On December 9th, Trout Unlimited issued an action alert to all TU members in Great Lakes states regarding the Asian carp situation.  Unfortunately it appears that the email did not reach everyone so we are reposting that email in our blog. Below is the text from that alert: “Please visit our online action center and help protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. Evidence of Asian carp has been detected recently above barriers intended to keep them out of Lake Michigan and aggressive action is needed now to prevent their colonization in the Great Lakes. WHY WE CARE The recovery...

DETROIT (AP) – Michigan asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to close shipping locks near Chicago to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes and endangering their $7 billion fishery. State Attorney General Mike Cox filed a lawsuit Monday with the nation’s highest court against Illinois, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. They operate canals and other waterways that open into Lake Michigan. Full story at woodtv.com

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) – Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced Sunday he will file a federal lawsuit to force the closure of locks on a canal southwest of Chicago to prevent invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Read more at woodtv.com >> http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/Cox-Will-file-suit-to-stop-Asian-carp

SWMTU’s position on groundwater withdrawal During the March 6, 2007 SWMTU board meeting, the board officially adopted the following position regarding groundwater withdrawals in Michigan: “The Schrems West Michigan Chapter of Trout Unlimited is opposed to all groundwater withdrawals that negatively impact our coldwater resources.” The board continues to follow the progress of Nestle/Ice Mountain and other groups interested in using groundwater in Michigan. On March 15, 2007, Dave Smith, president of SWMTU, submitted a public comment to the DEQ regarding Nestle’s recent application to obtain groundwater near Twin and Chippewa Creeks. To learn more, view the presentation regarding a...

What you can do to protect our lakes and streams What is a Riparian Area? Riparian zones or areas have been defined in several ways, but they are essentially the narrow strips of land that border creeks, rivers or other bodies of water. Because of their proximity to water, plant species and topography of riparian zones differ considerably from those of adjacent uplands. Although they comprise a small proportion of the total landscape, they are among the most diverse biological systems on earth, and they perform important services to people which no amount of human effort and technology can do...

BUFFER BENEFITS ON THE FARM AND ENVIRONMENT Contributed by James G. Scott, District Conservationist Ionia Field Office Now is a good time to consider the potential for buffer strips as a part of your farm operation. Buffer strips are simply strips of a grass and legume mix established on cropland adjacent to any surface water, such as county drains, streams, ponds or wetlands and seasonally flooded woodlots. Benefits of buffer strips are many. Buffer strips can filter out up to 80% of potential soil sediment that may be carried by field surface run-off. This reduces sediment and attached nutrients from...