service

Cougar habitat in North America has been shrinking due to development and land fragmentation, while “human-induced mortality” has shrunken their numbers, wildlife researchers warn.

Even so, the future of these alpha predators isn’t all gloom and doom, say scientists who compiled 180 reports of confirmed cougar observations in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota between 2010 and 2020.

Sightings rose that decade, helped by improved technology such as trail cameras and camera phones, they said.

“Cougars have lost substantial portions of their historical range, yet increased sightings suggest potential for re-establishment in some regions,” researchers from the Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry wrote in a recent article in the journal “Biological Conservation.”

The Michigan DNR says the last wild cougar known to have been legally hunted in the state was killed near Newberry in 1906.

“The Great Lakes region will likely be an important area for cougar range expansion into the Midwest and Eastern U.S.,” the study said. “Greater understanding of potential distribution and connectivity is necessary to make sound management and policy decisions.

Cougar traffic is apt to move from west to east, the study said. “An individual cougar moving randomly through the study area would be more likely to move through northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”

The goal of their project was to develop a regional map that highlights suitable habitat and connectivity, referring to a physical network of pathways linking locations where cougars may live. Their study area was 44% forested and 37% agricultural land, with wetlands, shrublands and developed land accounting for the rest.

The team mapped 362 linkages – pathways from a half-mile to 3.7 miles long – connecting 191 “core patches” of land, primarily in the northern part of the three states. About half the core patches are in legally protected areas, such as national forests, natural resource management areas, and state and local conservation areas.

As for the other half, private landowners should play an essential role in protecting habitat and connectivity, the study said.

Not many years ago, the mere presence of cougars in Michigan was questioned, with reported observations but no scientifically conclusive proof.

“There was a long history of sighting reports” but “they were not only not accepted by the DNR but met with animosity,” said Patrick Rusz, the director of wildlife programs at the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, based in Bath. People who claimed to have seen the animals or their tracks “were ridiculed and called crazy.”

Rusz, who studied sightings across the state, said, “It wasn’t like a phenomenon that popped up. It had been going on as long as Michigan had been settled. I found, to most people’s satisfaction, there were cougars out there.”

He said skeptics then shifted their arguments to contend that the sightings were of pets or transitory visitors, but “the problem (with that argument) was that these were resident animals, not wandering around aimlessly. They had core ranges because we found them again and again and again.”

And technology – in the form of trail cameras and smartphones – has provided “evidence you can’t ignore, Rusz said.

As for the new study, Rusz said he’s skeptical about the relevance of modeling and mapping of connectivity. “It looks good, but whether it has anything to do with the future of cougars or not I tend to question.”

That’s because cougar survival in the Great Lakes region doesn’t depend on pathways and core patches, he continued.

 

“There’re corridors everywhere. A cougar doesn’t need a corridor. They could care less about that. They do really well around people.

“If our cougars are limited in some way, they’re limited by genetics, not limited by habitat and such. They have a tremendous ability to live in a variety of cover types,” Rusz said. “In the West in deserts, urban areas, plains – anywhere they have something to eat.”

Brian Roell, a Marquette-based wildlife biologist for the DNR, said the Dakotas are likely the source of Michigan cougars.

He said the Michigan DNR’s cougar team hasn’t identified any females, and “we suspect we don’t have a breeding population.”

He said the team has confirmed at least two observations in the Upper Peninsula so far this year.

Wherever they are, they’re at low density, Roell said. They aren’t expected to harm or kill other wildlife species or farm animals.

“We have not confirmed any depredation from cougars,” he said, adding that there have been no claims by Upper Peninsula farmers for indemnification from the state. A claim in the Lower Peninsula was turned down because the predator turned out not to be a cougar.

Humans pose the biggest challenge to cougars, Roell said, calling it a matter of “social tolerance – will people leave them alone?”

Eric Freedman is professor of journalism and former associate dean of International Studies and Programs. During his 20-year newspaper career, he covered public affairs, environmental issues and legal affairs for newspapers in New York and Michigan, winning a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of a legislative corruption scandal.

Search for Isle Royale’s bone bounty yields environmental clues, new friends, wilderness salvation

3-bottom, Education, Environment, Great Lakes, Pets/Animals, Recreation, Upcoming Events, WKTV Projects, , ,

By Marshall Lee Weimer
Capital News Service

I was on the hunt for teeth.

The rich, dark, wet earth forced itself under my fingernails as I scratched through roots and a few beetles.

But no teeth. I needed those teeth.

Or that’s what Clay Ecklund, my expedition leader, told our team of volunteer bone seekers on Isle Royale National Park. I squatted in the middle of a thick cedar swamp with John Warming and Lada Zednik. Nearby, Hal Hanson, another member of our group, sat behind a few downed trees, resting from an arduous hike through nearly unnavigable terrain.

