Lake Effect: What changes scientists are seeing on Lake Michigan

Scientists have been discovering small changes on Lake Michigan that could lead to big impacts on fishing, tourism and those who make their livelihood on the water. (May 20, 2024)

[robertmcmanus]

If you want to improve water quality and prevent algal blooms, ban lawn chemicals and watering and mandate large buffer zones around fields that have fertilizer applied.

[JoseMartinez-dfdb]

Why would anyone build a home on sand at the shore’s edge? 🤦🏽‍♂️

[jonnordquist]

We are just starting to feel it? or have we been poisoning this state for hundreds of years?

[paulinepeppler]

The Army Corp of Engineers was diverting water from Lake Michigan elsewhere for years because of algae overpopulation in other lakes. Then they stopped (2020?), and Lake Michigan's water level rose dramatically. The water level has effects on the atmosphere here too. Why don't they admit to their interference in the environment.

[Agmar]

Sounds like this was recorded under Lake Michigan

[TheMonkdad]

Am I the only one who lost audio at 2:23?

[MrSuzuki]

One photo showed the epidemic of people on the beaches afflicted by pignosis.

[jimknarr]

I've seen algae blooms near Alpena early this year. It's covering many rocks on the beaches there because new homes being built on the lake are draining wetlands and letting fertilizer run off. Rocks along the shoreline were beautiful colors 10 years ago, but now are covered in algae. The beauty of these beaches have declined significantly.

[GaryWoolard-exgj]

I always have thought thunderstorms coming across Lake Michigan get a softening effect because going over the cold water in middle of the lake.

[EricUnderwood-vx]

They should pass a motion that if the lake reclaims a house the builder is responsible for removing 100 percent of material

[troyhonda]

Who knew building too close to a body of water would be a bad idea? Funny because just a few years ago they were complaining about too low of water levels. But, if you pay the Government enough money, they'll fix it for us.

[LoveIsVitalEverlasting]

Unfortunately, there are a lot of greedy people who believe they own the shoreline. The ironic part is that they don't even respect it. A lot of the homeowners have put up no trespassing zones on the public beaches. There is a lot of backlash. Growing up in these areas, it's very frustrating to locals. Many of the homeowners live in these homes purely in the summer, so it seems even greedier from a personal point of view. I'm not even sure how it is legal, that they are allowed to place their homes this close to any shoreline. You can't own the lakes. Many of them have destroyed bluffs and dunes from erosion to place more houses close to the water. Mother nature has attempted to take their shoreline back, but unfortunately when this happens, entire houses have plummeted into the water. It is so devastating in so many ways. The comment about banning pesticides is a very good way to counteract the water quality. I firmly believe the area needs fo take things more seriously, and have a no zoning limit, so homeowners have a surrounding area distanced from the shoreline that puts a ban on building any where close to the radius of the shore.

[Elon_Trump]

I used to fish the bayous and channels around the Grand River in Grand Haven, Fruitport, and Spring Lake. This was back in 1990's. I used to be able to see clearly into the waters and watch the fish I was about to catch. the water was so clean and clear. Now it's just muck and mud. You can't see anything at all. I used to net bait fish right off the rocks at the Grand Haven State Park Pier. Tons of small fry and bait fish swimming all around I could just dip a net in and scoop them out right into a bucket. Now, nothing lives there. Just murky dead water. There are still some great spots hidden around but they are being fished out and are few and far between now. It feels like the golden years of fishing on these bodies of water are gone forever. Next thing to come will be the Asian carp.

[davidsalo]

Someone built a home on sandy soil right above the shoreline? They got just what they deserved.

[davidmontville]

0:28 professional divers don't go in feet first

[Paul-ourx]

I'm all for more fresh water. But if you don't like it there are many dams in the lake Michigan basin where some of it could be let out.

[Anonymous-pmjf]

If only the heat could melt the fat off some people

[tomtroy]

I would build my house on a raft so it would float when the water Rose

[teddyghioto]

So the temps on the lake is rising 1 degree every hundred years

[ericsimandl]

The lower four Lakes get a lot of industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and septic leakage.