News to Us
December 18th, 2012 | 
Author: Check out the latest edition of our bi-weekly roundup of headlines that have caught our eye. Read about a potential new invader and an exciting redevelopment prospect for Ypsilanti. Consider taking a walk for some inspiration, or reading one of ten top recommended books on sustainability.
Round goby, an invas
ive fish, appears to be making way up Rouge River in southeast Michigan
If gobies can make it up the Rouge, they can make it up the Huron—at least until they hit Flat Rock and stub their noses on the dam. But this makes us curious if gobies are hanging out at the lower end of the Huron River and wreaking the havoc they tend to do. Has anyone from downriver seen evidence of gobies? Please let us know if you do.
Former Ypsilanti landfill could be site of $4M DTE Energy solar project
A solar energy company and DTE are proposing the installation of a large solar array on a retired landfill site in Ypsilanti. There are several steps that have to occur before this project becomes a reality but it is a great example of redevelopment. Utilizing an otherwise unusable piece of property to generate power and revenue for the city seems like a really cool idea to us.
Hiking in nature increases creativity
Next time you feel you are lacking some inspiration. Take a walk. A long walk. Without a phone. In one of the many natural areas in the Huron River watershed. Spending time outdoors in natural places has many known benefits. A boost to your creativity can now be added to that list. And we would venture a guess that a nice long paddle down the river would accomplish that same boost. Bundle up and give it a try.
10 Great Sustainability Books to Give as Gifts
Still looking for that perfect gift for someone? This blog summarizes 10 stellar books on topics related to sustainability by some of the heaviest hitters in the field.
News to Us will be taking a brief hiatus for the holidays. Look for the next issue mid January. Have a wonderful holiday season!
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Posted in 3 Responses to “News to Us”
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Hi all,
If you’re concerned about round gobies in rivers, then you might think about what you can do to protect aquatic especially watersnakes. When round gobies arrived in waters around the islands of western Lake Erie, the rare watersnake species living there quickly started to prey on them. The snakes there are an endangered subspecies of the same watersnake we have in the Huron watershed. The combination of protection from human killing and the increased prey supply has allowed the Lake Erie watersnake to thrive, and it’s no longer listed as endangered. I doubt that snakes all by themselves would keep gobies out of the river, but they are definitely a predator that will help limit the impact of this invasive species. I imagine that snapping turtles, herons, merganser ducks, loons, and grebes will eat them too.
oh, forgot to include a webpage about the Lake Erie watersnake:
http://www.bios.niu.edu/rking/lab/lake_erie_watersnake.html
Good information, George. Thanks!