There was another presence. Or what remained of one. We were at a moose calf’s final resting place, trying to piece together its skeleton. All the bones were there, the mandibles, the metatarsus, parts of the skull. But no teeth.

We needed the teeth.

I couldn’t tell where I was. I knew I was on an island wilderness in the middle of Lake Superior. But where exactly on the island, only the GPS knew that. North was somewhere over my left shoulder.

We were sweaty, exhausted and fighting off the summer’s first mosquitoes. We had gotten turned around an hour earlier and realized we had to go through the cedar thicket to find another water source. It was then that I realized I had sprained my ankle stepping off a dead log two hours earlier.

Search for Isle Royale’s bone bounty yields environmental clues, new friends, wilderness salvation (Capital News Service)

It slowly swelled in my boot. By dinner, I couldn’t walk.

Most people don’t experience national parks this way, especially on their first visit. But I had the special opportunity to participate in a volunteer backpacking expedition known as the Moosewatch Expedition.

Since 1988, the expedition has sought volunteer backpackers for a citizen science project. You set off from the dock where the boat from the mainland drops you and then hike deep into the backcountry. The goal is to collect as many moose bones as you can in a weeklong trek across the island. There are four expeditions from mid-May to late July.

This is easier said than done. This expedition is completely off-trail, meaning no paved paths, trail markers or campgrounds. Navigation is done with a compass and a pocket GPS marked with kill site coordinates – places where scientists know wolves have eaten moose. Sometimes the bones were super easy finds. Other times it took hours of searching to find a single vertebra.

Ecklund said the first expedition of the summer has the easiest time finding bones since the understory of ferns hasn’t filled in yet. “It’s nearly impossible to find the bones in July.”

We arranged our five-member group into a long, spread out line. We then all hiked forward into the wilderness, keeping our eyes peeled for bones. Visual contact with another volunteer was always maintained. Otherwise, the island quickly became an endless maze of maples and spruce.

When a bone or antler is found, you shout “BONE!” to the rest of the team. That was the cue to fan out and search the area for the creature’s remains. We carried the bones we found to a central location where the team leader cataloged and photographed the partial skeleton.

All bones must be carried out on foot as there are no roads on the island. Thankfully, not all the bones need to be carried out. Only the skulls, mandibles (the jawbone) and metatarsus (the foot bone) are needed. The teeth I was looking for help determine a moose’s age. These bones tell the researchers all they need to know about the moose.

“The bones are super-valuable,” said Sarah Hoy, a research assistant professor at Michigan Tech University, who studies the island’s moose and wolf populations. She helps lead the university’s moose-wolf survey, the longest recorded predator-prey survey in the world.

The volunteer expedition has helped build the world’s largest collection of moose bones, she said. Those bones help researchers study other things.

A moose skull takes on a new, mossy life on Isle Royale. (Marshall Lee Weimer)

Among them is air quality. Moose store heavy metals from the air in their teeth.

Researchers measured the impact of the U.S. Clean Air Act by analyzing the heavy metal content of moose teeth. Since the bone collection is so old, they could compare lead and mercury levels in teeth from before and after the law was strengthened in 1970. Researchers saw heavy metal levels in the teeth drop dramatically in the early 1980s, showing that air quality had improved.

Disease is another thing the bone collection helps us understand.

We learn a lot about human arthritis from moose arthritis, said Rolf Peterson, a research professor who has studied the wolves and moose of Isle Royale for more than 50 years. Isle Royale moose have an unusually high rate of arthritis compared to mainland ones. Although it is not conclusive, Peterson said the study has shown lifelong health problems like arthritis could be linked to poor nutrition early in life.

Unlike with humans, we can study how arthritis affects moose throughout their lives, Peterson said. “We can’t experiment on people.”

Peterson has been with Moosewatch since its beginning in 1988 and has collected a lot of data and life-long friends from the program. It is a great way to spread the word about science and to get people involved, he said. “Science shouldn’t be an exclusive activity.”

The hands-on science was a fascinating look at moose. But I learned just as much about another mammal of Isle Royale: people.

With about 18,000 visitors each year, Isle Royale is the least-visited national park in the continental U.S. However, it is America’s most revisited national park. My fellow Moosewatchers taught me why.

Larry Fuerst, a retired commercial pilot from Fenton, has been on Moosewatch since 2009. The isolation and ruggedness bring him back. He likes to turn his brain off and just listen to the island.

“Listening to nothing really is something,” he said.

Adrienne Detancio, an organic gardener from Chicago, had already been to the island three times, but this was her first Moosewatch. Hanson recruited her on the ferry home after she had finished a solo trip across Isle Royale. To her, the island is magical.

“It’s like the island is alive in a weird way,” she said.

Ron Eckoff knows the most about that comradery of the group as the longest returning volunteer. A retired public health official, he was on the second expedition in 1989 and has since returned to the island 33 times – 26 with Moosewatch.

