The Environment Report

By Lester Graham

What's The Environment Report about?

The Environment Report, hosted by Lester Graham and other Michigan Public reporters, explores the relationship between the natural world and the everyday lives of people in Michigan.

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The Environment Report episodes:

08.06.2021
Great Lakes in Peril: Invasives, pollution, climate change
When you visit one of the Great Lakes, whether it’s a sandy beach or a rocky coastline, it’s hard to imagine how something so big could be affected so profoundly by alien invasive species, or pollution, or climate change.
05.13.2021
"Water is life" is the theme of Day 1 of protests to shut down Enbridge Line 5
On Thursday, environmental groups and Native Americans plan to present Enbridge Energy with symbolic eviction notices. They want Enbridge to abide by Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to shut down Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.
05.11.2021
On eve of Line 5 shutdown deadline, Enbridge vows to defy Michigan order
Enbridge Energy technically has one more day to shut down the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, but even the pipeline’s most vocal opponents acknowledge slim odds that the oil actually stops flowing right away.
05.06.2021
Plastic debris is getting into the Great Lakes, our drinking water, and our food
There’s been a lot of news about the amount of plastic debris in the oceans. But plastic pollution is also affecting the Great Lakes. A study out of the Rochester Institute of Technology estimates 22 million pounds of plastic debris...
04.14.2021
Scientists concerned about the bottom of the food web in the Great Lakes
Right now, scientists are on a ship taking samples and measurements of the Great Lakes. They’re trying to determine how the lakes will fare this year and watching for trends.
04.01.2021
Is the Line 5 tunnel a bridge to Michigan's energy future or a bad deal?
As Canadian officials lobbied a Michigan Senate committee in March to keep the Line 5 pipeline open, Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) grew frustrated with a conversation that, up to that point, had focused mainly on the immediate economic and...
03.17.2021
Some cities are turning to natural infrastructure to deal with extreme rain events
Climate change in the Great Lakes region means more intense storms. Already some towns are finding they’re flooding where they never have before. One city in Michigan is finding the solution is nature.
03.16.2021
Wetlands can help prevent property damage and save lives during floods
Midland and other cities were hit hard by a flood caused by heavy rains and the failure of a weak dam.
02.17.2021
Climate change is affecting the kind of fish you can catch in Michigan's inland lakes
Parts of Watkins Lake State Park and County Preserve in Michigan are off limits for much of the year because it’s a waterfowl refuge. But in winter time, if it’s cold enough, you can go ice fishing.
02.16.2021
Water could make Michigan a climate refuge. Are we prepared?
Intrigued by warming winters, researchers from the University of Michigan set out in 1989 to formally measure changes in the geographical distribution of plants and animals in the dense pine and hardwood forests of northern Michigan.
02.16.2021
Michigan rivers changing due to climate disruption
It’s freezing outside and Larry Scheer is in neoprene chest waders kicking up sediment in Boyden Creek near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
02.15.2021
The future of Lake Superior with climate disruption
The downtown office for the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of the Chippewa Indians Fisheries Management Program is a simple, small two-story brick building. But you don’t have to guess about whether you’re in the right place. Pickup trucks with the...
09.28.2020
Enbridge now inspects freighters to avoid another anchor strike on Line 5
The Canadian pipeline company Enbridge Energy has been eager to show news media its new Enbridge Straits Maritime Operations Center in Mackinaw City. Its purpose is to try to prevent another anchor strike or other damage to Line 5, the...
06.15.2020
Did the Midland flood stir up contaminants that could hurt wildlife?
The flood that was caused by heavy rains and the failure of two dams near Midland caused property damage far downstream. But the long term damage might be in the contamination of wildlife.
06.09.2020
You only have a limited "right to know" under Right To Know laws
The two dams that broke near Midland caused a massive flood that swept away bridges, roads, and damaged a lot of property. Because Midland is home to Dow’s original chemical complex, a lot of people were concerned about hazardous waste...
02.18.2020
Bill would eliminate most township regulation of gravel pits
Tom and Michelle Joliat's lovely home in Metamora, Michigan is situated high on a hill with a stunning view of the woods below.
02.10.2020
