2:12
Water quality and conservation practices around Michigan reach both its Lower and Upper Peninsulas, and two local waterkeepers say vigilant monitoring of these watersheds is vital.
The rural Grand Traverse Bay, at the northern end of the Lower Peninsula, is a tourist and retirement hotspot. Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Baykeeper, said this has led to more development, which results in loss of wetlands, vegetation, and the natural shoreline tree canopy.
She said she works to stop those impacts. If we don t pay attention to wetland loss now, or if we don t think about preserving our tree canopy, it s going to be too late, said Smith. And it s so hard to revert back. Preservation is so much more effective than restoration.
Blue-green algae spotted at Pahokee Marina
Waterkeepers concerned about algae bloom at Pahokee Marina Share Updated: 8:05 PM EDT Apr 26, 2021
Waterkeepers concerned about algae bloom at Pahokee Marina Share Updated: 8:05 PM EDT Apr 26, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript ANGELA ROZIER SPEAK TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS WHO ARE CONCERNED EPUSH VERY WITH THE RAINY SEE AHEAD. The Reporter: LAYERS OF THICK BLUE GREEN ALGAE CAN BE SEEN AROUND THE MARINA. ONE MAN TOLD US WHAT WE RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS IT NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE EARLIER. THIS IS WORSE THAN THIS. > ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CONCERNED. BY THE LOOK OF IT TODAY, PAHOKIE, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE BLOOMS WE HAD TWO YEARS AGO IN THE ST. LUCIE. VERY, VERY FAR ALONG IN DEVELOPMENT. THE REPORTER: THE LAKE WORTH WATER KEEPERS THE PAHOKIE MARINA IS BEING A BIT OF A CANARY IN A COAL MINE. > HE WAS HERE FRIDAY AND TOOK THE AERIAL FOOTAGE TO ALERT THE COMMUNITY. THE BLOOM, THE DISCHA