Before joining, Eckoff, who is from Iowa, had no backpacking experience. But since then, he has amassed hundreds of stories from those expeditions. His favorite expedition was in 1996 when there was a massive die-off of moose and 3 feet of snow. The harbor bay was frozen, so the volunteers had to snowshoe over ice to the coastline.

“There were dead moose everywhere,” he said.

Ron Porrit, a retired Navy veteran from Hudsonville, was also on that 1996 expedition. Since the moose had not yet decomposed, the carcasses were much heavier, he said “A bull moose head with its antlers can easily weigh 60 pounds.”

Eckoff carried three heads out that year.

In our week on the island, my expedition recovered the remains of 26 moose.

But I never did find those moose teeth. Nor did I see a moose.

But I found so much more. The island is full of life, both human and inhuman. I saw sucker fish spawning and spiders crawling. And, for the first time, I heard wolves howling.

I learned bird calls, hacks for backpacking gear and heard stories about meeting serial killers and suffering injuries much worse than mine.

The richness of wildness on Isle Royale far made up for my twisted ankle.

While I left the island, I thought about a quote from Henry David Thoreau, the 19th century naturalist and thinker. It sums up Isle Royale’s meaning to all who dwell in its forests:

“In wildness is the salvation of the world.”

Marshall Lee Weimer writes for Great Lakes Echo.

Great Lakes algae threaten air quality

3-bottom, Environment, Great Lakes, ,
Sediment and algae color the Great Lakes. (NASA Earth Observatory)

By Hannah Brock
Capital News Service

Toxins from harmful algal blooms are well-known as water polluters, but now researchers are looking at how they harm Great Lakes air.

And that could have implications for human health, they say.

Particles of water emerge into the air when waves break, said Andrew Ault, a chemistry professor and researcher of aerosols at the University of Michigan. Those particles sometimes contain toxins.

 

“This is one of the largest sources of particles getting kicked up into the atmosphere globally, but the Great Lakes are really different,” Ault said.

Scientists have studied particles emerging from the ocean for decades, he said. But freshwater aerosols, like those from the Great Lakes region, have been studied for only about a decade.

Aerosols are liquids or solids suspended in gas, said Haley Plaas, a doctoral student and aerosol researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For example, COVID-19 can be spread through aerosols, and that is one reason why people wear masks.

Plaas published a study about airborne toxins from algal blooms in the journal “Environmental Science & Technology.”

Her study’s most important takeaway is that evidence suggests harmful toxins and algae itself are found in the air, she said, and airborne algal toxins may be more of a threat in the Great Lakes than previously thought.

Scientists are unsure how much toxin is in the air, how weather and water quality affect it and how it can affect human health, Plaas said. Right now, more research is needed to understand what inhaling this toxin could mean for respiratory health.

“A main concern is for people who live near these bodies of water that experience the blooms, and also for people using it recreationally, like jet skiing, boating, fishing,” Plaas said.

The wake from a boat is especially troublesome because that’s a source of bubble-bursting that can make the toxins airborne, she said.

Ault has published several papers on aerosols and is working on one that shows that algae toxins in the Great Lakes are getting into the air.

 

He said he plans to work with engineers and modelers to develop a risk system to help people avoid poor air quality from algal blooms.

Then he’d like to work with epidemiologists to relate exposure to health, he said. “That’s kind of the trajectory of where we see this going.”

A lack of research about harmful algal blooms and air quality is in part due to insufficient funding, Ault said.

“We need to show that it’s important for people to get excited to fund it,” Ault said. “We’re going through that cycle, but I wouldn’t say that funding agencies have paid much attention to it yet.”

Funding has primarily come from local agencies rather than national ones, he said.

Algae blooms occur because of a warming climate and nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from activities like agriculture, said Judy Westrick, a chemistry professor at Wayne State University and a researcher who has worked with Ault.

In the Great Lakes region, algal blooms occur in inland lakes and the western basin of Lake Erie, primarily in shallow water, Westrick said.

Research focuses on water quality because of observations, Westrick said. When people became sick after swimming in toxic water, scientists began researching it.

However, now that water quality is better understood, scientists are branching out into understanding algae toxins and air, Westrick said.

“You’re probably going to see, in probably the next year, like 100 studies on aerosol,” Westrick said. “Aerosol has become a big thing because of a couple of factors.”

Those factors are part of climate change, she said. For example, heavy rainfall can cause waves and break up harmful algae, releasing particles that could be toxic in the air.

 

Westrick and Ault plan to study living algae being broken apart by waves and how they affect air quality, she said. Once algae breaks apart, it dies and may release toxins into the water.

 

The expert consensus is algae blooms will get worse as climate change and runoff worsen, Westrick said.

Algae essentially eat nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from agricultural runoff.

“If you take care of the nutrients and you don’t have the nutrient load, then then they won’t get worse, but if everything stayed the same, the nutrient load, and it just gets warmer, we expect them to go longer,” Westrick said.

