Higher temperatures, extreme rainstorms, loss of wildlife, and a drop in Lake Michigan water levels. This is what the Midwest can expect in the coming decades according to the latest review of climate change trends.
 
Released on Tuesday, the 2014 National Climate Assessment provides an in-depth look at the expected impacts of climate change across the country. The report also investigates how businesses, agriculture, infrastructure, natural resources, and public health will be affected if current trends continue.
 
Midwesterners have likely noticed a few of the projected changes already. Summers are longer and warmer, winters are wetter, and flooding is increasing. But some of the long-term impacts might not be as apparent. For example, higher water temperatures could drive out fish species and make it easier for non-native species to invade new habitats. Stronger rainstorms, especially in cities, will also mean more runoff that pollutes waterways and erodes shorelines and river banks. 
 
Visit our climate change page for information on what communities and individuals can do to mitigate and prepare for the changing climate. 

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Some partnerships just make sense. Happy Valentine’s Day from IISG! 💕
This February marks a major milestone: 30 years of aquatic invasive species outreach by our team! To celebrate, IISG Director, Stuart Carlton, and Strategic Communication Coordinator, Renie Miles, sat down for a Sea Grant Chat with two key figures in IISG’s AIS history: Pat Charlebois, our assistant director and program leader, who spent over two decades leading our prevention efforts, and Katie O’Reilly, who took over that role in 2022. We discussed the evolution of the invasive species issue in the Great Lakes, the shift toward understanding human behavior, and the creative strategies that make this team so effective. Dive into the full interview at the link in bio.
Introducing the Lake Michigan Explorer! Start exploring the varied factors that impact the Great Lakes with our Explorer Series. This searchable database of external resources can help you find hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire action. ✨ What’s inside?Lesson plans, fact sheets, and reading materialsEngaging videos and visualizationsEasy-to-use filters by grade level, topic, and time.Perfect for classrooms and informal learning, this resource empowers students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.🔗 in bio for more.