Author: Great Lakes Commission

EPA and EGLE Celebrate Removal of Muskegon Lake Area of Concern from List of Most Environmentally Degraded Areas in the Great Lakes
iavilez
Wed, 10/08/2025 – 9:02 am

Representatives from U.S. EPA and Michigan EGLE celebrating Muskegon Lake’s delisting at an event on October 1st.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, along with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phillip Roos, joined other federal, state and local partners in Muskegon, Michigan, at an event on October 1st to celebrate the cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, a 4,149-acre lake that flows into the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. After decades of work, the lake has officially been removed from the binational list of “Areas of Concern,” and is no longer considered one of the Great Lakes’ most environmentally degraded areas. Muskegon Lake is the eighth U.S. Area of Concern to be delisted.

“The successful cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, achieved through decades of dedicated effort, marks a significant milestone in our ongoing work to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Anne Vogel. “This accomplishment showcases the commitment and collaborative spirit of our partners in restoring not just the lake, but also the habitats and recreational opportunities that had been lost for so long.”

To read the full press release on the delisting, visit EPA’s website: EPA and EGLE Celebrate Removal of Muskegon Lake Area of Concern from List of Most Environmentally Degraded Areas in the Great Lakes.

Wed, 10/08/2025 – 9:02 am

Keywords

AOCs

Michigan

Remediation

Restoration

Representatives from U.S. EPA and Michigan EGLE celebrating Muskegon Lake’s delisting at an event on October 1st.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Anne Vogel, along with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phillip Roos, joined other federal, state and local partners in Muskegon, Michigan, at an event on October 1st to celebrate the cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, a 4,149-acre lake that flows into the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. After decades of work, the lake has officially been removed from the binational list of “Areas of Concern,” and is no longer considered one of the Great Lakes’ most environmentally degraded areas. Muskegon Lake is the eighth U.S. Area of Concern to be delisted.

“The successful cleanup and restoration of the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern, achieved through decades of dedicated effort, marks a significant milestone in our ongoing work to restore and protect the Great Lakes,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Anne Vogel. “This accomplishment showcases the commitment and collaborative spirit of our partners in restoring not just the lake, but also the habitats and recreational opportunities that had been lost for so long.”

To read the full press release on the delisting, visit EPA’s website: EPA and EGLE Celebrate Removal of Muskegon Lake Area of Concern from List of Most Environmentally Degraded Areas in the Great Lakes.

Wed, 10/08/2025 – 9:02 am

Keywords

AOCs

Michigan

Remediation

Restoration

Identifying the Great Lakes top ten most impactful aquatic invaders
iavilez
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am

Invasive silver carp are not reproducing and overwintering in the Great Lakes – yet. Photo credit: Dan O’Keefe, Michigan Sea Grant.

A team of experts from NOAA, Michigan Sea Grant and the University of Michigan have identified the top 10 most impactful invaders based on analysis of almost 200 different nonnative aquatic species currently listed in the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). This information system provides a “one-stop shop” for comprehensive information about each aquatic invader, which helps limit the introduction, spread, and impact of these harmful species.

GLANSIS is based out of NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and is the Great Lakes hub for a national database of nonindigenous aquatic species. According to Acting GLERL Director Dr. Jesse Feyen, “GLERL experts have long studied the impacts of current and potential invaders in the Great Lakes. As the long-standing home for GLANSIS, our goal is to get the best available information out about the significant risks they pose to limit the introduction, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.”

With support from Congress through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, GLANSIS provides a comprehensive set of tools including species profiles, a custom-generated list of invaders, a mapping tool, risk assessments, and more. While GLANSIS was originally designed for use by scientists and environmental managers, this publicly accessible tool is used by local governments, property owners, anglers, teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about stopping invasive species in the Great Lakes. Citizens and stakeholders can help protect their local waterways by learning how to recognize, report, and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. GLANSIS also hosts data on “watchlist” species – plants, animals, and pathogens that have not yet established lasting populations in the Great Lakes but have been identified by experts as emerging threats. These include invasive silver and bighead carp, which have caused devastating ecological impacts to native fish and plants as they have expanded through other US waterways, as well as aquarium plants and pets like the self-cloning marbled crayfish, where even a single individual can launch a new invasive population.

The GLANSIS team recently brought together more than a dozen invasive species experts for a real-time virtual review to provide new data on more than 50 non-native species that are either already present in the Great Lakes basin or have been identified as one of these “watchlist species” that could be an emerging threat. These efforts ensure that the information in the database remains accurate, timely and relevant to environmental managers, educators, and other user groups who rely on GLANSIS for decision-making about aquatic invasive species.

Learn more about GLANSIS and explore the database yourself, or contact GLANSIS Program Manager Rochelle Sturtevant at: rochelle.sturtevant@noaa.gov.

Image

Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am

Keywords

invasive species

Great Lakes

Invasive silver carp are not reproducing and overwintering in the Great Lakes – yet. Photo credit: Dan O’Keefe, Michigan Sea Grant.