However, Ault said people shouldn’t panic about airborne algae toxins.

Still, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious, such as not walking in an algae bloom or participating in recreational activities near it, he said.

Hannah Brock reports for Great Lakes Echo.

Researchers seek volunteers to document coastal erosion in Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Great Lakes, , ,
Manistee Beach in 2014. A team of Michigan State University researchers is working with volunteers in coastal communities to track erosion in the state. (McCoy Scribner)

By McKoy Scribner
Capital News Service

Although Great Lakes water levels are down, the risk of coastal erosion remains high, Michigan State University researchers say. Now, the researchers are enlisting “citizen scientists” to assist in helping better understand coastal change.

Funded by a $300,000 early concept grant from the National Science Foundation Coastlines and People Initiative, the Interdisciplinary Citizen-based Coastal REmote Sensing for Adaptive Management (IC-CREAM) project wants to work with multiple communities in the Great Lakes region facing impacts from record-high water levels.

 

The IC-CREAM team is developing a first-of-its kind citizen science program to equip and train volunteers to pilot drones and use other geospatial technologies to better monitor and understand coastal change and vulnerabilities.

The project, led by Assistant and Associate Professors Erin Bunting, Ethan Theuerkauf and Elizabeth Mack, aims to empower Michigan coastal communities to generate their own data on coastal changes and hazards by taking pictures of what is seen at beaches and uploading them to a web app.

“Take a picture with your phone. That photo has a geotag located, so all you have to do is upload that photo to the web app, and put in some information about like when it was collected, all that kind of stuff, and that helps us document it,” Theuerkauf said.

The team is working with citizen scientists to gather data in Marquette, Manistique, Iosco County, Chikaming Township, Manistee and South Haven.

 

Theuerkauf said getting scientists, citizens, and community decision-makers to work together is an important step in addressing coastal issues.

“We’re working hand in hand with those communities, we’re working hand in hand with the public, to provide information that we know is useful because we worked with them from the onset to decide what direction we need to take with this data collection and this processing.”

Planning is underway for additional proposals and partnerships with local, state and federal entities to expand project work and research.

This story is brought to you as part of a partnership between WKAR and Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.

Great Lakes Surf Festival hosts its third event at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach

Entertainment, Great Lakes, Local Entertainment, , , ,
Great Lakes Surf Festival returns in 2021 with an August date and location at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach. (Supplied)

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

After great success during the first two events in 2018 and 2019, the Great Lakes Surf Festival is back and will be holding their third annual event on Aug. 14 at Pere Marquette Beach in Muskegon Michigan. For 2021, event goers will be able to learn how to surf and paddleboard, along with practicing in yoga directly on the beach. Music, food, and a raffle will also take place. Several surfboards and paddleboards will be given away along with a trip to Costa Rica.

 

No waves? No problem! The Great Lakes Surf Festival in conjunction with Tommy’s Boats of Grand Rapids Michigan will be making artificial waves. Tommy’s Boats will be able to generate waist high waves to simulate ocean waves. These conditions will be ideal for those seeking a gentle way to learn a variety of boardsports.

 

“We are excited to see the Great Lakes Surf Festival grow and to have the support from our sponsors and from the surf and paddleboard industry,” said Event Co-Founder Joe Bidawid. “We have one of the most beautiful venue locations on the Great Lakes, in Pere Marquette Beach, and we encourage anyone interested in a fun and family friendly beach day to come out and join us.

 

“Imagine a late summer day on an amazing beach, doing what you love and surrounded by so many people from all over the Great Lakes, who share the same passion. That is our goal.”

More information can be found at www.GreatLakesSurfFestival.com. Contact the Great Lakes Surf Festival at info@greatlakessurffestival.com.

Muskegon’s Great Lakes Surf Festival to return to Pere Marquette Beach in August

Entertainment, Great Lakes, Kids Activities, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Sports, Travel, ,
The Great Lake Surf Festival will be returning this year to Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach. (GLSF)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The Great Lakes Surf Festival at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach was a great success in 2018 and 2019, and then there was the pandemic year of 2020. But the organizers of the festival recently announced that they will be holding their third event on Saturday, Aug. 14.

And this year, event goers will be able to learn how to surf and paddleboard, along with practicing in yoga directly on the beach. Music, food, and a raffle will also take place. Several surfboards and paddleboards will be given away along with a surf trip to Costa Rica, according to the announcement.

“We are excited to see the Great Lakes Surf Festival grow and to have the support from our sponsors and from the surf and paddleboard industry,” event co-founder Joe Bidawid said in supplied material. “We have one of the most beautiful venue locations on the Great Lakes, in Pere Marquette Beach.”

  

And what if there is no waves? Tommy’s Boats of Grand Rapids Michigan will be making artificial waves — waist high waves to simulate ocean waves — wave conditions ideal for those seeking to learn a variety of boardsports.

