AGP Executive Report

Coal Push in the Spotlight: A new report says President Trump is backing coal with $700 million in federal support, including keeping aging plants running and restarting one already shut down—raising fresh concerns for air quality and public health. Wildlife & Habitat in Focus: Northern Michigan’s pest and wildlife services expanded humane removal to 11 Mid-Michigan communities, while in Wisconsin the Menominee tribe is using clay “seed balls” to help wild rice return to reservation waters. Invasive Species Threat: Jumping worms—now reported in nearly 40 states—are spreading and can degrade soil, making gardens and forests harder to sustain. Great Lakes Food Safety: Michigan released its 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides, updating local advice for people who fish in the state’s waters. Public Health Additives: A federal voluntary phase-out of six synthetic dyes faces hurdles, with researchers linking some dyes to behavioral issues in children. Michigan Livestock Disease: MDARD confirmed new bovine TB cases in cattle herds in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, with deer-to-cattle contact flagged as a key risk.

Great Lakes wildlife: Researchers say an invasive “bloody red” shrimp is now reproducing in Lake Superior’s Duluth-Superior Harbor, meaning all five Great Lakes are infested—raising new stakes for fisheries and shipping ecosystems. Michigan water & public health: Michigan released its 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides, updating local advice on what to eat and how often based on contamination risk. Invasive species & soil health: Jumping worms—already reported in nearly 40 states—are spreading and can strip organic material from topsoil, leaving ground loose and harder for gardens and forests to recover. Agriculture & disease control: MDARD confirmed new bovine TB cases in cattle herds in Alpena and Presque Isle counties, with officials tracing how the infection may have spread between wildlife and livestock. Climate & energy policy: A Michigan-related debate over data centers keeps growing as communities weigh moratoriums and stricter rules amid concerns about water use, power demand, and local impacts. Food safety: A new federal phase-out effort for synthetic dyes faces hurdles, with many major brands still not publicly committing to remove them. Outdoor safety: Health officials warn Michiganders to protect against ticks this summer, including lone star tick risks.

Great Lakes Invasion: Researchers confirmed a breeding population of an invasive “bloody” red shrimp in Lake Superior’s Duluth-Superior Harbor, meaning all five Great Lakes now have the crustacean. Public Health & Water Safety: Michigan released updated 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides covering 696 waterbodies, with some limits relaxed and others tightened based on lab-tested chemical levels in fish. Local Water Restoration: Grand Rapids broke ground on a long-planned project to remove four low-head dams on the Grand River and restore rapids, aiming to improve safety, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation. PFAS & Land Use: Colfax Township is considering an ordinance to restrict land application of human biosolids containing PFAS, reflecting growing local concern even as state rules allow biosolids use. Energy & Land-Use Planning: Allendale Township adopted a yearlong moratorium on data centers and other large developments, joining a wider push by Michigan communities to slow or reshape growth. Air Quality at Women’s Prison: MDOC says testing found no widespread mold contamination at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, responding to ongoing concerns and a related lawsuit.

Invasive Species: Michigan’s buckthorn problem is spreading, with new focus on managing common and glossy buckthorn in the Keweenaw as the shrubs outcompete natives and disrupt food for birds. Water & Flood Safety: EGLE issued violations after the April failure of Bucks Pond Dam in Alcona County, starting the process to assess impacts and close information gaps. Prison Health & Air Quality: The MDOC says testing at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility found no evidence of systemic black or toxic mold, citing normal air quality in most areas and cleanup fixes for minor growth. Local Land Use: Prologis has withdrawn a Washington Township data center proposal after power-capacity limits, signaling how utility constraints can stall projects. Community & Environment Education: MSU AgBioResearch will host an invasive species workshop in southwest Michigan on June 24, aimed at helping landowners spot and manage new threats. Weather Watch: A “flash drought” alert is being monitored along the northwestern border as dry conditions could intensify quickly.

Great Lakes & Water Safety: A Michigan agencies push to improve harmful algal bloom reporting adds a new online form, aiming to get residents’ observations to the right place faster. Public Health & Water Quality: Traverse City’s Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay kicks off weekly beach monitoring June 17, testing 21 beaches for E. coli and posting results for families planning summer swims. Energy & Climate Resilience: A University of Michigan study finds EV battery degradation from heat is much smaller for newer batteries (2019–2023), suggesting tech gains can offset climate-driven wear. Clean Power Momentum: New U.S. generation data shows solar overtook coal for the first time in May, reinforcing the shift toward lower-carbon electricity. Local Governance & Environment: An admin law judge says Michigan should reject Consumers Energy’s “highly problematic” dam sale, warning it threatens public safety and could leave ratepayers holding the bag. Wildlife & Drought Impacts: Research on severe drought in the Mountain West finds habitat losses ripple up the food chain, cutting preferred habitat for deer, bears and cougars. Invasive Species Prevention: Michigan highlights PlayCleanGo steps to stop invasive species from hitchhiking on boots, tires, boats and firewood. Child Care & Community Planning: Michigan’s updated child care mapping tool gives clearer views of supply and gaps, helping local leaders target investments.

