Jul 25, 2008 — The movement to essentially ban water diversions from the Great Lakes moved on to Washington this week. It took years for all eight Great Lakes states to pass the Great Lakes compact. Michigan was the last legislature to ratify it earlier this month. Now Congress needs to act for the compact to become law. Minnesota Democrat James Oberstar, who chairs an influential committee, has promised quick passage in the House. New York Senator Hillary Clinton helped introduce the measure in her chamber on Wednesday. To assess the political landscape awaiting the compact on Capitol Hill, David Sommerstein spoke with journalist Peter Annin. He wrote The Great Lakes Water Wars about the compact. He says it remains a mystery how lawmakers from other parts of the country will react.  Go to full article

Jul 14, 2008 — There's a new agreement that says the Great Lakes water has to stay in the Great Lakes. It's been approved now by all eight of the states and the two Canadian provinces that border the Lakes. Rick Pluta reports the agreement is now on its way to Congress.  Go to full article

Jul 09, 2008 — There are invasive fish swimming their way toward the Great Lakes. If they get in, they could swallow up a multi-billion dollar sport fishing industry. Mark Brush reports, officials are investing millions of dollars to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.  Go to full article

Jun 10, 2008 — The Great Lakes might be the most ignored resource on the continent. Great Lakes advocates say they have not been able to get enough attention or money from Congress. Rebecca Williams reports one group is outlining what needs to be done to fix the Lakes before climate change makes things worse.  Go to full article

May 12, 2008 — The United States and Canada are trying to figure out how to keep new invasive species out of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. 185 have already snuck in, costing the region billions of dollars a year. Many hitchhiked in the ballast tanks of foreign ships. Both countries want the public to know they're doing something about the problem. So they invited journalists to the port of Montreal to see how ballast tanks are tested for invasive species. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Mar 24, 2008 — The invasive zebra mussel has disrupted food chains and caused billions of dollars in damage across the country. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the discovery of zebra mussels. Mark Brush reports.  Go to full article

Mar 20, 2008 — Even before he took the oath of office, one of David Patterson's first actions as Governor was to sign the Great Lakes Compact. The compact is a comprehensive plan to prevent water diversions out of the Great Lakes basin. All eight Great Lakes states AND Congress have to ratify the compact before it can become law. New York joins Minnesota, Indiana, and Illinois as the first states to ratify it. Peter Annin is the author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, a narrative history of water diversions in the Great Lakes and of the compact itself. He told David Sommerstein that most people think of the parched Southwest when they think of water being piped out of the region.  Go to full article

Mar 20, 2008 — This year marks the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the "poster child" of invasive species - the zebra mussels. Environmentalists took the occasion to call on the U.S. and Canada to do more to prevent more unwanted arrivals. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Feb 07, 2008 — President Bush's executive budget brought good news to the St. Lawrence Seaway. The plan would almost double the Seaway's budget. But shippers and environmentalists say the spending plan leaves the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River themselves on thin ice. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Jan 24, 2008 — Scientists say satellite images could do more to help spot major problems in the Great Lakes, if there were more federal money for those kinds of programs. Chuck Quirmbach reports.  Go to full article