“Imagine a late summer day on an amazing beach, doing what you love and surrounded by so many people from all over the Great Lakes, who share the same passion,” Bidawid said in supplied material. “That is our goal.”

For more information visit GreatLakesSurfFestival.com.

The state’s DNR reminds people of water and pier safety as they head to the beach

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Great Lakes, Health, Recreation, Travel, ,
Of Michigan’s 100-plus state parks, 42 offers access to Great Lakes shoreline. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

By Ron Olson
olsonr@michigan.gov

As the summer heats up and people begin flocking to Great Lakes beaches, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources urges everyone to keep water and pier safety in mind.

Holding more than 20% of the world’s fresh water, the Great Lakes are large, powerful water systems. These lakes reign supreme for many during warmer months, but they also are prone to dangerous currents that can threaten even the most experienced swimmer. Adverse weather patterns can create dangerous rip and structural currents along piers and breakwalls, too. Crashing waves can create slippery surfaces and conditions strong enough to knock a person into the water.

“The DNR eagerly welcomes millions of visitors to Michigan state parks each summer,” said Sean Mulligan, Holland State Park manager. “Visitors should keep in mind that winds can come up quickly, changing conditions without warning, so always pay attention to the weather. The Great Lakes can become very dangerous, especially when waves get higher than 4 feet.”

Michigan has 20% of the world’s freest water. (Supplied)

Unfortunately, several emergencies and drownings have occurred along the beach and breakwall areas. Many of these incidents happened during red flag days when the wind and waves are strong with greater potential for dangerous rip currents.Of Michigan’s 100-plus state parks, 42 offer access to Great Lakes shoreline.

Ron Olson, chief of the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said the increase in accidents and drownings on the Great Lakes in recent years is especially troubling and clear evidence that greater public awareness is needed. In particular, Grand Haven, Holland, Ludington and Mears state parks are situated in locations where rip currents tend to build and recurring safety hazards are present.

“When it comes to protecting Michigan residents and visitors on the water, especially the Great Lakes, we cannot talk enough about safety, preparation and vigilant awareness,” Olson said.

New safety measures at Holland State Park

Holland State Park, situated along Lake Michigan, is one of Michigan’s most-visited sites and provides the main access to a popular pier that is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. More recently, the DNR and the local community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions.

This past fall, Holland State Park staff collaborated with Park Township and The King Company to fund the installation of a gate on the pier adjacent to Holland State Park. The goal is to help save lives by restricting access during harsh weather and to reduce the number of people jumping off the pier, while still allowing people to fish from the pier when feasible. Generally speaking, the gate will be closed during the winter, when the red flags are flying and during night hours when the park is closed.

In addition, an electronic messaging board conveying beach conditions is located where visitors enter Holland State Park, and a new public address system will be used to update beachgoers as the beach warning flags are changed in response to weather conditions. Visitors also can view live beach conditions at CityOfHolland.com/645/MIHollandCAM via livestream video courtesy of the City of Holland and Biggby Coffee. Conditions are posted on the park’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/HollandStateParkMi.

More recently, the DNR and the Holland community have collaborated on additional ways to alert visitors to changing Great Lakes and pier conditions. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

River outlets and breakwalls

Dangerous currents can occur near the outlets of rivers and breakwalls, especially during times that water levels are higher.

For example, the mouth of the Big Sable River is located in Ludington State Park, but outside the designated swim area. In the past, swimmers have been swept out into Lake Michigan. This park also has installed an electronic bulletin messaging board at the entrance to the designated beach area to help alert visitors of current conditions.

In addition, swimmers should be aware of particularly dangerous structural currents that form along shoreline structures near breakwalls, such as in Mears State Park.

“When northwest winds appear, water is pushed to the shore causing dangerous currents along the north side of the pier,” said Chris Bush, lead ranger at Mears State Park. “People are often surprised that structures located in the Great Lakes can cause such powerful, and sometimes dangerous, currents.”

Using state park designated swim areas on the Great Lakes

Many, but not all, state parks on the Great Lakes offer designated swimming areas that are identified by buoys or buoys and markers, a beach flag warning system and water depth less than 5 feet at the time of installation. Water depth will be inspected approximately every 14 days and underwater obstacles will be posted or marked. You may also find other designated swim areas in areas other than state parks.

Check the flag upon arrival and be sure to monitor it throughout the day because conditions can change rapidly.

  • Green flag = Go. Enter the water but stay aware of changing conditions.
  • Yellow flag = Caution. Watch for dangerous currents and high waves.
  • Red flag = Stop. Stay on the beach; do not enter the water and do not swim.

There are no beach guards at state parks , so please never swim alone and keep close watch of children. Stay within arm’s reach and make sure all kids wear life jackets.

If there is an emergency, immediately call 911. At Holland and Grand Haven state parks, use the nearest red zone number boards (located on the beach) to help relay your location as accurately as possible.