Microplastics Push: California AG Rob Bonta joined a multistate letter urging the EPA to keep expanding monitoring of microplastics in drinking water, backing the agency’s move to prioritize them for research. Great Lakes Grid & Water: Michigan Electric Transmission and ITC outlined plans for new high-voltage lines from Copperton to Ludington to boost grid stability and resilience, while Saginaw officials weigh the long-term future of the century-old Saginaw Water Treatment Plant after a study flagged aging piping and equipment. Dams Under Review: An administrative law judge recommended Michigan reject Consumers Energy’s plan to sell its 13 dams to an out-of-state private equity firm, calling the deal “highly problematic” and risky for public safety and ratepayers. Extreme Heat: Heat advisories across the Midwest and Northeast warned of dangerous humidity and storm-linked health risks. Clean Energy Industry Watch: GM says it’s moving toward sodium-ion batteries for grid-scale energy storage, aiming to cut costs and support power-hungry data centers. Michigan Outdoors & Learning: Lake Michigan College announced summer gardening classes, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula hosted a classical music festival return.

PFAS & Water Quality: Michigan’s EGLE is pushing freshwater education and stewardship through the From Students to Stewards Initiative, including Wheels to Water field trips during Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week. Invasive Species: Michigan DNR is urging outdoor fans to use PlayCleanGo Awareness Week steps—clean gear, drain boats, and prevent hitchhiking invasives. Great Lakes Infrastructure: A $400M Lake Michigan transmission main project broke ground to bring Lake water to Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery, with EPA loans and state/local financing and completion targeted for 2028. Local Cleanup & Brownfields: Brighton council delayed a decision on Pulte’s request for more brownfield reimbursement tied to higher cleanup costs at a former school site. Climate & Health: A Notre Dame study links human-caused warming to higher childhood stunting rates, raising stakes for heat and inequality. Food Additives: New reporting says nearly 1 in 5 U.S. packaged foods still contain synthetic dyes as a voluntary FDA phase-out faces uneven industry follow-through. Michigan Policy & Internet: A Mackinac Center report argues Michigan’s government-driven internet expansion has been expensive and ineffective at connecting unserved households. Wildlife & Fisheries: Wisconsin’s Brule hatchery will stay closed this year amid funding fights, affecting trout stocking plans.

Great Lakes & Public Health: Michigan’s MDHHS released updated 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides covering 696 waterbodies, with dozens of spots getting more protective or more relaxed recommendations based on lab testing. Energy & Climate: New data shows solar overtook coal for the first time in May, even as federal policy pushes coal back—an important signal for Michigan’s clean-energy future. Air Quality & Wildlife: Metro Detroit residents are bracing for more mayflies, while officials in Beverly Hills weigh deer-control options from deterrents to trapping and sterilization to reduce safety risks. Water & PFAS: The Huron River Watershed Council is holding a public meeting on PFAS found in Dexter wastewater, keeping pressure on local water protections. Local Environment Policy: Michigan utility plans to bury new power lines after severe ice storm outages, aiming to cut future disruption and improve resilience. Food Safety: FDA approved bemotrizinol, a new sunscreen ingredient, and a separate report finds synthetic dyes still show up in nearly 1 in 5 U.S. packaged foods. Infrastructure & Environment: Detroit River restoration got a $10 million boost from EPA and state partners, moving cleanup work closer to the finish line. Data Centers & Power: A national grid warning highlights how data centers strain electricity supplies, with Michigan and other states facing rising environmental and economic concerns.

Great Lakes Pollution Watch: Michigan conservation group Great Lakes Love is asking visitors to Pictured Rocks to report and document polystyrene (styrofoam) found along Lake Superior’s shores, after deposits appeared in multiple spots about 10 miles apart—an early sign that microplastics can spread fast across the lake. River Cleanup Funding: State and federal leaders announced a new $10 million push to advance Detroit River restoration, including feasibility and design work to address contaminated sediment and habitat needs in the Detroit River Area of Concern, with EPA and state matching funds. Local Sustainability Wins: Sixty-eight Michigan communities were recognized in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge, spanning cities, townships, counties and villages, with certifications tied to energy efficiency, climate resilience, recycling and mobility. Water Safety Concern: Residents at Mason Manor raised alarms about private-well water quality, citing elevated arsenic, sulfates and nitrates plus radium near legal limits, prompting EGLE involvement. Energy Storage in Michigan: GM and Peak Energy are partnering on sodium-ion battery cells for grid storage, with GM developing cells in Michigan labs as Peak scales manufacturing. Invasive Species Control: Michigan will release 4,000 tiny weevils to help control invasive mile-a-minute vine for the first time. Food Additives Pushback: A federal voluntary phase-out of six synthetic dyes by end of 2026 faces hurdles, with nearly 1 in 5 packaged foods still containing dyes—raising fresh pressure for stronger action.