A team of experts from NOAA, Michigan Sea Grant and the University of Michigan have identified the top 10 most impactful invaders based on analysis of almost 200 different nonnative aquatic species currently listed in the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS). This information system provides a “one-stop shop” for comprehensive information about each aquatic invader, which helps limit the introduction, spread, and impact of these harmful species.

GLANSIS is based out of NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) and is the Great Lakes hub for a national database of nonindigenous aquatic species. According to Acting GLERL Director Dr. Jesse Feyen, “GLERL experts have long studied the impacts of current and potential invaders in the Great Lakes. As the long-standing home for GLANSIS, our goal is to get the best available information out about the significant risks they pose to limit the introduction, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes.”

With support from Congress through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, GLANSIS provides a comprehensive set of tools including species profiles, a custom-generated list of invaders, a mapping tool, risk assessments, and more. While GLANSIS was originally designed for use by scientists and environmental managers, this publicly accessible tool is used by local governments, property owners, anglers, teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about stopping invasive species in the Great Lakes. Citizens and stakeholders can help protect their local waterways by learning how to recognize, report, and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. GLANSIS also hosts data on “watchlist” species – plants, animals, and pathogens that have not yet established lasting populations in the Great Lakes but have been identified by experts as emerging threats. These include invasive silver and bighead carp, which have caused devastating ecological impacts to native fish and plants as they have expanded through other US waterways, as well as aquarium plants and pets like the self-cloning marbled crayfish, where even a single individual can launch a new invasive population.

The GLANSIS team recently brought together more than a dozen invasive species experts for a real-time virtual review to provide new data on more than 50 non-native species that are either already present in the Great Lakes basin or have been identified as one of these “watchlist species” that could be an emerging threat. These efforts ensure that the information in the database remains accurate, timely and relevant to environmental managers, educators, and other user groups who rely on GLANSIS for decision-making about aquatic invasive species.

Learn more about GLANSIS and explore the database yourself, or contact GLANSIS Program Manager Rochelle Sturtevant at: rochelle.sturtevant@noaa.gov.

Image

Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:51 am

Keywords

invasive species

Great Lakes

New Dashboard for Collaborative Great Lakes Benthic Habitat Mapping Project
iavilez
Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am

The new U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard (screenshot) includes the latest information related to bathymetric data collection and validation and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes.

Announcing the release of the U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard. This new tool shows the current status of high-resolution bathymetry data, validation data collection, and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the Great Lakes Basin. Bathymetry data is the measurement of water depths and provides essential information for protecting the region’s vital freshwater resources and aquatic habitat, identifying critical underwater infrastructure, and improving navigational safety. 

The dashboard was developed to support the Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Nearshore Waters of the Great Lakes Basin Project, a multiyear, multiagency project funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under Focus Area IV. The project addresses critical bathymetry and benthic habitat data gaps for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes through the collection of new measurements using light detection and ranging (lidar) collected on board of aircraft, sound navigation and ranging (sonar) collected on board of vessels, and high-density benthic habitat classification mapping products to inform habitat restoration and natural resources management in the region. This effort also contributes to Lakebed 2030, a regional campaign seeking to make high-resolution bathymetry data available for the entirety of the Great Lakes by 2030.

Contacts: Lara O’Brien (lara.obrien@noaa.gov) and Brandon Krumwiede (brandon.krumwiede@noaa.gov)

Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am

Keywords

Great Lakes

data

habitat

The new U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard (screenshot) includes the latest information related to bathymetric data collection and validation and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes.

Announcing the release of the U.S. Great Lakes Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping Common Operating Dashboard. This new tool shows the current status of high-resolution bathymetry data, validation data collection, and benthic habitat mapping for the nearshore waters of the Great Lakes Basin. Bathymetry data is the measurement of water depths and provides essential information for protecting the region’s vital freshwater resources and aquatic habitat, identifying critical underwater infrastructure, and improving navigational safety. 

The dashboard was developed to support the Collaborative Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Nearshore Waters of the Great Lakes Basin Project, a multiyear, multiagency project funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) under Focus Area IV. The project addresses critical bathymetry and benthic habitat data gaps for the nearshore waters of the U.S. Great Lakes through the collection of new measurements using light detection and ranging (lidar) collected on board of aircraft, sound navigation and ranging (sonar) collected on board of vessels, and high-density benthic habitat classification mapping products to inform habitat restoration and natural resources management in the region. This effort also contributes to Lakebed 2030, a regional campaign seeking to make high-resolution bathymetry data available for the entirety of the Great Lakes by 2030.

