Blog Posts

Blog posts by FLOW team and guest writers

How a warming atmosphere feeds lake effect snow in Michigan

This winter, areas downwind of the Great Lakes have received enormous amounts of lake effect snow. Can climate change be occurring when storms are piling up record snow? Yes – in fact, this phenomenon is entirely consistent with climate change models. Lake-effect snow develops when cold air moves over a relatively warm large body of… Read more »

We moved: Find us at our new home on Lake Avenue in downtown TC

We’re thrilled to announce that FLOW has moved to a new location on Lake Avenue in downtown Traverse City! This move is more than just a change of address—it’s a reflection of our deep connection to the waters we work so hard to protect. Being situated on Lake Avenue feels especially meaningful, as our mission… Read more »

Road salt: Driving safety, environmental scourge

On a snowy day, drivers feel relief when road salt helps clear the way of slippery spots.  But, though necessary under certain circumstances, road salt is a major polluter of Michigan’s rivers, inland lakes and the Great Lakes. Winter Salt Week is an opportunity to learn about the environmental impacts of road salt and alternatives… Read more »

State of the Great Lakes Report: Fine programs, what results?

On the 40th anniversary of Michigan state government’s Office of the Great Lakes, its new State of the Great Lakes report provides an important narrative about the many outstanding efforts to protect and restore these world-class waters.  But, as has been true with the previous 39 reports, it makes little effort to gauge the health… Read more »

‘Ride Mapper’ tool reveals data on over 24K contaminated sites, tanks

An on-line tool provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) enables Michiganders to identify and map sites of environmental contamination in their neighborhoods or across the state. Called the Ride Mapper (an acronym for Remediation Information Data Exchange), the interactive tool displays as of January 15 of this year a… Read more »