PFAS Fight in Michigan: The EPA is moving to strike down its own drinking-water limits on PFAS, “forever chemicals” tied to serious health risks—raising fresh alarm for communities still working to clean up tap water. Detroit River Cleanup: EGLE and the EPA announced $10 million for continued Detroit River restoration, including planning and study for contaminated sediment cleanup and habitat work. Great Lakes Stewardship: MiCorps volunteers are helping protect Michigan waters through stream cleanups and monitoring, continuing decades of volunteer science and local grants. Heat and Power Reliability: Utilities and health officials are bracing for extreme heat; Indiana Michigan Power is temporarily pausing disconnections, while Michigan communities also face storm and heat risks. Water Safety Alerts: Oscoda Township issued a boil-water advisory after a planned service interruption, urging residents to boil water until testing clears it. Invasive Species Control: Michigan plans to release 4,000 tiny weevils to target the invasive “mile-a-minute” vine. Climate Signals in Michigan: A new ranking finds coldest Junes in Michigan since 1895, underscoring how variable weather can be even as warming pressures grow. Data Center Pushback: In Lyon Township, residents are opposing a proposed data center, with lawmakers weighing moratorium ideas. Energy for AI Demand: GM is pitching sodium-ion battery storage for grid-scale use as AI data centers drive electricity demand higher.

Detroit River Cleanup Boost: EGLE and the EPA announced $10 million to keep restoring the Detroit River Area of Concern, with $6.5 million from the EPA and $3.5 million in state match for sediment cleanup planning, habitat restoration, and community reconnection. Local Water Stewardship: MiCorps volunteers are continuing stream cleanups and water monitoring across Michigan, building on decades of state-backed volunteer programs that track clarity, chlorophyll, phosphorus, and pollution impacts. Data Center Pushback in Lyon Township: Residents packed Planning Commission meetings to oppose “Project Flex,” a proposed six-building data center, citing environmental, water, energy, traffic, and noise concerns while officials said no decision was scheduled yet. Great Lakes Climate Work in the U.P.: The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy launched Great Lakes Climate Corps and Tribal Conservation Corps crews, including a plan to plant 100,000 trees in Marquette County and expand habitat, erosion control, and invasive removal. Heat & Storm Watch: Southeast Michigan faces a heat-and-humidity stretch with an increased severe storm risk Thursday, with heat index values near 100 degrees.

Great Lakes Water Quality: Michigan EGLE, MDHHS and MDARD launched an updated online form (Michigan.gov/HABs) for residents to report harmful algal blooms, with photo uploads and hotline options to speed up response and toxin testing. Detroit River Cleanup: Michigan EGLE and the U.S. EPA announced a $10 million partnership to plan cleanup of about 800,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment along Belle Isle and Harbortown areas, with preliminary goals for the rest of the river. Invasive Species Prevention: The Michigan Invasive Species Program is joining North America’s PlayCleanGo Awareness Week (June 6–13), urging outdoor users to play, clean gear, and go invasive-free. Wildlife Conservation Success: A look at Mio’s Kirtland’s warbler recovery shows how restoring young jack pine habitat helped pull the species back from near extinction. Public Health & Food Safety: MDHHS released the 2026 Eat Safe Fish Guides for 696 Michigan waterbodies, updating which fish are safer to eat based on chemical levels in commonly eaten portions. Local Governance: Lyon Township residents packed meetings to oppose a proposed 1.8 million-square-foot data center (“Project Flex”), after the developer threatened legal action. Water Safety Education: A Michigan House bill (HB4477) would require K-8 water safety education, following lifeguard training at St. Joseph’s Silver Beach. Prison Health Accountability: Rep. Debbie Dingell pressed Whitmer and MDOC for urgent, transparent answers after three deaths at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, including concerns about toxic mold.

