Water level variability in Lake Michigan, such as the rapid 6 ft rise between record lows in 2013 to near highs in 2020, had substantial impacts along the southern Lake Michigan coast, forcing communities to quickly respond and plan for future changes. To help address this challenge, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) hosted a series of four virtual workshops in October 2020, focused on improving communication about water level variability along the Lake Michigan coast of Illinois and Indiana. This factsheet summarizes the need, goals, and outcomes of the workshop series, and highlights key resources developed by IISG to address prioritized datasets and outreach products identified in the workshops.

References:

1. V.M. Fall and C.J. Foley. 2020. Virtual Workshop Series: Improving Communication About Changing Lake Michigan Water Levels in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Workshop Summary. 25 pp. URL: https://iiseagrant.org/publications/virtual-lake-levels-workshop-report/
2. V.M. Fall and A. Milicia. 2021. Ready for Lake Michigan Highs and Lows: Strategies and Case Studies, Storymap. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Publication Number IISG21-RCE-WEB-049. URL: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/356d9776b3db4dabb23d624d9e2b6837
3. Fall, Veronica and Allison Milicia. Increasing Illinois and Indiana Shoreline Resilience: Information A to Z. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Report Number IISG21-RCE-RSM-058. https://iiseagrant.org/publications/increasing-illinois-and-indiana-shoreline-resilience-information-a-to-z.
4. US Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District Website. Great Lakes Water Level Data. URL: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Information-2/Water-Level-Data/

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s annual magazine.

This issue highlights:

• Swimming Safer: Sharing knowledge, data, and resources
• IISG interns can have invaluable real world experience
• Spelling out nature’s benefits helps inform land use decisions
• Largemouth bass in the busy Chicago River are seeking out natural areas
• Educators explore water quality along the Wild Mile
• We’re funding new research to address emerging coastal issues

A rain garden is a green infrastructure project that can improve the quality of stormwater, minimize pollution, and enhance biodiversity and pollinator habitat. Purdue, Iowa State and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant researchers explain how to site, size, design, install and maintain a rain garden, and provide advice on plant selection, too. Document is available for download in the Purdue Extension Ed-Store.

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Muskegon Lake in Michigan has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Muskegon has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Paul Isely Erik Nordman Kendra Robbins Julie Cowie. Muskegon Lake Area of Concern Habitat Restoration Project: Socio-Economic Assessment Revisited. July 2020.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Muskegon, Michigan

En Español

Revitalización de Muskegon en español está aquí.


• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 39-46)
• Livability: Transforming Waterfronts Along the Muskegon Lakeshore
• Western Michigan Regional Shoreline Commission: Muskegon River Habitat Restoration at Veteran’s Memorial Park
• NOAA Fisheries: Muskegon Lake Nears Recovery After Years of Restoration
• MiBiz: Arts playing ‘huge role’ in shaping downtown Muskegon through pandemic
• WZZM Channel 13: A successful Muskegon festival season by the numbers
• WOOD Channel 8: ‘Hidden gem’ discovered: Muskegon Lake ripe for development
• FOX Channel 17: Great Lakes cruises bring passengers, revenue to Muskegon
• MLIVE: Marquette to Muskegon: Cruise ships bring big tourism dollars to the Great Lakes 
• Detroit Free Press: Cruise ships to visit Muskegon again after 2 years of COVID-19 cancelations

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Sheboygan River in Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Sheboygan has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. September 2018.

Other Resources

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Sheboygan River AOC
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Remediation and Restoration Projects for Sheboygan River AOC
• City of Sheboygan, Department of Planning and Development[Conversation]
• Healing our Waters/Great Lakes Coalition: Sheboygan River cleanup nears completion

En Español

Revitalización de Sheboygan en español está aquí.

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, Ashtabula River in Ohio has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Ashtabula has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Citations:

1. Great Lakes Commission. Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Ashtabula, Ohio. September 2018.
2. Ibid.

Other Resources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Project Summary Report
• City of Ashtabula :The Ashtabula River Remedial Action Plan
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Plan a Visit/Find a Property—Ashtabula Scenic River
• Lift Bridge Community Association: Historic Ashtabula Harbor
• Ashtabula Star Beacon: Joyce tours Harbor Yak in anticipation of federal funds to rebuild Ferry Drive
• Ashtabula Star Beacon:Tourism numbers beating 2021
• Cleveland.com: From industrial powerhouse to tourist draw: 24 hours in Ashtabula’s fun, funky Bridge Street district
• Cleveland.com: Ashtabula’s Riverbend Hotel project back on track, with expected opening in spring 2023

En Español

Revitalización de Ashtabula en español está aquí.

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the St. Louis River bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Duluth has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Duluth, Minnesota
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 61-66)
• St. Louis River Alliance St. Louis River National Water Trail
• St. Louis River Alliance: St. Louis River Area of Concern Update: Kingsbury Bay/Grassy Point project completed!
• MPR News: Minnesota moves closer to completing St. Louis River restoration
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth rakes in record $12.4M in tourism revenue
• Duluth Star Tribune: Despite bump in tourism dollars, Duluth sees room for growth
• Duluth Star Tribune: Duluth’s tourism tax collection rebounds to pre-pandemic levels
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Duluth, Minnesota 2020/Age and Sex

En Español

Revitalización de Duluth en español está aquí.

A Great Lakes Area of Concern, the Buffalo River in New York has undergone a cleanup through the Great Lakes Legacy Act. As a result, the city of Buffalo has seen environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits.

Sources

• Great Lakes Commission: Assessing the Investment—The Economic Impact of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A Case Study of Buffalo, New York
• International Association of Great Lakes Research: Great Lakes Revival: How Restoring Polluted Waters Leads to Rebirth of Great Lakes Communities (pp. 3-10)
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper [Conversation]
• New York State: Buffalo Billion—Buffalo Blueway
• Buffalo Rising: Completion of $2 Million Buffalo Blueway Public Access Project at DEC Ohio Street Site
• Buffalo Rising: The Newly Renovated Red Jacket Riverfront Natural Habitat Park/li>
• Buffalo News: When the Buffalo River Caught Fire
• Buffalo News: ‘Census Data Shows Buffalo Growing for the First Time in 70 Years
• U.S. Census Bureau: New York 2020/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2010/Age and Sex
• U.S. Census Bureau: Buffalo, New York 2020/Age and Sex

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s annual magazine.