Read the latest positive news, breakthroughs, and inspiring stories about great lakes, curated daily by BrightWire.
Stanley "Skip" Pruss spent four decades transforming Michigan's environmental protections and clean energy systems before passing from cancer in September. His work saved billions of fish, protected millions of acres of wetlands, and secured landmark victories that will benefit Michiganders for generations.
Ancient fish swimming in the Great Lakes could be older than the United States itself. New research reveals lake sturgeon may live more than 400 years, nearly triple previous estimates.
Young volunteers in Alpena, Michigan wrapped up a summer of cleanups by reaching their goal of collecting 4,000 pieces of trash from local parks and beaches. The effort pushes a regional nonprofit closer to removing 1 million pieces of debris from Great Lakes waterways.
Volunteers across Southwest Michigan will gather at Lake Michigan beaches this month to mark 35 years of removing plastic pollution from Great Lakes shorelines. The Alliance for the Great Lakes is making it easy for anyone to join the effort or even lead their own cleanup event.
The Michigan Supreme Court just handed environmental groups and tribal nations a major victory in their fight to protect the Great Lakes. The ruling requires state regulators to consider the full environmental impact of a controversial oil pipeline project before giving it the green light.
Researchers livestreamed a dive 1,300 feet down to Lake Superior's darkest depths, revealing thriving life and important clues about the lake's health. The mission showed that even extreme underwater environments can teach us how to protect the Great Lakes.
Illinois just passed groundbreaking legislation to protect its waterways from tiny plastic pellets that poison wildlife and contaminate drinking water. The new law makes the state the first in the Great Lakes region to hold plastic manufacturers accountable for spills of these toxic microplastics.
Great Lakes fisheries currently waste 60% of each fish catch, but a new initiative inspired by Iceland's innovative approach could transform the entire industry. From medical bandages to sustainable furniture, the future of fishing means zero waste and more jobs.
Michigan just finalized a groundbreaking strategy to transform its $4.7 billion maritime industry while protecting the Great Lakes. The 10-year plan promises thousands of good-paying jobs, cleaner energy, and modern ports across the state.
A Great Lakes boating family is doubling donations to a Michigan marine trades scholarship, turning $5,000 in community gifts into $10,000 for future boat builders. The fund honors a legendary craftsman who built over 1,400 sailboats and never turned down a student.
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Michigan can fight the aging Line 5 oil pipeline in state court, bringing the Great Lakes closer to protection from a potential catastrophic spill. After years of legal delays, judges can now decide if the controversial pipeline crossing the Straits of Mackinac should be shut down.
Researchers have discovered an ancient hunting ground 100 feet below Lake Huron's surface, revealing how humans lived 9,000 years ago on a land bridge now lost to time. The preserved structures offer an untouched glimpse into how early Americans hunted caribou and survived in the ancient Great Lakes region.