Great Lakes & Water Quality: Michigan launches a new online form to improve reporting and tracking of harmful algal blooms, aiming to protect residents’ health during Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week. Invasive Species Watch: Michigan adds six more plants to its invasive species list, including common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, Callery pear, Japanese barberry, plus water hyacinth and water lettuce—raising stakes for backyard and pond ecosystems. Data Centers vs. Communities: A new report highlights how behind-the-meter gas plants for data centers could push up energy bills, while Michigan lawmakers face growing resistance and calls for moratoriums. Wildlife Update: A mid-Michigan bald eagle named “Snow” is responding well to treatment after wing injuries, with rehab ongoing at a raptor sanctuary. Policy & Climate Governance: A new analysis frames climate fights as a power struggle over who can govern action—federal vs. state—while Michigan and other states pursue climate-related cases. Local Environment & Access: Petoskey moves to crack down on light pollution, a win for wildlife and stargazers.

Great Lakes Wildlife Management: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will survey sea lampreys in Alpena County’s Long Lake Outlet–Devils Lake (June 16–25) to decide whether control measures are needed, after the invasive parasite continues to threaten Great Lakes fish. Great Lakes Fisheries: Michigan DNR reports walleye are now the most harvested species in Lake Michigan waters, with shifts in the food web tied to dreissenid mussels and the rebound of walleye reproduction in places like Saginaw Bay. Local Environmental Politics: In Saline Township, construction is moving ahead on a major AI data center even as Michigan lawmakers consider a temporary moratorium, reigniting fights over electricity, water use, and community impacts. Pesticides & Threatened Species: EPA is rolling out a new pesticide label directive that sends applicators to an online system (BLT) for location- and month-specific limits to protect listed species. Invasive Species in Michigan: A pilot release of the mile-a-minute weevil begins in Calhoun County as a biocontrol to target invasive mile-a-minute weed. Weather Watch: Mid-Michigan faces a dry weekend, then heavy rain and slow-moving storms Tuesday, with stronger to severe thunderstorms possible Thursday night. Public Health & Food: A Harvard study links ultra-processed foods to a higher dementia risk, adding pressure for healthier diets. Community & Pride: Detroit’s Motor City Pride drew about 65,000 people, underscoring local support and inclusion amid broader social tensions.

Great Lakes & Water Affordability: Michigan’s water costs have surged since 1980, leaving up to 10.75% of households “water-burdened,” with Detroit and Flint hit hardest; lawmakers are pushing bills to cap bills for low-income residents and strengthen shutoff protections. Northern Lights: NOAA forecasts a strong geomagnetic storm with auroras potentially visible across as many as 20 states, including Michigan, with tips on photographing the sky. EV Battery Push in Michigan: GM details its $900M EV battery gamble, banking on a new battery cell development center and LMR chemistry to cut EV costs—an effort tied to Michigan’s research capacity. Grid Resilience After Ice Storms: After a brutal ice storm knocked out power and snapped poles, a northern Michigan utility says all new lines will be buried to better handle extreme weather. Invasive Species & Forest Health: Massachusetts reports worsening forest threats, including emerald ash borer and other emerging tree plagues—reminding Michigan readers how fast invasives can spread. Wildlife in Neighborhoods: A black bear was tranquilized and moved after wandering into a Mount Pleasant area, highlighting expanding bear ranges as development pushes into corridors. Chronic Itch Science: New research maps a dedicated “mechanical itch” pathway tied to fine vellus-like hairs, offering a potential target for stubborn eczema-related itching. Data Centers & Water Use: Governors pause billions in data center tax incentives over concerns about electricity demand and water consumption, as communities demand clearer rules. Saginaw Bay Fishing: DNR reports a walleye boom driven by food-web shifts after invasive mussels, with natural walleye reproduction surging in Saginaw Bay.

Great Lakes & Fresh Water Week: EGLE is kicking off Michigan Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week (June 6-14) with a “Protecting the Great Lakes Sustains Us” theme, spotlighting stewardship, education, and the Great Lakes “blue economy,” plus Free Fishing weekend June 13-14 when licenses are waived for state parks and boating access sites. Invasive Impacts on Fisheries: Michigan DNR says walleye is now the most harvested species in Great Lakes waters, with record Saginaw Bay harvests tied to food-web shifts after dreissenid mussels and the decline of alewives—helping walleye reproduction rebound. Storm-Resilient Power: After an ice storm snapped poles and left thousands without power, northern Michigan utility Great Lakes Energy says every new line it builds will be buried to reduce future outage risk as extreme weather intensifies. Wildlife in Neighborhoods: A 150-pound black bear was tranquilized after climbing into a Mount Pleasant neighborhood tree and dropping onto a pole vault pad; officials tagged and moved it north, citing expanding bear range. Public Health & Itch Research: New mouse research identifies a dedicated “mechanical itch” pathway tied to vellus-like hairs, offering a potential target for stubborn eczema itch.