Rat poisons take care of rodent problems, but also kill wildlife and pets
Wildlife are being poisoned and much of the time people using the poisons are not even aware of the danger. One Michigan resident is on a crusade to make people understand what’s at risk when they use rat poison.
11.12.2019
No-till farming could cut greenhouse gases significantly
We know that burning fossil fuels releases a lot of greenhouse gases. But there are other human-caused sources that contribute to climate change. As Lester Graham with the Environment Report found, one of them is how farmers plant crops.
09.27.2019
HONK! Talking to geese
You can hear a flock of geese calling, but there’s not a single goose. It’s a bunch of humans, warming up for the goose call contest at the 72nd annual Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival held last weekend.
09.27.2019
Unpopular bait ban will only slow spread of CWD. What could stop it is even more controversial.
To help combat chronic wasting disease, Michigan is banning deer baiting and feeding across big parts of the state. It’s highly unpopular with some hunters and lawmakers.
09.25.2019
Climate Crew: College student evolves into environmental leader on campus
The constant barrage of news about climate change, drinking water contamination, and pollution in the Great Lakes region can feel overwhelming. If you care, it’s hard to know what to do or where to start. That's where Stateside's new series...
08.19.2019
Non-profit trains citizen scientists to collect fish data from the Great Lakes
A new nonprofit is training citizen scientists to collect data on fish in the Great Lakes. They think it could be a game-changer for research in the region, and even help prevent the establishment of invasive species.
08.19.2019
You could be tracking in cancer causing chemicals from parking lots and driveways
Researchers are finding some of the chemicals used in pavement and driveway sealants are making their way into the environment. That could be putting the health of people and aquatic life at risk. These chemicals are called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons,...
08.16.2019
How climate change is changing Michigan’s agricultural industry
Climate change is affecting the world in a lot of ways. The planet is warming, more rain is falling. There are colder winters, and warmer summers. And all of this is having a profound effect on agriculture.
08.16.2019
Climate Crew: Kids inspired Detroit mom to join fight for clean air, climate change solutions
The constant barrage of news about climate change and drinking water contamination and pollution in the Great Lakes can feel overwhelming. If you care, it’s hard to know what to do or where to start. Stateside is kicking off a...
08.16.2019
"I’ve never seen it quite this bad:" Heavy rains wreak havoc on fruit crops
Fruit growers in northern Michigan are having a tough time with all the rain this year , because that moisture helps fungus and bacteria thrive.
08.15.2019
Electric vehicles losing the race to SUVs and trucks
Next time you're at the mall or grocery store, look around. You won't see many, if any at all, electric vehicles. Maybe a few hybrids. But you'll see lots of pickup trucks and big SUVs, which by comparison still merit...
08.15.2019
Five ways climate change already impacts human health in Michigan
Climate change doesn’t just hurt our environment. It affects food production, insect outbreaks, precipitation. And, as health professionals are starting to see, it’s causing problems for human health.
08.14.2019
Boomers could be great climate activists - if they were more concerned about it
Public opinion surveys show older Americans are less concerned about climate change than young people. But some experts say older Americans may be an untapped resource when it comes to climate activism.
08.13.2019
Detroit Zoo wants kids to be active part of the climate change conversation
Given the myriad ecological challenges facing our world today, there are plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed and powerless. But there are also many people and organizations dedicated to leading community conversations about climate change and conservation through education and...
08.13.2019
Cities are dumping sewage into Michigan rivers. Will climate change make the problem worse?
Each year in Michigan, billions of gallons of raw or partially treated sewage end up in the state's rivers and eventually in the Great Lakes. That pollution can make people sick. There are two causes. One is poor sewer systems....
08.12.2019
Stateside: Absentee voting increases; tribal economic development; what climate change means for MI
Today on Stateside, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson comments on how an increase in the number of absentee ballots could impact elections without a change in state law. Plus, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is building a...
08.12.2019
Climate disruption is here; what does it mean for Michigan?
