State’s plan prioritizes upgrades to Detroit’s wastewater treatment plant over agricultural runoff. Western Lake Erie’s annual algal bloom has begun. And though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) forecasts it to be moderate this year, the yearly growth of green slime is not going away anytime soon. The annual phenomenon that threatens wildlife, recreation, and […]
Posted inVoices
Ask Planet Detroit: Why is there so much trash in Detroit’s parks (and what can we do about it?)
Dear Planet Detroit, Why are our parks so trashed with garbage all the time? Is there anything that can turn this around and keep our parks clean? Sincerely, In search of clean and green Dear Clean and Green, Detroit has so many wonderful parks (309 to be exact!). We asked the city what they’re doing […]
Posted inVoices
OPINION: Why public water shutoffs are a crisis multiplier for coronavirus
by Nadia Gaber, PhD “Wash your hands.” If we’ve heard one thing consistently since the start of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, it is “wash your hands” — wash them well, wash them often, wash with soap and water. But for 15 million people across the country, washing your hands at home is out of […]
Posted inAccountability
Power outages in Highland Park and Detroit add to heatwave’s misery
Following the storms on July 8, Highland Park resident Michelle Jones had to leave her house on account of an outage that lasted for 36 hours. This was the second time she had lost power in two months, after a June storm knocked out her service for ten hours. But this time the outage came […]
Posted inGuides
Q&A: Bees in the D founder on why it’s critical to build up Detroit’s pollinator population
Brian Peterson-Roest and Brian Roest-Peterson (yep, you read that right!) are the founders of Bees in the D, a Detroit-based nonprofit with the mission of installing hives across the region and teaching about the importance of pollinators. They manage 175 bee hives at almost 60 locations across Michigan, including 15 rooftops. The robust nonprofit is […]
Posted inAccountability, Deep Dives, Lead poisoning
Michigan is testing water for lead under the nation’s most stringent rules. It may not like what it finds.
Flint is the most notable example. But we might soon find out about many more. Aside from a few infamous cases—like Flint, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.—public officials across the United States have continually downplayed the pervasiveness of lead contamination in water. But if preliminary evidence holds up, a new Michigan rule for testing lead will […]
Posted inGuides
The mysterious origin of Detroit’s Jesuit pear tree
Efforts to hybridize the Jesuit pear species serve as a testament to broader goals of botanical conservation, including biological diversity and cultural heritage.
Posted inCommunity
Detroiters Do Science: What we found (so far) in our urban neighborhoods
Since the Detroiters Do Science project began in May, citizen scientists across Metro Detroit have recorded nearly 2500 observations (and counting!) through the iNaturalist app as part of our Nature in Your Neighborhood project. That’s 27 observers and 313 identifiers, who have come up with 990 species so far. Participants have shared the wide range […]
Posted inGuides
Ask Planet Detroit: What’s up with multi-family recycling in Detroit?
Dear Planet Detroit, I am a Detroit citizen living in the Palmer Park historic apartment neighborhood. Why doesn’t the city provide recycling bins and access to recycling just as the single family homes and other areas of Detroit? -Tired of seeing the waste and consumption. Dear Tired, Recycling services in Detroit have been primarily focused […]
Posted inGuides
Ask Planet Detroit: How do we regulate air quality in Detroit?
Dear Planet Detroit, There’s a lot of air pollution in my neighborhood. How is air pollution regulated and how can I get involved in fighting for cleaner air? Sincerely, Coughing Dear Coughing, As many traveled outside for cook-outs, fireworks, and sunbathing on July 4th, it wasn’t just the smell of barbeque that filled Metro Detroit’s […]