State park designated swim areas have lifesaving flotation device and equipment. Remember the safety equipment on the beach or pier is for emergency use only; using this equipment for anything else is against the law.

Keep these additional cautions in mind when enjoying time in and around the Great Lakes:

  • Currents near piers can be extremely hazardous. Pay attention to the buoys marking the designated swim areas; swimming outside of the marked swim zones can be dangerous and should be avoided.
  • During certain weather conditions, the force of water and waves crashing over the surface can easily wash someone off a structure; always monitor the beach flag warning system.
  • Before leaving home, learn about the types of Great Lakes currents and how to escape them.
  • Check local weather reports and lake conditions before and during your beach trip.

Nondesignated swim areas on the Great Lakes

Visitors in areas without designated swim beaches should use extreme caution because they will not have the benefit of the beach flag warning system or the visual cautions of buoys that mark water depth and other obstacles.

More smart safety water tips

When swimming or boating in any body of water – whether the Great Lakes, inland lakes or slow-moving rivers and streams – make safety your first priority. Never swim alone, always keep close watch of children and bring U.S. Coast-Guard-approved life jackets, especially for new and inexperienced swimmers.

When boating, have life jackets available for everyone on the vessel, leave a float plan with someone on shore, stay alert and carry a cell phone or marine radio. Such planning goes for those on personal watercraft like Jet Skis and paddle boards, too. Learn boating safety.

More info

Visit Michigan.gov/BeachSafety to learn about the beach flag warning system, how to escape rip currents and more.

Chain of Lakes Water Trail is now open

3-bottom, Environment, Great Lakes
Chain of Lakes Trail is now officially opened. (Supplied)

By Ellie Kirkpatrick
Chain of Lakes Water Trail

Paddle Antrim is pleased to announce that the Chain of Lakes Water Trail in Northwest Michigan is officially open to the public.

In 2014, efforts began to create a 100+ mile water trail – making paddling the Chain of Lakes accessible and navigable for paddlers. Now in 2021, this goal has become a reality as the non-profit organization celebrated the Chain of Lakes Water Trail Ribbon Cutting on May 26 in Ellsworth, Michigan.

Water trails are the aquatic equivalent to a hiking trail, designed for people using non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards. “While the lakes have always existed, the water trail provides infrastructure and information paddlers need to make decisions and have a quality experience on the water,” said Deana Jerdee, Executive Director of Paddle Antrim, host of the water trail. “This project is a culmination of a region coming together to inspire people to be active and safe on the water, educate individuals on how to be good stewards of our water resources, and provide avenues for economic development.”

Paddle Antrim is very grateful to the Consumers Energy Foundation, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Rosso Family Foundation, Rotary Charities of Traverse City, The Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, Frey Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, and many other donors, partners, and supporters who helped make this project a success.

“Consumers Energy is dedicated to ensuring Michigan has thriving communities with world-class natural resources and recreational opportunities,” said Carolyn Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “We are thrilled to support Paddle Antrim and the Chain of Lakes Trail because it will enhance Northern Michigan’s economic vitality while protecting our waters for today and for generations to come.”

The Chain of Lakes Water Trail exemplifies a region working together. The trail, which spans four counties, is hosted by Paddle Antrim and supported by 19 governmental and nonprofit entities who own the 84 access sites along the trail. The Chain of Lakes Water Trail offers paddlers access to quaint communities of Ellsworth, Central Lake, Bellaire, and Elk Rapids. These towns all have access points that allow paddlers to easily walk into town to enjoy the plentiful amenities including restaurants, retail stores, outfitters, art galleries and more. The water trail is best suited to day-trips and provides a diverse range of paddling opportunities for all skill levels.

Recently installed signs were located near the water’s edge at each access site, so paddlers can identify where to exit from the water. Additional information on stewardship, safety, paddling experiences, and more is found on kiosks along the trail.

To help paddlers create the right paddling experience, Paddle Antrim recently released several great resources for navigating the Chain of Lakes. The Chain of Lakes Paddler’s Guide, a 30-page waterproof guidebook provides information to help paddlers plan a safe and worthwhile trip. A digital map is also available that can be downloaded through Avenza Maps. All this and more can be found on their website, www.chainoflakeswatertrail.org, that serves as a one-stop shop for anyone planning a paddling adventure on the water trail. 

Two sisters share the stories of haunted Michigan

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Great Lakes, Local Entertainment, Local History, Travel, , ,

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters

While dinning at a restaurant called The Whitney in Detroit, Beverlee Rydel took a photo that remains unexplained. The paranormal possibilities of this photo fueled a passion that lead to a 12-year crusade, often traveling tens of thousands of miles per year across Michigan to research paranormal activity. Rydel and her sister Kathleen Tedsen shared the adventure as they bravely ventured into a world of the unknown.