All this week, Michigan Radio's Environment Report will be focusing on climate change and how it's already affecting us in the state of Michigan, and what's expected to change in the future. It's a huge crisis we face now —...
08.12.2019
Floods are changing in Michigan. We're building infrastructure like they're not.
Climate change is likely to bring more extreme rainfall and flooding to Michigan. So, flood risk in the next 100 years will probably look very different than in the last. But, much of our infrastructure, like culverts, bridges, and storm...
06.28.2019
High Lake Michigan waters complicate botulism monitoring, but mean fewer bird deaths
The last major outbreak of avian botulism on Lake Michigan was in 2016 , when hundreds of dead birds washed up on shore. The bacterial disease has affected waterfowl like loons and mergansers in the Great Lakes for decades. But...
06.17.2019
Saving the Great Lakes' biggest and oldest fish, the lake sturgeon
The U.S. and Canada are working to restore populations of a prehistoric fish in the Great Lakes that was nearly wiped out. We went out with a crew of researchers to see what they’re doing to bring the sturgeon back.
06.06.2019
Hundreds of millions of birds die in collisions with building windows each year in the US
Each year hundreds of millions of birds die in the U.S. after colliding with windows. Skyscrapers are not the chief cause, but mostly mid-rise buildings. My guide in trying to understand why birds are more likely to collide in three...
05.20.2019
Is Consumers Energy's carbon reduction plan better than DTE Energy's? Environmentalists say yes
In 2016, Michigan got an important new tool in the growing effort to limit global heating. The state's new energy law requires regulated utilities, for the first time, to submit long-term strategic plans that include reducing carbon emissions. The plans...
05.15.2019
These anglers are looking for a different kind of catch: trash
05.06.2019
Bacteria and viruses from human waste getting into Michigan water
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy indicates there are 1.4 million homes in Michigan that are not hooked up to a sewer system. Many use septic tank systems. But Molly Rippke, an aquatic biologist with the agency,...
04.24.2019
Climate action plans don't leave low-income households behind
Some cities in Michigan are putting together climate change action plans. Part of that is making everything more energy efficient in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. One of the big concerns is making...
04.24.2019
Proposed DTE rate increase could further stress low-income customers
Margaret Lewis is a retired court reporter who lives in a big, older home in Highland Park -- the kind you say has "good bones," because it needs some work. She's on a fixed income, and she's done just about...
04.19.2019
Straits of Mackinac are a bird of prey superhighway
More than four million people crossed the Straits of Mackinac last year. But they are also one of the busiest migration spots for raptors, or birds of prey, in the United States.
04.08.2019
Some Michigan cities may abandon recycling due to higher costs
China is not taking as much U.S. recycled material as it has in the past. The Chinese economy is slowing down and it doesn’t need to import as much paper and plastic. It’s also finding that so much U.S. recycled...
04.05.2019
Plan to put wind farm in Upper Peninsula forest gets community pushback
Most wind energy projects in Michigan are on farmland in the southern part of the state. They are often controversial even there, but one company wants to put a wind farm in an Upper Peninsula forest. Many community members don’t...
03.19.2019
Killer viruses could help Michigan cherry farmers
Bacterial canker is a devastating tree disease that affects sweet cherry orchards around the country. There is currently no good way to treat it, but some Michigan scientists are trying to harness bacteria-killing viruses to control it.
02.28.2019
Cornered by invasives, tribal fishermen chase whitefish to ‘crowded’ Lake Superior
A decline in lake whitefish is pushing some tribal commercial fishermen out of Lakes Michigan and Huron. They’re spending more time in Lake Superior, the only place they say they can still make a living. This has fishermen and scientists...
02.27.2019
Municipal water treatment plants figuring out PFAS contamination
The state has finished testing all the public water systems in Michigan for PFAS chemicals. Of more than a thousand municipal systems, 119 are contaminated by PFAS.
02.06.2019
Healthier diets lower in greenhouse gas emissions
A lot of people assume a healthy diet is also good for the environment. A recently published study lends some credence to that conventional wisdom.
01.16.2019
Half of Michigan bumblebee species dropped by 50 percent or more
Bees are disappearing. You might have heard that colony collapse disorder of European honeybees can nearly wipe out a hive. But native bees are also in trouble. There are several kinds of bumblebees in Michigan. A recent survey found during...

