By Randy Stine
May 14, 2021 | 8:49 AM
LANSING, MI The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is calling on people to be careful this weekend with campfires, debris burning, and other activities.
There is a high fire danger in the state, with DNR fire prevention specialist Paul Rogers saying forests and grasses are very dry despite the greenery.
Officials say people can have campfires, but should not leave them unattended at all. If you plan to burn debris at home, check with your local government to be sure there is not a burn ban. ); } return false; }); $( #comments .commentlist .comment-content a ).attr( target , blank );
MDARD
For immediate release: May 14, 2021
LANSING, MI - If you can prevent mosquito bites, you can prevent mosquito-borne diseases. The message seems simple enough-and it holds true for both humans and animals-but aside from spray-on repellant, what other tactics are there? And what are the dangers of not taking precautions?
In the latest edition of the Fresh from the Field podcast series from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), four experts discuss several strategies Michiganders can use to prevent or reduce the threat of mosquitoes when enjoying the beautiful outdoors. One of the biggest things Michigan residents can do is get rid of standing water in their yards or around their property, said Thomas Lawrence, a pesticide applicator business license specialist in MDARD s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in standing waters, which can be found in kiddie pools, old tires, flowerpots, eaves and g
Fire Danger Remains Very High for Much of Michigan
The Michigan DNR and National Weather Service continue to warn residents of the dangerous conditions that could quickly lead to an out-of-control fire.
Most of Michigan remains under Moderate Drought conditions according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS Grand Rapids office notes that Kalamazoo has had the driest year to date. That s the driest year to date since official weather records began being kept in the mid and late 1800s.
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Even though the landscape is green, our forests and grasses are very dry,” said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist with the Forest Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “A fire can escape and move quickly due to the dry air and dry fuels.
MI ENVIRONMENT
Number of wetland banks in Michigan growing
Date: May 13, 2021
, MI Environment looks at Michigan s Wetland Banking Program.
The number of public and private wetland bank sites in Michigan has increased by leaps and bounds since the first one was established in 1999, with 42 now in place in all areas of the state. By the end of the year, several more bank sites are expected to be finalized.
Wetlands serve as nature s kidneys absorbing vast amounts of stormwater that would otherwise flood basements and overwhelm sewer systems, providing habitat for wildlife and a nursery for young fish, filtering out pollutants from water as it flows into streams and lakes, and helping control erosion.