The Latest Breaking News from Lake Michigan

Siding and Remodeling in the Upper Midwest: What Chicago and Milwaukee Homeowners Should Know Before Starting a Project

Homes in Chicago and Milwaukee face demanding weather for exterior materials. Heavy snow, subzero cold, rapid freeze-thaw cycles, humid summers and strong winds off Lake Michigan all test siding, trim and the structure beneath them. Interior remodels face their own challenges in the region’s older housing stock, from outdated wiring…

inkl · Oct 9

How AI could help predict and explain water levels in the Great Lakes

In January 2013, Lake Michigan reached its lowest water level on record. Seven years later, in the summer of 2020, it broke the opposite record with widespread flooding, eroded shorelines and closed lakeside roads.

The Conversation · Oct 6

Lake Michigan looks calm from shore, but a 2013 11 kg of red dye experiment revealed its hidden waters can spread far faster than scientists expected

A 2013 dye experiment in Lake Michigan revealed that water in the lake’s open interior can spread surprisingly quickly. Researchers traced a fluorescent dye plume for hours and found that near-surface shear linked to Poincaré waves helped drive unexpectedly rapid dispersion. Researchers observed the dye's dispersion rate increase from approximately…

The Economic Times · Sep 9

In 1972, Chicago began digging 110 miles of sewer tunnel up to 300 feet down; 50 years on, the Deep Tunnel has captured more than a trillion gallons of combined sewage

Chicago's Deep Tunnel project has been a vital safeguard for Lake Michigan over the past fifty years. Initiated in 1972, this impressive 110-mile sewer system was designed to tackle combined sewer overflows and urban flooding. By 2006, the tunnel segment had significantly curtailed sewer-related pollution throughout the city. However, reservoir…

The Economic Times · Aug 26

In 1908, an unschooled Indiana widow began a 20-year fight to defend 120 acres of Lake Michigan dunes from a steel giant; 72 years later, 212 acres including part of her tract joined Indiana Dunes to remain open space forever

Drusilla Carr, an unschooled Indiana widow, spent more than two decades defending her claim to 120 acres along Lake Michigan. As Gary expanded and the lakeshore became valuable, she fought repeated legal battles against attempts to acquire the land. Decades after her death, part of her former property was included…

The Times of India · Aug 24

In 1970s, silver carp were brought to the US for aquaculture. Now the jumping fish threaten a $20 billion Great Lakes industry

Invasive silver carp are rapidly approaching the Great Lakes, raising alarm over potential ecological and economic damage. The recent detection of hundreds of young fish in the Illinois River has sparked concerns about their harmful impact on plankton, which could disrupt native species and aquatic food webs. Their notorious jumping…

The Economic Times · Aug 24

In 1963, a Wisconsin artist began transforming her family’s Lake Michigan home; nearly 40 years later, 60 concrete creatures filled the yard

Artist Mary Nohl took her Wisconsin lakeside residence and metamorphosed it into an extraordinary artistic haven. With walls adorned in painted figures and rooms brimming with handcrafted treasures, her property blurs the line between reality and imagination. The garden, a canvas of concrete sculptures and whimsical creatures, reflects nearly 40…

The Times of India · Aug 23

In 1915, Alice Gray left Chicago for the Indiana Dunes; she spent nearly a decade living in makeshift shelters and advocating for their preservation

Alice Mabel Gray chose to embrace a simpler existence in the Indiana Dunes back in 1915. Known as 'Diana of the Dunes,' she lived in humble shelters while fervently advocating for the area’s protection. Her passionate efforts played a pivotal role in the lengthy movement to conserve the Indiana Dunes,…

The Times of India · Aug 20

In 1980, Miles Boekeloo sold his 365-acre Michigan wilderness retreat to the National Park Service; the deal let his family keep its cabin and 5 acres for another 25 years

Miles Boekeloo sold his 365-acre Michigan property to the National Park Service in 1980. His family retained use of five acres and their cabin for 25 years. This allowed them to enjoy their retreat while the land became protected. The property, now Boekelodge, is part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National…

The Times of India · Aug 18

In 1872, the Lac La Belle sank in a Lake Michigan storm, but its wreck stayed hidden until a 60-year search finally paid off

On the night of October 13, 1872, the steamer Lac La Belle left Milwaukee for Grand Haven, Michigan, carrying 53 passengers and crew along with a cargo of barley, pork, flour and whiskey. About two hours into the voyage, the ship began taking on water uncontrollably, and the captain turned…

The Times of India · Aug 15