This is the second in a two-part series this week on the impact of boating activity in Minnesota. The wakes from bigger recreation boats on Minnesota lakes have become a source of tension. New research to measure these waves could help with concerns about their environmental and public-safety impact. .
Rule-making is under way for a new law that opponents say is a step backward for monitoring water quality in Montana. In the 2021 session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 358, which changes the criteria for monitoring nutrients in waterways from a numeric system to a narrative system that involves personal observation of waterways. Andrew Gorder, legal director for the Clark Fork Coalition, said the state needs the numeric standards to protect waterways that are essential to Montana s economy and way of life. .
Boat shows are taking place around the country as water recreation enthusiasts look ahead to this summer s season. A new Minnesota report underscores discussions on how to keep people on the lakes safe, while protecting natural settings. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently issued findings from a survey of nearly 3,000 recreational boaters. .
Decades of experiments with other options, from beet- and corn-based deicers to sand and chemical mixes, have yet to yield an alternative that's anywhere as effective and affordable.
The Great Lakes hold about one fifth of the Earth's fresh water, but a new report indicates they're getting saltier. Lake Michigan used to sit at a level of one