I recently spoke before a lively and well-informed audience at the St. Clair Public Library in Port Huron. As is always the case, when I opened the floor for questions and comments, a dozen arms shot up. Everyone had thoughtful and important things to say, but most of the questions boiled down to two major… Read more »
In these times of partisan division, it’s important to recognize that one issue has united Michigan voters for over 50 years: Four times since 1968, they have approved by large margins the issuance of general obligation bonds to pay for critical environmental needs. But the last such proposal reached the ballot in 2002. Why? It’s… Read more »
Apply here! FLOW seeks to hire 1L & 2L summer legal interns for summer 2025! Our legal interns engage in FLOW’s water protection law and policy programs – locally inspired, with international reach. We’re looking for two compassionate advocates ready for hands-on work in one of the best summer locations in the US, on the… Read more »
News On November 19, 2024, ATSDR accepted the petition (PDF) submitted by Detroit Riverkeeper, For Love of Water, Friends of the Detroit River, Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club, and Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision requesting a Public Health Assessment for the community of Wyandotte, in relation to ongoing toxic discharges from BASF (Badische Anilin und Soda… Read more »
Lost in the barrage of bad news about harmful pollutants, invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change is quiet progress on some long-term challenges. The statistics bear this out and suggest the potential for successfully addressing today’s environmental problems. Our rivers and lakes are noticeably cleaner than they were when Congress passed the Clean Water… Read more »
Out of Michigan’s 24,000 Contaminated Sites, These Are Among the Most Notorious Once upon a time, Michigan scientifically ranked our thousands of contamination sites by the hazard they represented to public health and the environment. Released annually, the list generated extensive publicity and legislative attention, resulting in significant appropriations for the cleanup of the worst… Read more »
Download the report: Institutional Controls for Groundwater Management: Long-Term Costs and Policy Impacts The true economic, ecological, and social costs of relying on land use restrictions to address groundwater and soil contamination instead of active clean up are likely significantly higher than generally estimated. That is a conclusion of a new report submitted to the… Read more »
A disastrous growing season for northwestern Lower Michigan’s cherry crop is resulting in calls for federal aid and a growing sense that climate change is warping the health of this iconic fruit. The sweet cherry crop has been deemed a failure, and similar conditions have affected tart cherries. It’s estimated that cherry growers lost 30%… Read more »
Looking for an update on the Fremont Digester? Read the Fremont Digester Comments What is a CAFO? In plain English, a CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, sometimes called a factory “farm”) is an industrial facility where livestock are kept inside a structure and fed, rather than pastured. They can house thousands – even tens of… Read more »
Water pollution made international headlines this week when the swimming leg of the Paris Olympic men’s triathlon was postponed a day because of high E. Coli counts in the River Seine. Later in the week, Belgium withdrew its team from the mixed relay triathlon, and Switzerland had to change its roster after two athletes became… Read more »