Contacts: Lara O’Brien (lara.obrien@noaa.gov) and Brandon Krumwiede (brandon.krumwiede@noaa.gov)

Mon, 04/21/2025 – 10:10 am

Keywords

Great Lakes

data

habitat

Environmental DNA helps detect new Great Lakes invasive species
iavilez
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 8:43 am

Scientists process the environmental DNA using PCR machines.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds prevention of newly introduced invasive fish in the Great Lakes. Like a barcode on a cereal box, every species has a unique DNA sequence. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect these invaders. Testing the water, scientists can identify fish species present in an area by looking at the DNA they leave behind — a vital clue to combat invasive species early. This important work addresses the threat of invasive species before they cause wide-spread, expensive damage.

Link to full story: You can swim, but you can’t hide | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Wed, 04/02/2025 – 9:57 am

Keywords

invasive species

Great Lakes

Scientists process the environmental DNA using PCR machines.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds prevention of newly introduced invasive fish in the Great Lakes. Like a barcode on a cereal box, every species has a unique DNA sequence. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect these invaders. Testing the water, scientists can identify fish species present in an area by looking at the DNA they leave behind — a vital clue to combat invasive species early. This important work addresses the threat of invasive species before they cause wide-spread, expensive damage.

Link to full story: You can swim, but you can’t hide | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Wed, 04/02/2025 – 9:57 am

Keywords

invasive species

Great Lakes

Invasive Species Control and Wetland Restoration at Four Mile Creek State Park, New York
iavilez
Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am

Image 1: After the invasive European black alder is cut down, the top of the cut stump is painted with a green dye herbicide treatment.

New York State’s Four Mile Creek State Park, on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario includes a 20.2-acre high quality coastal wetland at the mouth of Four Mile Creek. The New York State Department of State designated the wetland as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat site due to its lack of disturbance, deep aquatic beds, emergent marsh, and open water. 

The habitat creates thriving warm fisheries and excellent wildlife habitat for many species including the least bittern, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Bird of Conservation Concern” and a threatened species in New York State. The wetland is dominated by native aquatic vegetation with only a recent presence of non-native invasive plant species in small areas. With the help of an Environmental Protection Agency grant through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is leading a project focused on controlling those invasive species while including wetland restoration and habitat enhancements.  

In 2023, an area of a little more than 1.87 acres was treated with an aquatic approved herbicide to treat the invasive species common reed, Phragmites australis. In 2024, approximately 10,000 sq. feet of the same area was retreated. Also in 2023 and 2024, approximately 3.32 acres of the state park was treated to address six other invasive species. Those invasive species include hand pulling of European frog-bit, which is a floating aquatic plant, herbicide application for flowering rush, and cutting followed by cut-stump herbicide treatment of woody invasive species at the edge of the wetland (European black alder, Japanese barberry, common and glossy buckhorn). In total, approximately 5.19 acres were treated to address all seven species in the past two years and follow-up treatments over the same areas are expected to occur in 2025 and 2026. Restoration plantings of native wetland vegetation will also be completed in 2025 and 2026. Habitat enhancements such as woody debris additions and installation of nesting structure are also planned.

Image

The 2023 aerial photo from Google Earth shows the Four Mile Creek wetland. The two areas circled show the tracks from cutting and removing the invasive species phragmites.

Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am

Keywords

invasive species

restoration

Image 1: After the invasive European black alder is cut down, the top of the cut stump is painted with a green dye herbicide treatment.

New York State’s Four Mile Creek State Park, on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario includes a 20.2-acre high quality coastal wetland at the mouth of Four Mile Creek. The New York State Department of State designated the wetland as a Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat site due to its lack of disturbance, deep aquatic beds, emergent marsh, and open water. 

The habitat creates thriving warm fisheries and excellent wildlife habitat for many species including the least bittern, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Bird of Conservation Concern” and a threatened species in New York State. The wetland is dominated by native aquatic vegetation with only a recent presence of non-native invasive plant species in small areas. With the help of an Environmental Protection Agency grant through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is leading a project focused on controlling those invasive species while including wetland restoration and habitat enhancements.  

In 2023, an area of a little more than 1.87 acres was treated with an aquatic approved herbicide to treat the invasive species common reed, Phragmites australis. In 2024, approximately 10,000 sq. feet of the same area was retreated. Also in 2023 and 2024, approximately 3.32 acres of the state park was treated to address six other invasive species. Those invasive species include hand pulling of European frog-bit, which is a floating aquatic plant, herbicide application for flowering rush, and cutting followed by cut-stump herbicide treatment of woody invasive species at the edge of the wetland (European black alder, Japanese barberry, common and glossy buckhorn). In total, approximately 5.19 acres were treated to address all seven species in the past two years and follow-up treatments over the same areas are expected to occur in 2025 and 2026. Restoration plantings of native wetland vegetation will also be completed in 2025 and 2026. Habitat enhancements such as woody debris additions and installation of nesting structure are also planned.

Image

The 2023 aerial photo from Google Earth shows the Four Mile Creek wetland. The two areas circled show the tracks from cutting and removing the invasive species phragmites.

Tue, 04/01/2025 – 7:40 am

Keywords

invasive species

restoration