Happy holidays from your friends at HRWC! To wrap up the year, we are sharing a selection of articles on the latest environmental and water news. This month’s News to Us includes articles covering the Safe Drinking Water Act’s 50th anniversary, beavers, otters, and new funding for dam removal in Ypsilanti. Also included are additional articles on global climate trends and stormwater legislation in Michigan.
Ypsilanti secures enough funding to remove Peninsular Dam, restore Huron River
Thanks to a new $7.5-million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Coastal Resilience Fund, the City of Ypsilanti has received enough funds to remove the Peninsular Paper Dam along the Huron River. The City of Ypsilanti has been working in partnership with the Huron River Watershed Council for years towards removal of the aging Peninsular Paper Dam. The dam removal will restore the river’s ecosystem and improve fish habitat. In addition to funding construction to remove the dam structure within the Huron River, the grant will also support the extensive list of activities associated with removal, including mussel relocation, sediment management, and ecosystem restoration. Click here to learn more about the Peninsular Paper Dam removal project.
Michigan’s otters and beavers defy the freeze
Despite the cold temperatures, beavers and river otters opt to skip both hibernation and migration during the winter. These animals stay active during the chilly season; otters continue their hunting under ice and beavers maintain their dams throughout winter to regulate water levels and minimize the freezing of their lodges. Both beavers and otters rely on their thick fur coats and fat stores to stay warm amidst the freezing weather. For more information on the role of beavers in the Huron River watershed, read a blog by HRWC’s Kate Laramie.
Safe Drinking Water Act turns 50
The Safe Drinking Water Act was signed into law 50 years ago and remains a cornerstone of U.S. environmental protection. This legislation safeguards public health and ensures that Americans receive high-quality drinking water. Despite many successes over the Act’s 50-year history, challenges remain. Over 2 million Americans are still without running water or indoor plumbing and there is growing distrust of public drinking water following failures in Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi. The Act’s anniversary highlights both its achievements and the ongoing need for improvements in water infrastructure and regulation.
Opinion | Stormwater — the forgotten infrastructure
Read this op-ed from HRWC’s Rebecca Esselman in Bridge Magazine about the need for stormwater funding in Michigan. The state’s stormwater infrastructure routinely receives a “D” by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ annual report card. This highlights the need for new mechanisms to fund stormwater improvements. A bill currently under consideration by the Michigan Senate would authorize local government to create stormwater utilities, or fees providing a dedicated source of revenue for stormwater infrastructure. This is one of the many bills HRWC is tracking during the current lame duck session. Learn more about HRWC’s current policy priorities here.
NOAA: 99 percent chance 2024 will be warmest year ever recorded
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2024 is set to become the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record set last year. The new high puts global temperatures at 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average from January through November. NOAA also found that global sea ice cover has fallen to near-record lows. These findings underscore the continued need for urgent action to address the climate crisis.