This paranormal pilgrimage and their tedious historical research culminated in Rydel and Tedsen becoming the award winning authors of “Haunted Travels of Michigan.” This three book series is a unique book and website interactive experience. Each story has its own “Secret Room” offering audio, video, and behind the scene colored photos online, where evidence can be reviewed. Rydel and Tedsen included several of Michigan’s top paranormal investigating teams at many of the haunted locations. Their common goal was to separate fact from fiction when it comes to ghost stories, urban legends, folklore, and myth. 

Beverlee Rydel

Honorably, if the authors were investigating a location and “no ghostly activity was identified,” they made it clear, “didn’t turn up any paranormal evidence,” and were not afraid to say “no ghosts” here at this time. Hunting ghosts can be a hazardous hobby with inherent risks and real dangers and is not recommended for amateurs. The serious side of the supernatural is explored as Rydell and Tedsen detail accounts of demons and deliverance. Deliverance is needed when obsession nears possession and can be defined as an exorcism.

Rydel and Tedsen followed their highly successful “Haunted Travels of Michigan” book series with their final book, a collaboration titled “Stepping Into Darkness.” Gone but never to be forgotten, Rydel passed away before the book was completed. Tedsen completed the project with chapter one covering Eloise Psychiatric Hospital, considered to be one of Michigan’s top ten most haunted sites. The author’s special connection introduces the reader to “Mark” a patient at the hospital. The personal insights are astonishingly detailed and descriptive.

Kathleen Tedsen

Another chapter is titled, “Lost Boy of Mackinac Island.” In this story the sisters put together clues from the previous year and are able to encourage the spirit of a young boy to cross over to the other side. Channeling peace to the living and the dead is the ultimate goal of ghost hunters. According to Rydel and Tedsen, “Something does exist out there…Something that can’t be explained…Something paranormal.”

Disclaimer: Since my last article on Mackinac Island, I interviewed Todd Clements and he no longer supports the details of “The Drowning Pool” story.  

Registration open as IRONMAN Triathlon plans return to Traverse City area in 2021

Great Lakes, Recreation, Sports, Upcoming Events, ,
Registration is now open for Michigan’s 2021 IRONMAN Triathlon. (Ironman Group 2018 Media Guide)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Registration is now open for the IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan Triathlon scheduled for Sept. 21 in Frankfort, Michigan. In December 2020, it was announced that the Traverse City area location will serve as a multi-year host venue for the 70.3-mile swim, bike and run event.

Traverse City hosted the 70.3 triathlon in 2019 and, according to the announcement, relocating the race to nearby Frankfort — on the coast of Lake Michigan — offered “the perfect setting” for 2021.

“Following in the success of the event in Traverse City a couple years ago, we’ve seen an incredible interest from athletes to visit and race in northern Michigan,” Keats McGonigal, of The IRONMAN Group., said in supplied material. “We are excited to continue to host an event in this beautiful region and … we feel that Frankfort and the surrounding areas will deliver an unparalleled race week experience while being the perfect destination for both athletes and their families alike.”

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan triathlon will consist of a 1.2-mile swim in the protected water of the Frankfort Harbor. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike for a 56-mile ride on sections of the M-22 scenic highway. Concluding their IRONMAN 70.3 journey, athletes will run 13.1 miles in Frankfort and surrounding areas. (Additional course details will be shared as soon as they are available at ironman.com/im703-michigan.)

General registration for IRONMAN 70.3 Michigan opened in December 2020. And athletes and spectators can find lodging opportunities at traversecity.com/ironman. For more information on Traverse City area attractions, visit traversecity.com, as well as ironman.com for details on the global event series.

“We can’t wait to welcome IRONMAN 70.3 back to northern Michigan,” Trevor Tkach, of Traverse City Tourism, which also represents Frankfort, said is supplied material. “Our organization is honored to continue to support the race and the athletes who train for this incredible feat. The new course will be an exciting change for athletes, and spectators will be able to enjoy exploring the beautiful town of Frankfort in addition to the surrounding Traverse City region.”

We the People 2020 General Election: Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Great Lakes, Local Faces, Politics, Upcoming Events, We The People, , ,

Note: For the Michigan Nov. 3 general election, WKTV’s We The People program invited participation from all candidates. If they participated, their videos are linked here, For those who did not participate, either a candidate-provided biography/issues statement, or simply their name is listed. All videos are 5-minutes or less, and were not edited in any way by WKTV. For this race only, due to COVID-19 related circumstances, the videos were recorded via Zoom.

The 2nd Congressional District U.S. House of Representative seat covers Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties in their entirety as well as portions of Allegan, Mason and Kent counties, including the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. For a Michigan Congressional District map, click here.

The candidates are five-term incumbent Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland, Democratic candidate Rev. Bryan Berghoef of Holland, Libertarian candidate Max Riekse of Fruitport, US Taxpayers Party candidate Gerald T. Van Sickle of Wellston, and Green Party candidate Jean-Michel Creviere of Holland.

