Blog posts by FLOW team and guest writers
Every year, a million visitors reach the shores of Mackinac Island, also known as Turtle Island to the Anishinaabe peoples who first settled here in the Great Lakes. Unlike most visitors, every May I make an annual pilgrimage to the island to argue the case to decommission Line 5 to our top state and federal leaders… Read more »
Photo: Nancy May – work available at numerous shops on Mackinac Island FLOW reminds state leaders they have the power to defend the Great Lakes from Enbridge. Governor Snyder and Attorney General Schuette have the legal authority to protect the Great Lakes from the major risk posed by the antiquated and poorly maintained Line 5… Read more »
A Special Celebration to Benefit FLOW Come join us on July 5th for an evening of farm-to-table fare from Epicure Catering, beverages from Baia Estate Leelanau, Arbor Brewing, and Iron Fish Distillery, and delight in the music of 4-time GRAMMY winning mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile. An Evening for the Great Lakes will be hosted by Cherry… Read more »
5:32 AM Fishing! Bleary eyed, I rolled out of bed and slowly pulled on a tshirt, long-sleeved shirt, flannel, sweatshirt, and jacket. Tossing a bigger jacket, raincoat, and extra socks into my bag, I dragged myself to the kitchen and immediately flipped the switch on the instant kettle. Give me coffee. “Ready Kate?” My dad… Read more »
Saving the Straits of Mackinac Yesterday, May 22, 2018, marks the day that our state’s citizens, threatened with the terrible harm of an oil spill from a failed Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, took matters into their own hands. The Straits of Mackinac Alliance (SMA) filed a contested-case petition with the Administrative Law… Read more »
Submerged Michigan 38,000 square miles. That’s a lot of real estate. In fact, it’s bigger than the square mileage of 12 states — including Indiana, West Virginia and Massachusetts. It’s part of Michigan. It’s a part you and all other citizens of Michigan own. And it’s all underwater, under Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron… Read more »
By Tom Baird, FLOW Board Member Once again, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has sacrificed our precious water resources for the profits of a privately owned business and the promise of a couple of low wage jobs. As a result, the waters of the Au Sable River will be seriously polluted, and the risk… Read more »
Giving Back Can Come in Many Forms A Sunday afternoon spent walking through downtown Traverse City, taking in some much needed and long overdue sunshine and fresh air, strolling along the Boardman River and picking up trash – a perfect day, right? Perhaps that last part sounds less than appealing, but I promise you, it… Read more »
Grand Traverse Bay is one of the Great Lakes watershed’s special places. Protecting, restoring and preserving it is the job of many, but a special role goes to Heather Smith, the Grand Traverse BAYKEEPER® at the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay since August 2016. FLOW was curious about Heather’s work, and she graciously agreed to… Read more »
FLOW’s organizing principle is the public trust doctrine. This centuries-old principle of common law holds that there are some resources, like water and submerged lands, that by their nature cannot be privately owned. Rather, these commons – including the Great Lakes — belongs to the public. And governments, like the State of Michigan, have a responsibility… Read more »
