Michigan Sea Grant

06/04/2026

Are you a grad student or recent graduate interested in the places where Great Lakes science, policy, and community meet? Apply to be a Great Lakes Fellow! We're filling two positions with our partners at IJC - International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Commission, and the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network for yearlong fellowships that start in September. Apply by June 20!

Great Lakes Fellowship Applications Open Summary Michigan Sea Grant coordinates a binational fellowship with the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network (GLSGN), the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), and the International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Regional Office (IJC-GLRO). Working with mentors from Michi...

06/04/2026

See something weird in your lake or pond? Could it be a harmful algal bloom (HAB)? Our brand-new tip sheet walks you through the process of identifying, reporting, and staying safe during a HAB (with bonus tips for reducing future risks of nuisance blooms).

Find it now on our "HABs 101" resource page! https://buff.ly/nIhwM0l

05/29/2026

Yay, Zoey! We can't wait to see what you get up to this summer 🌊

🌊 Meet Our New Summer Intern 🌊
Help us in welcoming Zoey to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary team! She is joining us this summer as a Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Intern. She’ll be taking freshwater acidification samples, helping with education programming, and learning so many ins and outs of the sanctuary management and outreach plans.

We asked Zoey a few get-to-know you questions:

⚓ Where are you from and what are you studying?
"I’m from the Detroit area and grew up on the water, mostly Lake St. Clair! I’m a rising senior at Michigan State University studying conservation biology with a minor in anthropology." 🟩🦅

⚓ Why Thunder Bay and the Michigan Sea Grant Internship?
"I was nervous applying because it’s a competitive program, but during my call with Thunder Bay, I knew I was in good hands. I’m so grateful to be here because it perfectly combines my biology degree with my anthropology minor—the crossovers between the two are fascinating!"

⚓ What are your summer goals (in and out of work)?
"I’m looking forward to exploring the bay and the 'big lake' (Lake Huron!), meeting new people, and learning all I can. Maybe someone will even convince me to get dive certified! Outside of work, I’m already a fan of the Sanctuary Cinema, and I want to try crewing in some sailing races and hiking the local trails and lighthouses." ⛵🥾

⚓ Fun Zoey Facts:
🗺️ She speaks another language -- German.
🎸 She absolutely loves LIVE music.
🏴‍☠️ She is a sucker for a good pirate book.

Give Zoey a warm Alpena welcome in the comments below, and say hi if you see her out and about this summer! ☀️👇

05/26/2026

Our interns are kicking of their summer projects!

Introducing our newest team member!

We are thrilled to welcome Brynn Lingaur to the GTCD crew as our Water and Watershed Education Intern through Michigan Sea Grant!

Brynn is a University of Michigan student pursuing dual degrees in German and the Environment, with plans to specialize in Environmental Education and Conservation, and is a Traverse City West grad who knows and loves this region. Brynn brings hands-on experience working with youth outdoors as a camp counselor, is currently developing climate change curriculum at the university level, and is actively engaged in conservation advocacy through the Sierra Club's education committee at U of M.

This summer, Brynn will be researching, designing, and piloting new water and watershed programming rooted in the Boardman-Ottaway River and its watershed: building hands-on lessons, activity kits, and educator resources that will connect students, families, and community members to our local freshwater systems for years to come.

Welcome, Brynn!

05/22/2026

Today the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development voted to approve the regulation of six invasive plants.

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) will be added to the state's prohibited list with regulations going into effect this summer.

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) will be added to the restricted list with regulations going into effect on January 1, 2028.

If a species is prohibited or restricted in Michigan, it is unlawful to possess, introduce, import, sell or offer that species for sale as a live organism, except under certain circumstances.

05/22/2026

Fishery biologists say sturgeon recovery efforts are paying off after decades.

05/22/2026

Join us for a Mi Fresh Fish Fry! We've got two coming up this summer:

– Houghton: Friday, July 10, 4 to 7 p.m. at 58 Huron St (just outside the library at Huron Street Waterfront Park).

– Escanaba: Friday, July 24, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Escanaba Marina, 17 Water Plant Rd (next to the yacht club)

Enjoy free family-fun activities, seafood samples, and more!

Editor’s note: The Houghton date has been corrected — it will be on Friday, July 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. It was originally reported as July 18. Community members across the Upper Peninsula will soon gather to help celebrate and uplift Michigan’s local fisheries during two upcoming MI Fresh Fish Fr...

05/21/2026

“Urban wetlands are a critical but often underappreciated part of how we address water quality and extreme weather impacts... When communities, researchers, and watershed groups have meaningful opportunities to engage together, it becomes easier to recognize the value of wetlands and support efforts to protect them."

May is American Wetlands Month! We're excited to be part of this Detroit-area wetland education project:

Project will focus on developing education plans and activities related to wetlands that address community needs and increase participants’ scientific literacy and engagement.

05/20/2026

Grab your early-bird registration for the October 7 State of the Bay conference, all about Saginaw Bay environmental education, community development, and watershed management! Hear from researchers, educators, nonprofits, and more: https://buff.ly/ksV5R4q

Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network The Conservation Fund

05/19/2026

Thanks to tireless work by tribal communities, manoomin (wild rice) is coming back to the Detroit River: https://buff.ly/QT5JB5g