Fire post generated a lot of interest.
Here, the aftermath. Again, no injuries or fatalities but 3 homes destroyed.

Allez les Habs!

Fires are abstract until you see one up close. This seen from the L train on Chgo’s west side. Three homes destroyed, no injuries or loss of life.

Lotsa hype coming from Great Lakes advocates inside the bubble. Prob cuz fed budget looms. Reminds me of a story pitch I received on some GL research a few years ago.
Me: Was the research peer reviewed?
Advocate: Yes.
Me: Any of the reviewers outside the region?
Advocate: Ah, yeah, ahhh....

Been in Chicago for 40 years but feel‘in touristy today. Michigan Ave.

A closer view

Chicago CTA approaching downtown from the west.

The Des Plaines River flows from Wisconsin to the Illinois River. Here, 9 miles west of dwntn Chicago overflowing its banks into a forest preserve. River is 1/2 mile away.

Michigan dam fixes were urged by experts. Lawmakers did 'almost nothing' Five years ago, a state task force urged Michigan lawmakers to invest tens of millions in dam infrastructure. Little action has been taken.

Michigan: A slow learning state? Post Flint drinking water crisis - cries of never again. Not long after the same issue, lead, in Benton Harbor. After the Edenville Dam failed in 2020, there were calls for action on dam safety but lawmakers did "almost nothing."
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...

Howard Lutnick tells Canada ‘they suck’ and vows to wind back trade deal with US Fraught talks set to resume to end dispute that is costing America more than $1bn a month

Canada watchers: A good read here on impending trade talks between the U.S. & Canada. Short take: the U.S. whining cuz Canadians are boycotting U.S. goods and travel. What would you expect when the U.S. imposes unwarranted tariffs and threatens Canada's independence.
www.ft.com/content/22f2...

Edenville redux.

From Rebel to Realist: The Career and Legacy of US Congressman Bob Carr From Rebel to Realist: The Career and Legacy of US Congressman Bob Carr [Dempsey, Dave] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. From Rebel to Realist: The Career and Legacy of US Congressman Bob Carr

In Dave Dempsey's new release, From Rebel to Realist, he switches from environmental issues to the political realm. Check it out here.
www.amazon.com/Rebel-Realis...

Update: Detroit River citizens petition state, federal officials for action on ongoing chemical pollution Outraged petitioners say "nobody told us."

Outraged Detroit River area residents petition for immediate action from federal and state of Michigan officials on the chemicals that have been flowing to the river for decades.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/update-det...

As floodwaters rise, Michigan infrastructure on brink: Dams need $1B in repairs - Bridge Michigan Climate change and delayed improvements to the state’s infrastructure could come to roost, as rivers threaten to overtop century-old dams.

Six years after the 2020 dam disaster in Michigan, the state's aged dams are on the brink of another failure. Props @bridgemi.com and @kellyhouse.bsky.social for the reporting.
bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Diplomacy of the kind you won't see in the U.S.

ICYMI: Prominent environmental coalition's website post touts recovery of the Detroit River. There's more to the story. Details here.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/detroit-ri...

Carney Seals a Majority and Remakes Canada’s Liberal Party

Canada watchers... a good read here as PM Carney and the Liberals now have a majority in Parliament. Carney takes the party from Left to Center Left as he moves to put some daylight between the U.S. and Canada.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/w...

Correction: there were no follow up questions allowed.

Post Edenville failure I remember a press conf hosted by Clark - EGLE, Nessel - AG and Eichinger - DNR where they absolved the state of any wrongdoing and liability. It was on Zoom and I asked a hard, inconvenient question which was modified into a softball by the moderator & there were follow ups.

How Metro Vancouver aims to cut per-person water use by 17% | Daily Hive | Urbanized Metro Vancouver released its Drinking Water Management Plan, with a target to cut down per-person drinking water use by 64 litres a day.

Vancouver B.C. (Canada) to focus on conserving water. Sets goal of 20% per person reduction by 2035. “Strong conservation and demand management can play a major role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the system.”
dailyhive.com/vancouver/me...

Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook | Substack A Substack focused on the Great Lakes, water and environmental justice issues. Click to read Gary’s Great Lakes Notebook, by Gary Wilson, a Substack publication. Launched 8 months ago.

My latest -- Detroit River: Seeing the whole picture is important when assessing its health. Decades old legacy pollutants remain while chemical pollution continues.
garyglx5.substack.com

Another Illinois out of basin town will draw water from Lake Michigan. www.dailyherald.com/20260410/new...

Environmental Restoration Creates Economic Boom for Great Lakes Communities — Healthy Lakes By cleaning up their most degraded areas, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Buffalo have created thriving lakeshore business districts, helped people reconnect with nature, and laid the groundwork for populatio...

Reading this PR piece reminded me to re-up my post on the Detroit River's toxic sediment. When Great Lakes funding became available in 2010, the Det Riv contained 3.5M cubic yards. Now, 2026, 3.5 million cubic yards of toxic sediment remain. It's not a priority.
www.healthylakes.org/latest-news/...

Tigers, a possibility.

Is AI Coming For Your Water? Communities sound the alarm on data centres using local water and energy supplies to cool their operations.

Canada too coping with data centers and their massive water requirements. Demand for transparency. Remember, the Great Lakes are a shared responsibility.
bluedotliving.com/is-ai-coming...

The incoming UMich 2023 class experiences a rare if ever event. Football NCAA champs in '23 and basketball NCAA champs in '26.

Can innovation lead to sustainability for Great Lakes region water? Self-proclaimed Chicago innovation engine has water plans: drive economic growth, prosperity and health of American cities

ICYMI: We can't innovate our way to water sustainability in the Great Lakes region. Conservation is a pillar and innovation, used smartly, is a valuable tool.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/can-innova...

Can innovation lead to sustainability for Great Lakes region water? Self-proclaimed Chicago innovation engine has water plans: drive economic growth, prosperity and health of American cities

Can innovation lead to sustainability for Great Lakes region water? Self-proclaimed Chicago innovation engine has water plans. My thoughts here.
open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

Doug Ford targets Peel to test his water privatization plan Doug Ford targets Peel to test his water privatization plan

Ontario, Canada's conservative government on the cusp of privatizing water. Citizen comments against.
thepointer.com/article/2026...

Half of where Artemis is headed.