Bill Huizenga – Incumbent U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Occupation: Small business owner, Huizenga Gravel Co.

Why did you decide to run for this position?

As a husband, father, and third generation family small business owner, I understand what makes West Michigan such a special place. As a lifelong resident of West Michigan, I am committed to upholding the West Michigan values that we hold dear, creating new opportunities for hardworking families, and protecting our Great Lakes. As your representative, I have proven myself to be a leader in the effort to rein in Washington’s out of control spending, cut taxes for hard working middle class families, and level the playing field for Michigan farmers and growers.

However, the job is not done. We don’t need West Michigan to be more like Washington, we need Washington to be more like West Michigan and that is exactly what I will continue fighting for.

Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:

As your Representative in Congress, my responsibility is to stand up and take action for West Michigan. During my time in office, I have led in uncertain times, worked to create an environment for new and better jobs, and stood up for West Michigan common sense.

When COVID-19 struck, I introduced legislation to help keep doctors and nurses at work, deliveries on the road, and food on the shelves at the local grocery stores. As a small business owner, I understand the challenges of today’s economy. I am working hard to ensure that everyone in West Michigan has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Foremost, I never forget that I represent the people of West Michigan, which is why I will continue fighting for quality education, affordable health-care, protection of the unborn, and the protection of the Great Lakes.

Rev. Bryan Berghoef — Candidate U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Occupation: Pastor

Why did you decide to run for this position?

As a pastor, my job is to listen to people. The job of a representative is also to listen, and too many folks don’t feel they are being listened to or that their voice is represented in Congress. I’d like to change that.

Please list two to three issues you feel your voters are facing:

COVID. People want a thorough, national response, and need COVID relief passed.

Healthcare. We need to make coverage more affordable, and protect coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Environment. We must protect the Great Lakes, address the threat of climate change, and move toward cleaner sources of energy.

Max Riekse — Candidate U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Gerald T. Van Sickle — Candidate U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Jean-Michel Creviere — Candidate U.S. Representative, 2nd Congressional District

Signs installed opening the 99-mile Chain of Lakes Water Trail

3-bottom, Environment, Great Lakes

By Ellie Kirkpatrick
Paddle Antrim

Paddle Antrim announced that signs have been installed along the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, Northern Michigan’s only state designated water trail. From small lakes to big lakes, and meandering rivers, this trail provides a paddling experience for all skill levels. Whether kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding or fishing, there are opportunities for all to enjoy along this 99 mile long trail.

“While the lakes have always existed, the water trail provides the information people need to make decisions on where to paddle,” said Deana Jerdee, Executive Director of Paddle Antrim.  “We have worked with our partners to identify 84 access sites and consolidate the information so people know where they can launch, what amenities are available, what distances they will travel and more to help create a quality paddling experience.”

The Chain of Lakes Water Trail offers paddlers access to quaint communities along the trail including Ellsworth, Central Lake, Bellaire, and Elk Rapids. These towns all have access points that allow paddlers to easily walk into town to enjoy the plentiful amenities including restaurants, retail stores, outfitters, art galleries and more. “Over the last few years we have seen a steady incline in our paddle sport rentals,” said Patrick Boyd, owner of Paddles and Pedals, located in downtown Bellaire.  “Word about the water trail is getting out and with the current pandemic more people are craving access to nature. We love seeing paddlers out on the water enjoying the beauty of the area.”

Paddle Antrim has been working on the Chain of Lakes Water Trail since 2015. The trail depends on access sites identified and approved by 19 governmental and nonprofit entities.  Signs have been placed near the water’s edge at each access site so paddlers can identify where to exit from the water. Additional information on stewardship, safety, paddling experiences, and more can be found on kiosks at main and secondary access sites. “The emphasis on stewardship included in the water trail signs is essential to educate new and experienced paddlers about ways to protect our waterways,” said Christine Crissman, Executive Director of The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay. “The appreciation paddlers have for clean, healthy water distinctively motivates them to prevent concerns such as shoreline erosion and spreading aquatic invasive species.”

In addition to the signs being installed, Paddle Antrim has launched a new website with all the Chain of Lakes Water Trail information that paddlers need in order to plan a safe and fun trip. The non-profit is in the final stages of developing a waterproof Paddler’s Guide which will be available for purchase on their website. These tools are meant to help paddlers plan ahead to ensure a fun and safe experience and remind them of safety measures and stewardship.

 

Paddle Antrim raised $275,000 for the launch of the water trail, which includes the installation of these signs. The non-profit is grateful to Consumers Energy Foundation, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Rosso Family Foundation, Rotary Charities of Traverse City, The Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation and many other donors, partners, and supporters who helped make this project a success.

For more information about the Chain of Lakes, visit Paddle Antrim’s website or visit www.michiganwatertrails.org.