What's The Environment Report about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Environment Report episodes:

Great Lakes in Peril: Invasives, pollution, climate change

"Water is life" is the theme of Day 1 of protests to shut down Enbridge Line 5

On eve of Line 5 shutdown deadline, Enbridge vows to defy Michigan order

Plastic debris is getting into the Great Lakes, our drinking water, and our food

Scientists concerned about the bottom of the food web in the Great Lakes

Is the Line 5 tunnel a bridge to Michigan's energy future or a bad deal?

Some cities are turning to natural infrastructure to deal with extreme rain events

Wetlands can help prevent property damage and save lives during floods

Climate change is affecting the kind of fish you can catch in Michigan's inland lakes

Water could make Michigan a climate refuge. Are we prepared?

Michigan rivers changing due to climate disruption

The future of Lake Superior with climate disruption

Enbridge now inspects freighters to avoid another anchor strike on Line 5

Did the Midland flood stir up contaminants that could hurt wildlife?

You only have a limited "right to know" under Right To Know laws

Bill would eliminate most township regulation of gravel pits

Rat poisons take care of rodent problems, but also kill wildlife and pets

No-till farming could cut greenhouse gases significantly

HONK! Talking to geese

Unpopular bait ban will only slow spread of CWD. What could stop it is even more controversial.

Climate Crew: College student evolves into environmental leader on campus

Non-profit trains citizen scientists to collect fish data from the Great Lakes

You could be tracking in cancer causing chemicals from parking lots and driveways

How climate change is changing Michigan’s agricultural industry

Climate Crew: Kids inspired Detroit mom to join fight for clean air, climate change solutions

"I’ve never seen it quite this bad:" Heavy rains wreak havoc on fruit crops

Electric vehicles losing the race to SUVs and trucks

Five ways climate change already impacts human health in Michigan

Boomers could be great climate activists - if they were more concerned about it

Detroit Zoo wants kids to be active part of the climate change conversation

Cities are dumping sewage into Michigan rivers. Will climate change make the problem worse?

Stateside: Absentee voting increases; tribal economic development; what climate change means for MI

Climate disruption is here; what does it mean for Michigan?

Floods are changing in Michigan. We're building infrastructure like they're not.

High Lake Michigan waters complicate botulism monitoring, but mean fewer bird deaths

Saving the Great Lakes' biggest and oldest fish, the lake sturgeon

Hundreds of millions of birds die in collisions with building windows each year in the US

Is Consumers Energy's carbon reduction plan better than DTE Energy's? Environmentalists say yes

These anglers are looking for a different kind of catch: trash

Bacteria and viruses from human waste getting into Michigan water

Climate action plans don't leave low-income households behind

Proposed DTE rate increase could further stress low-income customers

Straits of Mackinac are a bird of prey superhighway

Some Michigan cities may abandon recycling due to higher costs

Plan to put wind farm in Upper Peninsula forest gets community pushback

Killer viruses could help Michigan cherry farmers

Cornered by invasives, tribal fishermen chase whitefish to ‘crowded’ Lake Superior

Municipal water treatment plants figuring out PFAS contamination

Healthier diets lower in greenhouse gas emissions

Half of Michigan bumblebee species dropped by 50 percent or more